Radio Disney Justice: A Teen-Pop Extravaganza - (Results: WINNER)

DJHazey

DJHazey

he/him
The first part of our three-way tie at #41 is the one I care least for by a longshot..



#41 (tie). Lindsay Lohan - Rumors - 7.388

Highest: 10 x 4 (@GhettoPrincess, @soratami, @Sprockrooster, @unnameable)

Lowest: 1 (@Blond) Otherwise all 5+.

My Score: 6

Voter Bloc 1: #42
Voter Bloc 2: #52
Voter Bloc 3: #37
Voter Bloc 4: #38
Voter Bloc 5: #37

Final Voters: #41

Charts: #1 (Israel) #2 (China, Taiwan) #3 (Croatia) #4 (Belgium, Ukraine) #10 (Australia) #14 (Germany) #23 (Austria) #30 (Switzerland) #31 (Netherlands) #34 (Europe, Sweden) #6 (U.S. Bubbling Under)

Certifications: Gold (Australia, U.S.)

Release: Debut single from Lindsay's debut album Speak, in September 2004.

Songwriters: Cory Rooney (producer), Lindsay Lohan, Taryll Jackson, TJ Jackson, also produced by Peter Wade Keusch.

Lyrics: The song was written as a response to the paparazzi and media's backlash regarding Lindsay's career.

Reviews: "Rumors" received mixed reviews for being both catchy and 'unnecessary'. Some critics have called it a 'cult pop classic' however, which is also probably why Billboard listed among the Top 50 most underrated songs from the Now! series.

Music Video: It portrays Lindsay dancing and having fun in the club all while dealing with paparazzi and ends with her on the roof getting into a helicopter to escape. It did reach #1 on MTV's TRL Countdown and was directed by Jake Nava of Britney "My Prerogative" fame.

Hazey's Focus: Let's keep this short and simple like many have been toward some of my all-time favorites: If I could remember how this goes than I would probably be even more insulted by how it beat "Confessions of a Broken Heart".

That "My Prerogative" connection I spoke of about the video carries over to this comment from @Sally_Harper (5): "If I didn’t know it was Lindsay I’d think it was Britney. It’s OK but it’s nothing special."

The Britney comparisons continue with @Mina (7): "Very "Me Against the Music" - surprised there isn't a mashup somewhere." Honestly, that's probably why I consider it to be so mediocre.

@iheartpoptarts (6) clocks how much of a fortune teller this song proved to be: "At the time of release, everyone was all like, “What rumors?!” And then…" When I looked up song covers there was a fan made one with all kinds of words behind Lindsay like "alcoholic and addicted, etc." and I didn't have the heart to use it. Talk about going for blood, my goodness.

@WhenTheSunGoesDown (8) gets to the root of it all:


giphy.gif


@Martyn (8.5) points out how the song serves us "Crank It Up" realness: "This is a bop! Why was it a bonus track on her album?"

@Remorque (8.5) sounds like a judge on a singing contest tearing the contestant down only to applaud after and say they should go on to the next round: "I was actually a little surprised when she came out with this R&B song, as I always thought she would also do pop-rock (EDIT: she did eventually), but I never really bought it though. The video was way too try-hard and something about the package sold didn't really click with me... That said, bop."

But @livefrommelbs (8.5) thought Lindsay knew exactly what she was doing: "This was such a great bit of counter-programming when it came out. Y'all doing your pop-rock? FINE. LiLo's gonna drop a Britney-banger. And a good one, too."

@unnameable (10) just called it a "wonderful song" in a reverse-Mina kind of way.

@GhettoPrincess (10) was all about the visuals: "I really loved this at the time especially the music video with the dance breakdown."

It mesmerized @Sprockrooster (10) the same way: "This whole concept of a song at that moment in her private life is so well thought out. That dance-breakdown is fire after all those years."

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DJHazey

DJHazey

he/him


Looks like it did just about as good as it tragically did in the Fast Food rate..







































































































#41 (tie). Demi Lovato - La La Land - 7.388

Highest: 10 x 3 (@Sprockrooster, @Charley, DJHazey)

Lowest: 0 (@Sally_Harper) Otherwise everything was 5+

Voter Bloc 1: #31
Voter Bloc 2: #53
Voter Bloc 3: #52
Voter Bloc 4: #54
Voter Bloc 5: #50

Finals Voters: #41

Charts: #52 (U.S.) #35 (UK) #18 (Scotland) #30 (Ireland) #70 (Canada) #76 (Australia) #82 (Germany) #91 (Europe)

Certifications: Gold (U.S.)

