20GAYTeen the Rate: WINNER!!
- Thread starter Trouble in Paradise
- Start date
You're a monster.
These can go:
- Troye Sivan ft. Ariana Grande “Dance to This”
- Ssion “Inherit”
- Years & Years “All For You”
- Years & Years “Hallelujah”
- Years & Years “Karma”
- Years & Years “Rendezvous”
- Years & Years “Up In Flames”
- Years & Years “If You’re Over Me”
- SOPHIE “It's Okay to Cry”
- Holland “I’m Not Afraid”
- Reyna “Baby Forget It”
- St. Vincent “Fast Slow Disco”
He/Him
Fast Slow Disco was a huge discovery and almost 11 for me, so it needs to be top 10.
I'm surprised the main forum hunties liked Holland's song enough for it to reach the top 50 when most of us K-Pop gays hated it ddd.
ohnostalgia
Staff member
She/her
I’m pretty sure that was the first one where you could actually hear his voice.
He/Him
Liking some of y'all's post exposing your own lack of taste was a test. I'm trying to finish up my taxes then I hope to have another elimination out tonight!
He/Him
Our next cut is introduced by co-founder of GLAAD Allen Barnett a writer whose collection of short stories The Body and Its Dangers is seen as one of the best depictions of gay life during the AIDs crisis.
49. "If You're Over Me"
By Years & Years
7.440
Highest Scores: 10 x 3 (@GimmeWork @happiestgirl @Posh Spears) 9.5 x 2(@londonrain @Lost Boy )
Lowest Scores: 3 x 1 (@The Hot Rock) 4 x 1(@soratami) 4.5 x 1 (@LE0Night)
My Score: 6.25
It's like thunder and lightning
You hurt me without trying
A tempestuous rising
And no, I don't like to be this way
Olly's plinky plonky Platinum smash not only snuck its way onto the U.K Top 10 but my own rate's Top 50. I'm shocked at how few sub-5 scores this received as I really thought it had a strong contingent of haters. Were you all too distracted by Troye's brunchs or Olly's posing in the video to whip out your 0's and 1's? We may never know.
I have to say that as a HUGE Years & Years stan, I did my best to rate this song fairly. I believe that behind the horrendous production choices there is a great song and the melody is undeniable even amidst the plink plonks. As I've done more research on the song, I've been fascinated to learn more about the story behind how it came to be and what could have been. Olly did a great song breakdown with Genius and the band talked with iHeartRadio about the album and each song's story. The long and short of it is that Olly wrote the whole song with Steve Mac who produced the song and that when he brought the song back to the band there was ~~DRAMA!~~
As far as the inspiration behind the song Olly explains:
To close up this messy write up, I wanna share my favorite part of Olly's lyric breakdown for Genius. He talks about his love for the word tempest which is also one of my favorite words. And it's also the inspiration by one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands. So let's all listen to "Tempest" by Lucius instead of "plink plonk" by Years & Years.
Now what did you all have to say for yourselves?
untitled basic but still cute somehow?
that's really all the commentary we need, I should have just used that as my write up...
...okay fine, here's the rest:
Posh Spears Ugh Olly’s mind for getting the UK GP to bop to this anthem for any gay who’s been in a toxic relationship
Remorque This was my least favourite from Palo Santo, but it's grown on me through the months from the radioplay it got here. Issa soft bop.
Untouchable Ace The General public usually have weird taste so it was bizarre that this connected more with this than say 'Meteorite'. You know what that's about don't you? A little hollow and odd for them. it reminds me of the theme song from Partners. You know that 'On Top Of The World' song.
The Hot Rock My least favorite song of the rate so far. :(
Verandi I don't hate this as much as I used to. Would be so much better without the plink plonks though. And better lyrics. Oh well.
ufint So because this came before the album I’m still a fan, and everything they come up with is a 8.. MINIMUM. Totally radio friendly, but not earth shattering whatsoever.
Pop3blow2 I get what they were going for here, but it doesn’t land for me.
Constantino This production leaves the poor sis Olly’s weak-ass vocals a little...exposed for my taste, but it still bops.
Gimmework People were way too harsh when this came out as 2nd single. It’s a beautiful, heartbreaking, fantastic bop. I stan.
