Biggest Fan - 3rd Edition: 101 - 200

[Rob]

Ready for round 2.

For those new here, the rules are simple. Every day I post a single random song from all the entries to the 2024 Best Songs of All Time Poll from this very forum. What makes these songs unique is that they only got one vote. That's right, according to the poll, these songs have only one fan. Perhaps we can change that? We also alternate among people whose songs are used. Although the persons are as random as the songs, everybody who participated in the poll gets a song here until everyone had their turn. Then we start over.

After I post a song you can grade it on a scale from 1 to 10 (0 is not an option and I will count it as a 1). After every 100 songs I'll reveal the current top 100 based on voting averages. If you missed a day, month or year, don't worry: you can always catch up or even change your grade later. There is no real deadline as long as this game is alive. I do change topic after every 100 to keep the topics a bit more manageable, but you can always go back to the older ones.

Earlier topics, so you can catch up:
1 - 100

[Rob]

“Hey man, nice song!”, is what I hope to say to ordinaryperson after listening to today’s pick. At least critics like it, as they rank the song at #5265 on AM.

101. Filter – Hey Man Nice Shot
Year: 1995
Album: Short Bus
Biggest Fan: ordinaryperson (#608)

Don’t forget you can always vote on a later date or change your grade.

[Emerald]

Filter – Hey Man Nice Shot: 7

[Live in Phoenix]

Filter – Hey Man Nice Shot

6

A little dopey.

(Back then, everyone thought this was about Kurt Cobain [and this was all basically pre-Internet… hell, I remember the Spin record guide saying Billy Idol had OD’d, and I thought, “Wait, is he dead??” It’s not like I could just pull out my smartphone and check])

(This song is instead supposed to be about R. Budd Dwyer. His suicide at a press conference in 1987 was a Pennsylvania story that became a local story everywhere it went. What I mean is, everyone who covered the story — which was probably every outlet in America — had to individually decide how much of the suicide they were going to show. If you want to play a little newspaper archive game, go to newspapers.com, which I’ve used before, and look up your old newspaper during that time period. To my astonishment, the Arizona Republic showed both immediately before and after he shot himself in the head, all on the front page; since this was basically a local corruption case thousands of miles away, this seemed very unnecessary. Readers, and one columnist who’s still on staff, were quite upset, and the editors had to try to explain themselves. I’m guessing you can still view Dwyer’s death on YouTube — the results now seem very TikTok-like, so I can hardly even tell — but I wouldn’t recommend it.)

[StevieFan13]

A song I know well to start the next round! How delightfully convenient. Hey Man Nice Shot gets an 8 from me to start the next round.

[Gillingham]

101. Filter – Hey Man Nice Shot: 6
A bit too long for what it is.

[Live in Phoenix]

I don’t usually bother to defend songs (and I get it doesn’t have to be a favorite of yours, regardless), but I wouldn’t have put “Little Girls” on my list if I thought it was meant to be taken at face value at all. I’m sure there’s a kind of subgenre of pop/rock and punk rock songs that are appalling if taken unironically.

[Rob]

I don’t usually bother to defend songs (and I get it doesn’t have to be a favorite of yours, regardless), but I wouldn’t have put “Little Girls” on my list if I thought it was meant to be taken at face value at all. I’m sure there’s a kind of subgenre of pop/rock and punk rock songs that are appalling if taken unironically.

I think everybody understood it was not meant to be taken seriously. For me, it just wasn't a good joke.

Filter – Hey Man Nice Shot: 8
Hey man nice song.

[Live in Phoenix]

I don’t usually bother to defend songs (and I get it doesn’t have to be a favorite of yours, regardless), but I wouldn’t have put “Little Girls” on my list if I thought it was meant to be taken at face value at all. I’m sure there’s a kind of subgenre of pop/rock and punk rock songs that are appalling if taken unironically.

I think everybody understood it was not meant to be taken seriously. For me, it just wasn't a good joke.

Yeah, must be sort of a lazy Friday for me to be going on about it.

[Rubyzilla]

101. Filter – Hey Man Nice Shot - 5

I liked the chorus, but I found the rest of the song a little boring. Normally, I would give it a 4, but it gets an extra point because it was on Regular Show.

[Rob]

Remember my earlier post where I mentioned all artists who had more than 10 eligible entries for Biggest Fan? And how there were a couple of artists among them I didn’t know? One of these was Zun, who appeared 12 times on ReverendMoonjava’s list. Well, today we get officially introduced. With Moonjava’s favorite pick of the artist no less.
It is video game music, from a Japanese game I never heard of in a genre that’s called danmaku, apparently two-dimensional shooter. The titling is a bit unusual, in that half it’s title is written in Japanese kanji and the others in English language, western letters.

