She's Marina, We're The Diamonds, And That Was The Rate [Finalized]
- Thread starter Phonetics Girl
- Start date
I'm pleased that Handmade Heaven, Superstar and Emotional Machine have made the Top 40.
she/her
"Once I was speaking with a journalist about “the outsider” and they asked “How can you be an outsider, you’re beautiful?” I replied A) You don’t know what I look like without all this on [gestures to makeup and clothes] B) you don’t know if I like myself and C) just because you’re beautiful doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. But even when I see a beautiful woman I think Aw, her life must be amazing. Everyone does it. That’s human nature to believe that beauty is everything."
40.
7.52
=
(+0.51)
Highest: 10x6 (@etienne, @abael, @happiestgirl, @nikkysan, @Music Is Life, @Vixen)
Lowest: 4x1 (@sfmartin)
@əʊæ: 5
40.
7.52
=
(+0.51)
Highest: 10x6 (@etienne, @abael, @happiestgirl, @nikkysan, @Music Is Life, @Vixen)
Lowest: 4x1 (@sfmartin)
@əʊæ: 5
As an album, The Family Jewels overflows with songs that can be considered its mission statement. The Outsider, I think, comes the closest to making a good case for the mission statement for Marina’s entire career. After all, wasn’t the whole Diamonds thing about connecting with like-minded people in the first place? Isn’t the desire to prove them* wrong an undercurrent of her actions until this very day? It’s been a decade and she’s still fucking on about not belonging on Handmade Heaven. I do find those themes the most pervasive of her work. So while, the lyrical content is crucial, I just find the delivery a little too jarring and it’s never been something I’d listen to outside the album. The relatability it has, though!
*stans who call her poor, the music industry, journalists, dad – take your pick
@sfmartin (4): "This is odd and off putting." So is the nature of every outsider.
@Sprockrooster (5) doesn't want this particular outsider in his country: "This should have been a regional bonustrack in a region I do not live. Completely breaking a string of 7 magnificent tracks in this album with this boring filler."
@Cutlery's (6) sentiment is isolationist too: "This is one of the handful of duds. I feel that Starlight didn't deserve to be chopped for this! The outro is horrible, I hate how it ends eternally slowing down like that and with the pitched vocals."
@Verandi (7) brings attention to the vocal performance: "I feel like this is less good than the sum of its parts. Also BREeEeEeEeEeeeekfest"
@Subspace88 (8) loves the space&woods energy: "That “fucking wildcard” vocal. We have to stan."
@babes aloud (8.3): "Love the twangy electronic production when it kicks in." Which panel show theme does it sound like, though?
@DJHazey (9): "A heck of alot more exciting than I ever remember being this "introvert anthem, but meh" song being. The beat going off with each echoed "on my own again" has my head spinning right now. I'm even finding the sure-to-be-polarizing "WILD CARD!" scream working as some weird "rallying cry" moment for those who are a little..different. It's always good to go back to albums you've haven't listened to for ages during a disocgraphy rate and make discoveries like this." You're welcome!
@Maki (9): "This is one badass track in a way and I love it for that reason. One of the best album tracks from "The Family Jewels". The chorus is such an earworm, and there are some great harmonies here. The 'Wildcard!' scream is really cool, too. Why was this so underrated in the previous rate?" Is it still underrated if it ended up in the same position, but beat 85% of Love + Fear?
@OspreyQueen (9) is the first to mention that iconic line: "First of all, BOP. Second of all, “don’t get on my bad side, I can work a gun” is such an iconic line, not just because it sounds great, but also because it’s exactly the sort of empty threat a terrified introvert would make if they felt threatened. And third of all, the way the hook collapses into “inside again, inside again” at the end is just…art."
@imaduck (9.5): "I'm not sure Marina can work a gun, I'd like to know where abouts in the ghetto of Pandy, Monmouthshire she grew up. Thankfully the synths here are glorious." Why does this make me imagine her as that Hot Fuzz character?
