- Perfect 10 — Challenge from Ben Tarkus · LEX the Lexicon Artist · Mark Cooper · Richie Branson
- Full Package audio + art + lyrics + both writeups
TOTAL REACH — 13 plays rank 23 / 24
- VPC SITE 13
TOTAL LIKES — 8 rank 9 / 24
- VPC SITE 8
Valkyrie vs Eden (feat Matt Nauseam, Ascella Vivace)
Vocalist's challenge writeup
The challenge required writing from the perspective of a video game protagonist. In the game Ensemble Stars, the unseen protagonist is the player, who works with multiple idol units. In addition to writing from the perspective of the player-protagonist, I also wrote from the perspective of the leaders of two idol units featured in the game— Shu Itsuki (Valkyrie) and Nagisa Ran (Eden). Collaborator 1: Matt Nauseam Collaborator 2: Ascella Vivace
Producer's challenge writeup
My challenge was to include a laugh track which i did in the chorus, i sped up and EQ’d and bitcrushed the sample to make a kind of high transient pad for texture which I liked and I hope you like as well :)
Lyrics
ANZU: Ensemble Square is the place for top idols, so I’m gonna be a top producer! But for the next big show, two units have caught my eye… Or maybe I’ve caught theirs? This is… Ensemble Stars!! Music! ANZU: Valkyrie or Eden? What's the vibe I’m seekin’? These boys got me freakin’ out, losing my mind and my diamonds with every scout Valkyrie or Eden? They both have good reasons SHU: Valkyrie clearly has artistic elegance! NAGISA: Eden is paradise, we’ll give you excellence! SHU: Everyone knows I astound as an idol, I’m a true artist and I’ve earned that title Once you have heard every word I recite, I’ll enthrall with mastered technique, it’s tres magnifique! So, Join me in Valkyrie, Give me your trust, leave it all to me You see my genius and artistry, Aesthetic vision like art in a gallery NAGISA: You don’t deserve such a title, you as an idol do not have a future You don’t deserve her as a producer, To you she’s a puppet to use and abuse her. Also, your unit’s always short on money, Perpetually broke and it’s not even funny While I’m making bank, you run off to Ibara You be on your knees when you beg for his dolla ANZU: Valkyrie or Eden? What's the vibe I’m seekin’? These boys got me freakin’ out, losing my mind and my diamonds with every scout Valkyrie or Eden? They both have good reasons NAGISA: Eden is paradise, we’ll give you excellence! SHU: Valkyrie clearly has artistic elegance! NAGISA: I pray for your expert advice, I’ll entrust every virtue & vice With you we’ll ascend and exceed, It’s more than a favor, you’re what we need, you’ll be our savior. Join in our garden of Eden, be the producer for Adam & Eve and Once we have gathered like a Holy trinity, We will, together, reach idol divinity SHU: Non! All Eden does is make the (the) girls scream, obscenely, causing a scene, You thrust and gyrate, and moreover, I simply hate that you can’t keep your facts straight! Your god complex only brings dismay, I shall never forget that you’re ex-fine! And with all due respect, You’re sellouts. So get the hell out. ANZU: Valkyrie or Eden? What's the vibe I’m seekin’? These boys got me freakin’ out, losing my mind and my diamonds with every scout Valkyrie or Eden? They both have good reasons NAGISA: Eden is paradise, we’ll give you excellence! SHU: Valkyrie clearly has artistic elegance! ANZU: My job isn’t easy, it’s making me dizzy, They’re both in a tizzy, and it’s all too much I’m in a rut, But the show’s on the line, And I’m so short on time! But I can’t give up. Fuck! It’s something I can’t avoid Both have a powerful presence and voice Gotta take a look at all these pretty boys I gotta make a choice ANZU: Alright. The unit I choose is–!
JUDGES' BREAKDOWN
Richie Branson
8.67/10 score rank #19 of 24VOCALS 8PRODUCTION 8CHALLENGE 10I LOVE this beat. This some shit i'd rap on for real. It's bright and Kawaii, and matches the subject of the song perfectly. Vocal energy is great here. Flow has a few spots where it slides out of the pocket rhythmically. Vocal mix/EQ could use another pass on the production side as well.
Mark Cooper
7.33/10 score rank #23 of 24VOCALS 6PRODUCTION 6CHALLENGE 10Goof submission. Would love to hear a little be more energy from the vocalists. Beat is pretty solid but its a little hard to see where a verse or hook begins or ends. Conversational verses can work but the production should cater to that a little more to make it stand out more. good submission.
LEX the Lexicon Artist
7.67/10 score rank #22 of 24VOCALS 7PRODUCTION 6CHALLENGE 10Great track and it's also entertaining to me that this is sort of a music competition inside a music competition! I think Mouna has grown by leaps and bounds in their rapping and specifically their confidence in their vocals. Unfortunately I do think the two other vocalists pull the score down a bit here, they just aren't as tight with delivery and rhythm as Mouna has come to be. There are some EQ and mixing issues with the beat and it also got a bit repetitive after a while. The laugh track bitcrushed into a riser was really really cool. This has been a commendable showing for a comparatively young team finding their voice! I really liked seeing the growth throughout the comp and especially that you were able to make it back for the final 2 rounds. I truly fanned out to your Fujoshi Anthem and hope you both continue making great music!
Ben Tarkus
8.67/10 score rank #23 of 24VOCALS 7PRODUCTION 9CHALLENGE 10Genuinely offended you left this on a cliff hanger. Who did you choose? Either way, I like the perspective of the track, the back and forth works for the two faction angles. Reminiscent of an old MMO I played that made me pick between factions and I would have to play an entire second character to explore both paths. The beat here is so chipper and poppy and electric. It's a bop! * All teams receive a '10' in their challenge category from me this round. This has to be one of the most randomized challenges and can seem insurmountable with the wrong pairing. As such, I am thoroughly impressed with everyone's ability to rise to the task.
Klopfenpop
7.00/10 score rank #23 of 24VOCALS 7PRODUCTION 7CHALLENGE 7This one is a deep cut. The laugh melody is a cool approach. I bet a pitched down or stretched out single laugh would be a useful element too. Koumori and Ascella sound fantastic on this, but Matt sounds like he is sick in bed recording his bars. I went and listened to other Matt Nauseum and dude goes hard af! So I don't know what happened, but I'm blaming a bad case of Audibly Seated Recording syndrome. I would love to hear a bit more variation in the beat. With a clear narrative like this, having that dynamic guide emphasizing the story beat can really aid the listener subconsciously in following along.
Audience score and rank
AUDIENCE SCORE
Aggregated from 119 ballots cast by the public.
AUDIENCE RANK
Out of 24 teams competing this round.
- 32 voters ranked them in their top 10
- 14 voters had them in their top 5
- 3 voters picked them as their #1 favorite
FINAL BLEND
The final score was a 6.92. The song received an average voter score of 4.09 from the community, and an average judge score of 7.87.
The display score blends the audience and judges' contributions at 25%/75%. Here's how Koumori Rider's 6.92 broke down:
(4.09 × 25%) + (7.87 × 75%) = 6.92
YOUR SEASON SO FAR
- Round 1 5.69 / 10 rank #20
- Round 4 7.25 / 10 rank #15 PERSONAL BEST
- Round 5 6.92 / 10 rank #23