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BRACKETOLOGY: ROUND 1, WEEK 9
A little breakdown of this week's songs by decade...
1920s: 0
1930s: 0
1940s: 1
1950s: 5
1960s: 10
1970s: 1
1980s: 7
1990s: 5
2000s: 3
Also of note:
The #12, #13, and #14 seeds
Two brackets from the Brahms bloc
Two brackets from the Verdi bloc
Two brackets from the Vivaldi bloc
Here are this week's brackets. Remember, you can also view the brackets on this site. Voting is now open, and you have until 11:59 PM Pacific time on this upcoming Saturday to vote. Vote either in this thread or e-mail me.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
#180: "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967]
#333: "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955]
#692: "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990]
#845: "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964]
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
#179: "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985]
#334: "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000]
#691: "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974]
#846: "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965]
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
#14: "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
#499: "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941]
#526: "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985]
#1011: "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007]
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
#49: "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983]
#464: "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991]
#561: "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984]
#976: "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958]
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
#172: "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984]
#341: "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960]
#684: "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969]
#853: "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965]
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
#13: "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963]
#500: "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001]
#525: "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968]
#1012: "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
#124: "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966]
#389: "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992]
#636: "So What" - Miles Davis [1959]
#901: "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994]
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
#12: "My Generation" - The Who [1965]
#501: "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959]
#524: "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990]
#1013: "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988]
Okay, I'd like to preface my remarks this week with a little story. In the entire history of the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament, no #16 seed (the lowest seed in each bracket) has ever beaten a #1 seed (the highest seed in each bracket). The women's tournament is another story. Back in 1998, the #16 seed Harvard Crimson defeated the #1 seed Stanford Cardinal. This was no fluke though; Harvard had the nation's leading scorer in Allison Feaster, while Stanford had lost two of their top players to ACL injuries in the week leading up to the game. What I'm trying to say is that Harvard probably was not deserving of such a low seed, nor was Stanford deserving of such a high seed. Why am I telling this story? In two of this week's brackets, I have a #16 seed (a song rated over 1000) defeating a #1 seed (a song near the very top). Read on...
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967]
Not just one of the Fab Four's best, one of the all-time bests. Still sounds fresh today. Love it.
2. "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964]
It's a pretty good song, but it can't realistically compete with the Beatles. Still, when it gets to the chorus and the line "Baby, I neeeeeed your loving"... Man, that's good.
3. "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955]
Stereotypical '50s song. Frankly, I could take it or leave it.
4. "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990]
And I could leave this one without taking it.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000]
I remember hearing this one in mid-summer 2000 when I was a foreign exchange student in France. The guys I was with were constantly mocking the song, but I thought, "I like it!" The song finally hit big here in the States six months later, so I've always felt like I knew about Coldplay before the rest of the U.S. did. A point for me.
2. "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974]
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE SHITTY REMAKE BY MYA, PINK, LIL' KIM, AND CHRISTINA AGUILERA. Vastly superior to the remake, it still makes me think twice whenever I meet a girl. But not for very long; I gots ta get me some.
3. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985]
Yeah, it's a really pretty song, but I just am not a big Smiths fan (and even less of a Morrissey fan).
4. "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965]
It always felt like the (inferior) verses had nothing musically to do with the (superior) chorus. If I never heard this one again, I don't think I'd be missing out on anything.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007]
Took me a hell of a long time to attain this song, but once I did, it's been in constant rotation on my "favorites" playlist. Absolutely hilarious storyline in this song, even though it's a fairly simple concept: the narrator just can't seem to get laid! And the music! Pretty simple, musically. But it captures a certain feeling of bottled-up rage and frustration. When those guitars kick in about a third of the way through? Ooh...
2. "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941]
For a jazz man like myself, I gotta go with this classic. Holiday's voice has always been a love/hate thing for me, but it's hard to deny a song like this one. Go Lady Day, go!
3. "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
I've never been a fan of the King. Sorry. On top of that, I've never thought that this one was that great a song. Sorry.
4. "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985]
I just haven't had a chance to listen to much of JaMC. I don't have a problem with screechy guitar work like the stuff here, but it just sounds too abrasive for my tastes.
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983]
Easy pick here. It seems to have become fashionable to rank on this song, but let's be honest: it still is a top-notch song, stalker lyrics and all.
2. "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958]
Gotta love that twangy guitar. And when the horns kick in? Let's get this party started!
3. "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984]
My parents insist that when I was a little kid, this was my favorite song. I'll take their word for it, but my musical tastes have definitely changed since I was three.
4. "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991]
VASTLY over-rated song. It's good, but it definitely doesn't compare to BSSM's other big single: "Under the Bridge". Frankly, I'll pass.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960]
Far and away the best song in this bracket. I actually saw Ray in concert about a year before he died, and this was the highlight of the show. There's a reason why he was called the Genius.
2. "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969]
Depending on what rendition you have of this (and of some others) this is one of the longest songs in Bracketology. I've got the 23-minute-plus live version of this (off "Live/Dead"), but I've got a 76-minute version of Terry Riley's "In C," so this is #2 in my book. I can't say I'm a fan, but I'd definitely rather listen to this than the other two songs.
3. "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965]
This one is right on par with Madonna, so I'm putting this one ahead as a favor to my parents, who apparently used to watch the Sonny & Cher Show all the time.
4. "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984]
It's about a guy with a big dick.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963]
Definitely the best song of any '60s girl group, but it's also one of the best songs of all time. I'd be hard-pressed to find a better song in this entire bloc.
2. "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968]
Seems a shame to put this one at #2, but it just can't compare to "Be My Baby."
3. "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001]
I remember when this song came out back in '01, all the critics were falling all over themselves to praise the Strokes, but I just never got it. This song just sounded so plain and blah. It's gotten slightly better for me, but it's still just okay.
4. "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981]
Just can't seem to get into it. Sounds forced to me.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1. "So What" - Miles Davis [1959]
"Kind of Blue" was the first jazz album I ever bought, so this song will always hold a special place for me. On top of that, when I first got a job as a DJ at my college, I made a point of playing this song every week. This song is like an Ozu movie: gentle quietism and transcendental simplicity. Just sit back, relax, and let the music overwhelm you.
2. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994]
I still remember the boys from Athens going on Saturday Night Live and performing this song. Stipe even managed to sneak in the "Don't fuck with me" line at the end by turning his back to the camera when he dropped the f-bomb. Oh, and since I'm sure someone will mention it (and I want to be first), Dan Rather.
3. "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966]
This song is just starting to catch on with me, but it hasn't quite taken hold yet. Give me a few more listens and it'll probably be above R.E.M. But for now, it's at #3. Fascinating guitar work though.
4. "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992]
I can't really say I'm a big Pavement fan, but this is one of the few Pavement songs that I kind of like.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988]
Everything about this track is perfect. The bass line is perfectly creepy, while the strings are ethereal and just add to the creepiness. Rakim's flow is absolutely hypnotic, and there are some truly brilliant lyrics. Almost poetic. I'm sure it won't win this bracket, but it gets a full four points from me.
2. "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990]
"Don't call it a comeback!" Okay. Can we call it a "goodbye"? Because really, LL has done very little in the way of music since then. I mean hell, it's a great track, but it's a shame that he couldn't keep the momentum going from this one.
3. "My Generation" - The Who [1965]
This might be an anthem for people from the '60s, but for someone born seventeen years after this song, it's just not that interesting. And I've never liked the whole stuttering thing. Seemed more affected than anything else.
4. "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959]
Jackie made some downright corny songs, and this is one of 'em. Give me "Higher and Higher" over this one any day of the week.
I'm going to get some of my brackets in early, but I'll have to return later to finish it off.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. Jane's Addiction- "Been Caught Stealing": This was quite shocking for me to hear when I was 10, but it was really just a blast! I always preferred Porno for Pyros' "Pets" though, for some reason.
2. The Four Tops- "Baby I Need Your Loving": I'm a bit of a hard sell on a lot of 60s music- even soul music. However, this one has always tugged at the heartstrings in a kind of "Wonder Years Kevin longing for Winnie to love him" way.
3. The Platters- "The Great Pretender": It leaves too little to the imagination for me to really get into, at least now that I'm listening to it.
4. The Beatles- "Penny Lane": How perfectly twee and bow-tie appropriate of The Beatles. Spare me from this singalong nightmare!
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. The Smiths- "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out": This is going to claim an easy victory here, and rightfully so. While my favorite Smiths song is the melodramatic "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loves Me", "There Is a Light" is deserving to be their signature song, even over such mammoth tunes as "Hand in Glove" and "How Soon Is Now?"
2. The Animals- "We Gotta Get Out of This Place": The bass is enough to launch this into second. I wasn't expecting much when I heard this, but it's really quite good.
3. Labelle- "Lady Marmalade": Gitchy gitchy ya ya sorry but it was ruined by Pink, Mya et al.
4. Coldplay- "Yellow": Ugh. Prepare for a rant of pure snobbery! Take this coffee-table, beige, hinting at real emotion but never EVER taking the risk to actually go there, pseudo-intellectual bullshit wallpaper music that casual music fans parade around as an example of their "experimental and sophisticated taste" and jettison it as far away as possible. And, they have the nerve to sully my favorite color!
