20GAYTeen the Rate: WINNER!!

[Cutlery]

indigenous people shedding western gender norms forced upon them by colonizers is growing steam in Canada

Justice for Jeremy Dutcher

 

[Trouble in Paradise]

Our next cut is introduced by Elio Di Rupo, the first out gay male leader of a country, who was the Prime Minister of Belgium from 2011 to 2014. He was also the first francophone to hold the office since 1979 which feels like something @berserkboi could use for promo!

46. "Inherit"
by Ssion
7.571

Highest Scores: 10 x (@inevitable @Untouchable Ace 9.5 x (@yuuurei @Riiiiiiiii
Lowest Scores: 4.5 x 1 (@KingBruno) 5 x (@Untitled @londonrain)
My Score: 9.75

Inherit
Whatever you want
Inherit
It's all in the way that you feel it
All that you are
​

My beloved Ssion faces another loss here at 46 as the unstoppable groove of "Inherit" is stopped by some of y'all's unfathomable taste. When O dropped, "Inherit" was that song. The other songs from the rate had been released prior so "Inherit" was that bop just waiting to destroy you on first listen. Honestly, the power of the song is so strong over me that when I hear the little iPhone dings now I immediately hear Cody's voice.

Speaking of Cody Critcheloe, he is not only the songwriting and producing and performing force behind Ssion, he's also an amazing music video auteur. "Inherit" has one of my favorite music videos from this era and he broke it down for Paper:

I wanted the music video for "Inherit" to pick up where "Comeback" left off, not really a sequel or providing any concrete conclusions. "[It's] just a deeper dive into the dynamic between director and star; artist and muse; and the soap opera that could potentially exist behind the scenes of creating a 'show.' Love affairs, obsession, delusion, rhinoplasty, and more — a dream-like fantasy of a seemingly glamorous showbiz life where bits of nostalgia are mangled with modern neurosis to create this montaged hyper-fantasy.​

If that seems like a lot, it is! And the video is even more! But all in the best way possible. Ssion's music videos ooze this slick sense of humor while not avoiding the heavier emotions inherent in such scenarios. I love the push and pull of the "Inherit" music video and the way it matches the rhythm of the song so perfectly.

In learning more about the song, I discovered a fun fact about one of my favorite lyrics. In the bridge, Ssion sings "Be my wife, speed of life" which is actually a David Bowie reference. The inspiration behind the reference is that he wrote "Inherit" on the day Bowie died. He shared this fact via an Instagram live post:

​

And while' we're on my favorite topic (loss and grief!), it's important to note that the song was produced by Sam Mehran. Mehran was a renowned producer and a founding member of Test Icicles (later joined by rate entrant Devonte Hynes aka Blood Orange). His work on O was his last released project before his death last year at 31 from suicide. Cody has taken multiple times to social media to express his grief upon Sam's passing and even got his named tattooed on his leg.

Important and necessary reminder that every one of you is loved and valued no matter how you may feel or experience that.

Now onto your commentary!
ufint This thing in the PJSC. Could you imagine such a thing?! It would totally win. I like it, but it’s very predictable and I’m not left gagged (I want to be left gagged.).
untitled after 2013-2015 deluge I ignore this kind of song automatically
Gimmework The slinky synths keep me bopping.
The Hot Rock Nice chill vibes again. I hope Comeback wasn't an outlier because when I go to listen to O in full I hope there's more like that.
Kalonite This feels a bit basic compared to the others, but still enjoyable.
Yuuurei Love this slow-disco-y tune, it's amazing. The video is pretty cool too.
Untouchable Ace Can I Inherit a new toupee, mine floated away.
Music is Life I love bops that make me sway.

Cody also just directed the new Robyn video!
​

 

[berserkboi]

Thank you so much for the rate promo spot there, @Trouble in Paradise!!

My Dalida Rate is up and running everyone! An advocate for LGBTIQ+ even back in 1972, Dalida released a little song called Pour Ne Pas Vivre Seul which features lyrics celebrating homosexual love:



Also, since we have Belgian Excellence as a basis for my Rate Promo, let me feature this magnificent song Dalida performs to honour the great Belgian Jacques Brel, titled Il Pleut Sur Bruxelles! Yes, she had her own Candle In The Wind - that delivery though! Wow!