Prayers that I didn't mess up the commentary this time.
49. "If You're Over Me"
By Years & Years
7.440
Highest Scores: 10 x 3 (@GimmeWork @happiestgirl @Posh Spears) 9.5 x 2(@londonrain @Lost Boy )
Lowest Scores: 3 x 1 (@The Hot Rock) 4 x 1(@soratami) 4.5 x 1 (@LE0Night)
My Score: 6.25
It's like thunder and lightning
You hurt me without trying
A tempestuous rising
And no, I don't like to be this way
I have to say that as a HUGE Years & Years stan, I did my best to rate this song fairly. I believe that behind the horrendous production choices there is a great song and the melody is undeniable even amidst the plink plonks. As I've done more research on the song, I've been fascinated to learn more about the story behind how it came to be and what could have been. Olly did a great song breakdown with Genius and the band talked with iHeartRadio about the album and each song's story. The long and short of it is that Olly wrote the whole song with Steve Mac who produced the song and that when he brought the song back to the band there was ~~DRAMA!~~
Olly: It took six months from that initial day for us to finish the track, which is crazy. So many crazy things happen. In the band we fought over it so much because Mike and Emre didn’t like the way the synth sounded, so we went back to change it. There was a lot of back and forth for a really long time. That’s always the hardest part, finishing a song. Because the initial inspiration, that bit’s easy. I find it easy, personally. You write something, and it sounds cool, but then it’s finishing something and having something that people are all happy with. Takes time.
In the iHeartRadio interview, Emre immediately labels the song his "fave" and "absolutely classic. Olly and Mikey's reactions are much more muted. Olly says there were a lot of versions while Mikey says there was a "tug of war." The most telling moment is when Olly says "Does it sound like Years & Years? We fought over it for a really six months." Emre questions "Was it really that long?" Mikey and Olly immediately confirm "It was really that long."
As far as the inspiration behind the song Olly explains:
I was feeling some type of way about my ex-boyfriend. I keep running into these situations where I break up with someone, or the relationship ends, and then I have this extended period that seems to last forever, that seems like maybe we’re gonna get back in each other’s lives. Are we gonna get back together? You’re sending me so many mixed messages. Why are you texting me at two in the morning? I had reached a point where that was at its zenith.
That’s what I want to write about. A lot of songs on the album are reflecting on past relationships, but this one is kind of written from the perspective of having a fight with someone and being like, “Look if this is over, you really need to just leave. Because this is too much for my fragile heart to handle.
I have no idea if this is also about Neil Amin-Smith, former violinist and brains/conscience of Clean Bandit, but I like to imagine it is cause he's very attractive and they've had quite the dramatic songwriting relationship arc. Neil was also the inspiration behind "Shine" and "Lucky Escape" while "Tears" by Clean Bandit came out soon after his and Olly's break up. That’s what I want to write about. A lot of songs on the album are reflecting on past relationships, but this one is kind of written from the perspective of having a fight with someone and being like, “Look if this is over, you really need to just leave. Because this is too much for my fragile heart to handle.
To close up this messy write up, I wanna share my favorite part of Olly's lyric breakdown for Genius. He talks about his love for the word tempest which is also one of my favorite words. And it's also the inspiration by one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands. So let's all listen to "Tempest" by Lucius instead of "plink plonk" by Years & Years.
Now what did you all have to say for yourselves?
untitled basic but still cute somehow?
that's really all the commentary we need, I should have just used that as my write up...
...okay fine, here's the rest:
Posh Spears Ugh Olly’s mind for getting the UK GP to bop to this anthem for any gay who’s been in a toxic relationship
Remorque This was my least favourite from Palo Santo, but it's grown on me through the months from the radioplay it got here. Issa soft bop.
Untouchable Ace The General public usually have weird taste so it was bizarre that this connected more with this than say 'Meteorite'. You know what that's about don't you? A little hollow and odd for them. it reminds me of the theme song from Partners. You know that 'On Top Of The World' song.