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. Jesus and Mary Chain- "Never Understand": Drenching a straightforward rocker in piercing feedback wouldn't be a recipe for a great song in and of itself, but this song just is so much fun.
2. Billie Holiday- "God Bless the Child": There will always be an audience for such a voice.
3. Elvis Presley- "Heartbreak Hotel": I'm no fan of the King either, but this is one his more tolerable songs to me. Simple (and concededly stolen) blues, but Elvis delivers it with enough panache to sell it but not so much as for it to appear as cartoonish as he often can be.
4. Grinderman- "No Pussy Blues": Nick Cave is interesting, but the character seems a little too put-on for me.
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. Cyndi Lauper- "Time After Time": The first of 3 tracks by artists I kind of like but with other songs I prefer much more. Gimme "She Bop"! This one is the best of the bunch to me. It's become a bit too AC and a bit too much of a "standard", but Cyndi's voice and personality give her the edge.
2. Red Hot Chili Peppers- "Give It Away": 1991 was a scary year for me with the alternative takeover. I hated "Under the Bridge" at the time, and being that this was my first exposure to the Chili Peppers, I thought I wouldn't like any of their songs. But "Give It Away", drenched in its raw funk/rap, made me reconsider.
3. The Police- "Every Breath You Take": There's definitely a nice feel to this song, and I understand why it was a huge commercial hit, although I question why it (and much of the band's other work) is so exalted.
4. Duane Eddy- "Rebel Rouser": It reminds me of "When the Saints Go Marching In". It's definitely a passionate offering, but what can I say? I'm an 80s kid with a penchant for funk, so this was just in the wrong bracket.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. Ray Charles- "Georgia on My Mind": For my money, this is the greatest song Ray Charles has performed.
2. Madonna- "Like a Virgin": One of my least favorite of Madonna's megahits, I think the song is more celebrated for launching Madonna as a superstar than anything else. The album itself is one of her worst, and I still count at least 4 songs that I prefer to the title track, my holy triumvirate being "Over and Over", "Angel" and "Dress You Up". In fact, I don't think "Like a Virgin" would make my top 50 Madonna songs.
3. Grateful Dead- "Dark Star": I HATE jam bands, and The Dead are no exception. However, this still has to come in above what's below.
4. Sonny & Cher- "I Got You Babe": Nothing more than a gimmick.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. The Strokes- "Last Nite": Thank God for this song! Rock was mired in Matchbox 20 blandness or Smashmouth/Sugar Ray obnoxiousness until "Last Nite" broke through and allowed for a post-punk revival. I still think The Strokes would release their greatest album with Room on Fire a few years later, but "Last Nite" was the catalyst that made a bit of airspace available to so much music that I adore from this decade and consequently deserves my gratitude.
2. Taana Gardner- "Heartbeat": How the HELL have I not heard this before? The BEST discovery of Bracketology for me so far! I had to take a moral stand for "Last Nite", but this funk washed in synthesized Heaven is a perfect example of the kind of music that gets in my system and never lets go.
3. The Ronettes- "Be My Baby": An awesome 60s song against awesome songs from decades I prefer. I'm sure this will advance without a threat.
4. Simon & Garfunkel- "Mrs. Robinson": More interesting as an idea than as a song, to me.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1: "Penny Lane" - The Beatles
2: "The Great Pretender" - The Platters
3: "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops
4: "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction
My third favorite song by my favorite group of all time. Nothing much to add to that, really.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1: "Yellow" - Coldplay
2: "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths
3: "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals
4: "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle
It's with a troubled heart that I put "Yellow" at the top of this bracket. I can't remember if I've ever really explained my issue with Coldplay or merely hinted at it on this forum, but it all came crumbling down when X&Y came out. I really thought Coldplay were in a position to do something amazing (like 'Ok Computer' amazing) after the great step they took with A Rush of Blood, but when X&Y dropped and all it was was Chris Martin's sappy ruminations on love, life and the cosmos (and not even poetic ones at that) over top of the best melodies that U2 never wrote, well... to me that was when they jumped the shark, and so I jumped off board. It was a real disappointment. Disappointing because there was a time when I thought Coldplay were not only a breath of fresh air, but THE band to watch, and it was when I first heard "Yellow" in late 2000. The song seemed so simple and honest; almost immature and naive in its message, but there was something about the melody of the chorus that sucked me into the vortex. I carried that band around in my pocket for the years that followed and would extoll their greatness at every opportunity. When Rush of Blood came out, I thought it was an amazing record, in fact, there was a large group of us that would actually have ARoBTTH listening parties -- it was exactly what we all needed that that point of our lives. And then Martin started buying into his own hype, figuring that if his band were to be the biggest in the world, they would need the biggest, catchiest, over-the-top stadium anthems to pull it off. That's what X&Y was.
Anyway, to this day, I still can't stand the group and have an embarassingly extensive single/EP/vinyl collection that is seemingly impossible to get rid of (any takers?). Parachutes is too lethargic to be a classic. Time has revealed there to be about 50 records from 2002 that are better than ARoBTTH. X&Y is garbage. Viva represents a band that lacks sufficient talent to produce interesting music on their own, so Capitol happily extended the cash for U2 knob wizard, Brian Eno. Frankly, the band digusts me, but I'd only be fooling myself if I didn't admit that there was a point where I thought they were great, and "Yellow" represented the beginning of the ascent up to that peak.
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1: "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper
2: "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy
3: "Every Breath You Take" - The Police
4: "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Put "Time After Time" in the same category of songs as "Fast Car" -- songs that, for me, despite being a tad unfashionable, just seem to resonate in such a way that I couldn't imagine ever not hearing them again. With "Time After Time", I really think it's the production that puts the song into another level -- everything is approached with a less-is-more aesthetic: the percussion (those rimshots), the bass, the shimmery guitar, the underlying synth. Even the vocals are pretty minimalist. To me, it has the same sort of sonic quality as a song like "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" -- this haunting, nostalgic '80s sound that I really can't describe as anything other than that. ("Boys of Summer" has it too.)
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
X: "Like a Virgin" - Madonna
X: "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles
X: "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead
X: "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher
I'm not voting on these songs, but I was reminded of the scene in "Groundhog Day" where Bill Murray's character wakes up, grabs the alarm clock and chucks it to the floor, and yet the song keeps playing. Funny.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1: "Last Nite" - The Strokes
2: "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes
3: "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner
4: "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel
I'm beginning to sound like a broken record here, but why, for the love of christ, do the critics always praise the singles? "Is This It" ranks among my favorite albums of all time, but "Last Nite", despite being fantastic, is certainly not the best song on the album. I don't know... I shouldn't have a gripe, but critics would have way more legitimacy in my eyes if the lesser-known tracks received more attention.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1: "So What" - Miles Davis
2: "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M.
3: "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds
4: "Summer Babe" - Pavement
"Kind of Blue"... another one of my favorite albums. Definite top ten material. I may not be able to play it on the trumpet, but I pride myself on being able to vocalize every note of every solo in "So What" (even the bass. haha). For a rock purist, that speaks volumes.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7 Excellent bracket in which everything's good
1 "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967] : one of the most beautiful songs ever written by Paul
2 "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955]
3 "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990]
4: "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964]
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7 another great one
1 "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965] : one of my favourite bass lines with Eric Burdon's powerful and soulful voice, and an anthem to escaping
2 "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974]
3 "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985] : I love this song (I hate the Smiths)
4: "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000]
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1 : 2 great songs, 2 awful
1 "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956] : Elvis' first hit on a major, arranged by Chet Atkins : pure splendour;
2 "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007] : A great song, displaying all of Cave's talent
3 "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941]
4 "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985] : same thing for me. Never understood why distorting the guitar sound to the extreme and muffling the vocal tracks was so worthy of acclaim. Worst song of the week.
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1 "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983] : A well-deserved hit.
2: "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991]
3 "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984]
4 "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958]
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11 : one gem, 3 stones
1 "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960] : oh, these vocals…
2 "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965]
3: "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984]
4 "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969] 3 Wake me up, please
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1 "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001] : a tie with Mrs. Robinson, but I already put S&G at nb 1 last week
2 "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968]
3 "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963]
4: "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1 "So What" - Miles Davis [1959] : let's make it one of the jazz songs (if not the only) to make it thru
2 "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992]
3 "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994]
4 "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966]
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1 "My Generation" - The Who [1965] : I jjjjust lllove this ssssong
2 "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988] : excellent early rap
3 "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990] 3.75
4 "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959] 3.5
Low on time again this week, apologies for the brief comments...
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964]
Fine early Tops hit wins a weak bracket.
2. "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955]
3. "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967]
4. "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990]
Everything annoying about Perry Farrell in 1 single! The worst song on its album, go figure.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985]
Vehicular double suicide...ah, romance!
2. "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974]
3. "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000]
4. "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965]
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
A really strong bracket...
1. "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941]
Her best after "Strange Fruit", and that's saying a lot.
