Post by Dracula on Oct 11, 2014 11:27:27 GMT -5
Dracula 05-31-2011 02:26 PM
Dracula (et al.)'s Top Ten Thread
Yeah, I know there are too many of these threads... but **** it, I have some lists I need to get off my chest. I don't think I'll be doing lists one after another though so between my lists (and only between them) I'm going to open this thread up to anyone else who wants to do a list but doesn't want to open up a thread of their own.
Top Ten Extremely Popular Musicians that I Hate
My city currently has two virtually identical Top 40 stations and no real Urban station, which means that if I want to hear the latest Kanye or Lil Wayne track while I’m driving I need to sit through a lot of horrible horrible music. Even if I don’t put up with the garbage on the radio I’m still inundated with a ton of crap every day on TV or over mall P.A. systems etc. These ten artists are the worst offenders. All of these have two things in common: 1. They are extremely popular right now, and 2. Their music id devoid of any redeeming qualities. Also note that this list only consists of people that I feel personally inundated by, there are some very popular “artists” who would make the list but who I’ve successfully managed to avoid most of the time and thus cannot legitimately complain about.
10. Bruno Mars
This one was a bit of a borderline choice because I do think that Mars has some legitimate talent as a producer, but his solo music annoys me to no end. To be perfectly frank, Bruno Mars is a pussy… at least that seems to be what he wants the women of America to think, which would be fine if I didn’t think it was completely insincere. His track record of pandering love songs like Nothin’ on You and Just the Way You Are do for R&B what Michael Bolton did to Rock, he writes songs that he thinks women want to hear. His attempt to sound like a regular bro trying to chill out on The Lazy Song doesn’t help his case for sincerity one bit either.
9. Far East Movement
This group might not have quite the volume of annoying songs as some of these, but the ones they have released more than make up for that in their annoyingness. Like a G6 in particular makes me angry in it’s party-centric stupidity and ridiculous boasts which are particularly tough to believe when coming out of the mouths of these studio nerds. I highly doubt that when sober girls are around any of these people that they be “ac’in’ like they drunk” or that any of them “keep it gangsta, poppin bottles at the crib.” And the sizzurp references sound particularly late to the game (that **** is so 2004). Granted, all of this would probably be slightly less offensive in its proper environment, clubs, but on the radio it is musical diarrhea.
8. Susan Boyle
This one is a little different than the rest because Boyle isn’t a radio presence in the way the other ones are, but her dominance of the Billboard chart is sickening enough that she’s still making the list. I won’t even get in to how clearly manufactured her emergence on reality TV was and if she had remained a Youtube meme I wouldn’t really care, but then she had to release albums that consist entirely of mediocre covers which have somehow sold better than anything put out by actual musicians. Her first album went seven times platinum, that’s seven million copies in the U.S. alone, what the hell? What’s most sickening about this is that I doubt many of the people who bought those albums even listen to them, they just seem to think it’s their duty to make this woman rich out of some sort of sense of charity… it’s madness.
To Be Continued...
MasterChief117 05-31-2011 02:44 PM
Agree on every single one thus far, especially Bruno Mars.
Doomsday 05-31-2011 03:03 PM
In all honesty, I'm really looking forward to the lists you're gonna put out.
PG Cooper 05-31-2011 03:10 PM
I only know about Boyle, and I've never heard a single one of her songs. I guess I'm good at avoiding terrible musicians.
JBond 05-31-2011 03:29 PM
Boyle's still popular?
Dracula 05-31-2011 03:44 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBond (Post 2758708)
Boyle's still popular?
Her last album (released November 2010) stayed number 1 on the Billboard chart for five weeks and has gone has sold five million copies worldwide (the fifth best of the year). What's more, her 2009 debut album sold seven million copies over the course of 2010, making it the number one album of 2010. So yeah, she's still popular.
JBond 05-31-2011 04:15 PM
Geez...
Deexan 05-31-2011 07:07 PM
I never listen to commercial radio or the charts nowadays, so thankfully a lot of the flavour-of-the-week crap passes me by. If someone asked me to name or hum the tune to a Justin Bieber song right now I genuinely would have no clue and I plan on keeping it that way.
I will admit to liking Boyle's cover of Wild Horses though... :redface:
But then I'd never heard the original or been into the Stones so the covering aspect doesn't bother me.
IanTheCool 05-31-2011 09:54 PM
I have no idea who Far East Movement is.
PsYkOoOoO 05-31-2011 10:51 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by IanTheCool (Post 2758737)
I have no idea who Far East Movement is.
Like a G6, like a G6.
Doomsday 05-31-2011 11:47 PM
I didn't know who they were either until you put that.
It would be nice to see some Dave Matthews or Bon Jovi, but hey it's not my list.
Dracula 06-01-2011 12:37 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doomsday (Post 2758749)
I didn't know who they were either until you put that.
It would be nice to see some Dave Matthews or Bon Jovi, but hey it's not my list.
Yeah, this is more about people who are really popular on the Billboard charts right this instant (and who need to be stopped), it's not a hall of shame if you will.
Without further ado...
7. The Cast of Glee
This isn’t a list about Television quality, so I’ll leave my opinions about the show at the center of all this to myself. I’m also not going to waste time arguing about the quality or lack thereof of the various tracks that this show has somehow managed to launch to fame. What I’m going to question is why anyone in their right mind would spend money on Itunes to by any of these note-for- note covers when the original better versions are readily available. I guess I could see kids not knowing any better than to pick up these tracks over the original when it comes to classic songs, but why they would also do this for current chart-toppers is simply bizarre.
6. Taylor Swift
One of things that most baffled me about the whole “Imma’ Let You Finish” episode was just how little people seemed to care about the fact that Kanye is both clearly a better artist than Swift and also completely correct in his assessment that giving an award to Swift is a ridiculous thing to do. Taylor Swift’s entire career is based on the incredibly stupid premise that it’s a good idea to mix the two worst genres of music: bubblegum pop and country. Add to the equation the fact that every one of her corny songs sounds like it was taken straight from the diary of a thirteen year old and you’ve got some pretty bad music. The only reason she’s not higher on the list is that her music has been slightly more avoidable than some of the people in the top five.
5. Chris Brown
I was originally going to show this guy some mercy, but then when I looked at his discography and was reminded of the sheer quantity of annoying songs he had I realized he needed to be in the top five. Also, make no mistake this has nothing to do with the whole Rihanna thing, that certainly adds to my distaste for the guy but I hated his music long before that. If anything that whole episode just revealed how ridiculous the squeaky clean image he’s fostered was and how much of a phony he’s always been. He’s a poor man’s Usher, and Usher himself would have made the list as well if I didn’t have some residual goodwill for some of his older songs like "Burn" and "Yeah."
4. Enrique Iglesias
I’m willing to forgive and forget this guy for having been part of the whole Ricky Martin thing back in the late 90s, this is a list about modern “artists” I hate after all, but then Iglesias had to go and make one of the most inexplicable and annoying comebacks of all time. There’s something really disconcerting about hearing this 36 year old Spaniard (who seems like he should be 46) singing party jams by modern producers. He seems like a sleazy an old European who’s showing up to a college party to **** your naive girlfriend. The charts say that he’s only gone as high as number 4 with “I Like It” and “Tonight (I’m ****ing You),” but as often as my stations play them you’d think he was topping the charts.
To Be Concluded...
PsYkOoOoO 06-01-2011 01:02 AM
Anybody else remember when Enrique Iglesias was halfway decent with HERO and BAILAMOS?
Tolkien 06-01-2011 01:31 AM
Wow, this is the first time I have absolutely nothing negative to say about Drac's posts.
Bravo, good man. Keep up the lists.
MasterChief117 06-01-2011 02:50 PM
I actually don't give much crap to Glee because I found that I do like some of their songs, however, I do not play them on regular basis and rock them out. Just some of them are okay. I do agree with your list completely thus far beyond that. Funny because everyone your mentioning I change the radio as soon as they get on.
FranklinTard 06-01-2011 03:48 PM
i actually really like the current top album, as long as its still 21 from adele. tis a good disc.
Alien 06-01-2011 05:37 PM
I like Glee but the music is normally a little boring. Either I don't know the song and just don't get into it or I know the song and like the original more. There is also the 3rd option that I know the song and hate both versions...
docstop 06-01-2011 06:55 PM
Agree with you Drac, on everyone on the list except for Taylor Swift and Susan Boyle.
PsYkOoOoO 06-01-2011 07:42 PM
Taylor Swift is over-rated and boring. She does seem like a nice human being, but we are judging her based solely on the fact that she's supposed to be a singer songwriter, right? In that case, yep.
Neverending 06-01-2011 07:49 PM
Bruno Mars is a great singer. He writes catchy music. And he's a great producer.
Taylor Swift is a teenager. Compared to her peers, she's quite good. I would love to see the lyrics you wrote in high school.
MasterChief117 06-01-2011 07:53 PM
Ew, Bruno Mars.
PG Cooper 06-01-2011 07:57 PM
I don't care how old an artist is, it shouldn't effect how their music should be judged. Just because someone is younger does not mean they have to cut them some slack.
I'm not targeting that directly at Swift mind you, I just mean in general.
Neverending 06-01-2011 08:02 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PG Cooper (Post 2758836)
I don't care how old an artist is, it shouldn't effect how their music should be judged.
So, Mozart composing music at 5 is no big deal? I think Taylor Swift is incredibly talented for her age. She writes cheesy love songs because thats all she has experienced. Look at The Beatles. What were their EARLY songs?
She Loves You - Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!
I Wanna Hold Your Hand.
I didn't want to dance with another, when I saw her standing there.
I mean, c'mon, give her 10 years and more life experience and she'll start to pump out all the classics.
Tolkien 06-01-2011 08:07 PM
...so in ten years when Swift turns into Eminem, let me know. I'll buy her album.
PG Cooper 06-01-2011 08:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758837)
So, Mozart composing music at 5 is no big deal? I think Taylor Swift is incredibly talented for her age. She writes cheesy love songs because thats all she has experienced. Look at The Beatles. What were their EARLY songs?
She Loves You - Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!
I Wanna Hold Your Hand.
I didn't want to dance with another, when I saw her standing there.
I mean, c'mon, give her 10 years and more life experience and she'll start to pump out all the classics.
That's why I said I wasn't specifically targeting Swift, just the general idea that teen musicians need to be treated differently. I firmly believe if you are recording music, which is being released on a mass scale, being listened to by millions of people, then there is no reason you should be judged any differently than other artists doing similar work. If it's some kid just playing songs for their school or something, okay, obviously you judge them differently. But when you're at the top of the music charts then things change.
Like I said, this isn't a direct attack at Swift. I've only heard one of her songs (if I've heard others, I have no recollection). I hated the one song, but for all I know, the rest are all brilliant.
Neverending 06-01-2011 08:31 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PG Cooper (Post 2758840)
the general idea that teen musicians need to be treated differently.
Taylor Swift actually writes her own music. That's the difference. You can diss Miley Cyrus because she has a team of writers and producers at her disposal. If one of her songs suck, you have a group of adults to blame. But Taylor Swift is just a kid. This is why people got upset that Kanye West dissed her. Are you really gonna insult a wide-eyed kid on national television? It's messed up.
IanTheCool 06-01-2011 08:35 PM
Plus he said Beyonce had the greatest video of all time. Um, no.
Neverending 06-01-2011 08:41 PM
Well, to be fair, Jay-Z is Kanye's boss. So, he was just sucking up. Can't blame the man for that.
PsYkOoOoO 06-01-2011 08:50 PM
Justin Bieber, while he is too easy a target, better be on the list.
Neverending 06-01-2011 09:06 PM
Justin Bieber isn't popular per say. His appeal is directed at a very SPECIFIC demographic. The general public could care less about him.
MasterChief117 06-01-2011 10:25 PM
Taylor Swift writes her music off bland emotional break up problems. She might as well be taking notes from better talent like Avril Lavigne or hell, any great rock band in the last 10 years who actually makes better music...I can't stand her. It's the same song, over and over.
PsYkOoOoO 06-01-2011 11:00 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758846)
Justin Bieber isn't popular per say. His appeal is directed at a very SPECIFIC demographic. The general public could care less about him.
That may be true, but he has grown outside of his targeted demographics, certainly. Besides, "the general public could care less" can be applied to pretty much anybody on this list, just as long as we look away. Unless, of course, they are in your face all the time.
Dracula 06-01-2011 11:40 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758833)
Taylor Swift is a teenager. Compared to her peers, she's quite good. I would love to see the lyrics you wrote in high school.
At the end of the day she's charging the same for her music as everyone else and is competing at the same award shows as anyone else and as such it should be judged at the same level. Being "good for you age is what school recitals are for, the second you start charging people to hear your work you're open game for criticism.
3. The Black Eyed Peas
We’re getting into the real **** now. The bottom seven are annoying in many ways, but these top three are the real axis of radio evil. The Black Eyed Peas (or Hologram Man, Former Meth-Addict Lady, The Other Guy, and The Other Other Guy, as Nathan Rabin calls them) probably take the cake for the sheer quantity of retarded songs to their name. They narrowly avoid the top two simply because they write their own music and Will.I.Am does occasionally prove to be a semi-competent producer… but then I remember that he also wrote the song “My Humps” and I wonder if I’m being way too nice to these guys. What do I hate about them, let me count the ways: for one they are blatant sell-out (just ask anyone who heard their pre-Fergie albums), they make inane songs about partying, they have ridiculous lyrics like “I’m so 3008, you’re just two thousand and late,” and most annoyingly they posture as some kind of voice of a generation. If this generation is really all about “I Gotta Feeling” count me out.
2. Katy Perry
Oh my god do I hate Katy Perry, in fact I pretty much just made this list so I could ***** about her. Perhaps the man I should really be mad at is Max Martin, the evil song writer behind all of her singles who has been making radio diarrhea going back to the Britney Spears/Backstreet Boys era. What I don’t get about Perry is that she doesn’t have any of the usual things that fool people into liking this kind of terrible music. She’s not overly attractive (at least not by pop star standards), her voice isn’t exactly American Idol ready, and at no point in her life is she known to have worn a dress made out of meat. And despite all of this she somehow manages to top the Billboard 100 with every damn song, even the ones about alien-sex. I’d talk at more length about how completely air-headed her music is, but I’ll save that for my discussion of…
1. Ke$ha
Where to begin with this chick… Ke$ha is like the musical equivalent of a drunk Valley-girl slut at a frat-party who thinks she’s significantly hotter than she really is. In addition to being a stupid and worthless lyricist she’s also devoid of any kind of talent. When I first heard her tipsy auto-tuned speak singing I thought it was some kind of joke… but no, it’s a multi-platinum hit. Her public persona is also rather pathetic, when she shows up to award shows or performs on talk shows she will enviably be wearing something ridiculous because hey, Lady Gaga got popular for doing that, why not rip it off? I kind of understand why some people would like some of the other artists on this list, but this one baffles me. Ke$ha is the anit-musician, she’s a cancer on popular culture and when historians look back and try to see why Western culture fell her body of work should be Exhibit A.
--------------------------
Dishonorable Mentions
Justin Bieber
I hate the concept of Justin Bieber and I hate the way people never shut up about him, I hate his wholesome Christian image, I hate that he’s essentially the return of the late 90s boy band thing, and I hate the bulls**t “discovered on Youtube” mythos that surrounds him, and I hate his ****ing hair; but his music has been surprisingly easy to avoid compared to some of these other people. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever heard a Justin Bieber song in its entirety (and I plan to keep it that way) so that makes him rather hard to criticize in any sort of legitimate way.
P!nk, Jennifer Lopez, and Britney Spears
I hate all of these people, but my complaints against them were very similar to my complaints against Enrique Iglesias (E.G. that they never should have made a comeback), so I didn’t want to beat that dead horse.
Nicki Minaj
The first time I’d ever heard Nicki was on her blazing verse on Kanye West’s son “Monster,” and hearing that I thought she might have had what it takes to bring back female rap. Since then she’s released a completely wack album, whored herself out to every kind of mainstream whim, and is almost as bad as Ke$ha is at shamelessly ripping off Lady Gaga’s fashion sense. Still, the hope that the “Monster” verse gave me is just enough to keep her off the list.
Train and Maroon 5
Make no mistake, “Hey Soul Sister” is a horrible song, possibly the worst of the last five years. Aside from that however, Train have essentially been a one hit wonder for the last decade and haven’t had the quantity of bad songs to really build up the kind of hatred that these other people have (they also never played that on either of my cities Top 40 stations very often, so it’s been somewhat avoidable). As for Maroon 5… I don’t know, I’ve never hated them as much as some people do, they’re worth avoiding but never really made me angry.
JBond 06-02-2011 12:25 AM
Black Eyed Peas. Finally something I can get behind.
Neverending 06-02-2011 01:06 AM
Black Eyed Peas are a club group. You hate them now, but walk into a club and have a hot girl grind you as Fergie sings, "I'm so 3008. You're so 2000-late" and you won't hate them.
Katy Perry has appeal for a number of reasons.
#1 - She IS hot.
#2 - Have you seen her boobs?
#3 - Most of her songs are comedic. Kanye West is rappin' about having alien sex. Are you really taking that seriously? "I Kissed a Girl and I liked it. I hope my boyfriend don't mind it." Don't you see it's a joke? "Show me your Peacock!" I mean, come on.
PsYkOoOoO 06-02-2011 01:12 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758881)
Black Eyed Peas are a club group. You hate them now, but walk into a club and have a hot girl grind you as Fergie sings, "I'm so 3008. You're so 2000-late" and you won't hate them.
If that's what you go for, hey, sure.
Neverending 06-02-2011 01:13 AM
will.i.am rocks that beat.
Dracula 06-02-2011 01:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758881)
Black Eyed Peas are a club group. You hate them now, but walk into a club and have a hot girl grind you as Fergie sings, "I'm so 3008. You're so 2000-late" and you won't hate them.
...and if the stuff stayed in a club I wouldn't mind, but these songs get played on the radio endlessly.... ENDLESSLY, and they also sell CDs and MP3s which people presumably listen to outside of clubs. And frankly, pretty much anything is going to sound tolerable if you're drunk off your ass and have a hot girl dry humping you, that's no standard. It's like saying that Battlefield Earth is a good movie so long as you have someone blowing you while you see it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758881)
Katy Perry has appeal for a number of reasons.
#1 - She IS hot.
#2 - Have you seen her boobs?
#3 - Most of her songs are comedic. Kanye West is rappin' about having alien sex. Are you really taking that seriously? "I Kissed a Girl and I liked it. I hope my boyfriend don't mind it." Don't you see it's a joke? "Show me your Peacock!" I mean, come on.
1. So are half the chicks walking down the sunset strip.
2. Have you seen Anna Kournikova's boobs? Do you want to buy an album by her?
3. If the songs are jokes, then they're jokes that failed miserably at making me laugh. Yeah, Kanye's verse on that song seems to be highlighting the absurdity of that song, but Perry's parts (which were written before Kanye made that remix) seem pretty straightforward to me. At the very best, I could maybe describe Perry as being "self-aware," and that's why she came in second to Ke$ha (who's the very definition of "shameless") but that's about it.
Nilade 06-02-2011 02:49 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2758887)
It's like saying that Battlefield Earth is a good movie so long as you have someone blowing you while you see it.
:lol:
MasterChief117 06-02-2011 03:26 AM
Dracula is right on point with this. I completely agree. Mainstream music has pretty much ruined the image of music.
Tolkien 06-02-2011 07:17 AM
Hot damn, Drac's on a role in here.
Deexan 06-02-2011 07:18 AM
Have you tried maintaining an erection during Battlefield Earth? Easier said than done.
docstop 06-02-2011 08:09 AM
With you Drac, on the dislike of Katy Perry. I had to walk off the graduation stage listening to "Fireworks," which totally sucks. After all the stern and solemn speeches it felt like all the students were told not to really care about there accomplishment because of the culture crap music at the end.
Doomsday 06-02-2011 10:43 AM
Welp, I am officially ending my top 10 thread now.
Neverending 06-02-2011 10:57 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2758887)
...and if the stuff stayed in a club I wouldn't mind, but these songs get played on the radio endlessly.... ENDLESSLY
Because will.i.am has sick beats.
Quote:
I could maybe describe Perry as being "self-aware,"
She's totally self-aware. Anyone who writes a song called, "Show Me Your Peacock" is self-aware.
JBond 06-02-2011 03:24 PM
I can't tell if you're trying to make bad points after every post anymore.
IanTheCool 06-02-2011 07:08 PM
Great choices for #1 and 2. Kesha is just.... terrible. She's the epitome of a stupid, brainless, text-crazy 20 year old.
MasterChief117 06-02-2011 08:42 PM
Kanye West makes ET okay. Without him, it'd be a REALLY bad song. I mean, he doesn't even rap good. That's just how bad the song is.
Dracula 06-02-2011 09:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758957)
She's totally self-aware. Anyone who writes a song called, "Show Me Your Peacock" is self-aware.
Just because she knows her crap is stupid does not change the fact that it's stupid. I'm sure the people who made Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, and Vampires Suck realize that they're making dumb juvenile movies... that doesn't justify making the crap.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MasterChief117 (Post 2759040)
Kanye West makes ET okay. Without him, it'd be a REALLY bad song. I mean, he doesn't even rap good. That's just how bad the song is.
Yeah, a half-assed Kanye verse is going to be better than anything Katy Perry will ever do.
krushgroove19 06-02-2011 11:37 PM
I like the list, specifically that Susan Boyle's on it. My top three worst would be Train, Jason Mraz, and Five for Fighting, simply based on how often they pop up on the radio at work.
bbf2 06-02-2011 11:55 PM
I honestly think that Dracula could make a post saying "The Holocaust was bad", and Neverending would try to disagree with him and try to debate him about it.
Doomsday 06-03-2011 12:00 AM
Define 'bad.'
donny 06-03-2011 12:06 AM
Damn Jews.
JBond 06-03-2011 12:39 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doomsday (Post 2759066)
Define 'bad.'
:funny:
Dracula 06-03-2011 12:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbf2 (Post 2759065)
I honestly think that Dracula could make a post saying "The Holocaust was bad", and Neverending would try to disagree with him and try to debate him about it.
Neverending and I seem to have certain... philosophical differences... about how serious pop culture should be, and it comes up a lot. I don't think there's anything malicious going on.
Neverending 06-03-2011 01:04 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2759044)
Just because she knows her crap is stupid does not change the fact that it's stupid.
I don't think she's trying to be stupid. She's just trying to add humor. If Ke$ha is the party girl. Katy Perry is the chick who stays at home and does arts & crafts. Watch her videos. That's the vibe she gives out. Ur So Gay was her playing with dolls. California Gurls is her and Snoop Dogg playing board games. She's the girliest pop star at the moment. Everyone else either whores it out or is wholesome. Even I Kiss a Girl was pretty tame. You'd think that video would be a bunch of lesbians making out or something. But it's just her goofing off.
You asked what her appeal was... and that's what it is. She's girly enough that females like her. But her songs range from kissing girls to asking guys to show her their penis to alien sex. So, guys are like, "whoa. whoa. whoa. What's this?"
She keeps both genders interested. As a BUSINESS woman. She's got it. That's why all her songs are #1. She knows how to play the game.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbf2 (Post 2759065)
I honestly think that Dracula could make a post saying "The Holocaust was bad", and Neverending would try to disagree with him and try to debate him about it.
Only if Mel Gibson was here to back me up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2759083)
Neverending and I seem to have certain... philosophical differences... about how serious pop culture should be, and it comes up a lot. I don't think there's anything malicious going on.
Hey...
at the end of the day,
we have Angelina Jolie and Salt.
MasterChief117 06-03-2011 11:44 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbf2 (Post 2759065)
I honestly think that Dracula could make a post saying "The Holocaust was bad", and Neverending would try to disagree with him and try to debate him about it.
Hahahahhaha. This made me laugh out loud! That's so on point.
Dhamon22 06-08-2011 04:28 PM
Great list Drac. I think the fact that there have been no follow ups says alot.
Whats next?
Doomsday 06-08-2011 05:20 PM
That's it, he's done.
Dracula 06-08-2011 05:30 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dhamon22 (Post 2760316)
Great list Drac. I think the fact that there have been no follow ups says alot.
Whats next?
Something that I'll write after I finish my Tree of Life review and my next Finding Pixar installment.
Dhamon22 06-08-2011 06:06 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doomsday (Post 2760326)
That's it, he's done.
Say it isn't so!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2760327)
Something that I'll write after I finish my Tree of Life review and my next Finding Pixar installment.
Sounds good.
Neverending 06-13-2011 11:51 PM
I will never understand Dracula's hatred for Katy Perry. Check out the video for Last Friday Night. It's so cute.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Tolkien 06-14-2011 06:17 PM
talk about overkill with that mouth guard and outfit. Soooo not cute in this.
Dracula 06-16-2011 12:16 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2761185)
I will never understand Dracula's hatred for Katy Perry. Check out the video for Last Friday Night. It's so cute.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Watched about two minutes of that... it's not helping her case. And frankly, I don't care how good her videos are, that wasn't a list of the best short film makers, it was a list of musicians.
Neverending 06-16-2011 12:37 AM
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Dracula 06-20-2011 01:18 AM
Feel like sticking to music for a while (don't get as many chances to talk about it).
Top Ten Double-Albums
We now live in a world where many think albums are obsolete. **** that. As far as I’m concerned albums are and always have been the ultimate medium by which an artist should be judged. That said I can understand how buying songs ala carte can be appealing to people and a big part of their weariness comes from artists who just don’t really have what it takes to construct an entire album worth of solid material. That makes it all the more impressive when an artist will have the vision and the talent to put together not one but two albums worth of material into a single package. That’s what we’ll be looking at today. Keep in mind that I’m limiting this to CD double albums and not vinyl double albums, that means the album needs to run a full 80 minutes in order to be eligible (sorry London Calling). I’m also not including double albums that were released separately like Use Your Illusion, and of course I’m not including live albums or compilations. Also keep in mind that I’m trying to judge these albums based on how they use their format not necessarily overall quality, consistency is key, I’m looking for albums that prove that they really did need to be as long as they are and which avoid filler.
10. “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” by Outkast
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Released: 2003
Running Time: 135 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Compact Disc
RIAA Certification: 11x Platinum (5.5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "Hey Ya!," "The Way You Move," "Roses."
I struggled with this one for a couple of reasons, chief among them being that it’s basically two separate solo albums by two different people being released in a single package. Is that cheating? Probably. But who says that the double album format needs to be done the same way every time? I also struggled with the choice because it can at times (especially on Andre 3000’s overlong second disc) seem like the kind of overlong double album (it’s easily the longest on the list, and also by far the newest) that gives the format a bad name. Still, it’s a fine album and looking back the double album format was a pretty cool way that the two members of this group could express their independent visions while remaining a duo.
9. “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” by The Smashing Pumpkins
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Released: 1995
Running Time: 121 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Compact Disc and 3x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: 9x Platinum (4.5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "Bullet with Butterfly Wings," "1979," "Tonight, Tonight," "Zero."
This is the other album I struggled with when putting together this list (I probably should have made it a top eight list in the name of purity, but oh well). This thing has filler, lots of it. It is not, however, unnecessary filler. This is a loose concept album intended to depict the entirety of human life (and it won’t be the first such album on the list). Each disc is titled Dawn to Dusk and Twilight to Starlight respectively, and it goes from youthful exuberance (Tonight, Tonight) to adolescent angst (Bullet with Butterfly Wings and Zero) to eventual nostalgia (1979). Sprawling examinations of life just aren’t going to be concise, and if I’m going to include something with a bunch of filler it’s going to be something that has purpose behind said filler.
8. “The River” by Bruce Springsteen
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Released: 1980
Running Time: 84 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: 5x Platinum (2.5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: “The River,” "The Ties That Bind," "Cadillac Ranch."
Springsteen would score a big hit with Born to Run, an exuberant portrait of small town bumpkins. He’d follow it up with The Darkness at the Edge of Town, an album witch (as the title implies) looked at the darker side of blue collar life. His next album, The River, sort of splits the difference between the two visions. The Boss was trying to make the ultimate statement about the themes he’d been building upon with this epic, and while he doesn’t quite achieve that, he still managed to write a lot of really good songs like Cadillac Ranch and the particularly tragic title track.
JBond 06-20-2011 02:29 AM
Hmm, my favorites are: White Album, The Wall, Tommy (but that's only double vinyl) and Physical Graffiti.
Neverending 06-20-2011 03:07 AM
By the way, it should be noted that Dracula considers "fillers" to be bad songs. And not what fillers actually are which is skits, instrumentals, and other stuff that artists use to fill up an album.
Ramplate 06-20-2011 04:30 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBond (Post 2762030)
Hmm, my favorites are: White Album, The Wall, Tommy (but that's only double vinyl) and Physical Graffiti.
Tommy is only double vinyl? I have the CD and I haven't played it in a while, but I'm pretty sure there must be two. It's a thick jewel case.
Yessongs would be on my list in addition to your list Jibbs.
Also Woodstock.
Dracula 06-20-2011 10:08 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2762032)
By the way, it should be noted that Dracula considers "fillers" to be bad songs. And not what fillers actually are which is skits, instrumentals, and other stuff that artists use to fill up an album.
Not necessarily bad songs, just songs that are mediocre and not up to the standards set by the albums highlights. Songs that go against the phrase "all killer, no filler."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramplate (Post 2762040)
Tommy is only double vinyl? I have the CD and I haven't played it in a while, but I'm pretty sure there must be two. It's a thick jewel case.
Yessongs would be on my list in addition to your list Jibbs.
Also Woodstock.
Tommy in its traditional form is 75 minutes long, the CD you have might be a deluxe edition or it might be an early CD from before the time that they could fit 80 minutes onto one disc.
Deexan 06-20-2011 10:28 AM
I'm expecting some Big Poppa.
Ramplate 06-20-2011 11:47 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2762071)
Tommy in its traditional form is 75 minutes long, the CD you have might be a deluxe edition or it might be an early CD from before the time that they could fit 80 minutes onto one disc.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...albumcover.jpg
Tommy was originally released as a two-LP set with a booklet including lyrics and images to illustrate parts of the story...
...Polydor Records re-released the album on compact disc in the UK in 1983. The CDs were packaged in a double CD case...
...MCA re-released the album in the United States as a two-CD set in 1984...
...Polydor Records released a newly remixed version on a single disc in 1996...
...In 2003 Tommy was made available as a deluxe two-disc hybrid SACD with a 5.1 multi-channel mix...
...It should be noted, that the initial deluxe hybrid SACD edition was replaced in 2005 in Europe by a stereo-only two-CD set in similar packaging.
I believe I have the 1984 version, but it's always been 2 except for the 1996 version.
Dracula 06-20-2011 04:01 PM
7. “Wheels of Fire” by Cream
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Released: 1968
Running Time: 81 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: Gold (250,000 units)
Most Famous Songs: "White Room," "Crossroads," "Spoonful."
This one was tricky because while one disc is a studio album, the other one was actually recorded live. That would seem to go against my “no live albums” criteria, but because only one of the songs on the live disc had been previously featured on a U.S. LP, I’m going to allow it. The material itself is psychedelic blues that’s well within the high standards that this supergroup had set on its previous albums. The song “White Room” is a classic of the era, and while none of the other songs are iconic singles on that level it’s still quality work. It’s the oldest album on the list, and the lowest selling, but Spoonful still sounds great.
6. “Sign ☮ the Times” by Prince
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Released: 1987
Running Time: 80 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: Platinum (500,000 units)
Most Famous Songs: "U Got the Look," "Sign ☮ the Times," "If I Was Your Girlfriend."
Double albums often come at the end of long streaks of immense creativity and commercial success; they’re like victory runs where artists purge their leftover ideas so that they can move on to their next phase. Sign ☮ the Times is a lot like that, in fact Prince originally wanted it to be a three LP set but had to cut it down at his record label’s insistence. This also marked a transition in that it was his first album since his commercial breakthrough that was made without his band The Revolution. It’s a really experimental album that can get pretty deep into Prince’s weirder side, but it also produced hits like “U Got the Look."
5. “The Beatles” by The Beatles
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Released: 1968
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: 19x Platinum (9.5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "Helter Skelter," "Revolution 1," "Dear Prudence," "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," "Back in the U.S.S.R."
Speaking of albums made at the end of long streaks of immense creative and commercial success, this is probably the textbook example. Made during a period of conflict within the band, this album is all over the place with songs seemingly meant to represent every genre of traditional American music all jumbled together. The album does have some definite filler, but there’s a difference between Beatles filler and other bands’ filler. When this album is at its best it can be really amazing.
4. “Physical Graffiti” by Led Zeppelin
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Released: 1975
Running Time: 82 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: 16x Platinum (8 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "Kashmir," "Houses of the Holy," "Ten Years Gone."
Sometimes double albums just seem like an inevitability once a band has reached a certain peak of popularity, they’re almost like a rite of passage that separates the big names from the legendary names. Perhaps the best thing that could be said about Physical Graffiti is that it fits so well into Zeppelin’s discography that you forget that it’s a double album, it just feels like another awesome Zep record filled with stadium rock classics like “Kashmir” and “Houses of the Holy” and underappreciated quieter songs like “Bron-Yr-Aur” and "Down by the Seaside."
JBond 06-20-2011 04:06 PM
Cool.
Glad you mentioned Bron-Yr-Aur.
Ramplate 06-20-2011 05:40 PM
4. “Physical Graffiti” by Led Zeppelin
excellent - i forgot that one
Dracula 06-21-2011 04:58 PM
3. “The Wall” by Pink Floyd
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Released: 1979
Running Time: 81 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: 23x Platinum (11.5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2," "Comfortably Numb," "Hey You."
Pink Floyd’s trippy concept album “The Wall” is easily the highest selling album on this list, in fact it’s the third highest selling album in the world after “Thriller” and “Back in Black.” That surprises me given that it’s an unrelentingly dark album that’s largely about its writer’s disgust with his fans. This album is so big that it actually has a movie based on it. While its central story doesn’t always make a ton of sense, and while some of the songs seem oddly fragmentary, this is a great example of how the length of a double album can be used to make a statement.
2. “Songs in the Key of Life” by Stevie Wonder
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Released: 1976
Running Time: 85 Minutes
Original Format: 2.5x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: 10x Platinum (5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "I Wish," "Sir Duke," "Isn't She Lovely?," "Pastime Paradise."
Another prime example of how double albums can come at the peak of an artist’s creativity. It’s kind of easy to forget just how big a deal Stevie Wonder was in the 70s, when he made Songs in the Key of Life he had just won the Album of the year grammy twice in a row and would win it again for this one (this might be a good time to mention that the Grammys LOVE double albums, five of the albums on this list were nominated for album of the year and two of them won it). The album is a poster-child for scope; Wonder uses the lengthy format in order to examine both the social issues of its (and sadly our) day and more personal material in equal measure. It is so loaded with material that Wonder needed to include a bonus EP in addition to its two LPs.
1. “Life After Death” by The Notorious B.I.G.
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Released: 1997
Running Time: 109 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Compact Disc
RIAA Certification: 10x Platinum (5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "Hypnotize," "Mo Money Mo Problems," "Sky's the Limit," "Kick in the Door," "Notorious Thugs," "You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)."
Tupac tried to create a Hip-Hop double album with All Eyez on Me and I think he failed. That album had some good stuff on it but it was also loaded with filler and unnecessary guest artists. He wouldn’t be the first rapper to fail at it either. Jay-Z, Nas, The Wu-Tang Clan, Scarface, Bone-Thug-N-Harmony, and Master P, and others would try and fail at this endeavor and only the late Biggie Smalls would succeed (except for Outkast, who sort of cheated). This album is eleven minutes short of being two full hours. Think about that for a second. That’s almost a half-hour longer than “The Wall” and yet the album remains remarkably short on Filler. That’s not to say that every song on the album could have been some kind of hit single, but there’s hardly a song on the album that I feel the need to skip over when I listen to it. Hell, the only song on it that I don’t really care for is “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” which would be the album’s major commercial success. I’m not saying that this is a better album than, say The Beatles, but it is more consistent. This isn’t going to be a popular choice, but it feels right to me.
