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musicoed
Gender: Male

Location: SPb
Russia
  • #31
  • Posted: 12/08/2025 08:00
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The tournament is gradually coming to an end. Only three rounds remain. The number of teams is growing, and the time for introspection is correspondingly decreasing.

My (June) bets for round #6* last week.
Album
Joey Joesph - Soul Crossing (13/VI-2025/24) (Album)

Soul Crossing (2025) by Joey Joesph

The album took first place in my round-up.
The reason is mainly due to my fondness for 80s dance music.
The album evokes associations with famous hits of that era. For example, with David Bowie's song "Modern Love."
Upon closer examination, it turns out this is no coincidence. The musician admits that my favorite Pink Floyd (1979) and Bowie (1972) albums had a big influence on him.
It's hard to find any super hits here, but overall the album is quite consistent in sound.
However, the second half, in my opinion, is a bit more interesting.
It’s hard for me to understand now why YouTube and Spotify don’t provide links to this album.
Information is only available on Apple Music and Bandcamp.

Track
meg elsier - sportscar (18/VI-2025/25) (Single)

Link

The track took first place in my round rating, and it's also the release of the week. This is my first encounter with the artist.
It turns out this track was supposed to be released with the 2024 album. But for some reason, this song was rejected.
It was released as a standalone single only in 2025 and accompanied the 2024 album reissue.
I tried listening to the album and couldn't find anything interesting.

Music Video
quinnie - paper doll (4/VI-2025/23) (Video)

Link

First place in my round-rating. I subscribed to the artist's YouTube channel before 2025.
Three videos were released this year, each of which could have been a contender for a spot on the year's list.
But it turned out that the June window of opportunity was wide open.

Following the previous tour, I shared how I almost missed the album due to the lack of an announcement.
Recently, I learned that I missed Quinnie's 2025 album after all.
Moreover, the album title coincided with the June video.
After checking the lyric translation, I decided the choice was entirely justified.
It's a pity that without singles the album hasn't interested me yet.

quinnie - paper doll (24/VII-2025/30) (album)

Paper Doll (2025) by Quinnie
musicoed
Gender: Male

Location: SPb
Russia
  • #32
  • Posted: 12/09/2025 11:07
  • Post subject:
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Below are new (returned) applications for the current round, which ends on December 11. December 9 is the last day to make changes to the current round's charts.

Music Videos: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Annie & the Caldwells - Wrong (15/I) Progressive Soul
2. Antony Szmierek - Angie's Wedding (22/I) UK Bass
3. Bold Love - Feel You Close (23/VII) Indie Rock
4. Dead Pioneers - Po$t American (30/I) Hardcore Punk
5. Doves - Cold Dreaming (8/I) Indie Rock
6. Feu! Chatterton - Allons Voir (3/VII) Art Pop
7. Foxwarren - Deadhead (27/V) Indie Folk
8. Jade - Plastic Box (20/VI) Electropop
9. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory - Idiot Box (7/II) Indie Rock

Tracks: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Antony Szmierek - Angie's Wedding (22/I) UK Bass
2. Dead Pioneers - Po$t American (30/I) Hardcore Punk
3. Doves - Saint Teresa (10/II) Indie Rock
4. Foxwarren - Deadhead (27/V) Indie Folk
5. Los Thuthanaka - Awila (22/III) Latin Electronic
6. Octotrip / Leïla Martial / Anisssa Nehari - Les ailes de la chèvre (4/IV) Avant Garde Jazz
7. Roj Osa meets Rob Mazurek - Stone Sage (11/XI) Avant Garde jazz
8. Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band - New Threats From The Soul (7/V) Alt-Country
9. мишаневич. [mishanevich.] - Кидалт (20/VII) Art Pop

