The Australian Reality TV Girls Rate - #1 & #2 - And the winner IS...
- Thread starter livefrommelbs
- Start date
Welcome to the next stage of our rate.
We've reached the most iconic part of any reality TV singing competition - the Live Shows.
Our top 12 artists will be duking it out for their spot in the grand finale.
And to get the ball rolling, we're saying goodbye to an act entirely...
30. Reigan - Feels Like Heaven
Average Score - 7.85
High Scorers - @Music Is Life (10), @Phonetics Boy (10), @berserkboi (9.5)
Low Scorers - @abael & @Ana Raquel (5), @DJHazey & @klow (6)
My Score - 8
The gorgeous Reigan is our first live show finalist to exit the rate, with 'Feels Like Heaven' finishing just a few places higher than 'All Of The Pieces'. Which, if I'm being honest, is the better of the two tracks - but this is a democracy and you were all very much here for this one.
'Feels Like Heaven' was released as Reigan's second single after 'All Of The Pieces' did... averagely on the charts. While the track continued to solidify Reigan's sound as a singer-songwriter with a distinct knack for big pop melodies, it didn't do amazingly commercially either - peaking at #37 here in Australia. We must give due notice to one of the track's songwriters, though - it's none other than fellow rate participant Hayley Warner! Snaps for Hayley for penning a track (tracks) that placed higher than her own in the rate.
Let's talk about the piece de resistance of 'Feels Like Heaven' - which is its explosive, melodic chorus. What a rush! What a wave of sound! The production really stepped its pussy up for this one, because it sounds like a bonafide smash. Reigan sounds incredible too, but that should be expected given she is a vocal queen. If anything, the strength of the song's chorus prevents the song from being entirely amazing in its own right - as the rest of its elements feel lacklustre and a little disjointed in comparison. Given that I am not a songwriter I have no idea how they might have remedied this, but it certainly does feel like it follows a fine-AMAZING-fine-AMAZING-fine-AMAZING structure.
I gave this one a <Score>, which I stand by. It's definitely in the top half of the rate, so I'm pleased to see the good sis make it to the top 12 - but it's not quite the transcendent piece of pop that is 'All Of The Pieces'. Ironically, that track feels more like heaven to me than this one. But when it really comes down to it, anything with Reigan's voice involved is a win for me.
Let's see how she fares in the Wildcard Round as one half of Scarlett Belle!
@Music Is Life (10) sings the praises of the song's main hook - Oh GOD THIS CHORUS YASSSSSS.
@berserkboi (9.5) thinks it feels heaven-adjacent, but maybe not entirely heaven-sent - As perfect as it can be, though I don’t 100% love enough for a full score!
@pop3blow2 (9.3) sadly doesn't have much extra homework to do - She seems like someone I could get into based on the songs.
@Untouchable Ace (8.2) has the same issues with the song's structure as I do - The verses are deceptively minimal and detract from the soaring chorus.
@daninternational (8) hopes heaven feels a little bit more exciting than what we've got here - A bit too easy-listening to get top marks
@klow (6) likes the chorus too, but wants (Alecia) moore from the rest of it - Sounds a bit like a latter-day P!nk song. The chorus knocks a bitsy.
We've reached the most iconic part of any reality TV singing competition - the Live Shows.
Our top 12 artists will be duking it out for their spot in the grand finale.
And to get the ball rolling, we're saying goodbye to an act entirely...
30. Reigan - Feels Like Heaven
Average Score - 7.85
High Scorers - @Music Is Life (10), @Phonetics Boy (10), @berserkboi (9.5)
Low Scorers - @abael & @Ana Raquel (5), @DJHazey & @klow (6)
My Score - 8
The gorgeous Reigan is our first live show finalist to exit the rate, with 'Feels Like Heaven' finishing just a few places higher than 'All Of The Pieces'. Which, if I'm being honest, is the better of the two tracks - but this is a democracy and you were all very much here for this one.
'Feels Like Heaven' was released as Reigan's second single after 'All Of The Pieces' did... averagely on the charts. While the track continued to solidify Reigan's sound as a singer-songwriter with a distinct knack for big pop melodies, it didn't do amazingly commercially either - peaking at #37 here in Australia. We must give due notice to one of the track's songwriters, though - it's none other than fellow rate participant Hayley Warner! Snaps for Hayley for penning a track (tracks) that placed higher than her own in the rate.
Let's talk about the piece de resistance of 'Feels Like Heaven' - which is its explosive, melodic chorus. What a rush! What a wave of sound! The production really stepped its pussy up for this one, because it sounds like a bonafide smash. Reigan sounds incredible too, but that should be expected given she is a vocal queen. If anything, the strength of the song's chorus prevents the song from being entirely amazing in its own right - as the rest of its elements feel lacklustre and a little disjointed in comparison. Given that I am not a songwriter I have no idea how they might have remedied this, but it certainly does feel like it follows a fine-AMAZING-fine-AMAZING-fine-AMAZING structure.