Deexan 06-21-2011 08:43 PM
No arguments here, almost 15 years later and I play the choice cuts off that album as often as I did back then. It's a monster.
FranklinTard 06-21-2011 10:05 PM
i remember i bought that and beck odelay in the same purchase... both still great albums, but weird in combination.
but i don't get the prince love, i really don't. never got into him.
best thing going for prince was raphael saadiq, and that was just live.
JBond 06-22-2011 01:58 AM
I always wanted to check "Songs in the Key of Life" out. I have two of his others that I enjoy.
Dracula 06-27-2011 06:35 PM
The Ten Most Memorable Uses of Songs in Movies of the Last Decade
Because the topic seems to be in vogue as of late, I thought I’d enter the fray. However, the idea of going through an entire century’s worth of song usage seemed like a daunting task and I’m not sure how my colleagues managed to do it as well as they did. I decided to narrow the focus down to just the last eleven years and focus on modern song usage in film. Like the other lists I’m just doing pre-existing songs, but I am letting in films that feature newly recorded versions of older songs. Also, and I'll be up front about this, I'm not crazy about the results of this; this wasn't as great a decade for music cues as I thought it would be, still there's some good stuff here.
10. “Extreme Ways” by Moby as featured in The Bourne Trilogy (2002, 2004, 2007)
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
The Bourne series went through some radical changes when it was handed over to Paul Greengrass, but one thing that remained constant through all three movies was its use of Moby’s “Extreme Ways” (a song that seems tailor made for international espionage) in the closing shot. Normally I wouldn’t include a song that’s just being used in the credits, but I think the song’s use here is greater than that. In particular, I think that the opening chords of the song which usually play just as Bourne does something badass at the last minute really put a cap on the film and make you say “damn, the Bourne is one slick mother****er!”
9. “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphy’s as featured in The Departed (2006)
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Martin Scorsese is famous for his love of classic rock, and given that it’s surprising that his most memorable song cue of the decade is a relatively recent recording by a hardcore punk band. Granted, he did use Gimmie Shelter twice in the movie and a weird cover of Comfortably Numb that would later be reused in a key scene of The Sopranos, still, this is a pretty big leap for the old master. The song does a good job of capturing Boston and its Irish roots, but in a streetwise and modern way. It’s also used in a pretty daring way, right as a title card finally pops up some eighteen minutes into the movie.
8. Tie- “Stack-O-Lee” Traditional song performed by Samuel L. Jackson and based upon a rendition by R. L. Burnside as featured in Black Snake Moan(2007). And. “Man of Constant Sorrow” Traditional song performed by Soggy Bottom Boys as featured in O Brother Where Art Thou? (2001)
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
These two songs have a lot in common; both are extremely old traditional songs that have been covered a million times, both are performed in the film by the main character, and both are featured in movies that are deeply rooted in the American South and its musical legacy. Man of Constant Sorrow is impressive in that it really does sound like the character’s are recording a hit record in the scene. George Clooney really sells his performance (even though his singing voice is dubbed in), and you can see how the characters would become famous for the recording. Stack-O-Lee is even more awesome as it features Samuel L. Jackson bringing all the fury and passion that he’s known for into a profane and violent blues song accompanied by some sexually charged yet oddly spiritual dancing by Christina Ricci.
PG Cooper 06-27-2011 08:09 PM
Love choices 10 and 9.
JBond 06-27-2011 09:12 PM
Great list so far. I know exactly what you mean about the first chord of Extreme Ways meaning Bourne just did something badass. The song is perfect.
JBond 06-28-2011 03:13 AM
Oo, I thought of one. Just Dropped In to See What Condition My Condition Was In, Kenny Rodgers, The Big Lebowski.
Nilade 06-28-2011 09:04 AM
The Smiths - Louder Than Bombs
Alien 06-28-2011 03:47 PM
Unless your tie at 8 means you're gonna have more than 10 songs sould it be tied at 7.
I'm not a big sports fan but they did teach me how ties work. Something like this:
1...
2...
3...
3...
5...
JBond 06-28-2011 04:51 PM
He combined them because they're similar, not because votes tied them up.
Dracula 06-28-2011 06:00 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alien (Post 2763193)
Unless your tie at 8 means you're gonna have more than 10 songs sould it be tied at 7.
I had 11, I didn't want to knock one off, so I combined two into the number 8 slot.
anyway...
7. “Misery” by Soul Asylum as featured in Clerks II (2006)
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This is sort of a sentimental choice, the original Clerks had long been a favorite of mine and I didn’t realize how much I’d come to care about its characters until the end of the sequel when they finally started to stop slacking and make something of themselves. There was something truly cathartic about seeing Randal and Dante buy the Quick Stop, fix it up, and take root as owners. But the cherry on top was the use of this song by Soul Asylum (a band which contributed a song to the original film), as the camera pans back and we see one of the eccentrics from the first film. It’s like the 90s came full circle.
6. “Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd as featured in The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
From Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to Scarface, cinema is filled with movies that end with their lead character(s) being killed in a hailstorm of gunfire. In its final moments, The Devil’s Rejects enters that bullet-ridden fraternity. This comes after a movie that is deeply entrenched in a sort of Texan Americana mixed with strong violence, and when you’re going to end such a film there’s pretty much only one place you can go when having your characters shot by a bunch of deputies: Skynyrd. Even more wild is that the song is pretty much played in its entirety and the scene is done in slow motion for much of the introductory parts before really lifting off as the song gets faster.
5. “Malagueña Salerosa” Traditional song performed by Chingon as featured in Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
The king of modern soundtracks is Quentin Tarentino, his work is so ubiquitous in this field that I needed to actively make sure I only used one of his song choices so as not to let him dominate the list. I was tempted to choose “Chick Habbit” from Death Proof, but decided that choosing another song that basically just plays during the credits was ridiculous. Then I considered the way that he brought “Battles Without Honor or Humanity” to the forefront of popular culture, but decided to avoid instrumentals. Then I remembered this final song from Kill Bill Vol. 2. It was a bit of a cheat considering that it was actually a new recording made for the film by Robert Rodriguez’ Mexican Rock band, but it was based on a traditional mariachi song, so it counts. Kill Bill is a long crazy journey, not the easiest thing in the world to bring to a finish, but Tarentino closes the curtain beautifully with a montage that lets the entire cast take a bow over a song that is both triumphant but also a bit somber that also fits perfectly into the western feel that crept into the tale in its second part.
4. “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan as featured in Watchmen (2009)
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Zack Snyder’s adaptation of the seminal graphic novel “Watchmen” was… problematic, but if nothing else it had one of the best opening credit sequences of all time. The thing about Alan Moore’s comic series is that it rested upon an extensive decades-spanning backstory that would be very hard to portray within the timespan of even a longish movie. To at least give the audience some idea of this, while also establishing the work’s mix of superhero and alternate history fiction, Snyder put together an excellent opening montage that places its characters among iconic moments in 20th Century American history. To bring this all together he uses Bob Dylan’s folk classic, which both establishes the importance of the 60s on the story, lyrically points out the turbulence of the changing times, all while maintaining the melancholy nature of many of the images therein.
PG Cooper 06-28-2011 06:15 PM
Great batch of choices, even if they prevent me from using them when I make my list
JBond 06-28-2011 06:37 PM
I'm glad you didnt use "Halleleu" from Watchmen. That belongs on a BOTTOM 10 list.
Good call with Kill Bill.
PG Cooper 06-28-2011 06:45 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBond (Post 2763220)
I'm glad you didnt use "Halleleu" from Watchmen. That belongs on a BOTTOM 10 list.
Agreed.
iv3rdawG 06-28-2011 08:18 PM
Yeah, spot on choice with Kill Bill. I could honestly take any song from either of them and put it in a top 10 (One of the reasons it's my favorite film). My favorites being these three songs, two of which aren't even on the soundtracks for some odd reason:
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This might be my favorite scene from both movies. The image of The Bride walking through the desert is a favorite of mine and this piece of music he selected just fits perfectly.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
I just love this entire scene. It's a fantastic slow-burning setup to the House of Blue Leaves chapter and the music selection is so unlike anything throughout either of the movies it can do nothing but stick out but in a really good way.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
"The Lonely Shepherd" kind of bums me out because for The Whole Bloody Affair it isn't played over the whole ending sequence with The Bride on the plane, but rather over an intermission card, so it doesn't have that punch that it did normally, but it's still brilliant.
Ramplate 06-28-2011 08:55 PM
Yeah there are a number of Kill Bill songs you can put on such a list - it has to be one of the most recent movies in my mind that really used songs to great effect.
Bang Bang is a common theme
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Urami Bushi is also quite memorable for me
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
JBond 06-28-2011 09:01 PM
One could easily make a top 10 list of Tarantino songs.
Dracula 06-30-2011 07:24 AM
3. “Sussudio” by Phil Colins as featured in American Psycho (2000)
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Sussudio is a terrible song. You’d have to be a Reagen era zombie in order to like that crap, and that’s exactly what Patrick Bateman is. But he doesn’t just like that cheesy nonsense, he revels in it and expresses it with a sort of dispassionate speech that he delivers in a monotone voice while ordering a pair of hookers to do some very kinky things. He does the same thing with Huey Lewis and Whitney Huston, but I think this scene is by far the creepiest and insightful of the three. The satire only turns up to eleven when he starts banging the prostitutes, and instead of paying any attention to either of them he starts striking comical poses in a mirror. It’s clear from the scene that there’s only one person that Bateman is really infatuated with: himself.
2. “Life’s a *****” by Nas ft. AZ as featured in Fish Tank (2009)
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Fish Tank is a small film about a lower class English family in a modern setting. The protagonist, a teenage girl with an interest in urban dance, ends the movie ready away from home. As she’s about to leave she finds her mother listening to one of her Hip-hop CDs (Nas’ Illmatic), and they share a wordless moment listening to the song and sort of casually dancing to it. This is pretty much the first time in the movie where the mother and daughter seem to be making a connection of some sort, but it’s come to late and they’re gong to be separated soon. Life is a *****, isn’t it.
1. “Everyone” by Van Morrison as featured in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Wes Anderson is right up there with Tarentino in the world of soundtrack assemblers, and in this regard I think his undisputed masterpiece is The Royal Tenenbaums. More than any single film, this has more great song uses than any other film of the decade by far. There were at least five scenes in the film that could have made the list, but I had to choose just one. I considered the film's use of Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," but that was a bit more mirthful than the film's tone. I also considered the use of Elliot Smith’s “Needle in the Hay” against a tense suicide attempt midway through the film, but that oversold the film's darker current. Instead I went with the song that I think most captures the film's bittersweet yet regal tone. Used in the film’s final moments, this odd rock-meets-renaissance song has a needed weight for the funeral scene that it plays over, but there’s also a playfulness that goes along with what’s written on the tombstone. It leaves the audience feeling enlightened and happy but also feeling that they’d seen something important. It’s the perfect cherry on top of a musical sundae.
Ramplate 06-30-2011 08:05 AM
Hit Girl made quite a hit with this one
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
FranklinTard 06-30-2011 08:38 AM
might have went with 'these days' for royal tennenbaums... but i can't argue with that ending scene.
iv3rdawG 06-30-2011 10:37 AM
Interesting choice with Fish Tank. Not sure if I would have chose it but it's an interesting point in the film. There's a great interview with Kierston Wareing on the Criterion Blu-ray where she talks about it.
"**** off."
IanTheCool 06-30-2011 02:18 PM
I would have went with Paul Simon for my Tenebaum's selection. That's my favourite scene of the movie.
PG Cooper 06-30-2011 02:23 PM
I think I might post my own list up, if that's alright.
JBond 06-30-2011 02:56 PM
Hey Jude with Morticai was pretty good.
Dracula 06-30-2011 03:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PG Cooper (Post 2763439)
I think I might post my own list up, if that's alright.
Go ahead, I have an "et al" in the thread title for a reason and anyone is welcome to use this thread to post a top ten of any kind when I'm not actively revealing a list.
PG Cooper 06-30-2011 08:43 PM
Top Ten Most Memorable Uses of Songs in Movies That Nobody Else Has Had in Their List
Keep in mind that I limited myself to entries others hadn't used. There are a lot of great songs I couldn't use because other people already did. That said, I am pretty proud of this list.
10.American Woman by Lenny Kravitz and Kevin Spacey, originally by Lenny Kravitz, from American Beauty.
One of the best and most important elements of American Beauty is watching Lester Burnham rebel against the boring life he's created for himself. There's a lot of great scenes that show this, and this is one of my favourites. We see Lester driving his car, smoking pot, and singing along to "American Woman". Spacey looks like he's really into it too, and the fact that his singing is so bad just makes the scene all the more memorable.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
9.E5150/Mob Rules by Black Sabbath, from Heavy Metal.
I like a lot of music, but at my core, I'm a metalhead, no doubt. I can't think of too many examples of memorable metal songs in film, but this scene is a rare exception. During the E5150 section of the song, we see a group of people mutated by a strange green liquid. Then they begin to attack a city and Mob Rules kicks in. It's simple mindless violence, and while it doesn't always work for me, it works here. Heavy Metal isn't for everyone, and of all my choices, this will be the one people will disagree with the most, but I stand by it.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
(Best link I could find).
8.God Moving Over the Face of Waters by Moby, from Heat.
The best thing about Heat is just watching the two main characters of the film go head to head. They push each other both mentally and physically. The two face off one final time during the films climax. At the end of it all, this great song by Moby starts playing. It has an epic and personal feel to it, and sort of embodies the atmosphere of the entire film, to me anyway. This may seem like a strange choice, but this ending, and this song, have stuck with me from the day I first saw it.
(Spoiler Warning)
7.Little Green Bag by George Baker Selection from Reservoir Dogs.
This scene is classic. You've got all your main characters, these well-dressed criminals, walking in slow motion, with this great song playing. What I especially liked is where it's placed. It takes place right after a very funny scene with are characters are at a restaurant. So at this point, your thinking these characters are all really cool badasses with a good sense of humour. It's then followed by a scene where we see one of these same criminals bleeding to death from a bullet wound. It's such a jarring shift that it really captures your attention. Anyway, the scene not only sees the introduction the "reservoir dogs", but also the introduction of Quentin Tarantino, a young filmmaker constantly going against the grain of typical film making.
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6.Closer (Precursor) by Nine Inch Nails, from Se7en.
Some may not agree since the song is only used during the opening titles, but I feel this song needed to be in this list. The first time I saw this film, I remember after the opening scene, I was interested in where the story was going. But after these opening credits, the film had me by the balls. I was completely sucked in. It's a very dark song, it's put up with some grotesque and disturbing images. The perfect way to set the tone of the film. I also love the single lyric uttered at the very end.
5.Sunshine of Your Love by Cream, from Goodfellas.
Goodfellas is full of great music, and I had a hard time picking just one song. At the end, I had to go with Sunshine of Your Love. Why? Because the scene where it's played is one of the coolest things ever put on film. What makes it great is just how simple it is too. It's just a camera closing in on Robert De Niro as he smokes a cigarette and just looks cool. Just watching his face you can see he's up to something. It's one of those great movie scenes where when I see it, I can't help but smile.
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4.Canzonetta sull'aria by Lorenzo Da Ponte, from The Shawshank Redemption.
The Shawshank Redemption is famous for being a movie that inspires hope. Perhaps the greatest example of that is this scene here, where we see Andy play classical music over the prison's P.A. system. For a brief moment, Andy is able to make all the prisoners feel as if they're free. The scene is made better by the narration from Morgan Freeman, and the acting by Tim Robbins. Robbins doesn't have a line in the scene once the song starts playing. But his facial expressions and body language say more than enough. The scene is also sort of like a capsule version of the entire film. Andy comes into Shawshank, and through his actions changes the place and people. Great scene, I'm surprised it hasn't been in some of the other lists.
3.Singin' in the Rain by Malcolm McDowell, originally by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, from A Clockwork Orange.
This single scene forever changed perception of a song. It use to be a happy and uplifting piece. But after hearing it in A Clockwork Orange, it took on a much darker and sinister meaning. It's a very disturbing scene, and I know for some people, it's too much for them to handle. But I don't think anyone will deny that the scene is unforgettable. You'll never be able to think of "Singin' in the Rain" the same way again.
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2.Hotel California by The Gipsy Kings, originally by The Eagles, from The Big Lebowski..
Like Goodfellas, The Big Lebowski is full of great music and picking just one track was difficult. After giving it a lot of thought, I had to go with "Hotel California". The scene is played when we are introduced to the Jesus (if you haven't seen the film, don't ask). It's an absurd scene, and the cover of "Hotel California" is just as absurd. What makes it even funnier is at one point in the film, the Dude says, "I hate the f***ing Eagles man." What really blows my mind about this scene is the fact that I hate the original song, yet I could watch this scene a hundred times over. Just watch the scene, and tell me it isn't memorable.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
1.Intermezzo by Pietro Mascagni from Raging Bull.
In my opinion, this is one of the greatest scenes in the history of film. Intermezzo is a beautiful song, and setting it to the images of De Niro shadow boxing in a smoke-filled ring was nothing short of brilliant. The scene is intriguing, tragic, breath taking, it's truly remarkable. My words really don't do the scene justice, you just have to see it.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
JBond 06-30-2011 09:37 PM
I like your #4 and #2 choices.
IanTheCool 06-30-2011 09:48 PM
I like your #3 choice.
What about Afternoon Delight from Anchorman? I'm surprised no one mentioned that one.
PG Cooper 06-30-2011 09:52 PM
Never seen Anchorman.
FranklinTard 06-30-2011 10:09 PM
love me some spanish guitar.
Dracula 07-28-2011 02:12 PM
Top 25 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs
I used to strictly be a Heavy metal fan, then I became a fan of rock in general, then I learned the virtues of Reggae, R&B, and jazz. Finally my musical journey brought me to Hip-Hop, a genre I’ve come to love because it has a proud history while also being a vital part of modern mainstream culture (something I sadly can’t say about rock anymore). I know a majority of people around here are primarily (if not exclusively) rock fans and I suspect many aren’t going to be interested, but this is something I feel almost compelled to make just the same. While I will be giving some weight to historical significance and popularity, this is ultimately a list of favorites and will not necessarily be a definitive historical list. Also, I have a strict one song per artist rule to this, although some MCs may turn up multiple times as guest rappers on other artists’ tracks.
25. “Rap Snitch Knishes” by MF Doom Ft. Mr. Fantastik
Album: Mmm… Food
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...0px-Mmfood.jpg
Year: 2004
Region: East Coast (Long Island)
Charted?: No
Label: Rhymesayers Entertainment
Producer: MF DOOM
Samples: David Bowie's "Space Oddity"
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I did feel like I needed to include at least one song from the world of indie rap, which can at times be almost as vibrant as indie rock (it’s also pleasantly free of indie rock’s pretentions and “hipness”). That this particular indie rap song was released by Minneapolis’ own Rhymesayers Entertainment is only an added bonus. This sounds like it easily could have been a hit song if it had major label promotion behind it. The lyrics, which poke fun at the “no snitching” campaign are maybe not ready for prime time, but Doom’s beat here really shines. Most producer/rappers would use a beat like that to try to break into the mainstream, but instead Doom lets some dude named Mr. Fantastik (a nobody who, to the best of my knowledge, hasn’t rapped on another tracks either before or after this) take command of the track and sound like an old pro while doing it.
24. “Brooklyn Zoo” by Ol’ Dirty Bastard
Album: Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
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Year: 1995
Region: East Coast (Staten Island)
Charted?: #54
Label: Elektra
Producer: RZA
Samples: None
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Hip-Hop has long been a good outlet for insane people to express themselves, and there’s no greater example of that than the legendary Wu-Tang Clan member Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Before his tragic (yet predictable) death by overdose in 2004 ODB had left a long legacy of crazy (yet rhyming) rants on tape. Tracks like the oddly appealing “Brooklyn Zoo” are like aggressive stream of conscious poems. I may kid about ODB being a crazy person, but it really takes a lot of skill and talent in order to take material like this and turn it into marketable music, Dirt McGirt really did have a lot of talent and it is sad that his erratic behavior really did lead to his demise.
23. “Can I Kick It” by A Tribe Called Quest
Album: People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nctTravels.jpg
Year: 1991
Region: East Coast (Queens)
Charted?: No
Label: Jive
Producer: A Tribe Called Quest
Samples: "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed
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Taking the iconic bass line from Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” and adding on some drums and scratches, A Tribe Called Quest was able to make a classic of the New York “Golden Age.” Of course the song will mainly be remembered for its call-and-response section (“Can I kick it? Yes you can!”) which has become a recurring catch phrase, but the verses are also a great showcase of Q-Tip and Phife Dawg’s lyrical skills.
22. “Hate it or Love it” by The Game Ft. 50 Cent
Album: The Documentary
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ocumentary.jpg
Year: 2005
Region: East Coast/West Coast (Queens/Compton)
Charted?: #24
Label: Aftermath
Producer: Cool & Dre
Samples: "Rubberband" by The Trammps
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Right now, 50 Cent is pretty much in Snoop Dogg territory, meaning that no one really cares about his music anymore and he’s mostly just living off his personality and general coolness. The truth is, fiddy was never really a master of his craft and would only intermittently stumble onto some high quality material. The closest he would ever come to greatness would be on this track where he shares billing with his protégé The Game. 50 provides a great chorus and both he and The Game give a pretty good portrait of what it was like coming up in Jamaica Queens and Compton respectively. The material is hard, but also hopeful, these guys might have struggled in life but now they’re on top, it’s exactly what Hip-Hop is supposed to be about.
21. “A Milli” by Lil Wayne
Album: Tha Cater III
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-CarterIII.jpg
Year: 2008
Region: Dirty South (New Orleans)
Charted?: #6
Label: Cash Money
Producer: Bangladesh
Samples: "Don't Burn Down the Bridge" by Gladys Knight & the Pips and "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo (Vampire Mix)" by A Tribe Called Quest
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Lil Wayne is an acquired taste (which makes his current fame odd, but I digress) and it took me a little while to see the charm of his work. The first time I heard “A Milli” it gave me a headache, especially Bangladesh’s strange vocal loop beat, but the beat really isn’t the point when it comes to a song like this. This is a freestyle-like track by someone with a strange sort of stream of conscious nuttiness and an ability to come up with really come up with unexpected rhymes at any given moment. I can actually recite the first two verses of this song from memory, which isn’t something I can do with most rap songs, but there’s something about this one that just makes me want to analyze it line by line. How many other rappers are going to say something like “boy I got so many *****es like I’m Mike Lowery/Even Gwen Stafani says she couldn’t doubt me”?
Dracula 07-29-2011 02:31 PM
20. “Jump Around” by House of Pain
Album: House of Pain
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...maltlyrics.jpg
Year: 1992
Region: East Coast (Long Island)
Charted?: #3
Label: XL Recordings
Producer: DJ Muggs
Samples: "Popeye The Hitchhiker" by Chubby Checker, "Harlem Shuffle" by Bob & Earl, "Gett Off" by Prince, et al.
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Yes, there were credible white rappers before Eminem, but they tended to run in groups rather than excelling as solo artists. House of Pain was one of the best at this and they managed to use a South Boston getup (though they were actually from New York) in order to give themselves a hard image without trying to act “gangsta.” This is one of the best party tracks ever recorded, with its Cyprus Hill-esque recurring horns and its chorus tailor made for moshing and for celebrating sporting victories. But there’s actually some pretty decent lyrics here too. Everlast (who would go on to have a credible solo career that blended Hip-Hop and folk music) spits some clever rhymes like “I’ll serve your ass like John MacEnroe / if your girl steps up I’m smacking the ho” and it also (I think) coined the immortal phrase “word to your moms / I came to drop bombs / I got more rhymes than the bible’s got psalms.”
19. “75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)” by The Roots
Album: Rising Down
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Risingdown.jpg
Year: 2008
Region: East Coast (Philidelphia)
Charted?: No
Label: Def Jam
Producer: N/A
Samples: None
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The Roots are a group that I really want to like but which puts out songs and album which can be kind of hard to latch on to. Every once in a while though they will put out a song that implants itself in your head and won’t let go. “75 bars” a decidedly un-commercial single from their hostile 2008 album Rising Down, and it manages to be both extremely aggressive yet also oddly minimalistic. The song has no chorus and is done over a simple but propulsive drum beat with a little bit tuba thrown in for good measure. The real standout is of course Black Thought, who shows prowess as an MC, spitting out glorious non-sequiters (that oddly all connect to each other) like “try and find a needle up in there ni**a / Leave you up in there ni**a, show me the puppet / That don't need a puppeteer ni**a, shed another tear ni**a / I'm in the field with a shield and a spear ni**a / I'm in your girl with her heels in the air ni**a.” (maybe I should mention that Black Thought says the N-word a million times in this song).
18. “I Used to Love H.E.R.” by Common
Album: Resurrection
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Year: 1994
Region: Midwest (Chicago)
Charted?: No
Label: Relativity
Producer: No. ID
Samples: "The Changing World" by George Benson
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If nothing else, Common has long been the MC to make Hip-Hop for “adults,” and by “adults” I mean college educated 30-40 somethings who enjoy overpriced coffee and don’t necessarily want to hear about pussy-popping. I don’t necessarily think Hip-Hop is at its best when it’s being made for “adults,” but I’m glad at least one person is trying to do it with skill. His 1994 nostalgic ode to the rise and “fall” of Hip-Hop is probably his most famous song, and while its “Hip Hop as a woman” metaphor might seem a little strained and corny in retrospect, I do think it was from the heart and I also love No. ID’s relaxed jazzy beat and Common’s “Yes Yes Y’all, it don’t stop” chorus which really give the song a lot of atmosphere.
17. “What You Know” by T.I.
Album: King
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Year: 2006
Region: Dirty South (Atlanta)
Charted?: #3
Label: Atlantic
Producer: DJ Troop
Samples: "Gone Away" by Roberta Flack
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“What You Know” has one of the best Hip-Hop beats of all time. DJ Troop’s opus is so ****ing epic that you could pretty much put anything over it and they’d still sound epically awesome. The song has topped my “25 most played” list at times, and on top of that I use it as my ringtone. The caveat is that lyrically, the song (while still strong) probably doesn’t quite match the beat that’s in the background. That’s not to say it doesn’t have its moments, like “But you’s a scary dude / Believed by very few / Just keep it very cool / Or we will bury you” but it is the beat that carries the song, and it carries it well enough to maybe elevate some questionable rhymes.
16. “No Vaseline” by Ice Cube
Album: Death Certificate
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Year: 1991
Region: West Coast (Compton)
Charted?: No
Label: Priority
Producer: Ice Cube and Sir Jinx
Samples: "Dazz" by Brick, "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton, "It's My Thing" by Marva Whitney, et al.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
“No Vaseline” is not overly melodic or rhythmic, nor does it have the most clever rhymes in it either. Instead this is making the list simply for being the best and most brutal diss track ever laid to wax. Directed directly at his former N.W.A. bandmates (and in response to their diss track "Message to B.A.") and he pulls absolutely no punches. I’m not sure what it is about diss tracks that makes me overlook extensive homophobia (Eric Wright, punk, always into somethin', gettin' ****ed at night / By Mista ****packer, bend over for the gotdamn cracker), reverse racism (Cuz you're gettin' ****ed out your green by a white boy), and possible anti-semitism (cuz you let a Jew break up my crew), but the cumulative brutality of it all is really an amazing thing to behold . N.W.A. never even tried to respond to Cube’s diss and would instead fous on their own internal feuds. The clearly knew they weren’t in cube’s league.
FranklinTard 07-30-2011 12:45 PM
was hoping for some big daddy kane, epmd, jungle brothers, or de la soul on the back end... but i doubt they will show up top 15. no way any of those acts are better than a tribe called quest.
still waiting on krs one to show up though.
Neverending 07-30-2011 01:57 PM
This list better include:
- The Message (1982) by Grandmaster Flash
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- It's Tricky (1986) by RUN-DMC
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- Straight Outta Compton (1988) by N.W.A.
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- Fight The Power (1989) by Public Enemy
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- Nuthin' but a "G" Thang (1992) by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
- It Was A Good Day (1993) by Ice Cube
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- Dear Mama (1995) by 2Pac
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- The Way I Am (2000) by Eminem
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Dracula 07-30-2011 06:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by FranklinTard (Post 2767846)
was hoping for some big daddy kane, epmd, jungle brothers, or de la soul on the back end... but i doubt they will show up top 15. no way any of those acts are better than a tribe called quest.
still waiting on krs one to show up though.
Yeah, I didn't really find a place for a lot of those, there were a lot of groups that I have respect for who just didn't quite have that one song that was going to make the list. I will have some honorable mentions at the end.
________________
15. “It’s Tricky” by Run-D.M.C.
Album: Raising Hell
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...aisingHell.jpg
Year: 1986
Region: East Coast (Queens)
Charted?: #57
Label: Profile
Producer: Rick Rubin
Samples: "My Sharona" by The Knack
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Run-D.M.C’s legacy is undeniable, but not all of their material has necessarily aged as well as some of their classics. To modern ears, this has to have been their finest moment. Over a rock-sampling beat that would be imitated by other artists like Tone Loc, both Run and D.M.C. trade lines with great a force and speed. Many duos and groups feel like they’re thrown together for rather arbitrary reasons, but these guys had genuine chemistry. This is a great example of teamwork in Hip-Hop and it has an exciting chorus about how tricky, it, is. I could do without the strange anti-drug message at the end, but otherwise this is a blazing track over twenty five years later.
14. “9 Milli Brothers” by The Wu-Tang Clan
Album: Fishscale
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-Ghostface.jpg
Year: 2006
Region: East Coast (Staten Island)
Charted?: No
Label: Def Jam
Producer: MF Doom
Samples: "Fenugreek" by MF Doom and "Fast Cars" by RZA
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Alright, technically Ghostface Killah is the lead artist on this track and the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan are just featured artists, but come on, we all know this is a Wu-Tang banger all the way. Using a clean modern production the track has a quality verse from every Wu-Tang member (even the ghost of Ol’ Dirty Bastard) except for the RZA, who is mostly consigned to hype-man duties. My favorite verse probably belongs to either Ghostface himself or maybe Method Man, but this beat brings out the best in all of them, even the ones like Inspektah Deck and U-God who aren’t quite household names but who can still throw down when needed. It’s not a particularly deep track… at all, but it can make you nod your head like a madman.
13. To Be Announced. I’ll explain why later.
12. “Party Up” by DMX
Album: … and Then There Was X
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...here_Was_X.jpg
Year: 2000
Region: East Coast (Yonkers)
Charted?: #27
Label: Ruff Riders
Producer: Swizz Beatz
Samples: None?
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
The title “Party Up” suggests a light celebration song, but DMX is not a very laid back guy and he doesn’t really do “light.” This is diss track, albeit a very well produced one with mainsteam ambitions, and it never says who its target is by name. There’s one line in it that’s clearly baiting Eminem, but the rest of it doesn’t really fit him. Rumor has it that it was really about Kurupt, but that’s not really what’s important. What is important is the absolute righteousness of DMX’s boasts and insults whoever they’re directed at. It’s a song filled with great DMX-isms “dog is a dog, blood's thicker than water / We done been through the mud and we quicker to slaughter” and put-downs like “So whatever it is you puffin on that got you think that you / Superman I got the Kryptonite, should I smack him with my dick and the mic.”
11. “Forgot About Dre” by Dr. Dre Ft. Eminem
Album: 2001
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...DrDre-2001.jpg
Year: 1999
Region: West Coast/Midwest (Compton/Detroit)
Charted?: #25
Label: Aftermath
Producer: Dr. Dre
Samples: "The Climb" by No Doubt
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
I thought about putting “Nothing But a G Thing” (surely a classic in its own right) on the list, but at the last minute I replaced it with this excellent duet between Dre and Slim firstly because that collaboration has had more impact over the years than the Dre/Snoop collaboration and secondly because this track is just more forceful and poignant. Responding forcefully to anyone who thought Dre couldn’t make a comeback eight years after his landmark album “The Chronic,” “Forgot About Dre” re-asserted the doctor’s relevance to a whole new generation of rap fans who had come into the fold, including the many Eminem fans who had emerged around the time. Eminem is at his shocking best on here, but he doesn’t upstage Dre like he does on their recent collaboration “I Need a Doctor.” Dre more than holds his own demanding that he “ain't having that; this is the millennium of Aftermath / It ain't gonna be nothing after that /So give me one more platinum plaque / And **** rap! You can have it back.”
Neverending 07-30-2011 11:51 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2767867)
I thought about putting “Nothing But a G Thing” (surely a classic in its own right) on the list, but at the last minute I replaced it with this excellent duet between Dre and Slim firstly because that collaboration has had more impact over the years than the Dre/Snoop collaboration and secondly because this track is just more forceful and poignant.
You just lost all street cred. Forget About Dre is a great track - worthy of a top 25 list. But to exclude Nuthin' But A "G" Thang is ridiculous. In an era when gangsta rap was at its most extreme (and ridiculous), that song displayed the softer side of the culture. To exclude it is to ignore one of the most important songs of 1990s rap.
Drizzt240 07-31-2011 10:26 AM
I'm not a music critic, but I enjoy Eazy E's Real Motha ****in G's and Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangsta from Office Space (at the end of this trick it talks about a black man being the president)
Dracula 07-31-2011 10:51 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2767889)
You just lost all street cred. Forget About Dre is a great track - worthy of a top 25 list. But to exclude Nuthin' But A "G" Thang is ridiculous. In an era when gangsta rap was at its most extreme (and ridiculous), that song displayed the softer side of the culture. To exclude it is to ignore one of the most important songs of 1990s rap.
Nuthin' But A "G" Thang has a lot wrong with it. For one thing Snoop Dogg (who ghostwrote Dre's verses) kind of dominates the song and kind of makes it a poor representation of Dr. Dre. The same could sort of be said about Eminem on Forgot About Dre, but it's not as extreme and given that it's a song about Dre's career it doesn't seem as extreme. Both rappers have a much stronger and more forceful flow in "Forgot About Dre," and its statement about aging in Hip Hop is a lot more interesting to me than the relatively shallow "G Thang" (which really is about this, that, and this).
Neverending 07-31-2011 12:28 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2767921)
its statement about aging in Hip Hop is a lot more interesting to me than the relatively shallow "G Thang" (which really is about this, that, and this).
"G" Thang is the typical rap song where the artist brags about themselve. Which... really... is no different than Forgot About Dre when you think about it. The MAIN difference between both songs is that Forgot About Dre is aggressive and has an angry tone to it. While "G" Thang is mellow and laid back. That's the beauty of it.
Neverending 07-31-2011 12:33 PM
Oh, and for the record, Forgot About Dre isn't about aging. It's about Dre leaving Death Row Records and starting Aftermath. And that small period where he considered leaving Gangsta Rap.
This song is at the heart of what Dre is talking about on the record:
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Dracula 07-31-2011 12:53 PM
10. “Ms. Jackson” by Outkast
Album: Stankonia
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Stankonia.JPG
Year: 2000
Region: Dirty South (Atlanta)
Charted?: #1
Label: Arista
Producer: Outkast
Samples: "Strawberry Letter #23" by The Brothers Johnson
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
When this came out Hip-Hop was in a rut, pretty much every successful MC seemed like a Tupac wannabe (Ja Rule, I’m looking at you), but Outkast showed that there was room for different images in Hip-Hop. The critic’s choice of Outkast song would probably go to “B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad),” and the populist choice would probably be “Hey Ya,” but as far as I’ve ever been concerned the height of their fame was the breakout hit “Ms. Jackson.” Turning personal strife into a number 1 hit, this ode to the baby's mama's mamas of the world, the song uses a unique beat, a great chorus, and some tricky word play (Forever, forever ever, forever ever), this was an unexpected hit to left field.
9. “Big Poppa” by The Notorious B.I.G.