2. "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
Tried listening with fresh ears, and ya know what? It's pretty damn good (and even a bit creepy).
3. "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007]
4. "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985]
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984]
Anthony's comment is spot-on for this...wonderful mid-80s ballad, where the dated production touches are actually a plus.
2. "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983]
3. "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958]
4. "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991]
Again, like with Jane's, lots of better tracks on the album than this rather ham-handed single.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960]
Classic performance of a classic tune. Rest of this bracket is a drag.
2. "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984]
3. "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969]
4. "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965]
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963]
Utterly unimpeachable.
2. "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981]
3. "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968]
4. "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
GREAT bracket.
1. "So What" - Miles Davis [1959]
Jazz in excelsis. Miles, Trane, Cannonball, Bill Evans...ah....
2. "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992]
3. "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966]
4. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994]
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988]
One of my favorite hip-hop tracks, this has some weird spacey bottom-heavy buzz to it that so well offsets Rakim's typically perfect rap.
2. "My Generation" - The Who [1965]
3. "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990]
4. "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959]
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990] The beginning of MTV getting alternative.
2. "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955]
3. "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967]
4. "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964]
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000] One of the best songs of the decade.
2. "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965] If its the last thing we ever do!
3. "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974]
4. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985] Overrated song, even by generally overrated Smiths standards.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956] Hokey? Yes. But I love it.
2. "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985]
3. "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007]
4. "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941] Still don't get the appeal for Billie.
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983] One of those songs that everyone knows. Would I really call this song great? No.
2. "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984] Needs more Lou Albano.
3. "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991]
4. "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958]
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960] Southern standard. Not one his best, but even a lower tier song by Ray is great.
2. "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965] Even though its an old song, it was the movie Groundhog Day that makes me like this song.
3. "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984]
4. "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969]
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963] The drums make this for me, really. Boom, Ba-Boom, Splash!
2.. "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968] Really sucks for this to be in this bracket. I Love this song.
3. "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001]
4. "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1. "So What" - Miles Davis [1959] Kind of Blue still rocks me every time I listen to it. I wouldn't say the best track on there, but it is the only one on the list.
2. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994]
3. "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966]
4. "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992] Never got the Pavement appeal too.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990] God what a loaded bracket. VFL Cool J. The last gasp of hip-hop's golden age.
2. "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988]
3. "My Generation" - The Who [1965]
4. "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959]
Mr. Schroeder, would it be possible for me to advance Taana Gardner's "Heartbeat" to the number 1 slot for me in Brahms 1? I know changing votes midweek is a no-no, but since I heard this absolute gem of a song, I haven't been able to stop playing it. It seems I've got a think for songs with "Heartbeat" in the title, and this is no exception. This funk has just not let me go, and I can't imagine how I lived all of my 29 years without having known it. Seems I'm making up for lost time, though.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. Penny Lane - A relatively weak bracket. Beatles win by default
2. The Great Pretender
3. Baby I Need Your Loving
4. Been Caught Stealing
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. Lady Marmalade - I really like this song, not sure why. Just funky. Just barely beat out Yellow, though. Strong bracket.
2. Yellow
3. We Gotta Get Out of This Place
4. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. God Bless the Child - Billie Holiday beats out the King by the slimmest of margins. Fantastic voice, really great lyrics.
2. Heartbreak Hotel
3. No Pussy Blues
4. Never Understand
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. Every Breath You Take - A little too pop for me, but still a good song. Best in this bracket for sure.
2. Give It Away
3. Rebel Rouser
4. Time After Time
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. Georgia On My Mind - Ray wins this easy. Such a great song by Hoagy Carmichael, and a classic version by Charles. Timeless.
2. I Got You Babe
3. Dark Star
4. Like A Virgin
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. Mrs. Robinson - Are you trying to seduce me, Bracketology? (groan)
2. Last Nite
3. Heartbeat
4. Be My Baby
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1. So What - Knowing me, how could it be anything else? This might be the best jazz recording ever.
2. What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
3. Eight Miles High
4. Summer Babe
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. My Generation - Not my favorite Who track, but still a good song, certainly the best in this bracket.
2. Follow the Leader
3. Lonely Teardrops
4. Mama Said Knock You Out
Thanks, Matt!
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1: "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967]
2: "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955]
3: "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964]
4: "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990]
Everything here is good. Penny Lane used to be one of my least favorite Beatles songs (which means it's still a great song ) but I like it a lot more these days.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1: "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965]
2: "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000]
3: "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985]
4: "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974]
Love the Animals song. The rest are ok, I've never got the Smiths song. It's ok but there are a ton of Smiths songs that are a lot better I think, I mean, some of the best songs ever. That this song is considered their best and one of the best ever kind of confuses me because I've never seen it that way.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1: "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941]
2: "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985]
3: "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
4: "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007]
I can't say this a week bracket because I can see the value in each one of these songs... it's just that they don't mean much to me and I don't see that changing. God Bless the Child is the one that rises above the rest but Never Understand is close.
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1: "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984]
2: "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958]
3: "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991]
4: "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983]
Time After Time is a pretty song, but nothing special. Unfortunately, it's easily the best song in this bracket.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1: "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960]
2: "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965]
3: "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984]
4: "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969]
Georgia On My Mind is one of the few Ray songs I really like. Like a Virgin and Dark Star both exemplify everything I hate about their respective artists. I like a lot of Madonna and a lot of the Dead but when Madonna tries to be risque it's off putting to me and when the Dead are speaking to the drop in/drop out crowd... well I drop out.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1: "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968]
2: "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963]
3: "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981]
4: "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001]
Wow, tough bracket. Like Moonbeam, I had never heard Heartbeat before, but that is a strong dance track. It can't pass two great pop tunes like Mrs. Robinson and Be My Baby but would have easily won many other brackets.... and Last Nite is no slouch either, doubt it would have won many brackets for me, but it would have been second in many. But, tough choice btw. Mrs. Robinson and Be My Baby. I just went with the thought, what if these two songs were on the radio, which one would I turn to? Simon and Garfunkel.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1: "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966]
2: "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994]
3: "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992]
4: "So What" - Miles Davis [1959]
Yikes, harder than the last. Well, not the first one, which is easily the best Byrds song and one of the best of the 60's. But the next three are oh so close and all very good songs.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1: "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959]
2: "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988]
3: "My Generation" - The Who [1965]
4: "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990]
Not even close between 1 and 2. Lonely Teardrops is one of the best songs pre British Invasion, just an amazing, amazing song and the major reason why Jackie Wilson is the most underrated artist ever.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7 : I'll stick with the AM order on this one ; I'm not eager to see too many Beatles songs next round but Penny Lane is the most solid of the bracket to me
#180: "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967]
#333: "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955]
#692: "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990]
#845: "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964]
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
#691: "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974] : I like the shitty cover ! I really do ! but I did not remember the original one was THAT good
#334: "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000]
#179: "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985] : I can stand this song, that's one of the best compliment I can do to a Smiths song
#846: "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965]
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
#499: "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941] : wow... first time I listened to it and could not stop shivering... wonderful !
#14: "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
#526: "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985] : neither do I (I know, I know, nicolas said that already)
#1011: "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007] : the lyrics might be witty or fun, but I honestly don't even try to understand them, the music is far too terrible for that
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
#464: "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991] : pretty tied bracket, my vote goes to the one on which I have good memories... a bit arbitrary but I can not untie this one and the next
#49: "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983]
#561: "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984]
#976: "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958]
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
#341: "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960] : classic easily winning a weak bracket
#172: "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984]
#853: "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965]
#684: "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969]
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1 : it's both a pleasure and a torture to have to choose between 4 songs you like with no clear way to decide your votes
#500: "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001]
#13: "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963]
#525: "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968]
#1012: "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
#636: "So What" - Miles Davis [1959] : I'm far from being a jazz fan and listening to this one is pleasant, that's far enough a rarity to make it win this rather week bracket
#124: "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966]
#901: "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994] : not a bad song, but I get this tiring feeling I get with some of the most acclaimed band where it seems that they would get acclaim even if they released Jingle Bells
#389: "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992]
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
#12: "My Generation" - The Who [1965] : probably on my top 10 funnest song ever. And if a song is fun (the music, not the lyrics), it is thus enjoyable
#1013: "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988] : really impressive, sounds like a 2008 song (well, sounds better than any 2008 hip-hop song)
#524: "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990]
#501: "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959]
I made a mistake a week or two ago. It was 'Don't Tell Me' I heard later as a country song that pissed me off, not Beautiful Stranger. Pop stars should feel free to cover all they want. But admit it's a cover -- don't cover a song from a genre you know your fans don't listen to and act like you wrote it.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
#692: "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990]
Quite possibly one of the funnest songs ever written. If I ever own a shop, the alarm sound will be the first verse of this song.
#180: "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967]
Sanity check. This was the A-side to Strawberry Fields Forever? Seriously? It's a good catchy Beatles song, but it's one of Paul's bouncy poppy ones that stole the spotlight from John's trippier more interesting songs.
#845: "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964]
Catchy song. Vocals sound a bit too croony.
