Struggled with this next one. I understand where the submission comes from. It is associated with an iconic TV show (was used in an early episode) and is by a fairly iconic indie band. But I don't really love the video. They just sort of overlaid some scenes from the show against the music. The song isn't bad. But I don't know...didn't love it, certainly didn't hate it. Just OK



Submitter: Bolt2112
2 Points

Band known for their artistic approach to everything, one of my favorites and perhaps the biggest band of the last 25 years. All check the box.

But this falls a bit short. It's a great song and pretty good video, if perhaps a slow burn. But given this artists inventory of videos I feel like much better options were available.

Nothing wrong with this submission I just think there are others by the artist that relay the message of the song more succinctly and visually.



Submitter: JM3
3 Points

I actually like that song a lot. And the video makes me like it more. But I should have gone with this rather "meh" song that is accompanied by my favorite video ever.

Iconic video and song. Everyone knows it and those of a certain age remember where they were when they first heard it. It's still a banger all these years later.

It really is hard to convey what a tsunami this song was at the time. Prior to this MTV was full of dogshit hair metal bands and even some pop/soul boy bands. Everything was derivative of something before it without the passion. Sure there were some good artists but they weren't being played too much on MTV and on the radio. Then this song came out and just crashed through all that bullshit. Suddenly all the artists that had been on just days earlier looked even more ridiculous and passion-less. Of course, this band would create it's own tailwinds that would lead to some of the worst artists of all time. Some irony in that I suppose.



Submitter: Eric
4 Points

I liked this a lot. Wasn't familiar with the song or the video. Had I not seen the video with the song I would have thought it was a decent song that sounds like a handful of other indie singer/songwriter types. Coupled with the video it is a perfect fit. The video clearly and simply informs the viewer what the song is about.

And what it is about is a Mom thinking about leaving her daughter. Timeless. Easy. But effective. Really enjoyed it.

The artist sounds a lot like someone but I can't quite place it?



Submitter: Gad
5 Points

Great song by a great artist made better by the video. That simple. I remember seeing this video for the first time and as I watched thinking "Man this is a great song". It clearly enhanced my enjoyment of the song. It's not my favorite song by the artist (though it is up there) but coupled with the video it just works. It was a fairly groundbreaking video and would have done well in category 2.

Good solid submission.



Submitter: CrimsonFox
Points: 6 + 1 Bonus Point= 7

With all of those pups it surely would have placed high. Have 2 dogs and am a sucker for dogs of all sizes.

I saw an iconic song used in the closing of a TV show recently that I thought was absolutely perfect. If you are not familiar with the show this may not work as well but man when this came on as I watched the episode I literally jumped out of my chair. So freaking perfect.

Ooops the video. Couldn't get direct Youtube video to work

Spoiler:

Rankings after Category 4 Reveal

CrimsonFox 21 Points
Eric 18 Points
JM3 16 Points
Gad 14 Points
Bolt 13 Points
Karma Dope 6 Points

I think that placement was about what I was expecting. No sock knocking off, nor stinky socks. This was a hard category for me.

(bump)

OK final reveal time!

Post 2000 Song that Sounds Heavily Influenced by 80's Music

Entries here were ok...not the best category fits in all cases but nothing terrible for sure. I hope I wasn't too harsh in my expectations.

I kept waiting for this song to grab me and it just never did. It definitely has a bit of an 80's feel and I like the song. It just was sort of meh. I think it has more of a Beatles type vibe to it. I don't know can't really put my finger on it but I didn't love this song. I had high hopes for it. Really thought it "looked" the part of a great indie song that I just had missed. Thought it was ok.



Submitter: Bolt2112
1 Point

This song gets submitted seemingly more that any other in Walri. It's ok. I do like the synth verse (not sure is that the verse or the chorus) but don't care as much for the bridge (where the singing is). Structurally kind of interesting that the verse is really the instrumentation and the bridge (to my ear) is more the lyrical parts.

The heavy synth usage certainly evokes the 80's.

Not sure if it is because I have heard this more than the others but I just think this is overplayed and, while a decent song, didn't do a whole lot for me here.



Submitter: Eric
2 Points

Another song that has been heavily played. It has a throwback vibe somewhat to the 80's and somewhat to the 90's. The chorus sounds a lot like 90's era Brit Pop to me.

The video won some awards when released. But I don't really think a whole heck of a lot about the song. It is just kind of there. Not bad but nothing particularly memorable either. Again having heard this before i suppose that could have negatively impacted this submission.



Submitter: CrimsonFox
3 Points

This one may be a bit controversial. There is no video and it is a theme song from a TV show with a lot of references to the 80's. But I like it a lot and actually seek out the score on occasion when working. If there were a video of some sort this may have even ranked higher.

The soft synth syncopation sounds like a heart beat from the 80's. But it doesn't sound cheesy or tired. It obviously fits perfectly with the TV show that it supports but also sounds like a piece of music that can stand on it's own.

Risky submission I suppose..but worked for me.



Submitter: KarmaDope
4 Points

This song probably had the most movement in the rankings of any. At first I simply didn't like it at all. As I listened more it started to grow on me. It certainly has that 80's British New Wave vibe going for it. In fact, probably more than any other submission would sound totally in place on a station like 1st Wave on Sirius/XM.

The only thing that kept it off the top is I don't love the lyrical delivery a ton. But a good submit and category fit. Had not heard of them before and will give other songs a try.



Submitter: Gad
5 Points

And another song that moved around some. I like the video accompaniment. Very retro feel to it which added to the song IMO. At first I though this would be middle of the pack but as I listened to it more it grew on me to where i think this was a fairly clear winner.

Good song and I'll explore this bands music a bit more.



Submitter: JM3
7 Points (with bonus point)

Final Standings

CrimsonFox 24 Points
JM3 23 Points
Eric 20 Points
Gad 19 Points
Bolt 14 Points
KarmaDope: 10 Points

I had not heard of them or the song before this walrus, but it sounds good and 80sish.

Congrats to CrimsonFox! Also thanks for all the subs. Hope I wasn't too harsh. I did pick up a few artists that I will go back and listen to so that is the goal of all of this.

I never expect a podium finish in a walrus. Looked at another way, I finished middle of the pack, much more my range in all things.

Thanks, slim! Congrats, Fox and JM3.

<3

wow billy joel almost lost it for me
who'da thought?

2nd place & winning 2 categories? Notbad.jpg.

Grats Crimson. Thx for running slim.