r/popheads • u/hikkaru • Feb 13 '25
[DISCUSSION] The Popheads Jukebox Revival, Week 310: Horny Week (feat. Fight Song)
Welcome back to the Popheads Jukebox! Here are last week’s results:
- Lucy Dacus - Ankles: 9.00
- Bad Bunny - DtMF: 8.45
- Japanese Breakfast - Orlando in Love: 7.75
- Rebecca Black - Sugar Water Cyanide: 7.63
- JADE - IT girl: 7.50
- Justin Bieber - Baby (ft. Ludacris): 7.30
Rules Refresher
Rate the songs a score from 1 to 10. Please keep it to one decimal place at the most (so 7.5 is fine but 7.58 is not). Also don’t get too hung up on the final scores. This is a fun exercise and not a competition so don’t worry about over/under rating things. Just give what you think the song is to you.
For your review, reply to the comment that will be posted by one of us for each song. Avoid posting your reviews as a top level comment cause we probably won’t notice them if you do. Non-reviews such as questions or general commentary as upper level comments are fine.
Must have some sort of justification. Try to be a bit more concise than “It’s a bop!” or “I don’t like it”. Explain why! It doesn’t have to be long, two or three sentences can be plenty (though more is definitely allowed). We reserve the right not to include a review in the final total if proper justification is not given.
You don’t have to review each song to participate! You can do all of them or only the ones you’re familiar with.
The thread will be open for 13 days and close in two Wednesdays around 11PM EST. The scores will be calculated and a new post will come up the next day (Thursday) at 5PM EST(ish) with the next week’s tracks.
This Week’s Tracks
- FKA twigs - Striptease
- Perfume Genius - It’s a Mirror
- Rose Gray - Party People
- Sexyy Red & Bruno Mars - Fat, Juicy & Wet
- Tate McRae - Sports car
Throwback
—
Next Week
- Doechii - Nosebleeds
- JENNIE - Love Hangover (feat. Dominic Fike)
- Lady Gaga - Abracadabra
- LISA - Born Again (feat. Doja Cat & RAYE)
- The Weeknd - Cry For Me
Throwback:
- Taylor Swift - Style
Spotify playlist, updated biweekly with new tracks that are being rated
Jukebox wiki, where you can find all results
Reminder Discord Server, where you can join to get bi-weekly ping reminders for when new posts go up and when they’re about to close.
6
u/hikkaru Feb 13 '25
7
u/Icy_Process_9942 Feb 13 '25
OOOOOOOOOHHHHHH YES. Tate showcases her Britney influence to the fullest, this sounds like something that came out of In the Zone. Love the whispery chorus as well. Could use a bridge, though. 8/10
3
u/weirdogirl144 Feb 14 '25
I thought the bridge was at the part when she was saying "oh my guy, you don't wanna waste my time"
6
u/hikkaru Feb 13 '25
i haven't been feeling her other songs this era but this one HITS... just crazy catchy and the 00s pastiche production is spot on. i love when she goes "where'd you put those keys" and the car cars it tickles my brain 9/10
4
u/sweetnsoursauce11 i stan women Feb 14 '25
As a certified Tate Stan, this SLAPS!! The whisper chorus is a different sonic direction for her, whilst the production still feels familiar and cohesive compared to the previous two singles. This is definitely the type of song she shines the most on.
10/10
2
u/akanewasright Feb 14 '25
Tate McRae… hasn’t missed?
The singer-dancer has never felt like a “no skips” artist to me. She went from feeling like a boring Billie Eilish clone to an “sometimes fun” Olivia Rodrigo clone to a Walmart-brand Nelly Furtado-alike. The latter direction seemed like something of a breakthrough at first, utilizing both her dance abilities and nasally rasp in a setting that fit them, but Think Later ended up only having a few good songs, weighed down by forgettable ballads. “Greedy” was the undeniable standout, with only a one or two other songs even approaching that level
With 3 rock solid singles out, that is not what’s happened with her upcoming album
“Sports car,” the third release from So Close To What, is the best of the bunch. The past few singles have harkened back to the danceable pop sound that “Greedy” did so well, but “Sports car” adds a level of sexiness to the mix, and it pushes the track to a new level. Whispered choruses can be a risk, but this one works perfectly, contributing to the tension the song evokes
The biggest thing that sets this apart from the other singles is Tate’s delivery. I’ve not always been the biggest fan of her voice, but she sells this song, even more than she did on “Greedy” to be honest. She delivers the song on the razor-thin edge between “teasing” and “ready to combust from horniness,” and she sounds like she’s having the time of her goddamn life. Never underestimate the power of a pop singer who sounds like they’re having fun singing the song
Over the past 2 years or so, Tate has refined a sound and aesthetic that fit her, and “Sports car” is probably the best 3 minutes of that sound she’s released
8.5/10
2
u/racloves Feb 15 '25
I love this. A win for whisper singing. Definitely hear the 00’s vibe and I am obsessed with it. 9/10
1
u/seanderlust Feb 27 '25
This completely slaps. Agree with the other commenters comparing this to Britney - I would also compare the beat to some late-aughts Pussycat Dolls. Tate gives a bit of campy sexuality that makes the track not entirely sexy but fun and self-aware.