Album: Ready to Die
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Year: 1994
Region: East Coast (Brooklyn)
Charted?: #6
Label: Bad Boy
Producer: Chucky Thompson and Sean "Puffy" Combs
Samples: "Between the Sheets" by The Isley Brothers
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Biggie Smalls could tell tales of the streets like few others, but that’s not really the side of his personality that comes to mind when I think about him. By all accounts Frank White was the life of the party, he’d walk into a club and have this aura around him that everyone could just sense (you could say that his flashy ways just hypnotized them). This song is all about what it was like to party with biggie, it’s the best song about clubbing I know of (yeah Fiddy, I said that). Puffy’s beat has this sort of relaxed stoned quality to it that almost puts you in a trace while you’re listening to it, it really gives you the vicarious feeling that you’re the one slowly walking into a club and having people treat you like royalty.
8. “My Melody” by Eric B. and Rakim
Album: Paid in Full
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...x-RakimPIF.jpg
Year: 1987
Region: East Coast (Long Island)
Charted?: No
Label: Island
Producer: Eric B.
Samples: None?
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
They may not be as well known to casual Hip Hop fans as Run-DMC or LL Cool J, but Eric B. and Rakim had just as big an influence on Hip-Hop as any of the other OGs. Rakim in particular is notable because he gave priority to the crafting of complex rhymes over making people dance. It’s a little hard to appreciate now, but you can see a clear divide between pre-Rakim and post-Rakim MCs, and that makes “Paid in Full” almost into the Citizen Kane of Hip Hop. I was tempted to put the slightly more iconic “Eric B. is President” onto the list, but this one is a much better showcase of the complicated rhyming that influenced a generation of rappers.
7. “Lose Yourself” by Eminem
Album: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture 8 Mile
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...8milecover.jpg
Year: 2002
Region: Midwest (Detroit)
Charted?: #1
Label: Aftermath
Producer: Eminem, Jeff Bass, & Luis Resto
Samples: None?
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
We all knew that Slim Shady would turn up here, and the challenge was simply decided which Eminem song would make it. I considered using one of the smart-aleck comedy songs like “The Real Slim Shady,” then I considered “Superman” which has a production that I find infectious, but then I decided it was stupid to avoid the obvious choice: his Oscar winning 8 Mile track “Lose Yourself.” The song is a study in building tension, first with the ominous guitar into and then with the intense first verse before everything breaks out in the anthemic chorus. The verses keep escalating in intensity over the course of the song too and what we’re left with is one of the best (and least corny) songs about chasing your dreams that you’ll ever hear.
6. “99 Problems” by Jay-Z
Album: The Black Album
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Year: 2003
Region: New York (Brooklyn)
Charted?: #30
Label: Def Jam
Producer: Rick Rubin
Samples: "Long Red" by Mountain, "The Big Beat" by Billy Squier, "Touched" by UGK, et al.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Coming off what was supposed to be Jay-Z’s last album (and also the last single that would be released), this was meant to be his swan song. In order to do this, Hov went back to hip-hop’s roots, employing Rick Rubin (Def Jam’s co-founder) to give him a retro rock beat while also employing a catchphrase from an old Ice-T song. All that was in the background, but the real star of this track are Jay-Z’s three almost perfect verses: one about dealing with the industry, one about his time dealing with cops, and one about the frustrations that have led him to call it quits. It’s the perfect showcase of Jigga’s flow and a great way to “end” a great career.
Dracula 07-31-2011 01:01 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2767932)
Oh, and for the record, Forgot About Dre isn't about aging. It's about Dre leaving Death Row Records and starting Aftermath. And that small period where he considered leaving Gangsta Rap.
This song is at the heart of what Dre is talking about on the record:
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Dre had left Death Row records years before Forgot About Dre came out. When I say it's about aging I mean aging in hip-hop years. At its heart, it's a comeback song, it's about coming back onto a scene that had seemed to move on from him. He's out to prove that even though he was a thirty five year old man who hadn't put out an album in nearly a decade in a field dominated by twenty four year olds that he was still relevant and shouldn't have been forgotten about... That and also that Eminem really hates his neighbors.
I'll cite the lines:
"You better bow down on both knees / Who you think taught you to smoke trees? / Who you think brought you the oldies / Eazy-Es, Ice Cubes, and D.O.Cs / The Snoop D-O-double-G's / And the group that said mother**** the police?"
"I told 'em all - all them little gangstas / Who you think helped mold 'em all? / Now you wanna run around talking bout guns like I ain't got none / What you think I sold 'em all? / Cause I stay well off? / Now all I get is hate mail all day saying Dre fell off"
Neverending 07-31-2011 02:25 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2767935)
When this came out Hip-Hop was in a rut
Eminem released The Marshall Mathers LP that year. Dr. Dre was still riding the wave of his 2001 album. Snoop Dogg made a comeback of sorts with The Last Meal. DMX, Eve, and the rest of the "Ruff Riders" were at their prime. Nelly and Ludacris were introducing Southern Rap to the masses. So, I don't know what rut you're talking about.
1999 thru 2003 was the last time rap REALLY dominated. Nowadays , when it comes to mainstream rap, you have to settle for Eminem, Kanye West and the occasional Jay-Z track. Everybody else kinda sucks and are trying to replicate the success of Black Eyed Peas and Lil' Jon who are more dance-pop than actual rap/hip-hop.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2767936)
Dre had left Death Row records years before Forgot About Dre came out.
Here's the story. When Dre left Death Row, he started Aftermath Records and released a compilation album called The Aftermath which included the track, Been There, Done That. It got largely mixed reviews. And since Dre hadn't been doing much since Snoop Dogg's debut album except produce a few tracks here and there, people said he lost his touch and was now a has-been.
Forgot About Dre was a response to all that. It isn't about aging. It isn't about making a comeback. It's Dre saying, "hey, I produce Eminem records, I have a new solo album, I'm working with Snoop Dogg again, AND the N.W.A. might reunite. What'cha gonna say now?"
It's essentially a diss record to his critics.
Quote:
At its heart, it's a comeback song,
Still D.R.E. is the comeback song on the album. There's a reason why Dre's first line on the track is, "guess who's back" AND it's the first single of the album.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Quote:
he was a thirty five year old man who hadn't put out an album in nearly a decade
Everybody acknowledges that Dre isn't much of a performer. He's a producer first and foremost. When The Slim Shady LP was released, that was more of a comeback than 2001. I see 2001 as a celebration of Dre and the emergence of Aftermath Records than a comeback album.
Dracula 07-31-2011 03:30 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2767942)
Eminem released The Marshall Mathers LP that year. Dr. Dre was still riding the wave of his 2001 album. Snoop Dogg made a comeback of sorts with The Last Meal. DMX, Eve, and the rest of the "Ruff Riders" were at their prime. Nelly and Ludacris were introducing Southern Rap to the masses. So, I don't know what rut you're talking about.
1999 thru 2003 was the last time rap REALLY dominated. Nowadays , when it comes to mainstream rap, you have to settle for Eminem, Kanye West and the occasional Jay-Z track. Everybody else kinda sucks and are trying to replicate the success of Black Eyed Peas and Lil' Jon who are more dance-pop than actual rap/hip-hop.
A creative/image related rut. After Biggie and Tupac died Hip-Hop went through a stagnant period and the generation that was emerging seemed pretty bland and similar. Ja Rule, DMX, Master P, etc might have been alright but they weren't really progressing the game, they were just imitating what came before. Yeah, the O.G.s were still out there and the southern thing was in its infancy, but there were a lot of people out there who just weren't going to stand the test of time. In that environment Outkast seemed like a breath of fresh air because they weren't just trying to be Tupac-lite. Of course there were exceptions.
Alien 07-31-2011 04:37 PM
I don't understand how someone who is too "old" in the head to understand Pixar likes rap music. Shouldn't you be moaning that it's all just noise with rappers bragging about "their bi**hes"?
Neverending 07-31-2011 05:04 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2767947)
Ja Rule, DMX, Master P, etc might have been alright but they weren't really progressing the game
The less said about Master P the better. The worst thing Snoop Dogg ever did was team up with him. Dr. Dre had to rescue him with 2001, The Last Meal, and the so-called N.W.A reunion that only lasted TWO songs.
DMX was in a league of his own. He definitely progressed the game. He
combined his aggressive style with a club-friendly beat that no one has never been able to duplicate. It was angry music that you could dance to. LOL. DMX's downfall was all his legal issues. If he had stayed out of trouble, he would still be making hit records.
Ja Rule, more or less, paved the way for Timbaland, Black Eyed Peas, Lil' Jon, Souja Boy, and all these radio-friendly hip-hop stars that has been the norm since 2003. 50 Cent is correct. He's a pop star. Ja Rule lost his street cred when he started making records with Jennifer Lopez. Seriously. Next time you listen to an urban radio station, you can blame this:
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Dracula 08-01-2011 03:38 PM
5. “Straight Outta Compton” by N.W.A.
Album: Straight Outta Compton
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...albumcover.jpg
Year: 1988
Region: West Coast (Compton)
Charted?: No
Label: Ruthless
Producer: Dr. Dre and DJ Yella
Samples: "Funky Drummer" by James Brown, "You'll Like It Too" by Funkadelic, "Get Me Back on Time, Engine No. 9" by Wilson Pickett, et al.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
In 1988 Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and MC Ren formed N.W.A. and put out a track which, in its own way, managed to change pop music in a more profound way than Smells Like Teen Spirit would three years later. As the song opens Dr. Dre announces that we are “now about to witness the strength of street knowledge,” a statement that would not only be true about this song, album and group but about an entire genre that would emerge in the wake of this release: this was the song that ushered in the era of gangster rap. There were swear words and crime narratives in rap before N.W.A. but they were rare and not overly commercially successful. This would also be the rise of West Coast rap and would also famously become the first album to go platinum without any kind of radio air-play or major touring. One could make an argument for the more outrageous album-track “**** the Police,” but really it’s the title track that most perfectly announces the rise of a new type of music that would scare white people nationwide.
4. “N.Y. State of Mind” by Nas
Album: Illmatic
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...asIllmatic.jpg
Year: 1994
Region: New York (Queens)
Charted?: No
Label: Columbia
Producer: DJ Premier
Samples: "N.T." by Kool & The Gang, "Flight Time" by Donald Byrd, "Mind Rain" by Joe Chambers, et al.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Legend has it that the first verse of “N.Y. State of Mind” was done in one verse, with Nas hesitating, almost ruining the take before suddenly launching into an absolutely visceral verse about life in a crime ridden environment. DJ Premier’s beat underscores the urgency of it all, but it’s Nas’ complex lyrics that really bring it home. There’s no sing-along chorus, or any chorus for that matter, but certain lyrics do recur like “I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death” which inspired a T-shirt with Sleepy (of seven dwarfs fame) giving a fist-bump to the grim reaper. The famous first verse ends with the phrase “I think of crime when I'm in a New York state of mind,” which basically sets the song up as an alternate view of the Big Apple from Billy Joel’s more… idealistic, view of the city in his similarly titled song.
3. “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Album: The Message
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Year: 1982
Region: New York (The Bronx)
Charted?: 62
Label: Sugar Hill Records
Producer: Ed Fletcher, Clifton "Jiggs" Chase, Sylvia Robinson
Samples: None?
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
It should probably be stated up front that Grandmaster Flash himself had very little to do with this song, or most of The Furious Five’s recorded output. The rapper and star on this track is Melle Mel, the vocal talent on most of Grandmaster Flash’s records (it’s important to note that the DJ was considered the star at this point in time, not the MC). This is a track that was way ahead of its time, it was the first rap song to really talk about the streets, and this was in a time when “Rock it out baby bubbah to the boogie da bang bang” was considered to be acceptable lyrics. The song gave us the catch phrases “Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge /
I'm trying not to lose my head” and “It's like a jungle sometimes / It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under” and the verses also sound like actual coherent sentences too. It might sound a little primitive today, but the influence is clear.
2. “Shook Ones Part 2” by Mobb Deep
Album: The Infamous
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Year: 1995
Region: New York (Queens)
Charted?: No
Label: Loud
Producer: Mobb Deep
Samples: "Jessica" by Herbie Hancock, "Kitty With the Bent Frame" by Quincy Jones, and "Dirty Feet" by Daly Wilson Big Band
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
While they’ve done some good stuff I wouldn’t call much of Mobb Deep’s material to be essential (their careers were derailed by some very poor feuding choices), and that doesn’t matter because “Shook Ones Part 2” is more than enough to cement their legacy forever. This is probably the most hardcore song you’re ever likely to hear, it’s a frightening evocation of the criminal lifestyle over a propulsive self-produced beat. Almost every line in the song is a lasting catchphrase, some of the best being: “to all the killers and a hundred dollar billas / For real ni**as who ain't got no feelings,” “Your simple words just don't move me, you're minor, we're major / You all up in the game and don't deserve to be a player,” “For every rhyme I write, it's 25 to life,” “long as I'm alive I'mma live illegal,” and of course the chorus “Son, they shook / Cause ain't no such things as halfway crooks / Scared to death, scared to look, they shook… Cowardly hearts end straight up shook ones, shook ones / He ain't a crook son, he's just a shook one” and I could go on. The song has gone on to lasting fame, turning up most recently as the beat to the final rap battle in Eminem’s film “8 Mile.” The song is quite simply the rawest manifestation of what East Coast Hardcore was during the mid-nineties.
1. “Changes” by Tupac Shakur
Album: Greatest Hits
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Year: 1998
Region: West Coast (Marin City)
Charted?: 32
Label: Death Row
Producer: Tupac Shakur
Samples: "The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby and the Range
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Anyone who follows lists of the best rap songs will probably not be surprised by this choice, the song is like the “Imagine” of Hip-Hop: a dead guy talking about the state of the world, that’s something that’s kind of hard to argue with. That the song was first released after Tupac was killed only added to its mystique and made it clearer just how much potential ‘pac had as a voice of the people. The song is both cynical but also a call for change, or at least a hope for peace. It’s a song that’s been praised by everyone from The Recording Academy to the Vatican. It’s also only become more interesting in the age of Obama when one considers the title in relation to the line: “It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other / And although it seems heaven-sent / We ain't ready to see a black President.” What’s most depressing is that that line seems to be more or less the only thing mentioned in the song that seems to have even slightly changed.
Neverending 08-01-2011 07:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2768057)
made it clearer just how much potential ‘pac had as a voice of the people.
Potential is the keyword. 2Pac, as a personality, was a little ridiculous. He's, more or less, responsible for the East-West Coast War, which is by far the most disgraceful era in rap music.
Dracula 08-02-2011 12:39 AM
Honorable Mentions:
Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
I'm Not a Player - Big Pun
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
The Crossroads - Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
South Bronx - Boogie Down Productions
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Ridin' Dirty - Chamillionaire
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Insane in the Brain - Cypress Hill
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Hell Yeah - Dead Prez
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Pass the Plugs - De La Soul
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like That) - Digable Planets
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Country Grammer - Nelly
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Put On - Young Jeezy
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
FranklinTard 08-02-2011 11:38 AM
paul's boutique should have gotten some pub... that changed hip hop with its use of samples.
Dracula 08-02-2011 01:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by FranklinTard (Post 2768141)
paul's boutique should have gotten some pub... that changed hip hop with its use of samples.
If this had been a list of the top 25 albums that would have made it, but there was no one song that really stood out. As for the sample thing... that's true in the sense that it inspired producers like rza and the bomb squad for a couple of years, but because of the price of sample clearance most modern productions have reverted to the older model with only one or two samples used per song.
Justin 08-02-2011 03:41 PM
People take rap seriously?
Dracula 08-02-2011 08:44 PM
Alright, here’s why there’s no number 13 on the list. The song I was going to put at number 13 was a song by Kanye West. Although he never quite had that one song that was good enough to crack the top ten on that list, he’s amassed an amazing (and amazingly consistent) body of work that could itself be ranked in a top 25 list, in fact…
25 Greatest Kanye West Songs
I don’t know if anyone is going to care about the top 25 Hip-Hop songs, and I’ll be even luckier if there’s anyone around here who’s just as interested in this list, but I’m doing it anyway out of some kind of compulsion. Obviously the number one song on this list will be the elusive number 13 on the overall Hip-Hop list. This list will be culled primarily from songs that Kanye has featured on his own albums (including bonus tracks). I’m not looking into his featured appearances on other artists tracks and I’m also not looking at his extensive production work on other artist’s tracks. Although I had to include one of his download only G.O.O.D. Fridays tracks, that will be the exception, the rest are all tracks that come from his actual albums (and for the record, Watch the Throne hasn’t been released as of this writing and I’m not including any leaks). It’s also a strictly personal list, more so than the main Hip-Hop list (which took influence more into account than this one will), and there are some very popular Kanye tracks that just don’t quite speak to me as much as they do for other people *cough* Jesus Walks *cough.* This list is also going to lean toward some less known album tracks than the main Hip-Hop list did, and the number one song may surprise some people.
25. “Heard ‘Em Say”
Featuring: Adam Levine
Album: Late Registration
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: #26
Samples: "Someone That I Used to Love" as performed by Natalie Cole
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
I certainly couldn’t have rated this song too highly, after all it does feature the inherently lame Adam Levine, and West does quote a bunch of loony conspiracy theories on the track. But he’s still able to create a hell of a mood with the track and I really appreciate that. That keyboard refrain really brings a lot to the track and it one of the best examples of the “the state of the world needs to change” tracks. I also really like the pseudo-world-music outro and the way that it plays into Late Registration’s opening skit.
24. “Street Lights”
Featuring: N/A
Album: 808s & Heartbreak
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Heartbreak.png
Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: None
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This is a minor album track from one of West’s less beloved albums, and that makes it sort of an under-appreciated gem. Like most of 808s & Heartbreak this is an experimental track that sits on the line between rap, techno, R&B, and techno. It also employs the controversial technique of vocal modification, but it uses it in a way that sounds really different from the way that T-Pain and the like use it. The song is like a poem, using street lights passing as he sits in a cab to represent life passing by as he ages. He knows his destination (greatness/happiness/death?), but he’s not there and he’s going to make the most of his time. It seems repetitious but there’s something hypnotic about how the lines wrap into one another.
23. “Chain Heavy”
Featuring: Talib Kweli and Consequence
Album: N/A
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples:
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This MBDTF era track came out at a time when Kanye’s music was getting really serious and high-faluten’. This seems like a reaction to that, there’s certainly a somewhat serious metaphor in it about chains but to some extent this is just a (relatively fun) rap track filled with interesting wordplay against a strange beat that appears to employ a theremin. West does some good work here, but it’s really the guest verses that stand out, especially Talib Kweli’s uncharacteristically awesome and fast paced verse.
22. “We Don’t Care”
Featuring: N/A
Album: The College Dropout
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "I Just Wanna Stop" performed by The Jimmy Castor Bunch
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This song intended to make the kids start “jumpin’ up and down and sharing candy and stuff.” The song fits well as the opening track of West’s more conscious-skewing debut album The College Dropout, but it also mocks conscious rap’s cornier side with its non-judgemental view of hustlers in the street. It instantly establishes that West isn’t a gangster, but that he’s not going to lecture his audience either. It’s a strange sort of upbeat song, sort of a companion piece to the next album’s “Heard ‘Em Say,” but it’s the better of the two.
21. “So Appalled”
Featuring: Jay-Z, Pusha T, Prynce Cy Hi, Swizz Beatz & The RZA
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "You Are – I Am" by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Functioning, to some degree as a posse track for his G.O.O.D. Music label, So Appalled is one of MBDTF’s more mainstream tracks but it makes up for this through some really cool guest verses. First of all, I find the way that Swizz Beatz says the word “ridiculous” really amusing, that guy can be pretty cool on the mic in short bursts (his work as a producer of course is beyond reproach). Pusha and Cy Hi certainly show that they deserve their place on the label, but it’s ‘ye’s “big brother” Jay-Z who clearly steals the show delivering one of his best guest verses (complete with a Dark Knight reference!). What better way to close it out than by bringing RZA in to do a closing recitation of the hook?
Dracula 08-03-2011 01:57 PM
20. “Gold Digger”
Featuring: Jamie Foxx
Album: Late Registration
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: #1
Samples: "I Got a Woman" by Ray Charles
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
I always hate those people who tell me that the hit song that everybody loves is “the worst track on the album,” but when it comes to Kanye I’m almost a big enough fan to find myself in that position. Yeah, I do think that “Gold Digger” is minor-Kanye, but there are good reasons why it became the hit that it became. For one, I think its use of a Ray Charles sample was very clever, secondly it is a very funny song at times. When West delivers lines like “She was supposed to buy your shorty Tyco with your money / She went to the doctor got lypo with your money / She walking around looking like Michael with your money / Should've got that insured, Geico for your money” he’s operating like some kind of lighter Eminem in “Real Slim Shady” hit-maker mode.
19. “Paranoid”
Featuring: Mr. Hudson
Album: 808s & Heartbreak
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: No
Samples: None
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Kanye moved away from standard Hip-Hop on the 808s and Heartbreak album, and this song is probably the closest he ever came to making a straightforward pop song. Using extensive synth riffs, West and Mr. Hudson make an 80s influenced ballad reassuring a woman about his faithfulness. I could easily see an indie-rock band (at least one with a keyboard or synth) covering the song without anyone in the audience realizing it came from one of Hip-Hop’s biggest stars. It never took off as a single, but it sounds like a hit to me.
18. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone”
Featuring: N/A
Album: Late Registration
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: 43
Samples: "Diamonds Are Forever" by Shirley Bassey
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This first single from Late Registration is a great showcase of that album’s movie-like use of orchestration. What better way to do that than to sample one of the signature Bond themes, a celebration of suave wealth if ever there was one. But this is a song about the dark side of wealth, specifically conflict diamonds (an issue that the world decided to focus on for a year or so for some reason before continuing to ignore it). It’s an interesting contrast, especially given the bling talk that usually goes on in this genre.
17. “Through the Wire”
Featuring: N/A
Album: The College Dropout
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: 15
Samples: "Through the Fire" by Chaka Khan
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This is where it all started, Kanye’s first solo single. Recorded after the car accident that loomed over his debut album, and performed while Kanye had his jaw wired shut, this easily could have gone down as a novelty single if it were made by a lesser artist. The song also establishes Kanye’s use of sped up soul samples (dubbed chipmunk-soul) on productions, and the Chaka Khan song perfectly sets up the jubilant tone of this song about survival.
16. “Good Life”
Featuring: T-Pain
Album: Graduation
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: 7
Samples: "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" by Michael Jackson
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This song sounds a little poppy and radio-pandering today, but that’s only because everyone’s been copying its sound since it was released. This was before T-Pain had made his robotic presence known on every single song in existence, and before Hip-Hop had embraced European style electro beats. Singing about “the good life” isn’t exactly the deepest of subject matter, but Kanye turns the song into a real catchy and upbeat banger that just makes you smile.
Dhamon22 08-03-2011 05:23 PM
Not to derail but what do you think of the Bad Meets Evil cd Drac? To me theres a few great songs but the other half or so are kind of 'meh'.
Is Royce Da 5-9's solo stuff any good?
Dracula 08-03-2011 10:45 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dhamon22 (Post 2768246)
Not to derail but what do you think of the Bad Meets Evil cd Drac? To me theres a few great songs but the other half or so are kind of 'meh'.
Is Royce Da 5-9's solo stuff any good?
I'd probably agree with your assessment of the Bad Meets Evil EP, it feels like a glorified mix tape. Like a lot of Eminem's recent work I like it on a technical "rhymes per minute" level, but the material isn't overly inspired.
I'm not really an expert on Royce's solo stuff. He's never really had much major label support and can probably be labeled a "rapper's rapper." None of his albums are considered classics or anything, but most of them have been fairly well reviewed. I'll probably keep an eye out for his next CD, but I don't feel any particular urge to go too deep into his back catalog.
Oh and while we're on the subject of Bad Meets Evil, did anyone know that the original version of the song "Renegades" had Royce on it instead of Jay-Z? blew my mind when I first learned it.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Neverending 08-03-2011 11:59 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2768228)
This song sounds a little poppy and radio-pandering today
It sounded that way at the time as well. lol. This was the era of Chicken Noodle Soup, Motel 6, and Souja Boy. The song is very - polished and sophisticated - by comparison.
Dracula 08-04-2011 12:01 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2768269)
It sounded that way at the time as well. lol. This was the era of Chicken Noodle Soup, Motel 6, and Souja Boy. The song is very - polished and sophisticated - by comparison.
That's my point, it was ahead of its time.
-----------------
15. “See Me Now”
Featuring: Beyoncé, Charlie Wilson, & Big Sean
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Itunes bonus track)
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...lbum_cover.png
Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: “Think About You” by Brian and Brenda
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Though it was relegated to bonus track status, I’ve listened to this track just as much as I’ve listened to anything else attached to MBDTF. Though I understand why West decided to leave end his masterpiece with the Gil-Scott Heron speech, I still like to think of this as the true finale because it ends the album on a much more triumphant note. It does show West at his most cocky, and that’s probably a turn off to some listeners and it’s a bit odd to see him like this on the same album that gave us “Runaway.” What really brings the track to the next level is Big Sean’s closing verse where he gives a rare defense of West’s public behavior “I know Kanye a jerk how could you say that? / He rode me and my mama around in his Maybach / What kind of jerk is that? / What kind of jerks is y'all? / **** it if he a jerk, I bet you jerk him off.”
14. “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”
Featuring: N/A
Album: Graduation
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Me_Nothing.jpg
Single?: Yes
Charted?: #41
Samples: “I Got Money” by Young Jeezy
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
“Can’t Tell Me Nothing” is clearly a precursor to the introspective 808s & Heartbreak album, and it feature’s Kanye at his most self reflective and vulnerable. West has always been more willing to talk about his feelings and **** than 99% of mainstream rappers, but those feelings had been a lot more jubilant in his previous singles like Touch the Sky and Through the Wire. This track on the other hand is decidedly about the downside of fame that had emerged since his success. It’s not his most fun song, but the beat really makes it feel epic and interesting.
13. “Monster”
Featuring: Justin Vernon, Rick Ross, Jay-Z, & Nicki Minaj
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...anye-West-.png
Single?: Yes
Charted?: #18
Samples: None
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
We weren’t quite sure what to expect after Kanye released “Power,” but this guest filled banger was a more than welcomed second MBDTF single. I think this was meant to be a Hip-Hop version of the song “Thriller” with its horror theme and epic length. Justin Vernon (of the cult folk band Bon Iver) serves as the Vincent Price here and Jay-Z delivers a pretty good verse that also serves as a subliminal diss of his former protégé Beanie Sigel. But the person who really stole the show was Nicki Minaj, who delivers a fiery verse filled with personality changes. It’s a shame that she’s thrown away all the cred she gained from that verse so she could chase some lame Gaga-ripoff pop, but she certainly seemed to have a lot of promise here.
12. “Robocop”
Featuring: N/A
Album: 808s & Heartbreak
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "Kissing in the Rain" by Patrick Doyle
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Sometimes all it takes to elevate a track to greatness is a brilliant choice of sample. In this case the stroke of brilliance is the decision to sample a movie score, specifically the love theme from the 1998 version of Great Expectations. This soaring orchestral theme adds a lot of weight to this song in which West calls his girl a “Robocop” because she keeps trying to police his behavior. I especially like the song’s closing minute and a half when West realizes that his woman is just a “spoiled little L.A. girl” and that this relationship just isn’t going to work.
11. “Stronger”
Featuring: N/A
Album: Graduation
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: #1
Samples: "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
The College Dropout was characterized by its soul samples and Late Registration was characterized by adding sweeping orchestration to the mix, but this single signaled that in his third album he was going electronica. Sampling the French house musicians Daft Punk, West puts together a strong club song based around Nietzsche's phrase “that which doesn’t kill me, only makes me stronger.” It was released at the height of Kanye’s commercial popularity and is so far his last solo number 1 hit (though he’d come close at times since then).
Dracula 08-05-2011 04:55 PM
10. “Lost in the World”
Featuring: Justin Vernon
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "Woods" by Bon Iver, "Soul Makossa" by Manu Dibango, "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins, and "Comment No. 1" by Gil Scott-Heron
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
One thing that Kanye West has been pretty consistently amazing about is the creation of climactic final tracks to his LPs. This song was the final statement from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (I’m counting this and “Who Will Survive in America” as one track). Justin Vernon seemed like an odd collaborator with yeezy, but he seems to fit in with West’s maximalist hip-hop just fine here. Kanye’s verse is a sentiment along the lines of “lets break out of here and paint the town red,” which gives a hopeful spin on the end of an album that went to some less than jolly places and the coda, sampled from Gil Scott-Heron’s poem “Comment #1” seems to add a lot of weight to the proceedings even if the poem’s subject matter (Heron’s distaste for the hippies trying to join the civil rights movement) doesn’t seem to relate to the rest of the song at all.
9. “Coldest Winter”
Featuring: N/A
Album: 808s & Heartbreak
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "Memories Fade" by Tears for Fears
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Another epic final track, this time to the 808s and Heartbreak album, Coldest Winter is the song where West closes the book on the two ending relationships that inspired the album: his relationship with his former fiancé (who left him) and his relationship with his mother (who died). West repeats a number of the lines in the song so as to address both at once before finally saying goodbye and musing whether or not he’ll ever love again. The track merges the main musical and lyrical themes from the album: loss, remorse, unexpected samples, tribal drumming, and an abandonment of traditional rapping.
8. “Touch the Sky”
Featuring: Lupe Fiasco
Album: Late Registration
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: 42
Samples: "Move on Up" by Curtis Mayfield
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Kanye would talk at length about the downside of fame later in his career, but here he celebrates his success against a gleeful slowed down Curtis Mayfield sample. This is West at his anthemic best, claiming proudly to be “on top of the world.” The song also introduced mainstream audiences to Lupe Fiasco, who owns his status as a “backpack MC” by bringing rhymes about Lupin the 3rd and Mum-Ra to the table. It’s also notable for being one of the only Kanye songs not produced (or even co-produced) by West himself. Just Blaze is the one in the producer chair, but you can still hear West directing things with lines like “now let me end my verse right where the horns are.”
7. “Runaway”
Featuring: Pusha T
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: 12
Samples: "Expo 83" by Backyard Heavies
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
It’s amazing how much you can do with a single note. The piano D-note used to begin the song runaway is instantly recognizable to any Kanye fan, but that’s just the beginning of it all. West’s toast to the douchbags, *******s, scumbags, and jerkoffs was debuted on the VMAs the year after his PR fiasco and was seem largely as a statement of self loathing in response to it. I personally was too busy looking at the showmanship of it all, with Kanye using the sampler as a freestyle instrument and wearing a devilish red suit. Pusha T is also on board to give a nearly star-making verse about what it’s like in the “balla-***** matrix.” But this is West’s show all the way, setting a brilliant mood. It even had lyrics that would manage to predict scandals involving both Brett Farve and Anthony Weiner. The only reason it didn’t make the top five is that the nine minute album version of the song is a bit unwieldy; I don’t know that I really needed a five minute instrumental in the middle of the song.
6. “Family Business”
Featuring: N/A
Album: The College Dropout
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...egedropout.jpg
Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "Fonky Thang" by The Dells
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
The final track on Kanye’s debut album (unless you count the bizarre “Last Call,” which I don’t), this track is a celebration of West’s extended family and its closeness. I’m usually not a sucker about odes to family togetherness, but the imagery of a family reunion that he conjures up still seem really appealing to me. You can really picture that auntie who can’t cook, or cousin Stevie who winds up in jail instead of at the reunion. That he was able to build this out of an obscure vocal sample from an Acapulco track is really amazing.
Dracula 08-06-2011 01:42 PM
5. “Flashing Lights”
Featuring: Dwele
Album: Graduation
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...hinglights.png
Single?: Yes
Charted?: 90
Samples: “Little Child Runnin’ Wild” by Curtis Mayfield
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
One thing that Kanye loves to do is use “lights” as a metaphor, and in this case he’s talking about the lights from paparazzi cameras. The influence of European club music is very clear on this song and the beat here is extremely evocative of decadent upscale lifestyles (if Italian suits were music it would sound like this). It’s probably been one of Kanye’s most often re-contextualized songs because of the images it conjures up, but there are some more pressing elements to the lyrics which talk of a relationship being torn apart by fame. In this sense it feels a bit like an early precursor to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
4. “Power”
Featuring: N/A
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...st_-_Power.png
Single?: Yes
Charted?: #22
Samples: "Afromerica" by Continent Number 6, "21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson, and "It's Your Thing" by Cold Grits
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Speaking of music that’s been widely re-contextualized by advertising, this song seems like it’s been used in every trailer, advertisement, and sports program for the last year (the song might be entirely responsible for the financial success of the movie “Limitless”). You can see why, this song sounds like an introduction to many awesome things, most notably MBDTF, for which this was the first single. Using some really diverse samples (King Crimson FTW!) West has created a song that seems both boastful and unsure at the same time.
3. “All of the Lights”
Featuring: Alicia Keys, John Legend, The-Dream, Drake, Fergie, Kid Cudi, Elton John, Ryan Leslie, Charlie Wilson, Tony Williams, Elly Jackson, Alvin Fields, Ken Lewis, and Rihanna
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ts-300x300.jpg
Single?: Yes
Charted?: #18
Samples: None
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Using a horn section and a chorus featuring fourteen famous vocalists (only Rihanna, Kid Kudi, and Fergie have distinct verses), Kanye West created what may be his most ambitious and operatic vision to date with “All of the Lights.” The epic musicianship of the song speaks for itself, but let’s take a look at the lyrics, which I consider to be West’s clearest statement about his PR problems to date. The song is a metaphor, it sounds like it’s about a father’s problems with his estranged wife, but it’s really about West’s troubled relationship with stardom. The wife that he “slapped” is the music buying public and the little girl who needs him is pop culture as a whole. Looked at this way, Kanye is admitting that the VMA fiasco hurt his stardom, but now that he’s finally being taken back by the public he can continue raising pop music to the next level.
2. “Never Let Me Down”
Featuring: Jay-Z and J. Ivy
Album: The College Dropout
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "Maybe It's the Power of Love" by Blackjack
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Though it was never released as a single for some inexplicable reason, “Never Let Me Down” still sounds like a hell of a classic to me. Using gospel influences West constructs an amazing beat and is somehow able to use the phrase “get up, I get down” to craft a worthy chorus. West’s verse, about the sit ins that happened during the civil rights movement fit in well with The College Dropouts more conscious leanings. That’s taken to a whole new level by the presence of slam poet J.Ivy, who delivers a powerful poem mid-song about having “the heart of Kunta Kinte.” Jay-Z’s also on the track, but his presence isn’t necessarily the highlight so much as it is a statement. Jay-Z ends the song saying “Hov's a living legend and I'll tell you why / Everybody wanna be Hov and Hov's still alive,” in fact all his lines are about his longevity. That’s why he’s on this track; it’s a statement saying that like Jay-Z, Kanye is here to stay.
1. “Gone”
Featuring: Cam’ron and Consequence
Album: Late Registration
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "It's Too Late" by Otis Redding
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Positioned as the final (non-bonus) track on Late Registration, Kanye’s masterpiece marked the first (though not last) time that he’d sample Otis Redding. West’s first verse is sort of a warm up, though he’s still able to throw out some classic lines like “even your superficial raps is super-official.” Then he throws the tracks to his guests who both deliver uncharacteristically awesome verses. The usually lame Cam’ron comes out strong with the tongue twisting opening line “Knock knock, who's there? Killa Cam, Killa who? / Killa Cam, hustler, grinder, guerilla true.” Then Consequence (whose solo career would turn out to be a huge bust) steps up to the Mic and delivers an amazing twenty line verse which uses the word “gone” in pretty much every way that it could possibly be used (a trick he’d recycle on the track “Chain Heavy”). But of course it would be Kanye himself that would get the final word and he delivers probably his best verse up to that point. This climactic verse is a rollercoaster ride going from simple boasts “Ah-head of my time, sometimes years out” to a consideration of “leaving it all behind,” but then he comes to an epiphany. Realizing how far he’s come in a short amount of time and quotes Joni Mitchell’s phrase “you never know what you’ve got til it’s gone” and decides to take his place as a leader for the aspiring MCs. He’s faced more hardships since then, but he’s never given up that place.
