Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

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Rob
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Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

Welcome to the November 2020 edition of Biggest Fan. Let me explain for those who only join now. It's about those songs that only got one vote in our recent All-Time Best Song Poll. There were over 13.000 of them! That's too much to get collectively into, but through this series we are going to introduce you to one of them every day. A randomly selected song, so you never know what you're gonna get.

There is also a game element, to make things more interactive. You can give a grade to each song, from 1 (for the worst of them) to 10 (the masterpieces). A 0 will be counted as a 1. Every 100 days I will calculate the average grades and post the current top 100. At the end of each year I'll post the whole list as is.

Some points of note:
- A topic for each song would be a little much, but all songs in one topic too. That's why I make monthly new topics for the entries of that month.
- There will be links to old topics in each new one, so you can easily go back. Once we have collected a decent amount of songs, I will also post a topic with all the songs listed and a link to their initial appearance.
- There is gonna be a Spotify playlist (see below). Each new song will be put atop of the playlist! If songs aren't on Spotify there will be a link to YouTube or any platform it's available on. I will contact the biggest fan through a message if I can't find the song anywhere.
- You can always still vote for each song, even months later. Just go to the right topic.
- You can always change your grade. Again, place it in the right topic.
- You don't have to vote for each song if you don't want to.
- I think this goes without saying but still: always name the artist and title of the song you vote for. I'm not going to guess for which song you vote.
- Comments on the song are more than welcome. Nobody is probably going to review them all, but if you have something to say, please do.
- I know some wanted to go faster. Two songs a day, 10 songs a week, something like that. I'm decided against this, because I wanted to keep it small. We can't deal with over 13.000 songs, so I'm not trying. I just want to give you all one small discovery (or re-discovery) for the day. We'll never get all these songs done before the next All Time Song poll rolls along, but we can have fun getting there.
- I'll try to get each new song up soon after awakening, so in most cases it should be here relatively early.
- Feel free to ask questions or make general comments about this poll if you think it could be better.

You can still vote for the songs of earlier months, but please so do that in it's own topic.

January 2019
February 2019
March 2019
April 2019
May 2019
June 2019
July 2019
August 2019
September 2019
October 2019
November 2019
December 2019
January 2020
February 2020
March 2020
April 2020
May 2020
June 2020
July 2020
August 2020
September 2020
October 2020

The playlist:
Last edited by Rob on Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Rob
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Re: Biggest Fan - November 2020

Post by Rob »

The second appearance by The Decemberists:

661. The Decemberists – We Both Go Down Together
Year: 2005
Album: Picaresque
Biggest Fan: DaveC (#210)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!
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Schüttelbirne
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Re: Biggest Fan - November 2020

Post by Schüttelbirne »

661. The Decemberists - We Both Go Down Together: 8/10

It'll be interested to see what song is randomly chosen for November 6th. :evil:
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Re: Biggest Fan - November 2020

Post by Hymie »

Rob wrote: Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:54 am661. The Decemberists – We Both Go Down Together
3
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Re: Biggest Fan - November 2020

Post by Rob »

The Decemberists - We Both Go Down Together: 7
After having spent quite some time with The Crane Wife this year thanks to Moderately Acclaimed it's interesting to here this. It has the same appealing sound, but the lyrics are not as rich as the best of The Crane Wife yet.
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Re: Biggest Fan - November 2020

Post by Rob »

Already the fourth song here by Tom Waits and the second from Swordfishtrombones. It bubbles under on AM.

662. Tom Waits – Soldier’s Things
Year: 1983
Album: Swordfishtrombones
Biggest Fan: antonius (#849)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!
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Re: Biggest Fan - November 2020

Post by spiritualized »

661. The Decemberists - We Both Go Down Together: 8
662. Tom Waits – Soldier’s Things : 6
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Re: Biggest Fan - November 2020

Post by Hymie »

Rob wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2020 7:55 am662. Tom Waits – Soldier’s Things
1

Can somebody please tell this motherfucker to clear his throat already!
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Re: Biggest Fan - November 2020

Post by Brad »

661. The Decemberists - We Both Go Down Together: 7.25

Thanks!
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Re: Biggest Fan - November 2020

Post by Wezzo »

661. The Decemberists - We Both Go Down Together - 7
662. Tom Waits – Soldier’s Things - 7
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Re: Biggest Fan - November 2020

Post by Rob »

The next song doesn’t rank on AM (yet; it probably will someday), but it did make our end of decade song poll, all the way up to #119! Since it had eight votes there, it must clearly have found more fans since our All Time Song Poll. Indeed, Depeche Mode isn’t even one of those eight as he didn’t vote for the decade poll.

