The Australian Reality TV Girls Rate - #1 & #2 - And the winner IS...
- Thread starter livefrommelbs
- Start date
The Bardot hits just keep on falling...
Well, Bardot adjacent anyway.
28. Sophie Monk - Inside Outside
Average Score - 7.9
Highest Scorers - @abael (10), @Fuchsia (9.5), @Untouchable Ace (9.3)
Low Scorers - @klow (5), @DJHazey & @Hurricane Drunk (6)
My Score - 7.5
Give it up for our 11th place top 12 finalist, Miss Sophie Monk! With 'Inside Outside' tapping out at #28, Sophie has the distinction of being the highest-placing artist with only one song in the rate. Bardot output aside, of course. She's also well and truly the highest rated solo member, with Tiffani and Katie's tracks bombing out during the Audition Round of the rate. A kween!
As many of us who are more familiar with Sophie know, she's now a very popular media personality here in Australia. She's our best ever Bachelorette, host of Love Island Australia, appeared in Hollywood films and is a regular in the country's radio hosting circuit. But before all of that got underway, Sophie was (for a minute at least) a proper Australian popstar. And 'Inside Outside' is the song that started it all.
Released in 2003 to kickstart Sophie's post-Bardot solo career, 'Inside Outside' was the lead single from Soph's only solo album Calendar Girl (which I remember being for $5 a year late, OOP). The disco-pop bop was produced by songwriting titans Steve Mac and Rob Davis and reached #5 on the ARIA Singles Chart. It was a strong start to Sophie's solo career and it's clear to see why it smashed.
'Inside Outside' is, to me, the sonic equivalent of a sugar rush. It's all twinkling synths and bubbly melodies, relentlessly catchy and endearingly sweet. Where bubblegum and disco collide, really. The way the beat drops out before the chorus kicks in is a moment, a production choice that makes it all the more impossible to not sing and bop along. It's an international-calibre creation that any pop starlet of the day could have had a hit with. And yet, I only gave it a 7.5. Partially because this isn't really my cup of tea sonically, and also because Sophie's voice just sounds a little... undercooked in parts. Minor quibbles though, I swears it!
The video is a serve, featuring Sophie serving early 00s FASHUN in snow globes from all around the world. Sis looks STUNNING - that Paris look? A TOOT.
After 'Inside Outside', Sophie released two more singles from Calendar Girl - the boptastic 'Get The Music On' and the ballad 'One Breath Away' - but 'Inside Outside' is definitely the song that made the biggest impact. Clearly it's done the same here!
Let's hand it over to the judges...
@Untouchable Ace (9.3) remembers how much of a star Sophie was when the song dropped - She's so captivating by this point, of course she became an actress.
@pop3blow2 (9) might need to have a moment with Calendar Girl, by the sounds of things - I like this. I really don’t know much about her solo music, but I’m kind of intrigued. The track listing for her lone solo album looks sort of bonkers!
@Pineapple (9) can't help but bop to this one - A guilty pleasure.
@berserkboi (8.9) is reminded of another girl group member - I really enjoy the overall vibe here, though I find the chorus a little too bubblegum for the build in the verses. Sophie is giving Sarah Harding vocal realness (when Sarah is pitched correctly Ddddd) SHADY LADY!
@daninternational (8) gets Soph mixed up with Melissa Tkautz (and another rate participant) - She was in that awful RHoSydney no? She has the same face as Courtney Act
@saviodxl (7) describes me in three words. And the song too, I guess - Basic, but decent.
Well, Bardot adjacent anyway.
28. Sophie Monk - Inside Outside
Average Score - 7.9
Highest Scorers - @abael (10), @Fuchsia (9.5), @Untouchable Ace (9.3)
Low Scorers - @klow (5), @DJHazey & @Hurricane Drunk (6)
My Score - 7.5
Give it up for our 11th place top 12 finalist, Miss Sophie Monk! With 'Inside Outside' tapping out at #28, Sophie has the distinction of being the highest-placing artist with only one song in the rate. Bardot output aside, of course. She's also well and truly the highest rated solo member, with Tiffani and Katie's tracks bombing out during the Audition Round of the rate. A kween!
As many of us who are more familiar with Sophie know, she's now a very popular media personality here in Australia. She's our best ever Bachelorette, host of Love Island Australia, appeared in Hollywood films and is a regular in the country's radio hosting circuit. But before all of that got underway, Sophie was (for a minute at least) a proper Australian popstar. And 'Inside Outside' is the song that started it all.
