I'm not sure what happened to the first thread so I just started a new one.

Anyway here's the first review...

"Check On It," Beyonce featuring Slim Thug

Slim Thug is such a mediocre rapper. If he weren't on this song, I'd probably like it a lot better. I actually think Paul Wall would've complemented this song better. Anyway, this is pretty catchy. The production is cool; the chorus is hot (I like how at the end of the song Beyonce pleads "Check on it! Check on it! Check on it!")---this has definite hit potential. I like how Beyonce's lyrics are becoming edgier ("I know you want to taste it/But Imma make you chase it"), but I wish she'd find something else to sing about. Her material is just so damn repetitive. Still, that can't keep me from enjoying this single.

My Grade: B+

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DoubleD,

The Fugees, "Take It Easy"

I wish I could like this song more than I did -- maybe the video will help me out a little bit, but it's far less melodic than I hoped it would be, and for a "comeback single", it's quite scattershot and jumbled. The lyrics are topical though (love the idea of "reconcillation" that's included throughout the song), and there's such an energy/joy in the reality of three of them being back together again. Lauryn Hill gets the lion's share of the vocals (as it should be), then Wyclef, while Pras gets the Michelle Williams tacked-on bit near the end (I did like the "What . . . ya'll thought I wasn't coming?"). It probably will whet the appetites of the die-hards, and videos have a way of changing perceptions sometimes, so we'll see. Still can't wait for the reunion album.

Grade for "Take It Easy": B-

Mariah Carey, "Don't Forget About Us"
What a horrible song! This is a retread of "We Belong Together" (which I much prefer). The lyrics are trite and uninspiring.

My Grade: D+

Destiny's Child, "Stand Up For Love"
This is DC's weakest effort to date. The lyrics are bland and very mediocre. What saves this song are the girls' harmonies; which are on point.

My Grade: C+

The Pussycat Dolls, "Stickwitu"
What is this crap? After ths success and catchiness of "Don't Cha," PCD decide to release this. They are turning into today's version of the Spice Girls. The lyrics aren't great and the vocals suck to say the least.

My Grade: D-

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gucci,

Gucci, you're always so negative when it comes to anything other than Christina Aguilera!!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: AML,

Desperate Host--

I'd actually agree with everything with Gucci posted, so I don't think you should single people out for stating an opinion.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Neurotic21,

quote:

Originally posted by Matty_B:
Desperate Host--

I'd actually agree with everything with Gucci posted, so I don't think you should single people out for stating an opinion.

But don't you find that a lot of Gucci's posts are rather negative. You would think that she/he could find a single that they liked to put into their review. I'm sorry if I offened anyone, that was not my intention at all, I was just pointing out something I noticed.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: AML,

quote:

Originally posted by Matty_B:
I'd actually agree with everything with Gucci posted, so I don't think you should single people out for stating an opinion.

Thanks Matty_B.

The problem is certain individuals on this board who worship Mariah Carey get their panties in a ruffle the minute you say something not so good about her. Well I could give a shit less. I am going to state my opinion whether someone likes it or not. This is what this board is about, isn't it?

And for the record, I barely even mention Christina Aguilera. So, you may want to get your facts straight.

Now as you were!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gucci,

quote:

Originally posted by Gucci:

quote:

Originally posted by Matty_B:
I'd actually agree with everything with Gucci posted, so I don't think you should single people out for stating an opinion.

Thanks Matty_B.

The problem is certain individuals on this board who worship Mariah Carey get their panties in a ruffle the minute you say something not so good about her. Well I could give a shit less. I am going to state my opinion whether someone likes it or not. This is what this board is about, isn't it?

And for the record, I barely/rarely even mention Christina Aguilera. So, you may want to get your facts straight.

WOW, I wasn't trying to be mean and I wasn't even talking about your Mariah review, I was just saying that you have this layer of negativity in your posts that I have noticed and I think this was the best time to bring it up, seeing as how you tore through Mariah, DC, and PCD.

I also heard the new Beyonce song today. It's pretty alright, I guess. But the rapper in it is really terrible. I also heard a new Ciara song the other day. It's a ballad, not half bad. Her voice seemingly gets stronger with each thing she's on.

And oh yea, I like me some Mariah, but "Don't Forget About Us" might be her worst single since "Boy". The new DC3 song is also pretty terrible, while the new PCD is laughably bad.

Jesus, Take The Wheel- Carrie Underwood
Where has my power ballad lover gone? This is pretty typical country stuff, they'll eat it up.

GRADE: C+

Gone- Kelly Clarkson
Despite some awful lyrics, I can't help but love another KC single. Very catchy, very good.

GRADE: B

Don't Forget About Us- Mariah Carey
It's pretty much all been stated. This is boring and ineffective. I haven't enjoyed anything besides 'We Belong Together,' I don't understand all the love lately.

GRADE: C-

Is Kelly gonna have a video for Gone?

Trina featuring Kelly Rowland, "Here We Go"

I didn't even realize this was Kelly Rowland singing the hook -- it sounded like Beyonce or maybe Ciara. It's weird here, b/c their two styles seem to conflict -- Trina has her usually abrasive lyrics thrown in there, while Rowland's is almost the opposite of that. It's odd. Not the best song, but average. This isn't the direction Kelly Rowland needs to take post-DC though.