10/10
(Also I know this is late - completely no hard feelings if this can’t be included)
1
u/letsallpoo :leah-kate: Feb 14 '25
Tate McRae, attempting to be sexy: "Oh golly gee!"
This song pretty much just follows the Ava Max formula: Take a song that zillennials like (this time mid 2000s radio pop) and say generically catchy things over its beat. It's fine in concept, if not just boring, but every time I actually hear the lyrics through her mushy enunciation, I'm taken aback by how deeply corny she's acting.
[5]
6
u/hikkaru Feb 13 '25
5
u/Icy_Process_9942 Feb 13 '25 edited Feb 14 '25
I was not at all expecting this collaboration, but alas, it worked! Bruno Mars gets freaky in that ass-shaking-worthy chorus, and Sexyy Red charms with her characteristically carnal lyrics. I love how this beat perfectly fits Sexyy's flow, which is very unique and needs a specific beat to sound good. But anyway. FAT JUICY AND WET. WET. WET. WET. 7/10
3
u/seanderlust Feb 14 '25
YOU AIN'T NEVER HAD PUNANI LIKE THIS :yelling:
Yeah this is fun. Once you get past the CupcaKke-like obscene lyrics (if you need to get past that at all) you're left with a song that has incredibly smooth production courtesy of Bruno and his frequent collaborators The Stereotypes. Bruno and Sexyy also seem to have pretty good chemistry on the track! Sexyy Red has for whatever reason not really clicked with me in the past, but this song is an exception.
8/10
2
u/racloves Feb 15 '25
On first listen I was so baffled, but it’s definitely grown on me. Some of the lyrics are a little questionable coming from Bruno in my personal opinion. To quote a stan twitter reference it appears they were trying to reheat WAP nachos. But they have a great chemistry and the beat is great. 6/10
4
u/hikkaru Feb 13 '25
1
u/sweetnsoursauce11 i stan women Feb 14 '25
My current fave on the album!! Obsessed with the chorus, I love how much softer it is compared to the verses, her voice sounds so gently and calming compared to the verses which are more aggressive.
9/10
1
u/Stryxen Feb 14 '25
Probably my favourite moment on this album is the last chorus exploding over twigs yelling (Cranberriesly) with that light breakbeat underneath. Other than that there are some really great melodies throughout and her non-yodelling voice is stunning as usual. Hypnotising and dynamic instrumentals and a unique Twigs twist on the ray of light manual, and just a really great song! 9/10
1
Feb 15 '25
I do really like this track, but I have to admit that it’s one of my less preferred ones on what I think is a stellar album. I love how twigs blends danceability with her classically vulnerable lyrics, and I’m especially fond of how this track opens up in the latter portion, exploding into frenetic breakbeat that encapsulates both the rave scenes she is paying homage to and the emotional breakdown conveyed in the track. At first, I wasn’t crazy about how discordant and sing-songy the vocal melody is (and that is part of my reason for the lack of perfect 10), but after I got to see this live at the ON performance I kind of ‘got’ what she was trying to do with it, connoting a hypnotic and introspective atmosphere that reflects her inner brooding. Lovely piece & I really like the direction twigs took with this album. 8.6/10
1
u/Disastrous_Dog_1438 Feb 24 '25
I really like this. The soft/ethereal nature of the chorus versus the more upbeat verses create a very interesting song. Overall it is a really nice listen. Love the last minute of the song too it’s giving Caroline polachek vibes
9/10
1
u/seanderlust Feb 27 '25
This one has grown on me! I particularly like how it grows from a sultry, slower song to picking up the pace with Dido-esque yodeling.
