The album vs album lineup is great, but what about some more of the artist on artist rates? Me and connie were brainstorming some other '90s-centered ideas a while back and were talking about things like an R&B girl groups megarate, or a Brandy/Monica/Toni/Mary slugfest, tentatively titled aunties vs nieces.

3 minutes ago, Graves said:

The album vs album lineup is great, but what about some more of the artist on artist rates? Me and connie were brainstorming some other '90s-centered ideas a while back and were talking about things like an R&B girl groups megarate, or a Brandy/Monica/Toni/Mary slugfest, tentatively titled aunties vs nieces.

We've done BMA before...

 

what about one for the Sapphos? Something to make @V3$$3L. scream in absentia? The singles of kd and Melissa and Tracy and Me'Shell and Indigo Girls? That would be cute, and we must support our TRUE sisters.

Hard pass.

On 11/7/2025 at 5:06 AM, conatus said:

Have we gone over 1999 yet? Breathe vs. Kaleidoscope vs. Mary vs. On How Life Is vs. When the Pawn... (We do not need to rate Britney, Xtina, or J.Lo again, and we can leave Rainbow at the wayside. There's always To Venus and Back, Da Real World, and Central Reservation too but this one seems like a hard sell as is)

 

Add Da Real World and yep - I'd even host it! NEXT YEAR.

1 minute ago, Graves said:

Hard pass.

@Graves in lesbophobia scandal - tonight at 11!

 

Other multi artist singles rates ideas:

 

- Before the Bubblegum Pop Bubble Burst: 98-02! (Everyone from Billie on down to Amanda of 'Everybody Doesn't' fame). Ending at 2002 because 9/11 killed Bubblegum Pop, teen girls moved onto the piano and guitar girls, and Stripped was the first sign of artistic evolution.

 

- A Disney/Nick state of mind - everything from Hannah Montana until the twin lights of Bangerz and Yours Truly.

 

And @Graves and @conatus - I think a R&B divas of the 80s rate would be AMAZING. 

My 80s knowledge is rusty. Who was holding it down in that decade? Anita Baker?

9 minutes ago, Graves said:

The album vs album lineup is great, but what about some more of the artist on artist rates? Me and connie were brainstorming some other '90s-centered ideas a while back and were talking about things like an R&B girl groups megarate, or a Brandy/Monica/Toni/Mary slugfest, tentatively titled aunties vs nieces.

Ooh, you wish you were me!

 

https://classic.atrl.net/forums/showthread.php?t=179857

 

https://classic.atrl.net/forums/showthread.php?t=195757

 

Would love for someone to host a Ladies of Lilith Fair rate, though! Been asking for that for years.

3 minutes ago, Ace Reject said:

- Before the Bubblegum Pop Bubble Burst: 98-02! (Everyone from Billie on down to Amanda of 'Everybody Doesn't' fame). Ending at 2002 because 9/11 killed Bubblegum Pop, teen girls moved onto the piano and guitar girls, and Stripped was the first sign of artistic evolution.

Your early onset Alzheimer's...

 

https://classic.atrl.net/forums/showthread.php?t=710167

5 minutes ago, supaspaz said:

Ooh, you wish you were me!

 

https://classic.atrl.net/forums/showthread.php?t=179857

 

https://classic.atrl.net/forums/showthread.php?t=195757

Both looked like fun, but I (and most of the rate-goers of today) didn't get the chance to do these decade-and-a-half old rates so let's start recycling, mama.

 

4 minutes ago, supaspaz said:

Your early onset Alzheimer's...

 

https://classic.atrl.net/forums/showthread.php?t=710167

Just call me Still Alice and hand me my Oscar!

5 minutes ago, Graves said:

My 80s knowledge is rusty. Who was holding it down in that decade? Anita Baker?

Oh, you could have some real fun with it. Aretha's comeback! Dionne's second wind! Patti and Chaka's solo careers! Whitney being embraced and then shunned! Janet and all her musical plagiarists! 

 

Plus Me'lissa Morgan, Miki Howard, Mi'chelle, Vesta, and many more! Just a road less traveled than the 90s, which have been done to death!

Interesting. I'd partake in a rate like that but I don't really have the pedigree to put together a song list, let alone host it.

9 minutes ago, Graves said:

Both looked like fun, but I (and most of the rate-goers of today) didn't get the chance to do these decade-and-a-half old rates so let's start recycling, mama.

 

Okay, mama! Just thought it was funny that both of the ideas you cited were the first rates I ever hosted.

 

I feel like there are still so many fun untapped rate themes we could still get to before we really need to start recycling, but it's whatever.

1 minute ago, Graves said:

Interesting. I'd partake in a rate like that but I don't really have the pedigree to put together a song list, let alone host it.

The maybe the reverse of what Supa did - all the "B" or C list girl groups of R&B? 

 

SWV

Xscape

 

702

Zhane

Brownstone

Jade

Changing Faces 

Blaque 

 

Mokenstef

Isyss

Kut Klose

Divine 

Wild Orchid (for the kiiis) 

Allure

 

Plus you can throw in the British ones (the half transphobic/half lovely Eternal, the fully chaotic Honeyz, Aleesha and the girls) and maybe the pop-R&N groups (Dream, 3LW)

 

That would be a FASCINATING rate and one without the inevitable top five (no Waterfalls or No Scrubs or Survivor or Say My Name - thank you!)

