Rate-O-Rama: Funkytown

Rate-O-Rama : Songmania is a reader participation game.

Every Sunday I will publish a Rate-O-Rama article which will feature three versions of a popular song.

The object is to listen to each of the music videos provided within the post.

After listening to each video you can rate each song in the comments section below.

(You must be a member to comment. If you are not a member you can join Vocal Media for FREE. You don’t ever have to pay for membership unless you choose to upgrade your membership)

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The rating method is easy. Simply give each song a rating of 1 to 100.

(The more you like the song the higher the rating).

If possible, please provide a brief comment explaining the reasoning behind your ratings for each song.

After a week (Saturday evening) I will tally the ratings and in the next Rate-O-Rama post I will announce the winner from the previous post.

The winners will be determined on a scale of averages.

If you wish to receive a notice when the next Rate-O-Rama post is published please mention that you would like a notification in the comments section.

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The Raffle!!!

I am taking the Rate-O-Rama series to the next level. At the end of each month I will do a raffle in which the winner will win a $5.00 tip.

To enter all you have to do is participate in playing the Rate-O-Rama game. Since R-O-R is updated every Sunday night in order to qualify you must play the game during it's initial seven day period with Sunday evening being the cutoff period.

For each game you play you will receive a ticket for the raffle. Therefore if you play all four games in the month you will have four chances to win.

The winner will not only win the $5 prize but I will feature your Vocal Profile on Vocal + Assist on both Facebook and Discord and you will be featured in the first R-O-R game of the month after your win.

The September 2023 Rate-O-Rama Raffle Winner:

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Last week we featured the early rock and roll classic "Don't Be Cruel" as recorded by Evis Presley (1956), The Judds (1987), and Cheap Trick (1988).

The following are the average ratings for each song as resulted from the votes:

🥇 Elvis Presley 90.9

🥈 Cheap Trick 83.6

🥉 The Judds 82.6

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The Eighth Edition of Rate-O-Rama features three renditions of the disco/synth-pop classic: "Funkytown."

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Lipps Inc. (1980)

"Funkytown" was written by Steven Greenberg, the founder of the band Lipps Inc. Greenberg also produced the song. "Funkytown" became a major worldwide hit making it to #1 in 28 countries around the world. Singer Cynthia Johnson provides the powerful lead vocal and backing vocals.

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Pseudo Echo (1986)

Six short years after Lipps Inc. had a worldwide smash with the song, Australian new wave band Pseudo Echo released a dance-rock cover of "Funkytown" and they also had a worldwide hit with it. The song was a #1 in Australia and New Zealand and a top ten hit in Sweden, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Like Lipps Inc., it is Pseudo Echo's only US Top 40 hit single.

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Alvin and The Chipmunks (2008)

Featured in the 2007 film Alvin and The Chipmunks their version of the song made it to #86 on the US Billboard Singles chart. The soundtrack for the film won an American Music Award for Best Movie Soundtrack.

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My Thoughts

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Lipps Inc.: This is one of my all-time favorite songs. I was 20 years old in 1980 and life was fun. The electronic rhythms and synth treated vocals really appeal to me. The positive minded lyrics are great. This song is a 100 all the way.

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Pseudo Echo: I love this new wave rock treatment and for a short time I liked this version more than Lipps Inc. The guitar-heavy sound and guitar solo get me Everytime. I give this one a 98.

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Alvin and The Chipmunks: Although this is a novelty treatment of the song it is well recorded and the musical parts are tightly done. I like it. My score is 75.

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I will be back next week with the results of this Rate-O-Rama Edition.

Last Week's Rate-O-Rama:

With Love, RHC ❤️

Oh... and as a little extra... I'd like to treat you to an episode of the unscripted comedy show Mr. Hank's World in which Mr. Hank talks about Funkytown... If you're wondering??? That crazy Rick Henry Christopher stars as Mr. Hank!!!

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