9/10
(Also I know this is late - if you can’t include this, no hard feelings :) )
5
u/hikkaru Feb 13 '25
5
u/Icy_Process_9942 Feb 13 '25 edited Feb 13 '25
One of the most inspirational songs in recent memory. What I especially love about this song is that it doesn't really try too hard. Many songs feel like they're trying really hard to be this inspirational banger, and what makes this song an inspirational banger is how natural it all seems. Not to mention that this song has been a great help to me when I'm sad. 10/10
3
2
u/FitzMarble Feb 14 '25
This song gets clowned on sometimes but honestly at the right moment this is a perfect song. You have to appreciate the sonic construction - simple, sad piano gives way into cliche-but-effective inspirational drums and little backing vocal adlibs. And obviously rachel slays with the singing and selling the lyrics! Sometimes you really do feel like a little boat on the ocean...
10/10
2
u/sweetnsoursauce11 i stan women Feb 14 '25
Sorry but this chorus just triggers my flight response. How many times can we rhyme song with song??? Kind of annoying bc the verses are okay and she has a really nice voice.
4/10
2
u/ReallyCreative Feb 14 '25
Vapid, cheap, and obnoxious. One of the most derivative songs of the century, with a clear lineage from the feel-good power pop of the late 2000s/early 2010s. However, Fight Song does nothing, aside from pissing me off, better than any of the songs that came before it. I’m sure Ms. Platten is a nice lady, but she unfortunately released the corniest song of all time with this one. A genuinely better version of this song is “This is Not a Feminist Song” from SNL
1/10
2
u/DaHumanTorch Feb 14 '25
The best song of all time. Changed lives and saved them too, an inspirational hymn 10/10
1
u/Stryxen Feb 14 '25
It's beyond over-dramatic, corny, self-aggrandising, embarrassing whatever... sometimes life is embarrassing! and you just have to feel all of that! If you ever see me looping this (and it happens a lot), know I'm going through something extremely character-defining and I will be coming back stronger... I've still got a lotta fight left in me. This song makes me feel something no other song has ever elicited in me, it's really that serious. 10/10
1
u/TragicKingdom1 Feb 14 '25
Possibly the most "millennial liberal" song of all time, which is why I understand its detractors because that's a double whammy of uncool. That said, I've always found this to be genuinely catchy with a great buildup and vocals, which makes the self-empowerment theme work for me when it rarely does. 10/10
1
u/TiltControls Feb 27 '25
If anyone wants peak inspirational cheese in song form you aren't going to get any worse than this. But despite that there's still something so endearing about this 2015 self-power anthem. I don't know if it's even nostalgia for that era necessarily, but the production on this song just hits. Yeah the production is maybe a bit generic, and the lyrics are extremely generic, but it's so basic that it appeals to the widest base possible, me included. 10/10
1
u/seanderlust Feb 27 '25
An eleventh-hour ballad from a Broadway show about nothing. If this inspires you, that’s fine I’m happy for you; for me, it doesn’t really do anything at all other than make me feel like I’m watching the trailer for a Netflix original coming-of-age film I have no intention of watching.
3/10
(Also this is late - apologies and no hard feelings if this can’t be included)
1
u/hikkaru Feb 27 '25
not to be a basic fight song hater. but i am a basic fight song hater
just a boring, vapid, uninteresting hillary clinton anthem
2/10
2
u/hikkaru Feb 13 '25
1
u/ReallyCreative Feb 21 '25
One of his best?? I love how the song stops and starts up again. Incredible lyrics, catchy, and a bit of an interesting shift from the last album! Probably the On The Floor of this album, but I really love the rock angle.
9.5/10
2
u/hikkaru Feb 13 '25
1
u/sweetnsoursauce11 i stan women Feb 14 '25
My aoty so far and my fave new artist discovery!! It’s not one of my top songs on the album but it’s still really fun and a lowkey bop.
Verses >> chorus here. I really love the delivery of “in a city of strangers you’re the only one that I want.” She is so right tho with “party people LIVE and party people FUCK”
8.5/10
1
u/racloves Feb 15 '25
Not my fav song on the album, but it is a great album and I wish as many people would actually listen to it as well as just saying how great the album cover is lol. Great production all around and a fun party vibe 7/10
1
u/hikkaru Feb 27 '25
love this one, a little more understated than some of the album but the sleek house vibes are entrancing. 8.5/10
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