ArsMoriendi
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Last Active 12-09-22 12:08 am
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04.30.24 Ranking Butthole Surfers Studio stuff ♦03.22.24 Sputnik’s Sacred Clowns
03.21.24 Pram02.19.24 ###NeoFoLK TaG FeST
02.15.24 idiotican can't take criticism01.08.24 Inverted Umbrella 2023-24 Results: ♦
01.01.24 25 most listened to songs in 202312.31.23 Round 11: Inverted Umbrella Competition
12.25.23 Round 10: Inverted Umbrella Competition12.17.23 Round 9: Inverted Umbrella Competition
12.10.23 Round 8: Inverted Umbrella Competition12.03.23 Round 7: Inverted Umbrella Competition
11.30.23 NEW TAGS ARRIVED! K-Pop and J-Pop (help ♦11.27.23 Round 6: Inverted Umbrella Competition
11.24.23 Who Has a "New" Genre Tag on Their Pie 11.20.23 Round 5: Inverted Umbrella Competition
11.13.23 Round 4: Inverted Umbrella Competition11.06.23 Round 3: Inverted Umbrella Competition
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The Umbrella Genre Contest Round 2: Under Rihanna's Umbrella

2 people are out and the rest are in!
1Erykah Badu
New Amerykah Pt. 1 (4th World War)

The rules are simple:

1.Link a song via YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, DailyMotion, Vimeo... or whatever you like as long as I don't have to download something.

2. The genre this round is R&B. Characteristically, it's a commercial sounding genre that focuses on emotion, and rhythm (so a lot of prominent bass.) This includes all soul and most funk (except like Red Hot Chili Peppers or Alt. Metal and Nu-metal type funk because who the hell thinks "If You Have to Ask" or "Jerry Was a Racecar Driver" is R&B?...)

3. Aim to impress me with what you pick, since I'm rating these.

4. If I know the song already, I'll tell you to pick something new, otherwise you're good.

5. I'm going to start each new round every Thursday night, so if you're late, you're out.

***The winner can recommend me whatever album they want and I'll listen to it no matter the album as long as it's not impossible to find.***
2Lydia
Illuminate

“This is Twice Now” (JustJoe.)

I don’t like these vocals. The music seems to float mostly in the background which seems kinda of ineffectual for my taste. Dream pop’s cool a lot of the time though, but this isn’t grabbing me at all. Sorry.

2.5/5 (PASSED!)
3Teena Marie
Starchild

“Lovergirl” (Thrust!)

I admire your bravery going with dance pop even though I’ve shown zero signs of liking it on this website. The funky bass is so 80s. Teena’s got some pipes though, so I have to respect it at least a little. Somehow this wasn’t boring at any point.

3.1/5 (PASSED!)
4The Flaming Lips
The Soft Bulletin

“A Spoonful Weighs a Ton” (BlazinBlitzer)

A really pretty psychedelic pop ballad. It’s weird in the right way. Good song, even if Coyne’s voice is kinda gross.

4.3/5 (PASSED!)
5Falco
Out Of The Dark (Into The Light)

“Out of the Dark” (0xMe)

Is he rapping in German? I mean this is corny as hell, but not necessarily bad. The guitar solo livened things up pretty well. This is passable for me, if only just barely. Simple pop rock.

3/5 (PASSED!)
6Janet Jackson
Velvet Rope

“What About” (Drifter)

Pop R&B with funk bass during the chorus and wave crashes and flamenco guitar during the verses… It reminds me of the kind of music my mom likes. I’m sorry, I don’t care for this.

2.3/5 (FAILED!)
7Syd Barrett
The Madcap Laughs

“Octopus” (Minushuman24)

This sounds like regular folk music, maybe psychedelic folk? It’s fun music though and I like it, but I don’t really see what’s pop about this unless you REALLY stretch the definition. Fine I’ll be nice and call it folk pop.

3.9/5 (PASSED!)
8Hunx and His Punx
Too Young To Be In Love

“Lover’s Lane” (bgillesp)

The gayest homage to doo-wop ever. I love it. Happy coming out day everyone! Even the guitar solo is legit great. :D

5/5 (ROUND WINNER!) (handicap next round of +0.5)
9White Noise
An Electric Storm

“My Game of Loving” (Frippertronics)

This reminds me of Nico vocal wise. Psychedelic pop was probably the smartest pop route if you know my taste honestly. So yeah, this is pretty nice, The sex moans made me raise an eyebrow, like what the hell? Haha I guess I’ll never listen to this song without headphones. Honestly this is legit super cool.

4.6/5 (PASSED!)
10The Tammys
Egyptian Shumba

“Egyptian Shumba” (IronGiant)

They’re screeching like monkeys and referring to Egypt as “Egypt land.” I’m honestly not sure this song should even exist, but all I can say is I kinda hate it.

1.9/5 (FAILED!)
11Treepeople
Something Vicious for Tomorrow / Time Whore

“Liquid Boy” (butcherboy)

I’m gonna say this straight up. I don’t like bands where the vocals sound like adolescents. It’s kind of a pet peeve of mine when a man in his 20s sings like a 13 year old. Pop punk will get you nowhere with me.