The Hot Rock My least favorite song of the rate so far. :(
Verandi I don't hate this as much as I used to. Would be so much better without the plink plonks though. And better lyrics. Oh well.
ufint So because this came before the album I’m still a fan, and everything they come up with is a 8.. MINIMUM. Totally radio friendly, but not earth shattering whatsoever.
Pop3blow2 I get what they were going for here, but it doesn’t land for me.
Constantino This production leaves the poor sis Olly’s weak-ass vocals a little...exposed for my taste, but it still bops.
Gimmework People were way too harsh when this came out as 2nd single. It’s a beautiful, heartbreaking, fantastic bop. I stan.
Prayers that I didn't mess up the commentary this time.
If You're Over Me is a cute little song that grew on me immensely over time, but it's still a weird choice for a single. I mean, it does have that light boppy feel to it so that general public might cling onto it, which actually kinda worked, if you look at the chart position and still...
And I forever perplexed by that thumbnail for the video, dddd.
And I forever perplexed by that thumbnail for the video, dddd.
ohnostalgia
Staff member
She/her
He/Him
Some of y'all are going to be very unhappy with the next result and I want to remind you that it's in poor taste to shoot the messenger...
ohnostalgia
Staff member
She/her
Can it be someone else’s turn? please?
He/Him
Our next cut is introduced by the fabulous Australian drag queen Doris Fish best known for writing and starring in Vegas in Space, a certified cult classic!
48. "Molecules"
By Hayley Kiyoko
7.442
Highest Scores: 10 x 5 (@soratami @pop3blow2 @ohnostalgia @Music Is Life @Untouchable Ace) 9 x 5 (@yuuurei @Reboot @Blob @Cutlery @Verandi)
Lowest Scores: 1 x 1 (@GimmeWork) 5 x 4 (@The Hot Rock @dylanaber @Untitled @LE0Night)
My Score: 9.5
So what should I do?
All that's left are molecules of you
Try to rearrange
Did you feel that everything was strange?
Once again, please don't shoot the messenger, shoot the @GimmeWork! Honestly learning more about this song's genesis has just made me love it even more and I already loved it so much! Let's start with Hayley's beautiful description of the inspiration behind this SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOP 10 CONTENDER before I get in my feelings post-therapy:
Okay, this injustice must come to an end, so let's close out with some swan song commentary:
Yuuurei Pretty and sad. I really like the way Hayley sings on this one. Some quirky and interesting production here as well. This isn't a track I think about much when I'm not listening to it, but I like it quite a bit when I do hear it.
Untitled everything i hate about the production of this album in one song
Kalonite I'd completely forgotten about this one, but listening to it again now, I've come to really enjoy it. The last minute of instrumental is great.
The Hot Rock Wish this one was a bit shorter. Could see this maybe being a 6 in that case.
Untouchable Ace You can feel the momentum. She's on an adventure of discovery.
Constantino NOT MIss Kiyoko giving us an epic, brooding slow-build. Way to surpass my expectations of her artistic capabilities, huehuehuehue.
Music is Life This is an amazing mid-tempo. I absolutely love the production, and how it builds into a more up-beat song. Her vocals are great as well.
Pop3blow2 This is my favorite of the Hayely songs here. It has its own vibe to it. While some of her other songs remind me a little of other people (not a bad thing, just an observation) this one seems very singular. I like that. I love the fade out here. My goodness, this song. If I had discovered this a bit earlier, this might've been an 11 contender.
48. "Molecules"
By Hayley Kiyoko
7.442
Highest Scores: 10 x 5 (@soratami @pop3blow2 @ohnostalgia @Music Is Life @Untouchable Ace) 9 x 5 (@yuuurei @Reboot @Blob @Cutlery @Verandi)
Lowest Scores: 1 x 1 (@GimmeWork) 5 x 4 (@The Hot Rock @dylanaber @Untitled @LE0Night)
My Score: 9.5
So what should I do?
All that's left are molecules of you
Try to rearrange
Did you feel that everything was strange?
“It's actually a really dark song. One of my friends was murdered and I could not understand the concept of losing him. And my friend, she read this poem about when people pass on, that they don't leave, but their molecules rearrange and they just change form.
