QUIRKY POP RATE: EVOLUTION | #73: Love, Laugh, Live (Fearlessly)

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First there was Quirky Pop Rate: The Debuts, then Quirky Pop Rate: Sophomore, and now it's finally time for the final chapter in the trilogy. Welcome to Quirky Pop Rate: Evolution! Before anything else, let me post the Quirky Pop concept/definition from back in the first rate:

The first rate was about the start of these artists' careers, with debut albums released between 2008 and 2014, the second focused on a selection of sophomore albums from 2011 to 2017. This one covers "post-sophomore" music released between 2014 and 2022 (with some songs being released as recently as last month), and how each of these artists evolved after their first two eras (and these evolutions have been wildly different, but let's save that for the eliminations and artist/album write-ups). While the first two rates featured one album per artist, this time around, instead of doing a "third albums rate", I thought it'd be more interesting to do a rate about everything these artists released after their sophomore albums, be it albums, EPs, mixtapes or standalone singles. The criteria for selecting songs was: up to two songs per album/EP/mixtape, plus one song from any big re-releases and any noteworthy standalone singles, up to a total of six songs per artist. This means more prolific artists, such as Charli and MARINA, have more songs in the rate, while more releasephobic ones, like La Roux and Lorde have less. But with less songs per artist, it became possible to include more artists in the rate while keeping the song list about the same size as the last two rates'. And, without further ado, here are the artists featured:

Firstly, eleven of the sixteen Quirky Pop Rate OGs - CHARLI XCX, ELLIE GOULDING, FLORENCE + THE MACHINE, FOXES, JANELLE MONÁE, LA ROUX, LADYHAWKE, LITTLE BOOTS, LORDE, MARINA (& THE DIAMONDS) and SANTIGOLD. Sadly, Diana Vickers and Natalia Kills, who appeared in the first two rates, won't be joining us this time since they haven't exactly been active post their sophomore eras. The eleven OGs are joined by the three main artists added in the sophomore rate - HALSEY, JESSIE WARE and KATY B, and finally, ten of the artists that appeared in last rate's "Side B" rate - ALLIE X, BANKS, CARLY RAE JEPSEN, CHVRCHES, FKA TWIGS, KYLA LA GRANGE, LAURA MVULA, LET'S EAT GRANDMA, MUNA and V V BROWN. Don't worry if that seems like a lot of artists, because, as I mentioned earlier, less songs per means the song list only has two/three more songs than the debuts/sophomore rate ones did.

Less songs per album also means there's barely any fat in the song list, and in my opinion this is probably the more bulletproof song list out of the three rates, as practically every song featured is excellent. So if you thought the first two rates were brutal, this is bound to be even worse. I can't wait!

RULES: Rate the songs from 0 to 10, including one 11, and PM me your ballot. Commentary is very welcome, but please use the template provided with the song list, as it'll make my life a lot easier when organising everything. In terms of decimals, please stick to .25/.5/.75. And please be sensible with your scores and don't go out of your way to tank any of artists.

DEADLINE
Sunday 19/07 23:59 BST

Watch2gether session 1 (Allie X - Halsey)
Saturday 11/06 5PM BST
Watch2gether session 2 (Janelle Monáe - V V Brown)
Saturday 18/06 5PM BST​

 

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ALLIE X
Super Sunset (2018)
Not So Bad In LA
Girl Of The Year
Cape God (2020)
Rings a Bell
Devil I Know
Cape God (Deluxe) (2021)
Anchor

BANKS
(2017)
Underdog
III (2019)
Gimme
Contaminated
Serpentina (2022)
The Devil
Meteorite

CARLY RAE JEPSEN
EMOTION (2015)
I Really Like You
EMOTION: Side B (2016)
Fever
(2017)
Cut To The Feeling
Dedicated (2019)
Now That I Found You
Dedicated Side B (2020)
Comeback (feat. Bleachers)
(2022)
Western Wind

CHARLI XCX
Vroom Vroom (2016)
Vroom Vroom
Number 1 Angel (2017)
Dreamer (feat. Starrah & RAYE)
Pop 2 (2017)
Out of My Head (feat. Tove Lo & ALMA)
Charli (2018)
Gone (feat. Christine and the Queens)
how i'm feeling now (2020)
claws
CRASH (2022)
Good Ones

CHVRCHES
Love Is Dead (2018)
My Enemy (feat. Matt Berninger)
Miracle
Screen Violence (2021)
How Not To Drown (feat. Robert Smith)
Good Girls

ELLIE GOULDING
(2014)
Outside (with Calvin Harris)
Delirium (2015)
On My Mind
Lost And Found
Brightest Blue (2020)
Power
Love I’m Given
EG.0 (2020)
Slow Grenade (feat. Lauv)

FKA TWIGS
CAPRISONGS (2022)
tears in the club (feat. The Weeknd)
papi bones (feat. Shygirl)

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (2015)
Ship To Wreck
Queen of Peace
High As Hope (2018)
Sky Full Of Song
Hunger
Dance Fever (2022)
My Love
Free

FOXES
Friends In The Corner (2021)
Love Not Loving You
Friends In The Corner
The Kick (2022)
Sister Ray
Sky Love

