i didn't realise at the time, but how fucking bold is 'ain't 2 proud 2 beg' as a career-launching single? so wanton, and left eye's no-nonsense self-respect works with the wantonness, not against it.
there isn't a dud among these until after left eye (RIP) passed away. i'm not sure i even heard the last few, does anyone want to rep for them?
i thiiiink my vote is going to end up going to 'silly ho', such misanthropic contempt there.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 15 March 2009 19:10 (fifteen years ago) link
lots of good but has to be No Scrubs
― Hard House SugBanton (blueski), Sunday, 15 March 2009 19:21 (fifteen years ago) link
I was thinking about listening to the post-left eye album the other day, this may be enough of a reminder for me to do so (if it's on Spotify). I can't even remember what it's called.
Voted Unpretty and now feel bad I didn't vote for [pick other great tune depending on how my mood takes me].
― i wants a sandwich now (a hoy hoy), Sunday, 15 March 2009 19:31 (fifteen years ago) link
tempted by "what about your friends," but i should go back and listen to all of them again.
― paper plans (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 15 March 2009 19:39 (fifteen years ago) link
i gotta admit...i've always liked waterfalls...one of the best "message" songs of the '90s...
― sing everybody deutsche deutsche (Drugs A. Money), Sunday, 15 March 2009 20:06 (fifteen years ago) link
A lotta songs here I really like, but there are very few things I wouldn't vote for "Creep" over.
― Jordi La Sarge (The Reverend), Sunday, 15 March 2009 20:31 (fifteen years ago) link
Marked in ink as favorites on my copy of the CD: "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg," "Get It Up," "Creep," "No Scrubs," "Unpretty," "Girl Talk."
Marked as don't like them at all: "Red Light Special," "Silly Ho," "In Your Arms Tonight."
I still have severe reservations about "Waterfalls," though.
Voting for "Creep."
― xhuxk, Sunday, 15 March 2009 20:38 (fifteen years ago) link
what don't you like about 'silly hp', xhuxk?
'red light special' is another favourite of mine, the contrast between babyface's warm, inviting production and the ambivalent vocal creates this odd tension. it's unusual for an r&b slow jam in that ultimately the focus isn't on the subject. it's sung from the perspective of someone who just wants some anonymous sex with anyone to fuck the pain away, the "you" could be anyone (though she's never anonymous), and the focus is on her pleasure. and that anonymity is what a "red light special" really is. there's no tenderness in a line like "if i move too fast, just let me know - cuz it means you move too slow". but she's never detached or cold, she's heavily invested in the situation and her own needs.
(parenthetical aside: have we ever talked about the babyface influence on the-dream's thread??),
― lex pretend, Sunday, 15 March 2009 20:55 (fifteen years ago) link
i haven't heard anything post-"unpretty"
tough one. probably joining "creep" crew. have a fondness for "baby-baby-baby" tho
― double dutch bus schedule (donna rouge), Sunday, 15 March 2009 20:58 (fifteen years ago) link
"No Scrubs" for me.
― Last Exit to Steve Brookstein (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 15 March 2009 20:59 (fifteen years ago) link
will also rep for 'diggin on you' - most aloof, noncommittal declaration of love "or somethin like that" ever. t-boz never loses her cool.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:05 (fifteen years ago) link
"Creep."
― The Screaming Lobster of Challops (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:12 (fifteen years ago) link
(and I'll sign on to lex's take on "Red Light Special")
Though these are all great (I haven't heard the last 2) as surely the resident Left Eye fangirl I have to vote for Aint 2 Proud 2 Beg, it's just so excellent and has been a favourite song for so very long. Ooooh.. was one of the first CDs (not tapes) I ever bought and I still have my worn but cherished copy.
― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:15 (fifteen years ago) link
(Would have voted Sumthin Wicked This Way Comes if it had been a single, mind...)
"Waterfalls", although "Unpretty" is also great.
― Geir Hongro, Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:16 (fifteen years ago) link
re "Red Light Special":
The two guitar solos that runs through the whole song are written and played by Slash.
― The Screaming Lobster of Challops (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:20 (fifteen years ago) link
Yes! I had forgotten all about this one, I'm going to listen to it right now. As it is, 'Creep'
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:25 (fifteen years ago) link
Silly Ho
― Nurse Detrius (Eric H.), Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:27 (fifteen years ago) link
Speedy Gonzales couldn't stop the way I spin it/I'm known for breaking every speed limit
FACT: It's a really good thing TLC isn't played much in bars because I know 90% of Lisa's raps and look really dorky, as a 6'1" white redhead, when I start rapping in bars..
― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:32 (fifteen years ago) link
her dialogue w/herself in 'kick your game'!
― lex pretend, Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:38 (fifteen years ago) link
ohh!! I called you twice/You called me once - I thought that was a single but I guess not! I think it would have been stronger than Diggin' On You.
― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:40 (fifteen years ago) link
Okay, it's going to have to be a TLC afternoon, thank you lex, from another lex..
― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:41 (fifteen years ago) link
xp Just really can't stomach the hushed, detached vocals in "Silly Ho" and "Red Light Special." Have nothing against the subject matter, and actually don't mind the smooth guitar jazz that opens the latter, after which the song turns so ridiculously sluggish in its failed attempt at sexiness that I just push reject. More of a tune would help both songs, too. Also more Left Eye. ("In Your Arms Tonight," for its part, just sounds half-assed.)
― xhuxk, Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:44 (fifteen years ago) link
aint too proud to beg
quality debut, cool video
― napoleon_dynarod, Sunday, 15 March 2009 21:48 (fifteen years ago) link
Yes.
― ilxor, Monday, 16 March 2009 01:56 (fifteen years ago) link
top 10:
1. creep2. baby baby baby3. hands up (underrated song... 3D is an underrated album in general...)4. red light special5. unpretty 6. silly ho7. diggin on you8. no scrubs9. aint 2 proud to beg10. girl talk
― sheets was skeeted on (The Brainwasher), Monday, 16 March 2009 04:02 (fifteen years ago) link
I actually voted for "hands up" tho since no one else will
― sheets was skeeted on (The Brainwasher), Monday, 16 March 2009 04:03 (fifteen years ago) link
gonna be challopsy and rep for "Silly Ho" and "Girl Talk" over all the big hits.
― Goons have finally discovered this thread! Hello goons! (some dude), Monday, 16 March 2009 04:04 (fifteen years ago) link
Naw, "Silly Ho" is my favorite post-CrazySexyCool TLC joint.
― Jordi La Sarge (The Reverend), Monday, 16 March 2009 06:23 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Sunday, 22 March 2009 00:01 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Monday, 23 March 2009 00:01 (fifteen years ago) link
ok
― abe being busy (k3vin k.), Monday, 23 March 2009 00:24 (fifteen years ago) link
creep vs. waterfalls would def be a creep win, I think
― iatee, Monday, 23 March 2009 00:27 (fifteen years ago) link
tlc's music pretty much needs to be considered using the french electoral system
― iatee, Monday, 23 March 2009 00:28 (fifteen years ago) link
Red Light Special 0
O_O
― ilxor has truly been got at and become an ILXor (ilxor), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 18:59 (thirteen years ago) link
cannot believe this
― peacocks, Tuesday, 31 August 2010 19:18 (thirteen years ago) link
creep is excellent though. unpretty and what about your friends should have gotten more.
― peacocks, Tuesday, 31 August 2010 19:19 (thirteen years ago) link
not that i would've voted for it but this was a jam, shoulda been an option:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hlT1rTxa_0
― some dude, Tuesday, 31 August 2010 20:47 (thirteen years ago) link
Baby-Baby-Baby 0Diggin' On You 0
also ;_;
― bernard goony (The Reverend), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 23:42 (thirteen years ago) link
lol waterfalls really guys
― a cankle of rads (Gukbe), Wednesday, 1 September 2010 00:11 (thirteen years ago) link
I forgot to vote for it...
― Gucci Mane hermeneuticist (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 1 September 2010 00:17 (thirteen years ago) link
RLS woulda gotten my vote, that it got 0 = o_O
― funky brewster (San Te), Thursday, 2 September 2010 17:49 (thirteen years ago) link
a scrub is a guy that can get no love
― dayo, Sunday, 7 August 2011 22:05 (twelve years ago) link
what about your friends? is really great
― horseshoe, Sunday, 7 August 2011 22:12 (twelve years ago) link
challop -- many of these have aged a little poorly
my favs these days are "red light special" and "unpretty"
― k3vin k., Friday, 8 September 2017 19:58 (six years ago) link
you can tell lex is not on ILM any more because the new has been barely mentioned. It's really good. It's both very much in character for them and sounds like a natural fit for whatever r&b is in 2017.
― boxedjoy, Saturday, 9 September 2017 15:49 (six years ago) link
djp made a thread for it; i personally am still trying to find time to listen to it lol
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Saturday, 9 September 2017 16:09 (six years ago) link