I just stopped trying.Still trying to like Shura. One day i'll be there.
COMPLETE - The Indie/Alt Pop/Not-quite-'Mainstream'-but-still-accessible Girls 2017 Rate!!1
- Thread starter constantino
- Start date
Time for another cut, before which I would like to thank you all for the #discourse that has been unfolding in the thread lately. And yes, please keep fighting. Hopefully this elimination will fan some flames...
When I said, “let me think, ” and you yelled through your teeth
Accused me of actin’ like all royalty
Always for show, no true charity
You saw me on magazines and TV
But they only knew the real version of me
Only you know the secrets, the swamp, and the fear
What happened to blood, our family?
Annie, how could you do this to me?
Of course, I blame me
When you get free, Johnny
I hope you find peace
43. St Vincent - Happy Birthday, Johnny
Average: 7.69
High: 10 x 19 (!!!!) (@dylanaber @Trouble in Paradise @Serg. @LE0Night @Petty Mayonnaise @Animalia @Sprockrooster @Kuhleezi @Lila @Remorque @soratami @JamesJupiter @Oleander @kalonite @Remyky22 @Heaven on Earth @RUNAWAY @Slice of Life)
Low: 2 x 1 (@slaybellz)
My score: 10
10 voters in: 49
20 voters in: 50
30 voters in: 60 *gay gasp*
40 voters in: 54
50 voters in: 51
60 voters in: 44
Whew! We LOVE an emotional rollercoaster! We LOVE a bit of perseverance! We LOVE it when a song refuses to be done too wrong and claws it's way up despite witches like @slaybellz trying to tank it. As you can see, this got the highest number of 10s in the rate so far - in fact, the next song to have as many landed at #31, so clearly something is wrong with those who didn't give this a score above an 8 and that's just the tea. Based on statistics, it should've made it to the top 40 and y'all are evil.
I chose a candid behind-the-scenes shot for the cover because it strips away the sheen of Masseduction’s bright, polished visuals, much like this song. It’s the most stripped back track on the album and I wanted to pay homage to that with a ~raw~ BTS image for the artwork. The unofficial cover...I can only apologise.
This proved to be one of Pitchfork's favourites on the album so take that as you wish. They covered this song extensively in their feature for the album:
One of Masseduction's highlights is the sorrowful "Happy Birthday, Johnny," in which she sings about losing touch with a friend who is bogged down by drugs and depression. "That's a banger," she says sarcastically. Some artists might worry about being so revealing on record, but Clark doesn't mind inviting people in. "It's just my life," she says. "Besides, you can't fact-check a record."
You kind of break the fourth wall in this song when you sing, “Annie, how could you do this to me?” Are you ever concerned with performing something so seemingly personal and bare?
When I’m performing on stage, it does not matter how I’m feeling. Is the audience getting a great show and connecting emotionally, viscerally, intellectually? Will they walk out of the room being the tiniest modicum better off than they were when they walked in? That’s my only goal. Also, the way I feel onstage so often has no correlation to the audience’s experience. I’ve walked offstage and thought, God, that was a great show, but people who’d seen the show were like, “That was fine.” Then I’ve walked offstage cursing up a storm and just going, “That was a disaster,” and then people go, “Wow, you really did it tonight.” There’s no correlation, and it doesn’t matter. It’s ironic because I’m positioning myself as the sole focus of a show, but it’s not about me.
The question remains (RIP), who exactly is this mysterious ex-lover who has been the muse for not one, not two but THREE of Annie's most emotionally-charged songs in her discography. Johnny first popped up, according to fan speculation, as 'John' in Marry Me's stunning title track over TEN YEARS AGO. He later cropped up with a considerable glo up in the etherial 'Prince Johnny' on Annie's 2014 self-titled, and now, in 2017, he gets his very own mournful birthday banger.
