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Liam's all time faves

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Riser View member profile	Sep 30 2018, 05:44 AM Post #21
The horrors persist, but so do I Joined: 14 July 2013 Posts: 21,902 User: 19,534	Omg three all time faves in that batch (Waiting For Tonight, Love Myself and Read My Mind). Unconditionally comes close too, amazing single choice. Waiting For Tonight is absolutely flawless AND timeless, dance-pop at its finest, and Read My Mind is epic and beautiful, the way it builds up to the final chorus Love Myself is one of the strongest debut singles ever, I was NOT prepared .


Liаm View member profile	Oct 3 2018, 03:28 PM Post #22
Brown cow, stunning! Joined: 7 December 2009 Posts: 67,165 User: 10,139	QUOTE(Riser @ Sep 30 2018, 06:44 AM) Omg three all time faves in that batch (Waiting For Tonight, Love Myself and Read My Mind). Unconditionally comes close too, amazing single choice. Waiting For Tonight is absolutely flawless AND timeless, dance-pop at its finest, and Read My Mind is epic and beautiful, the way it builds up to the final chorus Love Myself is one of the strongest debut singles ever, I was NOT prepared . Yaaas stan RMM, do not see enough love for that


Liаm View member profile	Oct 7 2018, 12:52 AM Post #23
Brown cow, stunning! Joined: 7 December 2009 Posts: 67,165 User: 10,139	120 Dixie Chicks – Not Ready To Make Nice Despite being released post Bush-gate and bombing on country radio, this pop money shot won Record and Song Of The Year at the Grammys (as well as Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals), and is their finest moment. It was the perfect song for them at the time, following the shitstorm over basically saying they were ashamed of Texas over President Bush, they could have come back super safe or stayed silent, but they came out with this statement, a soaring country track that hits home that they aren't ashamed of using their voice, they're mad at what happened but they won't shrink back because of it. It all melds into an incredibly effective and emotionally packed song. 119 Beyonce - Listen A song from one my fave films of all time, this has been attempted so many times, far too many, on talent shows but nobody can own it like Beyonce. I admittedly find Beyonce's vocals a bit cold sometimes, but this song in the context of being sung by Deena Jones in the film really anchors the character and adds depth to her, one of the best vocal performances of Bey's career. 118 Florence & The Machine - Dog Days Are Over A folky-bluesy-rocky indie marvel . This song is everything that's so great about the depth of Florence's powerful soulful vocals, they soar on a fairly sparsely produced but rousing track like this, bringing out the meanings of every phrase, every word. Nobody else could sing this quite the same and it's definitely go down as her classic. 117 Miranda Lambert - White Liar This might not be a usual pick for her best track but it was the first song I heard by her and it was one of those instances where I was completely drawn to her as an artist because of it and immediately delved into her back catalogue. The strong female protaganist calling out her cheating husband is quintessentially Miranda, with all of the lyrical depth and storytelling genius everyone knows she's amazing at, and her vocals as always bring out dimensions of everything and weave a rounded story and a picture in your mind as if you're watching a TV show or movie of the events unfolding. 116 The Cranberries - Zombie An incredibly powerful song, this has newfound prominence and poignancy due to the death of lead singer Dolores O'Riordan earlier this year As a protest song, this refers to a 1993 bombing incident by the IRA and two young boys who had died, highlighting how barbaric and wholly soulless the violence, bombings and actions leading to such deaths are using the zombie metaphor. Anchored by an unmistakable vocal, this is one of those really emotional and powerful songs that really hits you every time and forces you to digest every word and truly take it all in. 115 Nelly Furtado - Say It Right The centre piece of a masterclass of a pop era, this was an enduring and omnipresent hit at the time and actually at the time I remember being a bit fed up of it being EVERYWHERE But fast forward 12 years and it's really endured, it feels like one of those songs that totally summed up a time and a place in music, but equally if it was released today I think it would still be a bloody great song and stand out among the crowd. The hypnotic production, the tight and sexy vocals and the ambiguous lyrics just about pip the brilliant members of the Loose holy trinity Maneater and Promiscuous to being the best thing in her discography. 114 Spice Girls - Wannabe One of the most notable debuts of all time . I can't imagine what it must have been like at the time, a mish-mash of so many genres and styles somehow compressed into a package quite unlike much of what the charts had heard before, a feminist anthem that marked a new period of Girl Power and unwittingly announced the entrance of a pop culture phenomenon in the form of the Spice Girls, but it certainly stands up as an iconic song today. It's just so much fun, it was rushed out in 30 minutes at recording but it fits so well you'd think it was agonised over for weeks, and the sense of authentic sense of personality and fun goes so far, sometimes that kind of energy matters so much more than being a perfectly produced and tight pop song. 113 Madonna - Frozen The queen of reinvention came up trumps again with a turn at being an electronica queen, again proving her doubters wrong by showcasing her vocals like on Evita that came just before. William Orbit's production is the real star here though, the ambient atmosphere and beautiful strings slowly usher in additional electronic sounds that anchor Madonna's ethereal and airy vocals, making a magical ballad that really stands out in a discography full of brilliant pop. 112 Selena Gomez & The Scene - A Year Without Rain This sounds weird to say about what is essentially a basic pop song but it felt... ahead of its time? This whole tropical-dance-pop thing going on right now has been driven into the ground, but this had flecks of that to make it fresh amongst the EDM-pop trend of the early 10s without being in a time where it was overused. The production is such a perfect fit for her airy and light vocals, this was an early precursor to her brilliant solo stuff where she used her voice much more effectively for what it could, turning its limitations into strengths. The end result is such a breezy, uplifting summery jam that's subtle enough to leave you wanting another listen, almost aching for more, but impactful enough to really worm its way into your brain. 111 Lady Gaga - Paparazzi Following two uptempo smashes, this was a genius single choice and really showed her versatility as well as being the first of many incredible blockbuster music videos we would get from Gaga. It deftly tackles celebrity obsessed culture, like much of its parent album, and is as slick and glossy as it gets . This is just flawless pop delivered in a way that only the popstar of our generation could.