@Trouble in Paradise (9,5): "Fun misheard lyric: I always thought she sang "I'll whisper 'um' in the wrong places" instead "I'm in the wrong place." I took it to signify the difficulty of even participating in conversation which was too real for me. Thankfully both the misheard lyric and actual lyric get at the same theme of not belonging. This song is probably one of the most frequent songs to enter my head (thanks Social Anxiety!). If I'm at some sort of large gathering of straight people-especially mainly straight people I don't know-you best believe "Inside the outsider!" is blasting in my brain." This is just too real!
@happiestgirl (10): "THE angsty bop of my lonely high school years! 'Don't get on my bad side, I can work a gun?!' damn sis ok" She was inspired by the American culture, while writing this album, after all!
@Music Is Life (10): "BOP full of drums! AND HANDCLAPS! The lyrics are so relatable and actually kinda sad though." "All I know is I cannot prete-ee-end" is that moment for me.
@Vixen (10) feels that it's underrated: "I always felt like this wasn't popular? What a shame. It was always one of my favorites from the album, an instant classic and standout in my opinion. Hooks for days. The pre-chorus and chorus 1-2 punch is just pure bliss. Overall, it's just a pretty clever take on introversion."
Let's close with @abael's (10) rare full-on stan moment: "Just a brilliantly composed track, the pace is perfect; to which Marina and production keep to that pace with aplomb."
I gave this an 8; the energy and delivery!!!
He/him
I was surprised to see the lukewarm reception to The Outsider here - it was an early favourite of mine from The Family Jewels and although I prefer other songs from the album now this still holds up. The pulse throughout the song feels just a little off-kilter which i think works will with the lyrics and i was glad to see lots of other people highlight "I'm a fucking WILDCARD!!!!" for the moment that it is. 8.5
she/her
Let's make that 2.
39.
7.532
-3
(-0,168)
Highest: 10x5 (@Sprockrooster, @DJHazey, @Hatbar, @nikkysan, @Vixen)
Lowest: 2x1 (@Cutlery)
@əʊæ: 5
@Cutlery (2): "Astoundingly, I hate this a little more than Girls. Only somewhat interesting musically, but for some reason the lyrics are worse than the other ones'. She even tries to excuse herself as not slut-shaming in the bridge but it's weak as fuck. That's why I can never listen to this anymore." Yeah, these days I put I'm Not Hungry Anymore in its place and pretend it doesn't exist.
@maverick_79 (5) thinks Marina & Kosten should have spent more time on it: "it sounds like a rough demo"
For @abael (7), it's the opposite: "One of the more enjoyable tracks of the album, Marina and the production team work well together here."
@happiestgirl (7) "Hated this song when the album came out bc I was a fervent Ellie stan, but it grew on me. Or maybe I just don't like Ellie anymore ddd. The lyrical content is somewhat repellent tho imo" Funny how I used to like the song when I cared about Ellie. At the very least, it aged better than On My Mind.
@OspreyQueen (7.5): "I’m usually the first to stan an angry revenge bop, but something about this one just doesn’t click. The tempo is too slow to carry the energy of the lyrics, and while it doesn’t really fit anywhere on the album, it definitely doesn’t fit in the latter half in amongst all the moody ballads. And there’s one or two lines that I’ve been having to pretend I didn’t hear for four years." Discarding the song altogether seems easier than having to ignore the childishness, teebs.
@imaduck (8) welcomes the guitar: "I'm very much here for slightly rock pop marina"
@sfmartin (9) welcomes the return of salty!Marina: "Vicious and totally awesome. The bridge "guess what humans do" is fire."
@Verandi (9) lives for "The drama! The Ellie allegations! Gays analysing the lyrics for clues! A moment. Every time I hear the "sour face" part I cannot help but thinking about that iconic Ellie gif."
@Maki (9,25): "Oh, we're going edgy and I'm totally into it! I really like the vibe of this one - it's almost like some old-school country rock sound. 'You can do better than that' pre-choruses almost steal the show for me, they're so good. I love how different the delivery is in the second verse and the way she switched between. The middle-8 needs more punch in my opinion, although no complaints for the rest of the song." Middle 8 of all the parts? I wish the entire song sounded like that.