Albums: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Antony Szmierek - Service Station At The End Of The Universe (28/II) UK Bass
2. Dead Pioneers - Po$t American (11/IV) Hardcore Punk
3. Doves - Constellations for the Lonely (28/II) Indie Rock
4. Earl Sweatshirt - Live Laugh Love (22/VIII) Experimental Hip Hop
5. Foxwarren - 2 (30/V) Indie Folk
6. Mandrake Handshake - Earth-Sized Worlds (21/II) Psychedelic Rock
7. Octotrip / Leïla Martial / Anisssa Nehari - Atrahasis (4/IV) Avant Garde jazz
8. Roj Osa meets Rob Mazurek - Beton Kino (11/XI) Avant Garde jazz
9. Shearling - M**********r, I am Both: "Amen" and "Hallelujah"... (1/V) Experimental Rock
10. Zior Park - A Bloodsucker (18/VI) Art Pop
musicoed
Gender: Male

Location: SPb
Russia
  • #33
  • Posted: 12/13/2025 18:59
  • Post subject:
  • Quote
Professional teams continue to win prizes in various categories.
The team competition has finally become unpredictable again. The gap between the two leaders was less than one point.

My thoughts on the releases that won prizes in the nominations following Round #7*, which ended on December 11th.
Album
Viagra Boys - viagr aboys (25/IV-2025/17) (Album)

Viagr Aboys (2025) by Viagra Boys

The album started its run at 7th place overall. It took four rounds to earn the 5th place award. The album never scored any points in my ratings.
I've already commented on the award-winning video for this release. There are many interesting visual flourishes, but empty music for me.
I can't say there isn't a single interesting track on the album. But they're at the very beginning. These are literally the second and third songs to be released as singles, just like the first.
Perhaps the album's popularity is due to its lyrics.
But in structure, this is a purely commercial project, aimed at quickly making a profit while the impressions from the advertised singles are still fresh.
I also admit that destructive sound is the goal of some tracks. But this goes against my inner tone.
This music is good for marching, working on a conveyor belt, or breaking something, but definitely not for dancing.
However, any music that is positioned as dance looks quite advantageous against this background.

Track
CMAT - Euro-Country (22/VII-2025/30) (Single)

Link

The track advanced four rounds from 9th place and received the 5th place award. My ratings were always neutral.
I've previously spoken out about the award-winning video for this track.
The artist's complex relationship with imperialism was a common thread at the time.
Perhaps for this same reason, the main version of the video is not available in Russia.
I want to reassure anyone who's worried about Russian residents' unauthorized access to beautiful things from abroad. This issue is under control.

I can't believe that a week ago when I checked the translation of the song lyrics, there were no explanations.
But I only just now read the footnotes about what the author might have meant.
And that didn't make me feel any better. On the contrary, I was bombarded with information about current political issues. This is an opposition song that receives awards from a corrupt society.
So be it. But it still bothers me that this song is as uninviting to dance as the Viagra Boys.

CMAT - Euro-Country (29/VIII-2025/35) (Album)

Euro-Country (2025) by CMAT

Music Video
Big Thief - Words (8/IX-2025/37) (Video)

Link

After the unexpected breakthrough of the entire album, the video wasn't long in coming.
The award for 6th place, after 9 rounds.
My ratings were both positive and neutral, just like in the last round. Although I'm not particularly thrilled with the song or the video.
At this point, as usual, I delved into the lyrics translation and...
I must admit that these words resonate with me and resonate with me. Especially the last word, after which there should probably be a question mark.
But the video is unprofessional. It's overloaded with various incongruous shots, as well as cheap amateur video effects.
Maybe that's why it's allowed to be watched in Russia.
I'm always amazed at how imaginative musicians can be when writing lyrics, and how banal they can be when they see it on screen. If a song is about fire, then fire should appear on the screen at that point. If the lyrics depict someone walking down the street, then everyone should see it on the screen, too.
However, perhaps if the song had been more melodic, I wouldn't have been so picky about the details on the screen.

Big Thief - Double Infinity (5/IX-2025/36) (Album)

Double Infinity (2025) by Big Thief
musicoed
Gender: Male

Location: SPb
Russia
  • #34
  • Posted: 12/14/2025 18:05
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There are only two rounds left until the finish. And I'm starting to have internet problems. It would be a shame if the tournament had to be stopped. However, for some this may come as a relief.