I gave this one a <Score>, which I stand by. It's definitely in the top half of the rate, so I'm pleased to see the good sis make it to the top 12 - but it's not quite the transcendent piece of pop that is 'All Of The Pieces'. Ironically, that track feels more like heaven to me than this one. But when it really comes down to it, anything with Reigan's voice involved is a win for me.
Let's see how she fares in the Wildcard Round as one half of Scarlett Belle!
@Music Is Life (10) sings the praises of the song's main hook - Oh GOD THIS CHORUS YASSSSSS.
@berserkboi (9.5) thinks it feels heaven-adjacent, but maybe not entirely heaven-sent - As perfect as it can be, though I don’t 100% love enough for a full score!
@pop3blow2 (9.3) sadly doesn't have much extra homework to do - She seems like someone I could get into based on the songs.
@Untouchable Ace (8.2) has the same issues with the song's structure as I do - The verses are deceptively minimal and detract from the soaring chorus.
@daninternational (8) hopes heaven feels a little bit more exciting than what we've got here - A bit too easy-listening to get top marks
@klow (6) likes the chorus too, but wants (Alecia) moore from the rest of it - Sounds a bit like a latter-day P!nk song. The chorus knocks a bitsy.
A FAIR POINT, BUT WHICH SONG?!
'Feels Like Heaven' was certainly a fave discovery here, for me. Top 30 feels accomplished.
The small print @DJHazey suggestion countered by the all caps @livefrommelbs response is a PJ mood.
The small print @DJHazey suggestion countered by the all caps @livefrommelbs response is a PJ mood.
he/him
Gladiator or Sound of Silence.
I'm prone to bouts of shouting where the iconic Dami Im is concerned.
Two of our top 12 have dropped new releases today! Ricki-Lee is back with a bop:
And Vera Blue has dropped a lush cover of Bowie's 'Heroes':
And Vera Blue has dropped a lush cover of Bowie's 'Heroes':
He/Him
Ricki-Lee, Lola Le Lann & Julia dropping music this month is giving me Small Market Bop Excellence from all my channels! Let's vote all those queens into the June Charts!
I'll listen to Vera Blue soon but seeing the title "Heroes" is giving me PTSD from that song of the same name (or was it We Could Be Heroes?) that was everywhere a couple of years ago on our FM radio in Melbs Dddddd
He/Him
I don't know why I clicked play on this! Now I want to stab myself in the ear! Ddddd
he/him
Yasss two rates now with this awkward video
I will shoehorn into as many as possible, don't you worry about that!
Also, hoping to do our next elimination later today - and it's someone's 11.
Time to lose another 11...
From the same act we lost our last 11 from, no less!
29. Bardot - These Days
Average Score - 7.88
High Scorers - @saviodxl (11), @Phonetics Boy, @Fuchsia & @Remorque (10)
Low Scorers - @Hurricane Drunk & @klow (5), @Pineapple (6)
My Score - 7
And just like that, our dear @saviodxl loses his 11. Sorry to this @saviodxl. It's a bad few days to be giving your 11s to Bardot, isn't it?
Like always, I'll throw it to our esteemed 11-giver to tell us why they picked 'These Days' as their ultimate Australian Reality TV girl anthem:
When I first discovered Bardot, this was the song that caught my attention. Not a bop, not exactly a ballad, something in between, so atmospheric that filled my years and is so 2000s that I could feel myself transported to eeeerm those days. Some girlgroups would kill to have this song in their catalogue.That ARIA awards performance is just epic! I need and explanation of what exactly "illegal in the backseat" means (without a seatbelt?) still. And I'm shook to learn Jennifer Paige covered this song AND had the audacity of calling her album "Positively Somewhere"!
Fun fact - I did not know miss Jennifer covered the track! I'ma have to check that out.
If 'Poison' was the first tasting platter of what Bardot could achieve, 'These Days' was the meal. Discerning pop palates know that 'These Days' is just as iconic as the group's debut single - and depending on who you ask, ultimately the superior track.
I disagree with that assessment - hence my 7. Don't get me wrong, there is ALOT to like about 'These Days'. Like @saviodxl says, it's a quintessentially-00s sounding song and that's always worth some merit. The warped synths that start the song are instantly captivating - and the chorus has one of the strongest melodies from Bardot's entire career. Try gettin' that one out of your head. Depending on who you ask, the lyrics could also be seen to be iconic.
My main issue with the track, teebs, is that it feels like 2 separate songs interpolating with each other. The verses seem like they belong on a twisted electro-R'n'B number from the likes of Darkchild in his heyday. The chorus sounds like an upbeat, folk-pop moment from the likes of S Club 7. Neither are bad, but it's just a bit too fragmented for me.
Either way, 'These Days' is widely liked and I can see why. I was actually quite surprised to see it didn't get any higher than #19 on the ARIA Singles Charts. AUSTRALIA, EXPLAIN!?
@berserkboi (9.9) is a big fan of jumping out of the fire and into the swimming pool - Those production elements are undeniable and the ESL lyrics are as iconic as ever. Not quite a 10 I am afraid but very close!
