Now, baby, touch down, touch down
Take me to the ground
Ah
Ah
Ah, yeah
Ah, yeah
Ah, yeah
3
TOUCH DOWN
Average: 9,21
Highest scorers: 11x2 (@Music Is Life, @Yeziirl), 10x5 (@Coming Century, @Weslicious, @RUNAWAY, @Remorque, @otenkiame), 9,5x2 (@Osiris and @me!)
Lowest scorers: 6x1 (@abael), 7,5x1 (@vague)
My score: lookie above
5 voters: #8, 9,00 avg.
10 voters: #2, 9,10 avg.
15 voters: #2, 9,28 avg.
18 voters: #3, 9,21 avg.
10 voters: #2, 9,10 avg.
15 voters: #2, 9,28 avg.
18 voters: #3, 9,21 avg.
And the bronze goes to "TOUCH DOWN", who bravely protected "Bon Voyage" for the whole 20 positions. Written by Kumi, Joanna "JoJo" Levesque (yes, the one and only) and Toby Gad (you know the guy) and produced by the latter, the song appeared as the second a-side on summer single "Summer Trip". As I mentioned in the "LALALALALA" write-up, the music video for this was directed by Fatima Robinsons and featured Kumi in a couple of sexy outfits showing some underboob and being feeled up by a guy. Okay, so the song. Ooh, the song. Over the period of the rate, I've already mentioned several times that this kind of songs, that has this dark brooding vibe to them, has always awakened something deep inside me. Something alluring, inescapable and raw. This is certainly another one of those. That main pairing of the synth and the beat that is prevalent all throughout the track is so freaking hypnotizing. I love how it gets softer at times and hits harder in others. The sprinkled electric guitar is only a cherry on top. Hands down the best part is the second chorus, that is sneakily tucked away in the second part of the song. It's like all the vocal modulation and vocoder in the verse was specifically for that serene moment of clarity with those gorgeous melodies and Kumi's natural voice to pop the fuck off. I know I'm a stan, but I really do like this better than JoJo's version, as hers sounds a lot more robotic in most parts and some melodic variation here and there isn't to my liking. It's probably due to the fact that I got used to Kumi's version, but still. However, the fact that she wrote this great song definitely contributed to the fact, that it got to #3. I honestly didn't expect this, although I did know "TOUCH DOWN" would go Top10. Lyrically, this is about partying with a touch of being confident in yourself:
Run the would girls, we're the ones who take control, together
Meant to fly, meant to fly fly, meant to fly
Why you
If you stare into the distance nothing's gonna change
Don't be shy, don't be shy shy, don't be shy
I'll let you forget <If you leave it to me>
Slow it down
Let me see your hands up
Go through the motion in slow motion <give yourself to me>
(c) @otenkiame
Would somebody, please, tackle me already?
@abael (6) isn't a fan of vocal alternations, it seems, "The backing production is enjoyable for the most part, but the extreme vocal distortions are plain ugly." Nobody let him hear JoJo's version.
I think @vague (7,5) needs a bit more time with this, "there's a bit of a sinister vibe to this that i like, but also the production is a lil bit grating." The sinister vibe is the best, yes!
@Eskiath (8) asked me not to include his commentary a page or two ago, "I always thought this was cool but it saddens me how haggard she looks in the video :(. Though it's understandable of course, but it's just all I think of when I hear the song." It's okay, hun. I mean, she was clearly exhausted and probably jet-lagged, so it's understandable. She was still freaking hot even baggy eyed, dddd.
@Cutlery (9) had some fun with this, "WaiT we're digging this JoJo cowrite with a danger vibe. It's got a mix of robo Kumi and lowkey guitars that hits some sweet spots"
@RUNAWAY (10) added another accomplishment into Kumi's arsenal, "amazing. Koda Kumi invented football with this song." Oh, definitely.
I love when @Weslicious (10) flexes his Kumi knowledge muscle, "The studio version is good, but the mix she used during The Artist sent it to the end field (I think this is a football term? Whatever, it’s amazing)" I don't know, I'm bi, but yas, flex some more!
@otenkiame (10) is konfewshon, "This song gives me all the hood and urban Kuu that I need in my life. It just has all of that sass and attitude that I want to hear. I don't care what anyone else says either. I'm such a fan of the arrangement and the inclusion of the guitar. It's so hot! But can someone explain to me what "put your flippers up" means? Is that some kinda of sexual innuendo?" Isn't it just a hand? Like "put your hands up"? Or is it some rugby or football term? I also found out that it can mean ecstasy, dddd. I don't know.
As you might have anticipated, @Yeziirl (11) did the most with his commentary for his precious 11, "I’ll give it 11/10 considering that most of you guys will give it to more known songs like Lollipop or Pop Diva And wow that’s a music masterpiece compared to the past 30 tracks. I like the slutty atmosphere and bold music. I think Kumi did great in adapting it to herself, even if original sounds a little better. I like the use of autotune, it doesn’t sound too tacky and just makes the song more fun. Replayability is high because of the chorus that sticks in your head. Overall it’s a nice voyage of yoloswag, yas Kumi slay!" I can't wait to shred your ballot for Part IV Love that you loved this so much, hun.