Both are featured in the rate, and there are plenty more great tracks to discover my dears! :)

 

[fatyoshi]

Tragic at another Ssion song leaving already.

Surprised one of the songs that we rated wasn't slotted out for 1980-99. I went to listen to the album during this rate without looking into the tracklist fully and screamed when I heard Sky.

 

[Remyky22]

Surprised one of the songs that we rated wasn't slotted out for 1980-99. I went to listen to the album during this rate without looking into the tracklist fully and screamed when I heard Sky.

Agree with this! Especially after Roisin's hilarious monologue on The Cruel Twirl, 1980-99 is a pure bomb. Some other tracks like Let Me Down Like U or Marc & Me might also have fared better than these ones that went out too soon. Fingers crossed for the remaining SSION tracks to last until top 20, god knows they deserve it!

 

[Trouble in Paradise]

Love the Ssion love from you both @The Hot Rock and @Remyky22! I had a really hard time cutting down his song selection but went with the “singles” that had got music videos. If I had pushed it and given him six songs the other two definitely would’ve been “1980-99” and “Marc & Me.”

 

[Old Untouchable Ace]

No more Ssion lost until the end now please.

 

[Trouble in Paradise]

Hey y’all! I’m sorry I’ve been mia in the thread. Next week is school vacation so I’ve been swamped at work and on top of that very sick. I’ve got the next elimination half written but can’t promise it’ll be out tonight. Next week I’m aiming to get us at least go the top 40 and do some legwork to keep the pace up for when I return to work! Appreciate all your love and patience with my first rate!

 

[berserkboi]

You are a star @Trouble in Paradise and the gaps in the eliminations only give the songs more time to shine, and are understandable considering all the work that goes in your wonderful write ups! Xx

 

[ohnostalgia]

It’s not like you’re on your seventh month or anything.

 

[berserkboi]

It’s not like you’re on your seventh month or anything.

You have the Monthly Charts, don't be hard on yourself either xxxx



(Vote in the dalida rate)

 

[Trouble in Paradise]

Y’ALL:
QUOTE="Petit nain des Îles, post: 6803459, member: 27049"][/QUOTE]

 

[ohnostalgia]

When Janelle says amazing things but - BOOBS.

 

[fatyoshi]

I hope some of y'all have also been listening to some full albums and/or EPs from artists in the rate. I've been working my way down the list of songs that have been eliminated starting at the first and I've been listening to an album or EP from each artist (if I haven't already).

Just out of what I've listened to so far, Too Attached has a nice EP and the Jeremy Dutcher full length is worth at least one go.

 

[Deleted member 29256]

I hope some of y'all have also been listening to some full albums and/or EPs from artists in the rate. I've been working my way down the list of songs that have been eliminated starting at the first and I've been listening to an album or EP from each artist (if I haven't already).

Just out of what I've listened to so far, Too Attached has a nice EP and the Jeremy Dutcher full length is worth at least one go.

You're in for a treat when you'll reach the Planningtorock and Dizzy Fae albums!

 

[Trouble in Paradise]

I hope some of y'all have also been listening to some full albums and/or EPs from artists in the rate. I've been working my way down the list of songs that have been eliminated starting at the first and I've been listening to an album or EP from each artist (if I haven't already).

Just out of what I've listened to so far, Too Attached has a nice EP and the Jeremy Dutcher full length is worth at least one go.

I've loved seeing those pop up on your 2019 Album Challenge posts! Sorry for the radio silence, went on a mini vacation with my best friend after a rough week at work! Will have at least one elimination out today!

 

[Trouble in Paradise]

This next elimination arrives courtesy of Patricia Highsmith who wrote the novel The Price of Salt which was the basis for the movie Carol which is the rare piece of queer fiction that isn't overwhelmingly sad. Not to mention she wrote it in 1952!

45. "Sleepover"
By Hayley Kiyoko
7.581

Highest Scores: 10 x 4 (@yuuurei @Riiiiiiiii @slaybellz @Music Is Life)
9.75 x 1 (@ohnostalgia) 9.5 x 2 (@Blob @Posh Spears )
Lowest Scores: 4 x 3 (@LE0Night @Empty Shoebox @The Hot Rock) 5.5 x 1 (@Remorque)
My Score: 7.5

You will never understand
Even when you hold my hand
I just feel alone, feel alone
​

After much delay, Hayley loses her next track and let the silver lining be that "Molecules" lives another day! It's rare in rates for a song's average to be so close to my own score so well done everyone! For me, "Sleepover" is a step above most pop songs (in my head, a 6 is a good song with a 7 being a better than good song). The added half point comes from the deeply relatable queer #content of the song's lyrics. I mean "At least I got you in my head" describes 90% of my early crushes.

