57
IF I GET MY WAY
AVERAGE: 7.510
HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x3 (
@GimmeWork,
@YourLeadSinger,
@Xander)
LOWEST SCORE: 3 x1 (
@Purple)
MY SCORE: 8.5
2019 RATE: 35/83
"If I Get My Way" is the second of three bonus tracks on the Platinum Edition of
Glory Days to exit, leaving "Is Your Love Enough?".
While I think "Is Your Love Enough?" should've been a single, I'd actually say that "If I Get My Way" is my favourite of the Platinum Edition tracks. Aside from being a bop, there's a wistfulness in the verses that I adore, and the chorus is incredibly catchy as well. It's a really strong song, and as discussed in the "Dear Lover" elimination, goes a long way in improving
Glory Days.
56
STRIP
AVERAGE: 7.546
HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x4 (
@boombazookajoe,
@GimmeWork,
@TéléDex,
@Music Is Death)
LOWEST SCORE: 3.5 x1 (
@FabbyWabby)
MY SCORE: 7.5
2019 RATE: 16/83
Guys. The decline! "Strip" originally made the Top 20 in the 2019 rate and now tumbles out at #56. What happened?
"Strip" was co-written by all four members and co-produced by MNEK. It features a rap verse by Sharaya J (who, according to her Spotify page, has released only 4 songs since...). It wasn't released as a single, but kind of feels like one thanks to its video.
The song and video for "Strip" features the girls supporting and embracing the body positivity movement, culminating in a shot of the four of them nude with insults painted on their bodies. It sparked a lot of criticism, though ironically that's what they were fighting against.
Upon its release, the song charted at #25, making it their highest-charting promo single at the time. It was later beat by the solo version of "Confetti" which charted at #23.
The girls stated in an interview at the time that they wanted this to be the first single from the album. And honestly, in a way, maybe it could've worked? They were in a position after
Glory Days to release whatever they wanted and it would've smashed... but I also don't know if this song was maybe a
bit too out there, even in a way that "Wasabi" isn't.
I think the first portion of the song where the production is literally just heels clicking goes on too long and makes the song feel more jarring than it is. But the way it builds up throughout the song and then explodes with the final chorus is such a fantastic moment.
I'm curious if you guys have actually soured on this, or if its major tumble is simply due to new songs being in the rate. Personally, this has grown on me even more since 2018.
55
THEY JUST DON'T KNOW YOU
AVERAGE: 7.557
HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x3 (
@DJHazey,
@Sally_Harper,
@Serg.)
LOWEST SCORE: 3 x1 (
@Primrose)
MY SCORE: 7
2019 RATE: 44/83
In the space of 15 eliminations,
Salute has lost nearly half of its album with the final bonus track "They Just Don't Know You" departing. But maybe that speaks to the quality of the album because we're losing a bunch of strong album tracks at this point.
This is excellent and maybe I underscored it a bit with my 7. The lyrics tell a great story and the production is suitably dramatic and dark. It feels a bit different for them in the grand scheme of their discography, and once again makes me wonder what was going on with the quality control for the following two albums when something like this was only a bonus track on
Salute.