The #whothefuckisJohnny mystery cropped up in many comments from voters:
Not GimmeWork (4) though! Like the strong, independent woman she is, she just wanted some excitement: Maybe it’s because the first half of the album is so exciting and then this song slows it down, but I’m not into it and I don’t care about Johnny. Neither did Annie apparently ddd don't joke about that.
SHOCKINGLY, Bleedingheart80 (5) was also indifferent: This is just okay for me. Like I said in my Lana commentary, I don't care for mellow/slow songs.
Their score is way too low but at least happiestgirl (6) is right about the vocals: It’s a bit eh compared to the previous songs on the album but her vocals are beautiful. They sure are.
Enjoy (6), who sent me his commentary separately from his scores...and didn't bother to adjust his score despite being within the voting period...I'm ashamed of myself that i gave this a six as it finally clicked with me and i realized how devastating it is and the simple nature works in that sense. I'm glad you feel ashamed.
Now onto the exclusive club of those with taste, starting with Michael17 (8.5): At first I thought it was too boring, but it is the bit of heart that this robot-pop album needs. I can’t say I want to listen to this often, but it is a beautiful ballad with a lot of charm
Bangers&Bops (9) goes through the lyrics with a fine-tooth comb and I'm living: Throughout, the melody is laced with weirdly specific lyrical references: “Remember one Christmas / I gave you Jim Carroll,” or, “remember one summer / we walked in Times Square.” Clark even addresses struggles with her own growing celebrity, referencing appearances in magazines and on TV ("if they only knew the real version of me"). Most tellingly, Clark breaks the fourth wall, emerging not as the lauded St. Vincent but as simply Annie Clark: “Annie, how could you do this to me?” WIG. Wig indeed.
Maybe mokitsu (9.5) isn’t heartless after all? ‘It's just a simple piano ballad but it's really affecting. I can definitely sense her emotions through her vocals.’
ufint (9.5) gives the good sis Regina Spektor yet MORE mainstream PJ rate promo - talent! 'In many ways this reminds me of Regina Spektor at her very best, in the sense that she has such a clear narrative. Such a bittersweet song, it’s heartbreaking and gratifying at the same time.'
Kalonite (10) references yet another singer-songwriter ICON: I'm getting Sinéad O'Connor ballad vibes and it's working for me.
Kuhleezi (10) agrees, calling it ‘Utterly devastating. At this point I'm like Ms. Henny herself in wondering "who the fuck is Johnny" but I can't help but feel deeply for them every single time.’
Disclaimer: I made the Henny gif a month before @Kuhleezi sent me their commentary and @NecessaryVoodoo has the receipts.
Trouble in Paradise (10) echoes my thoughts, talent! 'I feel like the hidden strength of this album is Annie’s ballads. This is a heart wrenching tale with all the right production choices- particularly the slide guitar.'
We'll be closing with Slice of Life (10), who also had a ~moment~ to this track at a crucial time, and pays tribute to a fallen LGBT fave: To be honest, I was getting frustrated with this album because it just doesn't 'happen' for me. But this song just quietly crept up on me. What kind of tenderness? What kind of sincerity? What kind of ughhhhhh??? Iconique. Reminds me of forgotten chanteuse Ryn Weaver's Traveling Song.
Happy Birthday, Ryn
Wherever you are
Happy Birthday, Ryn
Wherever you are
When I said, “let me think, ” and you yelled through your teeth
Accused me of actin’ like all royalty
Always for show, no true charity
You saw me on magazines and TV
But they only knew the real version of me
Only you know the secrets, the swamp, and the fear
What happened to blood, our family?
Annie, how could you do this to me?
