Getting there.
#55: "I Don't Mind" by Usher feat. Juicy J
Usher is Usher, and I'm still somewhat surprised he's still making music. He's gotten a bit inconsistent lately. For every "More", there's an "OMG" waiting. As for Juicy J, he's a rapper, and the first thing I think of when I see his name is his guest verse on Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" a couple of years ago.
The song opens with a piano line that is more suited to a love ballad than an R&B song. Even then, however, the music is too sparse to drive the song, relying on Usher to drive the song. To his credit, Usher is definitely on point here, showing just how he's lasted over a decade on the R&B scene. He doesn't really show much range, but his voice is smooth enough to forgive that, and his flow is pretty solid as well. Juicy J, on the other hand, doesn't deliver, but isn't really given much to do. He shouts out the intro, then basically becomes that annoying buddy who just randomly repeats random phrases or words. Until he gets a guest verse, and...Wow. He is a solid rapper, to be fair, but his rapping style just doesn't match up with the lyrics at all, and rather than the music acting as a contrast, it just clashes with his rapping style.
This song's basically about a guy supporting his girl. She works as a strip club dancer, but he feels that his love for her can easily look past that. Sounds rather sweet, right?
This song didn't work for me. The music was too monotone, making the song sound the same no matter what was going on, and Usher's talented delivery only made the lyrics stand out more, and not in a good way. See, while the song is about a subject that I wouldn't mind hearing a bit more, some of the lines don't work, such as the title drop. "Shawty, I don't mind/if you work on a pole, that don't make you a hoe". Yes, that is how Usher, in his decade plus experience as an R&B singer, decides to support his woman. Maybe I'm just inexperienced, but I find it hard to believe that she would find that comment comforting. Overall, a song that could have been quite good, but was undermined by its lyrics.
#54: "Renegades" by X Ambassadors
Not going to lie. I first heard this song on the commercials for the Jeep Renegade, and it literally took months before I realized that this song was not actually written for the commercials.
The song opens with an acoustic guitar, like you'd expect out of any indie or folk song. The only thing that it does somewhat different is using two different guitar lines simultaneously, giving it a bit of a layered structure, one more complicated than your average indie song. That said, the guitar solo closing out the song is surprisingly cool and complex for an indie song. The vocals, on the other hand, are nothing but generic. If you've heard any male fronted indie band with some folk leanings, you've probably heard someone sounding quite similar, if not identical, to this singer.
Like many indie songs, this song isn't exactly clear about its ultimate point. It seems to be a love song, though, with the singer encouraging the person to run away with him and live like renegades.
This is not a bad song, but there's a reason it took me forever to realize it was an actual single and pop success, not just a song for a commercial. The music sounds good, and the lyrics are actually quite catchy, but the generic nature of the vocals, as well as most of the music, makes the song sound commercial, and quite literally so in this case. Basically, it sounds like an indie rock band selling out. Not bad, but doesn't really do anything. Other than that solo.
#53: "Cool For the Summer" by Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato is a singer who came from the Disney school of singing. She's shown talent and longevity, by Disney standards, but to me, she's always been overshadowed, first by Miley Cyrus, and later by Ariana Grande. Always, that is, except for Skyscraper, which hit quite hard due to the fact that Demi Lovato clearly sang from the heart.
The music starts off with a pretty cool piano riff. The music proper features a fuzzy synth line, bass, and drum combination during the chorus, with a simple synth line in the verses and bridge. It is on the verge of being overproduced in the chorus, but just barely holds back enough to be energetic rather than obnoxious. Demi Lovato delivers as well, showing sheer power and force in her voice that I didn't know she was capable of. She does show singing skill, but she stands out most by not being overpowered by the music, which is not something every Disney singer can claim.
This is Demi Lovato's "sexy time" song. She's basically seducing another woman (and it is most definitely a woman, based on lines like "Got a taste for the cherry/Just want to take a bite"), saying they're "cool for the summer".
This is the kind of song that should irritate me to no end. After all, I usually hate it when Disney stars try to break their contractual purity in such a blatant way. The thing is, Demi Lovato makes it work. The music is intense without being boringly so, the lyrics are just blatant enough to be obvious without being crude, and Demi Lovato not only proves she has a strong enough voice to keep up with the music, but manages to sell the lyrics, making you believe her. A lot of pop singers try to do these songs, but sing the words without any real conviction, such as Miley Cyrus' laughable "Can't Be Tamed". Demi Lovato actually succeeds, and this song is quite strong as a result. It's rare that I say this, but I don't think anyone but Demi Lovato could pull this song off.
#52: "Elastic Heart" by Sia
Repeat artist!
The music is...well, it's different. It's basically a synth/vocoder riff, with powerful drums. The bridge and chorus introduces a more traditional synth line, but the part of the song that stands out the most musically would be the drums. There is a breakdown in the middle of the song with a brass solo, but it still doesn't do much. Sia's voice is somewhat similar here as it was in "Chandelier", but she has a noticeably happier tone, even if she still sounds quite slurred.
