Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 3 (Subomie, Curaga, AMIT) LOWEST SCORE: 6 x 1 (bestfiction) MY SCORE: 10 The lead single for Bad Mode, Time launched in May of 2020 after almost two years since Hatsukoi. It was a modest hit for Hikaru, another gold digital single for the collection, ya know. Time was also used as a theme for the NTV Sunday Drama "Bishoku Tantei Akechi Goro", and it got a video too, but... it was 2020. You know the deal. Hikaru tried her best, truly. She had a camera, a microphone, a kaleidoscope, and a dream. The single package is a bit of whatever, but the track itself? Oh baby! R&Btada never fully left, the DNA was still there in virtually all of their projects thus far, but it was never quite as pronounced as the early days. We got nice morsels now and then, Forevermore comes to mind, but a pure R&B banger was sorely missed for some time. Get it? Time? ...Alright, anyway. Yeah - Time bops. It bops hard. R&B at it's best is just... hook after hook. That's Time. No wasted moments, no dead air. There's not a second of this runtime that I'm not tapping my foot along. A masterclass. Curaga like the quiet parts a lot! "So, so fun. Utada is effortlessly cool on this one idk. Love it. Love the vocal delivery 3:32–3:50 (is this the bridge?)." AMIT? He's just vibing in his room. "I have so much love for this song, I just never get tired of it. For a while I thought she would never release another R&B track with this kind of vibe, but she proved me wrong and I love every second of it. It's like a modern First Love/Distance song. Video is a mess though, lol." "Oh baby, oh baby, oh... Oh baby, oh baby, If I turn back time... Will you be mine?" 1 1
Cruel Summer Posted January 26 Posted January 26 Just now, Subomie said: **** this server!!!!! It’s because we got rid of Gold before the top twenty, it’s calling us oit! 1
AMIT Posted January 26 Posted January 26 the site was in the trenches for me yesterday so I gave up on it completely and that means I missed the eliminations yesterday, so annoying! But the silver lining is that I would have dragged @Curaga and their musty wig for their hate crimes against good taste through the mud so maybe it was for the best! 1 2
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 Automatic Sakura Drops traveling Deep River Letters 光 / Simple & Clean Kremlin Dusk Keep Tryin' BLUE COLORS Passion / Sanctuary Goodbye Happiness Michi Ore no Kanojo Nijikan Dake no Vacance Bad Mode Kimi ni Muchū One Last Kiss Find Love Somewhere Near Marseilles ーマルセイユ辺りー Top 20.
Cruel Summer Posted January 26 Posted January 26 Time is SUCH a great song. It’s one that initially I kind of felt might disrupt the flow of Bad Mode, but it fits perfectly. When we reach the halfway point, the way it mellows out a bit, then we get the bridge, and then it all comes together in that last minute - Bad Mode is just THAT album and Time is no exception 3
Suilen Posted January 26 Posted January 26 My Nostradamus skills are flopping lately. And more days of waking up in cold sweats, fearing that Marseilles could win the rate for real. 2
AMIT Posted January 26 Posted January 26 I knew it would be this when you asked for predictions. Quote Curaga like the quiet parts a lot! "So, so fun. Utada is effortlessly cool on this one idk. Love it. Love the vocal delivery 3:32–3:50 (is this the bridge?)." Quote HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 3 (Subomie, Curaga, AMIT) Maybe you do have something in there waiting for a redemption after all. 2
AMIT Posted January 26 Posted January 26 not Kremlin Dusk sneaking in the Top 20 just like that. @Reverie her revenge! 1 1
Cruel Summer Posted January 26 Posted January 26 I know it’s not happening but out of what’s left, I’m kinda pulling for Ore No Kanojo to shock us, go all the way, and take it all! 1
Suilen Posted January 26 Posted January 26 Kremlin Dusk being top 20 wasn't even in my wildest dreams, and like 4 people shaded it before. Talent! 1
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 4 minutes ago, AMIT said: I knew it would be this when you asked for predictions. Maybe you do have something in there waiting for a redemption after all. nn yes, sorry bae. this trio. we're kind of serving. 1 1
