You are released - The Agnes Discography Rate (Finished)

I have been waffling on whether or not to post this elimination, because I know it will flatten some of you like a pancake lololololol................................







































Every rate has a shock elimination… from my vantage point, this one is ours.

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One Last Time
Average: 8.28

High scores: 11 x 2 (@berserkboi, @Sprockrooster); 10 x 4 (@Charley, @DJHazey, @KamikazeHeart, @WowWowWowWow)
Low score: 3 x 1 (@danmharrow)

Chart positions: #33 Sverigetopplistan; #1 Digilistan

I can't believe I forgot about this. Well you've done Nothing Else Matters and now Open Up Your Eyes dirty. The rest I can live with. My 11 would have gone to One Last Time. Sorry Boppers.

Well….

Let’s focus on the good parts.
Like how we were treated to a live performance on “Allsång på Skansen.”
(I have seen the stage with my own eyes, but never been there for a live show, SOMEDAY!!!):


And at the Victoriadag concert in 2012.
(I always love watching Victoriadagen clips because the Swedish royals are sat right in the front and have to look pleasantly bemused at everything that is happening. Based on his facial expression during a Charlotte Perrelli medley one year, I feel like I could see Prince Carl Philip plotting his own death…):


And on Nyhetsmorgon.

And on Moraeus med mera.

And during Musikhjälpen.

And during the interval of Eurovision 2013 semifinal 2.

But I digress.

I’m not going to acknowledge that “One Last Time” was plugged on a certain website run by a man whose name rhymes with Schmerez Schmilton, but Agnes told Expressen: “I’m always happy when Perez writes nice things about my music, since he is also a very nice and pleasant person, which makes it even more fun.” No, baby, no!

Regarding one of the song’s extended remixes, Mr. Popjustice wrote on this very site: “You really can’t go wrong with a sad but upbeat song by a Swedish lady, can you? That genre must account for at least six of the 100 greatest songs of all time.” And let the congregation say AMEN.

Our friend Annah Björk from Expressen gave “One Last Time” top marks in her concert review: “Nice! Feeling and club beats in one.”

This was one of the songs that Agnes’ “Så mycket bättre” castmates chose to cover. To be more specific, it was Bo Sundström:

Sigh.

We had a few folks who didn’t quite love this one, so we’ll give them the floor first.
@abael: “Bland as a mashed potato sandwich.” - 4.0
@danmharrow: “I don’t rate this, shouldn’t have been a single choice for me.” - 3.0
@iheartpoptarts: “I guess it can’t all be discopop because blah blah blah artistic growth and stuff, but I’m definitely not having as much fun as I was with the last album.” - 6.0

Beat. Drum. Agnes is gonna lose @Verandi for sonic issues:
“As much as I enjoy this, I don’t think I’ll ever completely appreciate the drums being out of sync with the rest of the song.” - 8.0

@DJHazey likes the mechanics of it all.
“More of a minimalist approach compared to the last couple tracks yet not even remotely less powerful. There’s this almost ‘mechanical’ echo in Agnes’s voice as she pleads to ‘hold you, one last time’ like she’s been exiled somewhere and this is honestly all she can manage to utter in such a dark time. It’s the isolated feeling this song has that gets me everytime.” - 10

Sadly this is indeed over, and this is the end for “One Last Time,” which means we leave the last word to the 11-givers.

@Sprockrooster:
“Such a powerful ballad that honestly gives me chills every damn time. The pain is felt through and through her voice and channels my inner pains.” - 11

@berserkboi:
“Everything right about music past 2010! Stealing the 11 from Release Me – which is a ridiculous thought in my pre-listen brain!!!” - 11

 
I have been waffling on whether or not to post this elimination, because I know it will flatten some of you like a pancake lololololol................................







































Every rate has a shock elimination… from my vantage point, this one is ours.

onelasttime.png

One Last Time
Average: 8.28

High scores: 11 x 2 (@berserkboi, @Sprockrooster); 10 x 4 (@Charley, @DJHazey, @KamikazeHeart, @WowWowWowWow)
Low score: 3 x 1 (@danmharrow)

Chart positions: #33 Sverigetopplistan; #1 Digilistan



Well….

