It's up... rip away, Obnish.

"09: R. Kelly
"Trapped in the Closet"
[Jive]

It's a song cycle! It's a rock opera! It's a radio drama! It's a one-man play! It's a cultural phenomenon! It's also the most adventurous musical recording of the year-- the found-sound and performance art undergrounds be damned.

After "Trapped in the Closet", making fun of R. Kelly just isn't fun anymore. Because no matter what punchlines are zinged at him, Kells has proven that he will always, always hit back with something more hilarious, more insane, and more outrageous than could ever be cooked up in the mind of a mere mortal. We can only bask, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, in the glow of the man's cracked genius, and rejoice in the fact that R. Kelly has nothing but time and money on his hands. --Amy Phillips"




oh please. i understand picking something campy like this and putting it at, say, number 42, but no. 9? there isn't a moment in this that is unique compared to its other parts. i wish people would stop giving this guy any glimmer of credit for his self-indulgent, short-sighted "work."

how is it short-sighted?

R's the man.
it should have been ranked higher.

it sounds like he just had this really really awesome idea and wanted to do this idea but lacked in the effort department. yeh, he had a story, but the melodies were half-baked and everything was samey. i think he couldn't bring himself to seeing the thing all the way through and came up with a boring-ass musical scheme.

everything was "samey"? It's one song for 40 minutes, and your criticism is that it all sounds the same?

it's one song? jeepers i was under the impression it was to have multiple movements see get it its an urban opera

if you're going to be as ambitious as to have a "song" last for 40 minutes, at least have a strong theme.

DVD of the year.

I haven't heard of half this stuff, and the half I have seems wrong/forced.

That Kanye song with the Maroon5 dude is the worst on the album.

And Dalen, I know you love Kelly Clarkson, but I'll second Katie in saying that you can include some camp at the bottom of the list, but #3?

I liked Trapped in the Closet...

great song. probably number 1.

Yes, yes and more yes. Gold digger is chains and blunts above that song.

Maximo Park's "Apply Some Pressure" and LCD's "Tribulations" should be higher.

Hounds of Love is a good call.

That Kelly Clarkson jam is nice and deserving of that high a ranking. I said it.

crack's either trying to piss people off or has just gone off the backlash backlash deep end.

there's no way any of you think "trapped in the closet" is good in any traditional sense of the word.

Huey from the Boondocks - "Don't underestimate how much n***a's love R. Kelly."

man, its a really addictive song. the lyrics just suck but... its kelly clarkson. i don't think america set a high bar for lyrical standards when it comes to their amidol votes.

the bridge of it sucks, though. that high note... ugh. die.

that kelly clarkson song was definitely the song that i played the most this year, as it's catchy as hell and sums up how professional pop music can be great. as far as R Kelly goes, it should be painfully fucking obvious that no, it's not any good in any limited sense of the word. it is a DEBACLE on a grand scale, beyond ridiculous, yet completely deadpan. i don't know if there's another figure in pop music with the creativity to think of the idea AND the requisite lack of any sort of filter necessary to both try and pull it off. watching it is purely stunning, especially when there's a palpable moment when even Kelly gives up on any sort of continuity and starts throwing ideas at the wall. pure, unadulterated brilliance.

Pretty predictable to have Antony at the top of the list.

which is why i can see it in the top 10 most humorous moments or something, but not only does it fit my "limited" definition of "great" (but apparently fits your "unlimited" definition), it's also not a single.

haq did you listen to the entire thing? all 12 chapters?

Top 5 Chappelle skit

i'll admit i stopped at 6

and do you think that there's any context in which you could say "you know, that r. kelly song is probably one of the best singles of the year"?