POPTIMISTS TRACKS OF 2009: Nos 12-7

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Almost there! And we'll finish off after lunch.

12. THE LONELY ISLAND ft T-PAIN - "I'm On A Boat" (80 points)

He fucked a mermaid. Vevo means the video is the uncensored version however.

11. THE-DREAM - "Fancy" (83 points)

Pretty sure this is the highest-placing album track (if such distinctions make a difference any more). It's also one of the oddest songs of the year, but you knew that already.

10. LADY GAGA - "Poker Face" (87 points)

Muffin, bluffin', etc.

9. ROYKSOPP ft ROBYN - "The Girl And The Robot" (95 points)

Embedding disabled so go here to see Robyn's mechanical love life revealed.

8. YEAH YEAH YEAHS - "Zero" (99 points)

The video seems very quiet. Anyway, tipped to be higher by some, I think there was votesplitting with "Heads Will Roll" though.

7. JAY-Z ft ALICIA KEYS - "Empire State Of Mind" (100 points)

Some days I really enjoy this record, others I can't bear it.

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Nobody mentioned "Empire State" in their top 10 predictions and I admit I wasn't expecting it to do quite so well too. I think I'm always a little uncomfortable wiith the kind of songs where you feel they sat down and said "OK this is going to be an ANTHEM" though the principle isn't so different to "Merry Xmas Everybody".

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

i find the self-congratulatory 'yaaay new york that's where we live' aspect tiresome which is only half jealousy. it has been a bit of a grower but still nowhere near my top 100.

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

I put it @ #21 in my personal list but pushed it up higher in my ballot.

#7 in this context feels right and proper to me. Should have been higher than Das RUBist though.

[koganbot]

You should take a look at Erika's writeup (buried down on a comment thread), if you haven't already.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I really do wonder what "Empire State Of Mind" stans are doing during the verses of that song, because SURELY it cannot be listening to and enjoying Jay-Z's horribly awkward flow. I mean, even the chorus is kinda hokey; powerful but also empty, not the anthem it wants to be, certainly not a single of the year.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I think Jay kind of knows this - the Sinatra reference is SO upfront, and "New York New York" (and "My Way") are very much NOT a man at the height of his powers, but a king in his decline looking out over what he's helped build. So the halting flow isn't actually as grating for me as it is on, oh, everything else on BP3.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I also really resent "Empire State Of Mind" for somehow taking all the attention away from Alicia's AMAZING "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart" - both big, cornball choruses (she knows no other way) and yet the emptiness of "Empire" wins out? UGH PEOPLE.

[koganbot]

I pretty much agree, though the track has grown on me; but oddly enough I'm rooting for it to win Pazz & Jop, 'cause it's the only thing I can think of that's likely to beat Animal Collective (though maybe I'm underestimating "Zero"'s chances).