HALSEY
(2019)
Nightmare
Manic (2020)
Graveyard
You should be sad
(2020)
Be Kind (with Marshmello)
If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (2021)
I am not a woman, I’m a god
You asked for this

JANELLE MONÁE
(2015)
Yoga (feat. Jidenna)
Dirty Computer (2018)
Make Me Feel
Like That

JESSIE WARE
Glasshouse (2017)
Midnight
Your Domino
(2018)
Overtime
What's Your Pleasure? (2020)
Spotlight
What’s Your Pleasure?
What's Your Pleasure? (The Platinum Pleasure Edition) (2021)
Please

KATY B
Honey (2016)
Honey (feat. KAYTRANADA)
I Wanna Be (with Chris Lorenzo)
Peace and Offerings (2021)
Under My Skin
Lay Low

KYLA LA GRANGE
(2016)
Hummingbird
While Your Heart's Still Beating (2022)
Set You Free
Neverland

LA ROUX
Supervision (2020)
International Woman of Leisure
Automatic Driver

LADYHAWKE
Wild Things (2016)
A Love Song
Wild Things
Time Flies (2021)
Guilty Love (feat. BROODS)
My Love

LAURA MVULA
Pink Noise (2021)
Church Girl
Got Me

LET'S EAT GRANDMA
Two Ribbons (2022)
Hall of Mirrors
Happy New Year

LITTLE BOOTS
Working Girl (2015)
Better in the Morning
Get Things Done
Afterhours (2016)
Face to Face
Burn (2018)
Secret
Tomorrow's Yesterdays (2022)
Silver Balloons
Crying On The Inside

LORDE
Solar Power (2022)
Solar Power
Mood Ring

MARINA (& THE DIAMONDS)
Froot (2015)
Froot
I’m a Ruin
Love + Fear (2019)
Handmade Heaven
Karma
Ancients Dreams In A Modern Land (2021)
Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land
Venus Fly Trap

MUNA
MUNA (2022)
Silk Chiffon (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
Anything But Me

SANTIGOLD
99 Cents (2015)
Can’t Get Enough of Myself (feat. BC Unidos)
Banshee
I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions (2018)
Run the Road
Valley of the Dolls
(2022)
High Priestess

V V BROWN
Glitch (2015)
Lazarus
Shift​

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vvvvvvv

Spoiler: PM List

Please use this template and write your scores (here) and your commentary "here", thank you!

Allie X
Not So Bad In LA • () ""
Girl Of The Year • () ""
Rings a Bell • () ""
Devil I Know • () ""
Anchor • () ""

BANKS
Underdog • () ""
Gimme • () ""
Contaminated • () ""
The Devil • () ""
Meteorite • () ""

Carly Rae Jepsen
I Really Like You • () ""
Fever • () ""
Cut To The Feeling • () ""
Now That I Found You • () ""
Comeback (feat. Bleachers) • () ""
Western Wind • () ""

Charli XCX
Vroom Vroom • () ""
Dreamer (feat. Starrah & RAYE) • () ""
Out of My Head (feat. Tove Lo & ALMA) • () ""
Gone (feat. Christine and the Queens) • () ""
claws • () ""
Good Ones • () ""

CHVRCHES
My Enemy (feat. Matt Berninger) • () ""
Miracle • () ""
How Not To Drown (feat. Robert Smith) • () ""
Good Girls • () ""

Ellie Goulding
Outside (with Calvin Harris) • () ""
On My Mind • () ""
Lost And Found • () ""
Power • () ""
Love I’m Given • () ""
Slow Grenade (feat. Lauv) • () ""

FKA twigs
tears in the club (feat. The Weeknd) • () ""
papi bones (feat. Shygirl) • () ""

Florence + The Machine
Ship To Wreck • () ""
Queen of Peace • () ""
Sky Full Of Song • () ""
Hunger • () ""
My Love • () ""
Free • () ""

Foxes
Love Not Loving You • () ""
Friends In The Corner • () ""
Sister Ray • () ""
Sky Love • () ""

Halsey
Nightmare • () ""
Graveyard • () ""
You should be sad • () ""
Be Kind (with Marshmello) • () ""
I am not a woman, I’m a god • () ""
You asked for this • () ""

Janelle Monáe
Yoga (feat. Jidenna) • () ""
Make Me Feel • () ""
Like That • () ""

Jessie Ware
Midnight • () ""
Your Domino • () ""
Overtime • () ""
Spotlight • () ""
What’s Your Pleasure? • () ""
Please • () ""

Katy B
Honey (feat. KAYTRANADA) • () ""
I Wanna Be (with Chris Lorenzo) • () ""
Under My Skin • () ""
Lay Low • () ""

Kyla La Grange
Hummingbird • () ""
Set You Free • () ""
Neverland • () ""

La Roux
International Woman of Leisure • () ""
Automatic Driver • () ""

Ladyhawke
A Love Song • () ""
Wild Things • () ""
Guilty Love (feat. BROODS) • () ""
My Love • () ""

Laura Mvula
Church Girl • () ""
Got Me • () ""

