BLACK GIRL DEBUT MAGIC™ - WINNER

[Mr.Arroz]

#62

In Your Eyes


7.769


Highest score: 10 x 1 (@A&E, @KingBruno, @kermit_the_frog, @Solenciennes, @CorgiCorgiCorgi, @Sanctuary, @Sprockrooster)
Lowest scores: 6 x 2 (@happiestgirl, @paperboyfriendd)
5.5 x 1 (@Remorque)
3 x 1 (@Trouble in Paradise)
2 x 1 (@BML)
1 x 1 (@theelusivechanteuse)
My score: 9


Track background: #13 on Goldenheart’s track listing, “In Your Eyes” was written both by Dawn and the album’s producer, Druski once again, with an interpolation of Peter Gabriel’s 1986 song of the same name.

My thoughts: This is one of my favorites from the album. A pulsing, unrelenting beat, it is perhaps a little dated, and perhaps even more so, a demonstration of just how…confused (?) the album’s overall tone can come off, now that I think of it. In any case, I find this to be a bop, despite never truly exploding at any one single moment.

Your thoughts:
@Sprockrooster (10) - I completely forgot about this massive bop. Like how?!
@TRAVVV (8) - This was much cuter in 2013, so I’m rating it highly for the nostalgia.
@Jwentz (9) - C'mon dance pop Peter Gabriel.
@digitalkaiser (8) - This is a cover, isn’t it? I really like the reimagining of the whole thing. It’s a cute little dancey ditty.
@Bangers&Bops (8) - That wispy, ambient bop
@KingBruno (10) - I think the dance-orientated tracks may be the strongest part of Goldenheart. It’s the mysterious aesthetics by Dawn herself that block the compositions that include strong dance music influences from sounding overproduced. “In Your Eyes” perfectly displays this aspect; the track makes use of trance but doesn’t make it sound excessive, instead we get served to a rare piece of artful house music.
@ohnostalgia (9) - I am absolutely living for this Peter Gabriel interpolation, but I don’t really know why??? Maybe because the lyrics flip perspectives with Dawn revealing all the things she finds in our gazes.
@constantino (8) - The production is giving me Alexis Jordan and I’m not mad about it; the sugary sweetness marks a nice contrast to some of the darker and more solemn moments on the album.
@Remorque (5.5) - This desperately wants to go somewhere, yet kinda fails in the end with the verses belonging to an entirely different song than the chorus and both of them put together and it just sounds fucking clunky.
@Solenciennes (10) - Highlight of the album for me and the one song that I still use from the album all these years later. The beat is so damn catchy and the “mothers and fathers” lead into the second verse is huge. And that chorus!
@Trouble in Paradise (3) - Oh no, this is too much. The cheese factor is waaaay too high. The production is so basic and the sample is cringe worthy.

Live performance(s):
​

 

[CorgiCorgiCorgi]

#62

In Your Eyes


7.769


Highest score: 10 x 1 (@A&E, @KingBruno, @kermit_the_frog, @Solenciennes, @CorgiCorgiCorgi, @Sanctuary, @Sprockrooster)
Lowest scores: 6 x 2 (@happiestgirl, @paperboyfriendd)
5.5 x 1 (@Remorque)
3 x 1 (@Trouble in Paradise)
2 x 1 (@BML)
1 x 1 (@theelusivechanteuse)
My score: 9


Track background: #13 on Goldenheart’s track listing, “In Your Eyes” was written both Dawn and the album’s producer, Druski once again, with an interpolation of Peter Gabriel’s 1986 song of the same name.

My thoughts: This is one of my favorites from the album. A pulsing, unrelenting beat, it is perhaps a little dated, and perhaps even more so, a demonstration of just how…confused (?) the album’s overall tone can come off, now that I think of it. In any case, I find this to be a bop, despite never truly exploding at any one single moment.

