she/her
Too many.
The UK #2’s of the 2000’s Rate: COMPLETE!
- Thread starter WowWowWowWow
- Start date
londonrain
Staff member
This top ten has an 8 and a 9 from me, and every other song in it has a 10, barring my 11. That gives me an average of 9.8 for this top ten, and in true @DJHazey style I would be happy to see any of the 10s win (although two of those 10s were very nearly my 11 and so I have a slight preference for them to make the top three).
This means eight of my twenty 10+ scores have made the top ten, which is a pretty good result after some of the shock eliminations early on. ##11-14 were also 10s for me. so that means twelve of my twenty 10+ scores made the top 14, which is a hell of a lot better than my faves seem to do in rates lately.
(Watch the top two be my 8 and my 9.)
This means eight of my twenty 10+ scores have made the top ten, which is a pretty good result after some of the shock eliminations early on. ##11-14 were also 10s for me. so that means twelve of my twenty 10+ scores made the top 14, which is a hell of a lot better than my faves seem to do in rates lately.
(Watch the top two be my 8 and my 9.)
he/him
Despite the fact that Scandalous at #2 would get me two 11s, I'd be very happy to see it win here to help make up for when it just missed winning the girl groups rate (though I'll always be happy GRL won that)
(I'm guessing this is either your 11 or one of the "almost 11s")
londonrain
Staff member
YES.
(Although I still maintain Mis-teeq are not a flop girl group and so shouldn't have been eligible.)
he/him
I'd also say G.R.L aren't either because of the circumstances surrounding their disbandment, but I opened it up to groups that I just didn't think would get their own discography rate anytime soon. x
londonrain
Staff member
Someone really does need to do a Mis-teeq discography rate. It would be just short of 40 songs, which is a nice manageable number, and there are some really great deep cuts in there.
he/him
Well, now that I’m done destroying dreams in the 90’s Billboard #1 rate, I can go back to destroying dreams in the UK #2’s of the 2000’s rate.
You’ve had your say, and now I’ll worry of the effects...
Average: 8.669
High Score: 11 x 3 (@Island, @soratami, @SuperNerd), 10 x 11 (@Aester, @CasuallyCrazed, @Conan, @DJHazey, @KingBruno, @londonrain, @PushyBakerFriend, @Remorque, @Robert, @Robsolete, @Untouchable Ace)
Low Score: 4 x 1 (@əʊæ)
Second Place Predictor: 4 (@Aester, @Hudweiser, @PushyBakerFriend, @Robert)
Unfortunately we must say farewell to Rachel Lauren Steinetski and her Britney-didn’t-want-it “Sweet Dreams My LA Ex.” And four more people miss out on their chance for an extra 11 in the second half of the rate, sorry!
Two months after S Club 7 split, Rachel signed a £1m, four-album deal with Simon Fuller. Rachel told the BBC: “It’s a huge move for me... It’s also quite nerve-wracking having been surrounded by my six friends for four years. But I love the new single and other material I’m working on and we’re all very supportive of each other.”
Indeed, the new single. Bloodshy & Avant and Cathy Dennis originally brought “Sweet Dreams My LA Ex” and “Toxic” to Britney during the In The Zone sessions. The former was intended as an answer to “Cry Me A River,” but Britney supposedly didn’t want to continue the public spat. Cathy held onto the song and eventually offered it to the former S Clubber (who had performed many of Cathy’s songs in the past, of course).
Rachel told the Evening Chronicle: “I wanted people to see me as me and discover a side of me they hadn’t seen before. The writers really got my personality and the direction I want to go in. The first single is a great example, the first time I heard it I knew it’s what I wanted. I love pop and I love mainstream music. This album is the type of music I listen to and am passionate about.” Gay Times called “Sweet Dreams (My LA Ex)” “an absolute 5 star pop banger that will always stand the test of time.”
In 2004, “Sweet Dreams (My LA Ex)” was nominated for the Popjustice £20 Music Prize. However, on the night, Rachel lost to… “Some Girls” by Rachel Stevens. Awks.
@PushyBakerFriend – 10 – This is pretty much pop perfection, especially that gorgeous pre–chorus.
