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

VitaminBee

VitaminBee

He/Him
Lonely Hearts Club can stay a little longer and I will not tolerate it’s departure this early. It hurt enough not having it on the US version of the album.
Maki said:
One of my most anticipaed eliminations is "Hypocrates". How is it still in?

And "Sex Yeah" is quite amazing, let's not drag it.

Apart from "Hypocrates", "Electra Heart" contains only great to incredible songs, so I can't really pick a second song from it that should leave next.
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Because I participated. It gets dragged by too many people on here. It’s outlasted a good chunk of songs though.
 
Phonetics Girl

Phonetics Girl

she/her
"I’ve always been interested in how fast-moving our identity is and that I’ve never been able to pin down who I truly am. That inspires me to write, because I feel like that cements me a bit, in that I find my identity in being an artist."









































































33.
valley-of-the-dolls.jpg


7.78

+3
(+0.65)

11: @maverick_79 & @Maki
Highest: 10x8 (@Miyawakiwi, @DJHazey, @Pecans, @Dijah., @Petty Mayonnaise, @Music Is Life, @Vixen, @Sally_Harper)
Lowest: 1x1 (@Cundy)
@əʊæ: 5​

As I’m sure all of you will be relieved to hear, I don’t have that much to say about Valley of the Dolls. It’s adequately dramatic and references The Archetypes in a way that invokes the author being ultimately hurt and burnt out by her own creations. Points for foreshadowing, but not much else. Certainly not the finest Diamandis-Nowels offering.

@Sprockrooster (8) claims issa grower: "At first I felt this was a bit faceless, but in time it has grown on me." Maybe I just never gave it a proper chance?

@Miyawakiwi (10) rightly praises the vocals: "Her vocals are so somber here, It really feels the whole aura of the song!"

@abael (6) observes a tracklist placement problem: "Pretty amorphous track to follow Teen Idle. Not bad, but not much of anything."

"Is it bad? No. Do I skip it? Yes." declares @Verandi (4) flippantly.

@pop3blow2 (8.7) senses that things start becoming a little samey here: "I like this one, though I some of the lyrical themes start to become a bit one note on this album. I know there’s a concept behind it all, but still."

In the valley of the dolls @DJHazey (10) bops, he bops: "Underrated masterpiece. As haunting and atmospheric as you're willing to let it become. Also, it might be disguised by Marina's desolate vocal but this song bops in an understated manner, because the beat slaps more than it's given credit for. I don't even try to really understand what the song means, but it sounds as depressing and lonely as I need it to be and I want to be transported to this valley."

@Pecans (10) is taken with the lyrics: "Born with a void, hard to destroy with love’ is a fantastic lyric. As is ‘built with a heart broken from the start’. I think she’s one of the best pop writers there is."

@Dijah. (10) is lost for words: "I don’t know how to describe this in any word besides perfect. The strings sound incredible on this song."

@Stradiwhovius (2) has another word for it: "Boring."

@Cutlery (5) mentions that one film I always see referenced, but it's not a horror so I never investigated: "It's a repetition of State of Dreaming, that's what it is. Although I'll say the production carries it more than the former, yet thematically it's even clunkier than it, which results in them being pretty even for me. I wonder if it's an appropriate soundtrack for the film of the same name, I've never watched it."

@babes aloud (8.9): "Again the archetype aspect kept this on the standard ehen there are better songs around. But there were soooo many good songs this era." A standard without Radioactive will never be my standard.

@OspreyQueen (8) feels it brings some respite to the proceedings: "I really like the slightly more…restrained feel of this song in contrast to all the dubstep and melodrama in the songs that came before it. It’s nothing amazing but it’s a pleasant (if slightly creepy) late-album ballad."

@Trouble in Paradise (7): "Definitely a song thats improved in my esteem now that i’m reevaluating Marina’s discography.. I still don’t think it’s top tier Marina but it’s well executed and a strong listen." That's a totally fair assessment.

@Vixen (10) shows that persistence pays off: "This is one of the songs of the album that just kept growing on me each year. It started pretty low in my list in terms of standout, but now it's almost at the top. Again, this is another track from the album that just encapsulates 'Electra Heart' as a concept. Brilliant lyrics and melodies."

@Sally_Harper (10): "This song makes me feel so empty, but in a really good way. Also, the title always makes me want to read the book again." There is also a book? Well, I never.