Your thoughts:
@Sprockrooster (10) - I completely forgot about this massive bop. Like how?!
@TRAVVV (8) - This was much cuter in 2013, so I’m rating it highly for the nostalgia.
@Jwentz (9) - C'mon dance pop Peter Gabriel.
@digitalkaiser (8) - This is a cover, isn’t it? I really like the reimagining of the whole thing. It’s a cute little dancey ditty.
@Bangers&Bops (8) - That wispy, ambient bop
@KingBruno (10) - I think the dance-orientated tracks may be the strongest part of Goldenheart. It’s the mysterious aesthetics by Dawn herself that block the compositions that include strong dance music influences from sounding overproduced. “In Your Eyes” perfectly displays this aspect; the track makes use of trance but doesn’t make it sound excessive, instead we get served to a rare piece of artful house music.
@ohnostalgia (9) - I am absolutely living for this Peter Gabriel interpolation, but I don’t really know why??? Maybe because the lyrics flip perspectives with Dawn revealing all the things she finds in our gazes.
@constantino (8) - The production is giving me Alexis Jordan and I’m not mad about it; the sugary sweetness marks a nice contrast to some of the darker and more solemn moments on the album.
@Remorque (5.5) - This desperately wants to go somewhere, yet kinda fails in the end with the verses belonging to an entirely different song than the chorus and both of them put together and it just sounds fucking clunky.
@Solenciennes (10) - Highlight of the album for me and the one song that I still use from the album all these years later. The beat is so damn catchy and the “mothers and fathers” lead into the second verse is huge. And that chorus!
@Trouble in Paradise (3) - Oh no, this is too much. The cheese factor is waaaay too high. The production is so basic and the sample is cringe worthy.

Live performance(s):
​

What! How is this out so early?

 

[soratami]

#62

In Your Eyes


7.769


Highest score: 10 x 1 (@A&E, @KingBruno, @kermit_the_frog, @Solenciennes, @CorgiCorgiCorgi, @Sanctuary, @Sprockrooster)
Lowest scores: 6 x 2 (@happiestgirl, @paperboyfriendd)
5.5 x 1 (@Remorque)
3 x 1 (@Trouble in Paradise)
2 x 1 (@BML)
1 x 1 (@theelusivechanteuse)
My score: 9


Track background: #13 on Goldenheart’s track listing, “In Your Eyes” was written both by Dawn and the album’s producer, Druski once again, with an interpolation of Peter Gabriel’s 1986 song of the same name.

My thoughts: This is one of my favorites from the album. A pulsing, unrelenting beat, it is perhaps a little dated, and perhaps even more so, a demonstration of just how…confused (?) the album’s overall tone can come off, now that I think of it. In any case, I find this to be a bop, despite never truly exploding at any one single moment.

Your thoughts:
@Sprockrooster (10) - I completely forgot about this massive bop. Like how?!
@TRAVVV (8) - This was much cuter in 2013, so I’m rating it highly for the nostalgia.
@Jwentz (9) - C'mon dance pop Peter Gabriel.
@digitalkaiser (8) - This is a cover, isn’t it? I really like the reimagining of the whole thing. It’s a cute little dancey ditty.
@Bangers&Bops (8) - That wispy, ambient bop
@KingBruno (10) - I think the dance-orientated tracks may be the strongest part of Goldenheart. It’s the mysterious aesthetics by Dawn herself that block the compositions that include strong dance music influences from sounding overproduced. “In Your Eyes” perfectly displays this aspect; the track makes use of trance but doesn’t make it sound excessive, instead we get served to a rare piece of artful house music.
@ohnostalgia (9) - I am absolutely living for this Peter Gabriel interpolation, but I don’t really know why??? Maybe because the lyrics flip perspectives with Dawn revealing all the things she finds in our gazes.
@constantino (8) - The production is giving me Alexis Jordan and I’m not mad about it; the sugary sweetness marks a nice contrast to some of the darker and more solemn moments on the album.
@Remorque (5.5) - This desperately wants to go somewhere, yet kinda fails in the end with the verses belonging to an entirely different song than the chorus and both of them put together and it just sounds fucking clunky.
@Solenciennes (10) - Highlight of the album for me and the one song that I still use from the album all these years later. The beat is so damn catchy and the “mothers and fathers” lead into the second verse is huge. And that chorus!
@Trouble in Paradise (3) - Oh no, this is too much. The cheese factor is waaaay too high. The production is so basic and the sample is cringe worthy.

Live performance(s):
​

I gave that a 6 too.

 

[Mr.Arroz]

I gave that a 6 too.

13. In Your Eyes 7

 

[Denemarken]

 

[soratami]

Oh right, I got it mixed up with Northern Lights, which was mentioned right before the elimination.

 

[kermit_the_frog]

@KingBruno - "instead we get served to a rare piece of artful house music"

YES

I have to admit that I'm a bit baffled by people finding Goldenheart (its EDM tracks especially) to be dated. I was listening yesterday (mainly BECAUSE of those comments for previous eliminations) and I found it to be just as, well, weird (in a good way) as every other time I've listened.

