This Delicate Rate We've Made: The Darren Hayes / Savage Garden Rate - WINNER announced
- Thread starter jtm
- Start date
92.
Feel
Album track from ‘The Tension and the Spark’
Average: 6,91
Highest score: 1x10 (@rawkey), 1x9,9 (@berserkboi)
Lowest score: 2x3 (@Robert, @londonrain)
Darren: “I have always been fascinated with the simplicity of John Lennon's love songs to Yoko Ono. In some ways this song is fashioned after that almost haiku like simplicity. None of the sentences are finished in a grammatical sense, but in a musical sense. So there is always a double entendre. Until a verse ends the sentence has one meaning but then gets clarified or becomes more complicated depending as the song carries on. For example, when I say 'you teach me how to love..' that is a complete statement.. until I say 'parts of myself..I hated for so long'..So I'm using the song as a metaphor for love. And not romantic love. Love for the self, for spirit, for God. It represent to me the first time ever on an album that I don't have this idealistic or unrealistic view of romantic love as this thing that is going to complete me or save me. This song demonstrates a desire to understand that real love comes from within. From a production point of view, this one is all about minimalism. We were definitely inspired by Matmos - the microbeat extraordinares from San Francisco.”
I think I always expected this to be the first song from The Tension and the Spark to leave, but I’m happy it got some good scores and comments.
This now leaves Affirmation and Secret Codes and Battleships as the last two complete albums and I’m taking bets as to which one will remain complete the longest and which songs will be the first from them to go.
But for the moment your comments on ‘Feel’:
@londonrain: ‘This needed way more light and shade.’ (3)
@berserkboi: ‘A bit Spiral, quite gorgeous!’ (9.9)
@rawkey: ‘I'm here for the sparse beats and squelchy trip-hop sounds.’ (10)
@Eric: ‘This feels so personal and the perfect counterpart to 'Darkness'.’ (9.5)
@jtm: ‘Probably the most subdued of the songs on Tension. The 'whereby I'm holding on' part is great.’ (8.5)
Listen here:
Feel
Album track from ‘The Tension and the Spark’
Average: 6,91
Highest score: 1x10 (@rawkey), 1x9,9 (@berserkboi)
Lowest score: 2x3 (@Robert, @londonrain)
Darren: “I have always been fascinated with the simplicity of John Lennon's love songs to Yoko Ono. In some ways this song is fashioned after that almost haiku like simplicity. None of the sentences are finished in a grammatical sense, but in a musical sense. So there is always a double entendre. Until a verse ends the sentence has one meaning but then gets clarified or becomes more complicated depending as the song carries on. For example, when I say 'you teach me how to love..' that is a complete statement.. until I say 'parts of myself..I hated for so long'..So I'm using the song as a metaphor for love. And not romantic love. Love for the self, for spirit, for God. It represent to me the first time ever on an album that I don't have this idealistic or unrealistic view of romantic love as this thing that is going to complete me or save me. This song demonstrates a desire to understand that real love comes from within. From a production point of view, this one is all about minimalism. We were definitely inspired by Matmos - the microbeat extraordinares from San Francisco.”
I think I always expected this to be the first song from The Tension and the Spark to leave, but I’m happy it got some good scores and comments.
This now leaves Affirmation and Secret Codes and Battleships as the last two complete albums and I’m taking bets as to which one will remain complete the longest and which songs will be the first from them to go.
But for the moment your comments on ‘Feel’:
@londonrain: ‘This needed way more light and shade.’ (3)
@berserkboi: ‘A bit Spiral, quite gorgeous!’ (9.9)
@rawkey: ‘I'm here for the sparse beats and squelchy trip-hop sounds.’ (10)
@Eric: ‘This feels so personal and the perfect counterpart to 'Darkness'.’ (9.5)
@jtm: ‘Probably the most subdued of the songs on Tension. The 'whereby I'm holding on' part is great.’ (8.5)
Listen here:
91.
Wrecking Ball
Bonus track from ‘Secret Codes and Battleships’
Average: 6,93
Highest score: 1x9,5 (@londonrain), 1x9,3 (@Untouchable Ace)
Lowest score: 2x4 (@phoenix123, @Sprockrooster)
And another Secret Codes bonus track vacates while the main album remains intact. This time it’s ‘Wrecking Ball’.
The song was released on the collector’s edition of the album and later as a standalone track on streaming (which is why it has its own cover). The streaming version was released shortly after a similarly named single by one Miley Cyrus was released, which I’m sure is no coincidence. But get that coin, Darren!
