Article Response: Focus Group VI

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http://www.freakytrigger.co.uk/focus6/ It's all done except the write-in votes. Enjoy!

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 10 October 2002 18:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Actual link

You can go look now.

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 10 October 2002 22:55 (twenty-three years ago)

who is MH, Tom? missing from the contributors list or is it a typo?

― jones (actual), Thursday, 10 October 2002 23:13 (twenty-three years ago)

HTML error in contributors list now sorted, thanks eagle-eyed reader!

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 10 October 2002 23:23 (twenty-three years ago)

MH = Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colt?

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 10 October 2002 23:27 (twenty-three years ago)

My Lego / monkey comment doesn't make any sense unless it's paired w/ my Basement Jaxx comment (that is, "I like monkeys.") But, as always, Mr. E., an excellent job.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 10 October 2002 23:31 (twenty-three years ago)

I actually like "Pass the Courvoisier" a good bit now.

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 10 October 2002 23:33 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah jokes within ballots across songs tend not to come across (i.e. DONT DO IT KIDS! :)). I liked the comment as a non sequitur too though.

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 10 October 2002 23:34 (twenty-three years ago)

HTML error in contributors list now sorted

The link to my blog is incorrect. Otherwise, the focus group looks good -- going through it now.

― Jody Beth Rosen, Thursday, 10 October 2002 23:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, you're right, Tom. That's why you're the boss, and I'm just a Motherfucker.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 10 October 2002 23:42 (twenty-three years ago)

So, time for another one maybe?

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 11 October 2002 00:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Where am I, Tom? You toooolllld me you got my entry!

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 11 October 2002 00:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Indeed! Focus Groups are ginchy cool. Is there going to be some sort of rotating editor-type thing happening, or will the next one depend on Senors Daddino & Ewing's schedules?

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 11 October 2002 00:58 (twenty-three years ago)

way harsh on mystikal esp from so many people who were putting him on their late best-of-2001 lists?

sugababes's "freak" is easily the most boring #1 of any focus group. adina howard's is much better. would this have gotten #1 if tom hadn't written an article on it?

the focus groups are getting tired because they are dealing with songs that are as much as year and a half out of date, and most of the comments try to get so pithy that they wind up skimmable. also the gimmick of negative-comment/high-rating is getting old: this song is flawed but i like it anyway how weird!!! next time around everybody should write about where they were when they first heard the song or something.

― artiste, Friday, 11 October 2002 02:26 (twenty-three years ago)

"next time around everybody should write about where they were when they first heard the song or something." - great idea

"sugababes's "freak" is easily the most boring #1 of any focus group. adina howard's is much better." - soooooooooo true.

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 11 October 2002 02:51 (twenty-three years ago)

I just wanna say Where's Your Head At should be #1 of every focus group ever.

― Keith McD (Keith McD), Friday, 11 October 2002 05:16 (twenty-three years ago)

I think Tom rigged it.

― bnw (bnw), Friday, 11 October 2002 05:30 (twenty-three years ago)

Sean - OH NO! I am pretty sure your votes were polled but your ballot didnt go in my folder full of comments for some reason ("some reason" = "my incompetence"). Many apologies!

Artiste - the out-of-date thing is a function of lateness as much as anything. This will change next time when ideally the FG will go up before the end of December and so the oldest singles will be from May. HOWEVER sometimes you're going to get big hits which need inclusion but which are from albums released well before eg Wheres Your Head At: big big hit here in November/December last year, dominated radio, warranted inclusion as the follow-up single by previous winner but yeah it's a bit of a history lesson when it appears in October 2002.

I try to select a mix of comments - the frothy jokey ones and the more critical/considered 'review-y' ones. Massive respect to anyone who takes time to provide the latter. A diversity of approaches is very much welcomed.

Sugababes hataz - ha ha tough luck, it wasn't rigged. I was surprised it won though and maybe it wouldn't have were it not for my article. It'll be interesting to see what the monster ILM hype does for Missy this time. Everything in the top 5 was leading at one point.