“I was really inspired by that line, that I wanted to write a whole song about that concept of trying to understand loss, being upset about losing someone, and not understanding why. There’s that lyric, ‘So what should I do? All that's left is molecules of you.’ I feel like everyone's lost someone in their lives, whether it was expected or unexpected. Even someone you don't even know.
“You sit there and you're just like, ‘I just don't get it.’ And you go through this cycle of asking yourself, ‘How does this work?’ And you start to question yourself, just trying to cope with loss. I thought it was really important to include that track on the album, because I feel like that's something we all share. It doesn't matter who you are, what you look like, what you like. We've all lost someone and we've all been upset and are trying to process. So I tried to write that song and really create comfort over that loss, and create that feeling of not feeling alone. It’s definitely a very meaningful song to me.”
Oh god, I'm already getting choked up....okay so I'm gonna put all my feelings under neath this neat spoiler thingy that @Untouchable Ace taught me how to use way back during the genesis of the rate but lemme just give y'all a quick trigger warning for suicide cause I care about each and every one of you, no matter how foolish your usernames and/or taste may be.“I was really inspired by that line, that I wanted to write a whole song about that concept of trying to understand loss, being upset about losing someone, and not understanding why. There’s that lyric, ‘So what should I do? All that's left is molecules of you.’ I feel like everyone's lost someone in their lives, whether it was expected or unexpected. Even someone you don't even know.
“You sit there and you're just like, ‘I just don't get it.’ And you go through this cycle of asking yourself, ‘How does this work?’ And you start to question yourself, just trying to cope with loss. I thought it was really important to include that track on the album, because I feel like that's something we all share. It doesn't matter who you are, what you look like, what you like. We've all lost someone and we've all been upset and are trying to process. So I tried to write that song and really create comfort over that loss, and create that feeling of not feeling alone. It’s definitely a very meaningful song to me.”
So those of you familiar with my posting history will know that I lost one of my best friends to suicide when I was a junior in college. It's an earth shattering experience that still informs who I am as a person and who I will continue to be for the rest of my life. One of the hardest lessons such a shocking loss teaches is how quickly someone can be physically gone from your life. One day, your best friend is just a phone call or quick car ride away. The next there is absolutely nothing you can do to have them back. "Molecules" is such an impacting song for me because the lyrics speak to the completely destabilizing experience of losing someone close to you. The imagery of the lyrics with the pulse of the song recreates the sensation of running through all your memories with the person you lost. They glide through my mind and I can just barely place my fingertip on them before a new one comes as the grief builds and builds until finally the explosion of realizing the loss crashes in. Sonically the song captures it all so well. I rarely listen to the song all the way through as the first run is such an exquisitely captured sensation of loss. The only reason I didn't give the song a full 10 was that I miss the complete build up in the second verse, especially the titular stanza. Lyrically I don't have a single complaint as she hits me right in the heart with lines like "data in my head gets caught up in the drugstores/make me feel again."
Lastly, one of the things I love most is that way back in 2011, one of the songs that spoke most to me in the crash of my grief was "November" by Azure Ray. Sonically, it's far removed from "Molecules" with the lilting voices of Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink and their strummed guitars and waning cellos. However, the lyrics- while touching on both heartbreak and loss- connect with Kiyoko's. In particular, Taylor sings "So we're speeding towards that time of year/to the day that marks that you're not here/I think I'll want to be alone/so please understand if I don't answer the phone/I'll just sit and stare at my deep blue walls/till I can see nothing at all/only particulars some fast, some slow." Where "Molecules" is all pulsing, crashing red, "November" is blue particular spinning fast and slow. Both songs hold stories of loss. "Molecules" to me represents the immediate aftermath. That red rush and sense that the person is still in the air around you. "November" is years later, the grief burns blue and it's not till we sit, stop, and remove ourselves from the buzz of the everyday due we notice the particulars that still remain.