@Stradiwhovius (9.5): "Sonically I think this might be my favourite song on the album. You can certainly see that it's an early track and informed a lot of the later ones. As problematic as it may be, I ironically love the "I've said I won't slut shame but I'm going to do it anyway." moments." I love how Hypocrates outlasted her most hypocritical song. Justice!
@Miyawakiwi (9.5) displays conscience: "Love the music, not a fan of the lyrics."
@pop3blow2 (9.5) emphasises that we need Marina to go alt-rock: "This is an odd comparison, but I’m a huge R.E.M. fan & this always reminds of some their work. No specific song, just a general attitude & sonic approach. I’d love a Marina rock album, to be honest. She has the voice to pull it off."
@DJHazey (10) is fantasising about being Marina's friend, just as I absolutely am every night: "God this would be an 11 in another pop star's collection. I never really knew about this being an Ellie Goulding diss track, instead making my own story out of it. Like Marina playing "angel on a friend's shoulder", warning him of the treachery sure to come if he chooses to be with the girl she's calling out. The chorus is affecting by having her scold "you're better than that" and comfort "I know you've been feeling sad" at the same time. This makes this advice more genuine and feel more like there's a true bond there. All of this sung over a towering chorus that rivals anything on your everyday 'indie pop bops'' playlist."
@Vixen (10): "This was actually an instant favorite of mine at the time of release. It's just...so catchy? Peak-Marina when it comes to hooks. Not her best or most clever lyrics, but this is just SO FUN and sassy. These slight elements of Soft Rock just compliments her voice perfectly. She sounds right at home on something like this. That guitar's just got FUNK for days." She does pull of petty shade pretty well, admittedly.
Meanwhile, I'm back to disagreeing with @Sprockrooster (10): "The bop we needed on the album to continue back on a high after two of a bit mediocre tracks."
He/him
Melodically and sonically, Better Than That is probably top 3 Froot for me, but it had to lose points for those lyrics. It started out as a shameful bop when Froot was released, but it's only become more uncomfortable over time for me. 8 (that's probably more generous than I should've been, really)
@Verandi - is this the iconic gif?
@Verandi - is this the iconic gif?
He/Him
Potentially hot take, but I never really got the "slut-shamey" aspect of Better Than That? Don't get me wrong, I understand why so many people comment on it and maybe deservedly so, but to me it's Marina criticising "the girl" manipulating everyone around her, as opposed to criticising her for sleeping with people. That was my take-away from the song anyway.
He/Him
Okay what does Ed have to do with anything? What's the tea here?
I could not give it a 10 cause of the slut-shaming, but I love everything else about it.
I could not give it a 10 cause of the slut-shaming, but I love everything else about it.
she/her
This song is allegedly about Ellie. And then, a year later, she released On My Mind with lines like "you don't mess with love, you mess with the truth," about as subtle as Marina quoting Under The Sheets and Anything Could Happen in Better Than That. This whole thing is so needless and petty, I can't help but cringe in 2019.
Indeed. A PJ staple.
FROOT getting done so dirty and we've barely cracked the top 40...
Primadonna's going to end up winning the whole thing isn't it...
Primadonna's going to end up winning the whole thing isn't it...
He/Him
she/her
"I like the idea of writing a song about how someone is the light in your life," she says. "I know that sounds kind of cringe-y"—she laughs—"but that's what I wrote it about, you know? It's a love story. I was just kind of meditating on the progress of the relationship but also myself and how I viewed love."
38.
7.539
NEW ENTRY
Highest: 10x7 (@etienne, @Verandi, @DJHazey, @RUNAWAY, @If You Go, @Oleander, @Music Is Life)
Lowest: 4x3 (@Hatbar, @Aester, @nikkysan)
@əʊæ: 8.9
7.539
NEW ENTRY
Highest: 10x7 (@etienne, @Verandi, @DJHazey, @RUNAWAY, @If You Go, @Oleander, @Music Is Life)
Lowest: 4x3 (@Hatbar, @Aester, @nikkysan)
@əʊæ: 8.9
Superstar is a pretty bleak song, if I think about it. Cold bass, melancholic delivery, post-chorus which sounds like making ink blobs on the surface of water which wasn’t any clear in the first place. But, if I look back on her discography, it doesn’t really make sense for Marina to be singing happy songs about love. In fact, I’d feel short-changed of she ever did. Electra Heart didn’t die for this, etc, etc. She’s satisfied with putting in the work, and having someone who doesn’t abandon her when she’s at her lowest, someone she misses when they’re not together, and that makes sense for someone who used to make bangers about flawed and toxic relationships. So if she wants to make subdued bops about un-fun and unexciting aspects of love that obviously matter to her, I’m not gonna be mad.
