A kung fu fighter in a disco

I actually find all of these fites rather easy, except Sledge v. Joy Division (which was hard because I'm not huge on either song). I went with the favorite in every case, except Kelly Clarkson over Smiths and Joy Division over Sledge.

The only upset here that would really bother me if it materialized would be "Temptation" over "...Baby One More Time"

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jeff-worrell.livejournal.com

I've just noticed an apparent tie in one of the previous round's fites. Is there a ruling on this one?

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Yes, both tracks go through into a pick-one-of-three.

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Most of these not even close. I don't adore many of the big guns here especially - "Into The Groove" and "Freak On" aside maybe - but I like them all well enough.

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koganbot

The only real emotional conflict for me was "Groove" vs. "Try Again" - I love the latter while the former is so iconic that I almost don't feel anything for it. But that's 'cause I'm not hearing it this second; have a feeling that on the dance floor it would sweep almost all before it, and I ticked it. "Sledge" vs. LWTUA was equally close but w/ less caring on my part. "Prayer" still feels like an pretty good folk gospel number w/ an exhilaratingly bullshit throw-everything-at-the-eall video; doesn't come close in my heart to "Everybody" or "Holiday" or "Live To Tell" or "Justify My Love" (but ticked it 'cause "Bootylicious" is too damn cold); "Vogue" not one of my heartthrobs either, but it's so powerful I'd have ticked it to honor the power 'cept it was running up against something just as powerful with way more actual style (rather than, you know, Style) and feeling. Do think it would have run much better against any of the other tracks on here 'cept "Groove" and "Prayer"; I would have expected "Don't Stop" and "Groove" to meet in the finals 'cept now it looks like they'll meet sooner (are they on track to meet in the semis?), and maybe my relatively non-excitement in regard to "Prayer" underestimates its chances. Anyway, "...Baby," "Freak On," "Since U Been Gone," and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" all get strong love from me, with "SUBG" the only one that looks to be at all in danger.

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koganbot

throw-everything-at-the-eall video

I clearly meant to write "throw-everything-at-the-eel video." My apologies for the typo.

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I'm slightly surprised that "Don't Stop" is beating "Vogue" so comprehensively. I think maybe because the tenor of previous DSTYGE comments was more aloof, more "yes: I agree, a classic.", whereas "Vogue" has elicited more love and excitement. But perhaps that was only from the Lex.

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I'm really shocked at this, I always thought 'Vogue' was one of Madonna's wholly-acknowledged classics along with 'Into The Groove' and 'Like A Prayer' - if anything it's more iconic than either. Whereas DSTYGE...well, it's no 'Billie Jean' or 'Thriller', it's (to turn things back-to-front) the equivalent of Justin's 'Rock Your Body', it's ADEQUATE but nothing more, and that when you know the artist in question can be a lot more. I do not understand.

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blue-russian.livejournal.com

Interestingly enough, Lex, I have to admit that the fact that it was iconic didn't really occur to me until you said so during the last round, after which I thought, "Hm... Yes, I guess it is, isn't it?" I think I always think of it as one of the tracks stuck onto to Immaculate Collection rather than a freestanding single of its own, and that kind of diminishes it (if you remember that stuff).

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I don't know when I heard it first but I do know that by the time I did I knew all about it - the look, the sound, the dance, the video, the meanings. Of course, it's the queerest of Madonna's singles pre-Erotica.

(first Madonna song I consciously heard was 'Crazy For You' in 1991 or so; first Madonna song I was "on the spot" for was 'Erotica', which scared the 9-yr-old me (but fascinated at the same time); first Madonna song I loved at the time was 'This Used To Be My Playground'.)

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awesomewells.livejournal.com

I actually disagree with you about Don't Stop. I didn't really feel much towards it until a previous round prompted me to listen again and really, it's AWESOME. There's just so much going on.

I'm a bit bored of Vogue in the same way I'm a bit bored of Billie Jean.

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You have Voted Vile several times (several KEY times!) in the recent past => your opinions are clearly not to be taken seriously.

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koganbot

I like "How Soon Is Now?" because it reminds me of Eno. But no way I'm voting it over "Since U Been Gone." Btw, "Since U Been Gone" is probably still my favorite Kelly Clarkson track, but that may only be because "Maybe" isn't a track yet; and "Since U Been Gone" may even be a bit tangential to what I generally love about Kelly. Which is to say that Kelly touches me more when she's tormented than when she's triumphant - though I think her torment songs are obliquely triumphant, since they contain an extravagant self-assertion and self-confirmation, even if the confirmation has to do with the value... is "value" the right word?... of heartbreak and struggle. Anyway, top five Kelly's for me are "Maybe," "Since U Been Gone," "Hear Me," "Miss Independent," "Addicted." (I pretty much missed "Miss Independent" in its year, but it's one of the great dance pop tracks of the decade.)

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koganbot

Don't know what went wrong with that "Miss Independent" link; let's try again.

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Can't avoid an opportunity for listing. Not counting "Maybe" or "Anymore" because there's no recorded versions yet.

1. "Behind These Hazel Eyes"
2. "Since U Been Gone"
3. "Miss Independent"
4. "Addicted"
5. "Just Missed the Train"

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koganbot

Ha, I seem to have missed the train on "Just Missed the Train," as I've never heard it (never heard her first alb in full). "Hazel Eyes" would have been my number six or seven (pretty much in a dead heat w/ "Because Of You," which follows it on the alb). Also think well of most of the early singles; even "Moments Like This" has its moments, though it's not one of my favorite compositions.

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"Just Missed the Train" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UM3VlLXOAQ) -- It's a cover of a song by Danielle Brisebois, former child actress who released one album in 1994, then joined The New Radicals. Now she's a pop songwriter, she wrote "Unwritten".

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koganbot

The TashBed's "Unwritten"? That's wonderful. (I'd just assumed that that was by the TashBed herself?)

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blue-russian.livejournal.com

Yes, me too!

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TashBed's "Unwritten", yeah, as well as her "Drop Me In The Middle" and "We're All Mad". TashBed doesn't have solo writing credit on any of her songs, though she does have cowriting credit on all except "Stumble" (a Shelly Peiken tune).

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Madge v Aaliyah - predictably awful for me. Agree with Frank in actively loving 'Try Again' more but possibly only because I'm not hearing 'Into The Groove' right this second - in the end, assuming a tie, I've gone for the NEWER, which I think is important

Britney v New Order - not Britney's best but still great v a song I don't feel much of anything towards. Easy.

Madge v DC - really really hard; this isn't quite my favourite Madge single but it's top 10, easy; same applies to 'Bootylicious' but a top 10 Madge single means more than a top 10 DC single.

Human League v Prince - I did not think Prince would get screwed this bad, you lot are mental. Prince without the slightest shadow of a hesitation.

Missy v Vile People - 13 people, as of now, need to be CAST OUT

Vile People v Clarkson - OK seriously anyone who voted Vile in this AND the last poll...what the fvck is wrong with you?!

Jacko v Madge - wtf, 'Vogue' is one of the best things ever and it's getting DONE OVER!

Sledge v JD - ffs you people are just wrong :(((((((

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I think Prince got screwed too, but "1999" is far from his best effort.

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Yes, the screwing of Prince was last round's story really.

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