Marina and the Diamonds - The Top 10 Songs

Continuing our 'Top 10' feature, we delve into the lands of electro-pop where we find Marina and the Diamonds (Marina Diamandis). Currently working on a third studio album (which will hopefully be released in the near future!), Marina is a Welsh singer and song-writer who has had successes with her previous two albums; The Family Jewels (2010) and Electra Heart (2012). In this addition, we'll be looking at the Top 10 Best tracks from the quirky singer to date. So, without further adieu, let us begin the countdown! 

10: I Am Not a Robot

Taken from her début studio album, 'I Am Not a Robot' was ridiculously infectious, with its indie-pop beats and Marina's vulnerable voice turning it into a recognisable hit. With such a distinctive voice, 'I Am Not a Robot' showcased Marina's talents well and the track itself is one of the more simple but still effective songs, that resonates in your mind long after you have listened to it. The accompanying music video was equally as impressive as it featured Marina in an abundance of special effect make-up that gives it an out-of-world feel. 

9: Radioactive 

Coming in hot off the Electra Heart runway is 'Radioactive', an Eurodance song, taken from her second studio album. The fusion of catchy club beats with Marina's hypnotic vocals make this an extremely confident addition to her discography, as she opts for a more popular acoustic but still with meaningful lyrics 'My Heart is nuclear/ Love is all that I feel/ Ready to be let down/ and now I'm heading for a meltdown'. We like to describe it as pop, but with a witty edge.

8: Girls 

Heading back to The Family Jewels, this one is a little bit more obscure. 'Girls' is one of the lesser known tracks from the album, but we think it is probably one of the most effective and culturally significant. Often misinterpreted as being a criticism of the 'girls' themselves, the track is more a criticism of society and its expectations of the female gender role. Pretty powerful stuff, right? Featuring lyrical gems, sung in a truly effortlessly sarcastic manner, such as 'Girls are not meant to fight dirty/ never look a day past 30/ not gonna' bend over and curtsy for you' and 'making money off your insecurities and doubt'. You can always count on Marina to stick a few societal criticisms into her songs.




7: Sex Yeah 

Whilst 'Girls' may have been a good song, 'Sex Yeah' is most definitely the better song that touches on feminism. With such meaningful lyrics that invite others to question their own perception and the stereotypes around them 'Question what the TV tells you/ Question what a Pop-star sells you/ Question mum and question Dad/ Question good and question bad', 'Sex Yeah' is more than just your average pop song. Add in an addictive hook and catchy beat and you've got an unquestionable hit on your hands. 'Sex Yeah' is pretty self-reflective and has a multitude of meanings, so we'll leave you to your own devices on this one, but it is certainly more though-provoking than your average bubblegum pop.

6: Are You Satisfied? 

Are you satisfied, with an average life? No, that's not some motivational speech I've just made up, it is in fact some of the lyrics from our number 6 song 'Are You Satisfied?'. The track is taken from Marina's first studio album, and although not one of the main released tracks, 'Are You Satisfied?' strikes quite a strong chord with us. Questioning the value of life and what it means to be happy and content with yourself, the song is pretty hard-hitting in terms of lyrical content, and features some gut-wrenching instrumentals that we haven't really recovered from 'Do I need to lie/to make my way in life?/ Are you satisfied/with an easy ride?/ Once you cross the line/will you be satisfied?'.




5: How to Be a Heartbreaker 

Get ready to amp up the satire levels to one hundred, as our next addition to the list, rocking in at number 5, is the oh so self-mocking 'How to Be a Heartbreaker'. We sure hope you don't take any of the lyrics seriously, but we do hope you take the message of the track (and indeed the video) seriously. Marina's songs are known for their wit and satire and this is no exception, as she explores the archetype of a female character who doesn't want to have her heartbroken, so she forms meaningless and detached relationships with others 'Don't get attached to/somebody you could lose/ so let me tell you/this is how to be a heartbreaker'. Featuring a video which switches the gender objectification (thereby highlighting how ridiculous it is), 'How to Be a Heartbreaker' makes a big impact both visually and audibly.

4: Buy The Stars 

A little less 'dance-y' and a little more ballad-esque, 'Buy The Stars' is taken from the deluxe version of Electra Heart. 'Buy The Stars' is a little less upbeat than previous songs, and a little more solemn and isolate, as the solitary piano plays across the track. The song is also one of the best to highlight and accentuate Marina's vocals, and of course, it features some rather poignant lyrics 'and still/you like to think you own me/you keep buying stars' and 'you know/only/how to/own me/ your mind starts to shut out the light/ we come alone and alone we die'. This track showcases a different side to the singer, and we like it as serves as a testament to the singers ability, not to mention the fact that it is rather distinctive, and musically, beautiful. 

3: Primadonna 

This may very well be the most well-known Marina and the Diamonds track, and it earns its place, rightfully, at number 3. Almost a parody of itself, Primadonna is so rife with satire that we can almost not contain ourselves. But if you think the track itself is rather hilarious, then take a look at the music video, as this compliments the song even better. Marina has a real knack for comic timing and her facial expressions and acting are on point in the video, and we love this particular female archetype that she is exploring in the video. The track centres around the notion of a 'Primadonna' (taken from the term 'Prima' as in first/main and 'donna' as in woman) a person with a temperament and an inflated view of their own self-importance and/or talents 'Primadonna girl/ all I ever wanted was the world/ I can't help that I need it all/the Primadonna life/the rise/the fall'. Marina's voice packs the punch, and the variations in pitch from the sultry lows, to the heavenly highs, make this track a universal success.

2: Power and Control 

As we draw into the home stretch, the track that was just short of the top position is the dark and deceptive 'Power and Control'. Containing an undeniable amount of sass, the electro-pop track is full of echoes and repetition that make it attractive to the ear, and we adore some of the throw-down lyrics that are used 'think you're funny/think you're smart/yeah you may be good looking but you're not a piece of art'. The track commands attention and feels rather atmospheric when you listen to it, and these are qualities that we really value in songs, as it has that element of gravitas, and indeed, power. Of course, the video is suitable in style as it takes place in a dimly lit room in which Marina and another man are having their 'war', so to speak. 'Power and Control' is considered one of the best songs from Electra Heart and it's not hard to see why.

1: Teen Idle 

So, what track managed to snag the top spot amongst our list and beat out all the other great songs from the singer? Well, it is none other than 'Teen Idle', a lesser known track from the Electra Heart album. This little gem features the immortal lyrics 'I want blood, guts and chocolate cake' and 'the wasted years/ the wasted youth/ the pretty lies/ the ugly truth', and let's face it, that is something pretty powerful stuff. Featuring relatively heavy and dark lyrics, amongst its sickly sweet tune makes for a strong juxtaposition. It sounds almost like an anthem, and a disturbing one at that, and this makes the song memorable and perplexing at the same time. There are so many layers to the song that you can't appreciate it after just one listen, so we encourage you to sit back and have a think about the song itself, and of course, enjoy Marina's voice and persona in this track.

We hope you haven't enjoyed this addition to 'The Top 10' Music addition, featuring Marina and the Diamonds, and let us know in the comments if you would have ranked them differently! Is 'Teen Idle' your favourite? Or would you have added something to the list that is not already there?