Release: Second single for Demi's debt album Don't Forget in April 2009.

Songwriters: Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers (producers), also produced by John Fields.

Lyrics: "La La Land" is about being yourself when presented with the pressures of Hollywood, especially as a young person, as Demi stated: "You get to Hollywood and a lot of times people can try to shape you and mould you into what they want you to be. The song is just about keeping it real and trying to stay yourself when you're out in Hollywood."

Reviews: Critics were mostly positive, calling Demi one of the more 'down to Earth' stars but warned she'd have to keep that up because if she slips up once everyone will be after her. Kii. One critic called the guitars something from The Clash which is huge praise for the Jonas Brothers, who provided instrumentals and backing vocals on the track.

Music Video: The video was used as promotion for Demi's TV show Sonny With a Chance which is prevalent and includes all of her co-stars from the show. Probably to cover themselves legally, the McDonald's line is changed 'Ronald's' in the video.

Hazey's Focus: This is one of my favorites I was worried for, but being at #41 feels like a small victory. This was very much the kind of pop-rock number that Miley was doing at the time and we've already seen what you've done to "Start All Over" which I equate this too, or "7 Things" which we've just lost recently. Though some people have said this is her "Party in the U.S.A." which might lend itself to why it got his far. In any case, we go back to when I was presented both "Get Back" and this song by a friend with me not really being into much pop-rock at the time, but the minute "La La Land" won me over everything about this teen-pop sound of the time just came over me like a big wave. I wouldn't be surprised if this my most played Demi song, maybe after "Here We Go Again". I really connected to lines like "who said I can't be single? and have to, go out and mingle, baaaby, that's not me, no no" because I'm very independent person myself and don't really subscribe to that 'you need someone in your life' demand. Also, I just loved the "I still eat McDonald's" line because honestly what Hollywood star is admitting that? Everyone is so into eating right, and the latest diet, that it just seemed like such a 'well check this out!' moment for Demi. Everything about her persona she was presenting in the lyrics really struck me as "wow, this celebrity is just so cool and comfortable in her own skin" and I really admired that about Demi so much. My other favorite part is all of the ad-libbing and big vocals from Demi near the end of the song, she just provides so much passion. To this day, whenever someone mentions the term 'La La Land' I immediately think of this, not that dumb movie.

@Sally_Harper (0) thought Demi should be afraid of losing everything because of the La La Land machine: "I really don’t like this or her voice on it. This is honestly quite painful to listen to." Not as painful as reading this comment and some others and a bunch of your scores, trust me.

Coming off a song like Rumors, @WhenTheSunGoesDown (5) thought Demi jumped the gun about having hers: "Love that Demi immediately went to her “I’m so over Hollywood, fame is harrrrd” era two singles in! Even Britney waited until her third album to go there. Anyway this song is noise."

@unnameable simply called it "super enjoyable" while @Sprockrooster (10) "loves the funkiness of this".

@iheartpoptarts (8) probably knew that McDonald's image was coming and is well aware that I still get up on Saturday morning to get McDonald's breakfast: "Hazey, I bet you love the McDonald’s stanning!" One of the reasons this song will always be iconic.

This was the day that @livefrommelbs (8) started stanning: "The first Demetria song I ever heard. Some brilliant Paramore-lite pop-rock going on hear." Yeah, very Riot! era.

@Blond (9) has some playlists to share with livefrommelbs, because they're getting the same vibe: "This was my introduction to Demi Lovato and I think it’s a great pop rock song. It’s very early Paramore which was my jam when this came out. Her voice was much more restrained and pleasant back then and actually listenable."

@31entrance (9.75) hits the nail on the head, by shading the nails on a chalkboard side of Demi: "ahhh the first Demi Lovato song I’ve heard I think! much rather have this Demi than Sorry Not Sorry Demi." Wouldn't we all? Sigh...

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iheartpoptarts

iheartpoptarts

she/her
Super important life update: I have no answers. I couldn't find them on the menu so I literally had to ask the guy "Do you have those cinnamon things?"

I bet it's 'Who Says' next.
 
DJHazey

DJHazey

he/him
iheartpoptarts said:
I bet it's 'Who Says' next.
Click to expand...