Of course, I blame me
When you get free, Johnny
I hope you find peace
43. St Vincent - Happy Birthday, Johnny
Average: 7.69
High: 10 x 19 (!!!!) (@dylanaber @Trouble in Paradise @Serg. @LE0Night @Petty Mayonnaise @Animalia @Sprockrooster @Kuhleezi @Lila @Remorque @soratami @JamesJupiter @Oleander @kalonite @Remyky22 @Heaven on Earth @RUNAWAY @Slice of Life)
Low: 2 x 1 (@slaybellz)
My score: 10
10 voters in: 49
20 voters in: 50
30 voters in: 60 *gay gasp*
40 voters in: 54
50 voters in: 51
60 voters in: 44
Whew! We LOVE an emotional rollercoaster! We LOVE a bit of perseverance! We LOVE it when a song refuses to be done too wrong and claws it's way up despite witches like @slaybellz trying to tank it. As you can see, this got the highest number of 10s in the rate so far - in fact, the next song to have as many landed at #31, so clearly something is wrong with those who didn't give this a score above an 8 and that's just the tea. Based on statistics, it should've made it to the top 40 and y'all are evil.
I chose a candid behind-the-scenes shot for the cover because it strips away the sheen of Masseduction’s bright, polished visuals, much like this song. It’s the most stripped back track on the album and I wanted to pay homage to that with a ~raw~ BTS image for the artwork. The unofficial cover...I can only apologise.
This proved to be one of Pitchfork's favourites on the album so take that as you wish. They covered this song extensively in their feature for the album:
One of Masseduction's highlights is the sorrowful "Happy Birthday, Johnny," in which she sings about losing touch with a friend who is bogged down by drugs and depression. "That's a banger," she says sarcastically. Some artists might worry about being so revealing on record, but Clark doesn't mind inviting people in. "It's just my life," she says. "Besides, you can't fact-check a record."
You kind of break the fourth wall in this song when you sing, “Annie, how could you do this to me?” Are you ever concerned with performing something so seemingly personal and bare?
When I’m performing on stage, it does not matter how I’m feeling. Is the audience getting a great show and connecting emotionally, viscerally, intellectually? Will they walk out of the room being the tiniest modicum better off than they were when they walked in? That’s my only goal. Also, the way I feel onstage so often has no correlation to the audience’s experience. I’ve walked offstage and thought, God, that was a great show, but people who’d seen the show were like, “That was fine.” Then I’ve walked offstage cursing up a storm and just going, “That was a disaster,” and then people go, “Wow, you really did it tonight.” There’s no correlation, and it doesn’t matter. It’s ironic because I’m positioning myself as the sole focus of a show, but it’s not about me.
The question remains (RIP), who exactly is this mysterious ex-lover who has been the muse for not one, not two but THREE of Annie's most emotionally-charged songs in her discography. Johnny first popped up, according to fan speculation, as 'John' in Marry Me's stunning title track over TEN YEARS AGO. He later cropped up with a considerable glo up in the etherial 'Prince Johnny' on Annie's 2014 self-titled, and now, in 2017, he gets his very own mournful birthday banger.
The #whothefuckisJohnny mystery cropped up in many comments from voters:
Not GimmeWork (4) though! Like the strong, independent woman she is, she just wanted some excitement: Maybe it’s because the first half of the album is so exciting and then this song slows it down, but I’m not into it and I don’t care about Johnny. Neither did Annie apparently ddd don't joke about that.
SHOCKINGLY, Bleedingheart80 (5) was also indifferent: This is just okay for me. Like I said in my Lana commentary, I don't care for mellow/slow songs.
Their score is way too low but at least happiestgirl (6) is right about the vocals: It’s a bit eh compared to the previous songs on the album but her vocals are beautiful. They sure are.
Enjoy (6), who sent me his commentary separately from his scores...and didn't bother to adjust his score despite being within the voting period...I'm ashamed of myself that i gave this a six as it finally clicked with me and i realized how devastating it is and the simple nature works in that sense. I'm glad you feel ashamed.
