Not That Kind of Rate: Anastacia | Finished

[Maki]

I Dreamed You - 6,5
~ Oh, I certainly didn't expect this one to receive three 10's (or even reach top 100 for that matter), since I've seen it getting panned by some Anastacia fans for being too. So this is a success for it of some sort. And I must admit that there's something charming about the song, whether it's the sentimental delivery, the production flourishes or the subtle build-up. The "that's how I..." line occasionally gives me goosebumps, something about the melody just gets me. The rest, though, has yet to click with me properly. And her vocal performance deserves praise for sure - it's so delicate yet powerful at the same time. Wish I'd given this a tiny bit of a higher score, but it's not a loss at this point.

Oh, and let me point out that this is the first* 10 that @Sprockrooster lost (so you can edit out that 8, Sprocky). Based on the amount of high scores he gave (32!), I thought it would happen earlier, but this went quite well.

Also, shoutout to @londonrain for mentioning Blu Cantrell! Even though I didn't associate it to that song (and don't consider "I'll Find a Way" better than "I Dreamed You"), the comparison makes sense and it's great to be reminded of that amazing voice.
I probably mentioned this already, but Blu Cantrell has always been an artist I consider being the 'soul' part of Anastacia's "sprock".

*excluding "Left Outside Alone, pt. 2"

 

[londonrain]

Lyrically there’s no comparison, but musically I Dreamed You definitely has the same vibe as I’ll Find A Way:



It’s a shame this wasn’t a hit.

 

[Sprockrooster]

Lyrically there’s no comparison, but musically I Dreamed You definitely has the same vibe as I’ll Find A Way:



It’s a shame this wasn’t a hit.

In general Blu Cantrell deserved more than those two international hits.

Oh, and let me point out that this is the first* 10 that @Sprockrooster lost (so you can edit out that 8, Sprocky). Based on the amount of high scores he gave (32!), I thought it would happen earlier, but this went quite well.

Ah that is right! Whew! That took a while! Guess y'all were nice to my first in comparison to most of other rates. Also question. Imagine how many edit mistakes I would have made without the sheet from Londonrain and how many am I still going to make nonetheless?

 

[pop3blow2]

'I Dreamed Of You' is so pretty. Even though it was only released in 2001, it already felt a bit more throwback to an early mid-90s adult contempo kind of sound ('Delilah-after-dark vibes' which I brought up in the Braxton's rate with 'You Mean The World To Me', too). I love that sound when it's done right, & 'I Dreamed Of You' is 100% on point.

Maybe it's just nostalgia at this point, but I do miss some that 'dedication ballad' part of pop. I don't feel like that is something that had really come back around in the modern era of music. Considering it sometimes feels everything from the past gets rebooted or used in again pop culture, I'm ok with that, but just find it interesting.

There's just such a straightforwardness & earnestness to it all. It can get boring, hokey. or overwrought, I guess, when not done right (which is why maybe it went away as sensibilities change with each generation) but 'I Dreamed Of You' is a 10, to me.

 

[Sprockrooster]

It suddenly feels like both the first two albums are getting a beating cause we are back at Not That Kind again.

Leaderboard Trajectory: #84 - #90 - #95 - #100 - #99 - #95 - #92 - #88 - #88


Wishing Well
Average: 6,91
Highest: 9,0 @pop3blow2
Lowest: 4,0 @Cognitive Dissonance / @londonrain
Sprocky's score: 7,5​

Produced by Ric Wake – who also produced the title track, Cowboys and Kisses and Nothin’ At All on the album is most known for his work with Taylor Dayne. I got acquainted with miss Dayne throughout the 1989 rate from @VivaForever. And I was honestly shook when I heard I’ll Be Your Shelter. She sounds similar to Anastacia (technically the other way around), but also in sound is very rocky – the strongest side of Anastacia. WHEW. So no surprise Ric Wake worked with Anastacia as well as he knew he could work a signature voice like the one from Anastacia. On Wishing Well they did a great job. I always loved this one, though I never see it as an album highlight. Praising the vocals is @berserkboi "Sounds filler-ish! Though well sung!" @londonrain has another question "What are these lyrics?" I actually would not know. The song exudes so much fun I just can't but bop carelessly. I did not grow up with SpongeBob, but @Maki did: "I had trouble rating this one - it's a quite enjoyable listen, but ultimately doesn't have anything notable about it. I really like the guitar and the chorus; there's something charming about her deliver matched with the backing vocals. Also, the first thing that crosses my mind when seeing the title is that SpongeBob episode."

