The first thing I wanna say is I'm SUPER disappointed that there was really no early 2000s punk rock from bands like Green Day, MCR, etc. That's one of my favourite genres and kinda my reason for wanting to do this theme. But ANYWAYS, this round was fine overall. Again, I don't think there were any awful submissions, but not a whole lot really stood out. We expect more from y'all this late in the game!
Now, onto the results! You will be revealed in 3 groups. First the middle 3, then the top 2, then the bottom 2. During that we will also crown the winner of the week and will reveal who will have to SING FOR THEIR LIFE in our elimination round.
The 3 competitors who are safe are:
Natepresnell - I’ve Been Waiting (Lil Peep & ILoveMakonnen, ft. Fall Out Boy)
M: Interesting choice, idk how you don’t listen to any punk music but anyways. I thought this was good overall, but I really did not like Lil Peep’s parts. I don’t know a ton of his music but I do like him, I just felt he did not fit at all in this song. FOB and ILM were both good though, and they carried this for sure. The double meaning of their love for another person and also for, presumably, drugs, was pretty cool. Lyrically I didn’t mind it but it didn’t really stand out. Same goes for the production. It was decent but I feel like there were so many other good options, it was just meh to me. 7.5/10
K: First of all, the fact that you know no music in this genre is weird. This song was really interesting. It’s definitely not the pop punk you immediately think of but it’s fitting. Lil Peep and ILoveMakonnen (what kind of name) kind of carried in this song which is weird because Fall Out Boy is the biggest artist on the track. FOB’s part was kind of horrible and I love them, I don’t know why they used so much autotune. I actually really like the song minus FOB’s parts it’s funky. How could the pre-chorus/chorus not get you hype? 8/10
TOTAL: 7.75
iSandeh - Sarah Smiles (Panic! At the Disco)
M: Honestly you can’t really go wrong with old Panic!, this was a fun one that I hadn’t heard before. It’s cute and while it is basic lyrically, it didn’t have to be more as it fits the song really well. I actually liked how they changed up the instrumentals and gave it a different feel. I also really liked the old time France feel of the beginning, it made me want to eat a baguette. Definitely a bit of a bop and while Panic! Certainly has better, this was still good. 8.5/10
K: Idk why this song started and Ireland popped into my head. This is a golden Panic! era and I’m really happy you didn’t pick some of their new horrid music. Okay reading why he wrote this song is kind of funny like it worked he got her. The song is cute but it’s honestly not my *favorite* song of theirs. Brendon Urie is really talented but something about the instrumentals of this song is definitely a choice. Not a bad pick though!! 7.5/10
TOTAL: 8
useamint - The Downfall of Us All (A Day To Remember)
M: I really liked the intro to this! Very unique and gives that classic punk feel. One of my favourite parts of this genre is the lyrics, and this song fits with that. It told a really good story which I’m always into. I don’t mind screamo as long as it’s only for portions of the song and it did fit here so I thought that was good as well. I thought it was kinda lacking in charisma a bit but it did have that 2000s charm for sure. I think there are better songs similar to this but it was still solid. 8/10
K: I thought this was going to be weird because of the beginning but then the first verse started and I was obsessed. I was never really into A Day To Remember but this song kind of peaked my interest. Screaming in songs is not my fave but this had very minimal in it anyway. The whole song screams pop punk 2000’s vibes and I absolutely love that. Honestly? A song I’m adding to my emo headass playlist because it had me pumped. The only weird thing to me is how heavy the guitar is for this song but other than that great choice! 8.5/10
TOTAL: 8.25
Congratulations to you 3 on making it to the final 6! But who will be joining you?
The top 2 this week is J2999 and Admir! This top 2 consists of 2 contestant's who have yet to win. Which one will make their mark late into this game?
The winner of this round is...
Admir - Sugar, We’re Goin Down (Fall Out Boy)
M: If you don’t pop off to this chorus idk what you’re on. But yeah even though this is basic, it’s stil very good. And honestly in this round I didn’t mind basic picks because generally popular punk music is good (idk if that’s a hot take but w/e). This song is just ridiculously catchy and the vibes are super 2000s. It’s also pretty good lyrically, the story is good even though he kinda is slut-shaming. I get it. Generic? Yes. Still a great song? Duh. 9/10
K: Well duh! As much as I want to call you a generic fuck for picking this I started singing right along. When you think of pop punk as a whole this is one of the songs that comes to mind. This era of Fall Out Boy is golden (Save Rock & Roll kind of outsold). This song is so overplayed (or maybe I just hear it a lot on my playlist idk) but it will never get old; it aged like fine wine. So yes, generic! But it worked out in your favor. 9/10
TOTAL: 9
Great work! You chose an iconic bop and it worked out for you. Originality is key, but on occasion a popular banger will do the trick just fine. This means that coming is second this round is...
J2999 - Darkside (blink-182)
M: I wouldn’t expect anything other than a blink-182 submission from you! I have a lot of thoughts on this because I do think their is a super deep meaning here but I’ll keep it short if I can. Firstly, I thought the song was well done and catchy. Definitely something to sing along to. On the outside, yes, it’s pretty cheesy. BUT, I think it’s about loving someone who has depression and as someone who can very much relate to that this hit very deep! I wish the video related more to that and honestly I really didn’t like the video at all for that reason. BUT the rating isn’t on the video. I thought the song was really cute and meaningful, and was also a good song in general. 9/10
K: LMAO blink-182. Okay so this song is super cheesy lyrically, but it’s fucking cute. The only thing I really could’ve done without is the weird voice effect/autotune on some parts but I really enjoyed this. The pre-chorus and chorus had me bopping right along how could they make you not want to dance. I don’t know many blink-182 songs (I think literally only 1) but this was definitely a good choice. And then I see it was written by Travis Barker. Super fucking talented dude who works with MGK now. 8.5/10
TOTAL: 8.75
So close for you, but this is a huge climb from your consecutive elimination appearances. Keep up the good work!
Now, onto our bottom 2. You have both been absolute staples this season, with 0 elimination appearances, 3 wins, and 6 highs between you. However all it takes is one slip up, and unfortunately for you two, that slip up happened this round. These weren’t terrible choices, but with a round like this you could've gone with much better. The bottom 2 are:
mradamman12 - crushcrushcrush (Paramore)
M: I’m not a big fan of Paramore honestly, but I did not mind this song at all. It was super emo-punk which is a really funny genre. I think it flowed pretty well even with a lot going on. The lyrics also fit the emo-punk vibes, poor girl. Her whispering crush was funny, but I thought the pre-chorus was for sure the best part of the song. I’m not in love with it, but it was a really on-brand pick for this theme and I thought it was good. 8/10
K: It’s funny how much this song screams 2000’s pop punk. The lyrics are so on brand for this time period and this BAND. Paramore is iconic and I definitely like them but I was never super into them. This is not my favorite of theirs. Hayley Williams is super talented but the structure of this song terrifies me. Like lyrically everything works but I’m not sure what they were going for there with the instrumentals changing in every verse. I do not like her whispering in my ear I had to say it. A great bad but not my cup of tea from them!! 7/10
TOTAL: 7.5
iiGalaxyii - Irresistible (Fall Out Boy, ft. Demi Lovato)
M: Oh I was listening and suddenly a wild Demi appeared? I didn’t even know there was a version of this song with her, but honestly I did not think she fit well. The parts where she sang WITH Patrick were fine, but her voice really did not fit this song and her solo parts felt weird. I do absolutely love the chorus to this, the build up to it is really good. Also the lyrics are sorta sad w the shitty relationship that you can’t get out of because you still love them type feels. If you submitted the original version I would’ve rated this much higher. 7.5/10
K: This is one of the two songs I like off that FOB album, it’s kind of their worst album. This song was also another super overplayed song of theirs and I do like it but I strongly dislike that you picked the DEMI LOVATO VERSION?? She’s such a random feature I think she’s talented but she needs to stay away from this genre. Definitely not their BEST song or era but it’s not the worst (definitely would’ve preferred not to hear Demi Lovato either this is what kind of brought it down). 7.5/10
TOTAL: 7.5
mradamman12 and iiGalaxyii, both of your choices were unfortunately not up to par this week. This means you have one last chance to SING FOR YOUR LIFE in our elimination round. Bring your best.
Now, for the elimination round, you can submit ANY song you want. We are not going to limit you because this is your last chance to stay in the game and we want your very best. Post your song as soon as you can and we will get the results back ASAP. If you don’t post by tomorrow at 8 EST, you will be eliminated.
For the rest of you, congratulations on making it to round 9! Stay tuned for our next theme which will be posted with the elimination results at some point tomorrow, depending on when the elimination finishes.
We are getting down to the wire now! There are only 8 of you remaining, and tonight that number will go down to 7! With that being said, I think this round could have been much better. We need y’all to pick it up! We found a lot of the submissions pretty generic and uninspiring, and nothing really stood out. That being said, there were still some solid picks!
Now, onto the results! You will be revealed in 3 groups. First the middle 4, then the top 2, then the bottom 2. During that we will also crown the winner of the week and will reveal who will have to SING FOR THEIR LIFE in our elimination round.
