You are released - The Agnes Discography Rate (Finished)

Empty Shoebox

Empty Shoebox

she/her
On time for once. Beat that, British trains.





What, you expected something witty? Do you even know me?





flowers.png

Flowers
Average: 7.58

High scores: 9.7 x 1 (@berserkboi), 9.5 x 1 (@Txetxu)
Low scores: 5.25 x 1 (@CasuallyCrazed), 5.5 x 1 (@Reboot)

Chart positions: #12 Digilistan

And Just Like That, Så Mycket Bättre is down to its last leg. How much longer can Instant Repeater 99 last? What crappy film was it used in? Find out...later.

So Flowers was originally performed by Titiyo, who has the same father as Neneh Cherry. She made her début in 1989 with the single 'Talking to the Man in the Moon'. It reached #6 on Sverigetopplistan. It was included on her album in 1990, which reached #3 in the charts.

Incoming geoblock?


Her highest charting single was 2001's Come Along, which reached #3, and the album with the same title managed to hit #1. Let's investigate the song:



Not Popjustice friendly enough for you? Well then, how about 2008's Longing for Lullabies by Kleerup, with Titiyo as a featured artist?



Still not boppy enough for you? Tough. Flowers was released in 1990, and was included on the earlier mentioned self titled album. It actually charted in the UK, reaching #71. It sounds a little different to Agnes' version (well, if it didn't there would be no point in Smb, would there?). Yes, I am playing for time.



Agnes' version, as you can see, did make Digilistan, which I don't think was the official singles chart at that time, but it was one of two Smb songs that did not make Sverigetopplistan, so we can say that it was one of the least popular from that program, BUT NOT HERE.
I would talk about songwriter Magnus Frykberg, but I have run out of embeds, or at least I will have after posting Agnes' version of Flowers. Think of all the Army of Lovers and Lisa Nilsson songs you could have had.



So who wants to go to the supermarket (I haven't seen any flowers for sale at petrol stations here)?

@londonrain is almost whelmed:
"This was fine when Titiyo did it and it’s fine here." - 7.0

@DJHazey is similarly unenthusiastic:
"Slightly not quite good enough to make scream about it not being on Spotify. Pleasant, but I’ll probably forget it about it." - 8.0

@iheartpoptarts appears to be taking on @Hudweiser's role of immediately forgetting everything in a song contest after voting:
"Very different—I had to Google what it was even though we literally just had it in a song contest. Then I had to go to the TV show’s Wikipedia page because Google gave me Bruno Mars." - 7.0

@berserkboi asks a question that I do not know the answer to:
'Is this the song MKS are reportedly doing?' - 9.7

@abael's comment seems a little more positive than the score:
"Well this is definitely more direct than her usual Extras stuff, it works better than most of the others. That, or maybe it’s the English lyrics are understandable so I simply connect to it easily." - 7.0
Men svenska är inte så svart? Nej? Någon?

@danmharrow has the most positive things to say though:
'Love Titiyo! And the backing vocals here are great. Agnes has always felt a bit 90s, so the perfect choice for her.' - 9.0


Up next? Well, it's been a while since we lost an eleven, hasn't it?
​
 
WowWowWowWow

WowWowWowWow

he/him
Empty Shoebox said:
Up next? Well, it's been a while since we lost an eleven, hasn't it?
Click to expand...
























It’s gonna be a little longer.

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Stranded
Average: 7.74

High score: 10 x 1 (@berserkboi)
Low score: 5 x 1 (@CasuallyCrazed)

Chart positions: #27 Sverigetopplistan

Hey, at least “Stranded” made it one spot higher on our countdown than it did on the Swedish hit-parade, right?

Here again we have an Agnes single written by people who would go on to be responsible for some 150% bops:





^ Petra Marklund… we’ll be waiting for your version this fall.

@berserkboi was in for disappointment with this elimination.
“Was hoping for a Lutricia McNeal cover at first but this is a wonderful little ditty too! (Kept building to that total 10 score)” - 10

Well, who am I to ever ignore a Lutricia reference?



Sony BMG clearly needs to listen to @DJHazey.
“Bubblier than I remember. Kind of like Emotional’s little sister, yet somehow this got the single treatment!” - 8.0

On the topic of bubbles, @Verandi has some shade to deliver:
“Bubblegum pop in 2005 dddd Scandinavia found being late for once.” - 6.0

On the topic of things that pop, @danmharrow has some shade to deliver:
“She looks like a Clearasil advert. Quite an unexpectedly strong start to the rate.” - 6.0

On the topic of opening the rate, @Remorque has some shade to deliver:
“A lovely opener. It’s definitely got that mid-’00s pop feel to it and Agnes puts in a good performance. Having said that, there’s not really much else present here…” - 8.0

Let’s move on to some of our higher scorers—here comes @abael:
“A great example of scandi-pop, in its effortless, if perfunctory charm that is easily picked up as if you had almost heard it before.” - 9.0

And on the topic of 9’s, here comes @iheartpoptarts:
“Basically ‘Emotions’ by Mariah without the Mariah notes. But I mean, we could use more than one of that.” - 9.0

​
 
Empty Shoebox

Empty Shoebox

she/her
Well then, Monday, fresh new week.




What better way to start than with a painful elimination?





Empty Shoebox said:
it's been a while since we lost an eleven, hasn't it?
Click to expand...