Phew, she just came back from therapy and just finished reading Bluets. Thanks for reading this all, the four of you that will
Lastly, one of the things I love most is that way back in 2011, one of the songs that spoke most to me in the crash of my grief was "November" by Azure Ray. Sonically, it's far removed from "Molecules" with the lilting voices of Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink and their strummed guitars and waning cellos. However, the lyrics- while touching on both heartbreak and loss- connect with Kiyoko's. In particular, Taylor sings "So we're speeding towards that time of year/to the day that marks that you're not here/I think I'll want to be alone/so please understand if I don't answer the phone/I'll just sit and stare at my deep blue walls/till I can see nothing at all/only particulars some fast, some slow." Where "Molecules" is all pulsing, crashing red, "November" is blue particular spinning fast and slow. Both songs hold stories of loss. "Molecules" to me represents the immediate aftermath. That red rush and sense that the person is still in the air around you. "November" is years later, the grief burns blue and it's not till we sit, stop, and remove ourselves from the buzz of the everyday due we notice the particulars that still remain.
Phew, she just came back from therapy and just finished reading Bluets. Thanks for reading this all, the four of you that will
Okay, this injustice must come to an end, so let's close out with some swan song commentary:
Yuuurei Pretty and sad. I really like the way Hayley sings on this one. Some quirky and interesting production here as well. This isn't a track I think about much when I'm not listening to it, but I like it quite a bit when I do hear it.
Untitled everything i hate about the production of this album in one song
Kalonite I'd completely forgotten about this one, but listening to it again now, I've come to really enjoy it. The last minute of instrumental is great.
The Hot Rock Wish this one was a bit shorter. Could see this maybe being a 6 in that case.
Untouchable Ace You can feel the momentum. She's on an adventure of discovery.
Constantino NOT MIss Kiyoko giving us an epic, brooding slow-build. Way to surpass my expectations of her artistic capabilities, huehuehuehue.
Music is Life This is an amazing mid-tempo. I absolutely love the production, and how it builds into a more up-beat song. Her vocals are great as well.
Pop3blow2 This is my favorite of the Hayely songs here. It has its own vibe to it. While some of her other songs remind me a little of other people (not a bad thing, just an observation) this one seems very singular. I like that. I love the fade out here. My goodness, this song. If I had discovered this a bit earlier, this might've been an 11 contender.
He/Him
Jesus fucking Christ y'all have no taste.
Your post was beautiful @Trouble in Paradise.
Your post was beautiful @Trouble in Paradise.
Yes, like @Music Is Life stated, your post was beautiful @Trouble in Paradise. When I saw Molecules as the title being eliminated, my first instinct was just start yelling 'No!' endlessly into the voice as my cat looked at me... so I didn't really even read past that at first.
'Molecules' is one of the best pop songs I've heard in awhile (it's my second most played song of the year so far). Normally, I'm a tad mad at myself when I sleep on something, I'm pretty sure I'd like, but just never get around to. When I finally do, I'm all like, 'Why didn't you listen to this sooner! You could've been enjoying this longer!' I mean, I realize there's only so much time for music or anything. It's just an overdramatic, silly response I have sometimes.
With Hayley & more specifically Molecules, I didn't even have the episode of disgust. I was too wowed. The first time I played this song was for the rate & I was like, 'fucking hell. What is this? This is amazing.' If Molecules had been the only song I discovered participating, the whole rate would've worth it. Luckily I discovered at least 20+ other songs I love. On top of that, your write-ups & the highlighting important people in history of LGBTQ+ has made the rate both educational & important. So thank you.
Now, if you'll excuse me. I have to go scream into void some more & find a proper GIF of disappointment to post.
'Molecules' is one of the best pop songs I've heard in awhile (it's my second most played song of the year so far). Normally, I'm a tad mad at myself when I sleep on something, I'm pretty sure I'd like, but just never get around to. When I finally do, I'm all like, 'Why didn't you listen to this sooner! You could've been enjoying this longer!' I mean, I realize there's only so much time for music or anything. It's just an overdramatic, silly response I have sometimes.
With Hayley & more specifically Molecules, I didn't even have the episode of disgust. I was too wowed. The first time I played this song was for the rate & I was like, 'fucking hell. What is this? This is amazing.' If Molecules had been the only song I discovered participating, the whole rate would've worth it. Luckily I discovered at least 20+ other songs I love. On top of that, your write-ups & the highlighting important people in history of LGBTQ+ has made the rate both educational & important. So thank you.
Now, if you'll excuse me. I have to go scream into void some more & find a proper GIF of disappointment to post.
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