The 4 competitors who are safe are:
iSandeh - Swish Swish (Katy Perry, ft. Nicki Minaj)
M: Honestly this is a funny song idc. The chorus is such a good meme and it really isn’t a bad song either. Like it’s very catchy and gets stuck in your head easily. The production is also top notch. Nicki was pretty good as well. Lyrically it’s funny but also odd which fits this era of Katy. I like this more than I should. 9/10
K: LMAO oh I despise this music video. Everything about it makes me angry (except Nicki's part). The sad thing is I don't think it's a bad song. Katy was going through an interesting phase here but this honestly just sounds like her California Gurls era music?? I also liked Nicki's verse on here shes very hit or miss when it comes to features. The song isn't bad but the music video needs to disappear forever pls. 8.5/10
TOTAL: 8.75
mradamman12 - All Too Well (Taylor Swift)
M: Hmm, this is really sad. Again playin into my anxiety of people changing and a relationship ending huh? Weird ass. The lyrics are very good and hit hard, and the instrumentals and vocals also fit very well. Taylor’s style isn’t necessarily my favourite and this song didn’t change that, but I do think it was good and I wouldn’t be mad if someone put this on. Poor Taylor :( 8/10
K: Oh so this is one of those songs I DON'T mind being 5 minutes long. I absolutely loved this song it was super cute even though it takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. It's lyrically really pretty and I love the story shes telling I wanna know who broke Miss Taylor's heart. I've never heard this song before but she has an amazing voice and this type of style just suits her. Great pick for sure! 9/10
TOTAL: 8.5
Admir - Worst Behavior (Drake)
M: And this is kinda what I don’t like from Drake. It’s less hype and he’s trying kinda hard. He raps well in this song and the bars are pretty decent, but I’m not a fan of the beat and the chorus is so repetitive. It’s not terrible but Drake has much better. 7.5/10
K: Drake unfortunately gets me hype. Like his entire being kind of annoys me but he doesn’t have a bad discography. The reference in this one was clever I respect it. Honestly I kind of love Drake’s music but his VOICE and personality just annoys me. I like the lyrics and the beat/flow but this isn’t my fave song of his. Definitely not a bad choice though because I’m a trash bag who loves rap like this. 8.5/10
TOTAL: 8
useamint - Billionaire (Travie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars)
M: I was today years old when I realized Bruno is just a feature in this song and it’s not his. It kinda may as well be though. This is another fun pick. The message is not exactly my favourite because #fuckcapitalism and everything but it’s good to dream big I guess! The chorus is catchy and I really like Bruno’s voice idc. Travie’s parts are fine but pretty generic. I don’t love this song, but I don’t hate it either. Bruno for sure has better though. Still a decent pick. 8/10
K: LMAO this song was super overplayed back in the day but it’s a fun little bop. I relate to Bruno I honestly do life is short but also eat the rich! Bruno Mars was kind of a staple during this era and I used to be obsessed with this song as a pre-teen. Bruno’s parts are really chill and Travie’s are kinda hype which I like. Not necessarily a throwback I’d put on but it’s definitely not a bad song! 7.5/10
TOTAL: 7.75/10
All of your submissions were fine, but weren’t overly impressive. Pick it up! Congratulations on making it to the next round though.
The top 2 this week may seem familiar! That is because it is the same as last week! NatePresnell and iiGalaxyii both brought it again. But will the winner change? This rounds winner is...
Natepresnell - No Hay 2 Sin 3 (Cali Y El Dandee ft. David Bisbal)
M: LMAO the beginning. I’m not even gonna get mad at you for giving another song in a different language because you aren’t gonna listen so like anyways! This was really good. I loved how hype it was, and that there’s an actual story behind it. I could 100% see this being used in a hype package before a big game. The rap was also actually quite good, I like the flow. I wish I could see the video, but it’s a good song on it’s own as well. 9/10
K: Oh honestly I wasn’t vibing in the beginning at all and then the beat dropped. Like I love this type of hype music so you got me there. This makes me miss doing fun things pre-pandemic with my friends like concerts :-(. This is the type of song you just wanna drink and dance to absolutely nothing but good vibes. I wanna be on a tropical vacation listening to this rn. Great pick! 9.5/10
TOTAL: 9.25/10
Congratulations on your back to back wins Daniel! This means our other high placement goes to:
iiGalaxyii - Nonstop (Drake)
M: This is probably the best song off Scorpion (not hard to do but..!) and is definitely something I played a lot a few summers ago. It is exactly what I like in a Drake song. Very hype, catchy, and some funny lines. This is a very fun song overall and gets the people going ya know? Nice pick. 9/10
K: LMAO this song gives me super specific nostalgia to driving around my old college campus just blasting this. I played this on repeat for at least a month when it came out and that's embarrassing. It's been super overplayed but IDC it's a fun song and it's still on my hype playlist. Some of the lyrics are also hilarious. Also the sports reference in it is top tier so. 9/10
TOTAL: 9
Great work to the both of you. You stood out these past two rounds, keep up the good work!
Now, onto our bottom 2. You know who you are, and one of you is here for a 2nd straight round! These weren’t terrible choices, but they weren’t good either. You need to step it up! The bottom 2 are:
Eoin - La La La (Shakira ft. Carlinhos Brown)
M: Why is Shakira just like the official artist of World Cups? I mean I kinda get it but it’s odd. I honestly like this song almost as much as Waka Waka. This is clearly purely for the World Cup and makes direct reference to it a bunch which is cool. Her voice, again, is great, but I do feel like there’s a lack of substance with this song. Also, parts of it felt kinda off weirdly? Like the lyrics just didn’t match the beat idk. It’s a good anthem though, which is what it was meant to be. There are much better Shakira songs out there, but this one is still good. 7.5/10
K: Sighs in Shakira. I definitely prefer this a lot more to Waka Waka. Also have no idea if this was the same year as Waka Waka or if Shakira is just the all around ambassador for soccer. It’s a fun song and I don’t think it has an intended purpose for anything other than good vibes. It’s not super generic but does have some lines where you kind of raise a brow because there’s no structure to them. Regardless of my Shakira hate it definitely gets me dancing along but it’s not my personal cup of tea :-(. 7.5/10
TOTAL: 7.5/10
J2999 - La Roja Baila (Spanish soccer team?)
M: LMAO this literally just being the Spanish soccer team’s theme song, I get it. Also another soccer song, I’m seeing a trend! This was really fun for sure, they all looked so happy and it seemed really pure and sweet. That being said, this felt like it could’ve been performed by any sports team and was pretty generic. It didn’t really get me hyped up or anything and I feel like that’s what it’s supposed to do. It was for sure unique and fun, but I was looking for more. 7.5/10
K: You’re right I honestly had no idea what was going on but this was a cute pick! You really dug to some deep corner of YouTube to find this one and I love that. It was a super cute and funny concept having the actual soccer team singing. It’s kind of like how sororities/frats have chants but way less satanic than that. The song is really upbeat but I’m not sure if it’s something I’d ever toss on. Points for originality though!! 7/10
TOTAL: 7.25
Eoin and J2999, both of your choices were unfortunately not up to par this week. This means you have one last chance to SING FOR YOUR LIFE in our elimination round. Bring your best.
Now, for the elimination round, you can submit ANY song you want. We are not going to limit you because this is your last chance to stay in the game and we want your very best. Post your song as soon as you can and we will get the results back ASAP. If you don’t post by tomorrow at 8 EST, you will be eliminated.
For the rest of you, congratulations on making it to round 8! Stay tuned for our next theme which will be posted with the elimination results at some point tomorrow, depending on when the elimination finishes.
Well guys, it was another really good round! You are all forcing us to make hard decisions, so keep it that way!
We will first reveal the results of our redemption round. Only 3 of you submitted, but you all really impressed us. It was a very close finish. I will first give you your feedback, then post who will be making their way back into the game.
iSandeh
CAR - Let’s Get Lost (Carly Rae Jepsen)
M: Aww this is super cute. Definitely a good driving song, especially if you’re alone or with a special someone ;))). It’s not like super deep or anything but it really doesn’t have to be, it makes more sense to just be a simple song. It still manages to ooze emotion, and I really like the retro instrumentals mixed with the classic pop CRJ energy. This was another really good Carly song, I might have to actually start listening to her huh?
K: This is going to sound odd but Carly Rae Jepsen’s vocals at times kind of remind me of...Britney Spears. This is SUCH a good song to blast in the car it’s super upbeat and fun. I really, really like the chorus this is definitely something I’d blast on a summer night with the windows down. I do think I have a fear of saxophones though. The non-chorus (idk what they’re called) parts are good but I definitely prefer the chorus to most of the song.
RD - Happier (Marshmello ft. Bastille)
M: I’ll get torched for this but I really like this song. It was sorta overplayed but I never got sick of it. I really like Marshmello’s production even if it used to be better. I will say it’s very mixed in terms of whether it’s sad or happy. Like the production is mostly upbeat but the lyrics and some other parts of the song are super sad. The first time I watched this video I almost cried so yeah I definitely get the pick. This song just makes me feel a certain way I can’t explain, and the video is like… really good. You also really did traumatize Krista, and I get it! Nice pick!