Hayley has commented a few times on the inspiration behind the song, telling Billboard that "I tried to capture that intense feeling of yearning for someone, and how it just feels like you’re being swallowed by it." She added to Buzzfeed that "This is a really exciting piece for me because I’m able to speak my truth. Throughout my music, I’m in pursuit of a deeper truth — this is my truth." I'd say she's overall successful though as a guy I'm not as familiar with the tropes of female sleepovers so I'll leave that to those of you with more experience in that field.

One of the coolest things about Hayley's young career has been her command of her visuals (that album cover!) and that she's directed her music videos! The video for "Sleepover" is one of my faves in it's slow sensuality and that it stars two beautiful queer woman of color! There's such a HUGE difference between love scenes between two women that are directed by actual queer women and those directed by men. In the video, there's such a sense of romance and tension, you almost feel like you should look away since it's so intimate. Hayley commented on her Tumblr before the release of the video explaining:

I’ve never truly believed that sexuality defines who you are. I do believe, though, that sexuality helps shape and build who you become. How you act, what you pursue, who you surround yourself with. This music video for “Sleepover” is not a concept or an idea for me. It is my life. It defines a part of who I am today. I grew up a dreamer and found comfort through a safe haven in my head. It’s where I was able to find self-love and feel validated. This music video validates those feelings for me, even if in those moments the girl I fell for was unavailable. I made this video to help validate those fantasies. To create a space for the lovers, dreamers and seekers. Falling in love can be a bittersweet feeling, especially if you know it’ll never be reciprocated. I think we can all relate to that. Thanks for always supporting me. Love you.
​

God I love the way she completely takes the "being gay doesn't define me" trope and shatters it to pieces. Let's repeat: sexuality helps shape and build who you become. It's foolishness that some people want to act like being a member of a historically oppressed group means nothing to who they are. Hell, I'd argue even being straight shapes and builds who you become as it means you don't face those same barriers.

Now let's take it over to the voters before I get carried away again:

The Hot Rock this felt really inconsequential and was my least favorite of the Hayley songs. That's a good sign if this was my least favorite of the set since it wasn't BAD.
Pop3blow2 Perfect comedown track after What I Need.
Ufint It’s a mood.
Kalonite This is an earworm but not the good kind. Annoyingly catchy.
Posh Spears Always adored this one. A true dreamy bop.
Untitled the closest i came to feeling this song was this summer when checking out this beautiful english girl picking up watermelons with her boyfriend at the local Lidl shop. my life is sad
Slaybellz God I love this song so much. Very relatable and gets me in my feels every time.
Reboot This is such a soft, warm, relatable description of what it’s like to be a girl liking a girl.)
Music is Life Really enjoyed this mid-tempo. I can also see this growing on me. The lyrics are a highlight here. I love the sultriness of it, and honestly this is so relatable, it became a 10.
Yuuurei The first time I listened to this, I was instantly filled with memories of myself as a teenager, long before I knew I was a lesbian, having sleepovers with certain girl friends and how those were some of the only times I felt like myself and happy, but how I also felt weird and lonely. It's not the exact experience related in the track, but the connection makes it one of my faves anyway. The song itself is lovely and wistful and (fittingly) almost lullaby-like. A runner-up for my 11.

​

 

[Phonetics Girl]

waittt, at first i didn't even recognise that quote in the thread title and was so shocked when I saw Sleepover eliminated nńn. I may not stan Hayley like all the people, but this song before top 20, really? What's good, low scorers?

 

[Trouble in Paradise]

waittt, at first i didn't even recognise that quote in the thread title and was so shocked when I saw Sleepover eliminated nńn. I may not stan Hayley like all the people, but this song before top 20, really? What's good, low scorers?

That quote absolutely sent me so I had to give it it's shine

 

[slaybellz]

Really guys??? This song leaving at #45 is depressing.