102. Zun – 六十年目の東方裁判 ～ Fate of Sixty Years (A.K.A. Eastern Judgement In The Sixtieth Year ~ Fate Of Sixty Years)
Year: 2005
Album: 東方花映塚 ～ Phantasmagoria of Flower View (Touhou Kaeizuka)*
Biggest Fan: ReverendMoonjava (#5)
*The album version was only released in 2021, but the game the music appeared in dates to 2005.

Don’t forget you can always vote on a later date or change your grade.

[Honorio]

102. 上海アリス幻樂団 – 六十年目の東方裁判 ～ Fate of Sixty Years (2021) 5/10

[Emerald]

Zun – 六十年目の東方裁判 ～ Fate of Sixty Years (A.K.A. Eastern Judgement In The Sixtieth Year ~ Fate Of Sixty Years): 6

[Rob]

Zun – 六十年目の東方裁判 ～ Fate of Sixty Years (A.K.A. Eastern Judgement In The Sixtieth Year ~ Fate Of Sixty Years): 9
I actually heard this song for the first time three weeks ago. Since the All Time poll ended and the results were revealed I have every week added the top song not in the top 2000 from each list to my rotation, with the exception of songs I am overly familiar with or that last more than 10 minutes (I don't have an issue with the length, but my rotation is used a little differently). So Fate of Sixty Years got its turn three weeks ago and is actually my favorite discovery there thus far. I've played it every day since and it will no doubt make my own list next poll.

I can kind of get that this isn't for anyone. Like a lot of video game music it doesn't sound as well produced as other music. More compressed. But if you are used to that and can also appreciate its circular nature, which here makes for it's rather extreme length than this is truly a gem. I don't know what possessed Zun to add mariachi influences to this track, but it works. The energy here is incredibly high and this just makes me want to dance all the time. Perhaps because of its danceable nature I don't like that it runs beyond its breaking point. I don't know the game it is from and a quick look assures me that it isn't for me, but this song is amazing. I listened to the complete soundtrack today as well and there is more great stuff on there, but this might be the highlight. It's one of those truly personal out of the box picks I always hope for in forum games.

[Schüttelbirne]

102. Zun | "六十年目の東方裁判 ~ Fate of Sixty Years": 6/10
101. Filter | "Hey Man Nice Shot": 5/10
100. Jennifer Rush | "The Power of Love": 5/10
99. Mazhar Ve Fuat | "Adimiz Miskindir Bizim": 7/10
98. Tyler, the Creator | "GONE, GONE / THANK YOU": 5/10
97. Oingo Boingo | "Little Girls": 5/10
96. The Feelers | "Weapons of War": 5/10

[Gillingham]

102. Zun – 六十年目の東方裁判 ～ Fate of Sixty Years (A.K.A. Eastern Judgement In The Sixtieth Year ~ Fate Of Sixty Years): 2
Not very listenable for me. During a game this might just be nervewrecking and a bit annoying, I can imagine. It doesn't sell the game. Outside of that context I really don't need to listen to it, I'm sorry.

[StevieFan13]

The video game song gets a 6 from me.

[Rob]

The day after Zun we get another artist who has multiple eligible entries for Biggest Fan (seven this time) that all come from one list (Arsalan’s). There is also an eligible song called Luna Sea, but that is by Vetiver and comes from Brad’s list. Coincidentally, like Zun, Luna Sea is from Japan, but they don’t make video game music.

103. Luna Sea – In Silence
Year: 1996
Album: Style
Biggest Fan: Arsalan (#11)

Don’t forget you can always vote on a later date or change your grade.

[Arsalan]

The version added to the playlist is from their 2023 re-recording of Style. Here's the spotify link to the 1996 version of the song: https://open.spotify.com/track/2V5A8L36 ... 765ef141e2


For whatever reason, their last 4 records before their disbandment in 2000 (which are their 4 most successful albums) are not available in their entirety on Spotify but the singles from that era are. The 2023 re-recording of Mother (1994, perhaps the most influential J-Rock album of the past 35 years) and Style (1996) are available tho which I DO NOT recommend. Check out the originals on YouTube.

[Rob]

The version added to the playlist is from their 2023 re-recording of Style. Here's the spotify link to the 1996 version of the song: https://open.spotify.com/track/2V5A8L36 ... 765ef141e2


For whatever reason, their last 4 records before their disbandment (which are their 4 most successful albums) are not available in their entirety on Spotify but the singles from that era are.

Ah, I didn't notice this was a rerecorded album. Thanks for notifying me. I've changed the track on the playlist.

[Arsalan]

The version added to the playlist is from their 2023 re-recording of Style. Here's the spotify link to the 1996 version of the song: https://open.spotify.com/track/2V5A8L36 ... 765ef141e2


For whatever reason, their last 4 records before their disbandment (which are their 4 most successful albums) are not available in their entirety on Spotify but the singles from that era are.