K: I had to immediately switch from the video to the lyric version after I realized her dog was going to die :’-). I have a golden who’s old and this is my biggest fear so I’m kind of traumatized but anyway. As for the song I definitely think it’s a good song but it’s super overplayed so it doesn’t necessarily make me feel anything. The lyrics are cute but the beat of the song is so conflicting I think I hate Marshmello. It is cool to see though how the song can have multiple meanings and it’s not just a break up song. Good pick!
Christian_
CAR - Proud (Heather Small)
M: Honestly I get it. She has a really powerful voice and the message is super positive. Songs like this tend to have a ceiling for me as it’s not necessarily the type of music I love, but this was still good. For a big day where I had something big to do I could see myself playing this, but on a normal day it would feel weird to play for me. I get your reasoning to play it though and it makes total sense. Nice pick.
K: This is a super cute and powerful song especially for the reason it was submitted. This is not something I’d personally listen to in the car but I’m also human garbage and totally understand why you do. There’s no questioning how talented she is, and there’s a deep/powerful message behind the lyrics. I really like the build up to the chorus, it gives me free dopamine. I can definitely see why you’d play this in the car every day :-).
RD - Aquarium (Mac Miller)
M: This song is such a mind fuck. I’d definitely have to listen to it more than once to really get it all, like I get the gist but I know I’m missing a lot. This hits home for me as he just pops off and rambles about 50 different things, all of which are actually really cool to think about, which is something I also tend to do. I feel exactly where he’s coming from with so much shit on his mind and just wanting to be able to ramble about it even when it’s kinda all over the place. The replay value of this is also insane, I feel like I could (and might) listen to this 100 times and not be bored of it. Mac is obviously amazing and this was a more raw version of him with pretty light production. It was very good, great job!
K: Another Mac submission to remind me of pain. I like this more than your first rap submission and like how you went for a different type of rap. *Rants again* Mac was an underappreciated artist and all the post tragedy love he gets is valid. This song is an example of that, it’s super chill and lo-fi which I love but if you actually pay attention there’s meaning behind the lyrics. The lyrics are creative/clever and also hold so much power behind their meaning. Amazing pick.
Minie
CAR - Iris (Goo Goo Dolls)
M: LOL I can definitely tell your taste is like late 90s/early 00s. Nothing wrong with that, it’s a great era, but IF you stick around I do want to see you diversify that a little bit. This is a very good song with the vocals and production fitting together very nicely. I don’t know if I would play it in the car often as it would make me sad BUT if I was in that mood it definitely fits as something you can jam to. It’s a tad overplayed but is old enough that I don’t hear it consistently and hasn’t lost it’s flair for me. Good pick!
K: Another classic song. Honestly this is also a song that in my opinion at least, is overplayed JUST enough. I really like the instrumentals in the background and this is definitely something I’d throw on my sad girl hours playlist if I was depressed and simping over someone (couldn’t be me though). The lyrics are actually really depressingly fucking cute I’d cry over this. This is one of those songs that were made to make you feel and can be used in/have probably been used in so many movies/shows. Good job I am sad :-).
RD - Black Horse And The Cherry Tree (KT Tunstall)
M: I have vivid memories of listening to this in my mom’s car while she drove me home from elementary school, so this definitely gives me nostalgia. It’s a good song, and I think the symbolization in the song adds to it for sure. It’s not amazing, but it’s a good all around song, for sure better than your first choice.
K: Okay this is one of those throwbacks that for me is *perfectly* popular. It’s not draining-ly overplayed but it’s also a song that most people know. I definitely like this a LOT more than your first submission for this theme. Can’t really place what genre this is but I do like the song. She has a really nice natural rasp to her voice that kind of floods my brain with serotonin so definitely good job!
Two of you had a total of 8.5, and the other had a total of 8.75, so it was VERY close. In the end, only one of you could make it back in. That person is...
.
.
. iSandeh!
Congratulations, you have sung your way back into the game. Minie and Christian_, your submissions were good, but just not quite enough. Thank you both for playing, and good luck in your future singing competitions! Maybe one day we will see you back!
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Now, onto the regular round results! You will be revealed in 3 groups. First the middle 4, then the top 2, then the bottom 2. During that we will also crown the winner of the week and will reveal who will have to SING FOR THEIR LIFE in our elimination round.
The 4 competitors who are safe are:
useamint - Ready or Not (Bridgit Mendler)
M: Why did I not know this was by the Good Luck Charlie girl LMAO? Honestly fuck the haters I really like this song. She actually has a pretty good voice IMO and the production in this song is really good. It just flows super well and you cannot tell me that chorus isn’t super catchy. This does kinda feel more like a song to play at a party or something over in a car, and that’s really my only criticism. Since the theme is fairly subjective though, it won’t hurt you too much. Nice pick! 8.5/10
K: LMAO DUH. I feel like everyone absolutely HATED Disney trying to make Bridget Mendler the next big thing but they’re all losers I love her. Bridget Mendler circa 2013 was the moment. This song is so fun I definitely had this on repeat the year it came out and totally forgot it existed. Everything from the beat and the lyrics to the video is just super upbeat and radiates good vibes. The bridge is so funny where she randomly gains an accent. Definitely throwing this on my throwbacks playlist thank you for reminding me of its existence. 9/10
TOTAL: 8.75/10
Admir - Blinding Lights (The Weeknd)
M: Probably one of my most played songs of 2020, especially in the car. When it first came out I jammed to this daily for sure, and it is absolutely a great car song. His voice, the retro/chill vibes, the beat, it all meshes super well. It also has a deeper meaning, which obviously isn’t necessary with this theme but is still a bonus! The only thing about this is that I’ve heard it SO many times that I don’t like it nearly as much as I once did. That being said, it’s still a bop. 8.5/10
K: Every time I hear this song I think of that trio of 80’s men in leg warmers dancing to this. Do I think this song has been overplayed? Yes. Are my best friend and I whores for The Weeknd? Also yes. I didn’t really like majority of the songs on this album but this is probably my favorite one off of it (other than Heartless). It’s just such a fun song that gives nostalgic vibes and is DEFINITELY something you blast in the car with your friends. 9/10
TOTAL: 8.75/10
Eoin - Party In The USA (Miley Cyrus)
M: Absolute classic driving song. I know it’s super overplayed and a lot of people aren’t a big fan of Miley in this era, but I really enjoy it still. It’s the perfect song to just forget all your dumb shit and vibe to. Also a good one for road trips to kick it off. As with blinding lights, though, I’ve heard it so many times that it does drop a bit for me just based on not liking it as much as I used to. Still great though! 8.5/10
K: So this is on my throwback playlist and I’d absolutely blast it whenever. It’s overplayed to death but who cares. It has such an infectious chorus and it’s kind of funny to think how young she was when she made this song. This era of Miley was amazing, no idea what happened during her bleached pixie cut phase, and punk rock Miley is now like top tier. The car is one of the best places to just bop to throwbacks so a great pick. 9/10
TOTAL: 8.75/10
mradamman12 - Tongue Tied (Grouplove)
M: This is a fun lil song. I feel like this would be good as a road trip song when everyone is done with the bangers and just wants a chill vibe. This is the type of alt/indie music I enjoy (although this song is probably to well known to be “indie” but w/e) and would definitely bop to while driving. This is also super easy to sing along to. It’s not quite as good as your other picks, but I like this still! 8.5/10
K: The cover art for this really scares me <3! Obviously that has nothing to do with the song but this is a really fun song! That being said this is one of those songs I’m okay with only hearing like once a year because of how often it was played whenever it was released. It gives super summer night drive type vibes and I absolutely love that. Probably not something I’d personally put on in the car but definitely a super upbeat/chill driving song. 8.5/10
TOTAL: 8.5/10
This was once again a very solid middle 4. You all proved why you deserve to still be here by bringing us some solid bops. This was also Adam's first time outside of the top, proving that one bad round very well could cost you, especially this late in the game! Congratulations on making it to round 7!
The top 2 this week were both great! While nothing totally blew our minds, these two were our favourite selections. The top 2 are:
Natepresnell - Sofia (Alvaro Soler)
M: Oh this was really fun. Songs like this I can deal with the language barrier because it’s more about the vibes it gives off. Speaking of which, this seems like an awesome song to jam to while driving. I really like the energy it gives off and it would definitely lighten the mood. You just might get away with another foreign song, props to you. 9/10
K: Thx now I’m getting spanish StateFarm ads!! I literally think I told Matt the other night over fort that I love hype/dance Hispanic music. I’m not fluent in the languages at all so I listen to it purely for vibes. The languages are so pretty and I love how upbeat/happy this song is. This is definitely something I’d put on my good vibes playlist and jam out to without having any clue as to what’s going on. A great pick for the car I’d trust you with the aux. 9/10
TOTAL: 9/10
iiGalaxyii - Here’s to Never Growing Up (Avril Lavigne)
M: Oh I loooveee Avril. She’s so underrated, people forget about her and it’s so damn sad. Her voice is so good and her music is all so different and unique. This is such a cute song, and fits the theme really well. It’s really kind of an anthem and kicks nostalgia in hard for me. Definitely the type of song to get me lost in thought while driving. I’d belt that chorus out on my way home from work any day of the week. 9.5/10
K: I unironically blast Avril in the car on a weekly basis. It’s so tragic that she passed and was replaced with Melissa...Kind of forgot about this throwback not gonna lie but it’s such a bop for its era. Like the song is super upbeat and the lyrics just emit good vibes it's a PERFECT song to blast in the car. This is personally not my favorite Avril song (What the Hell kind of outsold) but it’s super fitting for the theme so good job!! 8.5/10
TOTAL: 9/10
Now, you two tied. But in MKSC, you need a WINNER! We have decided to give the win to the player who receive the highest low score. Daniel got two 9's, while Andrew got an 9.5 and an 8.5. This means that our winner is...