#333: "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955]
More well executed blandness from the 50's.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
#179: "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985]
Great song, but Morrissey has to be the meanest person in the music industry. From his new album "It's not your birthday anymore, there's no need to be kind to you. Did you really think we meant all the syruppy sentimental things we said?" Even the Smiths' nice sentiments are draped in apathetic sarcasm, truly ahead of it's time.
#691: "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974]
Good song, that's become sort of canonical.
#334: "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000]
Nice song, but Coldplay suffer a bit from Henman complex. One year Tim Henman wound up the highest seed left at Wimbledon in the semifinals, and the British press put so much pressure on him he couldn't help but choke. Similarly, the British press miss being the forefront of rock music so much that whenever a British band comes out that's both good and accessible, they write this narrative around them that they're the Beatles' second coming. Whether it be Oasis, the Strokes, or Coldplay, it creates a lot of undue resentment toward them when their next album isn't Sgt Pepper. It's hard not to feel that resentment. They manage to put out of of the best rock songs of the decade (Viva La Vida) and they're still seen as well short of their imagined potential. Anyway, this is the only short essay I feel like writing this week. The short version, Yellow is a B- song, that British critics have caused a lot of undue resentment toward.
#846: "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965]
This song is a bit too poppy, but it's energetic and fun, so that's okay. In this bracket though, it comes out #4.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
#526: "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985]
DISTORTION! DISTORTION! YEEESSSS!
#1011: "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007]
One of those songs like "Kiss With A Fist" by Florence + The Machine that, the first time you hear it, pulls you in by the sheer social audacity of breaking the PC code. Raw, unpretentious male sexual frustration.
#499: "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941]
This sort of female vocal performance is an unintended casuality of a more politically correct culture. It has a sort of measured delicateness that sounds beautiful and engaging.
#14: "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
I don't know what happened to Elvis between the Sun sessions and this recording session, but it seems he stopped being interested in nuanced emotional performances and started only caring about marketable hooks and branding himself with hip gyrations and exaggeratedly quivery vocals.
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
#561: "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984]
I love this song. Lauper's highest two rated songs are her best and her worst. It's a crime her worst is ranked higher. Sheer emotional perfection.
#464: "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991]
More male sexual aggression. Another very fun 90's rock song.
#49: "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983]
Overly melodramatic stalker song. An awesome riff is spoiled by Sting's drudgingly melo approach to vocals.
#976: "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958]
Pretty cheesy song.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
#684: "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969]
Wait, I'm putting Grateful Dead #1? This one listen might be the first time I ever truly enjoyed them.
#172: "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984]
And now for some female sexual aggression. Not her best song, but possibly the one that redefined the female pop singer. (If you're the sort to give bonus points for influence.)
#341: "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960]
Ray Charles is somebody who's consistently good but not great, to me.
#853: "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965]
The song that achived a critical mass of schmaltz that collapsed into a black hole, it's pull so strong no sincere sentiment can escape.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
#13: "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963]
A fun, catchy, perfectly produced song. #13 is too high, but I won't hold that against it.
#525: "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968]
Another example of Paul Simon's incredible lyricism. Melodically maybe a little too hooky.
#500: "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001]
Fun song. It sounded better at the beginning, now I think it's a tad overrated.
#1012: "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981]
Not awful, but way too by the numbers.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
#636: "So What" - Miles Davis [1959]
It's hard for me to compare jazz to pop because you listen to each in such different ways. But, where Harold Wexler has a 'Which would I rather listen to right now' test, I have a 'Which do I enjoy more on this listen?' test. And this wins it. I've never heard a song that sounds more like it's title. "So what".
#124: "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966]
The Byrds are usually saved from pop banality by their unreplicated brand of harmony. In this case there's also cool picky guitar soloing.
#901: "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994]
Monster is one of the few REM albums left I haven't heard. ...I'm not any closer to buying it.
#389: "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992]
I enjoy Pavement, but their teenagish disillusionment can come off a bit forced at times.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
#1013: "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988]
Finally some rap in this competition that isn't either egotistical, 'gangster' or overtly franchise driven. We got some Outkast, NWA and Public Enemy early on, then nothing but Biggie and Eminem for weeks. I swear I don't hate rap. Both of these songs are awesome.
#12: "My Generation" - The Who [1965]
Tad overrated at #12, but still a good song. It's gimmickiness keeps it from being #1 in this group. Patti Smith's version is better anyway. It's more aggressive without the cheesy faux-stuttering.
#524: "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990]
Hey, did you know that TV character actor LL Cool J used to be a rapper? A pretty good one too.
#501: "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959]
On one level it sounds like typical 50's doo-wop, but on another it sounds like nothing else with it's staccatoey backdrop and kind of weird vocals. I like it.
I can't believe that a song that finished in the top 10 of the songs poll is in danger of not getting out of the first round of Bracketology!
I would expect different results in this sort of poll than just a list-driven poll.
To win a list driven poll, a song just has to have a lot of fans. To win a bracket driven poll it needs to have a lot of fans and not very many detractors.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967]
2. "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955]
3. "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964]
4. "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990]
Not the Beatles’ best, but still takes this bracket. “The Great Pretender” is good, the other two are ok.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985]
2. "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000]
3. "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965]
4. "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974]
“There is a Light…” is one of my favorite songs. Sure it’s a little bit melodramatic, but that’s its style. “Yellow” would have been good enough to win some of the other brackets, but it’s outclassed here.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985]
2. "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941]
3. "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007]
4. "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
I like the Jesus and Mary Chain, but “Never Understand” isn’t one of my favorites off Psychocandy. I’ve also never been much of an Elvis fan – give me “Suspicious Minds” instead.
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983]
2. "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984]
3. "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958]
4. "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991]
Easy pick here – “Every Breath You Take” is a classic. It’s surprising how many ‘80s songs I’m placing first – didn’t think I was an ‘80s guy…
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965]
2. "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960]
3. "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984]
4. "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969]
Worst bracket of the week by far. I would place many other songs above the one I’m placing first in this one. I guess it was just which song was the least boring won…
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001]
2. "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968]
3. "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963]
4. "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981]
One of the two best brackets this week. Numbers 1-3 could all make a case for the first spot, but in the end, I just decided to go by plays and the Strokes win out (surprising longevity).
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1. "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992]
2. "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966]
3. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994]
4. "So What" - Miles Davis [1959]
I not quite sure why “Slanted and Enchanted” appeals to me – the melody is weak, the band is noisy, and it seems to stretch out too long. Yet, there’s an intangible quality that draws me to “Summer Babe.” Of course, the other three songs are no slouches – this was by far the hardest decision to make this week.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "My Generation" - The Who [1965]
2. "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959]
3. "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988]
4. "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990]
“My Generation” is hardly my favorite song by the Who (probably not even Top 20), but I love the Who, so that’s still a compliment.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967]: Paul’s half of the greatest double A-side in history, a shimmering, effervescent pop confection that never fails to make me smile (or try to hum along with the trumpet parts).
2. "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990]: Lean, mean, concise and radio-ready – in other words, everything this band frequently wasn’t. An instant alterna-classic, and it holds up very well.
3. "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964]: A prototypical H-D-H production that introduced the world to Levi Stubbs, although his full range wouldn’t be fully unleashed until later.
4. "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955]: A classic, but it must have sounded dated even at the time.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965]: Morrissey and company are greater artists, true, but I’ve always loved this record. The urgent lyrics are matched by one of the most commanding bass lines in rock history, and Eric Burdon’s performance (the whole band’s, really) is simply titanic.
2. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985]: As I’ve written previously, no other song better exemplifies Moz’s ability to be over-the-top (a ten-ton truck? Really?) yet completely heartfelt and emotional at the same time. New bonus points for its use in the scene where Zooey Deschanel first bonds with Joseph Gordon-Levitt in (500) DAYS OF SUMMER (hearing the song through his earbuds in the elevator, she starts singing along in an endearingly off-key warble).
3. "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974]: One of the funkiest #1 hits of the 1970s, courtesy of the Meters, Allen Toussaint’s kicking production, and – oh, yes – the ladies.
4. "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000]: I still like their first two albums, and I still like this song, although it certainly sounds a lot more calculated now than it used to.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007]: I was all set to put “Never Understand” here, because I’ve been a fan since it came out, but then my usual question – which of these 4 would I most like to hear right now? – reared its head, and it was no contest. Middle-aged sexual frustration has never been so harrowing or so hilarious.
2. "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985]: It didn’t sound like anything else out there at the time, and it still doesn’t, really. The sound of that first album was so distinctive and original that even the J&MC themselves couldn’t sustain it.
3. "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941]: Not as magisterial as “Strange Fruit” – what could be? – but another superb example of what one of the great voices of all time could do with material worthy of her gifts, at a time when she was still in full possession of them.
4. "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956]: SH2B4, but then again, not really – absolute historical importance aside, I’ve always considered it overrated. Give me either side of the single that followed it any day.
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983]: Very likely the most misunderstood song ever to become such a massive hit – folks, the lyrics are INTENTIONALLY creepy, and it isn’t Sting’s fault if generations of prom organizers and wedding DJs have failed to comprehend that.