That production, those vocals, those perverse melodies - this isn't David Guetta circa-2009 guys... or is it? Am I the only one?

 

[Solenciennes]

I’m a bit appalled this is out so early when it would have been my choice for 11 off the album if I’d gone that way. Madness!

 

[theelusivechanteuse]

Meanwhile, Azealia stays winning.

 

[inevitable]

I guess we'll let y'all keep your wrong opinions, In Your Eyes is iconic and people are still loving it.

 

[Mr.Arroz]

#62

Wildfire

7.769


Highest score: 10 x 4 (@happiestgirl, @JamesJupiter, @soratami)
Lowest scores: 6 x 3 (@He, @TRAVVV, @Sanctuary)
5.5 x 1 (@AshleyKerwin)
5 x 1 (@LE0Night)
4 x 1 (@theelusivechanteuse)
My score: 10

Track background: Produced, engineered, and co-written by Michel, “Wildfire” is Aquarius’s last original composition as part of its standard edition.

My thoughts: Slow burning, sensual, and just plain addictive, even if that’s perhaps not what’s meant to be evoked when looking at the song’s lyrics. Though it falls near the end of the album’s run (#17), “Wildfire” is one of the album’s most memorable album tracks. The “let me go”’s that make up the middle-eight are my favorite bits, alongside her ad-libs too.

Your thoughts:
@digitalkaiser (8) - C’mon hot hot steamy. I love the verses of this more then the actual chorus, but the whole song has grown from about a 4 for me to a solid 8 since Aquarius released. I can see the merits in the vocal stylings a lot more now that I’ve enjoyed more of Tinashe’s work.
@Bangers&Bops (8.5) - Give me that Rihanna-lite strong final song that marks the conclusion of a toxic romance.
@AshleyKerwin (5.5) - Tinashe’s discography is such a high caliber that it’s hard to give this a better score even if there’s nothing particularly wrong about it.
@ohnostalgia (8.5) - I always get dragged for liking Wildfire but whatever, let me fly my basic flag in defiance.
@constantino (9) - I’m gonna need some aloe vera right about now because that epic chorus burns my scalp to a crisp every damn time.
@Solenciennes (7) - It’s alright.
@Remorque (8.5) -
...but bop.
@Trouble in Paradise (7) - The lyrics are great here and Tinashe's delivery really sells the song. The chorus is impeccable but the verses have some production choices that aren't my fave.

Live performance(s):

Spoiler

 

[Sprockrooster]

Screaming @constantino's commentary as I am actually putting on aloë vera tonight for my cough.

Hmm. Not so sure if this order for Tinashé is the correct one. Then again, what do I know. I do feel like Kelela's smooth and sensual songs need to be treated much better than Wildfire is.

 

[He]

I’ve never been a low scorer before.

I’m ashamed.

 

[soratami]

This bop not even making the top 60 though...

 

[Mr.Arroz]

#60

Go Gina

7.782


Highest score: 10 x 3 (@soratami, @paperboyfriendd, @1991)
Lowest scores: 6 x 2 (@Sanctuary, @A&E)
5.5 x 1 (@KingBruno)
5 x 1 (@Trouble in Paradise)
My score: 8


Track background: In a Breakfast Club interview, SZA explains that the song also ties in to the character, Gina from the sitcom Martin:

.
"SZA believes that if the character Gina didn’t work so much and just had a good time like her friends, then she would have a more fun and enjoyable life".

“Go Gina” was first debuted at Sza’s show in Portland and then performed again a couple of weeks later at Coachella. It was also performed again during her live streamed performance at Jose Cuervo and Afropunk’s No Cuervo No Cinco event May 5th, 2016. The track was produced by Frank Dukes, Carter Lang, and “The Antydote”, and is track #7 on Ctrl. (source)

My thoughts: Easy, breezy, and a lot of fun despite what feels like a rather short length. The layering of her vocals near the end is so sugary/infectious, which makes coming back to this enjoyable every time. A very lounge-y cut, I also adore how it transitions into “Garden (Say It Like That)”.