Natepresnell! Congratulations on your first win! You are gaining steam as the competition runs out, but don't get complacent! Keep up the good work.
Now onto our bottom two. You already know who you are, so I won't make this too overdramatic. The bottom two are:
Absol - Bottom Bitch (Doja Cat)
M: This is GREAT car vibes. Like this definitely is the pace I like. I thought the song was really good outside of one thing - there was WAY too much autotune and processing in her voice. I was annoyed because she has a good voice so like why?! However, the song is still really catchy and I would bump to this. I do feel like this could’ve been SO good without the autotune though, sad! 8/10
K: I saw Doja and got so excited. I REALLY love the vibe of the video I have a weird obsession w colors. I do have to agree with Matt here that the autotune definitely killed the song she doesn’t need it she’s so talented on her own. I’m kind of obsessed with the chorus and would definitely blast this in the car. It’s not my fave song of hers but it is good. I think unlike Matt I’m psycho and like more hype/fast paced music in the car but this is still a decent pick!! 7.5/10
TOTAL: 7.75/10
J2999 - You Are The Only One (Sergey Lazarev)
M: For some reason this sorta didn’t do it for me. I think the song is pretty good, and most things were on point, but I didn’t feel an urge to play it again or anything. It all felt a little over-produced I guess, like I didn’t get that sorta raw feeling that I really like about songs in this genre. His vocals are good though, and although I wouldn’t play this while driving I can see the appeal. Not a bad pick, it just didn’t click for me. 7/10
K: So I’m not really sure if Eurovision is a live thing but if it is that’s definitely cool production wise. I do think I liked the production of it more than the actual song like the effects were sick. He’s talented but honestly I think he’s the part that doesn’t do it for me? The lyrics/song itself are good but I wonder if I’d like it more with someone else performing. Not necessarily something I’d blast in the car it seems a bit dramatic but to each their own! 7/10
TOTAL: 7/10
J2999 and Absol, both of your choices were unfortunately not up to par this week. This means you have one last chance to SING FOR YOUR LIFE in our elimination round. Bring your best.
Now, for the elimination round, you can submit ANY song you want. We are not going to limit you because this is your last chance to stay in the game and we want your very best. Post your song as soon as you can and we will get the results back ASAP. If you don’t post by tomorrow at noon EST, you will be eliminated.
For the rest of you, congratulations on making it to round 7! Stay tuned for our next theme which will be posted with the elimination results at some point tonight or tomorrow, depending on when the elimination finishes.
IT WAS THE WEEKEND GIVE US A BREAK WE HAD TO LISTEN TO AND JUDGE 20 SONGS OK?!?!?
Anyways, this was a phenomenal round. You guys really brought your best and made us go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows and vice versa. No one submitted a truly bad song, and it’s a shame 2 of you have to go home tonight.
Also, we are making a ~slight~ change to our elim. We originally stated it would be 4 of you competing, but we realized that’s almost half the cast and we did change our bottom 4 to a bottom 3 last round so only the bottom 3 will be competing in elimination.
Now, onto the results! You will be revealed in 3 groups. First the middle 4, then the top 3, then the bottom 3. During that we will also crown the winner of the week and will reveal who will have to SING FOR THEIR LIFE in our elimination round.
The 4 competitors who are safe are:
J2999
HAPPY: High on Life (Martin Garrix, Ft. Bonn)
M: Oh this beat is great. This is the type of stuff you’d hear at raves and shit where everyone is fucked on all kinds of drugs and honestly? It’s kinda great. Like that is exactly what this theme is about, just being happy. Like just amazing vibes from this song, it kinda should be a treatment for depression I think it would have a high effectiveness rate. 9/10
K: I thought at first this was going to be a sad song because of the melody but oh boy. This is a really cute fucking song that I’d blast while having a mental breakdown for whatever reason. This is a perfect song to just blast in the car and vibe to. I love the chorus it encapsulates (big brain hour) happiness like perfectly. This is the type of song to make you feel but not in a sad way but rather like butterflies in your tummy does that make sense idk good job!! 9/10
SAD: Fix You (Coldplay)
M: Coldplay is another band that gets a bad rep for no reason. Like yeah their songs are overplayed but that’s not their fault. The songs are still good, and that includes this one. If I hadn’t heard this before I would rank it higher as it is super super sad and the lyrics are deep and emotional. Having heard it quite a few times, it doesn’t give off those same feels, but it’s still very good. It also has a good message for being a sad song which I always like. Nice pick! 8.5/10
K: I’m super tossed up about this song. On one hand I think it’s super overplayed and people have meme’d the shit out of it. On the other it’s actually really depressing? It deserves a second chance. This is totally a song I’d cry over or put on when I wanna feel ~sad for fun~. The lyrics are really sad?? Also random but I could totally see this being used for like fandom edits. Overall a good pick :-). 8.5/10
OVERALL TOTAL: 8.75
Natepresnell
HAPPY: Waka Waka (Shakira)
M: Yeah Shakira is so good idc. I mean you 100% knew this would remind of the 2010 world cup and give me nostalgia so kinda fuck you but it worked so I get it. This is a very fun upbeat song, and definitely puts a smile on my face. I will say that the vibes this gives me are almost fully soccer related which is good in a way but I literally can’t think of anything else during this song. It’s a good song that gives me a ton of nostalgia, although it’s not even close to Shakira’s best. 8/10
K: I’m kind of in tears over this pick. It’s such a funny choice and I’d probably only vibe to this song on a tropical vacation 6 mimosas deep because of how overplayed it was. It’s definitely catchy and had me dancing along at parts. I have no idea what she's saying but I feel like Matt will give you a pass on this because that freak loves Shakira. I feel like this was also used for a YouTube Rewind video it was definitely a bop back in its day and again is just a really odd funny pick. 7.5/10
SAD: And it Breaks My Heart (LEON)
M: I kinda did think this was King of Leon for a second when I first saw it so that was weird. I actually did think this was a very sad song all around, I think the production and instrumentals definitely fit that. I really enjoyed this, it was different than the usual sad girl song but still managed to convey that emotion very well. Another good pick! 9/10
K: I’ve never heard of this artist but I actually really like her voice, it’s super unique. It reminds me of Miley Cyrus’s kind of?? This is definitely a great song and there’s no denying that but it’s so conflicting. The beat is super upbeat but the lyrics like disagree. The only other thing that bothers me slightly bc I’m a freak is a lot of the lyrics don’t rhyme like why must you do that. Overall a good pick!! 8.5/10
OVERALL TOTAL: 8.25
iiGalaxyii
HAPPY: Feeling Myself (Nicki Minaj, Ft. Beyonce)
M: I can sorta see where you were going with this pick. Like it is a good song when you want to feel like a, as the kids call it, “bad bitch”. I wouldn’t say it like makes me feel happy but it makes me feel better so that’s something! Nicki popped off in this, I really liked her parts. Beyoncé was ehh as she usually is. I could’ve left it with just Nicki for sure. The lyrics were so funny too, Nicki really doesn’t care. Good song that sorta kinda fits the theme. 8.5/10
K: LMAO okay I have mixed feelings about this song for the theme. This is an absolute banger PERIOD there is no denying that. However if I were in the mood to like feel happy I definitely don’t know if this song would be on the queue. Would this go on my hot girl doing hot shit playlist? Duh! I’m going to get slaughtered for this as well but I’m not the biggest fan of Beyonce at all. This is such a fun song though I love it. 8/10
SAD: Something’s Gotta Give (Camila Cabello)
M: People come for her neck off but honestly like she’s fine?? As an artist of course. As a person like that’s not somewhere I wanna go. I really do not mind her music at all, including this song. I don’t think it was amazing but it is sad and fairly emotional. I thought the chorus was good, and I think that’s where Camila excels. You can definitely feel the hurt in her voice, and the production and instrumentals add nicely to that. The rest of the song was fine but nothing special. Still a good pick. 8/10
K: Honestly I hate that weirdo Camila Cabello. However! All bias aside, this is actually not a bad song at all. Her voice is not my personal favorite but it did work well with this song. I loved a lot of the lyrics actually I didn’t think this was generic or like well….her usual music! This is definitely a good heartbreak song to belt out in the car. I really do like the tempo/how it’s sung and hate to say that. Definitely a good pick. 8.5/10
OVERALL TOTAL: 8.25
Absol
HAPPY: Connect (Elohim)
M: Aw this was super cute. The beginning had me like oh dear Absol submitted another weird ass pick but I was wrong! I really liked all of the verses outside of the chorus. Her voice is super nice and they were all fun and chill. The chorus was quite repetitive and not my favourite, but it was fine. The music video was good vibes as well (even though it sorta felt like a trip) and really added to the overall theme of the song. Lovely pick! 9/10
K: This seems like a fun song to get high to if that makes sense. The video is just one major trip but it’s actually a really cute song. It’s super upbeat and it’s one of those songs you don’t have to be paying attention to or anything because there’s no meaning to it other than good vibes. Her voice is definitely good and it’s for sure a happy song but it kind of just blends in with a bunch of other music for me. A good pick though! 8/10
SAD: Beetlejuice (Mariah the Scientist)
M: Firstly, I just wanna say I’m not exactly sure if this song gave me sad vibes. Like the production was a bit sad and I can see what parts of the lyrics could make you feel that way, but I kinda thought this was more of a “can’t get over this fuckboi” type song rather than a really sad one. That being said, I can see what you were going for. I also think this was another really good song. I enjoyed the uniqueness of it, and her voice is very good. The flow of the song was nice and the lyrics are very well written and paint a clear picture. Maybe I’m tripping with what I got from the song but either way it was a very good song. 8/10
K: I don’t necessarily think this song was sad or a tear jerker but there’s no denying it’s a good song in its respective genre. I actually was really vibing to it at some parts especially the chorus but it’s not really on brand for the theme. It’s a really well written song and I liked that she snatched a ton of the movie’s concepts/aesthetics for the video. I like the beat of the song and how it’s not really repetitive but again I don’t feel anything over it (great song though!!). 7.5/10
OVERALL TOTAL: 8.125
The 4 of you would have been in the top on most other weeks, but this was a ridiculously strong week so you are here. Still, great work, and congratulations on making it to the next round!