2. "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991]: By contrast, here’s one that’s impossible to misinterpret, unless “what I got you got to get and put it in you” has some hidden alternate meaning. RHCP at their most in-your-face gonzo, and at their best.
3. "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984]: One of the most glorious ballads of the Eighties, and the perfect follow-up single to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
4. "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958]: One of the great Fifties instrumental hits, but way out of its league here.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960]: Brother Ray’s eye-opening debut single for ABC – a standard that instantly became his signature song – is far and away the standout in this rather uninspired bracket.
2. "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965]: Yes, it’s cheesy and corny and badly dated. But it’s also one of those oldies that you never forget after hearing it once, and it’s lasted for reasons beyond Cher’s eternal fame. It wasn’t selected as the wake-up song in GROUNDHOG DAY for nothing.
3. "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969]: I don’t have time to listen to the extended version on LIVE/DEAD, the only one I know, and I can’t even remember how it goes, to be honest. But I know I like it more than #4.
4. "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984]: It cemented her superstar status, but I’ve always found it a little annoying – not as bad as “Material Girl,” but pretty close.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963]: Not many songs are instantly identifiable by a single drumbeat, but this – one of a few records that makes a strong case for being Phil Spector’s greatest production – is one of them. A masterpiece in every respect, and – to continue what seems to be my movie motif this week – a perfect opening song for Scorsese’s MEAN STREETS, my favorite film of all time.
2. "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968]: Another movie song, but not really – oddly enough, the full version isn’t actually in THE GRADUATE itself. One of S&G’s best records, although its cryptic lyrics don’t lend themselves to covers – as Evan Dando definitively proved.
3. "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001]: A good single, but there are other songs on IS THIS IT that represent their tight-but-frantic approach much better.
4. "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981]: I had never heard it before listening to it this week. It might rank higher if I spent more time with it – that implacably deep bass IS incredible.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1. "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966]: Another mid-60s classic I’ve loved unreservedly since the first time I heard it. Shimmering power-pop giving way to an almost free-form break and guitar solo that sound like they’re going to collapse any second but somehow make their way back again for an apocalyptic finish. Utterly breathtaking.
2. "So What" - Miles Davis [1959]: It seems almost silly for the coolly magnificent opening number on the greatest jazz album of all time to compete here, but there you go. It really doesn’t get much better than this.
3. "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992]: I bought S&E right after it finished second in the Pazz & Jop poll without knowing anything about it at all (Christgau’s descriptive term “pigfuck” – a compliment – was decidedly unhelpful). I don’t remember what I was expecting, but a heady mix of low-fi sonics and brilliantly effortless pop hooks probably wasn’t it. This first track perfectly set the tone for the album, and for the rest of Malkmus’s career.
4. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994]: MONSTER sounded like a refreshing departure from the R.E.M. sound at the time, but it hasn’t really aged well. This first single encapsulates it, for better and worse.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "My Generation" - The Who [1965]: Simply one of the most exciting records ever made, with all four members playing to their strengths and Moon and Townshend going out of their minds in the final minute.
2. "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990]: Mr. Smith has had an erratic career, but the title track and statement of purpose from his best album is a stone-cold brilliant single, one of hip-hop’s very best. That guitar sample at the very end kills me every time.
3. "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988]: I need to listen to those first two albums more. The lyrics are your usual my-mic-fu-is-the-best stuff, but Rakim’s legendary flow (I love the internal rhyme of “the beat is felt” and “put on your seat belt”) makes this a winner.
4. "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959]: Wilson’s voice always transcended his material, largely because it almost always HAD to. I’ve never really cared for this song.
BRAHMS 7
1. "Baby I Need Your Loving" - this loneliness inside me darlin, makes me feel half-alive
2. "Been Caught Stealing"
3. "The Great Pretender"
4. "Penny Lane"
VIVALDI 7
1. "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" - a sweet, quirky love song. one of his least cynical.
2. "We Gotta Get Out of This Place"
3. "Lady Marmalade"
4. "Yellow"
VIVALDI 1
1. "Heartbreak Hotel" - love the spareness of the arrangement. vocals unbeatable.
2. "No Pussy Blues"
3. "God Bless the Child"
4. "Never Understand"
SIBELIUS 5
1. "Every Breath You Take" - big brother!
2. "Time After Time"
3. "Rebel Rouser"
4. "Give It Away"
VERDI 11
1. "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray's is still my favorite version of Hoagy's absolutely perfect song
2. "Dark Star"
3. "Like a Virgin"
4. "I Got You Babe"
BRAHMS 1
1. "Be My Baby" - will never get sick of this. union of great songwriting, peformance & production.
2. "Heartbeat"
3. "Mrs. Robinson"
4. "Last Nite"
WAGNER 4
1. "Eight Miles High" - trippy verse & pretty chorus, it's got everything the byrds do best
2. "Summer Babe"
3. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?"
4. "So What"
VERDI 1
1. "My Generation" - the stuttering vocals, john's bass fills, keith basically soloing for the last minute of the song, and raw guitar throughout - an unlikely formula for a hit, but i guess it struck a few chords
2. "Follow the Leader"
3. "Lonely Teardrops"
4. "Mama Said Knock You Out"
Okay! Time for a gamebreak! At this point this week, we have:
* a bracket where first and second are separated by two points
* a bracket where first and second are separated by three points
* a bracket where first and second are separated by six points
* a bracket where first and third are separated by seven points
* a bracket where first and fourth are separated by five points
* a bracket where first and fourth are separated by six points
* two brackets where the first-place song has at least a nine-point lead
You have 54 hours to get your vote in. As you can see, anything can still happen!
Sorry, campers—this will have to be another comment-lite ballot. Life remains crazy…my goal is to not have to do this too often, especially in later rounds. (Matt, we are still planning to revert to four-bracket weeks then, right?)
There are a few very weak groups this time.
BRAHMS 7
1. PENNY LANE. From the most musically surreal era in the Beatles’ history, this is Paul’s most surreal song. I’ve warmed to it since the last time we did this.
2. THE GREAT PRETENDER
3. BABY I NEED YOUR LOVING
4. BEEN CAUGHT STEALING
VIVALDI 7
1. THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT. Easiest pick of the week. Oddly, I find Moz much less irritating now than I did 25—hell, 5—years ago. But this is the one song I always loved even when I truly hated the Smiths.
2. LADY MARMALADE
3. YELLOW
4. WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE
VIVALDI 1
1. HEARTBREAK HOTEL. Like many, I’m tempted to give J&MC the nod, but the power and influence of Elvis’ breakthrough is undeniable. The shocking thing is still how melancholy it was in a decade of bright, energetic rock songs.
2. NEVER UNDERSTAND
3. NO PUSSY BLUES
4. GOD BLESS THE CHILD. Pity the people who first heard this on Grey’s Anatomy.
SIBELIUS 5
1. EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE. This song WAS the summer of 1983. The apotheosis of the Police’s obsessed-loner vibe.
2. REBEL ROUSER
3. GIVE IT AWAY
4. TIME AFTER TIME
VERDI 11. Just a terrible bracket.
1. GEORGIA ON MY MIND. Well, actually this might be the easiest pick of the week, since it’s a song I kind of like a little bit. Which is not at all true of these three:
2. LIKE A VIRGIN
3. I GOT YOU BABE
4. DARK STAR
BRAHMS 1
1. BE MY BABY. Ronnie wasn’t a great singer and she her personality doesn’t exactly shine through on this song. But her limited, declamatory style somehow puts this across perfectly. Now appearing in a commercial for an erectile dysfunction drug.
2. HEARTBEAT. New one on me, too. Great track.
3. MRS. ROBINSON
4. LAST NITE
WAGNER 4. Strongest bracket of the week.
1. SO WHAT. I may be giving this song a boost because I (and some of my friends) made such a BFD out of Kind of Blue’s 50th anniversary. Easily the most influential jazz song of the last 5 decades, and it deserves to be, even when the results of that influence are…unfortunate.
2. SUMMER BABE
3. EIGHT MILES HIGH. Nice ‘n swirly.
3. WHAT’S THE FREQUENCY, KENNETH? Stop press…schleuse picks R.E.M. song LAST! I have to admit that this song is stuck in my head more than any other—by any band—but, while it’s a fun rocker, it’s not exactly groundbreaking.
VERDI 1
1. MY GENERATION. Not close to among my favorite Who tracks, but takes yet another soft bracket just because there’s nothing here that’s good enough to pull ahead.
2. MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT
3. FOLLOW THE LEADER
4. LONELY TEARDROPS
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967]
One of the least favourite The Beatles songs but this bracket is just so weak that I must put Penny Lane to first.
2. "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990]
Hmm, this was my #99 in the 90's final poll. But in this week it has sounded a rather good.
3. "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964]
4. "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955]
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985]
After Jane's Addiction this sounds soo GOOD. It's a shame that this weeks two best songs are in the same bracket.