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 06:38 (twenty-three years ago)

And yeah I was v.surprised that more American respondents didnt love Mystikal. Also Tweet did worse than I was expecting.

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 06:55 (twenty-three years ago)

But according to the stats, it was you Brits that brought down Mystikal. Especially the female Brits! They ruin everything.

― bnw (bnw), Friday, 11 October 2002 07:20 (twenty-three years ago)

Ah no youre right of course. I was still expecting more 10s - lots of the US 'jury' didnt even bother marking him.

Europe's only Mystikal fan = Job de Wit!

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 07:27 (twenty-three years ago)

I think there's a mistake, Tom: the phrase "Imagine Busta Rhymes and Tom Waits having a child" is following by a 2, when clearly it should be a 10 + Joker.

― Mitch Lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Friday, 11 October 2002 07:41 (twenty-three years ago)

I know I didn't participate etc, but am I really the only fucker who thinks "Girlfriend" is super-duper? (even if the Nelly guesting is unnecessary). I think Maura still likes it.

― Mitch Lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Friday, 11 October 2002 07:43 (twenty-three years ago)

"Not a patch on Limp Bizkit"????

Now that the Focus Group has started covering records that I like, or at least have heard, I'll have to actually start sending ballots in to straighten out some of these scores.

― sundar subramanian, Friday, 11 October 2002 07:45 (twenty-three years ago)

One thing I'm interested in is whether Bedingfield would have done better now he's hit in the US.

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 07:49 (twenty-three years ago)

BTW Tom, I'm sincerely curious what you mean by "fooled by tempo changes". That they're poorly executed and people are just impressed that tempo changes are even there? That they distract from weak . . . lyrics? melody?

― sundar subramanian, Friday, 11 October 2002 07:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Two of the best songs at 20 and 19? I thought Freakytrigger was pro-pop?!? (just kidding, sort of)

Anyway, yay for the focus group!

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 11 October 2002 07:53 (twenty-three years ago)

and enrique deserved to be in the top ten!

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 11 October 2002 07:54 (twenty-three years ago)

The White Stripes beat Tweet and Andrew W.K. Where has the indie guilt gone?

― bnw (bnw), Friday, 11 October 2002 07:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Inasmuch as I can remember what I meant, the former - I thought that song was complete shit and the reaction I'd seen was 'wahey tempo changes this is something different and cleverer than normal metal' - a kind of 'nu metal it's ok to like' sort of thing. AND I think the lyrics are weak and the hook is ho-hum.

But tempo changes almost always sound gratuitous to me, I'm a motorik kind of guy.

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 07:58 (twenty-three years ago)

Is Muslimgauze really sampled in Oops (Oh My)?

― bnw (bnw), Friday, 11 October 2002 08:00 (twenty-three years ago)

No! I liked the mentalism of the comment though :)

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 08:03 (twenty-three years ago)

Proof of non-fixing:

Average Sugababes score among people I have had a beer with = 7.27 (jokers excluded)
Average Sugababes score among people I have NOT had a beer with = 7.85 (jokers excluded)

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 08:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Pop Tarts (=highest average scores given)

1. NATE PATRIN!!
2. Mark S
3. Jimmy The Mod
4. Mike Daddino
5. David Raposa

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 08:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Does anyone else find it completely unreadable? I just can't be bothered.

― Graham (graham), Friday, 11 October 2002 08:12 (twenty-three years ago)

The poor showing of Daniel B surprised me too. But then, some of his biggest potential supporters (Tim F, Marcello) did not submit ballots.

(my sugagbabes comment is factually inaccurate, so disregard it. I stand by the score I gave it tho')

Good work, Tom!

― Jeff W, Friday, 11 October 2002 08:25 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd like to thank Tom for not quoting any of the comments that I cringed about the day after sending them, and leaving in my favourite bits.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 11 October 2002 10:15 (twenty-three years ago)

I would just like to claim partial credit for ensuring the fucking wretched Basement Jaxx song didn't win (Where's Your Head At being equally as appalling as Romeo was ace) and pledge my undying love to everyone else who gave it 0, especially if they gave Sugababes a high score. I even don't hate the new 'babe anymore, even if I refuse to remember her name.

