[madonnas]

Originally posted by Muggwa

They just ****. On EVERYONE else. It's not even fair.

Idlewild isn't that good. It's disappointing compared to their other masterpieces, but I'd still recommend listening to it at least once.

That seems to be the general consensus about Idelwild. I might listen to it later, who knows.

I love a lot of Hip-Hop but so many Hip-Hop artists repeat their old tricks and only have 1-2 good albums. Outkast are just so much different from that.

[waryofothers]

Aaliyah - Rock the Boat

This songs instantly hits home for me. It's such a classic to me, and it represents Aalyiah's unfortunate passing, in my opinion. It will always have a special place in my heart.

Cher Lloyd - End Up Here

I usually skip this song because of the verses whenever I listen to her album. The verses lack a lot, but the chorus is pretty great.

Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend

One of the best songs in the last few years, IMO. Robyn proves on this track that even though she's under the radar to the general public, she will still slay your faves if she wanted to. One of her best songs.

Gwen Stefani - The Real Thing

This, along with tons from L.A.M.B., is such a perfect song. From Gwen's vocals, the melody, the beautiful instrumental... It's just amazing.

OutKast - Ms. Jackson

Such a gem. A great highlight of the early 2000's.

Florence & the Machine - Shake It Out

I haven't heard of Florence except for maybe two songs, but this is quite nice! She has such a nice voice.

Call Your Girlfriend - 6
The Real Thing - 5
Rock the Boat - 4
Ms. Jackson - 3
End Up Here - 2
Shake it Out - 1

[Patrick]

My 6 pointer and 5 pointer are picked out, but I can't decide to do with the others.

[TheGeoKing]

6 - Shake It Out
5 - Call Your Girlfriend
4 - The Real Thing
3 - Rock the Boat
2 - Ms Jackson
1 - End Up Here

[Jameson Teqkilla]

Omg I can barely do this.

[Jameson Teqkilla]

6 - Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend - A perfectly written pop track. Extremely clever twist on the breakup song, and Robyn knows how to EMOTE for a former Max Martin Britbot clone. The bridge is also one of the more genius moments to come out of pop in the past 15 years.

5. Outkast - Ms. Jackson - Just flawless. One of those songs that proves hip-hop and pop can meet in exciting, original ways that don't pander, but are relatable and accessible to all markets. Outkast were amazing at going mainstream without selling out even a little bit.

4. Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out - Not a huge fan of Ceremonials as a whole, but god this song is just a rush of beauty isn't it? I love how the verses sound like bridges. The drama and rush of this song is really staggering and really beautiful. Florence at her absolute best.

3. Aaliyah - Rock The Boat - It's a great little track, but it pulls Timbo's usual routine of being about 2 minutes too long. It could end somewhere around the 3:30 mark and we'd be all good. Such a smooth track though.

2. Gwen Stefani - The Real Thing - This is one of those LAMB tracks I don't have many feelings on, honestly.

1. Cher Lloyd - End Up Here - Ew. I hate the way she riffs, for one. I dunno, I just find her overall EXCEPTIONALLY tacky, and this style on teenbop hip-hop production just screams cheap to me.

[@michael.]

Originally posted by Jameson Teqkilla

1. Cher Lloyd - End Up Here - Ew. I hate the way she riffs, for one. I dunno, I just find her overall EXCEPTIONALLY tacky, and this style on teenbop hip-hop production just screams cheap to me.

Drag

[supaspaz]

Not Robyn, Outkast, Aaliyah, Gwen and Florence throwing DOWN like this! I haven't even Cher Lloyd's song yet and I'm already dying. Ace, what the hell am I supposed to do this week?

[BnPac]

Well... at least I know Ms Jackson is my 6.

[Great Username]

6. Aaliyah - Rock The Boat

Obviously one of the best songs ever. The most prominent vocals being backgrounded to add to the breezy, detached sensuality of the song is genius. Her voice just glides over the beat. Oh god that beat. The others could never. Any other placing for this song is incorrect, so re-evaluate your lives.

5. OutKast - Ms. Jackson

Nobody dislikes this song.

4. Cher Lloyd - End Up Here

Second worst song on the album, but still good. Works better in the context of the album as a cathartic closer than as a stand-alone song.

3. Gwen Stefani - The Real Thing

Pleasant but unspectacular.

2. Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend

It's impossible for her not to be annoying. Go away Robyn you're mediocre. Always.

1. Florence and the Machine - Shake It Out

Florence your voice is utter **** and your songwriting is basic. Leave.

[Flashing Lights]

6. Outkast - Ms. Jackson
Was there ever any doubt? One of the best hip-hop singles of 2001/the decade/the century/forever. Forever ever, forever ever? Yes, forever ever.

5. Florence and the Machine - Shake It Out
Honestly, I don't care much for the verses, but I'm willing to listen to them to get to the chorus. It's all about the chorus. That THUNDERING chorus and then I was hooked. Probably one of the best of the decade, so far and I need it on my iPod already.

4. Aaliyah - "Rock the Boat"
Her voice sounds elegant, soft, and comforting as always. I've never been able to watch the music video in full, because it'll just be too sad. She was a real force in R&B.

3. Robyn - "Call Your Girlfriend"
I just heard it for the time and it reminds me of Lady Gaga's "The Edge of Glory" and David Guetta's "Titantium". But since "Call Your Girlfriend" came out before both those songs, I just sound uninformed. She has a sweet voice, but this song is a bit corny for my taste. Still, I can take comfort in knowing that she inspired some of my favorite songs and I thank her for that.

2. Gwen Stefani - "The Real Thing"
Very Madonna-esque. Of course, Gwen's voice is great, but it's kind of boring.

1. Cher Lloyd - "End Up Here" Ehhhh.... no thank you. I've seen some of her X-Factor performances and she does have talent, but I'm not really feeling her songs.