Song: C

Mariah Carey, "Don't Forget About Us"

Trite and lackluster song; the video doesn't fare much better than the song. It's just as bad as Destiny's Child new "Stand Up for Love" song and video.

Song: D

Kelly Clarkson's doing a fifth single off of Breakaway? That's interesting. I recall liking "Gone" a tad better than some of the other meh tracks off of that album. I'll look forward to seeing the video treatment.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Atypical,

Their was a rumor that Kelly was shooting the video for "Gone" in the Austrailian desert as she is there on tour.

I respect all opinions but disagree with some.
I am going to state my opinion about the ratings I see people give on these forums.

I think these ratings are pathetic. I am glad that professors and teaching assistants in college do not grade the way people in here do.

I think that most mainstream popular music that comes out nowadays is just terrible if not offensive but you will not see me give out D's and C's to all of the songs that come out. It's just pointless to do so.

Maybe it comes from having been a teacher in college. Maybe I have grown accustomed to grade inflation.

I see people do it in the new video thread too. I see people routinely giving out Ds to professionally directed and recorded videos. I think it is silly.

I am a Mariah Carey fan. I'll say it. I do not have a problem with someone not liking her music but it stretches the bounds of my common sense for someone to give one of her major hits a D. Give me a break. We all know it really isn't that bad, relatively speaking.

I think a song that is average, ordinary, that doesn't do much for the listener, is not memorable, does not have a great melody or hook, has a weak or undistinguished vocal or rap, or is a retread even, is a probably B/B- song in most cases. That's a fair grade because most mainstream hits fit the description I just set out in some way or another.

If you were comparing the songs of today to classic music of the Rock era (since 1955), then I could see giving out Ds and Cs but given the relative quality of today's music, I think the Ds and Cs are just mean spirited.

That's my opinion.

And who made you the arbiter of grade tastes/opinions EmptyHanded?

I'll assign whatever grades I see fit to give to the artists I like, and if I feel the need to give a Mariah Carey song a "D" grade, that's exactly what I'll do. You can opt to scroll down and not read the particular review (s) in question (or better yet, not visit the thread at all) if our grades/opinions offend your delicate sensibilities so much.

"C" means AVERAGE, by the way. Anything above a C means the song/album is better than average. Anything lower means it is worse than average. That's what the grades really mean, isn't it? That's how they grade us at my college, at least.

Personally, I feel that most songs should get a C or so, songs I like get a B, and GREAT songs only get an A. Poor songs should easily get a D.

quote:

Originally posted by nobody:
"C" means AVERAGE, by the way. Anything above a C means the song/album is better than average. Anything lower means it is worse than average. That's what the grades really mean, isn't it? That's how they grade us at my college, at least.

Personally, I feel that most songs should get a C or so, songs I like get a B, and GREAT songs only get an A. Poor songs should easily get a D.

C's are not average where I went to college or where I have taught.

Let's face it, in academia today, a C is bad grade. C was once average, back in the 50s for example and perhaps even up until 70s but today C is not average. If you read the Chronicle of Higher Education you will see constant references to grade inflation and how C "used to be average."

Atypical: I am no arbiter and neither are you. I stated my opinion. Don't forget that your opinion, when posted in this forum, is worth just as much as mine, and just as little. But not more.

"Gone" is my favorite track off of Breakaway. I'm very impressed that it is being released cause I just assumed it wouldn't be to avoid confusion with SUBG.

quote:

Originally posted by EmptyHanded:

quote:

Originally posted by nobody:
"C" means AVERAGE, by the way. Anything above a C means the song/album is better than average. Anything lower means it is worse than average. That's what the grades really mean, isn't it? That's how they grade us at my college, at least.

Personally, I feel that most songs should get a C or so, songs I like get a B, and GREAT songs only get an A. Poor songs should easily get a D.

C's are not average where I went to college or where I have taught.

Let's face it, in academia today, a C is bad grade. C was once average, back in the 50s for example and perhaps even up until 70s but today C is not average. If you read the Chronicle of Higher Education you will see constant references to grade inflation and how C "used to be average."

Atypical: I am no arbiter and neither are you. I stated my opinion. Don't forget that your opinion, when posted in this forum, is worth just as much as mine, and just as little. But not more.

I haven't forgotten anything, and I'm not one of your students. If I want to give low grades to what I deem to be appropriate to the given work, I'll do that, and you have nothing to do with that. Calling someone's opinions "pathetic" creates the implication that somehow you think that your opinions/grading scales are somehow better and more appropriate that anyone else's, which they aren't.

Enough of the lame grading nonsense -- back to the reviews.

Frankie J, "More Than Words"

This was pretty much an unnecessary and overdone cover of a simple Extreme track that didn't need re-doing. The video starts acapella and then leads into the rest of the song, but none of it really worked for me. The original fares much better than this one.

Song: C-

Gorillaz, "Dare"

The refrain to this song is catchy and upbeat -- it's hard to get out of your head. I didn't like the video as much as the song (feels like every other Gorillaz video I've seen, with the same animators), but the song at least is a nice follow-up to "Feel Good Inc".

Song: B