@maverick_79 (11) keeps it short and sweet: "that chorus and middle 8 sends me places."

Go awf, @Maki (11): "Here it is... the best of the best Marina had to offer so far. I'm in love with this masterpiece, I even knew that this will be one of my favorites just by reading its title. The absolutely gorgeous melody, the sad and desperate lyrics and delivery, the impeccable production, the lovely musical arrangement, the wonderful harmonies - there is so much perfection here. It's so devastating and represents the core of the album, at least lyrically. I mean, lines like 'pick a personality for free' and 'living with identities that do not belong to me' wouldn't make that much sense on her other albums. Stunning from beginning to end. The way the instrumental just progresses along with her wonderful vocal delivery never fails to leave me in awe. And don't get me started on that brilliance of the chorus. It showcases the eerie side of her in the best possible way and I can't get enough of it. One of a kind masterpiece and the ultimate gem or, better say, ultimate diamond in her discography."​



























































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32.
hypocrates.jpg


7.79

+7
(+0.74)

Highest: 10x8 (@əʊæ, @pop3blow2, @DJHazey, @Pecans, @alejandrusco, @If You Go, @Petty Mayonnaise, @Sally_Harper)
Lowest: 3.5x1 (@Cutlery)
​
There is one thing that makes Hypocrates so immensely relatable. #daddyissues. Whoever your father figure is, they just have to die. Or at least fuck off. Marina sounds straight up angelic examining the relationship with her possessive father (boyfriend?). Hypocrates is a vulnerable plea accompanied by a similarly gentle instrumental. It’s all sparkly and delicate cotton candy contrasted with the lyrical wound opening. By the time she calls him out for playing a martyr, I’ll have gone into this state of bittersweet euphoria, and, well, there aren’t many songs that give me that feeling.

@Sprockrooster (9): "Guitarsolo always +1,0" Yass, I love when she serves us The Corrs!

@Maki (5,75) basically calls it bland: "I've always considered this the weakest song from this album and it remains that way. It just feels... empty and faceless for some reason. It lacks that Marina edge and is almost something unconventional for her. I appreciate that it's laid back in comparison to the rast and the breezy chorus is really good, but this song just gets lost among the many amazing tracks from this album. The bridge/middle-8 is another great part, but I just can't get into this one."

Looks like we caught @Cutlery (3.5) on a bad day: "Through my diamond years, I've always had a love-hate relationship with this. It's blatant throwback pop rock, it's twinkly and sparkly and optimist-sounding. It has "Whooooooo are youuuuuu to tell meeeee, tell meeeee?" repeated over stock guitars. Right now, I stand with hating it."

@abael (7) is, as always, reserved: "I appreciate this song, but I don't search this album out for tracks like this."

@Verandi (8) comes for the EDM crew: "One of the few tracks where the production is not stupidly loud or cheap. So of course most gays hate it."

This elimination will come as a blow to (ddd sorry for this pun) @pop3blow2 (10): "Maybe my favorite song on Electra Heart (even though I listen to Primadonna more). Her lyrics are messy sometimes, but: ‘You’ve played the martyr for so long, you can’t do anything wrong’ is the kind of couplet I love from her. That’s an amazing lyric. Really the whole song is just fantastic."

@DJHazey (10) is bleeding tens lately: "And yet another underrated gem in her discography. I'm transported by the laid back 'soft rock power ballad' production. Don't you dare call it anonymous because I swear this was always in my head at the time, as much or more than my other favorites. I'd probably point to the "whoooo" // "youuuu" bullet points of the chorus but that middle eight, whew does it just fly in and knock your socks off or what? Yeah, Marina just freakin' soars while she subsequently tells her lover to take several seats and I live."

@SyPOPhantic (9.5): "This track gets a lot of flack on here. Is it a little basic to some ears? Possibly but it’s still a cute bop." The cutest!

@Pecans (10) feels empowered: "Hypocrates is often overlooked in the context of the album, but this is one track that stands out to me as a real kick to the system. “Who are you to tell me who to be?” is a simple yet amazingly powerful chorus."

@Dijah. (7): "I’ve always felt like this would have fit better on the Froot album." Cause of the one-line chorus? ddd

@Stradiwhovius (5): "Never really understood the low level disdain for this. Not great, but not the nadir of the album." Hypocrates are meant to lie, Nadir. Hypocrates are meant to lie.