IanTheCool 08-06-2011 02:53 PM
Wow, a whole list on Kanye West.
Now, this is a great list, and I'ma let you get back to it, but JBond has one of the greatest top ten lists of all time!!!
Neverending 08-07-2011 03:36 AM
That joke is so 2009.
JBond 08-07-2011 03:43 AM
I dunno. I kind of liked it.
Deexan 08-07-2011 05:40 AM
Remember Ian's in Canada and they're a few years behind everyone else so technically that joke was cutting edge.
PG Cooper 08-07-2011 06:49 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deexan (Post 2768641)
Remember Ian's in Canada and they're a few years behind everyone else so technically that joke was cutting edge.
You're only saying that so all the Americans here don't make fun of you for being British
IanTheCool 08-07-2011 10:20 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deexan (Post 2768641)
Remember Ian's in Canada and they're a few years behind everyone else so technically that joke was cutting edge.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
thebtskink 08-07-2011 11:31 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by IanTheCool (Post 2768593)
Wow, a whole list on Kanye West.
Now, this is a great list, and I'ma let you get back to it, but JBond has one of the greatest top ten lists of all time!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2768632)
That joke is so 2009.
George Bush hates black people.
And Kanye's glasses are absolutely stupid.
Neverending 08-08-2011 03:55 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by thebtskink (Post 2768674)
George Bush hates black people.
LOL. That was the moment that changed everything for Kanye. He went from a critically acclaimed rapper/producer to a public laughing stock in a year and a half.
Like Dracula, I'm a fan of the man, but it can't be denied that his personal antics have over-shadowed his work.
Deexan 08-08-2011 05:37 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PG Cooper (Post 2768642)
You're only saying that so all the Americans here don't make fun of you for being British
I prefer 'English.' Don't want to be associated with those dirty Scots/Welsh/Irish. :meanie:
I like to keep the old rivalries bubbling under. If everybody gets too lovey-dovey with one another and war kicks off where's the murderous rage going to come from?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by IanTheCool (Post 2768666)
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Are you attempting a Rick-Roll or just reminding me of one of the many amazing feats of artistry this great land is responsible for? Or both?
FranklinTard 08-08-2011 04:02 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2768736)
but it can't be denied that his personal antics have over-shadowed his work.
meh. big ben seems like a complete douche bag. but he can throw a football.
i can separate the person from the professional.
Dhamon22 08-10-2011 05:33 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2768260)
I'd probably agree with your assessment of the Bad Meets Evil EP, it feels like a glorified mix tape. Like a lot of Eminem's recent work I like it on a technical "rhymes per minute" level, but the material isn't overly inspired.
I'm not really an expert on Royce's solo stuff. He's never really had much major label support and can probably be labeled a "rapper's rapper." None of his albums are considered classics or anything, but most of them have been fairly well reviewed. I'll probably keep an eye out for his next CD, but I don't feel any particular urge to go too deep into his back catalog.
Oh and while we're on the subject of Bad Meets Evil, did anyone know that the original version of the song "Renegades" had Royce on it instead of Jay-Z? blew my mind when I first learned it.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
I just got Spotify so I'm looking forward to listening to a bunch of stuff without having to download it or mess with youtube. From the little I've heard so far Royce is a very good rapper but the songs aren't great as a whole.
Deexan 08-11-2011 06:10 AM
Royce is ok but right now I think Joe Budden is producing some of the best hip-hop, particularly on his Mood Muzik albums. He and Royce are good friends and their collaboration album as Slaughterhouse (along with Crooked I and Joell Ortiz) is good but Budden is on another level with his solo stuff.
The new Slaughterhouse album is due this year on Shady records though, could be one to watch.
Dracula 08-22-2011 08:37 PM
Top Ten Most Underrated/Overlooked TV Shows
The title of this sort of speaks for itself, but really there are a lot of different definitions of “underrated” out there and this list will look at a lot of them. Some of these are shows that seem to get no mainstream appreciation but have strong cult followings, some are shows with lots of mainstream appeal but which don’t get the respect they deserve from critics. The list is also going to be very personal to me and the shows that I’ve watched over the years, so there are probably a lot of other good shows that I’ve been underrating myself. I should also mention that this will primarily focus on shows that aired within my lifetime, I can’t really speak to classic shows that are overlooked. Also, the rankings in this are not that important, they’re pretty much just in the order that I want to talk about them.
10. Titus
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi.../Tituslogo.jpg
Genre: Sitcom
Network: FOX
Aired: 2000-2002
Some shows are just ahead of their time and this is a prime example. The show’s edgy humor and focus on familial dysfunction would have been a perfect fit for the FX network and in retrospect the show seems like the prototype for both “It’s Always Sunny in Philedelphia” and to some extent “Louie” (which has a similar focus on personal dysfunction and also borrows the device of flashing back to the main character’s childhood). Back in 2001 however the show proved to be too much for the network and while it actually got decent ratings it was still cancelled early. I don’t feel like it gets the credit it deserves for its influence on modern sitcoms nor has it seemed to develop the cult audience that other cancelled sitcoms like Arrested Development have gotten.
9. Babylon 5
www.vulcanevents.com/skin/fro...a/babylon5.jpg
Genre: Science Fiction
Network: PTEN
Aired: 1994-1998
Babylon 5 has a following in the science fiction community, but I don’t feel like it’s influence has ever been fully appreciated. This was the first show to truly pull off the serialized drama format on American television. While there was the occasional stand-alone episode here and there (especially in the first season) it eventually proved to be an amazingly complex, almost novelistic, story told over the course of five seasons. It also managed to create a fully functional space-opera universe with numerous distinct alien species with unique characteristics and developments throughout its run. It was also one of the first shows to extensively use CGI, and while these effects admittedly look horrible today it was still a big breakthrough. As far as I’m concerned it’s a landmark show, but most people seem to just regard it as just another syndicated Star Trek ripoff.
8. Carnivàle
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...vale_title.jpg
Genre: Drama
Network: HBO
Aired: 2003-2005
Carnivale was unceremoniously cancelled on a cliffhanger after two seasons, and while I was very disappointed by that it’s not something I’m going to b---h about. It was an expensive show that didn’t draw viewers so I can’t blame HBO for putting it to pasture. However, I can chastise the TV audiences of America for failing to tune in given that this was so obviously an amazing piece of work and for failing to preserve its legacy when talking about the great television that’s come along. The show was probably the best example of horror/fantasy on television since The X-Files and it managed to invoke a period setting just as well as other HBO shows like Deadwood and Boardwalk Empire. I suppose the show’s ultimate downfall was that it couldn’t be pigeonholed, it didn’t fit well into any existing TV genre or trope and it couldn’t really be described with a simple logline.
FranklinTard 08-22-2011 09:29 PM
i'll admit i never get carnivale a chance, love b5 though, and i agree with titus to a certain extent, although i think you are looking back on it with a little nostalgia. didn't it have a laugh track?
JBond 08-22-2011 10:39 PM
Titus was a fun show. "Whaaaaat's in this tukey? Trypt-o-phan!"
Babylon 5 had its moments.
Dracula 08-22-2011 10:59 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by FranklinTard (Post 2770424)
i agree with titus to a certain extent, although i think you are looking back on it with a little nostalgia. didn't it have a laugh track?
Well, sometimes when you're a trailblazer you make mistakes like that. I'm sure if it were made today it would be a single camera show with not laugh track.
BTW, is your shift button broken or something?
JBond 08-22-2011 11:31 PM
Not likely. There's two of them.
shained 08-23-2011 12:58 PM
I've heard good things about Carnivale but now I know it finishes on a cliffhanger I think i'll be avoiding it....
Babylon 5 was alright but I was never a big enough fan to go out of my way for it.
Never heard of the other show.
FranklinTard 08-23-2011 01:04 PM
you lower case bigots make me sick. good day to you.
Dracula 08-23-2011 03:15 PM
7. Law and Order
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...andorder01.jpg
Genre: Drama
Network: NBC
Aired: 1990-2010
How can I call one of the longest running and most successful series of all time “underrated.” Well mostly because I feel like it’s frequently mislabeled and construed as something it isn’t. I absolutely hate that the show is often lumped in with other inferior police procedurals like CSI, NCIS, and Bones. While those shows constantly chased sensationalism and showed no regard for realism, Law and Order stayed rooted in the realities of the criminal justice system and remained one of the few platforms for political discourse on television. I suppose the show’s awful spinoffs (especially SVU, which really is CSI-like at this point) hold some of the blame for how people regard the show, but I maintain that the show deserved a lot more respect than that.
6. Community
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nity_title.jpg
Genre: Sitcom
Network: NBC
Aired: 2009-
Alright, so the people on this site probably don’t underrate this show at all. Community has been accepted by the online community with open arms (it has ten times the authentic geek appeal of The Big Bang Theory), but the rest of the world hasn’t given it the time of day. While the mediocre and stale Modern Family gets lavished with praise and awards, Community gets completely shut out of both the Emmys and the larger discussion of the great sitcoms of our time. Initially I blamed NBC for this, but they’ve managed to do right by Parks and Recreation, so now I’m just going to assume the show is too clever for audiences. I’m not sure why TV critics haven’t seen the brilliance of the show however, they should be the perfect people to recognize the show’s brilliant deconstruction of both sitcom and genre tropes.
5. Treme
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Genre: Drama
Network: HBO
Aired: 2010-
I understand why mainstream audiences haven’t flocked to Treme; it’s a deliberately slow moving series that focuses on characters rather than story and it’s also highly political in a way that isn’t for everybody… fine, but that doesn’t explain why critics haven’t embraced it. The show is maybe not the triumph that The Wire was, but it’s still got most of that David Simon touch and I don’t understand why television critics seem to be as ADD-adled as the public and the Emmy voters when it comes to the series. Fortunately HBO seems to understand the shows value and have continued to renew it in spite of its low ratings, but the show still deserves better.
4. The Mole
1.bp.blogspot.com/_GrU2mHrTwD.../mole-logo.jpg
Genre: Reality
Network: ABC
Aired: 2001-2008
Remember the initial boom in reality-competition shows? It was a fairly exciting time, and the format remains the most dignified form of reality television even if the “talent show” and “a**holes in a house” formats have dominated the format. While Survivor and The Amazing Race have both experienced a decade of success, the show that was clearly the best of them all was treated horribly: The Mole. It was a great show that had contestants vying to find out which among them was a mole looking to sabotage their efforts, it was exciting stuff and the first season was pretty successful. Then September 11 happened and everyone in the country turned into a wuss that was incapable of enjoying a show about ruthless competition. That really killed the show and while it tried to come back with celebrity contestants, the momentum was gone.
IanTheCool 08-23-2011 03:59 PM
Yeah, it bugs me that Community isn't embraced more. The fact that its on the same time as Big Bang probably has something to do with that.
I can't get into Treme, I think because I have no interest in Jazz or Jazz culture whatsoever.
JBond 08-23-2011 04:23 PM
I never watched Law and Order...because I don't like cop procedural shows.
Community is wonderful.
Dracula 08-23-2011 04:39 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by IanTheCool (Post 2770507)
Yeah, it bugs me that Community isn't embraced more. The fact that its on the same time as Big Bang probably has something to do with that.
I can't get into Treme, I think because I have no interest in Jazz or Jazz culture whatsoever.
I'm not really a jazz-buff either, but I don't think that's the central point of the show either. I feel like the music is mostly used as an example of the city's cultural accomplishments and importance. Similarly I don't need to care that much about what gumbo tastes like in order to appreciate the Janette storyline.
Neverending 08-23-2011 08:24 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2770503)
4. The Mole
1.bp.blogspot.com/_GrU2mHrTwD.../mole-logo.jpg
Genre: Reality
Network: ABC
Aired: 2001-2008
I didn't realize the show lasted that long. I only remember the first season. Then again, I don't watch ABC that much.
Dracula 08-23-2011 08:48 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2770540)
I didn't realize the show lasted that long. I only remember the first season. Then again, I don't watch ABC that much.
It actually only had five seasons spread over that time, they kept cancelling it then waiting a couple years and trying to bring it back.
Alien 08-24-2011 09:39 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2770503)
6. Community
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nity_title.jpg
Genre: Sitcom
Network: NBC
Aired: 2009-
Alright, so the people on this site probably don’t underrate this show at all. Community has been accepted by the online community with open arms (it has ten times the authentic geek appeal of The Big Bang Theory), but the rest of the world hasn’t given it the time of day. While the mediocre and stale Modern Family gets lavished with praise and awards, Community gets completely shut out of both the Emmys and the larger discussion of the great sitcoms of our time. Initially I blamed NBC for this, but they’ve managed to do right by Parks and Recreation, so now I’m just going to assume the show is too clever for audiences. I’m not sure why TV critics haven’t seen the brilliance of the show however, they should be the perfect people to recognize the show’s brilliant deconstruction of both sitcom and genre tropes.
I got into Community because someone showed me a gif of Annie running in the 2nd paintball episode with boobs bouncing...
After I downloaded and watched the 1st two season I looked to see what channel it was on in the UK. It's on Viva! Vivi for those that don't know is a 2nd rate "music" channel (I'm guessing with very little music since that is the norm these days). Viva isn't even as "cool" or "hip" as MTV, it wishes it was MTV.
Dracula 08-24-2011 07:15 PM
3. Oz
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._titlecard.png
Genre: Drama
Network: HBO
Aired: 1997-2003
Quick, name the first great HBO drama. 98% of people answering that question would have probably said “The Sopranos,” but the prison drama Oz debuted two full years ahead of that mob drama and was in my humble opinion pretty great. Granted it got a little loopy here and there, but for the most part it was fine drama worthy of its place in the history of cable television. And yet, the show seems to have been almost completely forgotten both by its network and by the public while its younger siblings like The Sopranos and Six Feet Under remain a large part of the pop culture landscape.
2. Farscape
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...scape_Logo.jpg
Genre: Science Fiction
Network: Sci-Fi
Aired: 1999-2003
I guess what annoys me about Farscape’s legacy is that it doesn’t have a cult that’s nearly as large as Firefly’s, and for no foreseeable reason. As far as I’m concerned, Farscape is ten times as fun and well realized as Firefly and it also has a similarly self referential sense of humor. I’d even say it was technically better made on nearly every level (though I’ll admit that I haven’t seen it in a while). I guess its fatal flaw is that it had a network that allowed it to run for four seasons before it was needlessly cancelled, they even had the gall to give it a miniseries in order to finish all the storylines. If the network had been a little more dickish the science fiction community would have rallied behind it and it would have the same reputation that Firefly currently has. The difference is that Farscape actually deserves that reputation.
1. Cops
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Genre: Reality
Network: FOX
Aired: 1989-
For reasons that I cannot entirely comprehend, this show has earned one of the most disrespectful reputations on television. People seem to see it as crap on the level of The Jerry Springer Show, and I don’t think that’s fair at all. This is a show that lives up to the “reality TV” label in a way that almost nothing on T.V. (including the news) does. This is cinema vérité put right into American living rooms and it’s been doing it for over two decades. The show perfectly captures the life of a common police officer in all its banality and absurdity and it doesn’t need to manipulate anything to do it. It’s a fascinating, funny, and thought inducing show, but like Rodney Dangerfield before it, it gets no respect.
JBond 08-24-2011 08:04 PM
You're pretty alone in your anger against Firefly. Just saying.
Dracula 08-24-2011 08:36 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBond (Post 2770674)
You're pretty alone in your anger against Firefly. Just saying.
Well, I shouldn't be.
JBond 08-24-2011 09:33 PM
I don't think I've ever seen an episode of Cops. Maybe waaaay back in the day when it first came out.
Ramplate 08-24-2011 10:12 PM
I occasionally watch Cops, but I'd rather watch the forensic shows about real cases on Discovery, TLC, and those types of stations.
The few Law and Order show's I've seen were pretty good but I'd rather watch the real cases like The First 48. And Hey, I like NCIS
Farscape was a great show, so was Firefly, but I've only seen a few B5 episodes at a friends house.
Titus was good, twisted but good.
Community is alright, but I don't watch it unless there's something else on.
The Mole did suffer with the Celebrity version, interesting concept but I think it wore thin. I kind of liked the Mystery reality contest show that aired a couple of times too.
I don't get HBO so those I've not really seen.
FranklinTard 08-24-2011 10:57 PM
you gotta be kidding me. how can you avoid episodes of cops? did you guys have no lazy dorm days in college? they showed re-runs all day. literally, all day, multiple channels.
law and order doesn't get the respect it deserves... although i think it did. everyone knows the 'thunk thunk' noise means law and order. i don't know anyone that was home sick from high school that didn't watch at least 2 episodes of law and order and be totally engrossed in them. that's the beauty, there is no real characters, they are just who they are, the stories are what is important, the cases, when they started focusing on the characters is when they lost their audience... for good reason.
i also somewhat agree with farscape... i think its cult status hurts it a bit, maybe i'm a niche guy but everyone loves farscape it seems like on the internet (sans this site it seems...) and for good reason. it really was an easily watchable show.
and community... it has been loved by critics (maybe not the douches that hand out the golden statues but critics loved it, its metacritic score is consistently in the green) for all the seasons it has been on. its ravenous following are also more hardcore about the show than many other fan bases of just about any other show to be honest. hope it doesn't lose its audience and get cancelled early.
Dracula 08-24-2011 11:27 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by FranklinTard (Post 2770686)
law and order doesn't get the respect it deserves... although i think it did. everyone knows the 'thunk thunk' noise means law and order. i don't know anyone that was home sick from high school that didn't watch at least 2 episodes of law and order and be totally engrossed in them. that's the beauty, there is no real characters, they are just who they are, the stories are what is important, the cases, when they started focusing on the characters is when they lost their audience... for good reason.
i also somewhat agree with farscape... i think its cult status hurts it a bit, maybe i'm a niche guy but everyone loves farscape it seems like on the internet (sans this site it seems...) and for good reason. it really was an easily watchable show.
and community... it has been loved by critics (maybe not the douches that hand out the golden statues but critics loved it, its metacritic score is consistently in the green) for all the seasons it has been on. its ravenous following are also more hardcore about the show than many other fan bases of just about any other show to be honest. hope it doesn't lose its audience and get cancelled early.
Law and Order started focusing on character a little more in its last couple of seasons, but 90% of it was still a straight procedural. This wasn't unprecedented either, Season 8 has a lot of character focus and sub-plots running throughout.
Google "Farscape series" and you get 3,280,000 results
Google "Firefly series" and you get 13,300,000 results
Admittedly some of those firefly results are probably actually about bugs, but that's still a HUGE disparity. IMHO, if there was justice in the world those results would have at least been even.
As for Community, I guess what annoys me is that people keep seeing it as the equal or lesser to a bunch of inferior sitcoms like Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, and even 30 Rock. As far as I'm concerned it is lightyears ahead of any sitcom on broadcast television.
Neverending 08-25-2011 02:18 AM
Community is too recent of a show. I would wait a while before complaining. Keep in mind that even Seinfeld took a few years before people started to give a s--t. Cheers was a total flop till The Cosby Show became its lead-in.
Community will start its 3rd season in a few weeks and it airs on a 4th place network. I think it makes sense that most people don't give a s--t just yet.
Deexan 08-25-2011 03:41 AM
I always manage to forget about Oz, I used to love that show. Keep meaning to pick up the series on DVD.
Neverending 08-25-2011 04:54 AM
I think Oz had too much penis and jail-rape for most male audiences. I remember when that show premiered that's all everyone talked about.
JBond 08-25-2011 05:04 AM
That's all I know about it.
Ramplate 08-25-2011 05:06 AM
Big Bang Theory - I've only watched that a couple of times but I laughed really hard.
I think that's a good one
Deexan 08-25-2011 05:37 AM
A lot of penises and rape? I don't remember the exact penis to minutes ratio but I don't recall it being excessive, and it was no doubt all in the name of realism.
It's been a while though so I may be mistaken and there could be a 5 minute scene of some guy dangling his junk in front of the camera in every episode before the credits roll.
JBond 08-25-2011 06:10 AM
*Queue's it in Netflix*
Alien 08-25-2011 10:57 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2770677)
Well, I shouldn't be.
You hate Pixar and you hate Firefly... Is this all some sort of act to be noticed?
I liked Farscape but Firefly was better.
Neverending 08-26-2011 01:47 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deexan (Post 2770721)
I don't recall it being excessive
It doesn't really matter. Most AMERICAN men are uncomfortable with male nudity and gay sex. It has only been in recent years that the penis has become more -- accepted. But gay (non-lesbian) sex is a LONG way from reaching that level. Remember all the "jokes" when Brokeback Mountain was released?
Oz is always gonna be under-rated and overlooked as long as guys are uncomfortable with the show.
PG Cooper 10-30-2011 08:32 AM
For Halloween, my top five favourite horror films:
5. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
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Release date: September 2nd, 1978
Running time: 127 minutes
Written by: George A. Romero
Directed by: George A. Romero
Starring: Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, David Emge, and Gaylen Ross
One of the arguments that constantly divides film fans is what’s better, Night of the Living Dead or Dawn of the Dead? While I love both, it’s no question that Dawn of the Dead is my favourite. The story is simple, a group of people hold up in a mall during a zombie apocalypse. All the characters are likable and interesting in their own way, with Ken Foree and Scott Reiniger being especially cool. There’s also a lot of great lines and the music kicks ass. And of course there’s Tom Savini’s classic make-up effects. But what I think really makes this film work is the incredible balancing act it pulls off. It manages to be an effective horror film, but it’s also a fun film that has a sense of humour. On top of that, the film has several themes revolving around materialism and society, yet none of it feels forced. The film is also one of the most re-watchable films of all time. I could watch it again and again and I never get tired of it. Zombies are just as popular today as ever, with movies like Zombieland and shows like The Walking Dead being very successful. If your a fan of these and wanna brush up on your classics, you gotta check out Dawn of the Dead.
4. The Shining
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Release date: May 23rd, 1980
Running time: 144 minutes
Written by: Stanley Kubrick and Diane Johnson
Based on: The novel of the same name by Stephen King
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers
I’m sure any fan of the novel reading this is gonna hate this choice. A lot of people, including author Stephen King himself, criticize the film for not being very true to King’s novel. Maybe it isn’t a good adaptation (I’ve never read the novel) but I really don’t care since The Shining is an example of good film making, plain and simple. The plot revolves around a family spending the Winter season as caretakers of the Overlook Hotel. The son is plagued by super natural premonitions and the father is a writer who slowly loses his sanity. Stanley Kubrick was an extraordinary director, and The Shining is one of several great films from him. Kubirck’s visual style brings a lot to the film, and the direction really ramps up the suspense and terror. The cast is really good too, with great performance from Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, and an unforgettable appearance by Joe Turkel. But it’s Jack Nicholson who really steals the show here. It’s an iconic performance that has been the subject of tribute and parody since 1980. Hell, his “Here’s Johnny” line alone has gone down in history as one of the greatest movie quotes of all time. But really, there’s something interesting about every line Nicholson says. What’s really scary about the film isn’t just when Jack loses it near the end, but also just the sheer psychological effect the film has on the viewer. For whatever reason, The Shining opened to a lukewarm reception and was the only of Kubirck’s final nine films to not receive any Oscar or Golden Globe nominations. But in recent years, critics have come to see The Shining for what it is; a masterpiece.
3. The Terminator
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Release date: October 26th, 1984
Running time: 108 minutes
Written by: James Cameron, Gale Ann Hurd, and William Wisher, Jr.
Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
I know a lot of people don’t view The Terminator as a horror film, but it is. It’s pretty much a slasher where the slasher uses a gun instead of stabbing weapon. But if you look at it, it’s a mostly silent, masked killer, stalking a young girl. On his path of destruction, he kills several others on his path. He’s indestructible and will stop at nothing to get his prey. The movie even ends with a young girl on her own, terrified and hurt, desperately trying to bring down her assailant. But it’s not just the structural details that make this a horror film. The film has a very dark and chilling atmosphere, one which is reflected in it’s colour and cinematography. The film has a very dark and bleak look to it, and the music has a techno nightmare sort of feel, fitting given the nature of the story. The film also has one of the scariest and most iconic villains of all time with Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, the role that launched him into super stardom. I also think Michael Biehn is awesome as the film’s hero, Kyle Reese. While it’s often over-shadowed by it’s equally good but larger scale sequel, The Terminator is a classic in it’s own right and one of the most overlooked horror films of all time.
2. Se7en
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Release date: September 22nd, 1995
Running time: 128 minutes
Written by: Andrew Kevin Walker
Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and R.Lee Ermey
Not just one of my favourite horror films, but one of my favourite films of all time. Two detectives are trailing a serial killer who kills his victims based on the seven deadly sins. There are two things that make this film scary. One is the atmosphere. Se7en is easily one of the most depressing and bleak films I’ve ever scene. Every scene is covered in rain, and dark skies. Hell, the character of Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is tired and broken down by the world. He looks at life with a cynical perspective and just doesn’t want to deal with it anymore. The movie also ends on an incredibly dark note (the infamous “box” scene), with the final line especially being one that really hits you. The other think that makes this film scary is the killer John Doe, and his motivations for killing. All his victims are technically sinners and when Doe talks about why he killed them, you understand where he’s coming from, even if you don’t agree with him. It’s scary the way the film makes you understand the monster. John Doe is also played brilliantly. I won’t say who the actor is, because the film goes out of it’s way to make it a surprise. I will say it’s an amazing performance from one of my favourite actors. I also should acknowledge how good Brad Pitt is, with this being one of his first big roles. Se7en also benefits from a great script with tight pacing and dialogue so good you could just listen to these characters for hours. Se7en is intense, disturbing, scary, and quite possibly David Fincher’s best film.
1. The Silence of the Lambs
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Release date: February 14th, 1991
Running time: 118 minutes
Written by: Ted Tally
Based on: The novel of the same name by Thomas Harris
Directed by: Jonathan Demme
Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glen, and Ted Levine
I have to admit, I gave a lot of thought to putting Se7en at number one. But I guess at the end of the day I’ll always come back to The Silence of the Lambs, the story of FBI agent Claurice Starling (Jodie Foster) tracking down serial killer Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) with the help of the incarcerated mad man Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). It’s interesting that a lot of the imagery in the film has become somewhat dated. The images of mutilated bodies and corpses aren’t far removed from what can now be seen on typical crime procedurals on TV today. Yet this film still manages to be absolutely horrifying. Why? Because of the characters and the situations. Buffalo Bill is one of the most underrated and scary villains of all time. Bill is a serial killer who is kidnapping women and keeps them around for a few days before shooting and skinning them. There’s also an element to Bill that the audience sort of pities. The scenes in Bill’s house are some of the most deranged bits of cinema I’ve ever seen. And of course you have Bill’s night vision goggles, those god damn goggles. What helps make the film scary is the attachment you feel to the main character Claurice Starling, who has some issues of her own. And of course, I’ve saved the best for last. We still have to talk about Hannibal. What can be said about Hannibal Lecter? He’s rightly considered one of the greatest villains of all time, all the more amazing considering he only has sixteen minutes of screen time. He leaves such an everlasting impression. Anyone who has seen this film will remember Hannibal Lecter forever (or at least until the dementia kicks in). Hannibal spends most of the film in a cell, yet he still manages to be scary. He doesn’t need to be outside to hurt you, he can break you down without lifting a finger. All it takes is a cold stare and a few words. And of course the scene where Hannibal fully reveals the monster (I won’t spoil what happens) is completely brilliant and one of the greatest horror scenes of all time. I know a lot of people don’t consider this a horror film, but I personally can’t think of a film that has filled me with as much fear and dread. The Silence of the Lambs, one of my favourite horror films, and one of my favourite films of all time.
PG Cooper 11-02-2011 04:44 PM
Well I'm glad this list was popular :rolleyes:
Doomsday 11-02-2011 06:07 PM
I'm thinking of doing a list of my top 5 favorite horror films for this thread. Would anyone be interested in reading it?
Alien 11-02-2011 06:10 PM
I thought the old Dawn of the Dead sucked.
The Shining was ruined by The Simpsons versions. I just couldn't watch it without laughing at the Simpsons jokes.
Terminator? Horror? Great movie but I'm not sure I'd call it Horror. Actually the same can be said for Se7en and Silence of the Lambs.
Ramplate 11-02-2011 09:54 PM
My top 5 Horror Films
The Exorcist has to be #1
The Omen (original) is #2
John Carpenter's The Thing is #3
Halloween (original) is #4
Psycho (original) is #5
Classic Horror:
Frankenstein (original)
Dracula (original)
Night of the Living Dead (original)
The Birds
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (original)
Dracula 11-02-2011 11:54 PM
I meant to come here and say "Night of the Living Dead > Dawn of the Dead," but I forgot.
PG Cooper 11-03-2011 02:07 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alien (Post 2777113)
I thought the old Dawn of the Dead sucked.
Yeah, I read your blog post, we clearly disagree
Quote:
Terminator? Horror? Great movie but I'm not sure I'd call it Horror. Actually the same can be said for Se7en and Silence of the Lambs.
I know they aren't commonly considered horror, but I stand by them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramplate (Post 2777128)
The Exorcist has to be #1
Almost made my list.
Quote:
Psycho (original) is #5
I love Psycho, but I only saw it for the first time recently, and want to give it more time to sink in.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2777140)
I meant to come here and say "Night of the Living Dead > Dawn of the Dead," but I forgot.
I think Night is scarier, but Dawn is a better film on the whole.
Doomsday 11-03-2011 03:09 PM
I'm not a big enough horror film fan to make a unique top 5 list, but I really enjoy the Gregory Peck version of The Omen, Diabolique, Psycho and The Exorcist.
Dracula 11-03-2011 03:43 PM
I watched The Exorcist again recently and enjoyed it for its craft, but could someone please explain to me what Satan's plan was supposed to be in that movie. I mean, if you're going to go through the trouble of possessing someone don't you think it would make more sense to possess someone powerful like the President or someone with the code to launch a nuclear missile, not a twelve year old girl? And one he gets around to possessing the twelve year old girl shouldn't he actually do something with her rather than just do a bunch of parlor tricks in front of four or five people while locked in a room? I don't get it.
PG Cooper 11-03-2011 04:06 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2777178)
I watched The Exorcist again recently and enjoyed it for its craft, but could someone please explain to me what Satan's plan was supposed to be in that movie. I mean, if you're going to go through the trouble of possessing someone don't you think it would make more sense to possess someone powerful like the President or someone with the code to launch a nuclear missile, not a twelve year old girl? And one he gets around to possessing the twelve year old girl shouldn't he actually do something with her rather than just do a bunch of parlor tricks in front of four or five people while locked in a room? I don't get it.
I got the impression that he could only posses those who felt weak or depressed. Regan was feeling like this after her father hadn't called her on her birthday. That's why he doesn't posses just anybody. As for his overall plan, I think he just wanted to claim her soul, and he needed to stay within her to do that.
Edit: Actually, apparently the demon within Regan isn't the Devil and is actually called Pazuzu. But I'm going to continue thinking it's the devil because A. they never call the demon Pazuzu in the first film and B. the name Pazuzu is stupid.
Alien 11-03-2011 04:15 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2777178)
I watched The Exorcist again recently and enjoyed it for its craft, but could someone please explain to me what Satan's plan was supposed to be in that movie. I mean, if you're going to go through the trouble of possessing someone don't you think it would make more sense to possess someone powerful like the President or someone with the code to launch a nuclear missile, not a twelve year old girl? And one he gets around to possessing the twelve year old girl shouldn't he actually do something with her rather than just do a bunch of parlor tricks in front of four or five people while locked in a room? I don't get it.
If I had to guess, he was probably just really bored. He doesn't have a lot to do so he just likes to jump around and do anything that gives him a little giggle.
FranklinTard 11-03-2011 04:25 PM
jaws tops my list. and it isn't even close.
Ramplate 11-03-2011 05:18 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2777178)
I watched The Exorcist again recently and enjoyed it for its craft, but could someone please explain to me what Satan's plan was supposed to be in that movie. I mean, if you're going to go through the trouble of possessing someone don't you think it would make more sense to possess someone powerful like the President or someone with the code to launch a nuclear missile, not a twelve year old girl? And one he gets around to possessing the twelve year old girl shouldn't he actually do something with her rather than just do a bunch of parlor tricks in front of four or five people while locked in a room? I don't get it.
It has to do with the use of the Ouija board.
As the common lore goes - Divination and channeling are dangerous for the uninitiated. When you use such a device you are opening yourself up (becoming a portal) to whomever, or whatever, finds you (Especially if you use it alone like Reagan does in the movie). At first they will usually act in a harmless manner giving goofy answers or statements that seem to ring true and/or helpful.
The entity is not really omniscient however, and supposedly tricks you by reading surface thoughts, or replying with something that sounds fun or convincing. This is to gain your confidence and further access into your psyche - then it turns on you, and grabs hold.
Corruption of an innocent, weak minded, weak willed individual is the goal, and also the best bet to control. It feeds on fear and the ability to corrupt. It becomes a test of the faithful and finding inner strength. In the book The Rite they explain it as a test that God actually allows - as God is more powerful than Satan, which is precisely why invoking the name of God and others works so well in commanding Satan and the rest. (Satan, originally being an angel who was in service of God before leaving heaven with other fallen followers all still have to answer to him.)
The book and movie are based on a case back in 1949 where a young Cottage City, Maryland boy Ronald Hunkeler, was compromised by a favorite aunt when she and he used a Ouija board and engaged in other similar activities together.
img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...te/hunkler.jpg
After her death, he was apparently still communicating with her, and he grew to be very aggressive and just not himself and the house became active with unexplainable noises around the young teenager.
The bed shook, claw marks spelled things in his flesh, things flew through the air, and after checking with doctors, they took him to the Jesuits. They found him too much to handle and he was sent to the Catholics of Saint Louis University where he was treated unsuccessfully - until they moved him to an isolated part of the psych ward at Alexian Brothers Hospital.
He is apparently still alive and doesn't talk about it. All the properties are long since gone - except 8435 Roanoke Drive in St Louis where he visited relatives before being taken to the hospital situation.
img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/14660328.jpg
It was pretty much the same deal with Anneliese Michel The Exorcism of Emily Rose case in Germany in the mid 70's - God used her as a messenger for the faithful.
img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ese-Michel.jpg
docstop 11-05-2011 08:23 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by FranklinTard (Post 2777181)
jaws tops my list. and it isn't even close.
Easily on top of mine too.
Ramplate 11-05-2011 09:48 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by docstop (Post 2777280)
Easily on top of mine too.
I would almost have to sneak Jaws on my list somewhere or in honorable mention, because the book scared the bejeebers out if me - I wouldn't swim for a whole summer even in a pond lol. It has a realness that the others don't
docstop 11-05-2011 09:50 AM
I don't know how to swim and oddly enough have never flown anywhere. Based on many airplane movies (ie plane crashes, terrorists etc.) and then Jaws, my motivations have been negatively affected to accomplish both.
FranklinTard 11-05-2011 11:23 AM
safest way to travel statistically is flying though. so don't be irrational or anything...
Ramplate 11-05-2011 12:16 PM
Yeah but that's only because there are more cars than planes (but when a car crashes you don't usually get 200 casualties)
Ramplate 11-05-2011 01:44 PM
Found a better picture of "the exorcist house" on Roanoke Drive
www.thecabinet.com/darkdestin...1186507875.jpg
It was owned by his uncle and was where an exorcism took place before he was moved to the hospital for more exorcism.
IanTheCool 11-05-2011 02:34 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramplate (Post 2777307)
Yeah but that's only because there are more cars than planes (but when a car crashes you don't usually get 200 casualties)
Maybe when YOUR car crashes you don't.
JBond 11-05-2011 03:41 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by IanTheCool (Post 2777328)
Maybe when YOUR car crashes you don't.
Nice.
FranklinTard 11-05-2011 05:05 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramplate (Post 2777307)
Yeah but that's only because there are more cars than planes (but when a car crashes you don't usually get 200 casualties)
that is incorrect actually. that stat i mentioned takes that into account and considers all things equal.
pilots have years and years of training, we give permits to 15 year olds. you tell me which one you think is more responsible.