This song is pretty hard to understand, even factoring in Sia's slurry delivery. Basically, she seems to be saying that she is tough to upset, saying she has tough skin and an elastic heart. However, she does point out that she can be pushed too far, comparing herself to a rubber band that can stretch real far, and then snap.
It's somewhat refreshing to hear a song about being a strong Independent Woman (trademarked by Kelly Clarkson) that still shows they aren't invulnerable to insults. That said, the music is too busy for its own good, and while Sia's style worked well with "Chandelier", it doesn't succeed here. This is a song that is interesting enough, but just didn't hit me the same way as "Chandelier". I think Sia could do happier, more upbeat songs. This just wasn't really one of them.
#51: "Only" by Nicki Minaj feat. Drake, Lil Wayne, and Chris Brown
Well, at least I don't have to introduce anyone. This is the fifth appearance by Drake, the fourth by Nicki Minaj, the third by Chris Brown, and the second by Lil Wayne.
The song starts off with a piano line that almost sounds like it was played on a xylophone and a lazy sounding bass line. A drum line does come in later, but doesn't add much to the dreary sound of the music. Nicki Minaj is the first rapper, and she has decent flow, but couldn't sound any more bored if she tried. Chris Brown sings the hook, and manages to sound not horrible, which sadly makes him the best in this group. Drake, once again, proves that he is quite capable of sounding EXACTLY like Lil Wayne, and that is not a compliment. Honestly, the only reason I knew it was Drake is because I was watching the music video. Finally, Lil Wayne actually sounds a little better than Drake, because he actually tries to show some emotion. He fails, but he at least tries.
The lyrics change based on who is singing/rapping. Nicki is singing about how she never fucked Drake or Lil Wayne, but goes on to demonstrate how "bad" she is. The Chris Brown hook is essentially about how he only likes bad, "thick" women. Drake's verse is some rambling about how he never fucked Nicki Minaj, but totally would if he got the chances because she's hot, and Lil Wayne is pretty much the same as Drake.
I don't understand how this song could exist. I don't understand how the producer could think the music sounded good enough. I don't understand how you could have these four artists, and have Chris Brown sound the best out of all of them. I don't understand how the lyrical content could appeal to anyone. I think I do understand the S&M imagery in the music video, though. Anyone who listened to this song more than once must be a masochist. Even in a year that had "Hit the Quan", a song produced for $35, this is still the worst song I've done this year so far. I am dead serious.
...I want to talk about how that list was overall not that bad, but holy shit, that last song was terrible.
Previously: #60-56 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.933498-2015-Billboard-Top-100-60-56]
Next: #50-46 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.933810-2015-Billboard-Top-100-50-46]
#55: "I Don't Mind" by Usher feat. Juicy J
Usher is Usher, and I'm still somewhat surprised he's still making music. He's gotten a bit inconsistent lately. For every "More", there's an "OMG" waiting. As for Juicy J, he's a rapper, and the first thing I think of when I see his name is his guest verse on Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" a couple of years ago.
The song opens with a piano line that is more suited to a love ballad than an R&B song. Even then, however, the music is too sparse to drive the song, relying on Usher to drive the song. To his credit, Usher is definitely on point here, showing just how he's lasted over a decade on the R&B scene. He doesn't really show much range, but his voice is smooth enough to forgive that, and his flow is pretty solid as well. Juicy J, on the other hand, doesn't deliver, but isn't really given much to do. He shouts out the intro, then basically becomes that annoying buddy who just randomly repeats random phrases or words. Until he gets a guest verse, and...Wow. He is a solid rapper, to be fair, but his rapping style just doesn't match up with the lyrics at all, and rather than the music acting as a contrast, it just clashes with his rapping style.
This song's basically about a guy supporting his girl. She works as a strip club dancer, but he feels that his love for her can easily look past that. Sounds rather sweet, right?
This song didn't work for me. The music was too monotone, making the song sound the same no matter what was going on, and Usher's talented delivery only made the lyrics stand out more, and not in a good way. See, while the song is about a subject that I wouldn't mind hearing a bit more, some of the lines don't work, such as the title drop. "Shawty, I don't mind/if you work on a pole, that don't make you a hoe". Yes, that is how Usher, in his decade plus experience as an R&B singer, decides to support his woman. Maybe I'm just inexperienced, but I find it hard to believe that she would find that comment comforting. Overall, a song that could have been quite good, but was undermined by its lyrics.
#54: "Renegades" by X Ambassadors
Not going to lie. I first heard this song on the commercials for the Jeep Renegade, and it literally took months before I realized that this song was not actually written for the commercials.
The song opens with an acoustic guitar, like you'd expect out of any indie or folk song. The only thing that it does somewhat different is using two different guitar lines simultaneously, giving it a bit of a layered structure, one more complicated than your average indie song. That said, the guitar solo closing out the song is surprisingly cool and complex for an indie song. The vocals, on the other hand, are nothing but generic. If you've heard any male fronted indie band with some folk leanings, you've probably heard someone sounding quite similar, if not identical, to this singer.
Like many indie songs, this song isn't exactly clear about its ultimate point. It seems to be a love song, though, with the singer encouraging the person to run away with him and live like renegades.