The top 3 this week were all outstanding. Each of you could’ve won and we both would have been happy with the result. The top 3 are:
useamint
HAPPY: Run Away With Me (Carly Rae Jepsen)
M: Oh I really really liked this. I haven’t listened to a ton of Carly Rae but I really like what I know of hers. This might be one of my favourites that I’ve heard though, absolutely incredible vibes. It feels like you’re in the moment when listening to this which I love. The production is perfect for the song and the chorus is so infectious. Super fun song, and very unique for the theme. Great job! PS the sax was good don’t listen to Krista. 10/10
K: Okay at first I thought this song was going to be bad because she’s a one hit wonder but this was actually really cute!! I’d put this on a good vibes playlist and probably blast it in the car. The saxophone in the beginning weirdly triggered me but it’s a really upbeat and fun song. I also am obsessed with the vibe of the music video such wanderlust vibes. I have nothing bad to say this was a really cute choice!! 9/10
SAD: 26 (Paramore)
M: This was a simple song but it does its job well.The lyrics are frowny face for sure. It sends a good message I think and I do like a sad song that isn’t all doom and gloom so points for that. Her voice is nice and I liked how the song flowed. I didn’t feel totally emotionally connected though, and I think part of that has to do with it being a little watered down IMO. Like I feel as though more could’ve been done with the song. Still a good choice though. 8/10
K: Oh I mean duh Haley Williams has an incredible voice and is a great artist. The lyrics are really cute and this is definitely a song I’d put on during sad girl hours. It’s obviously a little cheesy but come on it makes you feel something. The chorus is really pretty and I like how simple the song as a whole is. This wasn’t even Paramore in their prime days but it’s still a great song so good pick!! 8.5/10
OVERALL TOTAL: 8.875
mradamman12
HAPPY: Victorious (Panic! At the Disco)
M: Oh I really like Panic! I remember this from something but idk what and it’s annoying me. Anyways, this was definitely good. One of two songs from them that fits this theme to a tee! I do like the other one as a song more but this is still quite good. I will say I find this somewhat annoying and if I listened to it enough I’d get sick of it. That being said, if you don’t feel good after listening to this I am sad for you, it’s just very fun and uplifting. Nice choice. 8/10
K: DUH. Sings along to every word. This was probably one of my top songs whatever year it came out. Panic will always hold such a special place in my emo heart but apparently Brendon Urie is problematic now sad. It’s just such a fun song that makes you wanna dance and headbang. I kind of hate the weird harmonizing voices in the background but they never make boring music (well except now). I love this song so obviously a great pick. 9/10
SAD: To Build a Home (The Cinematic Orchestra)
M: Wow, this was built amazingly. The instrumentals in this are actually incredible and just that alone would be tearjerking, but adding on the vocals it takes it to another level. The storytelling is very good as well and I can definitely feel what they are portraying, it did kind of bring out some of the anxieties and fears I have with relationships so fuck you for that but I’m not docking you or anything for it, that’s kinda the point so fair play. Everything moves on and change is inevitable unfortunately :( It was a TAD longer than it needed to be, but it was still great. 9.5/10
K: You fucker you have me crying. The first time I heard this song was literally in the background of….a Newtmas edit..so it obviously holds a special place in my heart. This is the type of song that you put on just to feel something. The melody is beautiful but the only thing I absolutely hate about music like this is the song has no right to be 6 minutes for the amount of lyrics in it. Overall this was an amazing choice, this song can make me cry at any time of the day. 9/10
OVERALL TOTAL: 8.875
And the winner is... Eoin
HAPPY: Love Myself (Hailee Steinfield)
M: That’s right Eoin, love yourself. This is very easy to digest and sends a great message which I love. It’s not an all-timer or anything but it’s definitely something I would keep listening to if it came on, it’s a good little tune. It’s pretty basic and IMO her voice is good but not great, but it does fit the song nicely. Good pick! 8/10
K: This song is definitely overplayed but I really like it. It never really gets old and is another song I’d blast in the car while having a mental breakdown for a nice confidence boost. Even though this song is super generic Hailee Steinfield is kind of that bitch. This song definitely gives off nothing but good vibes and was a great pick :-). 9/10
SAD: Jealous (Labrinth)
M: This was amazing. I have a weird soft spot for ballads like this that are so soulful and emotional. I could feel what he was singing, which is exactly what I’m looking for in these themes. The simplicity really worked here, letting his great vocals shine through. The music video fit well also and added to the overall feel. This left me feeling heartbroken for him. I can’t say enough about this, awesome job. 10/10
K: Oh this was just amazing. I’ve never heard of this artist but his vocals are so raw and I like how simple the music video was to really place emphasis on what he's saying. The lyrics are beautiful and this is definitely something you could catch me crying to! You can also tell he’s singing with emotion which always make a song just so much more real and PAINFUL to listen to. Congrats! You ripped my heart out and stepped on it. 9.5/10
OVERALL TOTAL: 9.125
Congratulations to you all, and especially to Eoin, who has worked his way from low all the way to a win! You love to see the progress. Excellent selections from you all, keep it up.