Dracula (et al.)'s Top Ten Thread
Yeah, I know there are too many of these threads... but **** it, I have some lists I need to get off my chest. I don't think I'll be doing lists one after another though so between my lists (and only between them) I'm going to open this thread up to anyone else who wants to do a list but doesn't want to open up a thread of their own.
Top Ten Extremely Popular Musicians that I Hate
My city currently has two virtually identical Top 40 stations and no real Urban station, which means that if I want to hear the latest Kanye or Lil Wayne track while I’m driving I need to sit through a lot of horrible horrible music. Even if I don’t put up with the garbage on the radio I’m still inundated with a ton of crap every day on TV or over mall P.A. systems etc. These ten artists are the worst offenders. All of these have two things in common: 1. They are extremely popular right now, and 2. Their music id devoid of any redeeming qualities. Also note that this list only consists of people that I feel personally inundated by, there are some very popular “artists” who would make the list but who I’ve successfully managed to avoid most of the time and thus cannot legitimately complain about.
10. Bruno Mars
This one was a bit of a borderline choice because I do think that Mars has some legitimate talent as a producer, but his solo music annoys me to no end. To be perfectly frank, Bruno Mars is a pussy… at least that seems to be what he wants the women of America to think, which would be fine if I didn’t think it was completely insincere. His track record of pandering love songs like Nothin’ on You and Just the Way You Are do for R&B what Michael Bolton did to Rock, he writes songs that he thinks women want to hear. His attempt to sound like a regular bro trying to chill out on The Lazy Song doesn’t help his case for sincerity one bit either.
9. Far East Movement
This group might not have quite the volume of annoying songs as some of these, but the ones they have released more than make up for that in their annoyingness. Like a G6 in particular makes me angry in it’s party-centric stupidity and ridiculous boasts which are particularly tough to believe when coming out of the mouths of these studio nerds. I highly doubt that when sober girls are around any of these people that they be “ac’in’ like they drunk” or that any of them “keep it gangsta, poppin bottles at the crib.” And the sizzurp references sound particularly late to the game (that **** is so 2004). Granted, all of this would probably be slightly less offensive in its proper environment, clubs, but on the radio it is musical diarrhea.
8. Susan Boyle
This one is a little different than the rest because Boyle isn’t a radio presence in the way the other ones are, but her dominance of the Billboard chart is sickening enough that she’s still making the list. I won’t even get in to how clearly manufactured her emergence on reality TV was and if she had remained a Youtube meme I wouldn’t really care, but then she had to release albums that consist entirely of mediocre covers which have somehow sold better than anything put out by actual musicians. Her first album went seven times platinum, that’s seven million copies in the U.S. alone, what the hell? What’s most sickening about this is that I doubt many of the people who bought those albums even listen to them, they just seem to think it’s their duty to make this woman rich out of some sort of sense of charity… it’s madness.
To Be Continued...
MasterChief117 05-31-2011 02:44 PM
Agree on every single one thus far, especially Bruno Mars.
Doomsday 05-31-2011 03:03 PM
In all honesty, I'm really looking forward to the lists you're gonna put out.
PG Cooper 05-31-2011 03:10 PM
I only know about Boyle, and I've never heard a single one of her songs. I guess I'm good at avoiding terrible musicians.
JBond 05-31-2011 03:29 PM
Boyle's still popular?
Dracula 05-31-2011 03:44 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBond (Post 2758708)
Boyle's still popular?
Her last album (released November 2010) stayed number 1 on the Billboard chart for five weeks and has gone has sold five million copies worldwide (the fifth best of the year). What's more, her 2009 debut album sold seven million copies over the course of 2010, making it the number one album of 2010. So yeah, she's still popular.
JBond 05-31-2011 04:15 PM
Geez...
Deexan 05-31-2011 07:07 PM
I never listen to commercial radio or the charts nowadays, so thankfully a lot of the flavour-of-the-week crap passes me by. If someone asked me to name or hum the tune to a Justin Bieber song right now I genuinely would have no clue and I plan on keeping it that way.
I will admit to liking Boyle's cover of Wild Horses though... :redface:
But then I'd never heard the original or been into the Stones so the covering aspect doesn't bother me.
IanTheCool 05-31-2011 09:54 PM
I have no idea who Far East Movement is.
PsYkOoOoO 05-31-2011 10:51 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by IanTheCool (Post 2758737)
I have no idea who Far East Movement is.
Like a G6, like a G6.
Doomsday 05-31-2011 11:47 PM
I didn't know who they were either until you put that.
It would be nice to see some Dave Matthews or Bon Jovi, but hey it's not my list.
Dracula 06-01-2011 12:37 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doomsday (Post 2758749)
I didn't know who they were either until you put that.
It would be nice to see some Dave Matthews or Bon Jovi, but hey it's not my list.
Yeah, this is more about people who are really popular on the Billboard charts right this instant (and who need to be stopped), it's not a hall of shame if you will.
Without further ado...
7. The Cast of Glee
This isn’t a list about Television quality, so I’ll leave my opinions about the show at the center of all this to myself. I’m also not going to waste time arguing about the quality or lack thereof of the various tracks that this show has somehow managed to launch to fame. What I’m going to question is why anyone in their right mind would spend money on Itunes to by any of these note-for- note covers when the original better versions are readily available. I guess I could see kids not knowing any better than to pick up these tracks over the original when it comes to classic songs, but why they would also do this for current chart-toppers is simply bizarre.
6. Taylor Swift
One of things that most baffled me about the whole “Imma’ Let You Finish” episode was just how little people seemed to care about the fact that Kanye is both clearly a better artist than Swift and also completely correct in his assessment that giving an award to Swift is a ridiculous thing to do. Taylor Swift’s entire career is based on the incredibly stupid premise that it’s a good idea to mix the two worst genres of music: bubblegum pop and country. Add to the equation the fact that every one of her corny songs sounds like it was taken straight from the diary of a thirteen year old and you’ve got some pretty bad music. The only reason she’s not higher on the list is that her music has been slightly more avoidable than some of the people in the top five.
5. Chris Brown
I was originally going to show this guy some mercy, but then when I looked at his discography and was reminded of the sheer quantity of annoying songs he had I realized he needed to be in the top five. Also, make no mistake this has nothing to do with the whole Rihanna thing, that certainly adds to my distaste for the guy but I hated his music long before that. If anything that whole episode just revealed how ridiculous the squeaky clean image he’s fostered was and how much of a phony he’s always been. He’s a poor man’s Usher, and Usher himself would have made the list as well if I didn’t have some residual goodwill for some of his older songs like "Burn" and "Yeah."
4. Enrique Iglesias
I’m willing to forgive and forget this guy for having been part of the whole Ricky Martin thing back in the late 90s, this is a list about modern “artists” I hate after all, but then Iglesias had to go and make one of the most inexplicable and annoying comebacks of all time. There’s something really disconcerting about hearing this 36 year old Spaniard (who seems like he should be 46) singing party jams by modern producers. He seems like a sleazy an old European who’s showing up to a college party to **** your naive girlfriend. The charts say that he’s only gone as high as number 4 with “I Like It” and “Tonight (I’m ****ing You),” but as often as my stations play them you’d think he was topping the charts.
To Be Concluded...
PsYkOoOoO 06-01-2011 01:02 AM
Anybody else remember when Enrique Iglesias was halfway decent with HERO and BAILAMOS?
Tolkien 06-01-2011 01:31 AM
Wow, this is the first time I have absolutely nothing negative to say about Drac's posts.
Bravo, good man. Keep up the lists.
MasterChief117 06-01-2011 02:50 PM
I actually don't give much crap to Glee because I found that I do like some of their songs, however, I do not play them on regular basis and rock them out. Just some of them are okay. I do agree with your list completely thus far beyond that. Funny because everyone your mentioning I change the radio as soon as they get on.
FranklinTard 06-01-2011 03:48 PM
i actually really like the current top album, as long as its still 21 from adele. tis a good disc.
Alien 06-01-2011 05:37 PM
I like Glee but the music is normally a little boring. Either I don't know the song and just don't get into it or I know the song and like the original more. There is also the 3rd option that I know the song and hate both versions...
docstop 06-01-2011 06:55 PM
Agree with you Drac, on everyone on the list except for Taylor Swift and Susan Boyle.
PsYkOoOoO 06-01-2011 07:42 PM
Taylor Swift is over-rated and boring. She does seem like a nice human being, but we are judging her based solely on the fact that she's supposed to be a singer songwriter, right? In that case, yep.
Neverending 06-01-2011 07:49 PM
Bruno Mars is a great singer. He writes catchy music. And he's a great producer.
Taylor Swift is a teenager. Compared to her peers, she's quite good. I would love to see the lyrics you wrote in high school.
MasterChief117 06-01-2011 07:53 PM
Ew, Bruno Mars.
PG Cooper 06-01-2011 07:57 PM
I don't care how old an artist is, it shouldn't effect how their music should be judged. Just because someone is younger does not mean they have to cut them some slack.
I'm not targeting that directly at Swift mind you, I just mean in general.
Neverending 06-01-2011 08:02 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PG Cooper (Post 2758836)
I don't care how old an artist is, it shouldn't effect how their music should be judged.
So, Mozart composing music at 5 is no big deal? I think Taylor Swift is incredibly talented for her age. She writes cheesy love songs because thats all she has experienced. Look at The Beatles. What were their EARLY songs?
She Loves You - Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!
I Wanna Hold Your Hand.
I didn't want to dance with another, when I saw her standing there.
I mean, c'mon, give her 10 years and more life experience and she'll start to pump out all the classics.
Tolkien 06-01-2011 08:07 PM
...so in ten years when Swift turns into Eminem, let me know. I'll buy her album.
PG Cooper 06-01-2011 08:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758837)
So, Mozart composing music at 5 is no big deal? I think Taylor Swift is incredibly talented for her age. She writes cheesy love songs because thats all she has experienced. Look at The Beatles. What were their EARLY songs?
She Loves You - Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!
I Wanna Hold Your Hand.
I didn't want to dance with another, when I saw her standing there.
I mean, c'mon, give her 10 years and more life experience and she'll start to pump out all the classics.
That's why I said I wasn't specifically targeting Swift, just the general idea that teen musicians need to be treated differently. I firmly believe if you are recording music, which is being released on a mass scale, being listened to by millions of people, then there is no reason you should be judged any differently than other artists doing similar work. If it's some kid just playing songs for their school or something, okay, obviously you judge them differently. But when you're at the top of the music charts then things change.
Like I said, this isn't a direct attack at Swift. I've only heard one of her songs (if I've heard others, I have no recollection). I hated the one song, but for all I know, the rest are all brilliant.
Neverending 06-01-2011 08:31 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PG Cooper (Post 2758840)
the general idea that teen musicians need to be treated differently.
Taylor Swift actually writes her own music. That's the difference. You can diss Miley Cyrus because she has a team of writers and producers at her disposal. If one of her songs suck, you have a group of adults to blame. But Taylor Swift is just a kid. This is why people got upset that Kanye West dissed her. Are you really gonna insult a wide-eyed kid on national television? It's messed up.
IanTheCool 06-01-2011 08:35 PM
Plus he said Beyonce had the greatest video of all time. Um, no.
Neverending 06-01-2011 08:41 PM
Well, to be fair, Jay-Z is Kanye's boss. So, he was just sucking up. Can't blame the man for that.
PsYkOoOoO 06-01-2011 08:50 PM
Justin Bieber, while he is too easy a target, better be on the list.
Neverending 06-01-2011 09:06 PM
Justin Bieber isn't popular per say. His appeal is directed at a very SPECIFIC demographic. The general public could care less about him.
MasterChief117 06-01-2011 10:25 PM
Taylor Swift writes her music off bland emotional break up problems. She might as well be taking notes from better talent like Avril Lavigne or hell, any great rock band in the last 10 years who actually makes better music...I can't stand her. It's the same song, over and over.
PsYkOoOoO 06-01-2011 11:00 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758846)
Justin Bieber isn't popular per say. His appeal is directed at a very SPECIFIC demographic. The general public could care less about him.
That may be true, but he has grown outside of his targeted demographics, certainly. Besides, "the general public could care less" can be applied to pretty much anybody on this list, just as long as we look away. Unless, of course, they are in your face all the time.
Dracula 06-01-2011 11:40 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758833)
Taylor Swift is a teenager. Compared to her peers, she's quite good. I would love to see the lyrics you wrote in high school.
At the end of the day she's charging the same for her music as everyone else and is competing at the same award shows as anyone else and as such it should be judged at the same level. Being "good for you age is what school recitals are for, the second you start charging people to hear your work you're open game for criticism.
3. The Black Eyed Peas
We’re getting into the real **** now. The bottom seven are annoying in many ways, but these top three are the real axis of radio evil. The Black Eyed Peas (or Hologram Man, Former Meth-Addict Lady, The Other Guy, and The Other Other Guy, as Nathan Rabin calls them) probably take the cake for the sheer quantity of retarded songs to their name. They narrowly avoid the top two simply because they write their own music and Will.I.Am does occasionally prove to be a semi-competent producer… but then I remember that he also wrote the song “My Humps” and I wonder if I’m being way too nice to these guys. What do I hate about them, let me count the ways: for one they are blatant sell-out (just ask anyone who heard their pre-Fergie albums), they make inane songs about partying, they have ridiculous lyrics like “I’m so 3008, you’re just two thousand and late,” and most annoyingly they posture as some kind of voice of a generation. If this generation is really all about “I Gotta Feeling” count me out.
2. Katy Perry
Oh my god do I hate Katy Perry, in fact I pretty much just made this list so I could ***** about her. Perhaps the man I should really be mad at is Max Martin, the evil song writer behind all of her singles who has been making radio diarrhea going back to the Britney Spears/Backstreet Boys era. What I don’t get about Perry is that she doesn’t have any of the usual things that fool people into liking this kind of terrible music. She’s not overly attractive (at least not by pop star standards), her voice isn’t exactly American Idol ready, and at no point in her life is she known to have worn a dress made out of meat. And despite all of this she somehow manages to top the Billboard 100 with every damn song, even the ones about alien-sex. I’d talk at more length about how completely air-headed her music is, but I’ll save that for my discussion of…
1. Ke$ha
Where to begin with this chick… Ke$ha is like the musical equivalent of a drunk Valley-girl slut at a frat-party who thinks she’s significantly hotter than she really is. In addition to being a stupid and worthless lyricist she’s also devoid of any kind of talent. When I first heard her tipsy auto-tuned speak singing I thought it was some kind of joke… but no, it’s a multi-platinum hit. Her public persona is also rather pathetic, when she shows up to award shows or performs on talk shows she will enviably be wearing something ridiculous because hey, Lady Gaga got popular for doing that, why not rip it off? I kind of understand why some people would like some of the other artists on this list, but this one baffles me. Ke$ha is the anit-musician, she’s a cancer on popular culture and when historians look back and try to see why Western culture fell her body of work should be Exhibit A.
--------------------------
Dishonorable Mentions
Justin Bieber
I hate the concept of Justin Bieber and I hate the way people never shut up about him, I hate his wholesome Christian image, I hate that he’s essentially the return of the late 90s boy band thing, and I hate the bulls**t “discovered on Youtube” mythos that surrounds him, and I hate his ****ing hair; but his music has been surprisingly easy to avoid compared to some of these other people. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever heard a Justin Bieber song in its entirety (and I plan to keep it that way) so that makes him rather hard to criticize in any sort of legitimate way.
P!nk, Jennifer Lopez, and Britney Spears
I hate all of these people, but my complaints against them were very similar to my complaints against Enrique Iglesias (E.G. that they never should have made a comeback), so I didn’t want to beat that dead horse.
Nicki Minaj
The first time I’d ever heard Nicki was on her blazing verse on Kanye West’s son “Monster,” and hearing that I thought she might have had what it takes to bring back female rap. Since then she’s released a completely wack album, whored herself out to every kind of mainstream whim, and is almost as bad as Ke$ha is at shamelessly ripping off Lady Gaga’s fashion sense. Still, the hope that the “Monster” verse gave me is just enough to keep her off the list.
Train and Maroon 5
Make no mistake, “Hey Soul Sister” is a horrible song, possibly the worst of the last five years. Aside from that however, Train have essentially been a one hit wonder for the last decade and haven’t had the quantity of bad songs to really build up the kind of hatred that these other people have (they also never played that on either of my cities Top 40 stations very often, so it’s been somewhat avoidable). As for Maroon 5… I don’t know, I’ve never hated them as much as some people do, they’re worth avoiding but never really made me angry.
JBond 06-02-2011 12:25 AM
Black Eyed Peas. Finally something I can get behind.
Neverending 06-02-2011 01:06 AM
Black Eyed Peas are a club group. You hate them now, but walk into a club and have a hot girl grind you as Fergie sings, "I'm so 3008. You're so 2000-late" and you won't hate them.
Katy Perry has appeal for a number of reasons.
#1 - She IS hot.
#2 - Have you seen her boobs?
#3 - Most of her songs are comedic. Kanye West is rappin' about having alien sex. Are you really taking that seriously? "I Kissed a Girl and I liked it. I hope my boyfriend don't mind it." Don't you see it's a joke? "Show me your Peacock!" I mean, come on.
PsYkOoOoO 06-02-2011 01:12 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758881)
Black Eyed Peas are a club group. You hate them now, but walk into a club and have a hot girl grind you as Fergie sings, "I'm so 3008. You're so 2000-late" and you won't hate them.
If that's what you go for, hey, sure.
Neverending 06-02-2011 01:13 AM
will.i.am rocks that beat.
Dracula 06-02-2011 01:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758881)
Black Eyed Peas are a club group. You hate them now, but walk into a club and have a hot girl grind you as Fergie sings, "I'm so 3008. You're so 2000-late" and you won't hate them.
...and if the stuff stayed in a club I wouldn't mind, but these songs get played on the radio endlessly.... ENDLESSLY, and they also sell CDs and MP3s which people presumably listen to outside of clubs. And frankly, pretty much anything is going to sound tolerable if you're drunk off your ass and have a hot girl dry humping you, that's no standard. It's like saying that Battlefield Earth is a good movie so long as you have someone blowing you while you see it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758881)
Katy Perry has appeal for a number of reasons.
#1 - She IS hot.
#2 - Have you seen her boobs?
#3 - Most of her songs are comedic. Kanye West is rappin' about having alien sex. Are you really taking that seriously? "I Kissed a Girl and I liked it. I hope my boyfriend don't mind it." Don't you see it's a joke? "Show me your Peacock!" I mean, come on.
1. So are half the chicks walking down the sunset strip.
2. Have you seen Anna Kournikova's boobs? Do you want to buy an album by her?
3. If the songs are jokes, then they're jokes that failed miserably at making me laugh. Yeah, Kanye's verse on that song seems to be highlighting the absurdity of that song, but Perry's parts (which were written before Kanye made that remix) seem pretty straightforward to me. At the very best, I could maybe describe Perry as being "self-aware," and that's why she came in second to Ke$ha (who's the very definition of "shameless") but that's about it.
Nilade 06-02-2011 02:49 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2758887)
It's like saying that Battlefield Earth is a good movie so long as you have someone blowing you while you see it.
:lol:
MasterChief117 06-02-2011 03:26 AM
Dracula is right on point with this. I completely agree. Mainstream music has pretty much ruined the image of music.
Tolkien 06-02-2011 07:17 AM
Hot damn, Drac's on a role in here.
Deexan 06-02-2011 07:18 AM
Have you tried maintaining an erection during Battlefield Earth? Easier said than done.
docstop 06-02-2011 08:09 AM
With you Drac, on the dislike of Katy Perry. I had to walk off the graduation stage listening to "Fireworks," which totally sucks. After all the stern and solemn speeches it felt like all the students were told not to really care about there accomplishment because of the culture crap music at the end.
Doomsday 06-02-2011 10:43 AM
Welp, I am officially ending my top 10 thread now.
Neverending 06-02-2011 10:57 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2758887)
...and if the stuff stayed in a club I wouldn't mind, but these songs get played on the radio endlessly.... ENDLESSLY
Because will.i.am has sick beats.
Quote:
I could maybe describe Perry as being "self-aware,"
She's totally self-aware. Anyone who writes a song called, "Show Me Your Peacock" is self-aware.
JBond 06-02-2011 03:24 PM
I can't tell if you're trying to make bad points after every post anymore.
IanTheCool 06-02-2011 07:08 PM
Great choices for #1 and 2. Kesha is just.... terrible. She's the epitome of a stupid, brainless, text-crazy 20 year old.
MasterChief117 06-02-2011 08:42 PM
Kanye West makes ET okay. Without him, it'd be a REALLY bad song. I mean, he doesn't even rap good. That's just how bad the song is.
Dracula 06-02-2011 09:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2758957)
She's totally self-aware. Anyone who writes a song called, "Show Me Your Peacock" is self-aware.
Just because she knows her crap is stupid does not change the fact that it's stupid. I'm sure the people who made Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, and Vampires Suck realize that they're making dumb juvenile movies... that doesn't justify making the crap.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MasterChief117 (Post 2759040)
Kanye West makes ET okay. Without him, it'd be a REALLY bad song. I mean, he doesn't even rap good. That's just how bad the song is.
Yeah, a half-assed Kanye verse is going to be better than anything Katy Perry will ever do.
krushgroove19 06-02-2011 11:37 PM
I like the list, specifically that Susan Boyle's on it. My top three worst would be Train, Jason Mraz, and Five for Fighting, simply based on how often they pop up on the radio at work.
bbf2 06-02-2011 11:55 PM
I honestly think that Dracula could make a post saying "The Holocaust was bad", and Neverending would try to disagree with him and try to debate him about it.
Doomsday 06-03-2011 12:00 AM
Define 'bad.'
donny 06-03-2011 12:06 AM
Damn Jews.
JBond 06-03-2011 12:39 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doomsday (Post 2759066)
Define 'bad.'
:funny:
Dracula 06-03-2011 12:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbf2 (Post 2759065)
I honestly think that Dracula could make a post saying "The Holocaust was bad", and Neverending would try to disagree with him and try to debate him about it.
Neverending and I seem to have certain... philosophical differences... about how serious pop culture should be, and it comes up a lot. I don't think there's anything malicious going on.
Neverending 06-03-2011 01:04 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2759044)
Just because she knows her crap is stupid does not change the fact that it's stupid.
I don't think she's trying to be stupid. She's just trying to add humor. If Ke$ha is the party girl. Katy Perry is the chick who stays at home and does arts & crafts. Watch her videos. That's the vibe she gives out. Ur So Gay was her playing with dolls. California Gurls is her and Snoop Dogg playing board games. She's the girliest pop star at the moment. Everyone else either whores it out or is wholesome. Even I Kiss a Girl was pretty tame. You'd think that video would be a bunch of lesbians making out or something. But it's just her goofing off.
You asked what her appeal was... and that's what it is. She's girly enough that females like her. But her songs range from kissing girls to asking guys to show her their penis to alien sex. So, guys are like, "whoa. whoa. whoa. What's this?"
She keeps both genders interested. As a BUSINESS woman. She's got it. That's why all her songs are #1. She knows how to play the game.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbf2 (Post 2759065)
I honestly think that Dracula could make a post saying "The Holocaust was bad", and Neverending would try to disagree with him and try to debate him about it.
Only if Mel Gibson was here to back me up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2759083)
Neverending and I seem to have certain... philosophical differences... about how serious pop culture should be, and it comes up a lot. I don't think there's anything malicious going on.
Hey...
at the end of the day,
we have Angelina Jolie and Salt.
MasterChief117 06-03-2011 11:44 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbf2 (Post 2759065)
I honestly think that Dracula could make a post saying "The Holocaust was bad", and Neverending would try to disagree with him and try to debate him about it.
Hahahahhaha. This made me laugh out loud! That's so on point.
Dhamon22 06-08-2011 04:28 PM
Great list Drac. I think the fact that there have been no follow ups says alot.
Whats next?
Doomsday 06-08-2011 05:20 PM
That's it, he's done.
Dracula 06-08-2011 05:30 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dhamon22 (Post 2760316)
Great list Drac. I think the fact that there have been no follow ups says alot.
Whats next?
Something that I'll write after I finish my Tree of Life review and my next Finding Pixar installment.
Dhamon22 06-08-2011 06:06 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doomsday (Post 2760326)
That's it, he's done.
Say it isn't so!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2760327)
Something that I'll write after I finish my Tree of Life review and my next Finding Pixar installment.
Sounds good.
Neverending 06-13-2011 11:51 PM
I will never understand Dracula's hatred for Katy Perry. Check out the video for Last Friday Night. It's so cute.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Tolkien 06-14-2011 06:17 PM
talk about overkill with that mouth guard and outfit. Soooo not cute in this.
Dracula 06-16-2011 12:16 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2761185)
I will never understand Dracula's hatred for Katy Perry. Check out the video for Last Friday Night. It's so cute.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Watched about two minutes of that... it's not helping her case. And frankly, I don't care how good her videos are, that wasn't a list of the best short film makers, it was a list of musicians.
Neverending 06-16-2011 12:37 AM
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Dracula 06-20-2011 01:18 AM
Feel like sticking to music for a while (don't get as many chances to talk about it).
Top Ten Double-Albums
We now live in a world where many think albums are obsolete. **** that. As far as I’m concerned albums are and always have been the ultimate medium by which an artist should be judged. That said I can understand how buying songs ala carte can be appealing to people and a big part of their weariness comes from artists who just don’t really have what it takes to construct an entire album worth of solid material. That makes it all the more impressive when an artist will have the vision and the talent to put together not one but two albums worth of material into a single package. That’s what we’ll be looking at today. Keep in mind that I’m limiting this to CD double albums and not vinyl double albums, that means the album needs to run a full 80 minutes in order to be eligible (sorry London Calling). I’m also not including double albums that were released separately like Use Your Illusion, and of course I’m not including live albums or compilations. Also keep in mind that I’m trying to judge these albums based on how they use their format not necessarily overall quality, consistency is key, I’m looking for albums that prove that they really did need to be as long as they are and which avoid filler.
10. “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” by Outkast
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-lovebelow.jpg
Released: 2003
Running Time: 135 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Compact Disc
RIAA Certification: 11x Platinum (5.5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "Hey Ya!," "The Way You Move," "Roses."
I struggled with this one for a couple of reasons, chief among them being that it’s basically two separate solo albums by two different people being released in a single package. Is that cheating? Probably. But who says that the double album format needs to be done the same way every time? I also struggled with the choice because it can at times (especially on Andre 3000’s overlong second disc) seem like the kind of overlong double album (it’s easily the longest on the list, and also by far the newest) that gives the format a bad name. Still, it’s a fine album and looking back the double album format was a pretty cool way that the two members of this group could express their independent visions while remaining a duo.
9. “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” by The Smashing Pumpkins
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...te_Sadness.jpg
Released: 1995
Running Time: 121 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Compact Disc and 3x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: 9x Platinum (4.5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "Bullet with Butterfly Wings," "1979," "Tonight, Tonight," "Zero."
This is the other album I struggled with when putting together this list (I probably should have made it a top eight list in the name of purity, but oh well). This thing has filler, lots of it. It is not, however, unnecessary filler. This is a loose concept album intended to depict the entirety of human life (and it won’t be the first such album on the list). Each disc is titled Dawn to Dusk and Twilight to Starlight respectively, and it goes from youthful exuberance (Tonight, Tonight) to adolescent angst (Bullet with Butterfly Wings and Zero) to eventual nostalgia (1979). Sprawling examinations of life just aren’t going to be concise, and if I’m going to include something with a bunch of filler it’s going to be something that has purpose behind said filler.
8. “The River” by Bruce Springsteen
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._The_River.jpg
Released: 1980
Running Time: 84 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: 5x Platinum (2.5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: “The River,” "The Ties That Bind," "Cadillac Ranch."
Springsteen would score a big hit with Born to Run, an exuberant portrait of small town bumpkins. He’d follow it up with The Darkness at the Edge of Town, an album witch (as the title implies) looked at the darker side of blue collar life. His next album, The River, sort of splits the difference between the two visions. The Boss was trying to make the ultimate statement about the themes he’d been building upon with this epic, and while he doesn’t quite achieve that, he still managed to write a lot of really good songs like Cadillac Ranch and the particularly tragic title track.
JBond 06-20-2011 02:29 AM
Hmm, my favorites are: White Album, The Wall, Tommy (but that's only double vinyl) and Physical Graffiti.
Neverending 06-20-2011 03:07 AM
By the way, it should be noted that Dracula considers "fillers" to be bad songs. And not what fillers actually are which is skits, instrumentals, and other stuff that artists use to fill up an album.
Ramplate 06-20-2011 04:30 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBond (Post 2762030)
Hmm, my favorites are: White Album, The Wall, Tommy (but that's only double vinyl) and Physical Graffiti.
Tommy is only double vinyl? I have the CD and I haven't played it in a while, but I'm pretty sure there must be two. It's a thick jewel case.
Yessongs would be on my list in addition to your list Jibbs.
Also Woodstock.
Dracula 06-20-2011 10:08 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2762032)
By the way, it should be noted that Dracula considers "fillers" to be bad songs. And not what fillers actually are which is skits, instrumentals, and other stuff that artists use to fill up an album.
Not necessarily bad songs, just songs that are mediocre and not up to the standards set by the albums highlights. Songs that go against the phrase "all killer, no filler."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramplate (Post 2762040)
Tommy is only double vinyl? I have the CD and I haven't played it in a while, but I'm pretty sure there must be two. It's a thick jewel case.
Yessongs would be on my list in addition to your list Jibbs.
Also Woodstock.
Tommy in its traditional form is 75 minutes long, the CD you have might be a deluxe edition or it might be an early CD from before the time that they could fit 80 minutes onto one disc.
Deexan 06-20-2011 10:28 AM
I'm expecting some Big Poppa.
Ramplate 06-20-2011 11:47 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2762071)
Tommy in its traditional form is 75 minutes long, the CD you have might be a deluxe edition or it might be an early CD from before the time that they could fit 80 minutes onto one disc.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...albumcover.jpg
Tommy was originally released as a two-LP set with a booklet including lyrics and images to illustrate parts of the story...
...Polydor Records re-released the album on compact disc in the UK in 1983. The CDs were packaged in a double CD case...
...MCA re-released the album in the United States as a two-CD set in 1984...
...Polydor Records released a newly remixed version on a single disc in 1996...
...In 2003 Tommy was made available as a deluxe two-disc hybrid SACD with a 5.1 multi-channel mix...
...It should be noted, that the initial deluxe hybrid SACD edition was replaced in 2005 in Europe by a stereo-only two-CD set in similar packaging.
I believe I have the 1984 version, but it's always been 2 except for the 1996 version.
Dracula 06-20-2011 04:01 PM
7. “Wheels of Fire” by Cream
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Released: 1968
Running Time: 81 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: Gold (250,000 units)
Most Famous Songs: "White Room," "Crossroads," "Spoonful."
This one was tricky because while one disc is a studio album, the other one was actually recorded live. That would seem to go against my “no live albums” criteria, but because only one of the songs on the live disc had been previously featured on a U.S. LP, I’m going to allow it. The material itself is psychedelic blues that’s well within the high standards that this supergroup had set on its previous albums. The song “White Room” is a classic of the era, and while none of the other songs are iconic singles on that level it’s still quality work. It’s the oldest album on the list, and the lowest selling, but Spoonful still sounds great.
6. “Sign ☮ the Times” by Prince
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Released: 1987
Running Time: 80 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: Platinum (500,000 units)
Most Famous Songs: "U Got the Look," "Sign ☮ the Times," "If I Was Your Girlfriend."
Double albums often come at the end of long streaks of immense creativity and commercial success; they’re like victory runs where artists purge their leftover ideas so that they can move on to their next phase. Sign ☮ the Times is a lot like that, in fact Prince originally wanted it to be a three LP set but had to cut it down at his record label’s insistence. This also marked a transition in that it was his first album since his commercial breakthrough that was made without his band The Revolution. It’s a really experimental album that can get pretty deep into Prince’s weirder side, but it also produced hits like “U Got the Look."
5. “The Beatles” by The Beatles
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Released: 1968
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: 19x Platinum (9.5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "Helter Skelter," "Revolution 1," "Dear Prudence," "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," "Back in the U.S.S.R."
Speaking of albums made at the end of long streaks of immense creative and commercial success, this is probably the textbook example. Made during a period of conflict within the band, this album is all over the place with songs seemingly meant to represent every genre of traditional American music all jumbled together. The album does have some definite filler, but there’s a difference between Beatles filler and other bands’ filler. When this album is at its best it can be really amazing.
4. “Physical Graffiti” by Led Zeppelin
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Released: 1975
Running Time: 82 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: 16x Platinum (8 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "Kashmir," "Houses of the Holy," "Ten Years Gone."
Sometimes double albums just seem like an inevitability once a band has reached a certain peak of popularity, they’re almost like a rite of passage that separates the big names from the legendary names. Perhaps the best thing that could be said about Physical Graffiti is that it fits so well into Zeppelin’s discography that you forget that it’s a double album, it just feels like another awesome Zep record filled with stadium rock classics like “Kashmir” and “Houses of the Holy” and underappreciated quieter songs like “Bron-Yr-Aur” and "Down by the Seaside."
JBond 06-20-2011 04:06 PM
Cool.
Glad you mentioned Bron-Yr-Aur.
Ramplate 06-20-2011 05:40 PM
4. “Physical Graffiti” by Led Zeppelin
excellent - i forgot that one
Dracula 06-21-2011 04:58 PM
3. “The Wall” by Pink Floyd
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Released: 1979
Running Time: 81 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: 23x Platinum (11.5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2," "Comfortably Numb," "Hey You."
Pink Floyd’s trippy concept album “The Wall” is easily the highest selling album on this list, in fact it’s the third highest selling album in the world after “Thriller” and “Back in Black.” That surprises me given that it’s an unrelentingly dark album that’s largely about its writer’s disgust with his fans. This album is so big that it actually has a movie based on it. While its central story doesn’t always make a ton of sense, and while some of the songs seem oddly fragmentary, this is a great example of how the length of a double album can be used to make a statement.
2. “Songs in the Key of Life” by Stevie Wonder
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Released: 1976
Running Time: 85 Minutes
Original Format: 2.5x Vinyl Record
RIAA Certification: 10x Platinum (5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "I Wish," "Sir Duke," "Isn't She Lovely?," "Pastime Paradise."
Another prime example of how double albums can come at the peak of an artist’s creativity. It’s kind of easy to forget just how big a deal Stevie Wonder was in the 70s, when he made Songs in the Key of Life he had just won the Album of the year grammy twice in a row and would win it again for this one (this might be a good time to mention that the Grammys LOVE double albums, five of the albums on this list were nominated for album of the year and two of them won it). The album is a poster-child for scope; Wonder uses the lengthy format in order to examine both the social issues of its (and sadly our) day and more personal material in equal measure. It is so loaded with material that Wonder needed to include a bonus EP in addition to its two LPs.
1. “Life After Death” by The Notorious B.I.G.
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Released: 1997
Running Time: 109 Minutes
Original Format: 2x Compact Disc
RIAA Certification: 10x Platinum (5 million units)
Most Famous Songs: "Hypnotize," "Mo Money Mo Problems," "Sky's the Limit," "Kick in the Door," "Notorious Thugs," "You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)."
Tupac tried to create a Hip-Hop double album with All Eyez on Me and I think he failed. That album had some good stuff on it but it was also loaded with filler and unnecessary guest artists. He wouldn’t be the first rapper to fail at it either. Jay-Z, Nas, The Wu-Tang Clan, Scarface, Bone-Thug-N-Harmony, and Master P, and others would try and fail at this endeavor and only the late Biggie Smalls would succeed (except for Outkast, who sort of cheated). This album is eleven minutes short of being two full hours. Think about that for a second. That’s almost a half-hour longer than “The Wall” and yet the album remains remarkably short on Filler. That’s not to say that every song on the album could have been some kind of hit single, but there’s hardly a song on the album that I feel the need to skip over when I listen to it. Hell, the only song on it that I don’t really care for is “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” which would be the album’s major commercial success. I’m not saying that this is a better album than, say The Beatles, but it is more consistent. This isn’t going to be a popular choice, but it feels right to me.