@babes aloud (9.8): "I don't mind being taught a lesson this way. I desperately wanted the middle-8 to be used again as the outro. Really that's what I want from every career highlight middle-8." I remeber someone on here doing something like that to Venus, only after every chorus. Gosh, this must be like the third time I'm shoehorning a Gaga reference today.

@OspreyQueen (8): "I get why people aren’t too keen on this one. Breezy pop-rock sticks out like a sore thumb on the album, and the lyrics are a bit basic, but I don’t think it’s worthy of any strong feelings either way. It’s a cute jam to wind down the album with, that’s it." And gorgeous is Fear And Loathing.

@Trouble in Paradise (4): "Honestly, that chorus feels like the precursor to “Orange Trees” and I mean that fully as an insult." Way harsh, T. Way harsh.

@sfmartin (8): "this one always passes me by. Simple but effective. I really like the second chorus. Another stunning bridge." That bridge/middle 8 issa show stopper.

@Vixen (7): "Another song from the album that grew on me with time. I wouldn't say it shot to the top exactly, but it was definitely a more late-discovery for me. Absolutely fantastic bridge!"
giphy.gif


@Sally_Harper (10) has a succinct summary: "What a fucking bop."


​
 
SlowGinFizzzz

SlowGinFizzzz

if I had my way, the top tracks of this rate would be Electra Heart minus Hypocrates, Valley Of The Dolls and State Of Dreaming, but with EVOL, Just Desserts and the title track in their place, as well as Hollywood, Obsessions, Oh No!, Happy, Froot, I'm A Ruin, Savages, and Immortal.

lehnw01 said:
I love the acoustic version of Lies, but the album version? Marina drowning in dated dubstep production and screaming the chorus at us??? No thank you, ma'am.
Click to expand...
Lies deserves to win this rate.
 
Stradiwhovius

Stradiwhovius

he/him
əʊæ said:
@Stradiwhovius (9.25) uses words like absurdist and milieu, which makes me feel unqualified to be here: "Like an absurdist trying to pick a fight with music itself. I love it to bits and struggle to get through without joining in with the howl. It's completely nuts and so much fun. The manic production, the downright unhinged monkey sound effects and cuckoos, there is nothing which doesn't contribute to an outstanding milieu of complete madness."
Click to expand...

Ah here’s the first fluff from me doing about 6 comments at once while drunk: Blatantly referring to Mowgli’s Road. Though the comment applies equally to both songs. This is my first proper casualty - bowing out right before those two Electra cuts is near-insulting.
 
londonrain

londonrain

Staff member
People do a lot with Hypocrates. That chorus is great and I really like the lyrics to the verses. It's a solid 8 from me, which is a lot better than several songs remaining.

One of the things I like is the way she chose to name the song: given that it's a drag of one specific hypocrite (rather than hypocrites in general) she's presumably chosen to combine "hypocrite" and "Hippocrates" to create the name "Hypocrates" as a descriptor for the person she's singing about - which works perfectly for the whole Electra Heart concept. I quite like the idea of reading a person by referring to them as Hypocrates.
 
Phonetics Girl

Phonetics Girl

she/her
"I read this book called, very cheesy title, How to Break Up with Your Phone. It's about converting it back into a tool as opposed to something that is just sucking your energy and making you feel shit. What's the point? There's like a whole world out here."

























































31.
disconnect.jpg


7.84

NEW ENTRY

11: @CasuallyCrazed
Highest: 10x8 (@Miyawakiwi, @AllGagaLike, @Ana Raquel, @RUNAWAY, @Kenny, @OspreyQueen, @londonrain, @sfmartin)
Lowest: 5x4 (@happiestgirl, @P'NutButter, @Aester, @Cutlery)
@əʊæ: 9
​
Disconnect is that relatable Internet addiction bop. Look, I may not be Azealia Banks, but I’m still using my phone in self-destructive ways. My sleep cycle is fucked to pieces. I’m ineffective at anything I set out to do. I don’t have an attention span. Would those things still be a problem even if I led a technophobic life? Maybe so. All I know is that I feel every word Marina sings here. I love the wordless hook and the euphoric middle 8 is nothing short of transcendent.