My (July) bets for round #7* last week.
Album
Zior Park - A Bloodsucker (18/VI-2025/25) (Album)

A Bloodsucker (2025) by Zior Park

The album took first place in my round ranking.
I admit, this isn't the first time this year I've wanted to present this album as the best album of the year. But things change so quickly. So I initially held back this release, and now I have to include it outside of the schedule.
This artist, whom I mentioned here some time ago. Before this year, I was very pleased with two singles that came out at different times and belonged to different releases.
I really wanted to hear an album that would be interesting for more than just its singles.
In 2025, this happened: a release came out without any singles at all, as far as I know. But for the first time, this album was interesting to listen to in its entirety.
For my weekly playlist, I always choose the best of the album's previously unreleased tracks. First, it was the second track, then the eighth. And at the very end of the week, I unexpectedly discovered that this track was the penultimate one – "Masochist." This suggests that the album unfolds gradually, as it should ideally.

Zior Park - Keep Out! (22/X-2025/43) (Video)

Link


Track
мишаневич. [mishanevich.] - Кидалт (20/VII-2025/29) (Track)

Link

The track took first place in my round ranking, and it's also the release of the week.
As far as I know, this Moscow musician is currently living in China on a student visa.
He's a little-known artist in Russia. But since 2022, I've regularly included his releases in my final lists. Unfortunately, in 2025, the impressions from the entire album haven't yet reached the necessary level. But the musician's signature style is clearly evident in this track.
The song continues to explore the tournament's topic of rethinking values.
This led me to the discovery of a previously unknown concept – Кидалт (Kidult).

Даже в мультиках было больше души,
Чем во всём, для чего предлагают жить.
Свою комнату с трудом я покидал,
Мне уже 30 лет, и я кидалт.

Свою комнату с трудом я покидал,
Управляем корпорациями кидал.

-----------------------
Even cartoons had more soul,
Than anything they tell us to live for.
I barely left my room,
I'm already 30 years old, and I'm a kidult.

I barely left my room,
Under the control of fraudulent corporations.

мишаневич. [mishanevich.] - Кайф-Лайф (20/VII-2025/29) (Album)

Music Video
Bold Love - Feel You Close (23/VII-2025/30) (Video)

Link

First place in my round rating, it is also the release of the week.
This was my first encounter with the band. I don't rule out the possibility that the video itself influenced my enthusiastic response to this song, as I'm not a big fan of that kind of indie music.
I really liked both the camerawork and the editing. Lots of close-ups, a creative approach to camera angles. Almost natural landscape as a backdrop. The calm and solemn atmosphere of the museum halls.
The spiritual faces, modest costumes and reserved behavior of the main performers.
All of this literally provides a relief from the modern madness on film sets, and at the same time, it blends harmoniously with the music.

Bold Love - Dancing & Loving (17/X-2025/42) (EP)
musicoed
Gender: Male

Location: SPb
Russia
  • #35
  • Posted: 12/17/2025 15:57
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Due to my internet issues, the tournament schedule has already been pushed back a day. I'm still hoping there won't be a complete communications blackout, at least not until the tournament ends.
Below are new applications for the current round, which ends on December 19. December 17 is the last day to make changes to the current round's charts.

Music Videos: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek - Misket (ft. Ensemble Resonanz) (3/X) Anatolian Rock
2. Juana Aguirre - Tormenta (29/I) Folktronica
3. Little Simz - Young (14/V) UK Hip Hop
4. Lorelle Meets The Obsolete - Regresar / Recordar (1/VII) Psychedelic Rock
5. Mirrorball - The Hour (11/VIII) Art Pop
6. Rosalía - Berghain (ft. Björk & Yves Tumor) (27/X) Latin Alternative
7. The Chameleons - Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing (29/V) Post-Punk

Tracks: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek - Direne Direne (14/III) Anatolian Rock
2. Little Simz - Flood (26/II) UK Hip Hop
3. Rosalía - Berghain (ft. Björk & Yves Tumor) (27/X) Latin Alternative
4. skuzland - Poor Choices (28/VII) Glam Pop
5. The Chameleons - Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing (29/V) Post-Punk

Albums: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out (11/VII) Gangsta Rap
2. Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek - Yarın Yoksa (14/III) Anatolian Rock
3. Little Simz - Lotus (6/VI) UK Hip Hop
4. Oklou - choke enough (7/II) Electronic
5. The Chameleons - Arctic Moon (12/IX) Post-Punk
6. Диктофон [Diktofon] - Диктофон (1/XII) Art Pop
musicoed
Gender: Male

Location: SPb
Russia
  • #36
  • Posted: 12/24/2025 14:46
  • Post subject:
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It's fair to say that this year's tournament ended prematurely. One round before the end, it is already clear which team will ultimately come out on top.
There are still three formal awards in the categories that won't have any impact.
Moreover, in the last rounds the winners in the nominations simply change places.