Liаm View member profile	Oct 26 2018, 09:21 AM Post #24
Brown cow, stunning! Joined: 7 December 2009 Posts: 67,165 User: 10,139	110 Little Boots - Remedy How on EARTH she led the album with bloody New In Town when she had a RedOne banger of this calibre, I'll never know... She got a hit with this anyway and it's easy to see why, it's got a huge Eurovision-esque chorus like something any Swedish star would kill for at Melfest, but it's still very early 10s breakout star, like only she could have really released it, it's just such a cool pop sensibility like she knows exactly what she'd doing. 109 Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill Originally called A Deal With God (and bracketed as such on the album), this had its title changed due to the potential controversy of god in the title at the time This is one of her biggest hits for a reason, an utterly beguilling vocal as always makes this brutally honest track with such lyrical complexity absolutely magic, and it speaks of men and women swapping roles to better understand each other and how they may be affecting each other. Kate always has a way of striking you with her words and this is no exception, only she could write this and only she can sing it to its full potential (none of this Placebo crap). 108 Lady Antebellum - Need You Now A simple and beautiful example of great country, this was a rare country hit in the UK and has gone Platinum, as well as being EIGHT times Platinum in the US! The rawness of both Hillary and Charles' voices makes this such an affecting listen, and crucially for a country song you can feel everything they sing, it's so relatable for anyone who's ever thrown a chance with someone away and then ends up led there at 3am thinking "damn I could really do with someone" and thinking about all those squandered chances. 107 Childish Gambino - 3005 THAT F*ING CHORUS It's dreamy and spaced out but huge and poppy at the same time, idk how to describe what I feel listening to it but it's a mix of all kinds of emotions and it really anchors the song. The lyrics focus on existential thoughts, not wanting to be alone and having to face your own mind with nothing to distract you. As always with Gambino there is so much in every line to unpack, the Genius page for it is a journey. Easily his best, and shows exactly why he's the best rap artist of this generation imo, not necessarily because of his "bars" or whatever shit people measure rappers on, but for the way that he makes the sound, feel, production and lyrics of a song really mean something every time, all of that comes together to something you can easily enjoy but also really think about. 106 Sara Bareilles - Gravity Sara never quite gets the credit she deserves, and this song demonstrates why she deserves it in under 4 minutes. It's so beautifully simple and melodic, reflecting on the complexity of relationships that people maybe don't want to let themselves get dragged into. The lyrics are so poetic and beautiful, they really paint a picture and nail that feeling for the listener, and they're brought alive by Sara's vocal which is as always stunning and captivating. 105 Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You An absolute BANGER, my fave of the indie phase of the late 00s It's such a happy song that makes you want to dance and go mad to it, and depicts the jealousy of a guy who wants the girl but she's all loved up with someone else, and only wants him to show her boyfriend how to dance. I remember loving this at the time and I was so glad it was a hit, and it has really endured for me, it's one of those songs I might not listen to for a while but it bursts back into my life so regularly anyway and then I easily remember why I adore it so much. 104 Sugababes - Stronger If only for the Heidi police siren vox, this is one of their best. But it's not just for that, this is such an incredible pop ballad that edges into your conscious with a steady and calm strength, characterising the lyrics of coming out on the other side of a struggle and learning from it, never letting it break you. All three of them are on top form vocally, all of them bring a strength and vulnerability to the track in a different way and it's their best for me bar one that's still coming. 103 Spice Girls - Stop This being the ony one of their original run of singles that didn't get to #1 despite being their best </3 It's just such bloody good pop, taking a lot from Motown and that kind of soul era, you can't help but sing along or dance along, it totally keeps everything that makes the Spice Girls so great as well so it's not just blindly following a different sound for the sake of a pop hit. Absolute joy of a song <3 102 Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) The second Stronger in just one section Her biggest hit to date alongside Since U Been Gone, this encompasses so much of what makes Kelly such a great popstar without sacrificing her soul, heart and incredible vocals. As the Nietzsche referencing title suggests, this is an empowering pop track about standing strong when a bad breakup threatens to drag you right down. At the time, this was a genius single as it felt like such a perfect balance between the trends of the time and the pop-rock vocal power Kelly was known for and so successful with up to that point. 101 The Band Perry - If I Die Young** A beauty of a country ballad It's not totally depressing despite the title, it feels quite wistful and reflectful, making peace with the fact that things happen and if the protaganist of the song were to go, she'd be happy with the life she lived. It's not totally sugar coated and wasted though, the vocals instill the right amount of emotion and vulnerability so that it feels like this song could represent so much to so many people. There's a lovely story about a girl who lost her friend to cancer and was contemplating suicide but heard this song and it made her feel that there was so much to live for so she wrote to the band saying how much it meant to her This was of course also used in Glee following the death of original and main character Finn Hudson, which had added poignancy due to his actor Cory Monteith's death which led to Finn being written out, that was one of the most strikingly emotional moments on Glee.