Let’s focus on the good parts.
Like how we were treated to a live performance on “Allsång på Skansen.”
(I have seen the stage with my own eyes, but never been there for a live show, SOMEDAY!!!):


And at the Victoriadag concert in 2012.
(I always love watching Victoriadagen clips because the Swedish royals are sat right in the front and have to look pleasantly bemused at everything that is happening. Based on his facial expression during a Charlotte Perrelli medley one year, I feel like I could see Prince Carl Philip plotting his own death…):


And on Nyhetsmorgon.

And on Moraeus med mera.

And during Musikhjälpen.

And during the interval of Eurovision 2013 semifinal 2.

But I digress.

I’m not going to acknowledge that “One Last Time” was plugged on a certain website run by a man whose name rhymes with Schmerez Schmilton, but Agnes told Expressen: “I’m always happy when Perez writes nice things about my music, since he is also a very nice and pleasant person, which makes it even more fun.” No, baby, no!

Regarding one of the song’s extended remixes, Mr. Popjustice wrote on this very site: “You really can’t go wrong with a sad but upbeat song by a Swedish lady, can you? That genre must account for at least six of the 100 greatest songs of all time.” And let the congregation say AMEN.

Our friend Annah Björk from Expressen gave “One Last Time” top marks in her concert review: “Nice! Feeling and club beats in one.”

This was one of the songs that Agnes’ “Så mycket bättre” castmates chose to cover. To be more specific, it was Bo Sundström:

Sigh.

We had a few folks who didn’t quite love this one, so we’ll give them the floor first.
@abael: “Bland as a mashed potato sandwich.” - 4.0
@danmharrow: “I don’t rate this, shouldn’t have been a single choice for me.” - 3.0
@iheartpoptarts: “I guess it can’t all be discopop because blah blah blah artistic growth and stuff, but I’m definitely not having as much fun as I was with the last album.” - 6.0

Beat. Drum. Agnes is gonna lose @Verandi for sonic issues:
“As much as I enjoy this, I don’t think I’ll ever completely appreciate the drums being out of sync with the rest of the song.” - 8.0

@DJHazey likes the mechanics of it all.
“More of a minimalist approach compared to the last couple tracks yet not even remotely less powerful. There’s this almost ‘mechanical’ echo in Agnes’s voice as she pleads to ‘hold you, one last time’ like she’s been exiled somewhere and this is honestly all she can manage to utter in such a dark time. It’s the isolated feeling this song has that gets me everytime.” - 10

Sadly this is indeed over, and this is the end for “One Last Time,” which means we leave the last word to the 11-givers.

@Sprockrooster:
“Such a powerful ballad that honestly gives me chills every damn time. The pain is felt through and through her voice and channels my inner pains.” - 11

@berserkboi:
“Everything right about music past 2010! Stealing the 11 from Release Me – which is a ridiculous thought in my pre-listen brain!!!” - 11



 
There was an official uptempo version which was just titled "Remix", but it seems to have been wiped from existance. Sad face.

The Orion-remix does a pretty good job of making it sound like a Robyn-classic:


I like how the Extended version of “Remix” is a whopping 15 seconds longer than plain old boring “Remix.”

There was also a remix by John Dahlbäck, but based on how this group of hooligans treated “Life (Diamonds In The Dark),” I don’t think you deserve it.

 
New day, new elimination.




New set of Stockholm weather too. No sign of the frost and fog from yesterday.





Somethings don't change though.



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Walk out of Here
Average: 8.32

High scores: 10 x 7 (@berserkboi, @Charley, @DJHazey, @Hurricane Drunk, @Txetxu, @Untouchable Ace, @Verandi)
Low scores: 4 x 1 (@danmharrow)

Chart positions: N/A

Same album, same low scorer, similar top scorers.
No elevens this time though, so there may still be heartbreak for some on the way.

No covers found, and only one live performance:


So it's time for Have I heard anything from this songwriter before?
Yes. Yes you have. They were both on the last song. Remember?

Anyway, Jonas Quant is probably best known for working with a pair called 'Hurts', who I don't know about, so let's talk about Ana Diaz.

LOREEN ALERT

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Not Loreen, but an English person, which is rare:


And Petra Marklund.


There's also a Måns Zelmerlöw, but I have cleverly used my five embeds now. Ha ha ha.

So what lasting effect has the song had on everyone?