For @Sprockrooster (9) it's an "Instant fave. Sometimes you know instantly a song becomes a personal classic."
@abael (7) appreciates the vocals: "Similar to the opener, save for the fact that Marinas performance is more impressive here than in most tracks. More restraint, but better control."
@pop3blow2's (8.1) response is similarly restrained: "A bit basic, but fine. The drop seems real forced."
@Verandi (10): "This should have been the lead single. The most original track on the album (ready for somebody to quote this with "lol easy feat" etc) and it pays off. The production is great, the double vocals too; it takes something as basic as trap beats and it builds this eastern European chants on top of them. *chef's kiss*"
@DJHazey (10) hypes it to high heavens: "Marina re-writing "tropical bop" -- making it refreshing and reach levels no one thought that style of pop could, simply by having her unique voice drive it. I feel like this is one of the songs that her fans could "take and run" because it's more of 'simple love song' than alot of the philosophical numbers scattered about."
@imaduck (9): "This album has so many prominent melodies, they're so strong. the pre-chorus is just beautifully perfect." The pre-chorus is a real highlight, yes.
@maverick_79 (6) takes issue with all the chanting: "it’s amazing until that drop"
@happiestgirl (6) is also peeved: "The drop is so mf annoying"
@Stradiwhovius (5.75) deems it "Lyrically uninspired, generic lines such as "We've worked so hard, come so far" completely fail to land. But the overall feel of somewhat melancholic but relaxed and contented captures what I feel she was going for so fine. Whatever."
@RUNAWAY (10): "this song is another amazing moment for Marina. I like it. Sue me." This isn't the Taylor Swift fanbase, we'd sooner shoot you like Marina threatens to in The Outsider.
@babes aloud (8.3): "I don't know what it is but the melodies around the song title section don't seem original or genuine." Maybe cause it sounds taken straight out of Hurts' last album.
@Kenny (9) makes sure that we won't take him for a hater: "I honestly loved this one from the moment it was released. I just love the melody and the way she sings it."
@OspreyQueen (5) drags shop playlists: "A sterile, flavourless song designed with the sole intent of not getting skipped. To provide pleasant background music for Hollister and Costa, that customers will think is “quite a nice song” but forget about as soon as it’s ended. I’m honestly so sick of producers putting weak trap beats in pop songs as if listeners are gonna flock to it like catnip. No hun, you still have to make a good beat if you want your streaming coin."
@Trouble in Paradise (8,5): "Back when we didn’t know what L&F would bring, I remember not being quite sure what to think of “Superstar.” After a couple of spins on my drive to work, I came to love it. This may be an odd thought but I’ve come to almost listen to it as a remix of an earlier Marina song. It’s one of the few L&F songs where she really goes for it vocally which I appreciate. THe drop with her oh’s may be basic but at least she sounds lovely. And I’m a sucker for that electric harp right before the last chorus run through." That's what I settled for too.
@sfmartin (8) is proven right by the results: "One of the strongest songs on the new album. Crisp production and tight melodies. Let down by a lazy second chorus/drop."
@Music Is Life (10) embraces the basic bop: "I feel like I’m really basic for bopping to this. Like, I can hear how basic it is. But I don’t care. It’s so good."
@rdp 6) likes it until the chorus: "The verses are great and atmospheric but the chorus does nothing for me"
@Maki (7,75) is the opposite: "My least favorite out of those promo singles she did, but it's a great song. I'm not a fan of the pre-chorus, but the chorus and 'drop' are really nice. Sounding too reserved at points, like the majority of this album, brings it down a bit."
@Cutlery (7.5): "The most interesting thing she does with her vocals in the album. It’s an interesting slice of having her own trap pop moment, and the" And the what? Don't keep us in suspense!