Liаm View member profile	Nov 18 2018, 04:18 AM Post #25
Brown cow, stunning! Joined: 7 December 2009 Posts: 67,165 User: 10,139	100 Mylène Farmer - Désenchantée Kicking off the top 100 is the signature from the French Madonna, the iconic Mylène Farmer. This song at the time was apparently hugely successful due to its resonance with student protests going on in France, its chorus proclaims "we are the disenchanted generation" and "everything is chaos". It definitely sounds like something that any huge worldwide popstar would kill to have in their discography, with its existential themes, soaring vocals and characteristic of the time yet timeless production 99 Barbra Streisand - Don't Rain On My Parade The oldest song on this list, and the only one from the 60s in the top 100! I just adore the theatricality of this song, it shows everything her voice can do and by god is that a lot. It challenges any singer who takes on it, and there's quite a few but nobody does it quite like Barbra <3 There's swing, there's belting, there's sheer drama, it all adds up to one of the most unforgettable songs from a musical ever. 98 Dolly Parton - Jolene An undeniable country classic, this is one of Dolly's surprisngly few UK top 40s Everybody knows this, and everybody surely loves it? It's the quintessential helpless wife track, who can feel her husband slipping away towards the temptress named in the song. It's such a singalong track you can't help but belt out along with her. 97 Madonna - Into The Groove As Madonna's first UK #1, this was a milestone for her and it remains as one of her absolute best tracks It's so danceable and carefree, quintessentially 80s and quintessentially Madonna. It's nothing revolutionary but this is her at her best, just bloody good pop. 96 Wynter Gordon - Dirty Talk An absolute masterclass in dance-pop The bouncy house production is just perfect for a club, I've gone absolutely mad whenever I've heard this out! The playfully coy vocals make this such an irresistable banger, it feels intimate and cheeky, but huge and all encompassing at the same time.This has gone down as a bit of a modern club classic and I couldn't be happier it got that recognition. 5 weeks #1 in Aus too, and Gold certified here, such a surprise hit but SO deserved. 95 Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere As a pretty hard rule, I tend to much prefer Stevie Nicks to Christine McVey, but it's this dreamy pop wonder that's Fleetwood Mac's absolute best despite being sung by the latter! It's just so lush, that bassline, the boppy production, the melody and vocals It's no wonder it's endured as one of their biggest hits, seeing a resurgence earlier this decade thanks to an ad campaign for 3. 94 Twenty One Pilots - Holding On To You A bit of a change of pace from dreamy 80s pop and house songs in the last few tracks! This is such a perfect song to introduce anyone to these guys, it really sums up what they're about. It can sound like a few songs in one, it's so eclectic, but it just totally works and makes you feel so much with its theme of holding on to whatever you really value to stay positive and let it buoy you, let it keep you afloat instead of being sucked down. It has hope, depression, despair, anger, all in one song, every line of the lyrics is loaded with so much and that's the guys at their absolute best for me <3 93 Cassie - Me & U This sexy R&B single was a hit for Cassie in 2006, and remains one of her two top 20 hits - she still hasn't actually followed up that debut album.... This song is so slinky and sexy, with coy vocals that draw you in, drawing comparisons to Janet Jackson. This is such a classic of its genre, still well remembered, and I can certainly see why, it's always stuck with me from loving it back then when I was 9. 92 Ella Henderson - Ghost An astounding debut After getting robbed in 2012's series of X Factor, by the time 2014 rolled around I felt like Ella had been a bit lost to time and nothing would come of her. I remember thinking not long before this was announced if we were going to get anything And then we got hit with a Ryan Tedder penned soul-pop anthem, totally worth taking the year and a half over. It's somewhere in between Adele and Leona Lewis, with all the hallmarks of the best of their output, and unsurprisngly went double platinum in the UK after hitting #1, and even smashed in the US where it was a top 40 million seller! Now, can we have that second album Ella? :/ 91 Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River The production on this alone has so much to break down - beatboxing, chants, slinky R&B beats, strings, choral melodies.... On paper, you'd see those things and think it's a total mess but it works so so well, and crafts a totally unique R&B track that launched his solo career to the next level perfectly. The lyrics and vocally excellently convey the seething spite he felt at the time after the breakdown of his relationship with Britney Spears. This really pushed the boundaries of pop and is all the better for it, every little influence on the song adds something and you could just spend the whole song listening for them all and being in awe.