Now onto the exclusive club of those with taste, starting with Michael17 (8.5): At first I thought it was too boring, but it is the bit of heart that this robot-pop album needs. I can’t say I want to listen to this often, but it is a beautiful ballad with a lot of charm
Bangers&Bops (9) goes through the lyrics with a fine-tooth comb and I'm living: Throughout, the melody is laced with weirdly specific lyrical references: “Remember one Christmas / I gave you Jim Carroll,” or, “remember one summer / we walked in Times Square.” Clark even addresses struggles with her own growing celebrity, referencing appearances in magazines and on TV ("if they only knew the real version of me"). Most tellingly, Clark breaks the fourth wall, emerging not as the lauded St. Vincent but as simply Annie Clark: “Annie, how could you do this to me?” WIG. Wig indeed.
Maybe mokitsu (9.5) isn’t heartless after all? ‘It's just a simple piano ballad but it's really affecting. I can definitely sense her emotions through her vocals.’
ufint (9.5) gives the good sis Regina Spektor yet MORE mainstream PJ rate promo - talent! 'In many ways this reminds me of Regina Spektor at her very best, in the sense that she has such a clear narrative. Such a bittersweet song, it’s heartbreaking and gratifying at the same time.'
Kalonite (10) references yet another singer-songwriter ICON: I'm getting Sinéad O'Connor ballad vibes and it's working for me.
Kuhleezi (10) agrees, calling it ‘Utterly devastating. At this point I'm like Ms. Henny herself in wondering "who the fuck is Johnny" but I can't help but feel deeply for them every single time.’
Disclaimer: I made the Henny gif a month before @Kuhleezi sent me their commentary and @NecessaryVoodoo has the receipts.
Trouble in Paradise (10) echoes my thoughts, talent! 'I feel like the hidden strength of this album is Annie’s ballads. This is a heart wrenching tale with all the right production choices- particularly the slide guitar.'
We'll be closing with Slice of Life (10), who also had a ~moment~ to this track at a crucial time, and pays tribute to a fallen LGBT fave: To be honest, I was getting frustrated with this album because it just doesn't 'happen' for me. But this song just quietly crept up on me. What kind of tenderness? What kind of sincerity? What kind of ughhhhhh??? Iconique. Reminds me of forgotten chanteuse Ryn Weaver's Traveling Song.
Happy Birthday, Ryn
Wherever you are
Happy Birthday, Ryn
Wherever you are
Last edited:
Oh wow. I know I have been a voter by number in the 20's, so seeing it crashed to #60 despite my 10 makes me glad I was there to prevent further temporal tumbling.
F
Former member 21294
I already fear for my 11.
I do not know why i did not change my score when i did for Hang On Me and New York. Suddenly the questionable one is me.
I do not know why i did not change my score when i did for Hang On Me and New York. Suddenly the questionable one is me.
F
Former member 21294
Liability
Heroin
Change
Pills
Masseduction
Sugarboy
Happy Birthday, Johnny
Young Lover
Slow Disco
Smoking Section
also the kii at you choosing the gif of the least likable character on Office.
he/him
I was all ready for a “We lost Smoking Section for THIS?” comment but... this deserves better too.
@ya'll with the poor taste
This should've gone farther, you demons!
This should've gone farther, you demons!
The next one of you lot to even try and make a derogatory post with Muna in it will get banned
Can we make derogatory posts about their stans though?
2014
Staff member
What if "Johnny" is really all the people us fans have lost along the way?
Seriously though, I'm proud of Johnny for making it this far. It should have gone farther but I feared it would be out way sooner given that people were as ready to stab it to death as the senators who killed Caesar were to take him out.
Seriously though, I'm proud of Johnny for making it this far. It should have gone farther but I feared it would be out way sooner given that people were as ready to stab it to death as the senators who killed Caesar were to take him out.
Any/All
Liability
Heroin
Change
Pills
Masseduction
Sugarboy
Happy Birthday, Johnny
Young Lover
Slow Disco
Smoking Section
Now this is just vile.
Liability hurts the most. I wouldn’t be in the slightest bit mad if it won both rates.