Let’s Eat Grandma
Hall of Mirrors • () ""
Happy New Year • () ""

Little Boots
Better in the Morning • () ""
Get Things Done • () ""
Face to Face • () ""
Secret • () ""
Silver Balloons • () ""
Crying On The Inside • () ""

Lorde
Solar Power • () ""
Mood Ring • () ""

MARINA (& The Diamonds)
Froot • () ""
I’m a Ruin • () ""
Handmade Heaven • () ""
Karma • () ""
Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land • () ""
Venus Fly Trap • () ""

MUNA
Silk Chiffon (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) • () ""
Anything But Me • () ""

Santigold
Can’t Get Enough of Myself (feat. BC Unidos) • () ""
Banshee • () ""
Run the Road • () ""
Valley of the Dolls • () ""
High Priestess • () ""

V V Brown
Lazarus • () ""
Shift • () ""

^^^^^

 

ARTIST/ALBUM WRITE-UPS
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ALLIE X -
BANKS -
CARLY RAE JEPSEN - @Music Is Death
CHARLI XCX - @Crisp X
CHVRCHES -
ELLIE GOULDING - @aux
FKA TWIGS - @Isobel
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE - @Trouble in Paradise
FOXES - @Music Is Death
HALSEY - @aux
JANELLE MONÁE - @BubblegumBoy
JESSIE WARE - @2014
KATY B - @Island
KYLA LA GRANGE - @Music Is Death
LA ROUX - @Trouble in Paradise
LADYHAWKE -
LAURA MVULA - @boombazookajoe
LET'S EAT GRANDMA -
LITTLE BOOTS - @pop3blow2
LORDE -
MARINA - @Music Is Death
MUNA - @Music Is Death
SANTIGOLD -
V V BROWN -​

One write-up will be posted every Sunday, the day when there aren't eliminations. If anyone wants to do a write-up for one of the artists that haven't been claimed yet, please let me know! This applies the people already on the list too, I'm happy to have people do as many artists as they want. And if multiple people want to do write-ups for the same artist, that also works. With this many artists, having write-ups for every one might not be very realistic, but I'm hoping to have write-ups for as many as possible.

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SONGS THAT CUT GOT

PART I
PART II
PART III
PART IV​

 

Spoiler

#99: INTERNATIONAL WOMAN OF LEISURE
#98: AUTOMATIC DRIVER
#97: SLOW GRENADE (FEAT. LAUV)
#96: SOLAR POWER
#95: KARMA
#94: METEORITE
#92 (1): VALLEY OF THE DOLLS
#92 (2): THE DEVIL
#91: LAY LOW

#90: HONEY (FEAT. KAYTRANADA)
#89: SECRET
#88: MIRACLE
#87: UNDER MY SKIN
#86: DREAMER (FEAT. STARRAH & RAYE)
#85: SET YOU FREE
#84: LOVE I'M GIVEN
#83: MY ENEMY (FEAT. MATT BERNINGER)
#81 (1): YOU SHOULD BE SAD
#81 (2): CONTAMINATED

#80: BE KIND (WITH MARSHMELLO)
#79: SILVER BALLOONS
#78: HIGH PRIESTESS
#77: GRAVEYARD
#76: OUT OF MY HEAD (FEAT. ALMA & TOVE LO)
#75: BETTER IN THE MORNING
#74: ON MY MIND
#73: HANDMADE HEAVEN

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RESERVED JUST IN CASE

YOU CAN POST NOW!​

 

Shit, I didn't think "Gimme" would be here and challenge for that 11. Many other gems too.

 

Damn if that first session was Saturday I'd easily make it, but I'll be away on a day trip Sunday.

 

@soratami if I send another incomplete ballot to him:




I see three 11-contenders just by looking at the list and I'm not familiar with most of the songs, so yeah... this will be fun.

 

There are a lot of gems here, I've been listening to the playlist these last few days and it's just smash after smash after smash. The results are going to be a bloodbath dd

I'm fine doing it Saturday if that means more people would be able to take. Anyone else interested please let me know if you'd prefer Saturday or Sunday, or if you're fine either.

 

So many 10s, so may potential 11s. Whew!

 

Thank you @londonrain! That's all the Sophomore rate voters (well, except for @Pineapple), hoping most people are up for this one too.

 

Choosing Not So Bad In LA when it flopped in the discography rate over Little Things and Science which both made Top 5 feels like sabotage dd...

Other than that the song list looks great! Lots of gems here.

 

Right in front of my Not So Bad In LA avatar...

No but it's the second most streamed song in the album (after Girl Of The Year), the only one with a music video, and probably the most instant song in the album along with Girl and also my favourite, so it made sense to include it I think.

 

I'm in! Scared of the opinions of some of these girls tho, I'm too old now for the mess kii

 

Dd sorry! I personally gave all three 10s or higher but for some reason the forum doesn't seem to like it that much. We shall see how it does this time.

 

The fact that ten of these songs are going be in the bottom ten is worrying, barely any of them actually deserve it nn. There aren't any album tracks most people don't have any strong feelings about to soften the blow of the first cuts this time around, so people will be losing faves right from elimination number one

Spoiler

 

I already know my 11.