And finally I leave you with @Music Is Life's (11) slighly shady commentary, because he was waiting for this elimination for 40+ songs now, "WIG at her getting a song originally meant for JoJo! This is an epic R&B banger in any form, so glad it got an official release somewhere, somehow. I low-key might put this on repeat just to give Koda and Jo some money. “Flippers up” is iconic. Okay, when this started I was fully planning on giving my 11 to Can We Go Back, as it's one of my favorite Kelly songs and I love what Kumi does with it. But then I heard this and was blown away. Touch Down is one of my favorite unreleased JoJo songs, and the fact that it ended up in someone else's hands (someone very clearly worthy of it) makes me so happy. I fucking love that production so much, it just makes me wanna grind on some hot guy in the club, and that electric guitar in the chorus is just amazing. The vocal production fits the vibe of the song perfectly and Kumi sounds amazing. I'm sure that she puts her own spin on the song (I see she has writing credits on this version) even if I can't actually tell what it is so this coming together of an artist I've loved for a long time and a new fave was unexpected and amazing, so that's why it's my 11." Love the sentiment!
I think @vague (7,5) needs a bit more time with this, "there's a bit of a sinister vibe to this that i like, but also the production is a lil bit grating." The sinister vibe is the best, yes!
@Eskiath (8) asked me not to include his commentary a page or two ago, "I always thought this was cool but it saddens me how haggard she looks in the video :(. Though it's understandable of course, but it's just all I think of when I hear the song." It's okay, hun. I mean, she was clearly exhausted and probably jet-lagged, so it's understandable. She was still freaking hot even baggy eyed, dddd.
@Cutlery (9) had some fun with this, "WaiT we're digging this JoJo cowrite with a danger vibe. It's got a mix of robo Kumi and lowkey guitars that hits some sweet spots"
@RUNAWAY (10) added another accomplishment into Kumi's arsenal, "amazing. Koda Kumi invented football with this song." Oh, definitely.
I love when @Weslicious (10) flexes his Kumi knowledge muscle, "The studio version is good, but the mix she used during The Artist sent it to the end field (I think this is a football term? Whatever, it’s amazing)" I don't know, I'm bi, but yas, flex some more!
@otenkiame (10) is konfewshon, "This song gives me all the hood and urban Kuu that I need in my life. It just has all of that sass and attitude that I want to hear. I don't care what anyone else says either. I'm such a fan of the arrangement and the inclusion of the guitar. It's so hot! But can someone explain to me what "put your flippers up" means? Is that some kinda of sexual innuendo?" Isn't it just a hand? Like "put your hands up"? Or is it some rugby or football term? I also found out that it can mean ecstasy, dddd. I don't know.
As you might have anticipated, @Yeziirl (11) did the most with his commentary for his precious 11, "I’ll give it 11/10 considering that most of you guys will give it to more known songs like Lollipop or Pop Diva And wow that’s a music masterpiece compared to the past 30 tracks. I like the slutty atmosphere and bold music. I think Kumi did great in adapting it to herself, even if original sounds a little better. I like the use of autotune, it doesn’t sound too tacky and just makes the song more fun. Replayability is high because of the chorus that sticks in your head. Overall it’s a nice voyage of yoloswag, yas Kumi slay!" I can't wait to shred your ballot for Part IV Love that you loved this so much, hun.
And finally I leave you with @Music Is Life's (11) slighly shady commentary, because he was waiting for this elimination for 40+ songs now, "WIG at her getting a song originally meant for JoJo! This is an epic R&B banger in any form, so glad it got an official release somewhere, somehow. I low-key might put this on repeat just to give Koda and Jo some money. “Flippers up” is iconic. Okay, when this started I was fully planning on giving my 11 to Can We Go Back, as it's one of my favorite Kelly songs and I love what Kumi does with it. But then I heard this and was blown away. Touch Down is one of my favorite unreleased JoJo songs, and the fact that it ended up in someone else's hands (someone very clearly worthy of it) makes me so happy. I fucking love that production so much, it just makes me wanna grind on some hot guy in the club, and that electric guitar in the chorus is just amazing. The vocal production fits the vibe of the song perfectly and Kumi sounds amazing. I'm sure that she puts her own spin on the song (I see she has writing credits on this version) even if I can't actually tell what it is so this coming together of an artist I've loved for a long time and a new fave was unexpected and amazing, so that's why it's my 11." Love the sentiment!
"TOUCH DOWN" isn't that often performed live, but @Weslicious did mention the best performance of the bunch, which happened during "The Artist" concerts. She basically turned the song into a cabaret one, which she likes doing from time to time to some of her songs.
There is no individual link, so here it starts at 13:37:
As for JoJo's version, it's not readily available on the net, so have a pitched-up preview:
There is no individual link, so here it starts at 13:37:
As for JoJo's version, it's not readily available on the net, so have a pitched-up preview:
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