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 5 minutes ago, Hey Dude said: I hope Kremlin Dusk and Automatic are top 2 bruh you didn't even give either one a ten 4
Curaga Posted January 26 Posted January 26 22 minutes ago, AMIT said: the site was in the trenches for me yesterday so I gave up on it completely and that means I missed the eliminations yesterday, so annoying! But the silver lining is that I would have dragged @Curaga and their musty wig for their hate crimes against good taste through the mud so maybe it was for the best! The servers were down for my protection I guess asldjfaoisdf 1
Curaga Posted January 26 Posted January 26 OMFG TIME TIME should have been TOP 10 It is soooooo f ucking sexy are you KIDDING Full-on jam, bop, BANGER 1
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 Updated the second post with all of the eliminations thus far. RIP Spoiler 118. Poppin' - 4.54 117. Boku wa Kuma - 4.67 116. Wonder 'Bout - 5.097 115. Face My Fears - 5.44 114. Taking My Money Back - 5.53 113. Eternally - 5.572 112. Automatic Part II - 5.578 111. Phakchi no Uta - 5.67 110. Dirty Desire - 5.71 109. The Workout - 5.81 108. Come Back To Me - 5.88 107. Nokoriga - 5.9 106. Me Muero - 5.92 105. Never Let Go - 5.96 104. Too Proud - 6.086 103. About Me - 6.09 102. Tippy Toe - 6.11 101. Hymne à l'amour - 6.13 100. Can't Wait 'Til Christmas - 6.328 99. On And On - 6.41 98. Hatsukoi - 6.428 97. Let Me Give You My Love - 6.5 96. Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro - 6.539 95. HAYATOCHI-REMIX - 6.556 94. Kotoba ni Naranai Kimochi - 6.567 93. Easy Breezy - 6.617 92. Animato - 6.63 91. Give Me A Reason - 6.75 90. Kairo - 6.78 89. Arashi no Megami - 6.814 88. Jinsei Saikō no Hi - 6.83 87. Parody - 6.95 86. Hanataba o Kimi ni - 6.989 85. This One (Crying Like A Child) - 7 84. You Make Me Want To Be A Man - 7.011 83. Drama - 7.033 82. Apple And Cinnamon - 7.039 81. B&C - 7.086 80. First Love - 7.106 79. Niji-iro Basu - 7.108 78. Yūnagi - 7.194 77. Good Night - 7.22 76. For You - 7.31 75. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence - FYI - 7.33 74. One Night Magic - 7.378 73. Another Chance - 7.389 72. Kettobase! - 7.46 71. WINGS - 7.472 70. Forevermore - 7.478 69. Be My Last - 7.483 68. Ningyo - 7.5 67. 嘘みたいな I Love You - 7.528 66. Chikai / Don't Think Twice - 7.533 65. 甘いワナ ~Paint It, Black - 7.539 64. In My Room - 7.55 63. Play A Love Song - 7.561 62. Stay Gold - 7.583 61. Bōkyaku - 7.594 60. Exodus '04 - 7.6 59. Sunglasses - 7.61 58. Devil Inside - 7.639 57. Hotel Lobby - 7.655 56. Manatsu no Tōriame - 7.661 55. Shiawase ni Narō - 7.7 54. PINK BLOOD - 7.722 53. Prisoner Of Love - 7.733 52. time will tell - 7.739 51. Kōya no Ōkami - 7.75 50. Show Me Love (Not A Dream) - 7.778 49. Play Ball - 7.783 48. Flavor Of Life - 7.822 47. Ōzora de Dakishimete - 7.85 46. Tomodachi - 7.894 45. Time Limit - 7.928 44. Wait & See ～リスク～ - 7.93 43. Fight The Blues - 7.56 42. Nichiyō no Asa - 7.967 41. Tokyo Nights - 7.983 40. Anata - 7.989 39. Take 5 - 8 38. Distance - 8.02 37. A.S.A.P. - 8.056 36. Celebrate - 8.067 35. Movin' on without you - 8.072 34. Darenimo Iwanai - 8.11 33. Making Love - 8.133 32. Shittosarerubeki Jinsei - 8.139 31. Kiss & Cry - 8.144 30. Addicted To You - 8.167 29. Beautiful World - 8.183 28. Can You Keep A Secret? - 8.21 27. Heart Station - 8.22 26. Not In The Mood - 8.228 25. This Is Love - 8.25 24. Sakura Nagashi - 8.261 23. Final Distance - 8.278 22. Gold ～また逢う日まで～ - 8.344 21. Time - 8.367 The top twenty will commence next week. I'm taking the weekend off. Will do some graphic tune-ups in the meantime but hope to see you all on... either Monday or Tuesday for part one of the finale! 1 1
AMIT Posted January 26 Posted January 26 I hope a certain someone is forced to listen to Distance on loop all weekend long as punishment for their crimes and somehow gets stuck on Eternally with no way to turn it off! Happy weekend everyone and thanks for the lovely rate so far @Subomie! 1 1
Graves Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 In the meantime? Let me see those ideal top tens girls. Who are you shocked to see this high? Who's an underrated fave? Who's an overrated fave? I'll drop the first bomb - Sakura Drops and One Last Kiss are my least favorite singles from their respective albums. Would've traded both for Final Distance and Time!
