She's Marina, We're The Diamonds, And That Was The Rate [Finalized]

45.
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7.25

-16
(-0.37 ffs)

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This is... wow, I can't with this rate.

I had to double-check the elimination, because "Solitaire" not even reaching top 40 is quite a shock to me.
Seriously, that is a collective choice as the weakest song from "FROOT"? Over majority of the songs from the album, most notably "Weeds" and "Gold"? Over "Hypocrates"? Over some blandness of her newer songs?
This is tragic.

"Solitaire" is an introvert anthem and probably one of my most relatable songs that Marina has in her discography. And don't get me started on the song itself... that genius vocal effect and melody alone make it a contender for full marks. It just resonates sadness, loneliness and melancholy - all three being my favorite sides of Marina.
And yes at some of you recognizing that mesmerizing production; so calm, yet hypnotizing.

Just like I've said for "Rootless", shame on you for not appreciating the beauty of "Solitaire". I'm still shocked by this.
 
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he/him
The whirlwind of emotions. From losing Solitaire!?! first from FROOT, as if anything from the album in its entirety should be going anytime soon, to loving the some of the commentary and responses in its defense, to then reading that people wanted Happy or Immortal out first. I think I need to lie down.

The Hard like a rock, cold like stone... pre-chorus is another highlight, gives me the feeling that solitary confinement works as some kind of fortification, to keep out the things in life that mentally and emotionally drain me. The problem being I also keep out the good, as is the issue with social anxiety and depression. Someone tells me how wonderful I am and that I need to 'get out there' and yet they just bounce off the stone wall and never get through. I can't count how many times I've literally had no response to praise or compliments because I don't even recognize the possibility of the words being applicable to me. Something you consider rare... is the part I was referring to and how there's also that little part of me knows that I'm special and have something unique to offer but I also know I'm never pushing out of the damn box I've kept myself in, so it remains 'complicated', the only excuse I can give myself. So everything remains stagnant and comfortable. Comfortable in a sense of a known entity, a routine, but certainly not without the realization that your life is damn mess and you don't know how to fix it.

Anyways enough rambling, Solitaire is amazing and deserved to last a little longer at least dammit!
 
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He/him
I stopped commenting along because I basically had nothing to say about the Love + Fear songs that left during its evisceration.

But... Solitaire is GORGEOUS. I've never been entirely sold on the chorus, but the melody on the verse is lovely and the overall mood is such a vibe. And I think so many other posters have spoken more eloquently about the lyrics than I ever could so I'll shamelessly agree without adding my own thoughts. 9
 
I was working on the next elimination and then I fell asleep. I'm glad we got a moment to mourn Solitaire properly, though. All of the eulogies were beautiful. Speaking of, I'll throw out my first two 10s in a bit.

People coming for the likes of Happy and Forget already: you're gonna need a little Patience-Nerina_Pallot.mp3
 
So Ogden Nash wrote this famous poem about sweets and alcohol which was adapted by one of the Polish master translators as an exercise in variety of ways in which the same piece of poetry can be rendered. He came up with 12 variants which later evolved into a sort of ditty for intellectuals who listen to sung poetry and like to pretend they can still have a kii about vodka with the rest of society. What does an elimination in the Marina rate have to do with a boring Translation Studies anecdote, you may ask. Well only the fact that the song we’re waving goodbye today is…..

…….and “candy is dandy but liquor is quicker” rhymes with “every kiss you gave me makes me sicker”. And I can’t resist throwing in autobiographical details whenever an opportunity arises.

It only takes a basic premise to make a bop that deserved to make the tracklist more than Living Dead. Look, I might only be grouping them cause I perceive them in similar colours, but the general urgency and the inclination to revel in its own pathos are also characteristics which make them alike in my eyes. And you can bet I live for every drop of venom in her delivery and each tormented eee-yea-eee-yea-eee-yea-yey. It’s that kinda shit I can never get enough of.


@Verandi (9) and I got the same idea: "Another banger. Deserved to be in Living Dead's place."

@Sprockrooster (10): "Fantastic lyrics and even better production." We agree on sth, finally!

@abael (5) points out something I don't really see: "Just is below her usual standards, especially lyrically."

@pop3blow2 (8.8) can appreciate OTT drama: "This is properly over-dramatic & it almost works. There is a slightly generic quality to whole song, though. It feels like its missing something."

@happiestgirl (6) knows what's amiss: "I roll my eyes at the l-ove- e-v-o-l reversal as much as the next person, but the song's kind of cute"

@maverick_79 (7) has the same complaint: "I think the evol/love thing is clumsy but what a chorus"

@OspreyQueen (8): "This actually knocks, but did she get the love/“evol” thing from a 12 year old’s tweet after getting dumped??" I only heard this wordplay in an Eminem song, which is basically the same, innit?

