iTunes Genius Test (Part 3: Girls Aloud's Call The Shots)

The "Call The Shots" Playlist

Parent Song: "Call The Shots" by Girls Aloud (only one of the best pop songs in the last 10 years)

The Playlist

1. Call The Shots - Girls Aloud
2. About You Now - Sugababes
3. Black and Gold - Sam Sparro
4. Home - Westlife
5. Warwick Avenue - Duffy
6. Foundations - Kate Nash
7. Sweet About Me - Gabriella Cilmi
8. Sex On Fire - Kings of Leon
9. LDN - Lily Allen
10. Can't Speak French - Girls Aloud
11. Patience - Take That
12. The World Should Revolve Around Me - Little Jackie
13. Shut Up and Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
14. Leave Right Now - Will Young
15. Piece of Me - Britney Spears
16. Sexy! No No No... - Girls Aloud
17. Push The Button - Sugababes
18. 2 Hearts - Kylie Minogue
19. Rule The World - Take That
20. With Every Heartbeat - Robyn
21. Love Today - Mika
22. I Think We're Alone Now - Girls Aloud
23. Valerie - Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse
24. Mercy - Duffy
25. Chasing Pavements - Adele

What I Was Expecting: Storming dance-pop tracks, and maybe a few other British songs, and at least five GA tracks

What I Got: Essentially a "Best of British" list from the last two year, and four GA tracks

What It Says: British music is very eclectic, very different, and very very cool

Rating: 4/10

iTunes Genius Test (Part 2: Coldplay's Viva La Vida)

The "Viva La Vida" Playlist

Parent Song: "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay (their first #1 single, easily my favorite song of theirs)

The Playlist:

1. Viva La Vida - Coldplay
2. Disturbia - Rihanna
3. Stop and Stare - OneRepublic
4. When I Grow Up - The Pussycat Dolls
5. Won't Go Home Without You - Maroon 5
6. Tattoo - Jordin Sparks
7. Piece of Me - Britney Spears
8. Realize - Colbie Caillat
9. First Time - Lifehouse
10. The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson
11. When You're Gone - Avril Lavigne
12. Hot N Cold - Katy Perry
13. Look After You - The Fray
14. Thriller - Michael Jackson
15. (You Want To) Make a Memory - Bon Jovi
16. Wake Up Call - Maroon 5
17. Chasing Pavements - Adele
18. Bottle It Up - Sara Bareilles
19. Hollywood's Not America - Ferras
20. Shake It - Metro Station
21. Feedback - Janet Jackson
22. Say - John Mayer
23. How Far We've Come - Matchbox Twenty
24. I Kissed a Girl - Katy Perry
25. Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis

What I Was Expecting: A list filled with alt-rock/pop songs, and maybe a few regular contemporary rock/pop songs. Two more songs from Coldplay

What I Got: A group of '07 and '08 smash hits, some quirky one-hit wonders, and "Thriller" (what the hell?).

What It Says: The aforementioned years were filled with different genres of music, and somehow, Britney and Coldplay work together.

Rating: 4/10

The iTunes Genius Test (Part 1)

The biggest addition to iTunes 8 that had everybody buzzing was the iTunes "Genius", a program that provided you with perfect playlists based off of selected songs and recommendations that made you spend more money.

After giving it a few months to fully adjust, I have decided to give it an official spin. I chose 5 songs, completely different from each other, and tested how well the "Genius" could make playlists based off of them. Here they are, with ratings.

The "Vision of Love" Playlist

Parent Song - "Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey (The first of eighteen #1 singles. In my opinion, it still ranks in the Top 3 of her best songs ever)

The Playlist:

1. Vision of Love - Mariah Carey
2. Hold On - En Vogue
3. Breathe Again - Toni Braxton
4. Weak - SWV
5. Creep - TLC
6. Rub You The Right Way - Johnny Gill
7. Can't Take That Away - Mariah Carey
8. Can You Stand The Rain - New Edition
9. I'm Going Down - Mary J. Blige
10. For You I Will - Monica
11. You're Making High - Toni Braxton
12. Free Your Mind - En Vogue
13. Have You Ever - Brandy
14. Rhythm of the Night - DeBarge
15. You Gotta Be - Des'ree
16. Underneath the Stars - Mariah Carey
17. End of the Road - Boyz II Men
18. Anytime - Brian McKnight
19. I'm Your Baby Tonight - Whitney Houston
20. Fallin' - Alicia Keys
21. Somewhere Out There - Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
22. You Make Wanna - Usher
23. Through The Fire - Chaka Khan
24. Always Be My Baby - Mariah Carey
25. Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton

What I Was Expecting: A collection of of 80's and 90's R&B music, and more than a few Mariah Carey songs.

What I Got: A collection of 80's, 90's, and early millennium R&B music, and four Mariah Carey songs.

What Does It Say: Whitney Houston is strictly a pop diva, Toni Braxton is a R&B standard, and Diane Warren is the queen of pop ballads

Rating: 9.5/10