Deexan 06-21-2011 08:43 PM
No arguments here, almost 15 years later and I play the choice cuts off that album as often as I did back then. It's a monster.
FranklinTard 06-21-2011 10:05 PM
i remember i bought that and beck odelay in the same purchase... both still great albums, but weird in combination.
but i don't get the prince love, i really don't. never got into him.
best thing going for prince was raphael saadiq, and that was just live.
JBond 06-22-2011 01:58 AM
I always wanted to check "Songs in the Key of Life" out. I have two of his others that I enjoy.
Dracula 06-27-2011 06:35 PM
The Ten Most Memorable Uses of Songs in Movies of the Last Decade
Because the topic seems to be in vogue as of late, I thought I’d enter the fray. However, the idea of going through an entire century’s worth of song usage seemed like a daunting task and I’m not sure how my colleagues managed to do it as well as they did. I decided to narrow the focus down to just the last eleven years and focus on modern song usage in film. Like the other lists I’m just doing pre-existing songs, but I am letting in films that feature newly recorded versions of older songs. Also, and I'll be up front about this, I'm not crazy about the results of this; this wasn't as great a decade for music cues as I thought it would be, still there's some good stuff here.
10. “Extreme Ways” by Moby as featured in The Bourne Trilogy (2002, 2004, 2007)
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The Bourne series went through some radical changes when it was handed over to Paul Greengrass, but one thing that remained constant through all three movies was its use of Moby’s “Extreme Ways” (a song that seems tailor made for international espionage) in the closing shot. Normally I wouldn’t include a song that’s just being used in the credits, but I think the song’s use here is greater than that. In particular, I think that the opening chords of the song which usually play just as Bourne does something badass at the last minute really put a cap on the film and make you say “damn, the Bourne is one slick mother****er!”
9. “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphy’s as featured in The Departed (2006)
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Martin Scorsese is famous for his love of classic rock, and given that it’s surprising that his most memorable song cue of the decade is a relatively recent recording by a hardcore punk band. Granted, he did use Gimmie Shelter twice in the movie and a weird cover of Comfortably Numb that would later be reused in a key scene of The Sopranos, still, this is a pretty big leap for the old master. The song does a good job of capturing Boston and its Irish roots, but in a streetwise and modern way. It’s also used in a pretty daring way, right as a title card finally pops up some eighteen minutes into the movie.
8. Tie- “Stack-O-Lee” Traditional song performed by Samuel L. Jackson and based upon a rendition by R. L. Burnside as featured in Black Snake Moan(2007). And. “Man of Constant Sorrow” Traditional song performed by Soggy Bottom Boys as featured in O Brother Where Art Thou? (2001)
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These two songs have a lot in common; both are extremely old traditional songs that have been covered a million times, both are performed in the film by the main character, and both are featured in movies that are deeply rooted in the American South and its musical legacy. Man of Constant Sorrow is impressive in that it really does sound like the character’s are recording a hit record in the scene. George Clooney really sells his performance (even though his singing voice is dubbed in), and you can see how the characters would become famous for the recording. Stack-O-Lee is even more awesome as it features Samuel L. Jackson bringing all the fury and passion that he’s known for into a profane and violent blues song accompanied by some sexually charged yet oddly spiritual dancing by Christina Ricci.
PG Cooper 06-27-2011 08:09 PM
Love choices 10 and 9.
JBond 06-27-2011 09:12 PM
Great list so far. I know exactly what you mean about the first chord of Extreme Ways meaning Bourne just did something badass. The song is perfect.
JBond 06-28-2011 03:13 AM
Oo, I thought of one. Just Dropped In to See What Condition My Condition Was In, Kenny Rodgers, The Big Lebowski.
Nilade 06-28-2011 09:04 AM
The Smiths - Louder Than Bombs
Alien 06-28-2011 03:47 PM
Unless your tie at 8 means you're gonna have more than 10 songs sould it be tied at 7.
I'm not a big sports fan but they did teach me how ties work. Something like this:
1...
2...
3...
3...
5...
JBond 06-28-2011 04:51 PM
He combined them because they're similar, not because votes tied them up.
Dracula 06-28-2011 06:00 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alien (Post 2763193)
Unless your tie at 8 means you're gonna have more than 10 songs sould it be tied at 7.
I had 11, I didn't want to knock one off, so I combined two into the number 8 slot.
anyway...
7. “Misery” by Soul Asylum as featured in Clerks II (2006)
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This is sort of a sentimental choice, the original Clerks had long been a favorite of mine and I didn’t realize how much I’d come to care about its characters until the end of the sequel when they finally started to stop slacking and make something of themselves. There was something truly cathartic about seeing Randal and Dante buy the Quick Stop, fix it up, and take root as owners. But the cherry on top was the use of this song by Soul Asylum (a band which contributed a song to the original film), as the camera pans back and we see one of the eccentrics from the first film. It’s like the 90s came full circle.
6. “Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd as featured in The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
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From Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to Scarface, cinema is filled with movies that end with their lead character(s) being killed in a hailstorm of gunfire. In its final moments, The Devil’s Rejects enters that bullet-ridden fraternity. This comes after a movie that is deeply entrenched in a sort of Texan Americana mixed with strong violence, and when you’re going to end such a film there’s pretty much only one place you can go when having your characters shot by a bunch of deputies: Skynyrd. Even more wild is that the song is pretty much played in its entirety and the scene is done in slow motion for much of the introductory parts before really lifting off as the song gets faster.
5. “Malagueña Salerosa” Traditional song performed by Chingon as featured in Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)
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The king of modern soundtracks is Quentin Tarentino, his work is so ubiquitous in this field that I needed to actively make sure I only used one of his song choices so as not to let him dominate the list. I was tempted to choose “Chick Habbit” from Death Proof, but decided that choosing another song that basically just plays during the credits was ridiculous. Then I considered the way that he brought “Battles Without Honor or Humanity” to the forefront of popular culture, but decided to avoid instrumentals. Then I remembered this final song from Kill Bill Vol. 2. It was a bit of a cheat considering that it was actually a new recording made for the film by Robert Rodriguez’ Mexican Rock band, but it was based on a traditional mariachi song, so it counts. Kill Bill is a long crazy journey, not the easiest thing in the world to bring to a finish, but Tarentino closes the curtain beautifully with a montage that lets the entire cast take a bow over a song that is both triumphant but also a bit somber that also fits perfectly into the western feel that crept into the tale in its second part.
4. “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan as featured in Watchmen (2009)
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Zack Snyder’s adaptation of the seminal graphic novel “Watchmen” was… problematic, but if nothing else it had one of the best opening credit sequences of all time. The thing about Alan Moore’s comic series is that it rested upon an extensive decades-spanning backstory that would be very hard to portray within the timespan of even a longish movie. To at least give the audience some idea of this, while also establishing the work’s mix of superhero and alternate history fiction, Snyder put together an excellent opening montage that places its characters among iconic moments in 20th Century American history. To bring this all together he uses Bob Dylan’s folk classic, which both establishes the importance of the 60s on the story, lyrically points out the turbulence of the changing times, all while maintaining the melancholy nature of many of the images therein.
PG Cooper 06-28-2011 06:15 PM
Great batch of choices, even if they prevent me from using them when I make my list
JBond 06-28-2011 06:37 PM
I'm glad you didnt use "Halleleu" from Watchmen. That belongs on a BOTTOM 10 list.
Good call with Kill Bill.
PG Cooper 06-28-2011 06:45 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBond (Post 2763220)
I'm glad you didnt use "Halleleu" from Watchmen. That belongs on a BOTTOM 10 list.
Agreed.
iv3rdawG 06-28-2011 08:18 PM
Yeah, spot on choice with Kill Bill. I could honestly take any song from either of them and put it in a top 10 (One of the reasons it's my favorite film). My favorites being these three songs, two of which aren't even on the soundtracks for some odd reason:
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This might be my favorite scene from both movies. The image of The Bride walking through the desert is a favorite of mine and this piece of music he selected just fits perfectly.
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I just love this entire scene. It's a fantastic slow-burning setup to the House of Blue Leaves chapter and the music selection is so unlike anything throughout either of the movies it can do nothing but stick out but in a really good way.
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"The Lonely Shepherd" kind of bums me out because for The Whole Bloody Affair it isn't played over the whole ending sequence with The Bride on the plane, but rather over an intermission card, so it doesn't have that punch that it did normally, but it's still brilliant.
Ramplate 06-28-2011 08:55 PM
Yeah there are a number of Kill Bill songs you can put on such a list - it has to be one of the most recent movies in my mind that really used songs to great effect.
Bang Bang is a common theme
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Urami Bushi is also quite memorable for me
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JBond 06-28-2011 09:01 PM
One could easily make a top 10 list of Tarantino songs.
Dracula 06-30-2011 07:24 AM
3. “Sussudio” by Phil Colins as featured in American Psycho (2000)
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Sussudio is a terrible song. You’d have to be a Reagen era zombie in order to like that crap, and that’s exactly what Patrick Bateman is. But he doesn’t just like that cheesy nonsense, he revels in it and expresses it with a sort of dispassionate speech that he delivers in a monotone voice while ordering a pair of hookers to do some very kinky things. He does the same thing with Huey Lewis and Whitney Huston, but I think this scene is by far the creepiest and insightful of the three. The satire only turns up to eleven when he starts banging the prostitutes, and instead of paying any attention to either of them he starts striking comical poses in a mirror. It’s clear from the scene that there’s only one person that Bateman is really infatuated with: himself.
2. “Life’s a *****” by Nas ft. AZ as featured in Fish Tank (2009)
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Fish Tank is a small film about a lower class English family in a modern setting. The protagonist, a teenage girl with an interest in urban dance, ends the movie ready away from home. As she’s about to leave she finds her mother listening to one of her Hip-hop CDs (Nas’ Illmatic), and they share a wordless moment listening to the song and sort of casually dancing to it. This is pretty much the first time in the movie where the mother and daughter seem to be making a connection of some sort, but it’s come to late and they’re gong to be separated soon. Life is a *****, isn’t it.
1. “Everyone” by Van Morrison as featured in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
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Wes Anderson is right up there with Tarentino in the world of soundtrack assemblers, and in this regard I think his undisputed masterpiece is The Royal Tenenbaums. More than any single film, this has more great song uses than any other film of the decade by far. There were at least five scenes in the film that could have made the list, but I had to choose just one. I considered the film's use of Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," but that was a bit more mirthful than the film's tone. I also considered the use of Elliot Smith’s “Needle in the Hay” against a tense suicide attempt midway through the film, but that oversold the film's darker current. Instead I went with the song that I think most captures the film's bittersweet yet regal tone. Used in the film’s final moments, this odd rock-meets-renaissance song has a needed weight for the funeral scene that it plays over, but there’s also a playfulness that goes along with what’s written on the tombstone. It leaves the audience feeling enlightened and happy but also feeling that they’d seen something important. It’s the perfect cherry on top of a musical sundae.
Ramplate 06-30-2011 08:05 AM
Hit Girl made quite a hit with this one
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FranklinTard 06-30-2011 08:38 AM
might have went with 'these days' for royal tennenbaums... but i can't argue with that ending scene.
iv3rdawG 06-30-2011 10:37 AM
Interesting choice with Fish Tank. Not sure if I would have chose it but it's an interesting point in the film. There's a great interview with Kierston Wareing on the Criterion Blu-ray where she talks about it.
"**** off."
IanTheCool 06-30-2011 02:18 PM
I would have went with Paul Simon for my Tenebaum's selection. That's my favourite scene of the movie.
PG Cooper 06-30-2011 02:23 PM
I think I might post my own list up, if that's alright.
JBond 06-30-2011 02:56 PM
Hey Jude with Morticai was pretty good.
Dracula 06-30-2011 03:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PG Cooper (Post 2763439)
I think I might post my own list up, if that's alright.
Go ahead, I have an "et al" in the thread title for a reason and anyone is welcome to use this thread to post a top ten of any kind when I'm not actively revealing a list.
PG Cooper 06-30-2011 08:43 PM
Top Ten Most Memorable Uses of Songs in Movies That Nobody Else Has Had in Their List
Keep in mind that I limited myself to entries others hadn't used. There are a lot of great songs I couldn't use because other people already did. That said, I am pretty proud of this list.
10.American Woman by Lenny Kravitz and Kevin Spacey, originally by Lenny Kravitz, from American Beauty.
One of the best and most important elements of American Beauty is watching Lester Burnham rebel against the boring life he's created for himself. There's a lot of great scenes that show this, and this is one of my favourites. We see Lester driving his car, smoking pot, and singing along to "American Woman". Spacey looks like he's really into it too, and the fact that his singing is so bad just makes the scene all the more memorable.
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9.E5150/Mob Rules by Black Sabbath, from Heavy Metal.
I like a lot of music, but at my core, I'm a metalhead, no doubt. I can't think of too many examples of memorable metal songs in film, but this scene is a rare exception. During the E5150 section of the song, we see a group of people mutated by a strange green liquid. Then they begin to attack a city and Mob Rules kicks in. It's simple mindless violence, and while it doesn't always work for me, it works here. Heavy Metal isn't for everyone, and of all my choices, this will be the one people will disagree with the most, but I stand by it.
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(Best link I could find).
8.God Moving Over the Face of Waters by Moby, from Heat.
The best thing about Heat is just watching the two main characters of the film go head to head. They push each other both mentally and physically. The two face off one final time during the films climax. At the end of it all, this great song by Moby starts playing. It has an epic and personal feel to it, and sort of embodies the atmosphere of the entire film, to me anyway. This may seem like a strange choice, but this ending, and this song, have stuck with me from the day I first saw it.
(Spoiler Warning)
7.Little Green Bag by George Baker Selection from Reservoir Dogs.
This scene is classic. You've got all your main characters, these well-dressed criminals, walking in slow motion, with this great song playing. What I especially liked is where it's placed. It takes place right after a very funny scene with are characters are at a restaurant. So at this point, your thinking these characters are all really cool badasses with a good sense of humour. It's then followed by a scene where we see one of these same criminals bleeding to death from a bullet wound. It's such a jarring shift that it really captures your attention. Anyway, the scene not only sees the introduction the "reservoir dogs", but also the introduction of Quentin Tarantino, a young filmmaker constantly going against the grain of typical film making.
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6.Closer (Precursor) by Nine Inch Nails, from Se7en.
Some may not agree since the song is only used during the opening titles, but I feel this song needed to be in this list. The first time I saw this film, I remember after the opening scene, I was interested in where the story was going. But after these opening credits, the film had me by the balls. I was completely sucked in. It's a very dark song, it's put up with some grotesque and disturbing images. The perfect way to set the tone of the film. I also love the single lyric uttered at the very end.
5.Sunshine of Your Love by Cream, from Goodfellas.
Goodfellas is full of great music, and I had a hard time picking just one song. At the end, I had to go with Sunshine of Your Love. Why? Because the scene where it's played is one of the coolest things ever put on film. What makes it great is just how simple it is too. It's just a camera closing in on Robert De Niro as he smokes a cigarette and just looks cool. Just watching his face you can see he's up to something. It's one of those great movie scenes where when I see it, I can't help but smile.
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4.Canzonetta sull'aria by Lorenzo Da Ponte, from The Shawshank Redemption.
The Shawshank Redemption is famous for being a movie that inspires hope. Perhaps the greatest example of that is this scene here, where we see Andy play classical music over the prison's P.A. system. For a brief moment, Andy is able to make all the prisoners feel as if they're free. The scene is made better by the narration from Morgan Freeman, and the acting by Tim Robbins. Robbins doesn't have a line in the scene once the song starts playing. But his facial expressions and body language say more than enough. The scene is also sort of like a capsule version of the entire film. Andy comes into Shawshank, and through his actions changes the place and people. Great scene, I'm surprised it hasn't been in some of the other lists.
3.Singin' in the Rain by Malcolm McDowell, originally by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, from A Clockwork Orange.
This single scene forever changed perception of a song. It use to be a happy and uplifting piece. But after hearing it in A Clockwork Orange, it took on a much darker and sinister meaning. It's a very disturbing scene, and I know for some people, it's too much for them to handle. But I don't think anyone will deny that the scene is unforgettable. You'll never be able to think of "Singin' in the Rain" the same way again.
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2.Hotel California by The Gipsy Kings, originally by The Eagles, from The Big Lebowski..
Like Goodfellas, The Big Lebowski is full of great music and picking just one track was difficult. After giving it a lot of thought, I had to go with "Hotel California". The scene is played when we are introduced to the Jesus (if you haven't seen the film, don't ask). It's an absurd scene, and the cover of "Hotel California" is just as absurd. What makes it even funnier is at one point in the film, the Dude says, "I hate the f***ing Eagles man." What really blows my mind about this scene is the fact that I hate the original song, yet I could watch this scene a hundred times over. Just watch the scene, and tell me it isn't memorable.
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1.Intermezzo by Pietro Mascagni from Raging Bull.
In my opinion, this is one of the greatest scenes in the history of film. Intermezzo is a beautiful song, and setting it to the images of De Niro shadow boxing in a smoke-filled ring was nothing short of brilliant. The scene is intriguing, tragic, breath taking, it's truly remarkable. My words really don't do the scene justice, you just have to see it.
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JBond 06-30-2011 09:37 PM
I like your #4 and #2 choices.
IanTheCool 06-30-2011 09:48 PM
I like your #3 choice.
What about Afternoon Delight from Anchorman? I'm surprised no one mentioned that one.
PG Cooper 06-30-2011 09:52 PM
Never seen Anchorman.
FranklinTard 06-30-2011 10:09 PM
love me some spanish guitar.
Dracula 07-28-2011 02:12 PM
Top 25 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs
I used to strictly be a Heavy metal fan, then I became a fan of rock in general, then I learned the virtues of Reggae, R&B, and jazz. Finally my musical journey brought me to Hip-Hop, a genre I’ve come to love because it has a proud history while also being a vital part of modern mainstream culture (something I sadly can’t say about rock anymore). I know a majority of people around here are primarily (if not exclusively) rock fans and I suspect many aren’t going to be interested, but this is something I feel almost compelled to make just the same. While I will be giving some weight to historical significance and popularity, this is ultimately a list of favorites and will not necessarily be a definitive historical list. Also, I have a strict one song per artist rule to this, although some MCs may turn up multiple times as guest rappers on other artists’ tracks.
25. “Rap Snitch Knishes” by MF Doom Ft. Mr. Fantastik
Album: Mmm… Food
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...0px-Mmfood.jpg
Year: 2004
Region: East Coast (Long Island)
Charted?: No
Label: Rhymesayers Entertainment
Producer: MF DOOM
Samples: David Bowie's "Space Oddity"
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
I did feel like I needed to include at least one song from the world of indie rap, which can at times be almost as vibrant as indie rock (it’s also pleasantly free of indie rock’s pretentions and “hipness”). That this particular indie rap song was released by Minneapolis’ own Rhymesayers Entertainment is only an added bonus. This sounds like it easily could have been a hit song if it had major label promotion behind it. The lyrics, which poke fun at the “no snitching” campaign are maybe not ready for prime time, but Doom’s beat here really shines. Most producer/rappers would use a beat like that to try to break into the mainstream, but instead Doom lets some dude named Mr. Fantastik (a nobody who, to the best of my knowledge, hasn’t rapped on another tracks either before or after this) take command of the track and sound like an old pro while doing it.
24. “Brooklyn Zoo” by Ol’ Dirty Bastard
Album: Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
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Year: 1995
Region: East Coast (Staten Island)
Charted?: #54
Label: Elektra
Producer: RZA
Samples: None
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Hip-Hop has long been a good outlet for insane people to express themselves, and there’s no greater example of that than the legendary Wu-Tang Clan member Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Before his tragic (yet predictable) death by overdose in 2004 ODB had left a long legacy of crazy (yet rhyming) rants on tape. Tracks like the oddly appealing “Brooklyn Zoo” are like aggressive stream of conscious poems. I may kid about ODB being a crazy person, but it really takes a lot of skill and talent in order to take material like this and turn it into marketable music, Dirt McGirt really did have a lot of talent and it is sad that his erratic behavior really did lead to his demise.
23. “Can I Kick It” by A Tribe Called Quest
Album: People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nctTravels.jpg
Year: 1991
Region: East Coast (Queens)
Charted?: No
Label: Jive
Producer: A Tribe Called Quest
Samples: "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Taking the iconic bass line from Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” and adding on some drums and scratches, A Tribe Called Quest was able to make a classic of the New York “Golden Age.” Of course the song will mainly be remembered for its call-and-response section (“Can I kick it? Yes you can!”) which has become a recurring catch phrase, but the verses are also a great showcase of Q-Tip and Phife Dawg’s lyrical skills.
22. “Hate it or Love it” by The Game Ft. 50 Cent
Album: The Documentary
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ocumentary.jpg
Year: 2005
Region: East Coast/West Coast (Queens/Compton)
Charted?: #24
Label: Aftermath
Producer: Cool & Dre
Samples: "Rubberband" by The Trammps
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Right now, 50 Cent is pretty much in Snoop Dogg territory, meaning that no one really cares about his music anymore and he’s mostly just living off his personality and general coolness. The truth is, fiddy was never really a master of his craft and would only intermittently stumble onto some high quality material. The closest he would ever come to greatness would be on this track where he shares billing with his protégé The Game. 50 provides a great chorus and both he and The Game give a pretty good portrait of what it was like coming up in Jamaica Queens and Compton respectively. The material is hard, but also hopeful, these guys might have struggled in life but now they’re on top, it’s exactly what Hip-Hop is supposed to be about.
21. “A Milli” by Lil Wayne
Album: Tha Cater III
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-CarterIII.jpg
Year: 2008
Region: Dirty South (New Orleans)
Charted?: #6
Label: Cash Money
Producer: Bangladesh
Samples: "Don't Burn Down the Bridge" by Gladys Knight & the Pips and "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo (Vampire Mix)" by A Tribe Called Quest
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Lil Wayne is an acquired taste (which makes his current fame odd, but I digress) and it took me a little while to see the charm of his work. The first time I heard “A Milli” it gave me a headache, especially Bangladesh’s strange vocal loop beat, but the beat really isn’t the point when it comes to a song like this. This is a freestyle-like track by someone with a strange sort of stream of conscious nuttiness and an ability to come up with really come up with unexpected rhymes at any given moment. I can actually recite the first two verses of this song from memory, which isn’t something I can do with most rap songs, but there’s something about this one that just makes me want to analyze it line by line. How many other rappers are going to say something like “boy I got so many *****es like I’m Mike Lowery/Even Gwen Stafani says she couldn’t doubt me”?
Dracula 07-29-2011 02:31 PM
20. “Jump Around” by House of Pain
Album: House of Pain
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...maltlyrics.jpg
Year: 1992
Region: East Coast (Long Island)
Charted?: #3
Label: XL Recordings
Producer: DJ Muggs
Samples: "Popeye The Hitchhiker" by Chubby Checker, "Harlem Shuffle" by Bob & Earl, "Gett Off" by Prince, et al.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Yes, there were credible white rappers before Eminem, but they tended to run in groups rather than excelling as solo artists. House of Pain was one of the best at this and they managed to use a South Boston getup (though they were actually from New York) in order to give themselves a hard image without trying to act “gangsta.” This is one of the best party tracks ever recorded, with its Cyprus Hill-esque recurring horns and its chorus tailor made for moshing and for celebrating sporting victories. But there’s actually some pretty decent lyrics here too. Everlast (who would go on to have a credible solo career that blended Hip-Hop and folk music) spits some clever rhymes like “I’ll serve your ass like John MacEnroe / if your girl steps up I’m smacking the ho” and it also (I think) coined the immortal phrase “word to your moms / I came to drop bombs / I got more rhymes than the bible’s got psalms.”
19. “75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)” by The Roots
Album: Rising Down
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Risingdown.jpg
Year: 2008
Region: East Coast (Philidelphia)
Charted?: No
Label: Def Jam
Producer: N/A
Samples: None
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
The Roots are a group that I really want to like but which puts out songs and album which can be kind of hard to latch on to. Every once in a while though they will put out a song that implants itself in your head and won’t let go. “75 bars” a decidedly un-commercial single from their hostile 2008 album Rising Down, and it manages to be both extremely aggressive yet also oddly minimalistic. The song has no chorus and is done over a simple but propulsive drum beat with a little bit tuba thrown in for good measure. The real standout is of course Black Thought, who shows prowess as an MC, spitting out glorious non-sequiters (that oddly all connect to each other) like “try and find a needle up in there ni**a / Leave you up in there ni**a, show me the puppet / That don't need a puppeteer ni**a, shed another tear ni**a / I'm in the field with a shield and a spear ni**a / I'm in your girl with her heels in the air ni**a.” (maybe I should mention that Black Thought says the N-word a million times in this song).
18. “I Used to Love H.E.R.” by Common
Album: Resurrection
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Year: 1994
Region: Midwest (Chicago)
Charted?: No
Label: Relativity
Producer: No. ID
Samples: "The Changing World" by George Benson
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
If nothing else, Common has long been the MC to make Hip-Hop for “adults,” and by “adults” I mean college educated 30-40 somethings who enjoy overpriced coffee and don’t necessarily want to hear about pussy-popping. I don’t necessarily think Hip-Hop is at its best when it’s being made for “adults,” but I’m glad at least one person is trying to do it with skill. His 1994 nostalgic ode to the rise and “fall” of Hip-Hop is probably his most famous song, and while its “Hip Hop as a woman” metaphor might seem a little strained and corny in retrospect, I do think it was from the heart and I also love No. ID’s relaxed jazzy beat and Common’s “Yes Yes Y’all, it don’t stop” chorus which really give the song a lot of atmosphere.
17. “What You Know” by T.I.
Album: King
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Year: 2006
Region: Dirty South (Atlanta)
Charted?: #3
Label: Atlantic
Producer: DJ Troop
Samples: "Gone Away" by Roberta Flack
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
“What You Know” has one of the best Hip-Hop beats of all time. DJ Troop’s opus is so ****ing epic that you could pretty much put anything over it and they’d still sound epically awesome. The song has topped my “25 most played” list at times, and on top of that I use it as my ringtone. The caveat is that lyrically, the song (while still strong) probably doesn’t quite match the beat that’s in the background. That’s not to say it doesn’t have its moments, like “But you’s a scary dude / Believed by very few / Just keep it very cool / Or we will bury you” but it is the beat that carries the song, and it carries it well enough to maybe elevate some questionable rhymes.
16. “No Vaseline” by Ice Cube
Album: Death Certificate
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Year: 1991
Region: West Coast (Compton)
Charted?: No
Label: Priority
Producer: Ice Cube and Sir Jinx
Samples: "Dazz" by Brick, "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton, "It's My Thing" by Marva Whitney, et al.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
“No Vaseline” is not overly melodic or rhythmic, nor does it have the most clever rhymes in it either. Instead this is making the list simply for being the best and most brutal diss track ever laid to wax. Directed directly at his former N.W.A. bandmates (and in response to their diss track "Message to B.A.") and he pulls absolutely no punches. I’m not sure what it is about diss tracks that makes me overlook extensive homophobia (Eric Wright, punk, always into somethin', gettin' ****ed at night / By Mista ****packer, bend over for the gotdamn cracker), reverse racism (Cuz you're gettin' ****ed out your green by a white boy), and possible anti-semitism (cuz you let a Jew break up my crew), but the cumulative brutality of it all is really an amazing thing to behold . N.W.A. never even tried to respond to Cube’s diss and would instead fous on their own internal feuds. The clearly knew they weren’t in cube’s league.
FranklinTard 07-30-2011 12:45 PM
was hoping for some big daddy kane, epmd, jungle brothers, or de la soul on the back end... but i doubt they will show up top 15. no way any of those acts are better than a tribe called quest.
still waiting on krs one to show up though.
Neverending 07-30-2011 01:57 PM
This list better include:
- The Message (1982) by Grandmaster Flash
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
- It's Tricky (1986) by RUN-DMC
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
- Straight Outta Compton (1988) by N.W.A.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
- Fight The Power (1989) by Public Enemy
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
- Nuthin' but a "G" Thang (1992) by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
- It Was A Good Day (1993) by Ice Cube
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
- Dear Mama (1995) by 2Pac
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
- The Way I Am (2000) by Eminem
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Dracula 07-30-2011 06:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by FranklinTard (Post 2767846)
was hoping for some big daddy kane, epmd, jungle brothers, or de la soul on the back end... but i doubt they will show up top 15. no way any of those acts are better than a tribe called quest.
still waiting on krs one to show up though.
Yeah, I didn't really find a place for a lot of those, there were a lot of groups that I have respect for who just didn't quite have that one song that was going to make the list. I will have some honorable mentions at the end.
________________
15. “It’s Tricky” by Run-D.M.C.
Album: Raising Hell
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...aisingHell.jpg
Year: 1986
Region: East Coast (Queens)
Charted?: #57
Label: Profile
Producer: Rick Rubin
Samples: "My Sharona" by The Knack
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Run-D.M.C’s legacy is undeniable, but not all of their material has necessarily aged as well as some of their classics. To modern ears, this has to have been their finest moment. Over a rock-sampling beat that would be imitated by other artists like Tone Loc, both Run and D.M.C. trade lines with great a force and speed. Many duos and groups feel like they’re thrown together for rather arbitrary reasons, but these guys had genuine chemistry. This is a great example of teamwork in Hip-Hop and it has an exciting chorus about how tricky, it, is. I could do without the strange anti-drug message at the end, but otherwise this is a blazing track over twenty five years later.
14. “9 Milli Brothers” by The Wu-Tang Clan
Album: Fishscale
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-Ghostface.jpg
Year: 2006
Region: East Coast (Staten Island)
Charted?: No
Label: Def Jam
Producer: MF Doom
Samples: "Fenugreek" by MF Doom and "Fast Cars" by RZA
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Alright, technically Ghostface Killah is the lead artist on this track and the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan are just featured artists, but come on, we all know this is a Wu-Tang banger all the way. Using a clean modern production the track has a quality verse from every Wu-Tang member (even the ghost of Ol’ Dirty Bastard) except for the RZA, who is mostly consigned to hype-man duties. My favorite verse probably belongs to either Ghostface himself or maybe Method Man, but this beat brings out the best in all of them, even the ones like Inspektah Deck and U-God who aren’t quite household names but who can still throw down when needed. It’s not a particularly deep track… at all, but it can make you nod your head like a madman.
13. To Be Announced. I’ll explain why later.
12. “Party Up” by DMX
Album: … and Then There Was X
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...here_Was_X.jpg
Year: 2000
Region: East Coast (Yonkers)
Charted?: #27
Label: Ruff Riders
Producer: Swizz Beatz
Samples: None?
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
The title “Party Up” suggests a light celebration song, but DMX is not a very laid back guy and he doesn’t really do “light.” This is diss track, albeit a very well produced one with mainsteam ambitions, and it never says who its target is by name. There’s one line in it that’s clearly baiting Eminem, but the rest of it doesn’t really fit him. Rumor has it that it was really about Kurupt, but that’s not really what’s important. What is important is the absolute righteousness of DMX’s boasts and insults whoever they’re directed at. It’s a song filled with great DMX-isms “dog is a dog, blood's thicker than water / We done been through the mud and we quicker to slaughter” and put-downs like “So whatever it is you puffin on that got you think that you / Superman I got the Kryptonite, should I smack him with my dick and the mic.”
11. “Forgot About Dre” by Dr. Dre Ft. Eminem
Album: 2001
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...DrDre-2001.jpg
Year: 1999
Region: West Coast/Midwest (Compton/Detroit)
Charted?: #25
Label: Aftermath
Producer: Dr. Dre
Samples: "The Climb" by No Doubt
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
I thought about putting “Nothing But a G Thing” (surely a classic in its own right) on the list, but at the last minute I replaced it with this excellent duet between Dre and Slim firstly because that collaboration has had more impact over the years than the Dre/Snoop collaboration and secondly because this track is just more forceful and poignant. Responding forcefully to anyone who thought Dre couldn’t make a comeback eight years after his landmark album “The Chronic,” “Forgot About Dre” re-asserted the doctor’s relevance to a whole new generation of rap fans who had come into the fold, including the many Eminem fans who had emerged around the time. Eminem is at his shocking best on here, but he doesn’t upstage Dre like he does on their recent collaboration “I Need a Doctor.” Dre more than holds his own demanding that he “ain't having that; this is the millennium of Aftermath / It ain't gonna be nothing after that /So give me one more platinum plaque / And **** rap! You can have it back.”
Neverending 07-30-2011 11:51 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2767867)
I thought about putting “Nothing But a G Thing” (surely a classic in its own right) on the list, but at the last minute I replaced it with this excellent duet between Dre and Slim firstly because that collaboration has had more impact over the years than the Dre/Snoop collaboration and secondly because this track is just more forceful and poignant.
You just lost all street cred. Forget About Dre is a great track - worthy of a top 25 list. But to exclude Nuthin' But A "G" Thang is ridiculous. In an era when gangsta rap was at its most extreme (and ridiculous), that song displayed the softer side of the culture. To exclude it is to ignore one of the most important songs of 1990s rap.
Drizzt240 07-31-2011 10:26 AM
I'm not a music critic, but I enjoy Eazy E's Real Motha ****in G's and Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangsta from Office Space (at the end of this trick it talks about a black man being the president)
Dracula 07-31-2011 10:51 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2767889)
You just lost all street cred. Forget About Dre is a great track - worthy of a top 25 list. But to exclude Nuthin' But A "G" Thang is ridiculous. In an era when gangsta rap was at its most extreme (and ridiculous), that song displayed the softer side of the culture. To exclude it is to ignore one of the most important songs of 1990s rap.
Nuthin' But A "G" Thang has a lot wrong with it. For one thing Snoop Dogg (who ghostwrote Dre's verses) kind of dominates the song and kind of makes it a poor representation of Dr. Dre. The same could sort of be said about Eminem on Forgot About Dre, but it's not as extreme and given that it's a song about Dre's career it doesn't seem as extreme. Both rappers have a much stronger and more forceful flow in "Forgot About Dre," and its statement about aging in Hip Hop is a lot more interesting to me than the relatively shallow "G Thang" (which really is about this, that, and this).
Neverending 07-31-2011 12:28 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2767921)
its statement about aging in Hip Hop is a lot more interesting to me than the relatively shallow "G Thang" (which really is about this, that, and this).
"G" Thang is the typical rap song where the artist brags about themselve. Which... really... is no different than Forgot About Dre when you think about it. The MAIN difference between both songs is that Forgot About Dre is aggressive and has an angry tone to it. While "G" Thang is mellow and laid back. That's the beauty of it.
Neverending 07-31-2011 12:33 PM
Oh, and for the record, Forgot About Dre isn't about aging. It's about Dre leaving Death Row Records and starting Aftermath. And that small period where he considered leaving Gangsta Rap.
This song is at the heart of what Dre is talking about on the record:
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Dracula 07-31-2011 12:53 PM
10. “Ms. Jackson” by Outkast
Album: Stankonia
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Stankonia.JPG
Year: 2000
Region: Dirty South (Atlanta)
Charted?: #1
Label: Arista
Producer: Outkast
Samples: "Strawberry Letter #23" by The Brothers Johnson
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
When this came out Hip-Hop was in a rut, pretty much every successful MC seemed like a Tupac wannabe (Ja Rule, I’m looking at you), but Outkast showed that there was room for different images in Hip-Hop. The critic’s choice of Outkast song would probably go to “B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad),” and the populist choice would probably be “Hey Ya,” but as far as I’ve ever been concerned the height of their fame was the breakout hit “Ms. Jackson.” Turning personal strife into a number 1 hit, this ode to the baby's mama's mamas of the world, the song uses a unique beat, a great chorus, and some tricky word play (Forever, forever ever, forever ever), this was an unexpected hit to left field.
9. “Big Poppa” by The Notorious B.I.G.