Your comments:
@londonrain: ‘What on earth was he thinking when he chose not to include this on the album?’ (9.5)
@berserkboi: ‘Nice but also a bit meh considering what he is capable of’ (7.2)
@Sprockrooster: ‘This didn't came in like a Wrecking Ball now is it.’ (4)
@Eric: ‘Not a Miley Cyrus cover! A nice change to the more 'tortured soul' songs that dominated Secret codes’ (8.2)
@jtm: ‘Nice banger and nice try putting this as a separate single on iTunes / streaming.’ (8)
Listen here:
Wrecking Ball
Bonus track from ‘Secret Codes and Battleships’
Average: 6,93
Highest score: 1x9,5 (@londonrain), 1x9,3 (@Untouchable Ace)
Lowest score: 2x4 (@phoenix123, @Sprockrooster)
And another Secret Codes bonus track vacates while the main album remains intact. This time it’s ‘Wrecking Ball’.
The song was released on the collector’s edition of the album and later as a standalone track on streaming (which is why it has its own cover). The streaming version was released shortly after a similarly named single by one Miley Cyrus was released, which I’m sure is no coincidence. But get that coin, Darren!
Your comments:
@londonrain: ‘What on earth was he thinking when he chose not to include this on the album?’ (9.5)
@berserkboi: ‘Nice but also a bit meh considering what he is capable of’ (7.2)
@Sprockrooster: ‘This didn't came in like a Wrecking Ball now is it.’ (4)
@Eric: ‘Not a Miley Cyrus cover! A nice change to the more 'tortured soul' songs that dominated Secret codes’ (8.2)
@jtm: ‘Nice banger and nice try putting this as a separate single on iTunes / streaming.’ (8)
Listen here:
Yes.
londonrain
Staff member
Poor Wrecking Ball. It deserved more.
90.
The Animal Song
First single from ‘Affirmation’
Average: 6,96
Highest score: 1x10 (@Remorque)
Lowest score: 1x1,5 (@jtm)
How big of a shock is this? Here goes another single and with it the first track from Affirmation. This makes Secret Codes and Battleships the last album to remain untouched. ‘The Animal Song’ also becomes the final song with a below 7 average.
Originally, the Affirmation album was supposed to be called ‘Electric Heartbeat’ and to be produced by William Orbit. However, Sony asked them to work with producer Walter Afanasieff on a new song, and they were so happy with the experience that they decided to record the album with him. That first song was ‘The Animal Song’.
This was released in between albums so it’s not technically the first single, but what do I know. It was written for the soundtrack of the film ‘The Other Sister’. Apparently, they got to choose between that film and ‘Runaway Bride’, and… well that was not a good choice. This was top 20 in UK and US, and top 10 in some other territories.
Here’s them talking about the song:
Here’s you talking about the song:
@londonrain: ‘The chorus is a karaoke nightmare (imagine having to hit “run through the jungle” while drunk) but I love it.’ (9.5)
@berserkboi: ‘Definitely here for the impeccable vocals, and the acceptance of oneself promotion!’ (9.5)
@rawkey: ‘The long Hex Hector club mix was a favourite at the time.’ (8)
@Eric: ‘This feels like the perfect bridge between 'Savage Garden' and 'Affirmation'. Gloriously light.’ (9)
@jtm: ‘I don't like this at all. It's perfectly produced, but the song does nothing at all for me.’ (1.5)
Music video:
The Animal Song
First single from ‘Affirmation’
Average: 6,96
Highest score: 1x10 (@Remorque)
Lowest score: 1x1,5 (@jtm)
How big of a shock is this? Here goes another single and with it the first track from Affirmation. This makes Secret Codes and Battleships the last album to remain untouched. ‘The Animal Song’ also becomes the final song with a below 7 average.
Originally, the Affirmation album was supposed to be called ‘Electric Heartbeat’ and to be produced by William Orbit. However, Sony asked them to work with producer Walter Afanasieff on a new song, and they were so happy with the experience that they decided to record the album with him. That first song was ‘The Animal Song’.
This was released in between albums so it’s not technically the first single, but what do I know. It was written for the soundtrack of the film ‘The Other Sister’. Apparently, they got to choose between that film and ‘Runaway Bride’, and… well that was not a good choice. This was top 20 in UK and US, and top 10 in some other territories.
