I thought Owl Eyes leaving might have gotten more discussion (
@Untouchable Ace where you at?), but alas - crickets.
So let's get into our top 5 eliminations.
It's another 11.
But it's not the end of the road for any of our top 3 artists just yet.
5. Samantha Jade - Sweet Talk
Average Score - 8.93
High Scorers - @Hurricane Drunk (11), Me,
@saviodxl,
@Pineapple,
@Fuchsia,
@Untouchable Ace,
@Music Is Life &
@Remorque (10)
Low Scorers - @Phonetics Boy,
@abael,
@Eric &
@Ana Raquel (7)
More than any other song in the rate,
this is popjustice.
If you've followed Samantha's career closely - or even just hopped on Wikipedia to see how her singles charted - then you'd know that 'Sweet Talk' fits squarely in the category of 'Songs That Deserved So Much Better'. To see it make the top 5? It feels right. Regardless of how stacked the top 10 was in Sammi's favour.
Released at the tail end of 2014, 'Sweet Talk' was Sammi's 5th single - and 5th straight
serve as well. Over the course of 2012, 2013 and 2014 she'd brought us bops and bangers. 'Sweet Talk' kinda felt like it was on a whole other level, though. While it's not my absolute favourite Samantha song (hey Firestarter!), there was a real sense when I heard the track that it would be a monster smash, after 'Soldier' and 'Up!' missed the top 10. It seemed... undeniable. Like the lovechild of classic Kylie and Ariana Grande by way of Carly Rae, dropping just in time for summer. Make yourself an Aperol Spritz, put this on and live your fantasy.
I remember there even being articles written about the song by international writers on Buzzfeed and the like. In our little pink bubble, the song had gotten some serious traction. Couple that with the fact that Samantha had, up until that point, had decent success with the general public, and a 'Sweet Talk' seemed like a sure thing.
Alas, it debuted and peaked at #38 here in Australia, and didn't make a ripple anywhere else. SAD. MAD. BAD. I remember at the time being absolutely shooketh that the song didn't take the way I thought it would.
It's not even blind standom talking either. Let's unpack the song itself. Written by Charli Taft (who's penned tracks for Namie Amuro, Girls Generation, Red Velvet and Loona) and Brian Lee (who has so many great credits I can't even list them all but mostly WORK FROM HOME), the composition has a genuinely world-class quality to it. It's bubblegum for the 21st century. FRESH TO DEATH.
Samantha has never sounded better vocally, either. 'Soldier' is probably my personal favourite vocal from Ms. Jade, but this is hands-down the pick of the bunch when it comes to using her voice for radio-ready appeal. Those falsetto notes are just sublime. She showcases her range without ever going overboard. Queen of singing.
There's also the little matter of the song being one gigantic pop hook rolled into a three-and-a-half minute pop song. From the first line there's no escaping the songs sugary-sweet appeal. By the time the chorus kicks in we're done for. Glycemic coma. Couple that with a cute AF video that featured Sammi serving a little choreo while looking ADORABLE against a candy-coloured K-Pop-esque backdrop and you've truly got yourself one of the most premier pop packages Australia has released this side of 2010.
To this day, I will never understand why 'Sweet Talk' didn't take off here or anywhere. Or why it kind of signalled the end for Samantha as a major chart presence. Bad things just happen to good songs I guess - or great songs, as it were. Not to worry! 'Sweet Talk' is a top 5 finisher in our rate, and that's what matters most.
No commentary from our 11-giver, but let's hear from some other sweeties:
@Untouchable Ace (10) sees an alternative timeline where this was a smash (aka the timeline I want to live in) -
This would have done so well in all markets. It sounds like the UK the US and Korea all in the best way
@saviodxl (10) is ignoring all health warnings and BOPPING ANYWAY -
This is like sugary pop at its finest and I don't mind having diabetes if it comes to it
@Pineapple (10) is right there with him -
One of my Samantha Jade faves, Sweet Talk is a real sparkly pop moment. It’s almost sickly sweet, but it’s so right.
@berserkboi (9.5) has a taste for the sweet stuff, but not as much as others -
A great song, but by virtue of her previous tracks – this is weaker, only slightly!
@klow (9) is getting traces of a modern pop classic -
All of her singles in this rate are at the very least listenable, but it's when in an E·MOT·ION·al mood that Jade shines brightest.
@pop3blow2 (8.8) is more of a sugar-free kinda gal -
This is bit lighter and more colorful that some of her other tracks here. Pretty nice. I do think the tome of her voice in places just isn’t for me.
@daninternational (8.5) wasn't part of the original 'Sweet Talk' bandwagon -
Apparently I missed this. It's nice enough
With 'Sweet Talk' taking a bow, the top 4 is looking like an increasingly even playing field. Which song will be the last track to miss a spot in our GRAND FINAL?
Stay tuned!