Album: Ready to Die
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ady_To_Die.jpg
Year: 1994
Region: East Coast (Brooklyn)
Charted?: #6
Label: Bad Boy
Producer: Chucky Thompson and Sean "Puffy" Combs
Samples: "Between the Sheets" by The Isley Brothers
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Biggie Smalls could tell tales of the streets like few others, but that’s not really the side of his personality that comes to mind when I think about him. By all accounts Frank White was the life of the party, he’d walk into a club and have this aura around him that everyone could just sense (you could say that his flashy ways just hypnotized them). This song is all about what it was like to party with biggie, it’s the best song about clubbing I know of (yeah Fiddy, I said that). Puffy’s beat has this sort of relaxed stoned quality to it that almost puts you in a trace while you’re listening to it, it really gives you the vicarious feeling that you’re the one slowly walking into a club and having people treat you like royalty.
8. “My Melody” by Eric B. and Rakim
Album: Paid in Full
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...x-RakimPIF.jpg
Year: 1987
Region: East Coast (Long Island)
Charted?: No
Label: Island
Producer: Eric B.
Samples: None?
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
They may not be as well known to casual Hip Hop fans as Run-DMC or LL Cool J, but Eric B. and Rakim had just as big an influence on Hip-Hop as any of the other OGs. Rakim in particular is notable because he gave priority to the crafting of complex rhymes over making people dance. It’s a little hard to appreciate now, but you can see a clear divide between pre-Rakim and post-Rakim MCs, and that makes “Paid in Full” almost into the Citizen Kane of Hip Hop. I was tempted to put the slightly more iconic “Eric B. is President” onto the list, but this one is a much better showcase of the complicated rhyming that influenced a generation of rappers.
7. “Lose Yourself” by Eminem
Album: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture 8 Mile
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...8milecover.jpg
Year: 2002
Region: Midwest (Detroit)
Charted?: #1
Label: Aftermath
Producer: Eminem, Jeff Bass, & Luis Resto
Samples: None?
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
We all knew that Slim Shady would turn up here, and the challenge was simply decided which Eminem song would make it. I considered using one of the smart-aleck comedy songs like “The Real Slim Shady,” then I considered “Superman” which has a production that I find infectious, but then I decided it was stupid to avoid the obvious choice: his Oscar winning 8 Mile track “Lose Yourself.” The song is a study in building tension, first with the ominous guitar into and then with the intense first verse before everything breaks out in the anthemic chorus. The verses keep escalating in intensity over the course of the song too and what we’re left with is one of the best (and least corny) songs about chasing your dreams that you’ll ever hear.
6. “99 Problems” by Jay-Z
Album: The Black Album
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...lack-album.jpg
Year: 2003
Region: New York (Brooklyn)
Charted?: #30
Label: Def Jam
Producer: Rick Rubin
Samples: "Long Red" by Mountain, "The Big Beat" by Billy Squier, "Touched" by UGK, et al.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Coming off what was supposed to be Jay-Z’s last album (and also the last single that would be released), this was meant to be his swan song. In order to do this, Hov went back to hip-hop’s roots, employing Rick Rubin (Def Jam’s co-founder) to give him a retro rock beat while also employing a catchphrase from an old Ice-T song. All that was in the background, but the real star of this track are Jay-Z’s three almost perfect verses: one about dealing with the industry, one about his time dealing with cops, and one about the frustrations that have led him to call it quits. It’s the perfect showcase of Jigga’s flow and a great way to “end” a great career.
Dracula 07-31-2011 01:01 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2767932)
Oh, and for the record, Forgot About Dre isn't about aging. It's about Dre leaving Death Row Records and starting Aftermath. And that small period where he considered leaving Gangsta Rap.
This song is at the heart of what Dre is talking about on the record:
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Dre had left Death Row records years before Forgot About Dre came out. When I say it's about aging I mean aging in hip-hop years. At its heart, it's a comeback song, it's about coming back onto a scene that had seemed to move on from him. He's out to prove that even though he was a thirty five year old man who hadn't put out an album in nearly a decade in a field dominated by twenty four year olds that he was still relevant and shouldn't have been forgotten about... That and also that Eminem really hates his neighbors.
I'll cite the lines:
"You better bow down on both knees / Who you think taught you to smoke trees? / Who you think brought you the oldies / Eazy-Es, Ice Cubes, and D.O.Cs / The Snoop D-O-double-G's / And the group that said mother**** the police?"
"I told 'em all - all them little gangstas / Who you think helped mold 'em all? / Now you wanna run around talking bout guns like I ain't got none / What you think I sold 'em all? / Cause I stay well off? / Now all I get is hate mail all day saying Dre fell off"
Neverending 07-31-2011 02:25 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2767935)
When this came out Hip-Hop was in a rut
Eminem released The Marshall Mathers LP that year. Dr. Dre was still riding the wave of his 2001 album. Snoop Dogg made a comeback of sorts with The Last Meal. DMX, Eve, and the rest of the "Ruff Riders" were at their prime. Nelly and Ludacris were introducing Southern Rap to the masses. So, I don't know what rut you're talking about.
1999 thru 2003 was the last time rap REALLY dominated. Nowadays , when it comes to mainstream rap, you have to settle for Eminem, Kanye West and the occasional Jay-Z track. Everybody else kinda sucks and are trying to replicate the success of Black Eyed Peas and Lil' Jon who are more dance-pop than actual rap/hip-hop.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2767936)
Dre had left Death Row records years before Forgot About Dre came out.
Here's the story. When Dre left Death Row, he started Aftermath Records and released a compilation album called The Aftermath which included the track, Been There, Done That. It got largely mixed reviews. And since Dre hadn't been doing much since Snoop Dogg's debut album except produce a few tracks here and there, people said he lost his touch and was now a has-been.
Forgot About Dre was a response to all that. It isn't about aging. It isn't about making a comeback. It's Dre saying, "hey, I produce Eminem records, I have a new solo album, I'm working with Snoop Dogg again, AND the N.W.A. might reunite. What'cha gonna say now?"
It's essentially a diss record to his critics.
Quote:
At its heart, it's a comeback song,
Still D.R.E. is the comeback song on the album. There's a reason why Dre's first line on the track is, "guess who's back" AND it's the first single of the album.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Quote:
he was a thirty five year old man who hadn't put out an album in nearly a decade
Everybody acknowledges that Dre isn't much of a performer. He's a producer first and foremost. When The Slim Shady LP was released, that was more of a comeback than 2001. I see 2001 as a celebration of Dre and the emergence of Aftermath Records than a comeback album.
Dracula 07-31-2011 03:30 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2767942)
Eminem released The Marshall Mathers LP that year. Dr. Dre was still riding the wave of his 2001 album. Snoop Dogg made a comeback of sorts with The Last Meal. DMX, Eve, and the rest of the "Ruff Riders" were at their prime. Nelly and Ludacris were introducing Southern Rap to the masses. So, I don't know what rut you're talking about.
1999 thru 2003 was the last time rap REALLY dominated. Nowadays , when it comes to mainstream rap, you have to settle for Eminem, Kanye West and the occasional Jay-Z track. Everybody else kinda sucks and are trying to replicate the success of Black Eyed Peas and Lil' Jon who are more dance-pop than actual rap/hip-hop.
A creative/image related rut. After Biggie and Tupac died Hip-Hop went through a stagnant period and the generation that was emerging seemed pretty bland and similar. Ja Rule, DMX, Master P, etc might have been alright but they weren't really progressing the game, they were just imitating what came before. Yeah, the O.G.s were still out there and the southern thing was in its infancy, but there were a lot of people out there who just weren't going to stand the test of time. In that environment Outkast seemed like a breath of fresh air because they weren't just trying to be Tupac-lite. Of course there were exceptions.
Alien 07-31-2011 04:37 PM
I don't understand how someone who is too "old" in the head to understand Pixar likes rap music. Shouldn't you be moaning that it's all just noise with rappers bragging about "their bi**hes"?
Neverending 07-31-2011 05:04 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2767947)
Ja Rule, DMX, Master P, etc might have been alright but they weren't really progressing the game
The less said about Master P the better. The worst thing Snoop Dogg ever did was team up with him. Dr. Dre had to rescue him with 2001, The Last Meal, and the so-called N.W.A reunion that only lasted TWO songs.
DMX was in a league of his own. He definitely progressed the game. He
combined his aggressive style with a club-friendly beat that no one has never been able to duplicate. It was angry music that you could dance to. LOL. DMX's downfall was all his legal issues. If he had stayed out of trouble, he would still be making hit records.
Ja Rule, more or less, paved the way for Timbaland, Black Eyed Peas, Lil' Jon, Souja Boy, and all these radio-friendly hip-hop stars that has been the norm since 2003. 50 Cent is correct. He's a pop star. Ja Rule lost his street cred when he started making records with Jennifer Lopez. Seriously. Next time you listen to an urban radio station, you can blame this:
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Dracula 08-01-2011 03:38 PM
5. “Straight Outta Compton” by N.W.A.
Album: Straight Outta Compton
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Year: 1988
Region: West Coast (Compton)
Charted?: No
Label: Ruthless
Producer: Dr. Dre and DJ Yella
Samples: "Funky Drummer" by James Brown, "You'll Like It Too" by Funkadelic, "Get Me Back on Time, Engine No. 9" by Wilson Pickett, et al.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
In 1988 Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and MC Ren formed N.W.A. and put out a track which, in its own way, managed to change pop music in a more profound way than Smells Like Teen Spirit would three years later. As the song opens Dr. Dre announces that we are “now about to witness the strength of street knowledge,” a statement that would not only be true about this song, album and group but about an entire genre that would emerge in the wake of this release: this was the song that ushered in the era of gangster rap. There were swear words and crime narratives in rap before N.W.A. but they were rare and not overly commercially successful. This would also be the rise of West Coast rap and would also famously become the first album to go platinum without any kind of radio air-play or major touring. One could make an argument for the more outrageous album-track “**** the Police,” but really it’s the title track that most perfectly announces the rise of a new type of music that would scare white people nationwide.
4. “N.Y. State of Mind” by Nas
Album: Illmatic
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Year: 1994
Region: New York (Queens)
Charted?: No
Label: Columbia
Producer: DJ Premier
Samples: "N.T." by Kool & The Gang, "Flight Time" by Donald Byrd, "Mind Rain" by Joe Chambers, et al.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Legend has it that the first verse of “N.Y. State of Mind” was done in one verse, with Nas hesitating, almost ruining the take before suddenly launching into an absolutely visceral verse about life in a crime ridden environment. DJ Premier’s beat underscores the urgency of it all, but it’s Nas’ complex lyrics that really bring it home. There’s no sing-along chorus, or any chorus for that matter, but certain lyrics do recur like “I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death” which inspired a T-shirt with Sleepy (of seven dwarfs fame) giving a fist-bump to the grim reaper. The famous first verse ends with the phrase “I think of crime when I'm in a New York state of mind,” which basically sets the song up as an alternate view of the Big Apple from Billy Joel’s more… idealistic, view of the city in his similarly titled song.
3. “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Album: The Message
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Year: 1982
Region: New York (The Bronx)
Charted?: 62
Label: Sugar Hill Records
Producer: Ed Fletcher, Clifton "Jiggs" Chase, Sylvia Robinson
Samples: None?
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
It should probably be stated up front that Grandmaster Flash himself had very little to do with this song, or most of The Furious Five’s recorded output. The rapper and star on this track is Melle Mel, the vocal talent on most of Grandmaster Flash’s records (it’s important to note that the DJ was considered the star at this point in time, not the MC). This is a track that was way ahead of its time, it was the first rap song to really talk about the streets, and this was in a time when “Rock it out baby bubbah to the boogie da bang bang” was considered to be acceptable lyrics. The song gave us the catch phrases “Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge /
I'm trying not to lose my head” and “It's like a jungle sometimes / It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under” and the verses also sound like actual coherent sentences too. It might sound a little primitive today, but the influence is clear.
2. “Shook Ones Part 2” by Mobb Deep
Album: The Infamous
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Year: 1995
Region: New York (Queens)
Charted?: No
Label: Loud
Producer: Mobb Deep
Samples: "Jessica" by Herbie Hancock, "Kitty With the Bent Frame" by Quincy Jones, and "Dirty Feet" by Daly Wilson Big Band
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
While they’ve done some good stuff I wouldn’t call much of Mobb Deep’s material to be essential (their careers were derailed by some very poor feuding choices), and that doesn’t matter because “Shook Ones Part 2” is more than enough to cement their legacy forever. This is probably the most hardcore song you’re ever likely to hear, it’s a frightening evocation of the criminal lifestyle over a propulsive self-produced beat. Almost every line in the song is a lasting catchphrase, some of the best being: “to all the killers and a hundred dollar billas / For real ni**as who ain't got no feelings,” “Your simple words just don't move me, you're minor, we're major / You all up in the game and don't deserve to be a player,” “For every rhyme I write, it's 25 to life,” “long as I'm alive I'mma live illegal,” and of course the chorus “Son, they shook / Cause ain't no such things as halfway crooks / Scared to death, scared to look, they shook… Cowardly hearts end straight up shook ones, shook ones / He ain't a crook son, he's just a shook one” and I could go on. The song has gone on to lasting fame, turning up most recently as the beat to the final rap battle in Eminem’s film “8 Mile.” The song is quite simply the rawest manifestation of what East Coast Hardcore was during the mid-nineties.
1. “Changes” by Tupac Shakur
Album: Greatest Hits
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Year: 1998
Region: West Coast (Marin City)
Charted?: 32
Label: Death Row
Producer: Tupac Shakur
Samples: "The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby and the Range
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Anyone who follows lists of the best rap songs will probably not be surprised by this choice, the song is like the “Imagine” of Hip-Hop: a dead guy talking about the state of the world, that’s something that’s kind of hard to argue with. That the song was first released after Tupac was killed only added to its mystique and made it clearer just how much potential ‘pac had as a voice of the people. The song is both cynical but also a call for change, or at least a hope for peace. It’s a song that’s been praised by everyone from The Recording Academy to the Vatican. It’s also only become more interesting in the age of Obama when one considers the title in relation to the line: “It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other / And although it seems heaven-sent / We ain't ready to see a black President.” What’s most depressing is that that line seems to be more or less the only thing mentioned in the song that seems to have even slightly changed.
Neverending 08-01-2011 07:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2768057)
made it clearer just how much potential ‘pac had as a voice of the people.
Potential is the keyword. 2Pac, as a personality, was a little ridiculous. He's, more or less, responsible for the East-West Coast War, which is by far the most disgraceful era in rap music.
Dracula 08-02-2011 12:39 AM
Honorable Mentions:
Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
I'm Not a Player - Big Pun
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
The Crossroads - Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
South Bronx - Boogie Down Productions
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Ridin' Dirty - Chamillionaire
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Insane in the Brain - Cypress Hill
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Hell Yeah - Dead Prez
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Pass the Plugs - De La Soul
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like That) - Digable Planets
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Country Grammer - Nelly
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Put On - Young Jeezy
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
FranklinTard 08-02-2011 11:38 AM
paul's boutique should have gotten some pub... that changed hip hop with its use of samples.
Dracula 08-02-2011 01:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by FranklinTard (Post 2768141)
paul's boutique should have gotten some pub... that changed hip hop with its use of samples.
If this had been a list of the top 25 albums that would have made it, but there was no one song that really stood out. As for the sample thing... that's true in the sense that it inspired producers like rza and the bomb squad for a couple of years, but because of the price of sample clearance most modern productions have reverted to the older model with only one or two samples used per song.
Justin 08-02-2011 03:41 PM
People take rap seriously?
Dracula 08-02-2011 08:44 PM
Alright, here’s why there’s no number 13 on the list. The song I was going to put at number 13 was a song by Kanye West. Although he never quite had that one song that was good enough to crack the top ten on that list, he’s amassed an amazing (and amazingly consistent) body of work that could itself be ranked in a top 25 list, in fact…
25 Greatest Kanye West Songs
I don’t know if anyone is going to care about the top 25 Hip-Hop songs, and I’ll be even luckier if there’s anyone around here who’s just as interested in this list, but I’m doing it anyway out of some kind of compulsion. Obviously the number one song on this list will be the elusive number 13 on the overall Hip-Hop list. This list will be culled primarily from songs that Kanye has featured on his own albums (including bonus tracks). I’m not looking into his featured appearances on other artists tracks and I’m also not looking at his extensive production work on other artist’s tracks. Although I had to include one of his download only G.O.O.D. Fridays tracks, that will be the exception, the rest are all tracks that come from his actual albums (and for the record, Watch the Throne hasn’t been released as of this writing and I’m not including any leaks). It’s also a strictly personal list, more so than the main Hip-Hop list (which took influence more into account than this one will), and there are some very popular Kanye tracks that just don’t quite speak to me as much as they do for other people *cough* Jesus Walks *cough.* This list is also going to lean toward some less known album tracks than the main Hip-Hop list did, and the number one song may surprise some people.
25. “Heard ‘Em Say”
Featuring: Adam Levine
Album: Late Registration
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: #26
Samples: "Someone That I Used to Love" as performed by Natalie Cole
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
I certainly couldn’t have rated this song too highly, after all it does feature the inherently lame Adam Levine, and West does quote a bunch of loony conspiracy theories on the track. But he’s still able to create a hell of a mood with the track and I really appreciate that. That keyboard refrain really brings a lot to the track and it one of the best examples of the “the state of the world needs to change” tracks. I also really like the pseudo-world-music outro and the way that it plays into Late Registration’s opening skit.
24. “Street Lights”
Featuring: N/A
Album: 808s & Heartbreak
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: None
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This is a minor album track from one of West’s less beloved albums, and that makes it sort of an under-appreciated gem. Like most of 808s & Heartbreak this is an experimental track that sits on the line between rap, techno, R&B, and techno. It also employs the controversial technique of vocal modification, but it uses it in a way that sounds really different from the way that T-Pain and the like use it. The song is like a poem, using street lights passing as he sits in a cab to represent life passing by as he ages. He knows his destination (greatness/happiness/death?), but he’s not there and he’s going to make the most of his time. It seems repetitious but there’s something hypnotic about how the lines wrap into one another.
23. “Chain Heavy”
Featuring: Talib Kweli and Consequence
Album: N/A
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples:
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This MBDTF era track came out at a time when Kanye’s music was getting really serious and high-faluten’. This seems like a reaction to that, there’s certainly a somewhat serious metaphor in it about chains but to some extent this is just a (relatively fun) rap track filled with interesting wordplay against a strange beat that appears to employ a theremin. West does some good work here, but it’s really the guest verses that stand out, especially Talib Kweli’s uncharacteristically awesome and fast paced verse.
22. “We Don’t Care”
Featuring: N/A
Album: The College Dropout
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "I Just Wanna Stop" performed by The Jimmy Castor Bunch
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This song intended to make the kids start “jumpin’ up and down and sharing candy and stuff.” The song fits well as the opening track of West’s more conscious-skewing debut album The College Dropout, but it also mocks conscious rap’s cornier side with its non-judgemental view of hustlers in the street. It instantly establishes that West isn’t a gangster, but that he’s not going to lecture his audience either. It’s a strange sort of upbeat song, sort of a companion piece to the next album’s “Heard ‘Em Say,” but it’s the better of the two.
21. “So Appalled”
Featuring: Jay-Z, Pusha T, Prynce Cy Hi, Swizz Beatz & The RZA
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "You Are – I Am" by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Functioning, to some degree as a posse track for his G.O.O.D. Music label, So Appalled is one of MBDTF’s more mainstream tracks but it makes up for this through some really cool guest verses. First of all, I find the way that Swizz Beatz says the word “ridiculous” really amusing, that guy can be pretty cool on the mic in short bursts (his work as a producer of course is beyond reproach). Pusha and Cy Hi certainly show that they deserve their place on the label, but it’s ‘ye’s “big brother” Jay-Z who clearly steals the show delivering one of his best guest verses (complete with a Dark Knight reference!). What better way to close it out than by bringing RZA in to do a closing recitation of the hook?
Dracula 08-03-2011 01:57 PM
20. “Gold Digger”
Featuring: Jamie Foxx
Album: Late Registration
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: #1
Samples: "I Got a Woman" by Ray Charles
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
I always hate those people who tell me that the hit song that everybody loves is “the worst track on the album,” but when it comes to Kanye I’m almost a big enough fan to find myself in that position. Yeah, I do think that “Gold Digger” is minor-Kanye, but there are good reasons why it became the hit that it became. For one, I think its use of a Ray Charles sample was very clever, secondly it is a very funny song at times. When West delivers lines like “She was supposed to buy your shorty Tyco with your money / She went to the doctor got lypo with your money / She walking around looking like Michael with your money / Should've got that insured, Geico for your money” he’s operating like some kind of lighter Eminem in “Real Slim Shady” hit-maker mode.
19. “Paranoid”
Featuring: Mr. Hudson
Album: 808s & Heartbreak
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: No
Samples: None
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Kanye moved away from standard Hip-Hop on the 808s and Heartbreak album, and this song is probably the closest he ever came to making a straightforward pop song. Using extensive synth riffs, West and Mr. Hudson make an 80s influenced ballad reassuring a woman about his faithfulness. I could easily see an indie-rock band (at least one with a keyboard or synth) covering the song without anyone in the audience realizing it came from one of Hip-Hop’s biggest stars. It never took off as a single, but it sounds like a hit to me.
18. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone”
Featuring: N/A
Album: Late Registration
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: 43
Samples: "Diamonds Are Forever" by Shirley Bassey
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This first single from Late Registration is a great showcase of that album’s movie-like use of orchestration. What better way to do that than to sample one of the signature Bond themes, a celebration of suave wealth if ever there was one. But this is a song about the dark side of wealth, specifically conflict diamonds (an issue that the world decided to focus on for a year or so for some reason before continuing to ignore it). It’s an interesting contrast, especially given the bling talk that usually goes on in this genre.
17. “Through the Wire”
Featuring: N/A
Album: The College Dropout
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: 15
Samples: "Through the Fire" by Chaka Khan
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This is where it all started, Kanye’s first solo single. Recorded after the car accident that loomed over his debut album, and performed while Kanye had his jaw wired shut, this easily could have gone down as a novelty single if it were made by a lesser artist. The song also establishes Kanye’s use of sped up soul samples (dubbed chipmunk-soul) on productions, and the Chaka Khan song perfectly sets up the jubilant tone of this song about survival.
16. “Good Life”
Featuring: T-Pain
Album: Graduation
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: 7
Samples: "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" by Michael Jackson
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
This song sounds a little poppy and radio-pandering today, but that’s only because everyone’s been copying its sound since it was released. This was before T-Pain had made his robotic presence known on every single song in existence, and before Hip-Hop had embraced European style electro beats. Singing about “the good life” isn’t exactly the deepest of subject matter, but Kanye turns the song into a real catchy and upbeat banger that just makes you smile.
Dhamon22 08-03-2011 05:23 PM
Not to derail but what do you think of the Bad Meets Evil cd Drac? To me theres a few great songs but the other half or so are kind of 'meh'.
Is Royce Da 5-9's solo stuff any good?
Dracula 08-03-2011 10:45 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dhamon22 (Post 2768246)
Not to derail but what do you think of the Bad Meets Evil cd Drac? To me theres a few great songs but the other half or so are kind of 'meh'.
Is Royce Da 5-9's solo stuff any good?
I'd probably agree with your assessment of the Bad Meets Evil EP, it feels like a glorified mix tape. Like a lot of Eminem's recent work I like it on a technical "rhymes per minute" level, but the material isn't overly inspired.
I'm not really an expert on Royce's solo stuff. He's never really had much major label support and can probably be labeled a "rapper's rapper." None of his albums are considered classics or anything, but most of them have been fairly well reviewed. I'll probably keep an eye out for his next CD, but I don't feel any particular urge to go too deep into his back catalog.
Oh and while we're on the subject of Bad Meets Evil, did anyone know that the original version of the song "Renegades" had Royce on it instead of Jay-Z? blew my mind when I first learned it.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Neverending 08-03-2011 11:59 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2768228)
This song sounds a little poppy and radio-pandering today
It sounded that way at the time as well. lol. This was the era of Chicken Noodle Soup, Motel 6, and Souja Boy. The song is very - polished and sophisticated - by comparison.
Dracula 08-04-2011 12:01 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2768269)
It sounded that way at the time as well. lol. This was the era of Chicken Noodle Soup, Motel 6, and Souja Boy. The song is very - polished and sophisticated - by comparison.
That's my point, it was ahead of its time.
-----------------
15. “See Me Now”
Featuring: Beyoncé, Charlie Wilson, & Big Sean
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Itunes bonus track)
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...lbum_cover.png
Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: “Think About You” by Brian and Brenda
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Though it was relegated to bonus track status, I’ve listened to this track just as much as I’ve listened to anything else attached to MBDTF. Though I understand why West decided to leave end his masterpiece with the Gil-Scott Heron speech, I still like to think of this as the true finale because it ends the album on a much more triumphant note. It does show West at his most cocky, and that’s probably a turn off to some listeners and it’s a bit odd to see him like this on the same album that gave us “Runaway.” What really brings the track to the next level is Big Sean’s closing verse where he gives a rare defense of West’s public behavior “I know Kanye a jerk how could you say that? / He rode me and my mama around in his Maybach / What kind of jerk is that? / What kind of jerks is y'all? / **** it if he a jerk, I bet you jerk him off.”
14. “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”
Featuring: N/A
Album: Graduation
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: #41
Samples: “I Got Money” by Young Jeezy
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
“Can’t Tell Me Nothing” is clearly a precursor to the introspective 808s & Heartbreak album, and it feature’s Kanye at his most self reflective and vulnerable. West has always been more willing to talk about his feelings and **** than 99% of mainstream rappers, but those feelings had been a lot more jubilant in his previous singles like Touch the Sky and Through the Wire. This track on the other hand is decidedly about the downside of fame that had emerged since his success. It’s not his most fun song, but the beat really makes it feel epic and interesting.
13. “Monster”
Featuring: Justin Vernon, Rick Ross, Jay-Z, & Nicki Minaj
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: #18
Samples: None
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
We weren’t quite sure what to expect after Kanye released “Power,” but this guest filled banger was a more than welcomed second MBDTF single. I think this was meant to be a Hip-Hop version of the song “Thriller” with its horror theme and epic length. Justin Vernon (of the cult folk band Bon Iver) serves as the Vincent Price here and Jay-Z delivers a pretty good verse that also serves as a subliminal diss of his former protégé Beanie Sigel. But the person who really stole the show was Nicki Minaj, who delivers a fiery verse filled with personality changes. It’s a shame that she’s thrown away all the cred she gained from that verse so she could chase some lame Gaga-ripoff pop, but she certainly seemed to have a lot of promise here.
12. “Robocop”
Featuring: N/A
Album: 808s & Heartbreak
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "Kissing in the Rain" by Patrick Doyle
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Sometimes all it takes to elevate a track to greatness is a brilliant choice of sample. In this case the stroke of brilliance is the decision to sample a movie score, specifically the love theme from the 1998 version of Great Expectations. This soaring orchestral theme adds a lot of weight to this song in which West calls his girl a “Robocop” because she keeps trying to police his behavior. I especially like the song’s closing minute and a half when West realizes that his woman is just a “spoiled little L.A. girl” and that this relationship just isn’t going to work.
11. “Stronger”
Featuring: N/A
Album: Graduation
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: #1
Samples: "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
The College Dropout was characterized by its soul samples and Late Registration was characterized by adding sweeping orchestration to the mix, but this single signaled that in his third album he was going electronica. Sampling the French house musicians Daft Punk, West puts together a strong club song based around Nietzsche's phrase “that which doesn’t kill me, only makes me stronger.” It was released at the height of Kanye’s commercial popularity and is so far his last solo number 1 hit (though he’d come close at times since then).
Dracula 08-05-2011 04:55 PM
10. “Lost in the World”
Featuring: Justin Vernon
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "Woods" by Bon Iver, "Soul Makossa" by Manu Dibango, "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins, and "Comment No. 1" by Gil Scott-Heron
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
One thing that Kanye West has been pretty consistently amazing about is the creation of climactic final tracks to his LPs. This song was the final statement from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (I’m counting this and “Who Will Survive in America” as one track). Justin Vernon seemed like an odd collaborator with yeezy, but he seems to fit in with West’s maximalist hip-hop just fine here. Kanye’s verse is a sentiment along the lines of “lets break out of here and paint the town red,” which gives a hopeful spin on the end of an album that went to some less than jolly places and the coda, sampled from Gil Scott-Heron’s poem “Comment #1” seems to add a lot of weight to the proceedings even if the poem’s subject matter (Heron’s distaste for the hippies trying to join the civil rights movement) doesn’t seem to relate to the rest of the song at all.
9. “Coldest Winter”
Featuring: N/A
Album: 808s & Heartbreak
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "Memories Fade" by Tears for Fears
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Another epic final track, this time to the 808s and Heartbreak album, Coldest Winter is the song where West closes the book on the two ending relationships that inspired the album: his relationship with his former fiancé (who left him) and his relationship with his mother (who died). West repeats a number of the lines in the song so as to address both at once before finally saying goodbye and musing whether or not he’ll ever love again. The track merges the main musical and lyrical themes from the album: loss, remorse, unexpected samples, tribal drumming, and an abandonment of traditional rapping.
8. “Touch the Sky”
Featuring: Lupe Fiasco
Album: Late Registration
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: 42
Samples: "Move on Up" by Curtis Mayfield
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Kanye would talk at length about the downside of fame later in his career, but here he celebrates his success against a gleeful slowed down Curtis Mayfield sample. This is West at his anthemic best, claiming proudly to be “on top of the world.” The song also introduced mainstream audiences to Lupe Fiasco, who owns his status as a “backpack MC” by bringing rhymes about Lupin the 3rd and Mum-Ra to the table. It’s also notable for being one of the only Kanye songs not produced (or even co-produced) by West himself. Just Blaze is the one in the producer chair, but you can still hear West directing things with lines like “now let me end my verse right where the horns are.”
7. “Runaway”
Featuring: Pusha T
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: 12
Samples: "Expo 83" by Backyard Heavies
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
It’s amazing how much you can do with a single note. The piano D-note used to begin the song runaway is instantly recognizable to any Kanye fan, but that’s just the beginning of it all. West’s toast to the douchbags, *******s, scumbags, and jerkoffs was debuted on the VMAs the year after his PR fiasco and was seem largely as a statement of self loathing in response to it. I personally was too busy looking at the showmanship of it all, with Kanye using the sampler as a freestyle instrument and wearing a devilish red suit. Pusha T is also on board to give a nearly star-making verse about what it’s like in the “balla-***** matrix.” But this is West’s show all the way, setting a brilliant mood. It even had lyrics that would manage to predict scandals involving both Brett Farve and Anthony Weiner. The only reason it didn’t make the top five is that the nine minute album version of the song is a bit unwieldy; I don’t know that I really needed a five minute instrumental in the middle of the song.
6. “Family Business”
Featuring: N/A
Album: The College Dropout
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "Fonky Thang" by The Dells
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
The final track on Kanye’s debut album (unless you count the bizarre “Last Call,” which I don’t), this track is a celebration of West’s extended family and its closeness. I’m usually not a sucker about odes to family togetherness, but the imagery of a family reunion that he conjures up still seem really appealing to me. You can really picture that auntie who can’t cook, or cousin Stevie who winds up in jail instead of at the reunion. That he was able to build this out of an obscure vocal sample from an Acapulco track is really amazing.
Dracula 08-06-2011 01:42 PM
5. “Flashing Lights”
Featuring: Dwele
Album: Graduation
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...hinglights.png
Single?: Yes
Charted?: 90
Samples: “Little Child Runnin’ Wild” by Curtis Mayfield
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
One thing that Kanye loves to do is use “lights” as a metaphor, and in this case he’s talking about the lights from paparazzi cameras. The influence of European club music is very clear on this song and the beat here is extremely evocative of decadent upscale lifestyles (if Italian suits were music it would sound like this). It’s probably been one of Kanye’s most often re-contextualized songs because of the images it conjures up, but there are some more pressing elements to the lyrics which talk of a relationship being torn apart by fame. In this sense it feels a bit like an early precursor to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
4. “Power”
Featuring: N/A
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: #22
Samples: "Afromerica" by Continent Number 6, "21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson, and "It's Your Thing" by Cold Grits
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Speaking of music that’s been widely re-contextualized by advertising, this song seems like it’s been used in every trailer, advertisement, and sports program for the last year (the song might be entirely responsible for the financial success of the movie “Limitless”). You can see why, this song sounds like an introduction to many awesome things, most notably MBDTF, for which this was the first single. Using some really diverse samples (King Crimson FTW!) West has created a song that seems both boastful and unsure at the same time.
3. “All of the Lights”
Featuring: Alicia Keys, John Legend, The-Dream, Drake, Fergie, Kid Cudi, Elton John, Ryan Leslie, Charlie Wilson, Tony Williams, Elly Jackson, Alvin Fields, Ken Lewis, and Rihanna
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
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Single?: Yes
Charted?: #18
Samples: None
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Using a horn section and a chorus featuring fourteen famous vocalists (only Rihanna, Kid Kudi, and Fergie have distinct verses), Kanye West created what may be his most ambitious and operatic vision to date with “All of the Lights.” The epic musicianship of the song speaks for itself, but let’s take a look at the lyrics, which I consider to be West’s clearest statement about his PR problems to date. The song is a metaphor, it sounds like it’s about a father’s problems with his estranged wife, but it’s really about West’s troubled relationship with stardom. The wife that he “slapped” is the music buying public and the little girl who needs him is pop culture as a whole. Looked at this way, Kanye is admitting that the VMA fiasco hurt his stardom, but now that he’s finally being taken back by the public he can continue raising pop music to the next level.
2. “Never Let Me Down”
Featuring: Jay-Z and J. Ivy
Album: The College Dropout
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...egedropout.jpg
Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "Maybe It's the Power of Love" by Blackjack
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Though it was never released as a single for some inexplicable reason, “Never Let Me Down” still sounds like a hell of a classic to me. Using gospel influences West constructs an amazing beat and is somehow able to use the phrase “get up, I get down” to craft a worthy chorus. West’s verse, about the sit ins that happened during the civil rights movement fit in well with The College Dropouts more conscious leanings. That’s taken to a whole new level by the presence of slam poet J.Ivy, who delivers a powerful poem mid-song about having “the heart of Kunta Kinte.” Jay-Z’s also on the track, but his presence isn’t necessarily the highlight so much as it is a statement. Jay-Z ends the song saying “Hov's a living legend and I'll tell you why / Everybody wanna be Hov and Hov's still alive,” in fact all his lines are about his longevity. That’s why he’s on this track; it’s a statement saying that like Jay-Z, Kanye is here to stay.
1. “Gone”
Featuring: Cam’ron and Consequence
Album: Late Registration
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Single?: No
Charted?: N/A
Samples: "It's Too Late" by Otis Redding
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Positioned as the final (non-bonus) track on Late Registration, Kanye’s masterpiece marked the first (though not last) time that he’d sample Otis Redding. West’s first verse is sort of a warm up, though he’s still able to throw out some classic lines like “even your superficial raps is super-official.” Then he throws the tracks to his guests who both deliver uncharacteristically awesome verses. The usually lame Cam’ron comes out strong with the tongue twisting opening line “Knock knock, who's there? Killa Cam, Killa who? / Killa Cam, hustler, grinder, guerilla true.” Then Consequence (whose solo career would turn out to be a huge bust) steps up to the Mic and delivers an amazing twenty line verse which uses the word “gone” in pretty much every way that it could possibly be used (a trick he’d recycle on the track “Chain Heavy”). But of course it would be Kanye himself that would get the final word and he delivers probably his best verse up to that point. This climactic verse is a rollercoaster ride going from simple boasts “Ah-head of my time, sometimes years out” to a consideration of “leaving it all behind,” but then he comes to an epiphany. Realizing how far he’s come in a short amount of time and quotes Joni Mitchell’s phrase “you never know what you’ve got til it’s gone” and decides to take his place as a leader for the aspiring MCs. He’s faced more hardships since then, but he’s never given up that place.
IanTheCool 08-06-2011 02:53 PM
Wow, a whole list on Kanye West.