Here’s them talking about the song:
Here’s you talking about the song:
@londonrain: ‘The chorus is a karaoke nightmare (imagine having to hit “run through the jungle” while drunk) but I love it.’ (9.5)
@berserkboi: ‘Definitely here for the impeccable vocals, and the acceptance of oneself promotion!’ (9.5)
@rawkey: ‘The long Hex Hector club mix was a favourite at the time.’ (8)
@Eric: ‘This feels like the perfect bridge between 'Savage Garden' and 'Affirmation'. Gloriously light.’ (9)
@jtm: ‘I don't like this at all. It's perfectly produced, but the song does nothing at all for me.’ (1.5)
Music video:
89.
Nothing
Bonus track from ‘Secret Codes and Battleships’
Average: 7,01
Highest score: 1x9,5 (@jtm)
Lowest score: 1x4,5 (@phoenix123)
Oh how the tables turn. From lowest scorer to highest scorer as yet another Secret Codes bonus track leaves this rate. This time it’s ‘Nothing’, found on the deluxe version and the collector’s edition.
We are now down to ‘Explode’ and ‘Glorious’ from the bonus tracks and the album, as mentioned in the last elimination, is still complete. But tomorrow, one album will have a really bad day. And who knows, maybe it’s Secret Codes?
Meanwhile, your comments which again don't quite add up to the song leaving this early in the rate:
@londonrain: ‘Definitely deserved to be on the standard album.’ (8)
@berserkboi: ‘Beautiful!’ (8.6)
@Eric: ‘It's cute and I love the electro beat.’ (7.7)
@jtm: ‘A big favorite of mine from the bonus tracks. Love the lyrics. The end of the chorus (nothing nothing nothing) is the only thing that doesn't really work here and keeps it from getting a 10.’ (9.5)
Listen here:
Nothing
Bonus track from ‘Secret Codes and Battleships’
Average: 7,01
Highest score: 1x9,5 (@jtm)
Lowest score: 1x4,5 (@phoenix123)
Oh how the tables turn. From lowest scorer to highest scorer as yet another Secret Codes bonus track leaves this rate. This time it’s ‘Nothing’, found on the deluxe version and the collector’s edition.
We are now down to ‘Explode’ and ‘Glorious’ from the bonus tracks and the album, as mentioned in the last elimination, is still complete. But tomorrow, one album will have a really bad day. And who knows, maybe it’s Secret Codes?
Meanwhile, your comments which again don't quite add up to the song leaving this early in the rate:
@londonrain: ‘Definitely deserved to be on the standard album.’ (8)
@berserkboi: ‘Beautiful!’ (8.6)
@Eric: ‘It's cute and I love the electro beat.’ (7.7)
@jtm: ‘A big favorite of mine from the bonus tracks. Love the lyrics. The end of the chorus (nothing nothing nothing) is the only thing that doesn't really work here and keeps it from getting a 10.’ (9.5)
Listen here:
The Animal Song is more enjoyable than To The Top Ten And Back at least.
londonrain
Staff member
I‘ll look it up tomorrow. There were I think some 4-6 scores (just not the ones commenting) but the scores of the last eliminations are also very close to each other. It‘s entirely possible it would have been maybe top 80 or top 70 without my ballot. I tanked three singles by the way. Two are out now, the third is top 20.
I sincerely hope the chopping block album is not the Savage Garden debut again. That one has taken enough of a beating already. I think it might be Spin, but please let it be Secret Codes!
The Animal Song never did much for me either. I never knew a William Orbit album was the original plan and I’ll admit that I’m a bit disappointed now! Imagine how amazing that would have been during his Madonna/All Saints heyday.
The Animal Song never did much for me either. I never knew a William Orbit album was the original plan and I’ll admit that I’m a bit disappointed now! Imagine how amazing that would have been during his Madonna/All Saints heyday.
He/Him
Wow! That’s so unexpected! Getting a tag for this thread is becoming a living nightmare ddd
I loved the Animal song! (Also, I like a bit of "We are Smug" and can't believe you did Shit on the radio such a popInjustice.) I'm sad that January was so busy I couldn't do my votes, but then again I feel this rate would send my blood pressure soaring as I scream "They gave how many points to Santa Monica?"
londonrain
Staff member
I can't believe Santa Monica and The Animal Song are gone already. I thought for sure they would hang around longer.
Also, The Animal Song leaving before Hold Me... just what?
Popjustice! There‘s quite a few songs on Affirmation that need to leave before we should even think about Hold Me including Chained to You and The Best Thing. (As always not a spoiler, just what would happen if it was only me voting.)
londonrain
Staff member