What's an issue for me works well for @pop3blow2 - I love that the verses are brimmed with some darkness in the production, but the chorus is a bit uplifting. Nice dynamics.
@Untouchable Ace (7.9) sees this as a prophecy foretold - It's like they're singing this to Katie after her verse.
@daninternational (7) are pretty much aligned in both score and opinion - Cheesy chorus but the verses production lifts it
And @klow is here for the chorus, but not the verses - The chorus - that was a classic, that was a classic. The verses don't match with it at all and seem beamed in from a different song.
From the same act we lost our last 11 from, no less!
29. Bardot - These Days
Average Score - 7.88
High Scorers - @saviodxl (11), @Phonetics Boy, @Fuchsia & @Remorque (10)
Low Scorers - @Hurricane Drunk & @klow (5), @Pineapple (6)
My Score - 7
And just like that, our dear @saviodxl loses his 11. Sorry to this @saviodxl. It's a bad few days to be giving your 11s to Bardot, isn't it?
Like always, I'll throw it to our esteemed 11-giver to tell us why they picked 'These Days' as their ultimate Australian Reality TV girl anthem:
When I first discovered Bardot, this was the song that caught my attention. Not a bop, not exactly a ballad, something in between, so atmospheric that filled my years and is so 2000s that I could feel myself transported to eeeerm those days. Some girlgroups would kill to have this song in their catalogue.That ARIA awards performance is just epic! I need and explanation of what exactly "illegal in the backseat" means (without a seatbelt?) still. And I'm shook to learn Jennifer Paige covered this song AND had the audacity of calling her album "Positively Somewhere"!
Fun fact - I did not know miss Jennifer covered the track! I'ma have to check that out.
If 'Poison' was the first tasting platter of what Bardot could achieve, 'These Days' was the meal. Discerning pop palates know that 'These Days' is just as iconic as the group's debut single - and depending on who you ask, ultimately the superior track.
I disagree with that assessment - hence my 7. Don't get me wrong, there is ALOT to like about 'These Days'. Like @saviodxl says, it's a quintessentially-00s sounding song and that's always worth some merit. The warped synths that start the song are instantly captivating - and the chorus has one of the strongest melodies from Bardot's entire career. Try gettin' that one out of your head. Depending on who you ask, the lyrics could also be seen to be iconic.
My main issue with the track, teebs, is that it feels like 2 separate songs interpolating with each other. The verses seem like they belong on a twisted electro-R'n'B number from the likes of Darkchild in his heyday. The chorus sounds like an upbeat, folk-pop moment from the likes of S Club 7. Neither are bad, but it's just a bit too fragmented for me.
Either way, 'These Days' is widely liked and I can see why. I was actually quite surprised to see it didn't get any higher than #19 on the ARIA Singles Charts. AUSTRALIA, EXPLAIN!?
@berserkboi (9.9) is a big fan of jumping out of the fire and into the swimming pool - Those production elements are undeniable and the ESL lyrics are as iconic as ever. Not quite a 10 I am afraid but very close!
What's an issue for me works well for @pop3blow2 - I love that the verses are brimmed with some darkness in the production, but the chorus is a bit uplifting. Nice dynamics.
@Untouchable Ace (7.9) sees this as a prophecy foretold - It's like they're singing this to Katie after her verse.
@daninternational (7) are pretty much aligned in both score and opinion - Cheesy chorus but the verses production lifts it
And @klow is here for the chorus, but not the verses - The chorus - that was a classic, that was a classic. The verses don't match with it at all and seem beamed in from a different song.
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These Days is my favourite Bardot single tbh. A group formed from the first season of an Australian reality show shouldn't be releasing songs this good, but they did.
But I do wonder if These Days was an All Saints reject? The moody production sounds almost William Orbit and it wouldn't have sounded out of place on their Saints and Sinners album... I can vividly imagine Mel and Shaznay on the verses/pre-chorus and the Appleton sisters doing the talky bits.
It's a little cold and gloomy outside so lemme spill some piping hot
Wildcard Tea.
We've only got a few ballots, so it's still very much anyone's game. But so far:
- Every song has points. Or point.
- Only 3 songs are still on single digits.
- The current leader is out in front by 5 points.
- One song that's on double digits has only appeared on 1 ballot.
- No song has appeared on all ballots (but one track has only been left off 1).
- The wildcard wildcards are doing very well.
Make sure you get your ballots in to keep my teapot steaming and overflowing, please! You can find the songlist and rules here.
Wildcard Tea.
We've only got a few ballots, so it's still very much anyone's game. But so far:
- Every song has points. Or point.
- Only 3 songs are still on single digits.
- The current leader is out in front by 5 points.
- One song that's on double digits has only appeared on 1 ballot.
- No song has appeared on all ballots (but one track has only been left off 1).
- The wildcard wildcards are doing very well.
Make sure you get your ballots in to keep my teapot steaming and overflowing, please! You can find the songlist and rules here.
she/her