My thoughts on the releases that won prizes in the nominations following Round #8*, which ended on December 19th.
Album
CMAT - Euro-Country (29/VIII-2025/35) (Album)

Euro-Country (2025) by CMAT

The album began its run at 16th place overall. It took five rounds to win the 4th place award. My assessments were always neutral.
I've already mentioned my feelings about the artist twice in relation to her previous awards for the track and video of the same name. Not the best choice for promotion, in my opinion.
Overall, I like her work. But there were more interesting candidates for the top ten.
At the same time, most of her singles regularly made my weekly playlists.
The album is also cleverly divided into two equal parts for vinyl records. At the end of each, the emotions build with the corresponding singles.
However, the emphasis was on the first part, which is usually typical for commercial projects.

Track
Viagra Boys - Man Made of Meat (23/I-2025/04) (Single)

Link

The track started its journey in 7th place overall. It took five rounds to earn the 6th place award. My ratings for the track were always negative.
I already mentioned the indifference to this song when I analyzed the success of the video of the same name.
I didn't read the translation of the lyrics, as the video was quite eloquent. I was also worried that the result wouldn't necessarily benefit anyone. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened. But lyrics are also valued for the melody of their rhymes, which Google can't capture. This is where I give up.

PS: Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra, demanded that the Ukrainian band "VIA Gra" change its name. According to the band's producer, no one dared to challenge Pfizer. Therefore, the band has several names.

ВИА Гра [VIA Gra] - ЛМЛ (VI-2006) (Single)

Link


Music Video
Wednesday - Elderberry Wine (21/V-2025/21) (Video)

Link

The video started its journey in 17th place overall. It took five rounds to earn the 6th place award. My ratings of the video have always been neutral.
This artist differs from the previous two in that the entire album hasn't yet achieved star status. But the final round is still ahead, and the likelihood is very high.

I don't know if English conveys the essence of this day of the week. In Russian, it means "middle," and the adjective is "medium," meaning ordinary, unnoticeable. Not at all like the album or single cover. There is a clear tendency towards artificial exaggeration here.

I've already criticized the track of the same name. I didn't hear anything that made this song stand out. However, I know there are very melodic country ballads.
Unfortunately, I'm ready to repeat the same thing about the video. Very weak storyline, random people drinking in a bar.
There are so many interesting video clips with plots. For some reason, I remembered a clip where they show a moving car for a long time at the beginning. And this is no accident, because the videos are so short.

Nighttime - Curtain is Closing (6/XII-2022/49) (Video)

Link
musicoed
Gender: Male

Location: SPb
Russia
  • #37
  • Posted: 12/25/2025 20:01
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November, and especially December, isn't the time to have much choice even among new singles, let alone albums. 2025 turned all the usual patterns upside down. At the end of September, at the beginning of the tournament, I rejected 99% of the released albums. In fact, at that point, there wasn't a single album that interested me in its entirety.
Only after the tournament began did interesting new releases begin to appear simultaneously, while older releases began to be discovered. But the most unexpected thing was that every week in December a new album was released that was better than all the previous ones, and not just from 2025. So all my combinations were in vain. The only caveat is that all these releases are in Russian.