Your thoughts:
@Sprockrooster (9) - This track always makes me play Lil Wayne's Go DJ in the back of my head. And that is a good thing.
@paperboyfriendd (10) - Is this song unfinished? Yes. Does it just trail off without a proper ending? Yes. But does the beat make my booty pop? Yes. A well deserved 10.
@Bangers&Bops (8.5) - The jazzy open mic vibe she has for this song is so good!
@ohnostalgia (8.5) - Go Gina! *hand bell* Go Gina! *hand bell* Go Gina! *hand bell*
@constantino (8) - I have so much love for authentic female empowerment jams, especially since Solána doesn’t fall into the pitfall of Taylor-Swifting it up with a bunch of insincere sisterhood cliches.
@Solenciennes (8) - Go Gina!
@Trouble in Paradise (5) - I don't feel this song at all. The chorus is pretty empty and the verses don't do much to uplift it. The cash register sound is grating.

Live performances(s):




​

 

[Heaven on Earth]

This did not just seriously happen.

I think I underscored it.

 

[Petty Mayonnaise]

My favorite part of Go Gina lowkey is the Pepper Ann reference dddd

 

[Denemarken]

@KingBruno - "instead we get served to a rare piece of artful house music"

YES

I have to admit that I'm a bit baffled by people finding Goldenheart (its EDM tracks especially) to be dated. I was listening yesterday (mainly BECAUSE of those comments for previous eliminations) and I found it to be just as, well, weird (in a good way) as every other time I've listened.

That production, those vocals, those perverse melodies - this isn't David Guetta circa-2009 guys... or is it? Am I the only one?

Agreed! I notice that EDM songs get called out for being ‘dated’ a lot of times, but I think most of that has to do with the genre itself instead of the tracks categorized in the genre. EDM isn’t as popular as it used to be but I don’t think that affects the quality of the music.

 

[2014]

Not Wildfire already!

 

[Mr.Arroz]

#60

BBD

7.782


Highest score: 10 x 2 (@BML, @soratami, @Sanctuary)
Lowest scores: 4 x 1 (@Trouble in Paradise)
My score: 8

Track background: Written by AZ along with New Work and Kevin James, “BBD” was formally announced on the rapper’s Twitter account ("It's Trap, but it's Rave. it's Banjee, But still a lil classy") and released to Soundcloud on January 1st, 2013. Standing for 'Bad Bitches Do It', “BBD” eventually made it on Broke with Expensive Taste’s final tracklisting, in its original form produced by both Apple Juice Kid and Sup Doodle when the long-awaited album finally saw release in November 2014. The first promotional release from the LP, Banks clarified quite quickly that the song would not serve as BWET’s lead single, simply tweeting "Y'all know i love dropping songs tho! Lol" [source]. The song contains excerpts from ETX!ETC! and Brillz’S “Swoop” as well as UZ’s "Trap Shit V9". Banks herself explains the song here, from "16 Days of Azealia", a Youtube mini-series that included videos dedicated to track-by-track commentary for each of the album's featured songs.

My thoughts: I love basically everything on BWET, and this is no exception. The production, the swagger, Christ. Despite ranking fairly low on AZ tracks that I would bop/choose first, that alone is a testament to the quality of her music, both from my personal assessment, but from the collective score we see here. Despite being a banger, the production does get a bit…repetitive at times, which is one of the criticisms that I reserve for many things that Azealia has releases, but it overall is still strong, expansive, and rich. A shame to see it go.


Your thoughts:
@TRAVVV (7.5) - This song tastes like red bull and tequila and my Coachella 2013
@Bangers&Bops (8.5) - I'll let Azealia describe this one herself. "Trap, but it's Rave. it's Banjee, But still a lil classy." Word.
@soratami (10) - This was an highlight when I saw her live, it was pretty epic. The whole show was amazing though.
@He (8) - A fun track to vibe with. Not a highlight but it keeps the quality consistent.
@ohnostalgia (8.5) - I imagine the dizzying crescendos as an awakening of women, freed from their boorish, unappreciative husbands. A new army awakes, birthed by Azealia’s tongue. A Sappho for the modern age.
@constantino (9) - This is grimey as fuck and I live. The sheer variety of textures she explores on this album, from ethereal icey house to heavy post-dubstep and trap...she is such a fucking talent I could cry.
@Solenciennes (9) - Even though I am not a bad bitch and I don’t do it, this track gives me hope that one day I could. I fall off before the beat does but maybe one day.
@Trouble in Paradise (4) - Ugh some of these lyrics are rough, and even if I'm more into her rap-oriented songs, I can't say this one really does it for me. Some of the production is rough.


Live performance(s):








Twenty-SIX songs left before a single Azealia track felt the pressure. That says a lot about the quality that Banks curated for her debut, one of my favorite releases of all time. So from here on out….it’s every artist for herself.