2. "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000]
The second single (excluding Ode to Deodorant) by Coldplay is still their best. In the early summer of 2000 I didn't expect that this band would be soon one of the biggest band on Earth. I also didn't expect that this would be their best song they'll ever write.
3. "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965]
4. "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974]
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
This is actually a very good bracket.
1. "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985]
The grating noise. What else good rock song needs? Maybe tape recorder in the next room to record the song. Checked.
2. "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941]
3. "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007]
4. "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984]
True Colors is my favourite Cyndi Lauper song (and some covers like Anne Brun's are even better). Time after Time is also good song.
2. "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983]
The stalker song sounded surprisingly fresh this week.
3. "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991]
4. "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958]
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965]
Pure psychedelia.
2. "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960]
3. "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984]
4. "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969]
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981]
This was also a new song to me (third listen now). It's a good song but the main reason it's a #1 is that tonight I'm just bored to listen to Last Nite or Be My Baby. Anyway good bracket.
2. "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963]
3. "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001]
4. "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1. "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966]
The song about the band's airplane flight to England. Or was it inner flight? Not as psychedelic as I Got You Babe.
2. "So What" - Miles Davis [1959]
3. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994]
4. "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992]
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988]
Great flow, great bass line, great use of samples...
2. "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990]
3. "My Generation" - The Who [1965]
4. "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959]
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "Penny Lane" – I'd have to rank this as one Paul's best and it competes with its co-A side.
2. "Baby I Need Your Loving" – A solid Motown song.
3. "The Great Pretender" – Somewhat straightforward, but good for the 50's.
4. "Been Caught Stealing" – Music is a little funky, but mostly mediocre and the singing is below average.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" – Took a couple listens to get it after seeing it so high on the all time list, but once I did I thought it was fantastic.
2. "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" -Cool intro and I like the confidence the singer seems to show off.
3. "Yellow" – I actually like a few of their later singles better than this, but it was a huge surprise the first time hearing it.
4. "Lady Marmalade" – Better than the recent cover, but still barely above mediocre.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Heartbreak Hotel" – One of the few Elvis songs I love.
2. "Never Understand" – Another solid song that has a great atmosphere.
3. "No Pussy Blues" – I liked it a lot more the first listen, but it dragged on the second time.
4. “God Bless the Child" – Just sounds old.
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "Every Breath You Take" – Easy choice for this bracket with this slowed down Police.
2. "Time After Time" – Three close songs with this one being the most catchy.
3. "Give It Away" – One of the few songs that has fallen due to being included in the Rock Band games since it is boring to play and talk.
4. "Rebel Rouser" – Cool, but repetitive.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
Easily worst bracket of bracketology so far.
1. "Georgia on My Mind" – Very good song that would have difficulty in half the brackets. I'm not a huge fan of his, but this is my easily favourite.
2. "Like a Virgin" – Last in any other bracket except Verdi 1. Laughable production with some nugget of catchiness somewhere.
3. "I Got You Babe" – It's not fair that this gets to be 3 since such a simple stupid song should not get the same score as “Be My Baby”.
4. "Dark Star" – YAWN.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
A strong contender for the best bracket yet with three great songs.
1. "Last Nite" – In a bracket of three amazing songs this song is so catchy with fantastic singing is my favourite song in a long time.
2. "Mrs. Robinson" – Close to “Last Nite” and all around great sounding.
3. "Be My Baby" – Near pop perfection, but I don't have the same emotional attachment to it. Feel really bad about putting it third place.
4. "Heartbeat" – Huge drop off with this being a strong dance song.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1. "Eight Miles High" -
2. "Summer Babe" – When I first started to listen to them I started out with this song and what a starter.
3. "So What" – My knowledge of jazz is minimal, but this is a pretty cool song that is a little long.
4. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - I like this song a lot, but the guitar solo is not interesting enough.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Lonely Teardrops" – I'm really surprised I'm putting a 50's song first against such a monster, but he dominates this song. The songs also has cool backing vocals.
2. "My Generation" – Great song that is not quite my favourite Who song.
3. "Follow the Leader" – A little slow and relaxed, but great bass and rapping.
4. "Mama Said Knock You Out" – No thanks I'm not feeling it.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1 - "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967]
2 - "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964]
3 - "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955]
4 - "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990]
Nothing here is a particular favourite. Well,Penny Lane is probably one of my favourite Beatles songs so it will be #1 even though I'm not really in a Beatles mood at the moment. Strong songs from the Four Tops and The Platters also. I thought the Jane's Addiction song was sort of cool when I first heard it,but I've gotten sick of it.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1 - "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985]
2 - "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000]
3 - "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965]
4 - "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974]
As pop elton said,it's a shame that the 2 best songs of the week are in the same week. 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out' is the song I normally rank as my favourite of all time. The song,album and band that changed my music listening forever. If 'There is a Light...' was to lose to any song though,I wouldn't be too disappointed with 'Yellow',a true classic of the 21st century. Still their best. The Animals' song is decent,Lady Marmalade thoroughly outclassed...
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1 - "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985]
2 - "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
3 - "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941]
4 - "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007]
Relatively weak bracket. J&M Chain win fairly easily though with 'Never Understand',which despite being a very good song,is not even among my favourites on the album. Enjoy the Elvis song,but the other 2 don't do too much for me despite having their merits
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1 - "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984]
2 - "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983]
3 - "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991]
4 - "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958]
A couple of years ago,The Police would have easily won this for me,but 'Every Breath You Take' is a song I've sort of tired of,although I won't turn it off if it comes on. 'Time After Time' is a great tune,has become one of my favourites - sort of surprised me after for years only knowing Lauper from 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun'. Overrated song by RHCP - they've done loads better. Not into 'Rebel Rouser' at all...
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1 - "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960]
2 - "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969]
3 - "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965]
4 - "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984]
'Georgia On My Mind' wins fairly easily - great performance by one of the all-time legends. All the other songs,I'd turn off - the bottom 2 are both terrible in my opinion. Cher is bad enough,but Sonny's vocals are just painful.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1 - "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963]
2 - "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001]
3 - "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968]
4 - "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981]
Stick with the rankings. I think 'Be My Baby' is a bit overrated,but it's still a great pop tune and probably the best of the girl group songs. All great songs from the others,no doubt 'Last Nite' is the one I'd play the most often though.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1 - "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992]
2 - "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966]
3 - "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994]
4 - "So What" - Miles Davis [1959]
Tough. All 4 songs are really great. 'Summer Babe' was the first Pavement song I heard and become a favourite although I much prefer their follow up 'Crooked Rain,Crooked Rain' to their ramshackle debut. Surprised 'Eight Miles High' is ranked so high,never thought of it that way,but still love it. One of my all-time favourite intros on the R.E.M. track,thought the album it was on was pretty weak though. Jazz isn't really my thing,but 'So What' is one of the few songs I've enjoyed of that particular genre.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1 - "My Generation" - The Who [1965]
2 - "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959]
3 - "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990]
4 - "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988]
The Who certainly did plenty of better songs,even some of their early pre-67 songs I prefer to it,but it's easily the best song here. Enjoyable Jackie Wilson track. The 2 rap tracks I'm relatively new to,but neither really did much for me...
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "Penny Lane" - The Beatles [1967] - Not many songs are worthy of being the other A-side to "Strawberry Fields Forever" but this one does. Love the arrangement - the other George (Martin) got it spot-on.
2. "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction [1990] - Kind of a drop-off, I like Perry Farrell's singing actually but it has that annoying over-trebly 1990 guitar sound.
3. "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops [1964] - Good chorus, but not the cream of the Motown crop.
4. "The Great Pretender" - The Platters [1955] - Meh. Doesn't stick out from the similar songs of its era.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths [1985] - I remember seeing the video for this one day out of the blue one morning and it just knocked my socks off. It's the perfect song to listen to after a shallow night out, on the ride home, when you can hear Moz pining to go find love, even if it means a life-ending car crash.
2. "Yellow" - Coldplay [2000] - If there's any song I can be certain is in exactly the right spot, it's this one. Coldplay, for a long time, looked like they might run away with Radiohead's heavyweight title for "Best Band in the World." Then 2005 hit, and they decided to make Rattle and Hum instead of OK Computer. But they could have never started without this song, the one that launched them into the stratosphere, the simply written tune with the deceptively interesting chorus melody.
3. "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle [1974] - Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir? If this groove is in the background, you betcha.
4. "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals [1965] - That bass line is dumber and dumber every time I hear it. Descending chromatics get old fast.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley [1956] - A relatively weak #1, but then again, no, Elvis lays down a great vocal, the rhythm is a solid shuffle, and I like the tune.
2. "Never Understand" - The Jesus and Mary Chain [1985] - Feedback *radio-staticy noise in background eeeeek kurghghhghghggh eeeek eeek wobble wobble krrrrrggggh* and yet a pop song still goes on. Hmmph. Didn't expect that to work out.
3. "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman [2007] - Reaffirms my belief that "Flight of the Conchords" is a great show.
4. "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (With Eddie Haywood & His Orchestra) [1941] - Can't get into this. Nope.
