05

 

 

Nelly Furtado - Maneater (9.09)

 

 

 

 

High: 11 (x leww x)

Low: 6 (Jester)

 

At 5 is the second most popular Nelly song of the rate - her 2006 hit 'Maneater'. This means 'Say It Right' holds the status as Nelly's most popular single with Buzzjack voters - this also proved true in Buzzjack's Favourite Noughties Single. :o 'Maneater' served as Nelly's comeback single to UK audiences in May 2006 and gave the Canadian popstar her first ever UK #1. In the US, 'Maneater' served as the second single from Loose and peaked at #16. With Nelly losing her seventh song, Gwen now holds the title of having the most songs left in the running. Who will reign supreme - Gwen, Nelly or Avril? :kink:

 

 

 

 

04

 

 

Avril Lavigne - I'm With You (9.23)

 

 

 

 

High: 11 (...ready for it, Bjork, Dobbo, Jay)

Low: 6 (Feliz Wombat)

 

Finishing at 4 is the final appearance from Avril Lavigne in this rate. Her most popular hit with voters is 'I'm With You' which was released as the third single from her debut album Let Go. It fit the criteria for popstars of that era where the third single would be slower than the more up-tempo previous two singles (see every early Girls Aloud era, every early Britney era etc). In Avril's case, it showed the world a much more vulnerable side to her and probably endeared her to the older demographics - something I doubt 'Sk8er Boi' could do. :lol: The song was released in the UK in March 2003 and peaked at #7 - outperforming the preceding single 'Sk8er Boi' by one position. It also found major success in the States, peaking at #4. I have to say I'm shocked this has finished as Avril's most popular single and by quite some distance. :o I would have expected 'Complicated' to be in its position.

 

So now it's time for the top 3. Gwen has two tracks left - 'What You Waiting For?' and 'Cool' - while Nelly has 'Say It Right' still in the running. Any predictions for the finishing order? :kink:

 

 

YAS Queen Gwen having 2 in the top 3.

 

Britney’s first two eras actually had her most up tempo singles as third, in the UK at least.

really surprised, thought Avril would walk it with Im With You, thought the song was getting much constant high scores than the others...

YAS Queen Gwen having 2 in the top 3.

 

Britney’s first two eras actually had her most up tempo singles as third, in the UK at least.

 

Fair point - I mistakenly thought 'Sometimes' and 'Lucky' were the third singles of their respective albums. The ballad third single definitely felt like a trend though; Christina's 'I Turn to You', Kelly Clarkson's 'Because of You' and 'Already Gone', Katy Perry's 'Thinking of You', Britney's 'I'm Not A Girl...' and 'Everytime', Nelly's 'All Good Things'.

 

 

03

 

 

Gwen Stefani - Cool (9.25)

 

 

 

 

High: 11 (Scene, Tafty, T Boy)

Low: 4 (Dobbo)

 

At 3 is my personal favourite from this entire rate - Gwen's 2005 hit 'Cool'. The song is a standout in Stefani's back catalogue with its dreamy production and lyrics about taking an amicable stance in the face of a dying romance. 'Cool' served as the fourth single from Gwen's solo debut album and found moderate success worldwide. In the UK, it peaked at the dreaded position of #11 and managed to reach #13 in the US. If 'Cool' had received just one more 11, it would have finished in second place. :drama: Still, I'm very proud this somewhat forgotten gem from 15 years ago manages to finish top 3 out of 40 songs in this rate. :wub:

 

Now for the top 2. It is Gwen vs. Nelly... What You Waiting For vs. Say It Right...

 

 

 

 

 

 

02

 

 

Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For? (9.25)

 

 

 

 

High: 11 (Addy, dandy, Liam, Feliz Wombat)

Low: 6 (Bjork)

 

Finishing in second place is the most popular Gwen song of this rate - her debut solo single 'What You Waiting For?'. Serving as the lead single to Gwen's anticipated solo debut album Love. Angel. Music. Baby., WYWF lyrically diverges from what's expected of a popstar about to launch their solo career... in the song Gwen details her lack of inspiration, writer's block, pressures from her record label and fear of going solo. The song laid the foundations for Gwen to go on to have a successful music career away from No Doubt, becoming a huge international hit throughout 2004 - especially in Australia and Europe. In the UK, the song gave Gwen a #4 hit, although in the US it only managed a peak of #47. I distinctly remember downloading this off Limewire back in the day but I had to make do with a version that sounded like it was being played underwater. :lol:

 

 

 

 

 

 

01

 

 

Nelly Furtado - Say It Right (9.30)

 

 

 

 

High: 11 (Nina West, Nick F1, Addy, Liam, Jester)

Low: 7 (Qween, AaronTM, Feliz Wombat)

 

Now the winner of this rate is Nelly Furtado with her 2007 smash 'Say It Right'! :cheer: Their was only 0.07 separating the top 4 so it could have been any of them in all honesty but 'Say It Right' cements its status as a Buzzjack fave after also performing well in Buzzjack's Favourite Noughties Single earlier this year. The song served as the fourth single to Nelly's Loose era and was one of the first major singles to be released digitally without a CD release. 'Say It Right' peaked at #10 in the UK in early 2007 becoming the FIRST EVER digital-only release to reach the top 10! The song was an even bigger hit in the US, earning Nelly her second #1 as a lead artist! The song unsurprisingly got unanimously high scores, not dipping below 7. A special shout-out to both Addy and Liam for getting both their 11 scores into the top 2. :o

 

Thank you everyone who voted! Addy is hosting the follow-up - the Quintessential Male Artist Rate - which is already running now. :cheer: A Pop Girl follow-up is definitely on the cards in the future with five more ladies who dominated the Noughties. :kink: And a Group edition. :kink:

 

glad Nelly won, although Im With You is probably my fav from that top 5

Gutted Cool didn’t win. Amazing song.

Great top 3, would have preferred Cool as second though :( Fantastic winner!

Mmm, Say It Right's OK, but I've always found it really overrated. The others in the top 10 are so much better, great to see the two Gwen songs do so well though, Cool in particular is often quite underrated and one of her best moments :wub: