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

[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).