@KingBruno – 10 – “Sweet Dreams My LA Ex” contains a production handled by the pop saviors Bloodshy & Avant. It may be a Britney Spears reject, but I genuinely think the song suits the album’s style. It’s like a peek into Funky Dory! But then, the song’s production is largely based on acoustics with only a slight sign of synths and electronic components, which is rather unexpected when you take a look into the producers’ catalogue (Kylie’s “Speakerphone” and Britney’s “Piece of Me” for example). An acoustic guitar can be heard constantly throughout with brass supporting the middle–eight – the only synth moments can be found in the pre–chorus and chorus. The song’s easygoing hook is therefore the most fascinating part. Simultaneously, Rachel’s vocals aren’t as weak as they can be; the pronounced “S.E.X.” is actually sultry.
@iheartpoptarts – 8 – Beats ‘Me Against the Music’. If I were Britney, I would’ve.
@əʊæ – 4 – She’d go on to bigger things but this is a bit shit.
@Rei Ayanami – 7 – I prefer Funky Dory (the title track), but this is ok. The lyrics are pretty clever.
@Hudweiser – 5 – Bizarrely, my guitar–band fan bf was a big fan of this, where I’ve never really liked it.
@Blond – 7 – This was a great debut single for Rachel, but I’ve always found it weird that it was supposed to be a response to Cry Me A River. Had Britney come out with this as her “revenge” song it would have been the equivalent of slapping someone who’s just hit you with their car.
@berserkboi – 8.4 – Not actually as good as I remember? What the what???
@DJHazey – 10 – Another song that came ever so close to grabbing my 11. It’s pure unchecked pop at its finest. I don’t know why Rachel always gets alot of flack for having lifeless vocals because there’s alot of bite here. If you don’t hear the attitude and flawless character she is presenting then you’re deaf.
@Untouchable Ace – 10 – She is up on that pedestal this Queen. One of her many many 11/10 songs.
@Empty Shoebox – 9 – As début singles go, this is pretty goshdarn good. As songs in this rate go, this is also pretty goshdarn good.
@Sally_Harper – 8 – This is very good, and I love the ribbon dance routine, but she’s got much better songs.
@phily693 – 9 – What a great debut for her! This is sexy without being overtly sexy, it’s coy and sultry and very catchy. Fun fact (which I’ve likely already posted in the Awkward Popstar Encounters thread but it’s not often I get to tell this story so bear with) : I met Rachel when she was promoting Some Girls on CD:UK and she was really lovely (and even more beautiful). While signing an autograph for me and my sister, she asked us our names. My sister is also called Rachel. Upon my sister telling her this, Miss Stevens exclaimed “Oh my God, that’s my name!” as if we didn’t already know. It just made me find her more adorable. Funny but cute.
@Mike – 8.5 – Unpopular opinion: this and Negotiate With Love are the crowning glories of her career.
@Island – 11 – I gave my 11 to Rachel out of stardom but it was probably between that and Down Boy, Murder, New Direction, or Love at First Sight. Probably should’ve given it to Murder but whatever.
#9
Rachel Stevens – “Sweet Dreams My LA Ex”
Peaked at #2 on: 27/09/03
Held off from #1 by: Black Eyed Peas – “Where Is The Love?”
You’ve had your say, and now I’ll worry of the effects...
Average: 8.669
High Score: 11 x 3 (@Island, @soratami, @SuperNerd), 10 x 11 (@Aester, @CasuallyCrazed, @Conan, @DJHazey, @KingBruno, @londonrain, @PushyBakerFriend, @Remorque, @Robert, @Robsolete, @Untouchable Ace)
Low Score: 4 x 1 (@əʊæ)
Second Place Predictor: 4 (@Aester, @Hudweiser, @PushyBakerFriend, @Robert)
Unfortunately we must say farewell to Rachel Lauren Steinetski and her Britney-didn’t-want-it “Sweet Dreams My LA Ex.” And four more people miss out on their chance for an extra 11 in the second half of the rate, sorry!
Two months after S Club 7 split, Rachel signed a £1m, four-album deal with Simon Fuller. Rachel told the BBC: “It’s a huge move for me... It’s also quite nerve-wracking having been surrounded by my six friends for four years. But I love the new single and other material I’m working on and we’re all very supportive of each other.”
Indeed, the new single. Bloodshy & Avant and Cathy Dennis originally brought “Sweet Dreams My LA Ex” and “Toxic” to Britney during the In The Zone sessions. The former was intended as an answer to “Cry Me A River,” but Britney supposedly didn’t want to continue the public spat. Cathy held onto the song and eventually offered it to the former S Clubber (who had performed many of Cathy’s songs in the past, of course).