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "Every Breath You Take" - The Police [1983] - The classic stalker song. It's great in that it takes everything great about the Police and condenses it to the perfect radio-friendly hit.
2. "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers [1991] - Not my favorite off BSSM (it has the 1990 guitar sound again) but good nonetheless for the pure energy of it.
3. "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy [1958] - Talk about retro, that guitar in the beginning is icy cool.
4. "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper [1984] - I liked this as a kid, but it's been sanitized by the soft-rock radio I would hear it on.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles [1960] - My favorite Ray track. Just beautiful in a way most records at the time weren't.
2. "Like a Virgin" - Madonna [1984] - Not worthy of #2. At all.
3. "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead [1969] - I don't have time for this...
4. "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [1965] - ...but I don't have the patience for this.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes [1963] - I had a very hard time choosing between the top 3 in this bracket. I decided to go with a "Which song is the least flawed?" question, and this is the answer. I may not listen to it as often, but the results are great every time. And if the name hasn't been mentioned enough: Phil Spector. Credit where credit's due.
2. "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel [1968] - Another great song by S&G this week, maybe their best. Great, great catchy-as-hell tune. And a Joe DiMaggio shout-out = instant love.
3. "Last Nite" - The Strokes [2001] - It pained me to put this here, but there are better Strokes tunes. "Hard to Explain" will be #1 when it comes up to bat.
4. "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner [1981] - Just outclassed. It never stood a chance.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1. "So What" - Miles Davis [1959] - I don't know how to appropiately describe this song other than to say that when you look up "cool" in the dictionary this song plays, like one of those annoying greeting cards.
2. "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds [1966] - Trippiest non-Jefferson Airplane song I can thing of. It really sounds like an out of control plane until the pilot swoops into the chorus.
3. "Summer Babe" - Pavement [1992] - Good song by a band I need to listen to more.
4. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. [1994] - They can do better.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "My Generation" - The Who [1965] - Hear that? It's the sound of your parents' ideals being destroyed. Even if it is overrated, I love everything about it, the stutters, the feedback, the maniacal drumming of Keith Moon, and of course those sublime bass fills.
2. "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim [1988] - There are few songs where a great MC took a hot beat and just killed every verse. This is one of them.
3. "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson [1959] - A joyous offering from Jackie, but lands squarely in 3rd place.
4. "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J [1990] - I had no idea he could rap for real. He did pretty good for last place.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Steeling
- This one's from a quite good album, but this song isn't the best on it. Yet it is the most wellknown. It wins this quite weak bracket, but it probably wouldn't have won any other.
2. The Four Tops - Baby I Need Your Loving
- I love Reach Out, but this is only ok.
3. The Beatles - Penny Lane
- I usually think of Beatles as a band with almost only good songs. But listening to them, I find myself wanting to listen so something else. This song gets me quite bored.
4. The Platters - The Great Pretender
- Oh no. My mother used to listen to this when I was little, but I think somebody else sung it then. I didn't like it then, and now it's even worse.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. The Smiths - There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
- I saw Morrissey at Hultsfred Festival in Sweden i 2004, and the greatest moment of the festival was when he played this song. It wasn't a personal favorite of mine before that, but you felt the energy of the crowd. Two other amazing moments was when Marit Bergman performed Adios Amigo (very popular at that time), and I could actually feel the earth move, and when Sweden scored against Italy at the European Championship. The roar was unbelievable.
2. The Animals - We Gotta Get Out of This Place
- The sound of the Vietnam War. This was on a great cd box I had once with Vietnam War music. This was one of my favs, and it still is.
3. Coldplay - Yellow
- I've seen Coldplay live twice, first in 2001 when this was what they had to offer, and then in 2003 when they were a great band. I never liked Parachutes that much, they sounded like Travis copycats I remember thinking.
4. Patti LaBelle - Lady Marmalade
- The kind of music that gets played on all-girl parties, if you're lucky.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel
- Elvis was one of the first better-hair-than-voice singer, still he was an amazing entertainer. This is a good song, but I've heard it too much.
Billie Holiday - God Bless the Child
- It's a beautiful song. Billie's voice is lovely, and she could probably make even the hardest man soft. Still I never find time to listen to this kind of music
Grinderman - No Pussy Blues
- I like Nick Cave, but this is not Nick Cave at his best.
Jesus and Mary Chain - Never Understand
- I like this one too, but somehow it ended up down here.
Coming back with more later, hopefully. I have to clean the apartment.
SIBELIUS 5
1. Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser
- Shock victory for this Cruisin' Cadillac Classic. That's the name of the CD I found this one on on Spotify. I'll probably never hear it again, and I won't miss it, but first place it is never the less.
2. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It Away
- One of the more annoying hits the Peppers had.
3. The Police - Every Breath You Take
- Sting should stick with what he knows best, tantric sex.
4. Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time
- I don't like her voice, not to mention the stupid hair. This one is better than Girls Just Want to Have Fun, but then again everything is.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. Sonny & Cher - I Got You Babe
- I don't know who sings this song best; Sonny Bono or Butthead. But it is pleasant enough, and miles, no wait, lightyears ahead of the rest.
2. Grateful Dead - Dark Star
- I can't turn this off fast enough, yet still it comes second in this bracket, which is probably the worst bracket of them all.
3. Ray Charles - Georgia on My Mind
- Ray Charles is so boring.
4. Madonna - Like a Virgin
- If Madonna was made of shit, she'd probably be the best smelling shit in the world, but she would still be shit.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. The Ronettes - Be My Baby
- This is how girl vocal groups should listen. Fantastic song.
2. Simon & Garfunkel - Mrs Robinson
- The Graduate is one of the best movies ever, and this is a great song. It was good with Lemonheads as well.
3. The Strokes - Last Nite
- The sound of a new century. The saviors of rock. Weird to think they're from private school rich boys.
4. Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
- If this doesn't end last here, I'll be very surprised.
Just a shade under 10 hours left to vote this week!
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1. Miles Davis- "So What": I'm no jazz fan, but if I listened to more stuff like this, I might become one.
2. R.E.M.- "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?": I'm not the biggest R.E.M. forum on this forum by any stretch, but this is one of their better hits, in my book.
3. Pavement- "Summer Babe": Yet another band that works better in theory to me than in practice. Maybe it's a 90s thing.
4. The Byrds- "Eight Miles High": I'm no Byrds fan, but this is more appealing to me than most of their other songs. Still, it's 4th here for me.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. LL Cool J- "Mama Said Knock You Out": For one of the most fun-loving and laid back rappers of the 80s/90s, this song is pretty intense. Its performance on Unplugged is one of the landmark performances of the show.
2. Eric B. & Rakim- "Follow the Leader": Late 80s rap was so much more vibrant and full of life!
3. Jackie Wilson- "Lonely Teardrops": Merely pleasant to these ears.
4. The Who- "My Generation": Talkin' 'bout my disapproval.
One more thing: Since first hearing it a week ago, I must have now listened to "Heartbeat" at least 40 times. At nearly 10 minutes a pop, that's about 400 minutes of funk.
Voting is now over for this week. Results will be posted as soon as I finish tallying everything up.
I had the results, but now I have to tally up Moonbeam's ballot. So we have Moonbeam to thank for the results taking a little longer to post.
Okay, here are your results.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "Penny Lane" - The Beatles (63 points, 13 first-place votes)
2. "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops (44, 2)
3. "The Great Pretender" - The Platters (42, 0)
4. "Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction (41, 4)
It took the Fab Four a little while to get going in this bracket, but "Penny Lane" ultimately had more than enough to take down its competition. The Beatles now have six songs in the second round. The Four Tops still have "Reach Out" in Bracketology, and the Platters have "Only You," but Jane's Addiction is done after only one bracket.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths (60, 11)
2. "Yellow" - Coldplay (47, 3)
3. "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals (43, 3)
4. "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle (40, 2)
For a time earlier this week, it appeared as though Coldplay might pull off the upset, as they kept things close with the Smiths. But a lot of late love for Morrissey and co. put "There Is a Light..." into the second round. The Animals still have one more chance to advance to the second round, but LaBelle and Coldplay are gone.
VIVALDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley (50, 7)
2. "Never Understand" - The Jesus & Mary Chain (46, 5)
3. "God Bless the Child" - Billie Holiday (45, 4)
4. "No Pussy Blues" - Grinderman (39, 2)
Had the week ended on Wednesday, this bracket would have produced one of the more surprising upsets of Bracketology, as Billie Holiday held a fairly comfortable lead. Over the last couple of days, the Jesus & Mary Chain and the King stormed back and overtook Lady Day, with Elvis ultimately getting more appreciation. "Heartbreak Hotel" advances to the second round. Both the Chain and Billie have another chance to advance. Grinderman is out after one bracket, but Nick Cave still has "The Mercy Seat."
