Welcome to the Final Five results show of Patrick's Song Contest. For this challenge, you were tasked with submitting OPPOSITE SONGS - songs that can be categorized as "opposites", whether that be in content, in sound, however you deemed appropriate. Without further ado - let's move on to the critiques.
Gabby Barrett - "The Good Ones" & Carrie Underwood - "Cowboy Cassanova"
Alright, so first, "The Good Ones". I previously only knew of "I Hope" by Gabby Barrett, so being able to dive more into her music was a first for me. The content of this song was very true to how you described it. Musically, it bored me a little as I think it's a little understated for her voice which almost seems to be wanting to break into something a little bigger. The best part of this was when the music stripped away and she was able to just sing. I have talked about songs with an identity crisis, and this is one of them - I think the song would have been better if it was softer or bigger.
Talk about opposites - this Carrie Underwood song really gets you from the jump. The tone tells you from the beginning that this boy is trouble, and this song really works. Carrie's strong voice is very supported by the big production here. I think this song was very solid as an individual. In terms of opposites, I definitely get the opposite vibes from these songs and think you met the category well. Great job.
X Ambassadors - "Litost" & Diana Ross - "I'm Coming Out"
I was really excited to listen to your choices after reading your explanation. Of course "I'm Coming Out" is a staple, so I was really intruiged to hear the X Ambarassadors song. I'm aware of nothing in their discography. This song was really strong for me. I enjoyed the instrumentation and the orchestra on top of the drums and other instruments, the vocals were strong, and I really felt that sense of misery in the singer's delivery.
To contrast it with "I'm Coming Out" I thought was a really interesting choice. I think tonally, they're very different, but they both are very strong songs on their own. I think you not only met the requirements challenge, but stepped it up even more with the out of the box song selection.
I wasn't aware of either of these songs before this, so I was quite intruiged. The opening instrumentation of the FKA twigs song really hooked me right from the jump. Throughout, this song is really great actually, sonically and lyrically, and dammit, I want more! It being short and essentially just repeating two short verses is my only complaint, because this was so good, I didn't want it to end.
"Hyperballad" is really interesting - so much of it feels like typical "Bjork" music - but there's really something more gripping in her vocal delivery in this one - it sounds more passionate, more emotional, which is a lot for an already-emotional singer like Bjork. I really enjoyed this song thoroughly, and I thought that the dichotomy of the lyrics of the two songs were opposed each other. You did very well this week.
I'm not too familiar with Tove Lo and I've never heard of Ängie, so after reading your explanation, I was really intruiged by this pairing. Unfortunately, I don't think "Spun" really sunk in for me. I think I was hoping for something to be a little stronger, but the production simultaneously feels that it's going too hard and not hard enough, and there's something about her voice that just isn't clicking for me. The song did grow as it went on, but I think a singer with a little more charisma could have sold this just a little bit better.
Moving onto the Tove Lo song, and I think immediately this strikes as a true "opposite" for me. Moving from the braggadocious nature of "Spun" into this reflective mood really did fit so well for me. Her vocals here are extremely strong, and when she begins to repeat, "you won't stay the night for me", I felt something. I thought this is one of my favorite songs you've submitted up to this song. I don't think "Spun" was a very strong individual song, but that the two played off each other well. Well done this week.
The winner is...
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. #tbrown_47! I thoroughly enjoyed both of your selections so much, but they really felt like opposites to me. #purplebb4, you had one of your strongest weeks yet, and you're safe.
I can't believe this happened in both the F6 and F5 Rounds after 12 Rounds of eliminations with very few people not submitting, but without any submission this week, I have to eliminate you. You've been a strong contender with some fun bops, and I hope you'll continue to share your music with me.
My Final Four! We move on to the last round before the finale. One of you will be cut just before the finale where one of you will be crowned the winner of Patrick's Music Contest! Round 13 will be posted shortly, congratulations!