Rachel told the Evening Chronicle: “I wanted people to see me as me and discover a side of me they hadn’t seen before. The writers really got my personality and the direction I want to go in. The first single is a great example, the first time I heard it I knew it’s what I wanted. I love pop and I love mainstream music. This album is the type of music I listen to and am passionate about.” Gay Times called “Sweet Dreams (My LA Ex)” “an absolute 5 star pop banger that will always stand the test of time.”
In 2004, “Sweet Dreams (My LA Ex)” was nominated for the Popjustice £20 Music Prize. However, on the night, Rachel lost to… “Some Girls” by Rachel Stevens. Awks.
@PushyBakerFriend – 10 – This is pretty much pop perfection, especially that gorgeous pre–chorus.
@KingBruno – 10 – “Sweet Dreams My LA Ex” contains a production handled by the pop saviors Bloodshy & Avant. It may be a Britney Spears reject, but I genuinely think the song suits the album’s style. It’s like a peek into Funky Dory! But then, the song’s production is largely based on acoustics with only a slight sign of synths and electronic components, which is rather unexpected when you take a look into the producers’ catalogue (Kylie’s “Speakerphone” and Britney’s “Piece of Me” for example). An acoustic guitar can be heard constantly throughout with brass supporting the middle–eight – the only synth moments can be found in the pre–chorus and chorus. The song’s easygoing hook is therefore the most fascinating part. Simultaneously, Rachel’s vocals aren’t as weak as they can be; the pronounced “S.E.X.” is actually sultry.
@iheartpoptarts – 8 – Beats ‘Me Against the Music’. If I were Britney, I would’ve.
@əʊæ – 4 – She’d go on to bigger things but this is a bit shit.
@Rei Ayanami – 7 – I prefer Funky Dory (the title track), but this is ok. The lyrics are pretty clever.
@Hudweiser – 5 – Bizarrely, my guitar–band fan bf was a big fan of this, where I’ve never really liked it.
@Blond – 7 – This was a great debut single for Rachel, but I’ve always found it weird that it was supposed to be a response to Cry Me A River. Had Britney come out with this as her “revenge” song it would have been the equivalent of slapping someone who’s just hit you with their car.
@berserkboi – 8.4 – Not actually as good as I remember? What the what???
@DJHazey – 10 – Another song that came ever so close to grabbing my 11. It’s pure unchecked pop at its finest. I don’t know why Rachel always gets alot of flack for having lifeless vocals because there’s alot of bite here. If you don’t hear the attitude and flawless character she is presenting then you’re deaf.
@Untouchable Ace – 10 – She is up on that pedestal this Queen. One of her many many 11/10 songs.
@Empty Shoebox – 9 – As début singles go, this is pretty goshdarn good. As songs in this rate go, this is also pretty goshdarn good.
@Sally_Harper – 8 – This is very good, and I love the ribbon dance routine, but she’s got much better songs.
@phily693 – 9 – What a great debut for her! This is sexy without being overtly sexy, it’s coy and sultry and very catchy. Fun fact (which I’ve likely already posted in the Awkward Popstar Encounters thread but it’s not often I get to tell this story so bear with) : I met Rachel when she was promoting Some Girls on CD:UK and she was really lovely (and even more beautiful). While signing an autograph for me and my sister, she asked us our names. My sister is also called Rachel. Upon my sister telling her this, Miss Stevens exclaimed “Oh my God, that’s my name!” as if we didn’t already know. It just made me find her more adorable. Funny but cute.
@Mike – 8.5 – Unpopular opinion: this and Negotiate With Love are the crowning glories of her career.
@Island – 11 – I gave my 11 to Rachel out of stardom but it was probably between that and Down Boy, Murder, New Direction, or Love at First Sight. Probably should’ve given it to Murder but whatever.
#9
Rachel Stevens – “Sweet Dreams My LA Ex”
Peaked at #2 on: 27/09/03
Held off from #1 by: Black Eyed Peas – “Where Is The Love?”
he/him
The scores were SO tight, it seems like every decimal point really came into play.
Rate Facts Anyone?
