londonrain
Staff member
And yet you only gave it an 8 in your own rate.
I know we all grade on a scale and all that, but that 8 felt harsh for such a top-tier bop.
#soon! Part Un - The 60s-00s Girl Band Debut Breakthrough Rate
- Thread starter berserkboi
- Start date
I know we all grade on a scale and all that, but that 8 felt harsh for such a top-tier bop.
he/him
I knew you'd quote me for it, because I already I gave it an 8 there...
he/him
Look at it like this, I gave something like "About You Now" by Miranda Cosgrove an 8 in the teen-pop rate, but if it were in a different compilation rate with less of my favorites I might bump it to an 9 or 10. In that girl groups rate, Scandalous was an 8 in comparison to the rest of the rate which was loaded to the brim with personal favorites I consider to be closer to perfect.
He/Him
An early one for you!
#22
Eternal – Stay
Average Score: 7.624
Highest Score: 10 x 5 (@Remorque, @soratami, @iheartpoptarts, @tylerc904, @Aester)
Lowest Score: 4 x 1 (@Filippa)
#22
Eternal – Stay
Average Score: 7.624
Highest Score: 10 x 5 (@Remorque, @soratami, @iheartpoptarts, @tylerc904, @Aester)
Lowest Score: 4 x 1 (@Filippa)
In a move I cannot imagine will please many – we lose our UK R&B entry from the list. As the 90s take another cut, we are still solidly getting rid of my back-up host’s signature genre. Stay is a lovely number and showcases Eternal’s sound and vocals spectacularly, however it is not my favourite entry of the genre on the list.
This song list forces you to compare, of course so I have to say that the grittier representations of the genre we have discussed through En Vogue or TLC rank higher with me at this point in my life. Back in the late nineties however, Eternal was a girl band I was extremely fond of (as was Mauritius with I Wanna Be The Only One almost snatching our Song Of The Year title). If this song inspires you to compare the US and the UK R&B soundscape, I would say the UK movement certainly had a more polished production than its US counterpart as represented here, this may also be because Eternal’s debut was a few years after En Vogue and co., so the sound had already evolved a bit by then.
The girls from Eternal are extremely talented vocalists and their harmonies and vocals mesh incredibly together, pushing the overall sound higher for impact without bothering me as much as some vocal gymnastics can – instead the ad-lib at the end feel earned and tie into the overall sound perfectly. Polished would be the word for how it comes together so well here.
Stay was the true debut from Eternal, and was the first single from their debut album Always & Forever (really going for the eternity feel overall). It entered the UK Chart at #16 and built to a peak of #4. Surprisingly for an English Girl Band, they also saw some success in the US when this reached #19. Australia took it to #3 (stanning talent from the beginning).
Considered the British En Voque (if anyone doubted how influential they were), the band started with sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, with the label recruiting Kelle Bryan and Louise Redknapp. Their debut album sold over 1 million copies in the UK, confirmed 4x Platinum and finishing as one of the biggest selling albums of 1994. Louise left the group before the recording stages of the second album to pursue a very successful solo career and she wasn’t present in the stages of my life were I first discovered Eternal, thinking they had been a trio all along until a few years down the line. Their second album, was also highly successful and the eventual best of they released has been confirmed to be the highest selling ‘Best Of’ of any girl group. In the late 90s Kelle left the band (thanks to @londonrain for the tea about how she got fired by fax) and the sisters were left as the duo they originally started as until called it quits in 2000. Some reunion talk have been had over the years and they reformed for The Big Reunion as a trio to some success too. Watch this space for more gossip in part 2!
It is time to hear some PopJustice opinions!
Zar-Unity (8.5) breaks away from that 7 average he has been dishing out - Wow, that melody just hits you like a good day in paradise. Classic. Tech: 4 Taste: 4 +.5 = 8.5 points. Kermit_The_Frog (8) likes this line-up best - Eternal were at their best as a 4-piece and a duo (everything as a trio can be chucked). Is this an unpopular opinion? I sometimes wish that Easther would have some kind of resurgence (Radio 2 show, West End debut). A voice that good should not be lost. Further Listening: What’cha Gon’ Do?
ComeOnGloria (9.5) is reaching into his OhNostalgia - That intro reminds me of being a teenager! Saviodxl (7) has not seen The Big Reunion - Where are they now? Filippa (4) returns to rate villainy - Apart from “I Wanna Be the Only One” I don’t know any song of Eternal I like. And this song does not change this. Trouble In Paradise (8.5) is all about the eargasms - I love the sensual delivery of this song. Empty Shoebox (5) looks into the very influences of the R&B Soul tracks for shade - I'm not really a fan of gospel, but the influences seem to work okay here.
Sprockrooster (6) sees talent but still infancy stages for his liking - Vocals for life, but too bad the song isn't that good. DominoDancing (7.5) does not love the ad-lib too much - The chorus is quite catchy, could have done without some of the oversinging. Iheartpoptarts (10) is a surprising high scorer for this one! - You know when you never listen to something because you think it’s a ballad and then it turns out to be amazing? Oh.
Ufint (8) has flashbacks but they are good ones - This is a lot better than I remember it being. Unnameable (5) thinks what they do later is better – they improved greatly with age. DJHazey (9) could be swayed towards a discography rate here - Something about the production feels at home for me. The entire soundscape reminds me of a favorite artist or album but I can't put my finger on it but I know I've never heard of this group before.