@imaduck (4): "always found this a little clunky" Can't relate!

@Stradiwhovius (6): "Good fun but… Not as clever as it seems to think that it is." Just like Just Desserts!

@Kenny (10) and I have similar experiences: "When this first leaked, I screamed through the entire song. I honestly don't know why I love it so much, but whew, Marina just kept scalping me around this time. And such a dumb catchy song was exactly what I needed when this came out, "love is evil" yas marina speak to my depressed angry soul."

@sfmartin (10): "I love the thundering Goldfrappy feel of this song. The play on words is silly but lots of fun." Maybe I need to try Goldfrapp one of these days.

@Music Is Life (10): "HOLY SHIT at the production on this one. I love it! This is so fucking good. Everything about this is amazing." Loving the enthusiasm!

@Vixen (5): "It's hard for me to see behind this absolutely awful production to see what song lies behind. What I'm hearing from the hooks is not absolutely incompetent, but the production is just too heavy and packed again, with these boring ass drum kicks not mixed in well that we've heard on every single track but one in 'Electra Heart'. Like it's too much! dddd The melismas near the end are great, I'll give you that." Why does @Vixen discussing bad production and vocal techniques make me wish The Saturdays got back together? Maybe I miss 2013.

@Miyawakiwi (10) might not be missing it as much as I do: "i have the most embarrassing story with this one; i though my cousin was at work and i was getting ready to go to school and as i was singing evol -really loud- on the second floor going through the “Oh baby, darling, how I long to become your suicide blonde, to lie beside my Romeo…” line, he says “Hey, are you going to school?”, i wanted to kill myself."

@Maki (8,5): "Just like the vast majority of the songs from "Electra Heart", this is another very catchy tune. The chorus is the best part, including that 'L.O.V.E.' part which is so memorable, while the verses are still not that great to me. Clever word play in the lyrics is something we're used to from her and it works. Could've replaced quite a few songs on the actual album." Exactly, but if I said which songs, I'd be shot dead and the rate must go on.

@Cutlery (7.5): "It's a bit less contrived and more hard-hitting than Electra Heart (the track). Some of the imagery in the lyrics is questionably clumsy but the messages come across. It could've used a better bridge!" Clumsy is like the word of this write-up!

@DJHazey (10): "Do your favs hand out free gifts like this anthem? Didn't think so. Could've easily been on the album whether you resist the simplistic approach of spelling love backwards or not. If you can manage to look beyond that you'd find Marina just being the queen of cynicism we'd expect. The melodies are electro-charged, creating the perfect backdrop for this disillusioned love affair to take place. I swear her songs soundtrack all of my favorite Sunday afternoon Lifetime movies." Queen of Lifetime Channel!








































"I also feel people always say, "This artist is so underrated." I think it comes from a sweet place, but how we define success for artists doesn't suit every artist. I would not want to have fame. I like my life as it is."




























































43.

Gold-2.png


7.41

-5
(+0.33)

Highest: 10x8 (@Sprockrooster, @əʊæ, @lehnw01, @DJHazey, @happiestgirl, @enjoy v2.0, @RUNAWAY, @Trouble in Paradise)
Lowest: 4x (@Verandi, @imaduck, @londonrain)​

Selfishly, I’m really glad Marina never succeeded, cause an entire album of a popstar processing her commercial failure was something I never knew I needed at the time. This “look, things went sour, but I’m still here better than ever” message kind of helped me come to terms with my own shortcomings. I mean, it’s so silly, right? It feels like such a platitude, but feeling like a disappointment doesn’t mean that I am worthless. But it took this song, with all its bubbling charm, weird-ass golden-underwater-chamber-evoking effects, and tales of flushing label funds down the shithole to make it feel real. I’m not reaching when I say that Gold is bliss in a song form. It is tranquil, self-assured, and jubilant. It’s a moment taken out of time to pretend everything will be okay and I very much appreciate the opportunities it creates.


@Verandi (4) says smn I don't understand and won't respond to: "Always been my least favourite from the album. The production just irks me and every section seems to be there just to reach the 4 minutes mark."

@Vixen (5,5) used to hate happiness: "Not gonna lie, I initially hated this song at first dddd. I can't explain it, there was just something about it that striked me the wrong way, sonically. But it grew on me with time, thanks to the outstanding lyrics and theme at hands. Sonically, it also grew on me, and I feel like it helps giving more dimensions to the album."