Now, onto the bottom 3. Remember that all 3 of you will be competing in the elimination round. The 3 of you who will have to SING FOR YOUR LIFE are:
Admir
HAPPY: Party Rock Anthem (LMFAO, Ft. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock)
M: Not this. I agree with Krista on LMFAO being a huge influencer on not only music but culture in general in the 2010s, with this song probably being the one that did the most. This shit was EVERYWHERE and definitely brings good vibes with it, no matter how overplayed it was. Honestly it kinda has aged like wine too, like how does that beat change not get you going? It’s not my favourite thing ever but it definitely is a fun carefree song and fits the theme very well. 8.5/10
K: I’m having a fit over this music video. I have every LMFAO song on my throwback playlist idc they’re so funny and their music contributed so much to the early 2010’s. This is such a party song there’s obviously little to no meaning in the lyrics but that’s the point it’s just a feel good song. Never knew the female voice was knock off Pamela Anderson but pop off. This is just a really great song when you’re drunk it is I don’t make the rules. 8.5/10
SAD: Foolish Games (Jewel)
M: I’m actually not the biggest fan of Jewel’s voice. IDK what it is but I don’t love it for whatever reason. I think this song was very well written and produced, but I don’t know if her voice was right for it. That being said it was for sure sad vibes and I do understand how people could have a tear or two to this song. For me though, it was just fine. 7/10
K: I’m really conflicted over this song. I feel like it had so much potential to be good based off of the lyrics because they’re moving, written well and not stereotypically sad. I’m not sure what it’s called in music but something is off about the song for me like the tempo/pitch/tone idk. It gives me biggg Evanescence vibes. She doesn’t have a horrible voice but it wasn’t my favorite sound in the world. The lyrics are definitely what I liked most about the song. 7.5/10
OVERALL TOTAL: 7.875
mbarnish1
HAPPY: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Whitney Houston)
M: I can’t fault you for picking this but it’s just not my cup of tea. I’ve heard it waaaay too many times and I’ve just never really been a huge fan. She obviously has a really good voice and this is an absolute classic but it’s just not really for me, it’s very. The chorus is still super catchy though and if I heard this at a party or something I’d still bop to it. It definitely is good vibes and fits the theme as well. Not a bad pick but I’ve just heard it so many damn times. 7/10
K: Mbarn your music taste is like three times older than you and it’s hilarious LMAO. This type of music is definitely not my vibe but to each their own!! Upbeat 80’s (90’s?) music just kind of scares me. This song is superrr overplayed but there’s no denying it’s a classic. Whitney Houston has a great voice and it definitely is an upbeat, happy song to get you dancing. A good pick but not my fave type of music! 7.5/10
SAD: Die From a Broken Heart (Maddie & Tae)
M: LMAO your music taste really does surprise me every round. I’m not the biggest fan of country but I will say that I don’t mind a sad lil country/pop heartbreak song from time to time. This was good, although basic. The lyrics were actually pretty decent and I liked how they made the whole thing a phone call to her mom, it made it more real. She (they?) have nice voice(s) as well. For a country song, I definitely didn’t mind it. 8/10
K: LMAO oh you are the second victim to post a song that constantly plays at my job. HOWEVER. This is actually one of the songs off of the playlist that I don’t mind at all. I kind of don’t like country music period (except for Dan & Shay duh) but this is much more modern country which I don’t mind. Their voices are both really pretty and I love the tone of the song. It has a weirdly comforting melody like I wouldn’t cry over it but it definitely makes you feel something. Good pick!! 8/10
OVERALL TOTAL: 7.625
iSandeh
HAPPY: Power Up (Red Velvet)
M: LMFAO WHAT?? This was ridiculous but honestly kinda fun. Again like I’m not the biggest fan of kpop and find a disconnect because I can’t understand it, but tbh stuff like this is fine because it’s just meant to be goofy anyways (I think??). It sounds like a theme to some kids show or anime, which isn’t a bad thing! The production was great but duh that’s kinda what kpop is known for. Definitely wasn’t bad, although it had zero depth. 7.5/10
K: Okay I have to give credit where credit is due. I had absolutely no idea what was going on throughout the entire song I was just along for the ride. It’s definitely a fun song from what I can tell and super upbeat but K-Pop is not my fave type of music. I do have to admit their production is always on point. I wish I could be cool and like K-pop. The song was not my cup of tea but I really loved the aesthetic of the whole video, the dancing and the outfits those were a serve. 7/10
SAD: Me and You (Let it Shine)
M: Oh I’ve actually never seen this. I’ll always have a soft spot for Disney music in general though, it just takes me back. The rap was so funny LMAO like he kinda was just… speaking to her as she was trying to sing her damn song. She actually has a pretty voice and I enjoyed her parts and the chorus, but overall it was pretty generic and the rap was like… funny but kinda bad. It wasn’t super deep or anything but it clearly was at an important part in the movie, knowing what actually happened probably would help here though. Not a bad pick but I will say there are many, many Disney songs I would’ve preferred here. 7/10
K: I’m kind of weak at the Disney pick but I totally respect it. I’ve never watched this movie so I have no idea if this song pertains to it but it was actually good!! I’m not going to lie when you’re not focused on the video and the rapping starts it kind of sounds like...Eminem. It caught me off guard. She has really pretty vocals and you can just tell this is an important moment in the movie so it’s obviously supposed to make you feel something. For sure a unique, good pick. 8/10
OVERALL TOTAL: 7.375
You 3 all submitted decent choices, but in a round like this that just won’t do. Admir, mbarnish1, and iSandeh, you 3 will now have to SING FOR YOUR LIFE. And remember, only ONE of you will survive. Bring your best.
Now, for the elimination round, you can submit ANY song you want. We are not going to limit you because this is your last chance to stay in the game and we want your very best. Post your song as soon as you can and we will get the results back ASAP. If you don’t post by tomorrow at 6 EST, you will be eliminated.
For the rest of you, congratulations on making it to round 6! Stay tuned for our next theme which will be posted with the elimination results at some point tonight or tomorrow, depending on when the elimination finishes.
First off, sorry for being late! I felt like garbage yesterday and really was not feeling like writing out feedback, so my bad!
This round was a bit of a disappointment. While there were no terrible songs, we found that almost everything was either mediocre all around or had parts of the song that were holding it back from being great.
Now, onto the results! You will be revealed in 3 groups. First the middle 5, then the top 3, then the bottom 3. During that we will also crown the winner of the week and the bottom 2, who will have to SING FOR THEIR LIFE in our elimination round.
The 5 competitors who are safe are:
iSandeh - SLIME (Shygirl)
M: LMAO this kinda slapped, like this production combined with her rap style was pretty good. I’m a bit of a sucker for some british rap so you got me there for sure. She has really nice flow and she can spit too. Lyrically this was pretty typical which is my only real complaint, I’m not a huge fan of the typical sex/money/drugs themes in rap, especially when that’s the entirety of the song. Without focussing on that though I think it goes hard and is something I’d listen to to hype myself up. 8/10
K: The beginning of the video absolutely terrified me LOL. I’ve also never heard of this artist but they’re definitely talented. I listen to a lot of female rappers so I feel like this just kind of blends in with their styles and is exactly my cup of tea. I really don’t mind songs like this lyrically. I think songs like this are always good hot girl songs to bop to in the car and it did sound like a lot of other music but I really liked it!! 8/10
TOTAL: 8
Admir - Why (3xBravo)
M: I think this was one of the better lyrical songs submitted. It had good meaning and felt real, which I love. He’s a pretty good rapper, but I’d rather he stick to that and not go for the autotune shit, because otherwise I really enjoyed it! His flow is really nice and he has a unique sound, so I’ll definitely keep my eye out for him in the future! Nice pick. 8/10
K: You definitely get points for being unique and stepping out of your comfort zone. Like Matt said lyrically it’s not a bad song!! To me it just sounds like every other rap song that’s produced nowadays. It kind of just blended in with a lot of other music/artists to me nothing was stand out-ish about it but it definitely wasn’t the worst thing in the world. 7.5/10
TOTAL: 7.75
Eoin - Super Bass (Nicki Minaj)
M: Oh you basic fuck. I do get it, Nicki is one of my favourite rappers. Although I think she has MUCH better, this is still good. I’ve heard it a million times but I still don’t mind hearing it. I feel like she’s pretty tame in her rapping here as the song was made to be a pop hit, and again it wasn’t bad at all but it does leave me wanting more. I will say she has some really iconic lines in this song and it is catchy as fuck obviously. I’d definitely still pop off if I heard this come on at a party so I give it credit for it’s staying power. Good pick, but very safe. 8/10
K: NOT THIS. It’s kind of a hilarious choice I can’t even blame you. This was a banger back in its day and honestly? Still kinda is. The only thing that absolutely annoys me about this song is the chorus and it’s not like Nicki can’t sing the chorus is just bad. There are DEFINITELY better Nicki songs out there but for throwback purposes this is a staple for its era and will probably like never die so good job! 7.5/10
TOTAL: 7.75
iiGalaxyii - Best Friend (Saweetie ft. Doja Cat)
M: Hmmm. I really am not a fan of Saweetie. Like she’s kinda bad I’m sorry. Doja is pretty good, and I thought her parts of this were good. If this was just Doja I think I would rank this much higher, but deary me Saweetie cannot rap and she weighs this down. It’s pretty catchy and I can see how it’s big, but it’s not much lyrically. The production is pretty good so it has that going for it! Also the music video was good, especially the intro LOL. Not the worst pick but I would’ve preferred just Doja. 6.5/10
K: I’m going to be slandered for this I can already tell. I LOVE THIS SONG I DON’T CARE IT WAS MY SECOND TOP SONG OF THE WEEK. They ate in every single outfit in that video. It’s just a fun song to vibe to idc idc idc. Can also imagine it being used for fancams. I’m not even the biggest fan of Saweetie or Doja but I like this bop. I will say that Saweetie’s verses are 1000 times worse than Doja’s she kind of makes this song what it is imo….8.5/10
TOTAL: 7.5
mbarnish1 - Glory (John Legend ft. Common)
M: This is a good empowerment/stand up type of song. Like I can see this being played before a rally of some kind against an establishment. I’ve never heard it or seen this movie, but it sounds like it could be pretty good! As for the actual song, it sends an awesome message obviously and it’s pretty decent. I don’t think it really pops out to me, and the rap verses are fine but nothing special. It’s definitely a touching song though! Classic John. 7.5/10
K: Your submissions are so interesting to me LOL. It was definitely a unique choice this is not the first thing that comes to most people’s minds when they think of rap so good job. I really like whoever sings the chorus/non-rap parts and the song has a really strong message especially since yday was MLK day. It did give me Hamilton vibes no idea why the rap parts were just not my cup of tea but it’s a good song!! 7.5/10
TOTAL: 7.5
Congratulations, you have all moved on to the next round!