​

 

[DJHazey]

I Dreamed You | 5.5 | Standard album closing ballad, standard because a lot of times I'm meh about them.

Wishing Well | 7.5 | One of the bright spots on the album which should tell you a lot considering the score.

Other Side of Crazy | 7.5 | I think I like Wishing Well a tad more because this album has higher highs on it so a 7.5 feels like less, the melody is a little out there and I'm don't entirely connect with it but it's fun.

 

[Maki]

Wishing Well - 7
~ Falls into the same category as "Yo Trippin'" and "Twisted Girl" - a serviceable and pleasant tune that is hardly a standout, especially in a discography like this one. I don't have any particular criticism nor praise for it. The lack of proper middle-8 makes it suffer a bit (in a sense that it becomes repetitive near the end), though it doesn't bother me much at all. Reasonable elimination, I guess.
Actually, I'm surprised that ballads like "I Ask of You", "Black Roses" and especially "Same Old Story" are outlasting all theme these mid/up-tempos. Not that I liked them more/less than most of the album tracks from the first two albums, but I really expected to see ballads do worse here.

And that Ric Wake mention brought a new dimension to Anastacia's connection with Taylor Dayne - I never knew that!

As for SpongeBob, not only I grew up with him, but still watch the (old) episodes regularly.

 

[Maki]

Forgot to mention, but that's a lovely interpretation of "Secrets", @MilesAngel. Hope all is sorted out now and wishing you all the best!
And that's a great idea for the artwork of that song, @Sprockrooster! If someone has seen enough of ankh symbols in their life, it's me, as playing Luxor game series and being obsessed with ancient Egypt in general has been an enormous part of my childhood (and still is, actually).

 

[MilesAngel]

Forgot to mention, but that's a lovely interpretation of "Secrets", @MilesAngel. Hope all is sorted out now and wishing you all the best!
And that's a great idea for the artwork of that song, @Sprockrooster! If someone has seen enough of ankh symbols in their life, it's me, as playing Luxor game series and being obsessed with ancient Egypt in general has been an enormous part of my childhood (and still is, actually).

Thank you. I've never been happier (well until March 2020)! I also have a huge interest in ancient Egypt and still have a project I did on it when I was 8.

 

[Maki]

Thank you. I've never been happier (well until March 2020)! I also have a huge interest in ancient Egypt and still have a project I did on it when I was 8.

Glad to hear that. And that's so cool - I must have a ton of ancient Egypt-related drawings and a box full of artifacts laying around somewhere.


Also: Day 7 of trying not to look at the final leaderboard.

 

[Sprockrooster]

Actually, I'm surprised that ballads like "I Ask of You", "Black Roses" and especially "Same Old Story" are outlasting all theme these mid/up-tempos. Not that I liked them more/less than most of the album tracks from the first two albums, but I really expected to see ballads do worse here.

It is quite odd that Freak of Nature mostly loses ballads and Not That Kind seems to keep them. Poor One More Chance though.

And that's a great idea for the artwork of that song, @Sprockrooster!

Well I had to incorporate her tattoos somewhere. For some reason I felt like it fitted perfect with Secrets and I had no idea it would tie in so well with @MilesAngel. I really wish I gave it a 10 now instead of a 9,5.

I am starting our next write-up. Only one album from the first 4 remains.

 

[Maki]

It is quite odd that Freak of Nature mostly loses ballads and Not That Kind seems to keep them. Poor One More Chance though.

Yeah, especially when I think "Freak of Nature" has better album tracks in general (poor "Don'tcha Wanna" ending up so underrated, despite being a bop), while "Not That Kind" still has several snoozes hanging around.

Only one album from the first 4 remains.

Does it mean that the 4th one is "Pieces of a Dream" or "Heavy Rotation"? (since you said we'll be losing songs from her first 4 eras)

 

[Sprockrooster]

Does it mean that the 4th one is "Pieces of a Dream" or "Heavy Rotation"? (since you said we'll be losing songs from her first 4 eras)

I said first 4 album era's so it is Heavy Rotation. That album has actually still seen no loss of an albumtrack. That is because we only lost a single so far from it. Heavy Rotation takes a second hit and both the bonustracks are safe. But with 3 10's this track did not deserve to follow up on Absolutely Positively.