@Miyawakiwi (6): "It’s chill but it doesn’t really goes anywhere." It goes into the blue with nothing to lose and that's enough for me!

@babes aloud (6.3): "This does not get going. Sorry @DJHazey but this is your most baffling 10 on the album." But this is an easy 10!

@Maki (6,5): "The quirky and bouncy instrumental is memorable, but I wish the song itself was. There is nothing in particular I would say is the peak moment of the song. Actually, that 'El Dorado' post-chorus sounds great and is most likely my favorite part. It's just a little too non-remarkable to be noted." Okay, but Gold is hypnotic and arresting! I'm getting tired of disagreeing with everyone!

@japanbonustrack (7.5): "a guilty pleasure. 'the million dollars in the hole' line was iconic. not sure how to feel about it now that she blew the cover" Ain't nothing to be guilty about, if you ask me.

@OspreyQueen (7.5) stans the demented Ashes To Ashes synths: "I’m all about the hazy, psychedelic production on this one, complete with actual flutes! But unfortunately the lyrics have never grabbed me at all. I still don’t even know what they’re really about because I’ve never bothered to even think about them."

@Cutlery (7.5): "Very chill, very iconic bankruptcy bop. The production gets a little annoying after repeated listens, so I think Gold's biggest strength comes from how Marina is eager to make fun of herself and poke at her problems with wit. Too bad MARINA the Millionaire™️ can't seem to do either of these things anymore." God, don't even remind me!

@pop3blow2 (8.4) breaks my heart a little: "Nice, but not a fave here."

@Stradiwhovius (8.5): "Captures the more mature, reflective, and contented Marina far more than most of Love + Fear ever did." I wanted to pretend L+F didn't exist just for one day, but y'all won't let me!

Gold is @abael's (9) favourite Froot and that is valid, I guess: "A more inspired production team helps this track stand out. A step up from earlier parts of the album."

@Music Is Life (9.25) was so close and yet so far from joining the 10 camp: "Handclaps! Yay handclaps. This is a cute little bop. I like the weird production flourish going through it."

@happiestgirl (10): "This song helped me through a tough spot in my life, especially the repetition of 'don't think i want what i used to want' - I appreciate the affirmation of change being neither good nor bad, just natural" So relatable!

@Sprockrooster (10): "Quite the quirky beat, but such a fresh breeze on this otherwise almost dark album. Essential and put brilliantly halfway on the tracklist." Yes yes yes

I love @DJHazey's (10) video ideas: "That quirky anthem that presents Marina now comfortable with the idea that she hasn't found the success she dreamed of early in her career. It's almost a devious tale that you can hear, like Marina knows that she is probably costing alot of 'big people' alot of money as she fails to make hits, so I envision a video of her lying by a pool at a mountainside resort with an umbrella drink in hand and a "bite me" smirk on her face. Then she can simply melt me with every "El Dorado" and effortlessly own the room. Bonus remark that I find the soundscape to be so 'morning-time chill' for some odd reason."

@Trouble in Paradise (10) makes my eyes water: "As someone who relates to some of the ugliest sides of The Family Jewels to an embarrassing degree, this song feels like a balm for all the burn of striving so desperately for something as unattainable as perfection. A lot of artists try to make songs about how they don’t need what they used to cause they found love but in “Gold” Marina convinces us of it-because she’s found love for herself. “Don’t think I see what I used to see” speaks so much to the way my perspective has shifted as I’ve fought my way to where I am today. Also, “Greek gold rush” is genius!"

~~free-ee-ee free-ee-ee free-ee-ee free-ee-ee-ee free-ee-ee free-ee-ee free-ee free-ee i am free~~
 
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He/him
I'm a sucker for stomping beat, which I think is the main reason I love E.V.O.L. as much as I do - that echoey kettle drum sucks me in. 10

I always think I like Gold less than I really do. The laidback vibe (both lyrically and sonically) works nicely after five songs that have either big productions or more emotionally driven lyrics. Actually, writing this I feel like I've underscored it now - any chance of a do-over? 7.5
 
"E.V.O.L." deserved better. Like I've already said, it's such a catchy tune that I was sure it would do great here.

And "Gold" is finally an elimination I can get behind. It's really cute with that slightly wacky effects and production (I completely agree with @əʊæ that it sounds like an underwater treasure search), but it's definitely among the weakest songs from "FROOT". Also, "Gold" sounds a bit lazy, but not in a bad way and never did too much to me melodically.

Poor @əʊæ, @DJHazey, @Sprockrooster and @Music Is Life losing two 10's in a row, something that just happened to me with "Rootless" and "Solitaire".
 

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