My (August) bets for round #8* last week.
Album
Диктофон [Diktofon] - Диктофон (1/XII-2025/49) (Album)

Диктофон (2025) by Диктофон [Diktofon]

In my round ranking, the album took first place. It's the release of the week. And it's one of the best albums of the year released in December. So, the August release gave way.
It's interesting that my first bet in the tournament was for August. And it’s fate, otherwise that album by the group Мать Тереза [Mat Tereza] would never have been revealed to me. In September, I thought my August bet would be either Wetsuit or The Black Keys. Where are those bets now…

This is a project by a musician named Anton Makarov. I've long been a fan of this artist. But previously, his success on my hit lists was limited to individual tracks. Moreover, his music has become less interesting to me lately. So, this album was waiting for its turn on my list of new releases.
There was a hint. It's considered the sixth album in the band's discography. And yet, the album shares its name with the band. Which, of course, surprised me.
However, it took me several listens before I agreed with the musicians that this is a landmark release for the band. I admit, I was hampered by the fact that most of the album is recorded in a major key, with lyrics to match. So it's hard for me to pinpoint specific phrases that really touched my soul. But musically, this is definitely one of the best Russian albums of recent times.

Диктофон [Diktofon] - Начало Рабочего Дня (16/XII-2025/51) (Video)

Link


Track
skuzland - Poor Choices (28/VII-2025/31) (Single)

Link

The track took first place in my round ranking.
This was my first encounter with the band, and it happened a week late. Therefore, the release wasn't included in the competition for first place in its week. It just so happens that the single is also competing in this tournament for a later month. Of the additional music I saw, I was only interested in one other song.
skuzland - Rockstar Baby (5/VI-2025/23) (Single) (YouTube)

I can't say I'm thrilled with the video. But in this case, the melody of the music helps me avoid being too picky about it. Again, it feels like an alternative to artificially promoted, non-melodic pop music.
For some reason, I was reminded of this single from my youth:

The Rocksteady Crew - (Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew (1983) (Single)

Link


Music Video
Mirrorball - The Hour (11/VIII-2025/33) (Video)

Link

First place in my round-rating is also the release of the week.
The only release that performs in its month of August. However, the song itself was released as a single a month earlier:
Mirrorball - The Hour (18/VII-2025/29) (Single) (Bandcamp)

I'm more than a week late again. The song has followed the same fate as another best song of the year:
BC Camplight - Two Legged Dog (ft. Abigail Morris) (8/IV-2025/15) (Single)

I left the track on the week's playlist. However, it was out of competition, as the single had already skipped its week. Gradually, the song pushed aside all the other contenders. I had to go back to the previous week, where it also had no equal.
I was delighted when a video for the song was released a month later, although it didn't really stand out in any way. But I had fallen so deeply in love with the song that I unhesitatingly named it the winner of the week.
At the tournament, the same thing happened. Due to a shortage of videos, the artist was forced to compete in the Video category again. It was all because of my own self-imposed limitations.
As far as I remember, my acquaintance with the performer began with a single:
Mirrorball - Take a Shot (8/III-2024/10) (Single)

Then there was the single, which also became the release of the week in 2025:
Mirrorball - Crystal Doorknob (29/I-2025/05) (Single) (Bandcamp)

However, there's a small, perhaps unnoticeable detail to the track "The Hour." The third verse is performed in a unique way. And apparently, that was enough for me to enjoy the gradual buildup of emotion in anticipation of this rise each time.
PS: It's sad that in my lifetime no one has a chance against Taylor Swift.

Mirrorball - Take a Shot (7/III-2024/10) (Video)

Link
musicoed
Gender: Male

Location: SPb
Russia
  • #38
  • Posted: 5 days ago
  • Post subject:
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Below are new applications for the current round, which ends on December 29. December 27 is the last day to make changes to the current round's charts.

Music Videos: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Frost Children - Falling (1/VII) Electro House
2. Internet Girl - I Changed (I'm Up) (25/XI) Punk Rap
3. Jim Legxacy - stick (10/IV) UK Hip Hop
4. Mollie Elizabeth - Doe Eyes (10/VII) Art Pop
5. Oneohtrix Point Never - Lifeworld (20/X) Progressive Electronic
6. Richard Dawson - Gondola (14/I) Progressive Folk
7. Sister Ray Davies - Aidan (23/VI) Shoegaze
8. The New Eves - Cow Song (11/VI) Folk Punk