1 minute ago, Graves said:

And just gave you a great party idea! Just don't need SMN in another rate ever. Like, we love it but we get it! 

33 minutes ago, Ace Reject said:

@Graves in lesbophobia scandal - tonight at 11!

 

Other multi artist singles rates ideas:

 

- Before the Bubblegum Pop Bubble Burst: 98-02! (Everyone from Billie on down to Amanda of 'Everybody Doesn't' fame). Ending at 2002 because 9/11 killed Bubblegum Pop, teen girls moved onto the piano and guitar girls, and Stripped was the first sign of artistic evolution.

 

- A Disney/Nick state of mind - everything from Hannah Montana until the twin lights of Bangerz and Yours Truly.

 

And @Graves and @conatus - I think a R&B divas of the 80s rate would be AMAZING. 

Oooooooohhhhhhhh, somebody do these ones please! 

1 hour ago, Ace Reject said:

Add Da Real World and yep - I'd even host it! NEXT YEAR.

And the results would come THE YEAR AFTER!

 

 

Jury's still out on whether we should really include Macy given some of her questionable comments in recent years. Mary vs. Missy vs. Faith H vs. Fiona vs. Kelis would be a party in and of itself, but Macy makes sense being there too.

 

Some of those other rates sound like... Real hard sells. I'll say that...

 

If we're thinking '80s soul sisters, an album rate of albums from the... "not-big names" could potentially kind of work? I'm thinking Living All Alone (I NEED Phyllis in a rate), Get Loose, Rapture, Straight from the Heart. Throw in Irons in the Fire too if we're so inclined. That kind of thing. Just as like a taster. Brief, fun, easy breezy covergirl.

2 minutes ago, conatus said:

And the results would come THE YEAR AFTER!

 

 

Jury's still out on whether we should really include Macy given some of her questionable comments in recent years. Mary vs. Missy vs. Faith H vs. Fiona vs. Kelis would be a party in and of itself, but Macy makes sense being there too.

 

Some of those other rates sound like... Real hard sells. I'll say that...

 

If we're thinking '80s soul sisters, an album rate of albums from the... "not-big names" could potentially kind of work? I'm thinking Living All Alone (I NEED Phyllis in a rate), Get Loose, Rapture, Straight from the Heart. Throw in Irons in the Fire too if we're so inclined. That kind of thing. Just as like a taster. Brief, fun, easy breezy covergirl.

Yeah, we can leave Ms. Gray out - or stick her with the two feuds (that are everlasting) in part 2!

 

And that's a good idea - but starting with a singles of the 80s also gets some hits that people might know! If we stick to songs that went top fifteen on the "Hot Black Singles" charts, you get Upside Down and I Feel 4 You and Saving All My Love for You - all went number one on R&B radio! (I say fifteen so you could still have Living All Alone [the song]).

1 minute ago, Ace Reject said:

Yeah, we can leave Ms. Gray out - or stick her with the two feuds (that are everlasting) in part 2!

 

And that's a good idea - but starting with a singles of the 80s also gets some hits that people might know! If we stick to songs that went top fifteen on the "Hot Black Singles" charts, you get Upside Down and I Feel 4 You and Saving All My Love for You - all went number one on R&B radio! (I say fifteen so you could still have Living All Alone [the song]).

Yeah, I was wondering whether singles would be better but then I feel like you would inevitably get lumbered with another top 5 of just the big names, you know? That's not a bad way to approach it though, actually. We just all have to promise to not just make the top 5 be just the big names!

5 minutes ago, conatus said:

Yeah, I was wondering whether singles would be better but then I feel like you would inevitably get lumbered with another top 5 of just the big names, you know? That's not a bad way to approach it though, actually. We just all have to promise to not just make the top 5 be just the big names!

Good thing is a lot of the big names - like a lot of people today don't actually like Nippy's big 80s hits! So inevitably you'd get a more creative top ten!

6 minutes ago, Ace Reject said:

Good thing is a lot of the big names - like a lot of people today don't actually like Nippy's big 80s hits! So inevitably you'd get a more creative top ten!

Manifesting Phyllis sweep

 

1 hour ago, Graves said:

You know it’s all love @Graves

27 minutes ago, conatus said:

Some of those other rates sound like... Real hard sells. I'll say that...

You keep saying this to shoot down ideas that are not the same old music, but look at what just happened with Ladies of Jazz or the J-Pop rate. I would encourage us to try things that get an enthusiastic reception in here and then build on that base of support. See what happens! Not everyone on ATRL is completely uninterested in exploring.

4 minutes ago, supaspaz said:

You keep saying this to shoot down ideas that are not the same old music, but look at what just happened with Ladies of Jazz or the J-Pop rate. I would encourage us to try things that get an enthusiastic reception in here and then build on that base of support. See what happens! Not everyone on ATRL is completely uninterested in exploring.

Oh, I definitely don't think everyone is uninterested in exploring new stuff. That's been the whole goal with LOJ and the International Madonnas! I'm just not entirely sure personally if kd lang and the Indigo Girls is the way to go, or the R&B girl groups without at least some of the big hitters to lure some stragglers in, you know?

 

Technically I also only referred to the '99 one specifically as a hard sell because it kind of doesn't have the same name power as the '97 one does... Faith might have the Shania effect, but even more so! And Macy is... Macy. I'm sure it would still do reasonably fine

 

Maybe I'm still working through some unresolved trauma from that damn Elton rate...