The difference between the winning song and the 10th place song: 0.635 points
11th and 20th: 0.478
21st and 30th: 0.277
31st and 40th: 0.284
41st and 50th: 0.203
Beyond 50, the ranges are ≥ 0.3 points between tiers.
Nooo! My last 10 has fallen now. I certainly did not expect that.
It’s all up to Gotta Tell You - which in retrospect should have been an instant 10 - now (with Murder being acceptable too).
It’s all up to Gotta Tell You - which in retrospect should have been an instant 10 - now (with Murder being acceptable too).
This rate is really unpredictable.
By being far superior in every conceivable way x
he/him
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED!!!!!
he/him
Speaking of unpredictable............
I’ll be there, and you’ll be in eighth place. And that’s the deal, my dear...
Average: 8.759
High Score: 11 x 2 (@P Grandson, @Robert), 10 x 10 (@Blond, @Conan, @DJHazey, @Island, @londonrain, @Mike, @phily693, @Rei Ayanami, @Rogue, @soratami)
Low Score: 4 x 1 (@KingBruno)
Second Place Predictor: 2 (@əʊæ, @P Grandson)
So when you’ve sold 10 million records in Latin America, recorded a Grammy-winning MTV Unplugged album, snagged 4 Billboard Latin Music Awards, 2 Latin Grammy Awards, and a World Music Award, what’s left to do? Well, one option is to conquer the English-speaking market, of course!
At the turn of the century, Shakira taught herself English “from rhyming dictionaries, the poetry of Leonard Cohen and Walt Whitman, and the music of Pulp, Radiohead, The Police and Janis Joplin.” She also hired Madonna’s former manager, Freddy DeMann. And no less than Gloria and Emilio Estefan helped with songwriting and English lessons.
Unfortunately, “Whenever, Wherever” came out in the UK at the same time as Will Young’s Pop Idol popularity was at its peak, and Will’s single sold 12 times as many copies as Shakira’s that week. But I think it’s fair to assume that Shakira won out in the end. “Whenever, Wherever” was the best-selling single in the world in 2002 and reached #1 in almost 30 countries. It has sold a reported 8.5 million copies since its release, which seems to put it comfortably into the list of the world’s top 50 singles of all time. (And you scoundrels sent it packing at #8!) To add to her domination, Laundry Service was the best-selling album of 2002.
In case you want your mind to be totally blown, click through to read The Guardian profile about Shakira’s pop ascendancy written by the dearly departed, fellow Colombian and literary icon GABRIEL GARCÍA FREAKING MÁRQUEZ.
@phily693 – 10 – MAMMOTH POP SONG ALERT! Good grief this absolutely sleighs in English AND in Spanish. This sounds as huge today as it did the first time I heard it. You will always find yourself singing along to this.
@Sally_Harper – 9 – An old fave! I still can’t understand half the lyrics but who cares.
@iheartpoptarts – 8 – This is the one song I forgot to write commentary for. I wonder what that says about it?
@Blond – 10 – Such a perfect pop song, iconic breasts line and one of my favourite things about living in Spain is that Shakira is still a huge popstar so I get to hear her every time I go out.
@berserkboi – 8.3 – Never a favourite but very much still iconic
@Mike – 10 – Brilliantly quirky pop song, love the Spanish version as well. Too bad she’s creatively bankrupt these days.
@Untouchable Ace – 9.75 – I was so with her as was the world when she burst onto the scene. But years later when I tried to flog Laundry Service to a second hand CD shop they wouldn’t take it because they already had quite a few.
@Rei Ayanami – 10 – The lyrics are hammy but what keeps this from being novelty song is it’s undeniable awesomeness. The chorus is so huge–sounding. Shakira’s accent is amazing.
@əʊæ – 9 – The combo of the song and video sure did impact me at the time. I was 6 years old and some points were made.
@Ironheade – 8.5 – We stan for a humble-breasted queen! It’s a super-catchy Latin bop, and Shakira’s unique vocal stylings give it some extra spice. And you know what, those lyrics are iconic and I don’t even care. Emblematic of the era, of course, and it damn well deserved to be.
@Empty Shoebox – 5 – I’m convinced that this entire song is a joke that I didn’t get. The pan pipes, the wolf howls? It’s not possible to take the song seriously with them there.
@DJHazey – 10 – Strong contender for my 11 being that it’s one of my all-time favorite Shakira songs. The way the chorus glides on that beat like that will never lose its steam and make me want to move my feet.