663. Taylor Swift – All Too Well
Year: 2012
Album: Red
Biggest Fan: Depeche Mode (#159)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!
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Re: Biggest Fan - November 2020

Post by Wezzo »

663. Taylor Swift – All Too Well - 8
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Re: Biggest Fan - November 2020

Post by Hymie »

Rob wrote: Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:46 am663. Taylor Swift – All Too Well
3
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by StevieFan13 »

All Too Well is a 9
Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand - Sir Duke (1976)
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by acroamor »

All Too Well is a 10 from me.
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by andyd1010 »

Taylor Swift – All Too Well: 10

My first 10 to a song I didn't vote for
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

Taylor Swift – All Too Well: 6
Wow, these are high ratings here. I don't hear it... This is not bad, but sounds incredibly average to me. Lyrics, vocals, melody, nothing seems remarkable. Especially not when Tom Waits shows up afterwards:

Tom Waits – Soldier’s Things: 8
Seem I forgot to vote for this one yesterday, but the song itself is not forgettable. It's one of those songs only Tom Waits could consider, finding ragged dignity where normally there doesn't seem to be any.
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Schüttelbirne »

662. Tom Waits - Soldier's Things: 8/10
663. Taylor Swift - All Too Well: 9/10
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

A very short one today, by They Might Be Giants who appear here for the second time.

664. They Might Be Giants – Meet James Ensor
Year: 1994
Album: John Henry
Biggest Fan: Wezzo (#646)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Wezzo »

664. They Might Be Giants – Meet James Ensor - 9.5 [from my list]
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Brad »

662. Tom Waits - Soldier's Things: 7
663. Taylor Swift - All Too Well: 3.5

Thanks!
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Hymie »

Rob wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:22 am664. They Might Be Giants – Meet James Ensor
4
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

They Might Be Giants – Meet James Ensor: 2
I'm sorry, Wezzo, but I couldn't stomach this one. Although the lyrics have some cleverness to them, the whole thing is ruined by the sound, because this sounds to me like an incredibly annoying commercial jingle or children's song (and we know this band also make music for kids). John Flansburgh's voice here has probably the same effect on me as Tom Waits' has on Hymie. I haven't heard too much by They Might Be Giants, but what I've heard tends to be extremely hit or misses, but their misses tend also to be very big misses for me.
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Brad »

664. They Might Be Giants – Meet James Ensor: 6

Thanks!
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Schüttelbirne »

664. They Might Be Giants - Meet James Ensor: 4/10
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

With the website down we missed two days, but I'll get back tomorrow with both these songs and the one for that day, leaving no day unskipped!
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

Here are three songs to make up for lost time!

665. Laura Marling – New Romantic
Year: 2007
EP: My Manic & I
Biggest Fan: JohnnyBGoode (#932)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

We reach ominous number 666 today. Time for a satanic metal song? No, just a jazz classic that ranks on AM at #5277. But didn’t they use to say that jazz was the devil’s music? It’s the second appearance by Thelonious Monk.

666. Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners
Year: 1957
Album: Brilliant Corners
Biggest Fan: sonofsamiam (#72)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

Today’s song was a modest hit and ranks at AM at #4573.

667. Royal Blood – Figure It Out
Year: 2014
Album: Royal Blood
Biggest Fan: slick (#484)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!
Last edited by Rob on Sat Nov 07, 2020 9:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by spiritualized »

Jumping quickly to rate 667 - A stormer of a song. The end is simply amazing, one of the best tracks of the decade.
I discovered it only recently and yes it is heavily influenced by the White Stripes, but it has the edge on production.

So a big fat 10 for me.
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Hymie »

Rob wrote: Sat Nov 07, 2020 8:45 am665. Laura Marling – New Romantic
5
666. Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corner
5
667. Royal Blood – Figure It Out
3
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Schüttelbirne »

665. Laura Marling - New Romantic: 7/10
666. Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners: 8/10
667. Royal Blood - Figure It Out: 6/10
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by DaveC »

661. The Decemberists – We Both Go Down Together: 9.5
662. Tom Waits – Soldier’s Things: 6
663. Taylor Swift – All Too Well: 5
664. They Might Be Giants – Meet James Ensor: 4
665. Laura Marling – New Romantic: 7
666. Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners: 7
667. Royal Blood – Figure It Out: 7
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

Laura Marling - New Romantic: 8
Because I heard all albums by Marling from the first on I thought I knew all her work, completely ignoring earlier EP's and singles... Including this one. It's beautiful. She came fully formed as an artist, didn't she?

Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners: 7
Some swinging jazz right here.

Royal Blood – Figure It Out: 7
I hear the White Stripes connection that Spiritualized makes and although it isn't as gloriously rough as that duo, this is very enjoyable.
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

The second track by The Magic Numbers today.

668. The Magic Numbers – I See You, You See Me
Year: 2005
Album: The Magic Numbers
Biggest Fan: Wezzo (#246)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Hymie »

Rob wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 10:19 am668. The Magic Numbers – I See You, You See Me
3
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

The Magic Numbers – I See You, You See Me: 7
The earlier Magic Numbers song was rather forgettable to me, but this one is quite appealing, with it's touching melody and great interplay between the male and female vocalist.
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

The second song to appear here that won the Oscar for Best Song:

669. Common & John Legend - Glory
Year: 2014
Released as a single
Biggest Fan: PlasticRam (#272)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by spiritualized »

663. Taylor Swift – All Too Well: 5
664. They Might Be Giants – Meet James Ensor: 7
665. Laura Marling – New Romantic: 6
666. Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners: 5
669. Common & John Legend - Glory - 3
668. The Magic Numbers – I See You, You See Me - 2
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

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Rob wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 5:38 pm They Might Be Giants – Meet James Ensor: 2
I'm sorry, Wezzo, but I couldn't stomach this one. Although the lyrics have some cleverness to them, the whole thing is ruined by the sound, because this sounds to me like an incredibly annoying commercial jingle or children's song (and we know this band also make music for kids). John Flansburgh's voice here has probably the same effect on me as Tom Waits' has on Hymie. I haven't heard too much by They Might Be Giants, but what I've heard tends to be extremely hit or misses, but their misses tend also to be very big misses for me.
Sorry you didn't enjoy it more! My wife isn't much of a fan of it, either, haha. Pleased you enjoyed the Magic Numbers track, though.

665. Laura Marling – New Romantic - 7.5
666. Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners - 7
667. Royal Blood – Figure It Out - 5
668. The Magic Numbers – I See You, You See Me - 10 [from my list]
669. Common & John Legend - Glory - 9
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Brad »

665. Laura Marling – New Romantic: 6.5
666. Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners: 7.5
667. Royal Blood – Figure It Out: 5
668. The Magic Numbers – I See You, You See Me: 4

Thanks!
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by StevieFan13 »

Glory is an 8 from me
Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand - Sir Duke (1976)
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Hymie »

Rob wrote: Mon Nov 09, 2020 7:24 am669. Common & John Legend - Glory
2
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Schüttelbirne »

668. The Magic Numbers - I See You, You See Me: 6/10
669. Common & John Legend - Glory: 7/10
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

Common & John Legend - Glory: 6

I remember this as being better than it is, probably mostly because of the performance during the Oscars, which was powerfully staged. However, going back to it and hearing it on it's own it's not all that special. It really goes all-out to sound big, meaningful and emotional, but by doing so it almost ruins it. Not quite, the song works on a surface level and it helps that John Legend has the right voice for the chorus (Common is better during the live show, here he is average). Still, there isn't much to this besides the big sound. If you like me have heard perhaps too many Oscar bait songs this seems standard fair, from it's rather clichéd and surface level lyrics (A Change Is Gonna Come this ain't), the huge chorus of background singers and the epic sweep. It works somewhat, but it is all by the books (also my feelings on the film it supports).

I also just learned that Common and Legend have revived this song for this year's American elections and played it on Election Day in support of Biden. We rarely get that kind of coincidences here at Biggest Fan.
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Hymie »

Rob wrote: Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:59 pm Common & John Legend - Glory: 6

It really goes all-out to sound big, meaningful and emotional, but by doing so it almost ruins it.
It does ruin it for me.
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

The second appearance by Giorgio Moroder:

670. Giorgio Moroder – I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone
Year: 1977
Album: From Here to Eternity
Biggest Fan: Moonbeam (#742)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Wezzo »

670. Giorgio Moroder – I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone - 5.5
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Hymie »

Rob wrote: Tue Nov 10, 2020 8:31 am670. Giorgio Moroder – I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone
2
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Brad »

Common & John Legend - Glory: 5.5

Thanks!
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Schüttelbirne »

670. Giorgio Moroder - I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone: 3/10
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Re: Biggest Fan Songs - November 2020

Post by Rob »

Giorgio Moroder – I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone: 6
As dated as the mustache-sunglasses combo Moroder wears on the album cover, but still kind of fun and really feels like some sort of proto-Daft Punk.
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