Tracks: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Feu! Chatterton - Allons Voir (6/VI) Art Pop
2. Frost Children - Radio (ft. Kim Petras) (12/IX) Electro House
3. Jim Legxacy - stick (10/IV) UK Hip Hop
4. Oklou - take me by the hand (ft. Bladee) (15/I) Electronic
5. Oneohtrix Point Never - Lifeworld (20/X) Progressive Electronic
6. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory - Idiot Box (7/II) Indie Rock
7. The New Eves - Cow Song (11/VI) Folk Punk
8. Two-Man Giant Squid - Don't Go To Snareworld (7/III) Progressive Pop
9. бойзак [boyzak] - кепки дедов (20/VI) Avant Punk

Albums: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Annie & the Caldwells - Can't Lose My (Soul) (21/III) Progressive Soul
2. Feu! Chatterton - Labyrinthe (12/IX) Art Pop
3. Frost Children - Sister (12/IX) Electro House
4. Guerilla Toss - You're Weird Now (12/IX) Neo-Psychedelia
5. My Morning Jacket - is (21/III) Indie Rock
6. Oneohtrix Point Never - Tranquilizer (21/XI) Progressive Electronic
7. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory - Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory (7/II) Indie Rock
8. Порез на Собаке [Porez na Sobake] - Предъявы Сверху (18/XII) Pop-Punk
9. Юнсн [Yunsn] - хранители маленьких принцесс (12/XII) Art Pop
musicoed
Gender: Male

Location: SPb
Russia
  • #39
  • Posted: 43 hours ago
  • Post subject:
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  • ❤️ albummaster
The final round of the 2025 tournament has concluded. As usual, I promise myself that this tournament will definitely be my last. Various technical difficulties are already actively helping me with this.
In this regard, I'm especially pleased by how many interesting releases have made it here, despite the fact that this year has clearly not been the richest in good music.
None of this would have happened if it weren't for the unique capabilities of the BEA website and the participants' charts.

My thoughts on the releases that won prizes in the nominations following Round #12, which ended on December 29th.
Album
Nourished By Time - The Passionate Ones (22/VIII-2025/34) (Album)

The Passionate Ones (2025) by Nourished By Time

The album began its journey in the tournament four rounds ago. Three rounds ago, the album ranked 11th overall. In this round, the album achieved star status, finishing fourth. My rating for this album has always been above average.

I know this artist well. At the 2023 tournament, I also supported his debut album, which ultimately reached number 22.
This year's success was entirely expected for me. All three singles from 2025 made it onto my weekly playlists.
On the downside, as always, I miss the build-up of emotions, both in individual tracks and throughout the album.
Despite the quality of the tracks, most of the hits are concentrated in the first half of the album, which doesn't contribute to long-term interest in the release as a whole.
But for 2025, this release is definitely one of the most memorable.

Nourished By Time - Max Potential (7/V-2025/19) (Single)

Link


Track
Little Simz - Flood (ft. Obongjayar & Moonchild Sanelly) (26/II-2025/09) (Single)

Link

The track began its journey just two rounds ago, finishing 7th overall. In this round, it achieved star status, finishing 5th. I've never supported or opposed this track.
I also haven't had any reason to include this artist's singles in my weekly playlists. Firstly, it's not my favorite genre, and secondly, this content has been blocked on Russian YouTube, as far as I remember.

But this is another artist I know well from the final tournaments. 2021 was memorable for me because the number of bets on this artist determined the outcome. This subsequently changed the rules of the game. Already in 2022, a limitation was introduced: one valid bid per nomination per album.
I think I can guess why this artist is so popular. In any case, the translation of this song's lyrics seemed quite relevant to me.

Music Video
Little Simz - Young (14/V-2025/20) (Video)

Link

The video also began its journey just two rounds ago, finishing in 8th place overall. In this round, the video achieved star status, finishing in 7th place.
It's a rare occurrence at a tournament when the song entered in the "Video" category isn't the same as the song entered in the "Tracks" category.
But the reasons I missed out on this music are the same.
I never supported, but I also didn’t speak out against this video.
Although I must admit, at times I felt the urge to downvote this repulsive image on screen.
Now I have a good reason to check out the translation of these lyrics.
And again, I see multi-layered metaphors that everyone can interpret differently.
It's an interesting style, with humor and unexpected twists. Although I haven't felt the urge to watch the video again.