#8
Shakira – “Whenever, Wherever”
Peaked at #2 on: 09/03/02
Held off from #1 by: Will Young – “Anything Is Possible”/“Evergreen”
I’ll be there, and you’ll be in eighth place. And that’s the deal, my dear...
Average: 8.759
High Score: 11 x 2 (@P Grandson, @Robert), 10 x 10 (@Blond, @Conan, @DJHazey, @Island, @londonrain, @Mike, @phily693, @Rei Ayanami, @Rogue, @soratami)
Low Score: 4 x 1 (@KingBruno)
Second Place Predictor: 2 (@əʊæ, @P Grandson)
So when you’ve sold 10 million records in Latin America, recorded a Grammy-winning MTV Unplugged album, snagged 4 Billboard Latin Music Awards, 2 Latin Grammy Awards, and a World Music Award, what’s left to do? Well, one option is to conquer the English-speaking market, of course!
At the turn of the century, Shakira taught herself English “from rhyming dictionaries, the poetry of Leonard Cohen and Walt Whitman, and the music of Pulp, Radiohead, The Police and Janis Joplin.” She also hired Madonna’s former manager, Freddy DeMann. And no less than Gloria and Emilio Estefan helped with songwriting and English lessons.
Unfortunately, “Whenever, Wherever” came out in the UK at the same time as Will Young’s Pop Idol popularity was at its peak, and Will’s single sold 12 times as many copies as Shakira’s that week. But I think it’s fair to assume that Shakira won out in the end. “Whenever, Wherever” was the best-selling single in the world in 2002 and reached #1 in almost 30 countries. It has sold a reported 8.5 million copies since its release, which seems to put it comfortably into the list of the world’s top 50 singles of all time. (And you scoundrels sent it packing at #8!) To add to her domination, Laundry Service was the best-selling album of 2002.
In case you want your mind to be totally blown, click through to read The Guardian profile about Shakira’s pop ascendancy written by the dearly departed, fellow Colombian and literary icon GABRIEL GARCÍA FREAKING MÁRQUEZ.
@phily693 – 10 – MAMMOTH POP SONG ALERT! Good grief this absolutely sleighs in English AND in Spanish. This sounds as huge today as it did the first time I heard it. You will always find yourself singing along to this.
@Sally_Harper – 9 – An old fave! I still can’t understand half the lyrics but who cares.
@iheartpoptarts – 8 – This is the one song I forgot to write commentary for. I wonder what that says about it?
@Blond – 10 – Such a perfect pop song, iconic breasts line and one of my favourite things about living in Spain is that Shakira is still a huge popstar so I get to hear her every time I go out.
@berserkboi – 8.3 – Never a favourite but very much still iconic
@Mike – 10 – Brilliantly quirky pop song, love the Spanish version as well. Too bad she’s creatively bankrupt these days.
@Untouchable Ace – 9.75 – I was so with her as was the world when she burst onto the scene. But years later when I tried to flog Laundry Service to a second hand CD shop they wouldn’t take it because they already had quite a few.
@Rei Ayanami – 10 – The lyrics are hammy but what keeps this from being novelty song is it’s undeniable awesomeness. The chorus is so huge–sounding. Shakira’s accent is amazing.
@əʊæ – 9 – The combo of the song and video sure did impact me at the time. I was 6 years old and some points were made.
@Ironheade – 8.5 – We stan for a humble-breasted queen! It’s a super-catchy Latin bop, and Shakira’s unique vocal stylings give it some extra spice. And you know what, those lyrics are iconic and I don’t even care. Emblematic of the era, of course, and it damn well deserved to be.
@Empty Shoebox – 5 – I’m convinced that this entire song is a joke that I didn’t get. The pan pipes, the wolf howls? It’s not possible to take the song seriously with them there.
@DJHazey – 10 – Strong contender for my 11 being that it’s one of my all-time favorite Shakira songs. The way the chorus glides on that beat like that will never lose its steam and make me want to move my feet.
#8
Shakira – “Whenever, Wherever”
Peaked at #2 on: 09/03/02
Held off from #1 by: Will Young – “Anything Is Possible”/“Evergreen”
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he/him
Sigh, this is taking a turn for the worst very quickly.
You know she's a self-proclaimed She Wolf right?
You know she's a self-proclaimed She Wolf right?