@Cutlery (5): "I never liked this and wasn't excited about waiting for its eventual release. Like most Clean Bandit singles, it's a Spotify-ready nothing of a pop song. In a way, it signalled the downfall of The Artist Formerly Known as Marina and The Diamonds to me, but I didn't know it back then yet." If no one ever told me this was by Clean Bandit, I genuinely would've been none the wiser.

@abael (6) makes some bold claims: "An interesting duo, but the creation isn’t catching anyones attention."

@Vixen (6) is left unmoved: "I don't quite understand the love for this song. It sounded "cute" when we first heard it live, it's certainly is a mild bop, but this grew old so so so so quick, I don't really understand the praise it gets. I'm not saying it's a terrible song, but I can understand why Clean Bandit didn't bother releasing - they probably grew tired of it themselves."

@Maki (7) wanted this to go in harder: "Quite an ironic title of the song, because there was (and perhaps still is) a 'disconnect' with some of her fans that can be tied with the release of this song. I like it, but it's too light and lacks that edge. Memorable chorus and 'ooh, ooh, ooh...' bits are my favorite part. The weaker song with Clean Bandit for sure."

It hasn't aged well for @Sprockrooster (7): "Great on impact. A bit lost now."

@Verandi (8) spills the tea: "Still much better than Baby."

@DJHazey (9) was missing out this whole time: "Flop fan again because I've somehow never heard this. Damn you Spotify for not recommending it for some reason. A major bop, maybe not as amazing as "Baby" was the first time I heard that, but it will more than do."

@imaduck (8.5) just can't stop with the Froot bashing: "this is sort of what I wanted from the froot era post electra heart."

@SyPOPhantic (8.5) would rather hear the original version: "This would be higher if the production was closer to the coachella performance, but still better than most of her latest album."

@maverick_79 (9): "underrated" Is it though?

@Subspace88 (6,5) is underwhelmed by the demo-like qualities: "I should like this song. It’s everything I’d like. Clean Bandit (on a good day, they’re great), Marina, vaguely disco-tinged… but there’s just something not quite right with it. The chorus sounds so…unfinished. Ironic considering how long they spent on it. But I just can’t vibe with it."

@RUNAWAY (10), meanwhile, is the opposite: "I fucking love everything about this song. It was so worth the wait."

@babes aloud (8.7): "Keep working at it with the DJs and you'll be as good as Sophie Ellis-Bextor in the genre one day." Please, no.

@Kenny (10): "I know a lot of people on the forum dislike this one but I absolutely love it. I love the lyrics, they're simple but so relatable to me. But so is 90% of her discography." I wish compulsively checking my phone wasn't a thing I related to :(

@OspreyQueen (10) takes this opportunity to scald the Matty and friends' nonsense: "Possibly the best anti-tech song I’ve ever heard, because it actually engages with the problem of social-media addiction rather than just smarmily judging the people who struggle with it like certain artists (The 1975) do. It’s wonderfully composed too, and the wordless chorus is absolutely lush."

@sfmartin (10): "Her last great song for me. I'm so glad this got released. A wonderful chilled out vibe and infectious melody." You mean she released anything after this?

@Music Is Life (9): "Love the finger snaps and the production in general. It’s a bop and I wish this had been included on the album but I also kinda get why it wasn’t. I love the lyrics though." It'd have showed up the other songs far too much.

@CasuallyCrazed (11): "Fully prepared to get dragged for choosing something with a Clean Bandit connection for my 11 considering where they later took her with L+F, but "Disconnect" is truly special and quintessential Marina to me. It really speaks to what I’ve been going through the last few years, and I think what we all go through in modern society these days. That feeling of living your whole life out on a screen rather than seeking out real human connection & love, the way we check social media incessantly only to make ourselves feel more isolated and depressed. What other pop song brings up such deep-seated psychological issues?? The song is also such a melodic triumph — those hypnotic “Frozen”-like mmmm’s mashed up against the melancholy violin and jubilant disco beat -- it's all such a strange mish-mash of opposing forces that somehow just works. This IS that crying on the dancefloor anthem I always wanted from her and it’s such a bummer that it ended up being such an orphaned child within her discography."

Hey, at least it didn't have any real haters! No scores below 5? Not everybody has that.​



Tomorrow: four album tracks, three 11s, two albums, one single​
 
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