Villain of the hour @danmharrow wishes to distract us all:
"Let’s talk about how nice the album artwork is. The song is ok." - 4.0

@abael wasn't particularly infatuated either:
"The production difference between Agnes’ first album and this one is obvious. Songwriting… not so much. The disparity is jarring." - 6.0

@berserkboi mentions royalty:
"Wow! Something even Kylie would kill for!" - 10.0

@DJHazey will definitely be listening again:
"Now this is what I’m talking about. From “Even if I don’t love you...” onward it literally skips along to the beat of my heart and I feel at home instantly. This is the good stuff people. Agnes’s voice elevates at all the right moments too. The ‘cloud’ lyric is a great prelude to the monster song that follows, because of the imagery I get there." - 10.0

@iheartpoptarts rejects your reality and substitutes her own lyrics:
"Cute and happy and dancey and I’m inexplicably singing ‘You Belong With Me’ over the chorus in my head." - 8.0

@Verandi needed time, but got there:
"It’s a grower. It manages to be electronic and light as a feather. Her mind." - 10.0



 
We now return to your regularly scheduled programming.
























Of kicking out songs not from Veritas, that is.

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I Need You Now
Average: 8.35

High scores: 10 x 5 (@CasuallyCrazed, @DJHazey, @londonrain, @Remorque, @Txetxu)
Low score: 4 x 1 (@Empty Shoebox)

Chart positions: #8 Sverigetopplistan; #20 Ultratop (Flanders); #40 UK

And we say goodbye to the song that various record label personnel thought would be the best option to follow up the mahoosive worldwide success of “Release Me.” “I Need You Now” made it onto Now 74 (apt) and Agnes made it back onto UK TV to promote this single. Here she is on GMTV:


In a 3/5 star review, David Balls from Digital Spy wrote: “Is a trend emerging as to the fate of Scandi popstars chancing it on our shores? Like September's ‘Cry For You’ a year earlier, Swedish Idol winner Agnes scored one of the surprise hits of the summer with ‘Release Me,’ dominating the airwaves and dancefloors for months. Well, second single ‘I Need You Now’ has finally arrived and - in much the same way as September’s ‘Can't Get Over’ - it doesn’t quite match its predecessor. Sticking to the classier end of the Europop spectrum, ‘I Need You Now’ marries soothing strings and unimposing dance beats before building into a heartfelt chorus that neatly showcases Agnes’s powerful set of pipes. It’s perfectly pleasant from start to finish, but lacking that extra bit of oomph needed to make a proper impact. At this rate then, hold tight to your seats for the imminent announcement that we’ll be getting Agnes’s upcoming album, Dance Love Pop, on a ‘download-only’ basis.”

The song was covered by Titiyo for Agnes day on “Så mycket bättre”:


@berserkboi wonders if this is the bottom of the barrel (and still scores it 4+ points higher than lowest scorer @Empty Shoebox):
“Is this what I’ll end up thinking is her weakest single? Still very good – just not grabbing me like the others…” - 8.8

We still have some residual resentment from the votership about the selection of this song to capitalize on the success of “Release Me.” @tylerc904 had a better choice in mind:
“Still baffled that this was the follow up to Release Me in the UK (versus On and On). It’s great, but there are half a dozen stronger tracks on the album.” - 9.0

Joining the party was @londonrain:
“Scored on the basis of the UK mix. What a bop. I can’t believe the British public didn’t send it to the top 5 like it did with Release Me.” - 10

The BPM lovers at least found some solace in the remixed version, such as @iheartpoptarts: “This is why we have the rate-the-version-you-prefer rule, isn’t it? Team the bop one obvs.” - 9.0

@danmharrow is on the dancefloor:
“I use the Cahill remix of this one, to give it a bit more punch. Agnes is always better when she goes balls out. That piano beat is beautiful, the lyrics are a bit trite.” - 8.0

Regardless of the version you choose, @abael needs some more luxury:
“There needs to be another layer to this track, it’s a bit simplistic as it stands. Oddly enough the remixed version has the same issue.” - 7.0

And this rate is full of surprises, since one of our biggest fans of the initial version was … @DJHazey?!
“There’s a danced-up single version? of this that everyone always praises, but in a rare moment of Hazey randomness I have always preferred this original take. In fact, it’s one of my Top 5 Agnes songs and one of the first I think about when contemplating my favorites from her. Something about those strings and the pacing just works out as a massive emotive and thought-provoking anthem to my ears.” - 10


 
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