Little Simz - Lotus (6/VI-2025/23) (Album)

Lotus (2025) by Little Simz
musicoed
Gender: Male

Location: SPb
Russia
  • #40
  • Posted: 30 hours ago
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My bets for round #12 last week.
Album
Юнсн [Yunsn] - хранители маленьких принцесс (12/XII-2025/50) (Album)

хранители маленьких принцесс (2025) by Юнсн [Yunsn]

The album took first place in my round rating. It's the release of the week. For me, it's the most important album of the year.
My first encounter with this artist in 2022 piqued my interest.
I eagerly awaited her debut album, which was released in 2024.
I was very disappointed when I didn't find anything on it for my weekly playlist.
Therefore, her second album in December 2025 was met with less than enthusiastic reception.
However, it did contain three interesting singles, previously released.
I listened to the entire album as background music while I was busy designing the tournament.
The thing is, the singing style obscures certain phrases and entire sentences.
So I found the lyrics to the last song, which I knew well.
After all, it was released as a single back in March 2024, but for some reason it wasn't included on the debut album.
Only after that did I understand why this album feels like it's written in a whisper.
Because that's how mothers usually wake their children up in the morning for school.

я не слышу ваши голоса и не вижу солнца,
оно растаяло в зимних небесах
как тебе там живётся?
а без шарфа голос потерять не составит труда мне,
буду босиком стоять, сливаться с прудами слезами
и ждать весны, скучать по маме
и видеть с ней сны

I don't hear your voices and I don't see the sun,
it melted into the winter skies.
How are you doing there?
And without a scarf, losing my voice won't be hard for me.
I'll stand barefoot, merging with the ponds with my tears.
And wait for spring, missing my mother.
And see dreams with her.
(Track - ждать весны)

Юнсн [Yunsn] - ждать весны (20/III-2024/12) (Single)

Link


Track
Two-Man Giant Squid - Don't Go To Snareworld (7/III-2025/10) (Track)

Link

The track took first place in my round rating.
This was my first encounter with the band, and it happened the week of the album's release in 2025.
The band's releases aren't available on YouTube in Russia. So I learned about the album from the Bandcamp newsletter.
I rejected the album, but kept this track in my playlist.
Then, as we all know, follows the tale of Cinderella, who conquered them all.
But not this time. The track didn't even make it into the top five songs of the week.
At the tournament, I find out that this track is a candidate from another team.
I even start working on the details of the application.
Meanwhile, I listen to the song, and I start to like it more.
But then I discover there's another song with more views.
The other song is clearly inferior, and I'm upset, but rules are rules.
Suddenly, another song wins the right to an additional bet in the very first draw.
I'm stunned, promising that now everyone will know about this double Cinderella.
But again, it turns out there's another candidate with more views.
I'm completely losing hope, but I promise to reveal this song after the tournament.
Unexpectedly, I lose the right to my pre-prepared track in the final round.
With neither the energy nor the time left, I think this unfortunate track could have been a replacement.
But I still have doubts and start checking it again.
At the same time, I remember the entire album and start listening to the release in its entirety.
After a few replays, I can't decide which song on the album I like best.
It sounds like my favorite Swedish band, This Is Head, which I miss so much.
All three of their albums are on my list of the best releases of all time.

Two-Man Giant Squid - Two-Man Giant Squid (7/III-2025/10) (Album)

Two-Man Giant Squid (2025) by Two-Man Giant Squid

Music Video
Mollie Elizabeth - Doe Eyes (10/VII-2025/28) (Video)

Link

First place in my round-rating is also the release of the week.
This was my first encounter with the singer.
It happened thanks to a YouTube newsletter, which I can no longer access.
From memory, I can say there were gorgeous close-ups.
Very expressive facial features, which are usually reserved for actresses.
Plus, the dynamic and melodic song is the only interesting one on her 2025 EP.

Mollie Elizabeth - Dirty Blonde (27/VI-2025/26) (EP) (Apple)

I can't say this video is significantly better than the other contenders.
There's also no amazing story that would make it special.
Let's just say he was lucky enough to remain on the top 50 list of the year and also to finish this diary.

Happy New Year, thank you all!
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