SIBELIUS BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "Every Breath You Take" - The Police (61, 10)
2. "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper (52, 7)
3. "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers (42, 1)
4. "Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy (35, 1)
Another bracket that, had the week ended sooner, would have produced a surprising upset. Cyndi Lauper held a slim lead for most of the week, but the Police ultimately had the stronger fanbase. Six of the last nine ballots had Sting and co. in the top spot. "Every Breath You Take" will advance to take on Smokey Robinson's "Tears of a Clown" and Public Enemy's "Fight the Power." Lauper still has "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and the Peppers have "Under the Bridge," but Duane Eddy is gone.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles (66, 14)
2. "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher (42, 3)
3. "Like a Virgin" - Madonna (38, 0)
4. "Dark Star" - Grateful Dead (34, 1)
For a time this week, there were two brackets where a song had all the first-place votes. This was the first of the two. Brother Ray utterly destroys all his competition this week to get the week's biggest blowout: a 24-point win. "Georgia on My Mind" will face Prince's "When Doves Cry" in the second round. Madonna is now oh-for-four in the first round, but she has eight chances remaining. The Grateful Dead are oh-for-two in the first round, and they are now gone. Sonny & Cher are gone after only one week.
BRAHMS BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes (61, 10)
2. "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel (48, 2)
3. "Last Nite" - The Strokes (47, 5)
4. "Heartbeat" - Taana Gardner (34, 2)
This bracket was very close between the Ronettes, the Strokes, and Simon & Garfunkel, but six of the last eight ballots had "Be My Baby" in the top spot, and the Ronettes advance to face David Bowie's "Changes." Simon & Garfunkel advanced "The Boxer" last week, and they still have two more chances to move on. The Strokes have one last chance for total victory, but Taana Gardner is done.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 4
1. "So What" - Miles Davis (56, 11)
2. "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds (49, 5)
3. "Summer Babe" - Pavement (38, 2)
4. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" - R.E.M. (37, 0)
Miles Davis got the top spot in the first six ballots of the week, and eight of the first nine. For a while, it appeared as though "So What" would waltz into the second round. But some late love for the Byrds' "Eight Miles High" made this one very close. In the end, the Byrds did not have enough, and Mr. Cool will move on to the second round. "So What" will take on Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper." Not all is lost for the other three groups, as the Byrds have already advanced "Mr. Tambourine Man" and have one more chance to move on. Pavement still has "Cut Your Hair," and R.E.M. still has six opportunities to move on.
VERDI BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "My Generation" - The Who (54, 9)
2. "Follow the Leader" - Eric B. & Rakim (49, 4)
3. "Mama Said Knock You Out" - LL Cool J (36, 2)
4. "Lonely Teardrops" - Jackie Wilson (31, 2)
What amazed me most about this bracket was how Eric B. & Rakim managed to stay close to the Who, even though the duo only got four first-place votes. Eight second-place votes (three points for each vote) really helped! But this one belonged to the Who the whole way. After losing in their first two brackets, the Who finally put a song into the second round. "My Generation" will face OutKast's "Ms. Jackson" and the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army." Eric B. & Rakim still have two chances to advance, and Jackie Wilson still has "Higher and Higher," but LL Cool J is done after only one bracket.
STATISTICS
TOP TEN BEST-PERFORMING SONGS
1. "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay" - Otis Redding (3.905 points per ballot)
2. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience (3.882)
3. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Nirvana (3.778)
4. "All Along the Watchtower" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience (3.75)
5. "Crazy" - Gnarls Barkley (3.667) tie
5. "Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles (3.667) tie
7. "Ms. Jackson" - OutKast (3.65)
8. "'Heroes'" - David Bowie (3.611)
9. "Living for the City" - Stevie Wonder (3.588)
10. "London Calling" - The Clash (3.571) tie
10. "Tomorrow Never Knows" - The Beatles (3.571) tie
TOP TEN WORST-PERFORMING SONGS
1. "Donna" - Ritchie Valens (1.333)
2. "You're No Good" - Linda Ronstadt (1.35)
3. "Just the Way You Are" - Billy Joel (1.353)
4. "I Want It That Way" - Backstreet Boys (1.4)
5. "Crazy Arms" - Ray Price (1.474)
6. "Hot Stuff" - Donna Summer (1.529)
7. "Up on the Roof" - The Drifters (1.55)
8. "Hounds of Love" - The Futureheads (1.556)
9. "Yeah!" - Usher (Featuring Ludacris & Lil' Jon) (1.611)
10. "Acid Trax" - Phuture (1.619)
TOP TEN WORST-PERFORMING SONGS TO ADVANCE TO THE SECOND ROUND
1. "California Girls" - The Beach Boys (2.667) tie
1. "God" - John Lennon (2.667) tie
1. "One More Time" - Daft Punk (2.667) tie
4. "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds (2.722)
5. "I Feel Love" - Donna Summer (2.75) tie
5. "Wichita Lineman" - Glen Campbell (2.75) tie
7. "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley (2.778)
8. "Fast Car" - Tracy Chapman (2.810)
9. "Genius of Love" - Tom Tom Club (2.813)
10. "Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival (2.842)
TOP TEN BEST-PERFORMING SONGS TO BE ELIMINATED IN THE FIRST ROUND
1. "No Woman, No Cry" - Bob Marley & the Wailers (3.059)
2. "I Can See for Miles" - The Who (3.053)
3. "Rid of Me" - PJ Harvey (3.036)
4. "Atmosphere" - Joy Division (3.0)
5. "Walk on By" - Dionne Warwick (2.952)
6. "Sign 'o' the Times" - Prince (2.95)
7. "Don't Worry Baby" - The Beach Boys (2.941) tie
7. "Ace of Spades" - Motörhead (2.941) tie
7. "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" - The Jam (2.941) tie
10. "Iron Man" - Black Sabbath (2.9)
TEN LOWEST-RANKED SONGS TO ADVANCE TO THE SECOND ROUND
1. "One More Time" - Daft Punk (ranked #824)
2. "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" - Mission of Burma (#772)
3. "God" - John Lennon (#714)
4. "Karma Police" - Radiohead (#709)
5. "California Girls" - The Beach Boys (#696)
6. "Come as You Are" - Nirvana (#661)
7. "The Boxer" - Simon & Garfunkel (#657)
8. "So What" - Miles Davis (#636)
9. "Genius of Love" - Tom Tom Club (#595)
10. "Reelin' in the Years" - Steely Dan (#449)
TEN HIGHEST-RANKED SONGS TO BE ELIMINATED IN THE FIRST ROUND
1. "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" - Jerry Lee Lewis (#64)
2. "No Woman, No Cry" - Bob Marley & the Wailers (#75)
3. "Mystery Train" - Elvis Presley (#83)
4. "Walk on By" - Dionne Warwick (#109)
5. "Won't Get Fooled Again" - The Who (#121)
6. "Sign 'o' the Times" - Prince (#129)
7. "Sexual Healing" - Marvin Gaye (#138)
8. "Blitzkrieg Bop" - The Ramones (#145)
9. "Don't Worry Baby" - The Beach Boys (#149)
10. "Like a Virgin" - Madonna (#172)
MORE STATISTICS
WHO GOT THE MOST CORRECT WINNERS THIS WEEK?
1. Alex D (8 out of 8 - 100%) tie
1. schleuse (8 out of 8 - 100%) tie
3. Greg (6 out of 8 - 75%) tie
3. nicolas (6 out of 8 - 75%) tie
5. brose (5 out of 8 - 62.5%) tie
5. Harold Wexler (5 out of 8 - 62.5%) tie
5. Lanka (5 out of 8 - 62.5%) tie
5. Matt Schroeder (5 out of 8 - 62.5%) tie
5. Midaso (5 out of 8 - 62.5%) tie
5. VanillaFire1000 (5 out of 8 - 62.5%) tie
11. Nassim (4 out of 8 - 50%) tie
11. Penguin (4 out of 8 - 50%) tie
11. Rune (3 out of 6 - 50%) tie
11. sonofsamiam (4 out of 8 - 50%) tie
15. Anthony (2 out of 5 - 40%)
16. BillAdama (3 out of 8 - 37.5%) tie
16. Moonbeam (3 out of 8 - 37.5%) tie
18. John (2 out of 8 - 25%) tie
18. pop elton (2 out of 8 - 25%) tie
OVERALL TOP TEN (BY PERCENTAGE)
1. Jackson (7 out of 8 - 87.5%)
2. Michael (12 out of 15 - 80%)
3. Honorio (6 out of 8 - 75%) tie
3. Mindrocker (6 out of 8 - 75%) tie
5. Alex D (40 out of 55 - 72.73%)
6. Harold Wexler (48 out of 72 - 66.67%) tie
6. Midaso (48 out of 72 - 66.67%) tie
8. SR (37 out of 56 - 66.07%)
9. nicolas (47 out of 72 - 65.28%)
10. brose (46 out of 72 - 63.89%)
OVERALL TOP TEN (BY NUMBER CORRECT)
1. Harold Wexler (48) tie
1. Midaso (48) tie
3. nicolas (47)
4. brose (46)
5. Matt Schroeder (44)
6. schleuse (42)
7. BillAdama (41)
8. Alex D (40) tie
8. sonofsamiam (40) tie
10. SR (37)
2nd place finishes have no way of advancing right? Eight Miles High is in your top 10 worst ranking songs to advance.