[Wilkes]

6 - Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend
5 - Outkast - Ms. Jackson
4 - Florence & The Machine - Shake It Out
3 - Gwen Stefani - The Real Thing
2 - Aaliyah - Rock The Boat
1 - Cher Lloyd - End Up Here

[Kang.]

Originally posted by TheGeoKing;bt109627

Oh I have considered enough thanks. Ms Jackson isn't better than Gwen, Aaliyah, Robyn, or Florence. I can see you're mad that they are about to be eliminated though. You better beg for those votes.

I'm exposing you.

We need to get them into the final. OutKasts, unite!

[Ace Reject]

Originally posted by Muggwa

I'm exposing you.

We need to get them into the final. OutKasts, unite!

Fight.



I almost want this week to go on forever. I mean, so many comments already!

[TheGeoKing]

Originally posted by Muggwa

I'm exposing you.

We need to get them into the final. OutKasts, unite!

Desperate.
You are such a mess.

[Venus]

6. Call Your Girlfriend - Oh Robyn, how you make my little *** heart blossom.

5. Ms Jackson - Outkast, how I miss thee and thine amazing songs. Plz come back.

4. Shake It Out - Flo, why are you such an emotional powerhouse?

3. Rock The Boat - Nobody could make a slow jam like Aaliyah could back in the day.

2. The Real Thing - Gwen has had much better.

1. End Up Here - There are much better, listenable, Cher (Lloyd) songs.

[@michael.]

Bump. Get into this week everybody. It's so good.

[@michael.]

Originally posted by @michael.

Aaliyah, performing Rock The Boat 3

Cher Lloyd, performing End Up Here 1

Robyn, performing Call Your Girlfriend 6

Gwen Stefani, performing The Real Thing 5

Outkast, performing Ms. Jackson 2

Florence + the Machine, performing Shake It Out 4

COMMENTS:

"Rock the Boat" - I don't think I submitted a Top 4 for Aaliyah, but this is surprising. I quite like this song, and it will always be sentimental since she died after filming the video. It's so laid-back and it's an R&B song I can actually enjoy. Bravo!

"End Up Here" - Why is she so awful? I loved her cover of "Dancing on My Own", but I dislike pretty much all of her original material.

"Call Your Girlfriend" - Loved this from first listen. It's so nice when artists can make electronic music emotional, because the main criticism of the genre is that it's cold and emotionless. I love Robyn's take on infidelity, giving us a different side to the story. The breakdown is life!

"The Real Thing" - Another really emotional song! This was my #2 choice for Gwen, so I'm glad it gets to play. The bridge "It's you there when I close my eyes, and you in the morning"

"Ms. Jackson" - This song is excellent, OBVIOUSLY, but in a week full of some of my favorite pop songs, this falls towards the bottom.

"Shake It Out" - I was a late bloomer to this song, but it's so, so great Florence music isn't really jamming material, but I jam to this song like crazy

[supaspaz]

Probably one of the hardest weeks of Best of the Best I've ever played. Not only are all these songs worthy of the 6, but there were so many artists who I didn't want to let down and lose for the next round. It was quite a struggle—and maybe I got it completely wrong...

Robyn, performing Call Your Girlfriend: 6
Robyn's deliciously sweet brand of hurts-so-good dance-pop has always been a soundtrack for the misfits and the brokenhearted. So it's perhaps one of the most brilliant accomplishments of her career that she channels that compassion and tenderness so unexpectedly on this track, and makes being the other woman sound awfully right.

Outkast, performing Ms. Jackson: 5
This song works on every level—from the stuttering, distorted production to the compelling subject matter and witty couplets. But especially that FREAKING AMAZING sample of Wagner's wedding march. (How did it take me this long to realize what that organ line was?!)

Aaliyah, performing Rock The Boat: 4
Like good foreplay, the delicate, building sexuality is so alluring that I actually enjoy how long this song lasts.

Cher Lloyd, performing End Up Here: 3
The Princess of Brat-Swag Pop (I'm running with it, Ace!) + electric strings + a massive bubblegum chorus = there's no way I wasn't going to adore this one.

Gwen Stefani, performing The Real Thing: 2
Absolutely lovely and surprisingly affecting, but still only the third-best retro synthpop track on Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (after "Cool" and "Danger Zone").

Florence + the Machine, performing Shake It Out: 1
The sheer size and scope of the production are dazzling, and the choir of Florence Welches on the chorus is genuinely inspiring. A gorgeous cry of freedom.

[Patrick]

Cher Lloyd End Up Here

At first I was all "What's going on here?" and then I was all "I know exactly what's going on here!" and now you're busted! I-I-I came to the realization that you guys were privately messaging each other and devised this unanimous no thank you out of fear that Cher would knock her inferior competition out of this game. I have contacted Ace and suggested that, in the interest of fairness, only scores of 3 or above should be counted for Cher in this round of competition. The Brat Swag Pop Kween will not be taken out of commission so easily. (6)

Robyn Call Your Girlfriend

Perfection. (5)

OutKast Ms. Jackson

This will never not sound fantastic. It will always be great. Forever-ever, forever-ever? Yes. That's what I just said, isn't it?! (4)

Florence + the Machine Shake It Out

Cool. Anthemic. (3)

Gwen Stefani The Real Thing

The melody is so oddly ineffective, but I'm a sucker for anything this referential of the 80s. (2)

Aaliyah Rock the Boat

Filthy! Raunchy! Amusing, but otherwise forgettable. Would the general consensus about this one be as overwhelmingly favorable had that really unfortunate/tragic event (you know what I'm talking about) not occurred? Just throwing that out there. (1)