Now, this is a great list, and I'ma let you get back to it, but JBond has one of the greatest top ten lists of all time!!!
Neverending 08-07-2011 03:36 AM
That joke is so 2009.
JBond 08-07-2011 03:43 AM
I dunno. I kind of liked it.
Deexan 08-07-2011 05:40 AM
Remember Ian's in Canada and they're a few years behind everyone else so technically that joke was cutting edge.
PG Cooper 08-07-2011 06:49 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deexan (Post 2768641)
Remember Ian's in Canada and they're a few years behind everyone else so technically that joke was cutting edge.
You're only saying that so all the Americans here don't make fun of you for being British
IanTheCool 08-07-2011 10:20 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deexan (Post 2768641)
Remember Ian's in Canada and they're a few years behind everyone else so technically that joke was cutting edge.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
thebtskink 08-07-2011 11:31 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by IanTheCool (Post 2768593)
Wow, a whole list on Kanye West.
Now, this is a great list, and I'ma let you get back to it, but JBond has one of the greatest top ten lists of all time!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2768632)
That joke is so 2009.
George Bush hates black people.
And Kanye's glasses are absolutely stupid.
Neverending 08-08-2011 03:55 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by thebtskink (Post 2768674)
George Bush hates black people.
LOL. That was the moment that changed everything for Kanye. He went from a critically acclaimed rapper/producer to a public laughing stock in a year and a half.
Like Dracula, I'm a fan of the man, but it can't be denied that his personal antics have over-shadowed his work.
Deexan 08-08-2011 05:37 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PG Cooper (Post 2768642)
You're only saying that so all the Americans here don't make fun of you for being British
I prefer 'English.' Don't want to be associated with those dirty Scots/Welsh/Irish. :meanie:
I like to keep the old rivalries bubbling under. If everybody gets too lovey-dovey with one another and war kicks off where's the murderous rage going to come from?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by IanTheCool (Post 2768666)
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
Are you attempting a Rick-Roll or just reminding me of one of the many amazing feats of artistry this great land is responsible for? Or both?
FranklinTard 08-08-2011 04:02 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2768736)
but it can't be denied that his personal antics have over-shadowed his work.
meh. big ben seems like a complete douche bag. but he can throw a football.
i can separate the person from the professional.
Dhamon22 08-10-2011 05:33 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2768260)
I'd probably agree with your assessment of the Bad Meets Evil EP, it feels like a glorified mix tape. Like a lot of Eminem's recent work I like it on a technical "rhymes per minute" level, but the material isn't overly inspired.
I'm not really an expert on Royce's solo stuff. He's never really had much major label support and can probably be labeled a "rapper's rapper." None of his albums are considered classics or anything, but most of them have been fairly well reviewed. I'll probably keep an eye out for his next CD, but I don't feel any particular urge to go too deep into his back catalog.
Oh and while we're on the subject of Bad Meets Evil, did anyone know that the original version of the song "Renegades" had Royce on it instead of Jay-Z? blew my mind when I first learned it.
VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:
I just got Spotify so I'm looking forward to listening to a bunch of stuff without having to download it or mess with youtube. From the little I've heard so far Royce is a very good rapper but the songs aren't great as a whole.
Deexan 08-11-2011 06:10 AM
Royce is ok but right now I think Joe Budden is producing some of the best hip-hop, particularly on his Mood Muzik albums. He and Royce are good friends and their collaboration album as Slaughterhouse (along with Crooked I and Joell Ortiz) is good but Budden is on another level with his solo stuff.
The new Slaughterhouse album is due this year on Shady records though, could be one to watch.
Dracula 08-22-2011 08:37 PM
Top Ten Most Underrated/Overlooked TV Shows
The title of this sort of speaks for itself, but really there are a lot of different definitions of “underrated” out there and this list will look at a lot of them. Some of these are shows that seem to get no mainstream appreciation but have strong cult followings, some are shows with lots of mainstream appeal but which don’t get the respect they deserve from critics. The list is also going to be very personal to me and the shows that I’ve watched over the years, so there are probably a lot of other good shows that I’ve been underrating myself. I should also mention that this will primarily focus on shows that aired within my lifetime, I can’t really speak to classic shows that are overlooked. Also, the rankings in this are not that important, they’re pretty much just in the order that I want to talk about them.
10. Titus
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi.../Tituslogo.jpg
Genre: Sitcom
Network: FOX
Aired: 2000-2002
Some shows are just ahead of their time and this is a prime example. The show’s edgy humor and focus on familial dysfunction would have been a perfect fit for the FX network and in retrospect the show seems like the prototype for both “It’s Always Sunny in Philedelphia” and to some extent “Louie” (which has a similar focus on personal dysfunction and also borrows the device of flashing back to the main character’s childhood). Back in 2001 however the show proved to be too much for the network and while it actually got decent ratings it was still cancelled early. I don’t feel like it gets the credit it deserves for its influence on modern sitcoms nor has it seemed to develop the cult audience that other cancelled sitcoms like Arrested Development have gotten.
9. Babylon 5
www.vulcanevents.com/skin/fro...a/babylon5.jpg
Genre: Science Fiction
Network: PTEN
Aired: 1994-1998
Babylon 5 has a following in the science fiction community, but I don’t feel like it’s influence has ever been fully appreciated. This was the first show to truly pull off the serialized drama format on American television. While there was the occasional stand-alone episode here and there (especially in the first season) it eventually proved to be an amazingly complex, almost novelistic, story told over the course of five seasons. It also managed to create a fully functional space-opera universe with numerous distinct alien species with unique characteristics and developments throughout its run. It was also one of the first shows to extensively use CGI, and while these effects admittedly look horrible today it was still a big breakthrough. As far as I’m concerned it’s a landmark show, but most people seem to just regard it as just another syndicated Star Trek ripoff.
8. Carnivàle
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...vale_title.jpg
Genre: Drama
Network: HBO
Aired: 2003-2005
Carnivale was unceremoniously cancelled on a cliffhanger after two seasons, and while I was very disappointed by that it’s not something I’m going to b---h about. It was an expensive show that didn’t draw viewers so I can’t blame HBO for putting it to pasture. However, I can chastise the TV audiences of America for failing to tune in given that this was so obviously an amazing piece of work and for failing to preserve its legacy when talking about the great television that’s come along. The show was probably the best example of horror/fantasy on television since The X-Files and it managed to invoke a period setting just as well as other HBO shows like Deadwood and Boardwalk Empire. I suppose the show’s ultimate downfall was that it couldn’t be pigeonholed, it didn’t fit well into any existing TV genre or trope and it couldn’t really be described with a simple logline.
FranklinTard 08-22-2011 09:29 PM
i'll admit i never get carnivale a chance, love b5 though, and i agree with titus to a certain extent, although i think you are looking back on it with a little nostalgia. didn't it have a laugh track?
JBond 08-22-2011 10:39 PM
Titus was a fun show. "Whaaaaat's in this tukey? Trypt-o-phan!"
Babylon 5 had its moments.
Dracula 08-22-2011 10:59 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by FranklinTard (Post 2770424)
i agree with titus to a certain extent, although i think you are looking back on it with a little nostalgia. didn't it have a laugh track?
Well, sometimes when you're a trailblazer you make mistakes like that. I'm sure if it were made today it would be a single camera show with not laugh track.
BTW, is your shift button broken or something?
JBond 08-22-2011 11:31 PM
Not likely. There's two of them.
shained 08-23-2011 12:58 PM
I've heard good things about Carnivale but now I know it finishes on a cliffhanger I think i'll be avoiding it....
Babylon 5 was alright but I was never a big enough fan to go out of my way for it.
Never heard of the other show.
FranklinTard 08-23-2011 01:04 PM
you lower case bigots make me sick. good day to you.
Dracula 08-23-2011 03:15 PM
7. Law and Order
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...andorder01.jpg
Genre: Drama
Network: NBC
Aired: 1990-2010
How can I call one of the longest running and most successful series of all time “underrated.” Well mostly because I feel like it’s frequently mislabeled and construed as something it isn’t. I absolutely hate that the show is often lumped in with other inferior police procedurals like CSI, NCIS, and Bones. While those shows constantly chased sensationalism and showed no regard for realism, Law and Order stayed rooted in the realities of the criminal justice system and remained one of the few platforms for political discourse on television. I suppose the show’s awful spinoffs (especially SVU, which really is CSI-like at this point) hold some of the blame for how people regard the show, but I maintain that the show deserved a lot more respect than that.
6. Community
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nity_title.jpg
Genre: Sitcom
Network: NBC
Aired: 2009-
Alright, so the people on this site probably don’t underrate this show at all. Community has been accepted by the online community with open arms (it has ten times the authentic geek appeal of The Big Bang Theory), but the rest of the world hasn’t given it the time of day. While the mediocre and stale Modern Family gets lavished with praise and awards, Community gets completely shut out of both the Emmys and the larger discussion of the great sitcoms of our time. Initially I blamed NBC for this, but they’ve managed to do right by Parks and Recreation, so now I’m just going to assume the show is too clever for audiences. I’m not sure why TV critics haven’t seen the brilliance of the show however, they should be the perfect people to recognize the show’s brilliant deconstruction of both sitcom and genre tropes.
5. Treme
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Genre: Drama
Network: HBO
Aired: 2010-
I understand why mainstream audiences haven’t flocked to Treme; it’s a deliberately slow moving series that focuses on characters rather than story and it’s also highly political in a way that isn’t for everybody… fine, but that doesn’t explain why critics haven’t embraced it. The show is maybe not the triumph that The Wire was, but it’s still got most of that David Simon touch and I don’t understand why television critics seem to be as ADD-adled as the public and the Emmy voters when it comes to the series. Fortunately HBO seems to understand the shows value and have continued to renew it in spite of its low ratings, but the show still deserves better.
4. The Mole
1.bp.blogspot.com/_GrU2mHrTwD.../mole-logo.jpg
Genre: Reality
Network: ABC
Aired: 2001-2008
Remember the initial boom in reality-competition shows? It was a fairly exciting time, and the format remains the most dignified form of reality television even if the “talent show” and “a**holes in a house” formats have dominated the format. While Survivor and The Amazing Race have both experienced a decade of success, the show that was clearly the best of them all was treated horribly: The Mole. It was a great show that had contestants vying to find out which among them was a mole looking to sabotage their efforts, it was exciting stuff and the first season was pretty successful. Then September 11 happened and everyone in the country turned into a wuss that was incapable of enjoying a show about ruthless competition. That really killed the show and while it tried to come back with celebrity contestants, the momentum was gone.
IanTheCool 08-23-2011 03:59 PM
Yeah, it bugs me that Community isn't embraced more. The fact that its on the same time as Big Bang probably has something to do with that.
I can't get into Treme, I think because I have no interest in Jazz or Jazz culture whatsoever.
JBond 08-23-2011 04:23 PM
I never watched Law and Order...because I don't like cop procedural shows.
Community is wonderful.
Dracula 08-23-2011 04:39 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by IanTheCool (Post 2770507)
Yeah, it bugs me that Community isn't embraced more. The fact that its on the same time as Big Bang probably has something to do with that.
I can't get into Treme, I think because I have no interest in Jazz or Jazz culture whatsoever.
I'm not really a jazz-buff either, but I don't think that's the central point of the show either. I feel like the music is mostly used as an example of the city's cultural accomplishments and importance. Similarly I don't need to care that much about what gumbo tastes like in order to appreciate the Janette storyline.
Neverending 08-23-2011 08:24 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2770503)
4. The Mole
1.bp.blogspot.com/_GrU2mHrTwD.../mole-logo.jpg
Genre: Reality
Network: ABC
Aired: 2001-2008
I didn't realize the show lasted that long. I only remember the first season. Then again, I don't watch ABC that much.
Dracula 08-23-2011 08:48 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neverending (Post 2770540)
I didn't realize the show lasted that long. I only remember the first season. Then again, I don't watch ABC that much.
It actually only had five seasons spread over that time, they kept cancelling it then waiting a couple years and trying to bring it back.
Alien 08-24-2011 09:39 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2770503)
6. Community
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nity_title.jpg
Genre: Sitcom
Network: NBC
Aired: 2009-
Alright, so the people on this site probably don’t underrate this show at all. Community has been accepted by the online community with open arms (it has ten times the authentic geek appeal of The Big Bang Theory), but the rest of the world hasn’t given it the time of day. While the mediocre and stale Modern Family gets lavished with praise and awards, Community gets completely shut out of both the Emmys and the larger discussion of the great sitcoms of our time. Initially I blamed NBC for this, but they’ve managed to do right by Parks and Recreation, so now I’m just going to assume the show is too clever for audiences. I’m not sure why TV critics haven’t seen the brilliance of the show however, they should be the perfect people to recognize the show’s brilliant deconstruction of both sitcom and genre tropes.
I got into Community because someone showed me a gif of Annie running in the 2nd paintball episode with boobs bouncing...
After I downloaded and watched the 1st two season I looked to see what channel it was on in the UK. It's on Viva! Vivi for those that don't know is a 2nd rate "music" channel (I'm guessing with very little music since that is the norm these days). Viva isn't even as "cool" or "hip" as MTV, it wishes it was MTV.
Dracula 08-24-2011 07:15 PM
3. Oz
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._titlecard.png
Genre: Drama
Network: HBO
Aired: 1997-2003
Quick, name the first great HBO drama. 98% of people answering that question would have probably said “The Sopranos,” but the prison drama Oz debuted two full years ahead of that mob drama and was in my humble opinion pretty great. Granted it got a little loopy here and there, but for the most part it was fine drama worthy of its place in the history of cable television. And yet, the show seems to have been almost completely forgotten both by its network and by the public while its younger siblings like The Sopranos and Six Feet Under remain a large part of the pop culture landscape.
2. Farscape
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...scape_Logo.jpg
Genre: Science Fiction
Network: Sci-Fi
Aired: 1999-2003
I guess what annoys me about Farscape’s legacy is that it doesn’t have a cult that’s nearly as large as Firefly’s, and for no foreseeable reason. As far as I’m concerned, Farscape is ten times as fun and well realized as Firefly and it also has a similarly self referential sense of humor. I’d even say it was technically better made on nearly every level (though I’ll admit that I haven’t seen it in a while). I guess its fatal flaw is that it had a network that allowed it to run for four seasons before it was needlessly cancelled, they even had the gall to give it a miniseries in order to finish all the storylines. If the network had been a little more dickish the science fiction community would have rallied behind it and it would have the same reputation that Firefly currently has. The difference is that Farscape actually deserves that reputation.
1. Cops
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Genre: Reality
Network: FOX
Aired: 1989-
For reasons that I cannot entirely comprehend, this show has earned one of the most disrespectful reputations on television. People seem to see it as crap on the level of The Jerry Springer Show, and I don’t think that’s fair at all. This is a show that lives up to the “reality TV” label in a way that almost nothing on T.V. (including the news) does. This is cinema vérité put right into American living rooms and it’s been doing it for over two decades. The show perfectly captures the life of a common police officer in all its banality and absurdity and it doesn’t need to manipulate anything to do it. It’s a fascinating, funny, and thought inducing show, but like Rodney Dangerfield before it, it gets no respect.
JBond 08-24-2011 08:04 PM
You're pretty alone in your anger against Firefly. Just saying.
Dracula 08-24-2011 08:36 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBond (Post 2770674)
You're pretty alone in your anger against Firefly. Just saying.
Well, I shouldn't be.
JBond 08-24-2011 09:33 PM
I don't think I've ever seen an episode of Cops. Maybe waaaay back in the day when it first came out.
Ramplate 08-24-2011 10:12 PM
I occasionally watch Cops, but I'd rather watch the forensic shows about real cases on Discovery, TLC, and those types of stations.
The few Law and Order show's I've seen were pretty good but I'd rather watch the real cases like The First 48. And Hey, I like NCIS
Farscape was a great show, so was Firefly, but I've only seen a few B5 episodes at a friends house.
Titus was good, twisted but good.
Community is alright, but I don't watch it unless there's something else on.
The Mole did suffer with the Celebrity version, interesting concept but I think it wore thin. I kind of liked the Mystery reality contest show that aired a couple of times too.
I don't get HBO so those I've not really seen.
FranklinTard 08-24-2011 10:57 PM
you gotta be kidding me. how can you avoid episodes of cops? did you guys have no lazy dorm days in college? they showed re-runs all day. literally, all day, multiple channels.
law and order doesn't get the respect it deserves... although i think it did. everyone knows the 'thunk thunk' noise means law and order. i don't know anyone that was home sick from high school that didn't watch at least 2 episodes of law and order and be totally engrossed in them. that's the beauty, there is no real characters, they are just who they are, the stories are what is important, the cases, when they started focusing on the characters is when they lost their audience... for good reason.
i also somewhat agree with farscape... i think its cult status hurts it a bit, maybe i'm a niche guy but everyone loves farscape it seems like on the internet (sans this site it seems...) and for good reason. it really was an easily watchable show.
and community... it has been loved by critics (maybe not the douches that hand out the golden statues but critics loved it, its metacritic score is consistently in the green) for all the seasons it has been on. its ravenous following are also more hardcore about the show than many other fan bases of just about any other show to be honest. hope it doesn't lose its audience and get cancelled early.
Dracula 08-24-2011 11:27 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by FranklinTard (Post 2770686)
law and order doesn't get the respect it deserves... although i think it did. everyone knows the 'thunk thunk' noise means law and order. i don't know anyone that was home sick from high school that didn't watch at least 2 episodes of law and order and be totally engrossed in them. that's the beauty, there is no real characters, they are just who they are, the stories are what is important, the cases, when they started focusing on the characters is when they lost their audience... for good reason.
i also somewhat agree with farscape... i think its cult status hurts it a bit, maybe i'm a niche guy but everyone loves farscape it seems like on the internet (sans this site it seems...) and for good reason. it really was an easily watchable show.
and community... it has been loved by critics (maybe not the douches that hand out the golden statues but critics loved it, its metacritic score is consistently in the green) for all the seasons it has been on. its ravenous following are also more hardcore about the show than many other fan bases of just about any other show to be honest. hope it doesn't lose its audience and get cancelled early.
Law and Order started focusing on character a little more in its last couple of seasons, but 90% of it was still a straight procedural. This wasn't unprecedented either, Season 8 has a lot of character focus and sub-plots running throughout.
Google "Farscape series" and you get 3,280,000 results
Google "Firefly series" and you get 13,300,000 results
Admittedly some of those firefly results are probably actually about bugs, but that's still a HUGE disparity. IMHO, if there was justice in the world those results would have at least been even.
As for Community, I guess what annoys me is that people keep seeing it as the equal or lesser to a bunch of inferior sitcoms like Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, and even 30 Rock. As far as I'm concerned it is lightyears ahead of any sitcom on broadcast television.
Neverending 08-25-2011 02:18 AM
Community is too recent of a show. I would wait a while before complaining. Keep in mind that even Seinfeld took a few years before people started to give a s--t. Cheers was a total flop till The Cosby Show became its lead-in.
Community will start its 3rd season in a few weeks and it airs on a 4th place network. I think it makes sense that most people don't give a s--t just yet.
Deexan 08-25-2011 03:41 AM
I always manage to forget about Oz, I used to love that show. Keep meaning to pick up the series on DVD.
Neverending 08-25-2011 04:54 AM
I think Oz had too much penis and jail-rape for most male audiences. I remember when that show premiered that's all everyone talked about.
JBond 08-25-2011 05:04 AM
That's all I know about it.
Ramplate 08-25-2011 05:06 AM
Big Bang Theory - I've only watched that a couple of times but I laughed really hard.
I think that's a good one
Deexan 08-25-2011 05:37 AM
A lot of penises and rape? I don't remember the exact penis to minutes ratio but I don't recall it being excessive, and it was no doubt all in the name of realism.
It's been a while though so I may be mistaken and there could be a 5 minute scene of some guy dangling his junk in front of the camera in every episode before the credits roll.
JBond 08-25-2011 06:10 AM
*Queue's it in Netflix*
Alien 08-25-2011 10:57 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2770677)
Well, I shouldn't be.
You hate Pixar and you hate Firefly... Is this all some sort of act to be noticed?
I liked Farscape but Firefly was better.
Neverending 08-26-2011 01:47 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deexan (Post 2770721)
I don't recall it being excessive
It doesn't really matter. Most AMERICAN men are uncomfortable with male nudity and gay sex. It has only been in recent years that the penis has become more -- accepted. But gay (non-lesbian) sex is a LONG way from reaching that level. Remember all the "jokes" when Brokeback Mountain was released?
Oz is always gonna be under-rated and overlooked as long as guys are uncomfortable with the show.
PG Cooper 10-30-2011 08:32 AM
For Halloween, my top five favourite horror films:
5. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
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Release date: September 2nd, 1978
Running time: 127 minutes
Written by: George A. Romero
Directed by: George A. Romero
Starring: Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, David Emge, and Gaylen Ross
One of the arguments that constantly divides film fans is what’s better, Night of the Living Dead or Dawn of the Dead? While I love both, it’s no question that Dawn of the Dead is my favourite. The story is simple, a group of people hold up in a mall during a zombie apocalypse. All the characters are likable and interesting in their own way, with Ken Foree and Scott Reiniger being especially cool. There’s also a lot of great lines and the music kicks ass. And of course there’s Tom Savini’s classic make-up effects. But what I think really makes this film work is the incredible balancing act it pulls off. It manages to be an effective horror film, but it’s also a fun film that has a sense of humour. On top of that, the film has several themes revolving around materialism and society, yet none of it feels forced. The film is also one of the most re-watchable films of all time. I could watch it again and again and I never get tired of it. Zombies are just as popular today as ever, with movies like Zombieland and shows like The Walking Dead being very successful. If your a fan of these and wanna brush up on your classics, you gotta check out Dawn of the Dead.
4. The Shining
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Release date: May 23rd, 1980
Running time: 144 minutes
Written by: Stanley Kubrick and Diane Johnson
Based on: The novel of the same name by Stephen King
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers
I’m sure any fan of the novel reading this is gonna hate this choice. A lot of people, including author Stephen King himself, criticize the film for not being very true to King’s novel. Maybe it isn’t a good adaptation (I’ve never read the novel) but I really don’t care since The Shining is an example of good film making, plain and simple. The plot revolves around a family spending the Winter season as caretakers of the Overlook Hotel. The son is plagued by super natural premonitions and the father is a writer who slowly loses his sanity. Stanley Kubrick was an extraordinary director, and The Shining is one of several great films from him. Kubirck’s visual style brings a lot to the film, and the direction really ramps up the suspense and terror. The cast is really good too, with great performance from Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, and an unforgettable appearance by Joe Turkel. But it’s Jack Nicholson who really steals the show here. It’s an iconic performance that has been the subject of tribute and parody since 1980. Hell, his “Here’s Johnny” line alone has gone down in history as one of the greatest movie quotes of all time. But really, there’s something interesting about every line Nicholson says. What’s really scary about the film isn’t just when Jack loses it near the end, but also just the sheer psychological effect the film has on the viewer. For whatever reason, The Shining opened to a lukewarm reception and was the only of Kubirck’s final nine films to not receive any Oscar or Golden Globe nominations. But in recent years, critics have come to see The Shining for what it is; a masterpiece.
3. The Terminator
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Release date: October 26th, 1984
Running time: 108 minutes
Written by: James Cameron, Gale Ann Hurd, and William Wisher, Jr.
Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
I know a lot of people don’t view The Terminator as a horror film, but it is. It’s pretty much a slasher where the slasher uses a gun instead of stabbing weapon. But if you look at it, it’s a mostly silent, masked killer, stalking a young girl. On his path of destruction, he kills several others on his path. He’s indestructible and will stop at nothing to get his prey. The movie even ends with a young girl on her own, terrified and hurt, desperately trying to bring down her assailant. But it’s not just the structural details that make this a horror film. The film has a very dark and chilling atmosphere, one which is reflected in it’s colour and cinematography. The film has a very dark and bleak look to it, and the music has a techno nightmare sort of feel, fitting given the nature of the story. The film also has one of the scariest and most iconic villains of all time with Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, the role that launched him into super stardom. I also think Michael Biehn is awesome as the film’s hero, Kyle Reese. While it’s often over-shadowed by it’s equally good but larger scale sequel, The Terminator is a classic in it’s own right and one of the most overlooked horror films of all time.
2. Se7en
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Release date: September 22nd, 1995
Running time: 128 minutes
Written by: Andrew Kevin Walker
Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and R.Lee Ermey
Not just one of my favourite horror films, but one of my favourite films of all time. Two detectives are trailing a serial killer who kills his victims based on the seven deadly sins. There are two things that make this film scary. One is the atmosphere. Se7en is easily one of the most depressing and bleak films I’ve ever scene. Every scene is covered in rain, and dark skies. Hell, the character of Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is tired and broken down by the world. He looks at life with a cynical perspective and just doesn’t want to deal with it anymore. The movie also ends on an incredibly dark note (the infamous “box” scene), with the final line especially being one that really hits you. The other think that makes this film scary is the killer John Doe, and his motivations for killing. All his victims are technically sinners and when Doe talks about why he killed them, you understand where he’s coming from, even if you don’t agree with him. It’s scary the way the film makes you understand the monster. John Doe is also played brilliantly. I won’t say who the actor is, because the film goes out of it’s way to make it a surprise. I will say it’s an amazing performance from one of my favourite actors. I also should acknowledge how good Brad Pitt is, with this being one of his first big roles. Se7en also benefits from a great script with tight pacing and dialogue so good you could just listen to these characters for hours. Se7en is intense, disturbing, scary, and quite possibly David Fincher’s best film.
1. The Silence of the Lambs
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Release date: February 14th, 1991
Running time: 118 minutes
Written by: Ted Tally
Based on: The novel of the same name by Thomas Harris
Directed by: Jonathan Demme
Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glen, and Ted Levine
I have to admit, I gave a lot of thought to putting Se7en at number one. But I guess at the end of the day I’ll always come back to The Silence of the Lambs, the story of FBI agent Claurice Starling (Jodie Foster) tracking down serial killer Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) with the help of the incarcerated mad man Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). It’s interesting that a lot of the imagery in the film has become somewhat dated. The images of mutilated bodies and corpses aren’t far removed from what can now be seen on typical crime procedurals on TV today. Yet this film still manages to be absolutely horrifying. Why? Because of the characters and the situations. Buffalo Bill is one of the most underrated and scary villains of all time. Bill is a serial killer who is kidnapping women and keeps them around for a few days before shooting and skinning them. There’s also an element to Bill that the audience sort of pities. The scenes in Bill’s house are some of the most deranged bits of cinema I’ve ever seen. And of course you have Bill’s night vision goggles, those god damn goggles. What helps make the film scary is the attachment you feel to the main character Claurice Starling, who has some issues of her own. And of course, I’ve saved the best for last. We still have to talk about Hannibal. What can be said about Hannibal Lecter? He’s rightly considered one of the greatest villains of all time, all the more amazing considering he only has sixteen minutes of screen time. He leaves such an everlasting impression. Anyone who has seen this film will remember Hannibal Lecter forever (or at least until the dementia kicks in). Hannibal spends most of the film in a cell, yet he still manages to be scary. He doesn’t need to be outside to hurt you, he can break you down without lifting a finger. All it takes is a cold stare and a few words. And of course the scene where Hannibal fully reveals the monster (I won’t spoil what happens) is completely brilliant and one of the greatest horror scenes of all time. I know a lot of people don’t consider this a horror film, but I personally can’t think of a film that has filled me with as much fear and dread. The Silence of the Lambs, one of my favourite horror films, and one of my favourite films of all time.
PG Cooper 11-02-2011 04:44 PM
Well I'm glad this list was popular :rolleyes:
Doomsday 11-02-2011 06:07 PM
I'm thinking of doing a list of my top 5 favorite horror films for this thread. Would anyone be interested in reading it?
Alien 11-02-2011 06:10 PM
I thought the old Dawn of the Dead sucked.
The Shining was ruined by The Simpsons versions. I just couldn't watch it without laughing at the Simpsons jokes.
Terminator? Horror? Great movie but I'm not sure I'd call it Horror. Actually the same can be said for Se7en and Silence of the Lambs.
Ramplate 11-02-2011 09:54 PM
My top 5 Horror Films
The Exorcist has to be #1
The Omen (original) is #2
John Carpenter's The Thing is #3
Halloween (original) is #4
Psycho (original) is #5
Classic Horror:
Frankenstein (original)
Dracula (original)
Night of the Living Dead (original)
The Birds
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (original)
Dracula 11-02-2011 11:54 PM
I meant to come here and say "Night of the Living Dead > Dawn of the Dead," but I forgot.
PG Cooper 11-03-2011 02:07 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alien (Post 2777113)
I thought the old Dawn of the Dead sucked.
Yeah, I read your blog post, we clearly disagree
Quote:
Terminator? Horror? Great movie but I'm not sure I'd call it Horror. Actually the same can be said for Se7en and Silence of the Lambs.
I know they aren't commonly considered horror, but I stand by them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramplate (Post 2777128)
The Exorcist has to be #1
Almost made my list.
Quote:
Psycho (original) is #5
I love Psycho, but I only saw it for the first time recently, and want to give it more time to sink in.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2777140)
I meant to come here and say "Night of the Living Dead > Dawn of the Dead," but I forgot.
I think Night is scarier, but Dawn is a better film on the whole.
Doomsday 11-03-2011 03:09 PM
I'm not a big enough horror film fan to make a unique top 5 list, but I really enjoy the Gregory Peck version of The Omen, Diabolique, Psycho and The Exorcist.
Dracula 11-03-2011 03:43 PM
I watched The Exorcist again recently and enjoyed it for its craft, but could someone please explain to me what Satan's plan was supposed to be in that movie. I mean, if you're going to go through the trouble of possessing someone don't you think it would make more sense to possess someone powerful like the President or someone with the code to launch a nuclear missile, not a twelve year old girl? And one he gets around to possessing the twelve year old girl shouldn't he actually do something with her rather than just do a bunch of parlor tricks in front of four or five people while locked in a room? I don't get it.
PG Cooper 11-03-2011 04:06 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2777178)
I watched The Exorcist again recently and enjoyed it for its craft, but could someone please explain to me what Satan's plan was supposed to be in that movie. I mean, if you're going to go through the trouble of possessing someone don't you think it would make more sense to possess someone powerful like the President or someone with the code to launch a nuclear missile, not a twelve year old girl? And one he gets around to possessing the twelve year old girl shouldn't he actually do something with her rather than just do a bunch of parlor tricks in front of four or five people while locked in a room? I don't get it.
I got the impression that he could only posses those who felt weak or depressed. Regan was feeling like this after her father hadn't called her on her birthday. That's why he doesn't posses just anybody. As for his overall plan, I think he just wanted to claim her soul, and he needed to stay within her to do that.
Edit: Actually, apparently the demon within Regan isn't the Devil and is actually called Pazuzu. But I'm going to continue thinking it's the devil because A. they never call the demon Pazuzu in the first film and B. the name Pazuzu is stupid.
Alien 11-03-2011 04:15 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2777178)
I watched The Exorcist again recently and enjoyed it for its craft, but could someone please explain to me what Satan's plan was supposed to be in that movie. I mean, if you're going to go through the trouble of possessing someone don't you think it would make more sense to possess someone powerful like the President or someone with the code to launch a nuclear missile, not a twelve year old girl? And one he gets around to possessing the twelve year old girl shouldn't he actually do something with her rather than just do a bunch of parlor tricks in front of four or five people while locked in a room? I don't get it.
If I had to guess, he was probably just really bored. He doesn't have a lot to do so he just likes to jump around and do anything that gives him a little giggle.
FranklinTard 11-03-2011 04:25 PM
jaws tops my list. and it isn't even close.
Ramplate 11-03-2011 05:18 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dracula (Post 2777178)
I watched The Exorcist again recently and enjoyed it for its craft, but could someone please explain to me what Satan's plan was supposed to be in that movie. I mean, if you're going to go through the trouble of possessing someone don't you think it would make more sense to possess someone powerful like the President or someone with the code to launch a nuclear missile, not a twelve year old girl? And one he gets around to possessing the twelve year old girl shouldn't he actually do something with her rather than just do a bunch of parlor tricks in front of four or five people while locked in a room? I don't get it.
It has to do with the use of the Ouija board.
As the common lore goes - Divination and channeling are dangerous for the uninitiated. When you use such a device you are opening yourself up (becoming a portal) to whomever, or whatever, finds you (Especially if you use it alone like Reagan does in the movie). At first they will usually act in a harmless manner giving goofy answers or statements that seem to ring true and/or helpful.
The entity is not really omniscient however, and supposedly tricks you by reading surface thoughts, or replying with something that sounds fun or convincing. This is to gain your confidence and further access into your psyche - then it turns on you, and grabs hold.
Corruption of an innocent, weak minded, weak willed individual is the goal, and also the best bet to control. It feeds on fear and the ability to corrupt. It becomes a test of the faithful and finding inner strength. In the book The Rite they explain it as a test that God actually allows - as God is more powerful than Satan, which is precisely why invoking the name of God and others works so well in commanding Satan and the rest. (Satan, originally being an angel who was in service of God before leaving heaven with other fallen followers all still have to answer to him.)
The book and movie are based on a case back in 1949 where a young Cottage City, Maryland boy Ronald Hunkeler, was compromised by a favorite aunt when she and he used a Ouija board and engaged in other similar activities together.
img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...te/hunkler.jpg
After her death, he was apparently still communicating with her, and he grew to be very aggressive and just not himself and the house became active with unexplainable noises around the young teenager.
The bed shook, claw marks spelled things in his flesh, things flew through the air, and after checking with doctors, they took him to the Jesuits. They found him too much to handle and he was sent to the Catholics of Saint Louis University where he was treated unsuccessfully - until they moved him to an isolated part of the psych ward at Alexian Brothers Hospital.
He is apparently still alive and doesn't talk about it. All the properties are long since gone - except 8435 Roanoke Drive in St Louis where he visited relatives before being taken to the hospital situation.
img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/14660328.jpg
It was pretty much the same deal with Anneliese Michel The Exorcism of Emily Rose case in Germany in the mid 70's - God used her as a messenger for the faithful.
img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ese-Michel.jpg
docstop 11-05-2011 08:23 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by FranklinTard (Post 2777181)
jaws tops my list. and it isn't even close.
Easily on top of mine too.
Ramplate 11-05-2011 09:48 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by docstop (Post 2777280)
Easily on top of mine too.
I would almost have to sneak Jaws on my list somewhere or in honorable mention, because the book scared the bejeebers out if me - I wouldn't swim for a whole summer even in a pond lol. It has a realness that the others don't
docstop 11-05-2011 09:50 AM
I don't know how to swim and oddly enough have never flown anywhere. Based on many airplane movies (ie plane crashes, terrorists etc.) and then Jaws, my motivations have been negatively affected to accomplish both.
FranklinTard 11-05-2011 11:23 AM
safest way to travel statistically is flying though. so don't be irrational or anything...
Ramplate 11-05-2011 12:16 PM
Yeah but that's only because there are more cars than planes (but when a car crashes you don't usually get 200 casualties
)Ramplate 11-05-2011 01:44 PM
Found a better picture of "the exorcist house" on Roanoke Drive
www.thecabinet.com/darkdestin...1186507875.jpg
It was owned by his uncle and was where an exorcism took place before he was moved to the hospital for more exorcism.
IanTheCool 11-05-2011 02:34 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramplate (Post 2777307)
Yeah but that's only because there are more cars than planes (but when a car crashes you don't usually get 200 casualties
)Maybe when YOUR car crashes you don't.
JBond 11-05-2011 03:41 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by IanTheCool (Post 2777328)
Maybe when YOUR car crashes you don't.
Nice.
FranklinTard 11-05-2011 05:05 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramplate (Post 2777307)
Yeah but that's only because there are more cars than planes (but when a car crashes you don't usually get 200 casualties
)that is incorrect actually. that stat i mentioned takes that into account and considers all things equal.
pilots have years and years of training, we give permits to 15 year olds. you tell me which one you think is more responsible.
Dreamcast might be my favorite system.
