- Perfect 10 — Challenge from Ben Tarkus · Mark Cooper
- Full Package audio + art + lyrics + both writeups
- Storyteller 2,098 characters across both writeups
TOTAL REACH — 24 plays rank 18 / 21
- VPC SITE 24
TOTAL LIKES — 6 rank 13 / 21
- VPC SITE 6
Top Marx
Vocalist's challenge writeup
1. References coming out the wazoo here baby. The plight of the working class aka the proletariat, Marx and his manifesto, a rump government, re-taking the motherland, seizing the means of production, etc. 2. Double these entendres son. “Take the party line”, a reference to the Communist Party line and also doing blow with a fine honey in da clurb. “Seize the means of production”, both a tenet of communism and how to pour a beverage at the Top Marx. 3. Speaks for itself. Wrap you eardomes around that hot sexy chorus
Producer's challenge writeup
1. Vocoders/Autotune: A classic for any club track and it's not just because I cannae sing in any type of tune no sir no way. Think of Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. all auto-tune all bangers. 2. The beat is phat. Okay 81bpm might some an unlikely tempo for a club hit but it worked for Chingy and it worked for us. Sometimes you need a slow jam ya know? 3. Drops+Silence. I chucked some noice sub drops in there and also that switch-up between the chorus and second verse *chefs kiss* 4. Energy rests: both times before that chorus came in I gave the crowd a bit of time to collect themselves before hitting back into it. And oh shit is that a sample of Karl Marx's Das Kapital?? The working class people LOVE Das Kapital in the club. 5. Door bell sample. THat weird pirate sounding tune? Actually a chime from a new doorbell I bought that my wife immediately rejected for being too annoying. But what gets people out of their seat quicker than a doorbell? Oh shit, is that Australia Post at the door?? I better hurry before they leave that stupid "Sorry we missed you card" and now I have to go all the way down to the local post office, but it's one of those strange franchise ones that's never open at a convenient time. So now I have to take off work to get my package. You get it right? 6. Oh dang I was supposed to mix up the drums... Um see that bit between the first verse and chorus? Yea half-time drums. I did it. Check that box! 10/10. Also switching from drums to no drums I reckon is considered changing the groove. It goes from groove to no groove. Changed!
Lyrics
It was word how we met, huh? I was on the verge of tears making bets cos I was in debt, bruh, when her silhouette was Looming large over me and I was dead drunk, clad in magenta She leaned down and she offered a hand She said I know a place where we can re-take the motherland There’s a great man, you should read his festo, man I Got right up and left, cos tonight the plan’s Changed, she’s strange and I follow but I know why If I said I wasn’t fully torqued by her norks that would be a lie She real fit, and I need that, I think I’mma pre-jac Ulate, the state should be eliminated Proletariat rise up, weird what an odd thought To have when I’m following this bird, I forgot What she said when we first met, what she remarked But there was sparks, now we’re here at the club, Top Marx Welcome to Top Marx No private property here, so pour a beer, seize the means of production Welcome to Top Marx The proletariat barely clad, Communists in this bitch we’re wearing nothing Welcome to Top Marx The only struggle this class has is filling a glass between the buxom Ladies, babies getting made it’s a scene of seduction Here at the Top Marx, we seize the means of production She said take the party line, Frank Then she handed me a rolled note and I domed coke from a dimebag We’re sipping fine yak, while the working class crew are just working ass to undermine cap- Italism, cos it’s a prison, but tonight we’re getting bougie it’s like a movie, titties and ass is juicy, Oh my GAWD getting ready to DROP some nice googs And I’m quite cooked, a terrible sushi I’m getting woozy with these hoes all around me And I’m not being gross, we got a patch out the back, fertile ground, b Labour in the fields, rotating all the yields So the hops drop strong and the bottle’s real fancy So pour a drank of that clear stuff And touch butts with the buds in the best damn beer club This is the real rump government in exile So come to Top Marx, you’ll be here for a while Welcome to Top Marx No private property here, so pour a beer, seize the means of production Welcome to Top Marx The proletariat barely clad, Communists in this bitch we’re wearing nothing Welcome to Top Marx The only struggle this class has is filling a glass between the buxom Ladies, babies getting made it’s a scene of seduction Here at the Top Marx, we seize the means of production
JUDGES' BREAKDOWN
Richie Branson
7.67/10 score rank #17 of 21VOCALS 8PRODUCTION 7CHALLENGE 8Gives me some Three6Mafia vibes in both production and vocal performance. The flow on the verses are great. Hook has a catchy melodic element to it, could be a bit less crowded at the end of each line to add to the catchy-ness. Beat is entertaining, love the switch at 1:20ish. I feel the cadence switch at :54, (seems like 3/4 time) is too rhythmically drastic.
Ben Tarkus
8.00/10 score rank #10 of 21VOCALS 7PRODUCTION 7CHALLENGE 10The approach to the challenge was perfect. I love the coverage of the subject matter and the message is loud and clear. It is a little slow for me for the club vibe, but I think you made it work within the challenge and that's worth praise. Overall, this one gets at least a few replays from me for sure!
Mark Cooper
8.67/10 score rank #7 of 21VOCALS 8PRODUCTION 8CHALLENGE 10Wat to use your vocals as a melody bassline throughout the song. very creative. beat switches are definitely a great move for songs but you have to make sure it still has consistancy which it did so great. Production was solid, just wish certain parts of the beat was more polished . good work!
LEX the Lexicon Artist
8.67/10 score rank #10 of 21VOCALS 8PRODUCTION 9CHALLENGE 9Oh man this is some fun ass writing from Frank! Really messing with that meter (fuck paying for parking right?) you should read his festo, man - fire scene of seduction // seize the means of production <-- fire ass rhyme Marx-themed club is a really fun take on the club challenge. The beat is a viciously straightforward, sort of dirty south-influenced 2000's hip-hop club vibes and Mike understands how to create streamlined, maximum earworminess as a package in that genre. I like the melodic motif that opens the song that Mike put in the chorus. I feel that should've been the sung chorus. The chorus as it is, is too long and wordy to be catchy. Taking a few points off vocals and challenge for that. Otherwise I think you achieved the mission quite well.
Klopfenpop
7.00/10 score rank #18 of 21VOCALS 7PRODUCTION 6CHALLENGE 8I expect Marx from imp and Ish, but this was a pleasant surprise. The autotune bass line is a cool throwback to that 00s-10s pop vibe. I dig the concept and the beat is fun. Solid club beat, and some cool decisions that will definitely play well live.
Audience score and rank
AUDIENCE SCORE
Aggregated from 82 ballots cast by the public.
AUDIENCE RANK
Out of 21 teams competing this round.
- 39 voters ranked them in their top 10
- 10 voters had them in their top 5
- 0 voters picked them as their #1 favorite
FINAL BLEND
The final score was a 7.15. The song received an average voter score of 4.60 from the community, and an average judge score of 8.00.
The display score blends the audience and judges' contributions at 25%/75%. Here's how Spandex Moose's 7.15 broke down:
(4.60 × 25%) + (8.00 × 75%) = 7.15
YOUR SEASON SO FAR
- Round 1 6.18 / 10 rank #17
- Round 2 7.03 / 10 rank #12
- Round 3 7.10 / 10 rank #16
- Round 4 7.15 / 10 rank #17
- Round 5 7.59 / 10 rank #16 PERSONAL BEST