Since it unceremoniously crashed out at #26 in her own rate, it would seem the days are numbered for it, but we're cutting something equally painful..







































































































And Selegend keeps on slaying..



#41 (tie). Demi Lovato - Don't Forget - 7.388

Highest: 10 x 6 (@Mina, @aniraz, @unnameable, @Blond, @Charley, DJHazey)

Lowest: 4 x 2 (@GhettoPrincess, @Alouder98)

Voter Bloc 1: #72
Voter Bloc 2: #29
Voter Bloc 3: #45
Voter Bloc 4: #54
Voter Bloc 5: #63

Final Voters: #41

Charts: #41 (U.S.) #120 (UK) #76 (Canada)

Certifications: Platinum (U.S.)

Release: Third single from Demi's debut album Don't Forget in March 2009. It was initially registered as "Did You Forget" as a song title.

Songwriters: Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers (producers), also produced by John Fields.

Lyrics: Demi has stated that this was the song she related to the most from the album and that she had a lot of emotion while recording it: "Everyone goes through the experience of falling in love, but then the other person just walks away, and goes somewhere else. I went through an experience like that and wanted to write about it. I got over it, and now a year later I don't have those feelings about that person anymore."

Music Video: Many different video treatments were suggested to demi, but she rejected them all because she steadfast about coming up with everything on her own. She discussed the taping process in-depth: "It was actually really freezing cold in the rain. You could see your breath. And I was in the rain for only a short time – my whole band was out there for an hour-and-a-half. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do on a shoot. But it went by so quickly. I had a body suit on underneath my clothes, so there's a little fun fact for you. I was trying not to break my focus pretty much the entire shoot, because I was really in that zone – thinking a lot about the position I was in a year ago... thinking about the situation and how much I wanted to get all that emotion off my chest."

Reviews: "Don't Forget" received pretty much rave reviews from critics for showing a more mature side to Demi's sound. They also loved her affected vocals and compared the instrumentals to something from Green Day.

Hazey's Focus: Ooo boy, this one is always underrated as one of all-time best, isn't it? Even coming in at a respectable #41, I would still argue we've underrated it a bitsy. Most of her real ballads over the years have sounded overdone (with some exceptions like "Shouldn't Come Back" for example) -- but this never was. From the first time she whispered the words to me I was in love. The first time I heard the transition into a slamming alternative rock song for one of the final choruses, I was shaken to the core. I could feel her emotions when I first watched video and it was injected into my experience from a sing-a-along standpoint. Even years later, I still heard this come on Pop radio in as far away places as my camp in Washington County, Maine which is one of the most desolate places in the U.S. -- population wise, yet here I was hearing "Don't Forget" in a convenience store through WQDY (the local radio station for all genres). My favorite part is always going to "but somewhere we went wrong.." on a melody that still gives me goosebumps to this day. And when the it slows down for the final foray at "and at last, all the pictures have been burned" I never fail recognize how powerful the moment I just experienced really was.

This is one of the most stunning comments-to-score matchups I've ever seen, maybe @Sally_Harper (5) meant to edit it?: "I quite enjoyed this."

If this actually happened @WhenTheSunGoesDown (5) I don't want the quote, I'll choose to be blissfully unaware: "Remember when she forgot that she’d released this album? Iconic." *Cut to somebody posting that "I don't know him" gif*

If so, Demi wasn't alone judging by this admission from @iheartpoptarts (6.5): "Confession time: I did, in fact, forget it. I see why—it does take a while to get going—but it’s quite pretty."

I think Sprocky's BF (5) was doing this rate in a different order from the rest of us, how are they even on the same planet?: "Is this a different song than the previous one. Sprocky's note: I am at awe."

Hey, I'm not going to say anything negative about @31entrance (8.25) who uses such a perfect pun to get their point across: "back when her vocals where tolerable and didn’t try too hard to show us she’s a good singer, it just comes all naturally (and yes this is a Selena Gomez reference) here."

@unnameable (10) keeps it simple and correct: "my fave from her debut album."

Oh hey, @Mina (10) makes me think of the heated Rate Queue discussions we've been having the past couple days with this comparison: "Very Evanescence in its transition from a pseudo-ballad to a full-on rock song. Probably my favorite Demi song." But will you forget this elimination happened?

While @Blond (10) closes us out by reminding us when songs like these are at their most useful: "I really like the simplicity of this song. When my friend at uni broke up with her boyfriend I invited her to my flat and we got so wine drunk and screamed this at the top of our lungs."

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