Ah, I didn't notice this was a rerecorded album. Thanks for notifying me. I've changed the track on the playlist.

Sure. And thank you for running this game again, Rob! Although I don't rate songs but there have been a few nice discoveries for me so far.

[Emerald]

Luna Sea – In Silence: 7

[StevieFan13]

In Silence gets a 7 from me as well. Good but a little over-the-top vocally.

[Rob]

Not very listenable for me. During a game this might just be nervewrecking and a bit annoying, I can imagine. It doesn't sell the game.

Having taken a look at what the game is I do actually think it captures the extremely frantic nature of it very well, so in that sense it does sell it well. The game looks nerve-wrecking as hell. Still, for me the soundtrack is just on the good side of hyper without going to stressful.

Luna Sea – In Silence: 7
Even in Japan the nineties sounded very nineties indeed, including those over-the-top vocals. I haven't checked the lyrics, but I totally expect them to be preachy. As is I can enjoy it though.

[Honorio]

103. Luna Sea – In Silence (1996) 6/10

[Gillingham]

103. Luna Sea – In Silence: 3.5

[Rob]

How much do you hate a genre if you turn your dislike into a band name? The disdain was successful as jazz dreams were shattered when this became a hit with still significant plays on Spotify, perhaps many of which come from WisnuTirtaAji.

104. Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams
Year: 1987
Album: Turn Back the Clock
Biggest Fan: WisnuTirtaAji (#700)

Don’t forget you can always vote on a later date or change your grade.

[Emerald]

Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams: 8

[StevieFan13]

Shattered Dreams is a 7 from me.

[Gillingham]

104. Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams: 4
I remember this edition started off pretty well, but the last couple of weeks I'm handing out a lot of pretty low ratings unfortunately.

[Brad]

101. Filter – Hey Man Nice Shot: 6
102. Zun – 六十年目の東方裁判 ～ Fate of Sixty Years: 5.5
103. Luna Sea – In Silence: 5

Thanks!

[Rob]

Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams: 4
Rob hates sophisti-pop. Especially this watered down version. Bring on the jazz!

[Gillingham]

Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams
Rob hates sophisti-pop. Especially this watered down version. Bring on the jazz!

It's so bad it doesn't get a mark at all?

[Rob]

Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams
Rob hates sophisti-pop. Especially this watered down version. Bring on the jazz!

It's so bad it doesn't get a mark at all?

That was a mistake, I actually want to shatter this band's dreams!

[Honorio]

104. Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams (1987) 4/10

[phil]

101. Filter | Hey Man Nice Shot | 7
102. Zun – 六十年目の東方裁判 | Fate of Sixty Years | 6
103. Luna Sea | In Silence | 6
104. Johnny Hates Jazz | Shattered Dreams | 3.5

[StevieFan13]

Yeah, I may have been kind before. Shattered Dreams is more accurately a 5 for me.

[Live in Phoenix]

Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams

7

Thanks ‘80s!

[Rob]

I’m travelling today so I hope get somewhere fast, but not if Cadavaca has any say in it.

105. Blackalicious – Nowhere Fast
Year: 2002
Album: Blazing Arrow
Biggest Fan: Cadavaca (#414)

Don’t forget you can always vote on a later date or change your grade.

[StevieFan13]

Nowhere Fast is a 9 from me. Awesome song to ring in my birthday!

[Brad]

104. Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams: 6

Thanks!

[Gillingham]

105. Blackalicious – Nowhere Fast: 7

[Emerald]

Blackalicious – Nowhere Fast: 8

[Rob]

Greetings from Cannes! I went by train, so the Pilot isn’t needed, Honorio.
The song ranks at #3573 on AM.

106. The Notwist - Pilot
Year: 2002
Album: Neon Golden
Biggest Fan: Honorio (#914)

Don’t forget you can always vote on a later date or change your grade.

[Emerald]

The Notwist - Pilot: 6

[Wezzo]

101. Filter – Hey Man Nice Shot - 5.5
102. Zun – 六十年目の東方裁判 ～ Fate of Sixty Years - 7
103. Luna Sea – In Silence - 6.5
104. Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams - 7
105. Blackalicious – Nowhere Fast - 5
106. The Notwist - Pilot - 6

[Listyguy]

Pilot - 9

This one narrowly missed my list

[Honorio]

106. The Notwist - Pilot (2002) 9/10

No time right now to write comments, sorry…

[Brad]

105. Blackalicious – Nowhere Fast: 7
106. The Notwist - Pilot: 8 (#5662 on my AT list)

Thanks!

[Gillingham]

106. The Notwist - Pilot: 7
I like the music on Neon Golden and also this song from that album. But I'm not a fan of the vocals by singer Markus Acher.