Okay it took me two breaks to watch this, long story…

Working retail does a thing on Christmas spirit. Usually it’s been beaten out of me and then something happens on Christmas Eve and it comes back like chartbusters.

You, MT are the Christmas Spirit that ignited my Christmas Spirit this year. You are the Goodie in the Hoodie. Thanks for being a friend.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone.

If it were physically possible, my ears would have thrown up after listening to this piece of aural vomit! This guy has the audacity to think he has the chops to remake this classic (he doesn’t). There’s no raw emotion or desperation in his vocals, while the original is an anguished cry and recognition of romantic loss, Bolton just wales away with no hint of emotional depth. The key change is totally out of place here, it loses all subtlety and grace, it just beats the listener over the head. Definitely in the running for the worst cover song of all time, and right up there for worst number one of all time! 1. Merry Christmas to you all!!

F- for musicals?!?!?????

Damn maybe he is straight.

Peaking at #5 behind Michael Jackson was the joyful dance classic “Finally” by CeCe Peniston. It’s a 10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk8mm1Qmt-Y

I was going to (gently and in good fun) rib you about how this sounds like one of those generic pull quotes that movie studios use sometimes, but then I clicked on your comment history. Brother, you keep being the positive beacon of light in this cold and dark world that you are. I hope you have a wonderful year!

I’m with you on the “rapping over a famous song and calling it new” phenomenon, and agree that Puffy is the worst offender. But I think this track somehow becomes the exception that proves the rule. It helps that PM Dawn didn’t borrow True just to spout generic self aggrandizement as Puffy and his ilk were want to do. They find a totally new context for it and create something original which is hard to pull off, especially with a song as well known as True.

Damn…honestly never knew Sufjan was a little bitch about most things.

I have a soft spot for this song—probably because it represents the commercial peak of the ultra-sampled style (DeLa/Prince Paul/Paul’s Boutique/Public Enemy) that I fell in love with as a teenager.
Plus, True is good. A six seems harsh. Justice for True!

OK, guys, I worked really hard on this. Dusted off the old English degree and everything. My review for today will be quite different than my usual, but this was a happy accident of timing that I could not pass up! I hope you all have as much fun reading as I did writing it.

It was the day before Christmas, and all through the site,

Early bird commenters were up by first light

They were choosing their swift, sharp words with care

In the hopes that Tom’s post would soon be there

Some night shifters were nestled, all snug in their beds

While visions of blond curly hair danced through their heads

And I in my room, with the Spotify app

Listened critically to this ballad of crap

When over on Stereogum there arose such a clatter

I quickly logged in to see what was the matter

Away to TNOCS my fingers flew like a flash

Curious to read how badly this song would get trashed

All the while, those sounds lingered in my head

The howling vocals of Michael Bolton filling me with dread

I thought, how could a cover of a good song go so wrong?

Is it because Bolton comes on much too strong?

Or is it the instrumentation, so awkward and plonky

That would turn any tune, no matter the quality, wonky?

The multiple key changes prove to be no respite

For they make me the listener more desperate

As a cover of old soul, it fails as homage

And only reeks like years-old fromage

But, there was one thing to do, as the situation depended

On second opinions of the strangers I’d befriended

Now, V-Dog! Now, Brigit! Now irish and Bix

Go, blu_cheez! Go, Guy! Go, mt and vails (fan of Styx)

Everyone here who will take up the call

Type away, type away, all!

Will you have similar negative views?

Or will it be a positive rating you choose?

No matter what thoughts we all share

We accept a variety, we really don’t care

We will muddle through this song’s screaming and shouting

The yowling, howling, and caterwauling

Because it is the conversation that truly matters

Even if I denounce this one song on the tops of the rafters

I will freely admit like a sap, this community is the best

Nothing beats a smile and a laugh among those at TNOCS

But, I must declare, before I log off tonight

“When a Man Loves a Woman” is a 1, Michael Bolton is done—oh, what a delight!

Merry Christmas, TNOCS! I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday weekend. I’m sure mt’s gift to us (if he posts before I do) will be even more stellar, but I thought I’d scrounge something together to celebrate this awesome community. Call it the Christmas spirit sweeping through me, I guess!

The calendar says that its December;
I’m back with my usual refrain,

To pause, reflect, include, remember,
As many of you as I can by name.

Commemorate our fun this year,
For this job, I’ll proudly volunteer,

(And probably get sued…)

…but here’s a Christmas present

… for you.

You give Michael Jackson’s “Will You Be There” a 10 out of 10 ? Dude, you have SHIT taste in music.

Okay we get it music snob, you don’t like the newer artists out today.

Don’t you agree that women isn’t some heavily filtered, heavily shopped and edited version of something resembling somebody Madonna thinks she looked like 30 years ago…because dude….

Looking back in 20 years or so, we are going to laugh at how idiotic we all acted during this time.

That’s OK, you don’t have to make any more.

We’re definitely getting a new album from him this year. And a new Game of Thrones book. And wow, it looks like my dad is gonna come back after leaving for cigarettes 25 years ago. Yippee!