Released in 2003 to kickstart Sophie's post-Bardot solo career, 'Inside Outside' was the lead single from Soph's only solo album Calendar Girl (which I remember being for $5 a year late, OOP). The disco-pop bop was produced by songwriting titans Steve Mac and Rob Davis and reached #5 on the ARIA Singles Chart. It was a strong start to Sophie's solo career and it's clear to see why it smashed.
'Inside Outside' is, to me, the sonic equivalent of a sugar rush. It's all twinkling synths and bubbly melodies, relentlessly catchy and endearingly sweet. Where bubblegum and disco collide, really. The way the beat drops out before the chorus kicks in is a moment, a production choice that makes it all the more impossible to not sing and bop along. It's an international-calibre creation that any pop starlet of the day could have had a hit with. And yet, I only gave it a 7.5. Partially because this isn't really my cup of tea sonically, and also because Sophie's voice just sounds a little... undercooked in parts. Minor quibbles though, I swears it!
The video is a serve, featuring Sophie serving early 00s FASHUN in snow globes from all around the world. Sis looks STUNNING - that Paris look? A TOOT.
After 'Inside Outside', Sophie released two more singles from Calendar Girl - the boptastic 'Get The Music On' and the ballad 'One Breath Away' - but 'Inside Outside' is definitely the song that made the biggest impact. Clearly it's done the same here!
Let's hand it over to the judges...
@Untouchable Ace (9.3) remembers how much of a star Sophie was when the song dropped - She's so captivating by this point, of course she became an actress.
@pop3blow2 (9) might need to have a moment with Calendar Girl, by the sounds of things - I like this. I really don’t know much about her solo music, but I’m kind of intrigued. The track listing for her lone solo album looks sort of bonkers!
@Pineapple (9) can't help but bop to this one - A guilty pleasure.
@berserkboi (8.9) is reminded of another girl group member - I really enjoy the overall vibe here, though I find the chorus a little too bubblegum for the build in the verses. Sophie is giving Sarah Harding vocal realness (when Sarah is pitched correctly Ddddd) SHADY LADY!
@daninternational (8) gets Soph mixed up with Melissa Tkautz (and another rate participant) - She was in that awful RHoSydney no? She has the same face as Courtney Act
@saviodxl (7) describes me in three words. And the song too, I guess - Basic, but decent.
he / him
My favorite Sophie Monk song, tbh.
The Puma visor, boob tube and low-rise flared jeans is literally peak 00s fashion, but also a nightmare; a literal nightmare.
It's sad that "Inside Outside" seems to be the only Sophie Monk music video available on YouTube.
Last edited:
He/Him
Let's also take a moment to appreciate Namie Amuro's version of this spectacular song, which incidentally won the Song Contest Portion of the Anime Rate and will be in the next Winners Rate! :D
he/him
Oops - to be fair Melissa was the least memorable part of RHOS :p
Sorry for the hold-up on the eliminations, ladies! It's been a pretty draining couple of days.
So let's get the energy back up with this elimination.
It's a bop, from an act we haven't seen an elimination from lately.
Or, y'know, at all.
27. Samantha Jade - Bounce
Average Score - 7.92
High Scorers - @Pineapple & @Ana Raquel (10), @daninternational (9.75)
Low Scorers - @Hurricane Drunk (5), @Sprockrooster & @klow (6)
My Scorers - 7.5
First of all, can we give a goddamn round of applause to Miss Samantha Jade Gibbs for making all the way to goddamn #27 without losing a single song? Regardless of whether or not you agree that all six of the good sis' tracks should have made the top 30, you can't deny the domination. Queen of this rate, if not the charts. thanksbutpainful.png.
So anyway, the first of Sammi's tracks to take a hit is one of her more recent releases - and when you consider the other five songs in contention, that feels correct. 'Bounce' was released in 2019 and was written by Samantha herself, alongside Carmen Reece and G'hara "PK" Degeddingseze. In many ways, 'Bounce' feels like a little bit of something old and a little bit of something new. On the one hand, there's a harkening back to the 'Step Up' days with the track's pop-R'n'B flavour. On the other, it does feel a bit like Samantha playing Ariana cosplay to try and get a chart hit. And that's where the song kinda loses me.
Make no mistake, Sony did almost all the right things when they released 'Bounce'. Let's start with what's clearly the song's strongest point - the visuals. The cover is GORGEOUS, and the video is a serve - with Sammi delivering some cute choreography moments on a simple yet effective colour-blocked visual palette. She is giving you POPSTAR.