This song list forces you to compare, of course so I have to say that the grittier representations of the genre we have discussed through En Vogue or TLC rank higher with me at this point in my life. Back in the late nineties however, Eternal was a girl band I was extremely fond of (as was Mauritius with I Wanna Be The Only One almost snatching our Song Of The Year title). If this song inspires you to compare the US and the UK R&B soundscape, I would say the UK movement certainly had a more polished production than its US counterpart as represented here, this may also be because Eternal’s debut was a few years after En Vogue and co., so the sound had already evolved a bit by then.
The girls from Eternal are extremely talented vocalists and their harmonies and vocals mesh incredibly together, pushing the overall sound higher for impact without bothering me as much as some vocal gymnastics can – instead the ad-lib at the end feel earned and tie into the overall sound perfectly. Polished would be the word for how it comes together so well here.
Stay was the true debut from Eternal, and was the first single from their debut album Always & Forever (really going for the eternity feel overall). It entered the UK Chart at #16 and built to a peak of #4. Surprisingly for an English Girl Band, they also saw some success in the US when this reached #19. Australia took it to #3 (stanning talent from the beginning).
Considered the British En Voque (if anyone doubted how influential they were), the band started with sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, with the label recruiting Kelle Bryan and Louise Redknapp. Their debut album sold over 1 million copies in the UK, confirmed 4x Platinum and finishing as one of the biggest selling albums of 1994. Louise left the group before the recording stages of the second album to pursue a very successful solo career and she wasn’t present in the stages of my life were I first discovered Eternal, thinking they had been a trio all along until a few years down the line. Their second album, was also highly successful and the eventual best of they released has been confirmed to be the highest selling ‘Best Of’ of any girl group. In the late 90s Kelle left the band (thanks to @londonrain for the tea about how she got fired by fax) and the sisters were left as the duo they originally started as until called it quits in 2000. Some reunion talk have been had over the years and they reformed for The Big Reunion as a trio to some success too. Watch this space for more gossip in part 2!
It is time to hear some PopJustice opinions!
Zar-Unity (8.5) breaks away from that 7 average he has been dishing out - Wow, that melody just hits you like a good day in paradise. Classic. Tech: 4 Taste: 4 +.5 = 8.5 points. Kermit_The_Frog (8) likes this line-up best - Eternal were at their best as a 4-piece and a duo (everything as a trio can be chucked). Is this an unpopular opinion? I sometimes wish that Easther would have some kind of resurgence (Radio 2 show, West End debut). A voice that good should not be lost. Further Listening: What’cha Gon’ Do?
ComeOnGloria (9.5) is reaching into his OhNostalgia - That intro reminds me of being a teenager! Saviodxl (7) has not seen The Big Reunion - Where are they now? Filippa (4) returns to rate villainy - Apart from “I Wanna Be the Only One” I don’t know any song of Eternal I like. And this song does not change this. Trouble In Paradise (8.5) is all about the eargasms - I love the sensual delivery of this song. Empty Shoebox (5) looks into the very influences of the R&B Soul tracks for shade - I'm not really a fan of gospel, but the influences seem to work okay here.
Sprockrooster (6) sees talent but still infancy stages for his liking - Vocals for life, but too bad the song isn't that good. DominoDancing (7.5) does not love the ad-lib too much - The chorus is quite catchy, could have done without some of the oversinging. Iheartpoptarts (10) is a surprising high scorer for this one! - You know when you never listen to something because you think it’s a ballad and then it turns out to be amazing? Oh.
Ufint (8) has flashbacks but they are good ones - This is a lot better than I remember it being. Unnameable (5) thinks what they do later is better – they improved greatly with age. DJHazey (9) could be swayed towards a discography rate here - Something about the production feels at home for me. The entire soundscape reminds me of a favorite artist or album but I can't put my finger on it but I know I've never heard of this group before.
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londonrain
Staff member
@berserkboi, how could you mention Kelle leaving and not mention the iconic manner of her departure?
How many girl band members actually got fired by fax?!
How many girl band members actually got fired by fax?!
He/Him
Whoops, will edit! Thanks xx
ohnostalgia
Staff member
She/her
He/Him
Just letting you know, the song leaving us at #21 will be a controversial cut!
So not B*Witched....
I highly doubt my 11 is controversial so could it actually made top 20?!
D
Deleted member 3416
londonrain
Staff member
More controversial than eliminating legends Mis-teeq?!
Since we’ve been eliminating vocal talent left, right and centre, let’s hope it’s one of the tuneless wonders (tATu, Baccara, the Nolans...)
Since we’ve been eliminating vocal talent left, right and centre, let’s hope it’s one of the tuneless wonders (tATu, Baccara, the Nolans...)
londonrain
Staff member
Eternal had some great songs (Power of A Woman and I Wanna Be The Only One being my personal faves) but I never stanned for them as a band the way that I stanned for Mis-Teeq or the Honeyz.
(I also happen to prefer the Monica and All-4-One versions of Angel of Mine and Someday respectively because I heard them before I heard the Eternal versions, so that might have something to do with it.)
He/Him
I will firmly be on Eternal's corner with Angel Of Mine, sorry to be the divisive host. Monica does a great job but the harmonies are life giving by the girls here. I'd even pick it as their song for part 2 but the choice there is more than obvious....
she/her
Somehow this song is about five years older than I thought it was. So that explains how I never knew it to begin with!