Tom, who gave out the lowest scores?

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 11 October 2002 11:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Lowest scores = my mates John and Kate who didn't like anything except Outkast and The Streets.

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 11:22 (twenty-three years ago)

Brandy was robbed. Oh and my quote on the Andrew WK isn't actually mine.

― dleone (dleone), Friday, 11 October 2002 11:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes sorry that comment should be (DI) not (DL)!

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 11:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Ahhh. If I was polled then it should be easy enough to add in a couple of quotes, if any are worth quoting. I hope.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 11 October 2002 12:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah Sean - your name is in the excel spreadsheet but I forgot to move the email to my comments folder, 'pologies. I think I'll put your quotes in a separate NYLPM post if thats ok rather than edit lots of different pages - and I'll put a link on the contributors page too.

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 12:56 (twenty-three years ago)

But but but HERO is the SINGLE OF THE YEAR, surely?

― Nicole (Nicole), Friday, 11 October 2002 12:58 (twenty-three years ago)

I guess I was angry or something on the day I filled out my ballot.

I've also just realized that the reason I liked "Youth Of The Nation" so much is because the main guitar riff sounds like the intro to "Just One Kiss" by The Cure.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 11 October 2002 13:16 (twenty-three years ago)

(Haha not even Enrique could overcome the horrifying mess that is Limp Bizkit's "Rollin"!)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 11 October 2002 13:25 (twenty-three years ago)

I like "Rollin'" lots more now! I think I downloaded a shoddy mix of it. I mean I wouldn't give it more than 5 I dont think but it's not unlistenable.

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 13:29 (twenty-three years ago)

Tom - for the contributor description, my website is at http://o_nate.pitas.com. Thanks for doing all the work of putting this together, even though you left out some of my most witty comments (grouse, moan, etc...)

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 11 October 2002 13:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Thanks ON!

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 13:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh and my quote on the Andrew WK isn't actually mine.

Ha! Reading this last night, I thought that was out of character for you, Dom.

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Friday, 11 October 2002 13:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Sorry that should have been: Thanks for all the work of putting this together!. Grouse, moan, etc...

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 11 October 2002 13:40 (twenty-three years ago)

I like how I can pull a few of these one-offs out of my ass every couple of months and look like I still contribute...

― Jm, Friday, 11 October 2002 14:27 (twenty-three years ago)

If you want to link me from NYLPM that's okay, Tom. I'd prefer to be on the pages, but I realize that'd be a buttload of work, and I'll take whatever I can get.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 11 October 2002 14:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Well given that I've fucked up with Anthony too I'm feeling even guiltier. I'll see how I am for time after I've sorted the write-ins out.

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 15:04 (twenty-three years ago)

Is this some sort of anti-Canada thing, Tom? YOU HEARTLESS MEANIE, EH.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 11 October 2002 15:26 (twenty-three years ago)

bah, iglesias at last... bastards

― vic (vicc13), Friday, 11 October 2002 15:36 (twenty-three years ago)

I ARE AN POPPENTART! But that could be 'cos I only voted on songs I didn't especially hate, except for Andy WK (and I hate "Party Hard" a LOT less now).

― Nate Patrin, Friday, 11 October 2002 15:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Is always a juicy thrill to see my name in print anywhere, many thanks for this, has brightened day somewhat. Aforementioned 'rumoured' website may even emerge at some point in the next five years. Am arguably slightly less inclined to put random words in caps these days.

― alexfack, Friday, 11 October 2002 15:59 (twenty-three years ago)

If it's any consolation, I would give the Iglesias a higher score if the poll was held again today. On first listen, I hated it, but after hearing it in a department store some time ago, I realized that I kind of liked it.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 11 October 2002 16:17 (twenty-three years ago)

I'll be the first to admit that the coincidence between Tom's Sugababes article and the Focus Group was part of the reason I rated "Freak Like Me" so high. I had just gotten it and was kind of obsessed with it for a while. I'd probably call it a 7 now.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Friday, 11 October 2002 19:43 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah lets see if I can pull it off again when the Coldplay article comes out.