2.8/5 (PASSED!)
12Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Album

Tickle Torture - Spiritual Machete/Spectrophilia
“Would I Love You” (Grimlin)

Very modern funky synthpop. There’s really not much else to say about it since it’s pretty generic. The 80s nostalgia craze kinda missed the mark with me. The breakdown part at the end was kinda of interesting maybe?

2.7/5 (PASSED!)
13White Moth Black Butterfly
Atone

“The Serpent” (kalkwiese)

I’m kinda of tired while listening to this and it’s peaceful atmosphere is nice for my mood. Wikipedia calls this progressive pop. That’s cool, I probably would’ve just went with indie pop though. Not bad.

3.6/5 (PASSED!)
14Pentatonix
Pentatonix

"Misbehavin" (The Spirit)

I hate to sound close minded, but when I saw you picked a song by Pentatonix, I was pretty sure you were going to be the one eliminated this round. I never liked a capella. DESPITE THIS, this song is fairly harmless and there’s certainly been worse things picked.

2.5/5 (PASSED!)
15Yellow Magic Orchestra
Solid State Survivor

“Rydeen” (SandwichBubble)

Very fun instrumental synth pop. I feel like I’m on an epic quest in an early 90s video game.

3.9/5 (PASSED!)
16Foxes (UK)
Glorious

“Youth” (Sinternet)

This sounds like modern top 40 brand indie pop and I’m underwhelmed. Song seems like a dime a dozen.

2.5/5 (PASSED!)
17Tiger Trap
Tiger Trap

“You & Me “(Pheromone)

Cutesy indie pop. It sounds like it belongs in a Gregg Araki film. Them again, I’ve only seen two of his films…

3.5/5 (PASSED!)
18Carly Rae Jepsen
Emotion

“Boy Problems” (Brostep)

So… this sounds like 80s pop, but it’s from 2015. The funky bass seems extra out of place for some reason. Bland radio pop.

2.5/5 (PASSED!)
19Robyn
Honey

“Honey” (luci)

Electropop with a pretty spacey atmosphere. I feel like if this were to be a bit faster in tempo it’d belongs in a club being blasted at a loud volume. It’s fine.

2.6/5 (PASSED!)
20David Sylvian
Secrets of the Beehive

“When The Poets Dreamed of Angels” (Aberf)

Folky art pop. The production is nice, the strings are mixed low, but are audible, so it gives the song this sense feeling to it. The percussion is really cool too actually.

3.7/5 (PASSED!)
21Light Asylum
In Tension

“Dark Allies” (Papa Universe)

Wow this is new wavey. Down Papa like anything that isn’t tangentially related to post punk? I’m serious haha. This is a little overlong, but it’s still pretty decent.

3.2/5 (PASSED!)
22Kishi Bashi
Lighght

“Carry On Phenomenon” (VuvuzelaBzz)

See like, psych pop is just a good genre. This caught my ears immediately. The strings, bass, and percussion are all super on point here. It manages to capture the 60s sound oddly well.

4/5 (PASSED!)
23The Clean
Boodle Boodle Boodle

“Thumbs Off” (NeroCorleone80)

Indie pop rock stuff that’s catchy, and all around a good time. I feel like running through a sprinkler in the summer with this blasting in a backyard. Sounds like a British Invasion band from the 60s haha.

4.8/5 (PASSED!)
24Stromae
Racine Carrée

“Défiler” (Masochist)

I know that’s not the album this is from, but it’s a new 2018 single sooo. Wow this is a long one and so far it’s pretty chill. I lost focus on this and it’s 5 and a half minutes in. I don’t think something this poppy should ever be this long. I don’t even hate this, but it feels like an eternity.

3/5 (PASSED!)
25Twenty One Pilots
Trench

“Neon Gravestones” (Tyman128)

Why does this song open up with the Moonlight Sonata? OKAY, it’s slightly different, but that was my first thought. Poppy hip hop so far… this is pretty chill. Not my thing, but pleasant actually.

3.3/5 (PASSED!)
26Kimiko Kasai
Butterfly

“As” (ZombieToyDuck)

This isn’t cheating, but I already LOVE Stevie’s original version of “As.” In fact it’s like one of the best from Songs in the Keys of Life. So a well done cover featuring Herbie Hancock is bound to do at least somewhat well. Poppy jazz music with kickass solos? Sign me up.

3.9/5 (PASSED!)
27Janelle Monae
The ArchAndroid

Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid
“Cold War” (neekafat)

This is pretty fun. It feels a little empty production wise, like it needs to be filled with a nice bass line or more organ, but I like the overall vibe.

3.5/5 (PASSED!)
28Sufjan Stevens
The Age of Adz

“I Want to Be Well” (RikRoach7)

Fun electronic indie pop. The flutes are so playful and the song is multi-sectioned in a way that works! This is actually pretty original for pop song from the 2010s. This is pretty hectic at the end and kind of experimental.

4.1/5 (PASSED!)
29The Ronettes
Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes

Be My Baby (AlexanderMR)

.I think I’ve heard this one before, but I’m not sure so I’ll let it pass. It’s simple and pleasant doo-wop. Not my cup of tea, but still well made and enjoyable. The string section definitely gives it a much needed edge to.

3.4/5 (PASSED!)
30Cícero
Canções de Apartamento

Ensaio Sobre Ela (alamo)

A pretty pop tune. Emotional with a nice guitar. Not much else to say. This is pretty decent.

3.5/5 (PASSED!)
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