The top 3 were all vibes, but comparative to other weeks they weren’t quite as strong. The top 3 are:
Natepresnell - Papaoutai (Stromae)
M: Bitch did I not say I feel a disconnect when I can’t understand the lyrics? The translated lyrics were NOT what I expected though, like that’s actually really sad wtf? Kinda fuckin tea though especially the line about how anyone can make babies, but SHOULD they? Anyways, it’s kinda hard to judge his actual rap ability, but from what I am getting it sounds like he has good flow and clearly can create strong lyrics. I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did, and by the end I was singing along, it’s definitely infectious. I will say I didn’t love the production but otherwise it was good. Also that music video was kinda terrifying. Good choice though! 8.5/10
K: For some reason I really like hype music in other languages that I don’t know it’s just a fun ride. Oh and then I started reading the lyrics and realized this is in fact not a hype song? I like how it’s not generic and doesn’t try to be like every other song out there, it has a meaning behind it and behind the lyrics. This is going to sound really weird but I liked the colors and aesthetic of the video but not the people or dancing LMAO. Overall it was a good song!! 8/10
TOTAL: 8.25
Absol - Really Doe (Danny Brown ft. Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Earl Sweatshirt)
M: So I really thought I was gonna hate this after the first verse. I really really don’t like Danny Brown’s voice, it grates on me so badly. However, after that verse the rest was really good imo. Kendrick obviously stole the show here, but Earl’s verse was really fun and Ab-Soul (Interesting that you picked a song by him mr. Absol) had a good verse as well. The beat was also really good and definitely fits the song. All around I really liked it, if it wasn’t for the first verse it would’ve been great. 8/10
K: Something about the beat and whoever sings the first verse is incredibly off-putting. Everyone else has a decent verse so if you just removed the first one it’s a good song. I did prefer Kendrick’s to everyone else's but is your username from...Ab-Soul. Not even gonna lie this sounds like something I’d put on a playlist so overall it was definitely a good choice if we can forget about whoever slaughtered my ears in that first verse. 8.5/10
TOTAL: 8.25
And the CLEAR winner is...
mradamman12 - Self Care (Mac Miller)
M: Oh this is so fucking good. Mac is amazing and he was taken WAY too early :( I could listen to this all day, everything about it is so good. It’s lyrically incredible and takes you on a journey through his emotions which is super interesting and sad to hear. He kills it rapping too, and his flow is perfect for the production. I love how it sounds like a fairly happy, upbeat song but the more you listen to more you realize it’s actually really sad. I have nothing else to say, this is one of my favourite rap songs ever. 10/10
K: Yes, yes, 1000 times yes. Mac is so fucking talented and was a gift to the world. Everything from the beat and the lyrics to the video are just on point. Mac was an artist, he was Mac and no one else will be able to recreate that. I love this song so much because it’s so chill/hype/sad at the same time?? This is definitely the type of chill/lo-fi rap that's exactly my vibe this was an amazing pick. 9.5/10
TOTAL: 9.75
Good job to you 3, and especially to Adam, who was the only competitor to really wow us this week. Keep it up! This was the first week with a clear winner, which we don’t want to see! Make it harder on us!
Now onto the bottom 3. Usually, one of you would be safe and the only 2 would be singing for your life. However, this week is a little different. We will give you your feedback and then explain our small twist. The bottom 3 are:
useamint - Oh… Canada (Classified)
M: LOL some of this was pretty funny, although a lot of it felt like they were taking it too seriously for what it is? Like with a song like this I’d rather they kinda make fun of themselves. There were definitely some clever lines though and I do love some good Canada representation, so I didn’t mind it. I do appreciate him pointing out all the great things about our country! I kinda didn’t know we invented yahtzee, that’s fun. Overall it was good, Out for a Rip did it better though. 7/10
K: I did not expect this to turn into Canada’s rap national anthem I thought it was going to be a joke. When they said Canada’s healthcare is free that stung just a little bit. Honestly? I really liked the flow and the beat it reminded me of old school rap a lot which is always fun. The lyrics were kind of terrifying but this seems like a song I’d unironically bop to (I listen to tiny meat gang for fucks sake) so good job..!! 7.5/10
TOTAL: 7.25
J2999 - Let You Down (NF)
M: LMAO my gf is all about NF and told me someone was gonna pick an NF song. I said there was no way, but classic James comes through. You’d get like a 9 from her so you have that! That being said I’m not as big of an NF guy. I do think he’s decent, but he’s so damn corny. This song is no exception, I think his rapping is actually pretty good but the lyrics, while sad, are a bit much. Definitely could use some NF after a break up though! 7/10
K: Something about the chorus triggered my fight or flight and it’s probably from this song being overplayed on the radio LMAO. The quality of his music videos are cool but he’s not someone I think I’d listen to in my freetime. This is super sad boy hours rap and also might be the only NF song I know. He’s not a bad rapper at all I think if he changed his style/lyrics I’d like him a bit more but definitely not a bad pick :-). 7.5/10
TOTAL: 7.25
Christian_ - 212 (Azealia Banks ft. Lazy Jay)
M: As a side note, this bitch is so fuckin wack. Anyways, honestly she kinda is a really good rapper even if I don’t love her as an artist. She has bars and really nice flow, although I will say I kinda can’t understand 90% of what she was saying in this song. I think, even though this is her most popular, she has better songs for sure. This kinda is all over the place (which really fits her) but it’s hard for me to get into songs like that idk. Also the lyrics always stun me when I listen to this, like she’s so fucked LMAO. This was ok but not really my cup of tea! 6/10
K: I don’t really know who this artist is but this comment sent me:
“legendaric queen: is hella homophobic
also legendaric queen: makes the gay anthem of the century”
This definitely wasn’t horrible and I didn’t hate it at all but like Matt said it was all over the place and really random. I feel like if I was at a club or bar and I was 5 tequila shots in this would absolutely be the shit. It’s for sure a fun, carefree song that you don’t have to think about if you just wanna bop to something. I didn’t hate it though!! 7.5/10
TOTAL: 6.75
As you can see, we had a tie this week in our bottom 3, meaning that ALL 3 OF YOU will be competing in the elimination round. useamint, J2999, and Christian_, you will have to SING FOR YOUR LIFE!
Now, for the elimination round, you can submit ANY song you want. We are not going to limit you because this is your last chance to stay in the game and we want your very best. Post your song as soon as you can and we will get the results back ASAP. If you don’t post by tonight at Midnight EST, you will be eliminated.
For the rest of you, congratulations on making it to round 5! Stay tuned for our next theme which will be posted with the elimination results at some point tonight or tomorrow, depending on when the elimination finishes.
Wow, this was an awesome round! Y’all really brought it and gave us another good mix between songs we have never heard before and some classics. Keep it up!
Now, onto the results! You will be revealed in 3 groups. First the middle 4, then the top 4, then the bottom 4. During that we will also crown the winner of the week and the bottom 2, who will have to SING FOR THEIR LIFE in our elimination round.
The 4 competitors who are safe are:
Admir - Ladies’ Choice (Hairspray)
M: Hairspray really is great. This song is electric and even sitting here at 10AM I want to get up and dance to it. This song, while very fun and easygoing, also adds to the story and was definitely needed. It still leaves me wanting a little bit more, but this was still an awesome pick. 8.5/10
K: YOU ATE WITH THIS. I was craving for someone to submit Hairspray as it’s one of the best movie musicals ever made. Amanda Bynes being in this movie is fucking hilarious. Hairspray was the start of my Zac Efron awakening not HSM. Although this isn’t my favorite song from Hairspray there’s not a single bad song from the movie. I feel like Zac Efron went on to think he’s too good to be a musical theatre actor but he’s talented so jokes on him. Amazing choice. 9/10
TOTAL: 8.75
J2999 - Shallow (A Star is Born)
M: This movie is so sad :( I think this song is actually pretty good and really captures their relationship well. I think some parts of the song are jarring and unnecessary, but for the most part it’s really well done. Obviously this was overplayed af and a very basic pick but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s a good song! Back to back songs from you that are kinda hated by the public that we liked. Hmm. 8/10
K: So I’ve never watched a Star is Born but have obviously heard this song a million times. It was overplayed to an insufferable point. I actually really like the beginning of the song and Lady Gaga is not a bad vocalist at all she’s super talented but the high notes in this kind of caught me off guard. I’m sure it’s a cute movie but I can’t see Bradley Cooper as anyone other than the guy from the Hangover movies. The song isn’t bad at all it’s just super overplayed. 8/10
TOTAL: 8
useamint - And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going (Dreamgirls)
M: As Krista said, this girl can sing for sure. Again, I really wish I knew the context here as I think some of the song definitely needs that. She puts a lot of emotion into it and from a vocal aspect I really liked it. I wasn’t a huge fan of the arrangements and I think they could’ve used her vocals in a better way, but it was still good. 7.5/10
K: I don’t know who this is but she can SING. I’ve never heard of this musical and the internet wasn’t very helpful so I couldn’t place the song in context but she has pipes. Her rasp is incredible and the lyrics are so funny it’s honestly how I feel about Dylan O’Brien. I’d probably love this a lot more if I watched the musical or could place it in context but she’s really talented and this was a great pick. 8/10
TOTAL: 7.75
iSandeh - Hoedown Throwdown (Hannah Montana The Movie)
M: Kinda a lil bop. This song was so fun, it gives great vibes and god damn EVERYONE knew this song when it came out. It would’ve been a massive meme in the current generation, in a good way. My only problem with it is that it doesn’t really add a lot and while it is fun it’s not really special in any way and for a movie song it didn’t add much to the story outside of “wow Miley is fun girl”. Still a good song though! 7.5/10
K: Boom boom claps with iSandeh. Kind of an iconic song from an iconic movie. Doing the hoedown throwdown at Girl Scout dinners in 2010 was a staple. This song was overplayed to death which is kind of why I’m on the fence about it. Like regardless of that its a BOP but I can’t listen to it for the rest of the year now. Her vocals are okay in this it’s not my fave “Miley Stewart”/Hannah Montana song but definitely a staple. 7.5/10
TOTAL: 7.5
Congratulations, you have all moved on to the next round!