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 11 October 2002 23:11 (twenty-three years ago)

(Tom I forgot to come back and mention how much I liked this one! I left the cave more than usual this season and had actually heard most of these er - cuts. starry wins best two-line review of all time for the white stripes bit)

― jones (actual), Saturday, 12 October 2002 00:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Good work, Tom, and you left out my dullest comments, which is exactly what I would want you to do - though mine do look as if they were tossed off in five minutes rather than carefully considered, but I can hardly expect Tom to improve the quality or quantity of my thoughts!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 12 October 2002 10:35 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah this is nice. what do you do to take part? I'll have to remind myself to ask you abt this Tom on the FAP.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 12 October 2002 10:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Every so often, a tune will apear that encapsulates the time perfectly, and likewise, every so often a tune will appear that encapsulates the dancefloor perfectly. Northern Soul was devoted to this art, and before that there was ska, and after that there was pretty much every Donna Summer single. This is one such record - a tune so NOW, that it will be looked at in 20 years time as a period piece, much like Sgt. Pepper or Never Mind the Bollocks. It captures this time perfectly, and needs congratulating for it.

A joke? 'Addicted to Bass' was originally released in 1998.

― Keith McD (Keith McD), Saturday, 12 October 2002 12:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't want to go around picking fights (ha ha yeah as if) but ferchrissakes, Josh's comment about the Hives being a sham 'cos a couple of their band members looked kinda like old workin' class schlubs OMG is one of the most ridiculous things I've read from someone who, whether I agree with his taste or not, is usually at least fairly astute and measured about music. From now on, ONLY PRETTY YOUNG PEOPLE MAY ROCK.

― Nate Patrin, Saturday, 12 October 2002 17:20 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, that doesn't sound like sarcasm to me at all either.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 12 October 2002 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

That is one of my objections to the Hives though, I mean what's the point of being Swedish if you're not going to be genetically perfect?

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 12 October 2002 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

welcome to our earth planet space man let me introduce you to our leader and our peculiar terrestrial invention socalled 'humor'

― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 12 October 2002 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Nate is great, comes from outer space!

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 12 October 2002 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah, I see you primitive Earthlings still have far to go in achievements of science.

― Nate Patrin, Saturday, 12 October 2002 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

We kick ass in ironical studies, though.

― David R. (popshots75`), Saturday, 12 October 2002 18:37 (twenty-two years ago)

also plumber rock

― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 12 October 2002 23:03 (twenty-two years ago)

TOM YOU BASTARD YOU GOT MY LINK WRONG.

― fred something-or-other, Sunday, 13 October 2002 23:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah I know! I couldnt remember it when I was coding the contributors page and then I forgot to correct it. I've been laid up all w/end with the guts so I haven't done any of the corrections (or the write-ins or the new articles, etc etc) yet.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 14 October 2002 08:29 (twenty-two years ago)

In case anyone's wondering - I already sent Tom an email - I'm Thomas Inskeep. My blog is at http://submeat.blogspot.com.

― submeat, Monday, 14 October 2002 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

with the guts?

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 01:04 (twenty-two years ago)

did you ever see that scene in akira where tetsuo's guts fall out james?

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Neo-ILx is about to EXPLODE!

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 02:08 (twenty-two years ago)

"simon's pain is inside me"

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 02:19 (twenty-two years ago)

That's what she said! *ducks*

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 02:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Akira was on tv the other night and I got sooooo nostalgic.

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 02:21 (twenty-two years ago)

i miss tv : (

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 02:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Just got around to reading the write-ins. Glad I did.

― Jeff W (Jeff W), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 08:56 (twenty-two years ago)

six months pass...

Is that me (?!) there at the bottom? Sheesh, I told you I change my mind.

― Cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 26 April 2003 11:05 (twenty-two years ago)

damn! I thought the new one was out! :(

― jel -- (jel), Saturday, 26 April 2003 11:23 (twenty-two years ago)

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