Also done right? Whatever radio deal Sony worked up for the release. For a minute there 'Bounce' had a proper radio presence here in Australia - similarly to the days when 'What You've Done To Me', 'Firestarter' and 'Always' were all over the airwaves. It was so refreshing to hear Samantha back on the radio and there was a real sense that 'Bounce' could be a smash. Alas, it wasn't to be. The track didn't make the top 100 on the ARIA Singles Chart - which is further proof that the streaming era is absolutely not kind to our girls.
SO - the song itself. It scooped up a few 10s, but most of us were in agreement with 'Bounce' sitting somewhere between a 7 and an 8. And honestly? That checks out. As we get to the top end of the rate, songs like this just stand out as being a little fine. It's catchy and the production bops along with a commendable energy, but it looks some of the vocal hooks that Sammi's other tracks have (and that she's more than capable of delivering with that voice). I just don't think it plays to her strengths. I totally get what Sammi and the songwriters were going for with - it feels very Spotify. But I genuinely (maybe delusionally) believe the GP might have responded a little more strongly to 'Bounce' if she'd amped up the pop for the chorus. But then again, maybe not.
At any rate, 'Bounce' wasn't quite the comeback I'm sure any of us had in mind (including Samantha) - so kudos to the track for getting some minor popjustice here!
Before we bounce, let's see what our judges had to say...
@Pineapple (10) is bopping so much they've dished out full marks - We really need more of this light-hearted, campy bubblegum pop in 2020. There’s just so much fun to be found in this.
@daninternational (9.75) can bounce with it - A new sound for Sam, but it suits her
@berserkboi (9.7) wants a little less Grande, and a little more Gibbs - A bit too Ariana and not enough classic Samantha but I bop along regardless!
@pop3blow2 (8.5) would have maybe liked a little more to 'Bounce's bones - This is a bit busy (and monotonous) in places for me in places, but there’s some nice moments in here.
@Untouchable Ace (7.1) must be glad at the Samantha tracks that made the Wildcard round - A song made of only bass does not work. I'll have Up! instead thanks.
Also, shout out to this live performance which is introduced by fellow rate queen Ricki-Lee:
Next up, we lose our first track with an average higher than 8.
And it's someone's 11.
So let's get the energy back up with this elimination.
It's a bop, from an act we haven't seen an elimination from lately.
Or, y'know, at all.
27. Samantha Jade - Bounce
Average Score - 7.92
High Scorers - @Pineapple & @Ana Raquel (10), @daninternational (9.75)
Low Scorers - @Hurricane Drunk (5), @Sprockrooster & @klow (6)
My Scorers - 7.5
First of all, can we give a goddamn round of applause to Miss Samantha Jade Gibbs for making all the way to goddamn #27 without losing a single song? Regardless of whether or not you agree that all six of the good sis' tracks should have made the top 30, you can't deny the domination. Queen of this rate, if not the charts. thanksbutpainful.png.
So anyway, the first of Sammi's tracks to take a hit is one of her more recent releases - and when you consider the other five songs in contention, that feels correct. 'Bounce' was released in 2019 and was written by Samantha herself, alongside Carmen Reece and G'hara "PK" Degeddingseze. In many ways, 'Bounce' feels like a little bit of something old and a little bit of something new. On the one hand, there's a harkening back to the 'Step Up' days with the track's pop-R'n'B flavour. On the other, it does feel a bit like Samantha playing Ariana cosplay to try and get a chart hit. And that's where the song kinda loses me.
Make no mistake, Sony did almost all the right things when they released 'Bounce'. Let's start with what's clearly the song's strongest point - the visuals. The cover is GORGEOUS, and the video is a serve - with Sammi delivering some cute choreography moments on a simple yet effective colour-blocked visual palette. She is giving you POPSTAR.
Also done right? Whatever radio deal Sony worked up for the release. For a minute there 'Bounce' had a proper radio presence here in Australia - similarly to the days when 'What You've Done To Me', 'Firestarter' and 'Always' were all over the airwaves. It was so refreshing to hear Samantha back on the radio and there was a real sense that 'Bounce' could be a smash. Alas, it wasn't to be. The track didn't make the top 100 on the ARIA Singles Chart - which is further proof that the streaming era is absolutely not kind to our girls.
SO - the song itself. It scooped up a few 10s, but most of us were in agreement with 'Bounce' sitting somewhere between a 7 and an 8. And honestly? That checks out. As we get to the top end of the rate, songs like this just stand out as being a little fine. It's catchy and the production bops along with a commendable energy, but it looks some of the vocal hooks that Sammi's other tracks have (and that she's more than capable of delivering with that voice). I just don't think it plays to her strengths. I totally get what Sammi and the songwriters were going for with - it feels very Spotify. But I genuinely (maybe delusionally) believe the GP might have responded a little more strongly to 'Bounce' if she'd amped up the pop for the chorus. But then again, maybe not.
At any rate, 'Bounce' wasn't quite the comeback I'm sure any of us had in mind (including Samantha) - so kudos to the track for getting some minor popjustice here!
Before we bounce, let's see what our judges had to say...
@Pineapple (10) is bopping so much they've dished out full marks - We really need more of this light-hearted, campy bubblegum pop in 2020. There’s just so much fun to be found in this.
@daninternational (9.75) can bounce with it - A new sound for Sam, but it suits her
@berserkboi (9.7) wants a little less Grande, and a little more Gibbs - A bit too Ariana and not enough classic Samantha but I bop along regardless!
@pop3blow2 (8.5) would have maybe liked a little more to 'Bounce's bones - This is a bit busy (and monotonous) in places for me in places, but there’s some nice moments in here.
@Untouchable Ace (7.1) must be glad at the Samantha tracks that made the Wildcard round - A song made of only bass does not work. I'll have Up! instead thanks.
Also, shout out to this live performance which is introduced by fellow rate queen Ricki-Lee:
Next up, we lose our first track with an average higher than 8.
And it's someone's 11.
When you already lost yours so you don't really mind
A have a few of 10s left that I'd love to win tho
he/him
Oh god don't get me started on Sarah Connor.
Maybe we should have a German women rate someday? :D
Maybe we should have a German women rate someday? :D
That means our Queen has been crowned. The only act to not appear in the bottom 2 at risk of elimination.
I told you she should have had at least 4 songs.
I told you she should have had at least 4 songs.
I'd be down for that!
She's done the best of the gals so far, that's for sure! But how will her 3 tracks fare in the top 26?
D
Deleted member 22682
Yeah, Bounce was definitely the best possible first loss for Samantha. Don't get me wrong, I'm a full on stan and would have been more than happy to see it in the top 10, but her other tracks are just that good.
As far as comeback singles go, I think it was a good one. I just wish she'd been able to comeback with a chart smash.. I guess she's past that stage in Australia though.
As far as comeback singles go, I think it was a good one. I just wish she'd been able to comeback with a chart smash.. I guess she's past that stage in Australia though.
I've really been dragging the chain on these eliminations, haven't I? I'm like that extended pause the host makes before announcing who's in the bottom 2. Except longer and more infuriating.
So let's keep things rolling.
Does that sound good?
Do you like it when I do it like that?
26. Ricki-Lee - Do It Like That
Average Score - 8.05
High Scorers - @Fuchsia (11), @berserkboi, @Pineapple, @abael & @klow (10)
Low Scorers - @daninternational (4), @saviodxl (4.9), @Hurricane Drunk (5)
My Score - 8
Ricki-Lee's our next act to take a hit - meaning she now only has two songs left in the top 25. How will 'Raining Diamonds' and 'Can't Touch It' go? At this point, it doesn't matter - because our focus is on 'Do It Like That' for the time being. The track isn't just one of Ricki-Lee's biggest hits - it's poor @Fuchsia's 11. The good sis didn't leave any commentary as to why this track was the cream of the crop, so I'ma need some explaining!
'Do It Like That' was released in 2012 as the second single from Ricki's iconic Fear & Freedom era, after 'Raining Diamonds' firmly re-established our queen in the eyes of the public. Aka the gays. The first glimpse of the track was actually given to us on the Popjustice main page, of all places, where Peter awarded the Fred Falke remix 'Song of the Day'. Let's take a minute to lose our wigs to this piece of electronic perfection:
When I heard this, consider me PERCHED. It sounded divine, a delicious dance-pop follow-up to 'Raining Diamonds' euphoria. I do indeed like it like that.
When the actual song premiered, I was quite surprised to find it veered more into a stomping, handclap-ridden R'n'B banger that the icy-cold electro-pop of Fred's remix. It took me a minute to get my head around it, and then I was in. The chorus is the definition of an earworm, the production slaps, and the bridge finds a way to give Ricki a vocal moment amongst the bold, brassy energy of it all.
The song is a bop. And the general public agreed. 'Do It Like That' was inescapable on radio, and ended up charting higher than 'Raining Diamonds'. It also reached the top 10 in Japan, meaning Ricki was literally big in Japan for a minute there!
The video also continued the narrative of 'Ricki giving the gays everything the want'. It features body-ody-ody, choreography, and walking around wearing no pants. Also, a big light-up sign that spelled out her name which was very PCD's 'When I Grow Up'. The whole 'Do It Like That' package just worked gangbusters for Ricki. Tight track, tight visuals, tight remix. An Aussie pop princess at the height of her powers.