Leaderboard Trajectory: #43 - #53 - #80 - #82 - #81 - #78 - #87 - #87 - #87


In Summer
Average: 6,94
Highest: 10 @Sprockrooster / @robertoy / @pop3blow2 (the poor thing was highest scorer for three tracks in a row)
Lowest: 3,0 @Laurence
Sprocky's score: 10​

Girl, we love a summer banger. And it was about time we got one from her. She just exudes positivity in this track. Having fun and happy with Wayne (her love interest) without it being too cheesy unlike I Belong To You. The instrumentation is reminiscent of her more earlier work, but is light and lovely on the ears. Also a great welcome back to the prominent feature of backup singers on her track. A classic Anastacia track that has great adlibs. Especially at the end of the track. She references a massive track ‘Seasons Change’, which I adore when artists do that. This is really radio friendly and I come back to it every summer making it one of my most played tracks of her. And I ain’t deleting any of them on Last FM cause it deserves to be high on my list of Anastacia tracks! Commentary corner has no chill though. Starting with the radiant @berserkboi "Some of the vocal affectations are a little “meh” here but the tune sustains interest". @londonrain calls this "definitely a song that exists". Shade queen, you do not deserve summer. Closing with @Maki "A cutie, but a bit too forgettable among her discography. It's very pleasant and, well, summery, so I can't really give it a lower score. One of the weakest points of the album." When your blessed every summer with the ray of sunshine this is I would hardly call it forgettable.

​

Spoiler: Tomorrow

We break into the 7-average territory but within the first 4 cuts (we have three reveals tomorrow) one album gets a cutting of three tracks. Two we will lose from that album tomorrow.

 

[pop3blow2]

the poor thing was highest scorer for three tracks in a row

Yikes. I think I gave out thirteen 10s total... so there's three in a row. I really can't complain too much, as before the top 90 of the rate I did pretty well. I'd be ok not losing anymore 10s for a minute though.

 

[Maki]

In Summer - 6,25
~ Okay, an elimination I can get behind. Again, it's surprising to see this song receive three 10's, as it definitely isn't one of her album tracks I find notable at all. It's not the worst out of the remaining songs, but easily in my bottom 3 from "Heavy Rotation". It starts out very nicely, and then gets to that chorus, which is a letdown. It just doesn't click with me and feels too "light" and not interesting melodically, even though the song remains pleasant. I do agree that the instrumental is reminiscent of the album tracks from "Freak of Nature"; it has that summery, acoustic and laid-back feel of some of its tracks.

Ironically, summer is my favorite season yet this song left me rather... cold.
Actually, "In Summer" it's my second least favourite song from "Heavy Rotation", after "Absolutely Positively", so the eliminations from that album have been going perfectly for me so far. Now we only have to boot "You'll Be Fine" out to complete my bottom 3 of that album. Hopefully that will happen soon.

 

[Maki]

Now that we're approaching the 7+ average score mark, I have seventeen scores left that are lower than that milestone. But only four of them are lower than a 6.

My hopes for tomorrow's eliminations (i.e. my remaining sub-6 scores*):
Same Old Story
Maybe Today
Stay
(all of them ending with 'y')

Didn't expect "Late Last Night" to reach the top 100, let alone top 90. That one can go, too.

*I'm excluding that single, since it most likely isn't leaving anytime soon.

 

[londonrain]

I’m surprised at how well Heavy Rotation has been doing in comparison to Freak of Nature, to be honest. This was definitely the right song to go, though.

 

[Maki]

Also: Day 7 of trying not to look at the final leaderboard.

Oop, I couldn't resist. I took a peek and saw the next ~10 eliminations. Some of us should be satisfied with them, but the others... not so much (hope I'm allowed to say this, but we're losing eight 10's tomorrow).

 

[soratami]

My hopes for tomorrow's eliminations (i.e. my remaining sub-6 scores*):
Maybe Today

Excuse you? That's one of Anastacia's sweetest songs, it nearly got a 10 from me.

 

[soratami]

Forgot to mention, but that's a lovely interpretation of "Secrets", @MilesAngel. Hope all is sorted out now and wishing you all the best!
And that's a great idea for the artwork of that song, @Sprockrooster! If someone has seen enough of ankh symbols in their life, it's me, as playing Luxor game series and being obsessed with ancient Egypt in general has been an enormous part of my childhood (and still is, actually).

I was obsessed with ancient Egypt as a kid too (I remember people being impressed I could name a lot of the gods dd) and I also played Luxor, but oddly enough I totally forgot it existed until I clicked on that link out of curiosity.