This is not a bad song, but there's a reason it took me forever to realize it was an actual single and pop success, not just a song for a commercial. The music sounds good, and the lyrics are actually quite catchy, but the generic nature of the vocals, as well as most of the music, makes the song sound commercial, and quite literally so in this case. Basically, it sounds like an indie rock band selling out. Not bad, but doesn't really do anything. Other than that solo.
#53: "Cool For the Summer" by Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato is a singer who came from the Disney school of singing. She's shown talent and longevity, by Disney standards, but to me, she's always been overshadowed, first by Miley Cyrus, and later by Ariana Grande. Always, that is, except for Skyscraper, which hit quite hard due to the fact that Demi Lovato clearly sang from the heart.
The music starts off with a pretty cool piano riff. The music proper features a fuzzy synth line, bass, and drum combination during the chorus, with a simple synth line in the verses and bridge. It is on the verge of being overproduced in the chorus, but just barely holds back enough to be energetic rather than obnoxious. Demi Lovato delivers as well, showing sheer power and force in her voice that I didn't know she was capable of. She does show singing skill, but she stands out most by not being overpowered by the music, which is not something every Disney singer can claim.
This is Demi Lovato's "sexy time" song. She's basically seducing another woman (and it is most definitely a woman, based on lines like "Got a taste for the cherry/Just want to take a bite"), saying they're "cool for the summer".
This is the kind of song that should irritate me to no end. After all, I usually hate it when Disney stars try to break their contractual purity in such a blatant way. The thing is, Demi Lovato makes it work. The music is intense without being boringly so, the lyrics are just blatant enough to be obvious without being crude, and Demi Lovato not only proves she has a strong enough voice to keep up with the music, but manages to sell the lyrics, making you believe her. A lot of pop singers try to do these songs, but sing the words without any real conviction, such as Miley Cyrus' laughable "Can't Be Tamed". Demi Lovato actually succeeds, and this song is quite strong as a result. It's rare that I say this, but I don't think anyone but Demi Lovato could pull this song off.
#52: "Elastic Heart" by Sia
Repeat artist!
The music is...well, it's different. It's basically a synth/vocoder riff, with powerful drums. The bridge and chorus introduces a more traditional synth line, but the part of the song that stands out the most musically would be the drums. There is a breakdown in the middle of the song with a brass solo, but it still doesn't do much. Sia's voice is somewhat similar here as it was in "Chandelier", but she has a noticeably happier tone, even if she still sounds quite slurred.
This song is pretty hard to understand, even factoring in Sia's slurry delivery. Basically, she seems to be saying that she is tough to upset, saying she has tough skin and an elastic heart. However, she does point out that she can be pushed too far, comparing herself to a rubber band that can stretch real far, and then snap.
It's somewhat refreshing to hear a song about being a strong Independent Woman (trademarked by Kelly Clarkson) that still shows they aren't invulnerable to insults. That said, the music is too busy for its own good, and while Sia's style worked well with "Chandelier", it doesn't succeed here. This is a song that is interesting enough, but just didn't hit me the same way as "Chandelier". I think Sia could do happier, more upbeat songs. This just wasn't really one of them.
#51: "Only" by Nicki Minaj feat. Drake, Lil Wayne, and Chris Brown
Well, at least I don't have to introduce anyone. This is the fifth appearance by Drake, the fourth by Nicki Minaj, the third by Chris Brown, and the second by Lil Wayne.
The song starts off with a piano line that almost sounds like it was played on a xylophone and a lazy sounding bass line. A drum line does come in later, but doesn't add much to the dreary sound of the music. Nicki Minaj is the first rapper, and she has decent flow, but couldn't sound any more bored if she tried. Chris Brown sings the hook, and manages to sound not horrible, which sadly makes him the best in this group. Drake, once again, proves that he is quite capable of sounding EXACTLY like Lil Wayne, and that is not a compliment. Honestly, the only reason I knew it was Drake is because I was watching the music video. Finally, Lil Wayne actually sounds a little better than Drake, because he actually tries to show some emotion. He fails, but he at least tries.
The lyrics change based on who is singing/rapping. Nicki is singing about how she never fucked Drake or Lil Wayne, but goes on to demonstrate how "bad" she is. The Chris Brown hook is essentially about how he only likes bad, "thick" women. Drake's verse is some rambling about how he never fucked Nicki Minaj, but totally would if he got the chances because she's hot, and Lil Wayne is pretty much the same as Drake.
I don't understand how this song could exist. I don't understand how the producer could think the music sounded good enough. I don't understand how you could have these four artists, and have Chris Brown sound the best out of all of them. I don't understand how the lyrical content could appeal to anyone. I think I do understand the S&M imagery in the music video, though. Anyone who listened to this song more than once must be a masochist. Even in a year that had "Hit the Quan", a song produced for $35, this is still the worst song I've done this year so far. I am dead serious.
...I want to talk about how that list was overall not that bad, but holy shit, that last song was terrible.
Previously: #60-56 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.933498-2015-Billboard-Top-100-60-56]
Next: #50-46 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.933810-2015-Billboard-Top-100-50-46]