Do I think it's her best? Absolutely not. Her best two songs are still in the running. But we gotta pay respects to a bonafide hit. She did it like that.
@berserkboi (10) thinks 'Do It Like That' walked so 'Bounce' could run - Another perfect 10 from Miss Lee! Inventing Samantha Jade!
So let's keep things rolling.
Does that sound good?
Do you like it when I do it like that?
26. Ricki-Lee - Do It Like That
Average Score - 8.05
High Scorers - @Fuchsia (11), @berserkboi, @Pineapple, @abael & @klow (10)
Low Scorers - @daninternational (4), @saviodxl (4.9), @Hurricane Drunk (5)
My Score - 8
Ricki-Lee's our next act to take a hit - meaning she now only has two songs left in the top 25. How will 'Raining Diamonds' and 'Can't Touch It' go? At this point, it doesn't matter - because our focus is on 'Do It Like That' for the time being. The track isn't just one of Ricki-Lee's biggest hits - it's poor @Fuchsia's 11. The good sis didn't leave any commentary as to why this track was the cream of the crop, so I'ma need some explaining!
'Do It Like That' was released in 2012 as the second single from Ricki's iconic Fear & Freedom era, after 'Raining Diamonds' firmly re-established our queen in the eyes of the public. Aka the gays. The first glimpse of the track was actually given to us on the Popjustice main page, of all places, where Peter awarded the Fred Falke remix 'Song of the Day'. Let's take a minute to lose our wigs to this piece of electronic perfection:
When I heard this, consider me PERCHED. It sounded divine, a delicious dance-pop follow-up to 'Raining Diamonds' euphoria. I do indeed like it like that.
When the actual song premiered, I was quite surprised to find it veered more into a stomping, handclap-ridden R'n'B banger that the icy-cold electro-pop of Fred's remix. It took me a minute to get my head around it, and then I was in. The chorus is the definition of an earworm, the production slaps, and the bridge finds a way to give Ricki a vocal moment amongst the bold, brassy energy of it all.
The song is a bop. And the general public agreed. 'Do It Like That' was inescapable on radio, and ended up charting higher than 'Raining Diamonds'. It also reached the top 10 in Japan, meaning Ricki was literally big in Japan for a minute there!
The video also continued the narrative of 'Ricki giving the gays everything the want'. It features body-ody-ody, choreography, and walking around wearing no pants. Also, a big light-up sign that spelled out her name which was very PCD's 'When I Grow Up'. The whole 'Do It Like That' package just worked gangbusters for Ricki. Tight track, tight visuals, tight remix. An Aussie pop princess at the height of her powers.
Do I think it's her best? Absolutely not. Her best two songs are still in the running. But we gotta pay respects to a bonafide hit. She did it like that.
@berserkboi (10) thinks 'Do It Like That' walked so 'Bounce' could run - Another perfect 10 from Miss Lee! Inventing Samantha Jade!
@klow (10) displays peak taste by calling out the Fred Falke remix too - Still a whole bopperoo and the pinnacle of her output. The Fred Falke remix of this is also classique.
@Pineapple (10) is reminded of another modern-day Aussie classic - Pure joy. This reminds me of Ja’mie Private School Girl though, lowkey.
@Untouchable Ace (9.6) is into the production - Subtle cultural beats in best way.
@pop3blow2 (7.9) has a similar response to the last song we eliminated - Kinda busy, but there’s some parts in here I like. There’s a lot going on though.
@daninternational (4) doesn't do it like this, or that - We didn't need a more basic version of Beyonce's most basic song Are you referring to Single Ladies? Because tea.
@Pineapple (10) is reminded of another modern-day Aussie classic - Pure joy. This reminds me of Ja’mie Private School Girl though, lowkey.
@Untouchable Ace (9.6) is into the production - Subtle cultural beats in best way.
@pop3blow2 (7.9) has a similar response to the last song we eliminated - Kinda busy, but there’s some parts in here I like. There’s a lot going on though.
@daninternational (4) doesn't do it like this, or that - We didn't need a more basic version of Beyonce's most basic song Are you referring to Single Ladies? Because tea.
D
Deleted member 22682
Do It Like That is a certified BOP. I wish it could have stuck around until the top 10, but you win some, you lose some.
Unless you're a Casey Donovan stan, in which case you just lose some.
He/Him
I am shocked this is out and not actually Ricki’s last standing song! It screamed winner to me? Glad she still has two songs around all the same :D
he/him
About damn time. (sorry @berserkboi)
He/Him
Here I was thinking this would be a total 10 from you, especially considering how good Ricki looks in it dddd