The top 4 was very diverse this week! From emotional tearjerkers to absolute bangers, they really gave us their all. The top 4 are:
Eoin - I’ll Make A Man Out Of You (Mulan)
M: Mulan is a really good film, one of my favourite disney movies. Although the vocals aren’t amazing, they are still decent and everything else in this song goes off. This is such a great hype song, you can sense the determination in his voice and this is the type of song I would play if I was getting ready to prepare myself for something big I had to do. I love how this song builds and leads up to a super inspirational ending where the adversity is overcome. It’s just what I want in a movie song and tells an awesome story. 9.5/10
K: I’m going to get yelled at for this because I’ve actually never seen Mulan but know every word to every song from it. Mulan’s soundtrack is fucking incredible and this is the best song from the movie imo it even surpasses Reflection. It’s just a really fun Disney song and I’ve heard Mulan is a great movie. This was definitely a good pick!! 8.5/10
TOTAL: 9
iiGalaxyii - Gotta Go My Own Way (High School Musical 2)
M: Oh DUH. Literally any HSM song would’ve been ranked high as long as it wasn’t a HSM 3 song. Idc like the music in this series simply goes off and no one can tell me differently. There’s such a wide variety and this one shows the very best of the emotional side of HSM. When I was young this song definitely got me in my feelings even though I simply never had a gf at this point. Vanessa definitely popped off in the locker room scene and the end is so damn sad. This is one of my favourites from the series, great pick. 9.5/10
K: LMAO the acting in the beginning sent me. Kind of laughing you stole my pun song but HSM 2 is the best out of the series and this is an absolute bop. Everything about this song makes me cackle from Gabriella’s 2000’s shirt to her dramatic montage in the locker room to Troy’s haircut. I love the bridge where they start singing together, this song is so dramatic I love it idc idc idc. 8.5/10
TOTAL: 9
Natepresnell - Determinate (Lemonade Mouth)
M: BOP. Takes me back to middle school and the end of the golden generation of disney. Besides this movie SLAPPING, they also put together some really great songs, this one included. This is one of the few songs on this list that I would listen to in my free time outside of the movie. This is such a banger, like you really wouldn’t expect a disney song to go this hard but it do be like that. I remember dancing to this song in my basement when I was like 11 and honestly? I’d do it again. 10/10
K: LMAO UNDERRATED MOVIE PERIOD. This submission is so funny coming from you Lemonade Mouth is so iconic. Why does this fictional band go so hard like?? This song is so iconic idc idc idc. Also isn’t the person rapping the ginger guy who looks like Robb from the Challenge because that’s hilarious. I love everything about this it’s so hype everyone do the Lemonade Mouth wave. 9/10
TOTAL: 9.5
And the WINNER of our 3rd round is…
mradamman12 - She Used To Be Mine (Waitress)
M: Oh I love that you went for something so unique, I loved the raw feeling of the video. I also listened to the original version of this and did think it was really good, but this version is incredible. The amount of emotion she put into this is insane, idk how you wouldn’t feel SOMETHING when listening to this. Also the way she sounded so good while putting that much emotion in?? The song just kept getting better and better as well. Just amazing. The only thing I will say is that while I loved the raw feeling of the video, I wish the music (other than her voice obviously) was a little more clear. Not really your fault since you can’t control what’s available, but it would’ve made it just that much better. 9.5/10
K: When I opened the link to a random recorded video I thought oh no. This performance gave me CHILLS. I honestly listened to the original recording as well and it doesn’t even compare to this performance. Some people can’t even sing flawlessly like that in cast recordings and she sounds like that LIVE. Her range and voice are just absolutely unmatched. This is what an actress is; I hate when performers prioritize singing and completely forget about the story but she got lost in the moment and felt every emotion. I have nothing bad to say about this at all it left me speechless and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t rewatched it like 10 times. 10/10
TOTAL: 9.75
Awesome job you 4! Any of you could’ve won and I would’ve been happy with it. You all gave us gems. Adam, you were once again the best of the best! You’ve really impressed us, but don’t let it get to your head! All it takes is one slip up, so keep on bringing your best.
Now onto the bottom 4. We will first reveal the 2 of you who are SAFE but still placed in the bottom 4. Then we will reveal the 2 of you who will be heading into the elimination round tonight to sing for your life! The bottom 4 are:
Christian_ - One Day More (Les Miserables)
M: I’m ngl the video REALLY helped with context, like I listened last night without the video and was like ?? but I get it more now. Honestly I wasn’t a huge fan of this song, I’m probably in the minority here but these types of songs never really do it for me in musicals. It feels a bit corny and I don’t love the old-timey aspect. On a positive note, it’s a good rally song and all of them sounded good, even if I don’t love this style of song. 6/10
K: I’ve never watched Les Miserables but really should because it has an iconic legacy. It’s so funny to see Amanda Seyfried in this. I don’t know the context of this song but I was like yeah woo let’s go fight in a revolution. Everyone’s vocals were on point and all their voices really meshed together well, that was a really good casting job @whoever. I’m probably going to have to watch this now good pick :-). 8.5/10
TOTAL: 7.25
Absol - I Speak Six Languages (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
M: This was fun! I’ve never heard of this either but it was a comedy apparently and that makes sense considering the song. It’s good for what it is, but from an actual song perspective it’s meh and a little messy? Also this isn’t your fault but I wish I knew the context behind this song (and many of the others posted) as it would’ve helped understand the song. It’s definitely VERY broadway though and it was pretty funny. 7/10
K: I’ve never heard of this musical before but this song was kind of funny and gave me like high school drama club performance vibes. It also reminded me of Heather’s the musical for no reason. The lyrics were hilarious like ?? “and for my height i’m the lightest girl in my class” LMAO. It also kind of blended in with a lot of other Broadway music but it wasn’t bad!! 7.5/10
TOTAL: 7.25
One of these songs was quite controversial among the hosts and the other we both thought was alright but not anything special. That’s all it takes to land in the bottom 4! Fortunately for you both, we liked your songs better than the next 2, meaning you are still SAFE. That means that the 2 contestants who will be competing in our elimination are:
mbarnish1 You’re the Reason (Victorious)
M: I don;t know anything about Victorious other than knowing it was a massive show that for some reason I never got into. This was a fun song, albeit a lil corny. The chorus was good and I loved the production, but the rest of the song was sorta bland. I think her vocals are ~fine~ but she sorta did sing in the same key for 95% of the song, which is fine but it made it a little boring. It’s generic and I think I’d get sick of it quickly but it’s still pretty decent! 7/10
K: WOO you finally picked a song that fits the theme. Victorious is one of my favorite Nickelodeon shows but with that being said Victoria Justice was definitely the least talented of the entire cast LOL. She has a couple good solos from the show but the best songs are pretty much including everyone else my good sis just does not have range. Love the show choice but there are definitely better songs from it!! 7/10
TOTAL: 7
JoeFromUnderArmour Go, Go Go, Joseph (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat)
M: This really does sound like a church choir is singing this, which isn’t a BAD thing but it was certainly different! Also it felt disjointed, like they were really sad at the start and then it just turns into a party LOL? Context might help here but that was kinda strange. I think the vocals were fine but nothing special. I liked the last half of the song more as it felt more like a broadway production, and overall I thought it was fine but not great. 6.5/10
K: This song gave me war flashbacks to when I was forced to go to Church as a child. I read the Wiki about the musical because I’ve never heard of it before and it just sounds like something that’s not really my cup of tea personally. Kinda laughed when I found out Donny Osmond was one of the people singing. The vocals were good it just sounds like 500 other Broadway songs it didn’t really keep my attention but definitely points for a quirky pick. 6/10
TOTAL: 6.25
mbarnish1 and JoeFromUnderArmour, we both agreed that these 2 songs were not our cup of tea, and although they were decent entries, that won’t get you far in a round as strong as this one. You will both have to SING FOR YOUR LIVES.
Now, for the elimination round, you can submit ANY song you want. We are not going to limit you because this is your last chance to stay in the game and we want your very best. Post your song as soon as you can and we will get the results back ASAP. If you don’t post by tomorrow at Noon EST, you will be eliminated.
For the rest of you, congratulations on making it to round 3! Stay tuned for our next theme which will be posted with the elimination results at some point tonight or tomorrow, depending on when the elimination finishes.