This remains.



loveisallaround.png

Love Is All Around
Average: 7.76

High scores: 10 x 4 (@Ana Raquel, @iheartpoptarts, @Sprockrooster, @Txetxu)
Low scores: 4 x 1 (@Verandi), 4.75 x 1 (@CasuallyCrazed)

Chart positions: N/A

Album down! Yes, Stronger has finally fallen. Does it have the lowest average? Find out #later.

Until then, please enjoy a variety of cover versions.

First, representing New Zealand (and Australia) it's Ricki-Lee:


Representing South Africa, it's Jody Williams:


In the Japanese corner, it's Arashi:


And representing Malaysia (and Singapore) is Shi Xin Hui:


There is another out there, but I shall leave it to @WowWowWowWow to post because there is a Dame Catherine Ryan connection.

Unfortunately short one tonight. I wish I could describe it as sweet, but it's not, because I'm the one writing it and I'm not capable of that. More thoughts to follow later, in some form of album summary. Unless anyone else who has the album wants to chip in?

Who mourns for a lost album?

@londonrain makes me rethink my initial choice for a thread title:
'Mercifully not a Wet Wet Wet cover.' - 8.0

@berserkboi thinks along the same lines:
'Queen of making me think so many songs here are covers by title alone! I knew this from somewhere though!' - 9.1

@danmharrow wants more variety:
"She has way too many songs with generic ‘love’ titles. The (pre?)chorus elevates it, and then there’s another cheesy glorious chorus to come." - 7.5

@abael is also unsatisfied, but not for the same reason:
'A bit more energetic here but Agnes is still held back by a production that is pretty bare-bones.' - 7.0

@DJHazey was more positive:
'The chorus is truly a mini rush.' - 8.0

Final words saved for @iheartpoptarts:
"Obvious single choice missed. I don’t know which random record company person decided to put out ‘Champion’ instead but I hope they saw the various covers of this smash all over the world and headdesked a lot." - 9.0



Well not 'final'. I get to do that. The next elimination sees us stop teasing you about someone losing an eleven, for a little while at least.
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WowWowWowWow

WowWowWowWow

he/him
The following is a public service announcement.



































heartrate.png

Heart Rate
Average: 7.79

High scores: 10 x 4 (@Ana Raquel, @Lost Boy, @Txetxu, @Untouchable Ace)
Low score: 5 x 1 (@Sprockrooster)

According to the Mayo Clinic, a normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Generally, a lower heart rate at rest implies more efficient heart function and better cardiovascular fitness.

To measure your heart rate, simply check your pulse. Place your index and third fingers on your neck to the side of your windpipe. To check your pulse at your wrist, place two fingers between the bone and the tendon over your radial artery—located on the thumb side of your wrist. When you feel your pulse, count the number of beats in 15 seconds. Multiply this number by four to calculate your beats per minute.

Keep in mind that many factors can influence heart rate, including:

Age
Fitness and activity levels
Being a smoker
Having cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol or diabetes
Air temperature
Body position (standing up or lying down, for example)
Emotions
Body size
Medications

Although there's a wide range of normal, an unusually high or low heart rate may indicate an underlying problem. Consult your doctor if your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats a minute (tachycardia) or if you're not a trained athlete and your resting heart rate is below 60 beats a minute (bradycardia)—especially if you have other signs or symptoms, such as fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath.

Seems like a lack of air isn’t a problem that @DJHazey experienced here:
“While it bops a little bit, I’ve never really got into it because of how Agnes sounds during the chorus. Just a bit too ‘airy’ for the lack of better word.” - 7.0

You’ll also find that @Verandi went a little insane in the refrain (if I can botch a Cypress Hill song):
“I don’t understand if the way the vocals are buried in the chorus was intentional or not. Still a banger.” - 8.0

Considering that @Sprockrooster was our lowest scorer, I’m not sure about this suggestion from @berserkboi:
“Is Pop Rock Dance a thing? Agnes would nail it!” - 9.7

I guess it would be Pronce? It might just be me, but Pop Rock Dance just can’t be transformed… oop I just stole @abael’s commentary:
“It might just be me, but heart rate just can’t be transformed into something romantic like this tries to do. It doesn’t work lyrically.” - 6.0

And we end with @danmharrow, whose commentary makes me wonder if we are talking in general or about the specific song:
“It’s good, but in this context isn’t amazing.” - 7.5

But when will “Amazing” get the chop? Find out … #snart !

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Txetxu

Txetxu

1. Walk Out Of Here
2. All I Want Is You
3. Unforgiven
4. One Last Time
5. Human Touch
6. Watching It Burn
7. Got Me Good
8. Heart Rate
9. Into The Sun
10. Don't Go Breaking My Heart
11. You're Like God
12. Loaded

-- Bonus for iTunes: Nothing Else Matters.
-- Bonus for Spotify: Amazing.
 
WowWowWowWow

WowWowWowWow

he/him
Oh and I forgot to follow up on when @Empty Shoebox said
Empty Shoebox said:
There is another out there, but I shall leave it to @WowWowWowWow to post because there is a Dame Catherine Ryan connection.
Click to expand...
and it took me a minute because ... What do I know about the Canadian comedienne based in the UK that nobody else does?

But then I recalled that Eurovision also-ran and Operación Triunfo runner-up Soraya once did a cover of “Love Is All Around”:



And she did not one, but TWO songs with the queen of Eurovision also-fans, Kate Ryan!




Check out the Sapphication of it all in this live performance!

 
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