Curaga Posted January 26 Posted January 26 29 minutes ago, Subomie said: Automatic Sakura Drops traveling Deep River Letters 光 / Simple & Clean Kremlin Dusk Keep Tryin' BLUE COLORS Passion / Sanctuary Goodbye Happiness Michi Ore no Kanojo Nijikan Dake no Vacance Bad Mode Kimi ni Muchū One Last Kiss Find Love Somewhere Near Marseilles ーマルセイユ辺りー Top 20. Automatic Deep River Kremlin Dusk BLUE COLORS Ore no Kanojo Find Love ok these are the sneaks imo, I wouldn’t have put these in top 20 but oh well. My 11 is still in it!!! 1
nostalgic Posted January 26 Posted January 26 (edited) 1 hour ago, Subomie said: HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 5 (Subomie, Take Me Apart, AMIT, Ewan Chaos, nostalgic) LOWEST SCORE: 6 x 2 (Aria0327, Hey Dude) MY SCORE: 10 One of Hikaru's favourite songs on the entire record, it was actually the last song completed for the album. Like Kimi ni Muchū, this is another track that Hikaru struggled with writing lyrics for. It makes sense to me. Bad Mode is an album concerned a lot with self-worth and emotional maturity, but bad days will always be there. Living with them is part of the growth experience too. I really love this track as well, so Hikki got taste. I particularly admire the juxtaposition between the stream of consciousness lyrics and the conversational parts. 'Hey, how are you? How has your day been?' They're so simple but they work so well for what the track asks. It's Hikaru taking a moment to stop dwelling on the doom and gloom and reach out to talk to a friend. As an album, Bad Mode really knows when to hype things up and when to play it simple and I respect that a lot. Not In The Mood is a great breather track for all of those reasons, a necessary pace breaker. Bonus fact - That's Hikaru's son doing the "not in the mood" ad-libs at the end! Curaga isn't a studying kind of girl: "Great, but the “chill lo-fi hip hop beats to study to” vibe isn’t really my thing, but it’s so well done here that I still love this track. Beautiful watery piano again." Ewan Chaos is here for the adult talk though: "This is a song for GROWN folks... the chorus is stuck to my brain like glue for weeks any time I listen to this." An immaculate trip hop track that channels the best of their vocal subtleties. Hikki really gets into their Ray of Light bag on the bridge and brings to mind Drowned World/Substitute for Love. I'm surprised no one has mentioned the gorgeous similarities there. "Hey, how are you? How has your day been?" is delivered in such a Madonna cadence, it's uncanny - and it works perfectly. Not too much as to obscure their own identity but enough that we can hear the influence there. Beautiful. Musical & creative artistry at its very best. When you can deliver music like this, there's very little left to do in my opinion - the peak has been reached. Edited January 26 by nostalgic 4
Curaga Posted January 26 Posted January 26 12 minutes ago, Subomie said: In the meantime? Let me see those ideal top tens girls. Who are you shocked to see this high? Who's an underrated fave? Who's an overrated fave? I'll drop the first bomb - Sakura Drops and One Last Kiss are my least favorite singles from their respective albums. Would've traded both for Final Distance and Time! Man, even with only this many songs left, it’s hard to pick! And we have lost some great ones along the way. I think my ideal top 10 would be (in no order): Sakura Drops 光 / Simple & Clean Keep Tryin' Passion / Sanctuary Michi Nijikan Dake no Vacance Bad Mode Kimi ni Muchū One Last Kiss Somewhere Near Marseilles ーマルセイユ辺りー [REDACTED] coming for the #1 spot!!! 1
Newt Posted January 26 Posted January 26 Michi, One Last Kiss and Find Love have no business being this high. I really should have made the time to submit my votes, my scores would have shaken up things a little Ideal Top 10, in no particular order: Sakura Drops COLORS Ore no Kanojo Kimi ni Muchū Kremlin Dusk Passion / Sanctuary Deep River Goodbye Happiness Somewhere Near Marseilles ーマルセイユ辺りー traveling 3
Cruel Summer Posted January 26 Posted January 26 21 minutes ago, Subomie said: In the meantime? Let me see those ideal top tens girls. Who are you shocked to see this high? Who's an underrated fave? Who's an overrated fave? I'll drop the first bomb - Sakura Drops and One Last Kiss are my least favorite singles from their respective albums. Would've traded both for Final Distance and Time! In album and track list order: Automatic Sakura Drops Deep River 光 / Simple & Clean Keep Tryin' Michi Ore no Kanojo Nijikan Dake no Vacance Kimi ni Muchū One Last Kiss I could live with this as a top ten 3
nostalgic Posted January 26 Posted January 26 As for the synth bible Heart Station leaving us so soon, it's disappointing and VERY surprising but I'm glad there's a few of my faves still in. Pulling for Sakura Drops or Passion/Sanctuary at #1. Genuinely shocked that with every elimination Kremlin Musk is still here and over Hotel Lobby that was booted over 20 spots ago 2
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