Go to the NEW FORUM
WEEK 25
A little breakdown of this week's songs by decade...
1920s:
1930s:
1940s:
1950s:
1960s:
1970s:
1980s:
1990s:
2000s:
Also of note:
Two brackets from the Beethoven bloc
Two brackets from the Wagner bloc
Two brackets from the Chopin bloc
Two songs by Elvis Presley
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.
TCHAIKOVSKY BLOC, BRACKET 16
#102: "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor [1990]
#411: "Birthday" - The Sugarcubes [1988]
#614: "Crosstown Traffic" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience [1968]
#923: "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake [2006]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 5
#60: "Loser" - Beck [1994]
#453: "O Superman (For Massenet)" - Laurie Anderson [1982]
#572: "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B. & Rakim [1987]
#965: "Theme from S'Express" - S'Express [1989]
SCHUBERT BLOC, BRACKET 9
#43: "Hotel California" - Eagles [1976]
#470: "Only Shallow" - My Bloody Valentine [1991]
#555: "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon [1972]
#982: "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds [1985]
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 15
#157: "The Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim [1998]
#356: "B.O.B." - OutKast [2000]
#669: "Crying in the Chapel" - The Orioles [1953]
#868: "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock [1983]
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 13
#32: "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5 [1969]
#481: "No Diggity" - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre) [1996]
#544: "Tumbling Dice" - The Rolling Stones [1972]
#993: "My Funny Valentine" - Chet Baker [1954]
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 7
#192: "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley [1957]
#321: "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival [1969]
#704: "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren [1972]
#833: "I Wonder Why" - Dion & the Belmonts [1959]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 12
#92: "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
#421: "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement [1994]
#604: "Man on the Moon" - R.E.M. [1992]
#933: "I Want You" - Elvis Costello & the Attractions [1986]
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 6
#196: "Autobahn" - Kraftwerk [1974]
#317: "Revolution" - The Beatles [1968]
#708: "Rock & Roll" - The Velvet Underground [1970]
#829: "Love Letters" - Ketty Lester [1962]
TCHAIKOVSKY BLOC, BRACKET 16
#1: "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor [1990]
#2: "Crosstown Traffic" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience [1968]
#3: "Birthday" - The Sugarcubes [1988]
#4: "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake [2006]
One of the best songs ever versus an artist I think is slightly overrated, a song I think the same of and finally a track that's simply not even in the top 10 of this particular artist--and he's not that great either.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 5
#1: "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B. & Rakim [1987]
#2: "Theme from S'Express" - S'Express [1989]
#3: "Loser" - Beck [1994]
#4: "O Superman (For Massenet)" - Laurie Anderson [1982]
Probably one of the weakest brackets for me. I appreciate Eric B. & Rakim, and the album as a whole is pretty good, but I Know You Got Soul isn't that great. I had never heard the S'Express song before, and it sounds pretty funky but not too memorable. Beck, except for Sea Change, is really not my thing, and I haven't warmed to O Superman since the '80s poll.
SCHUBERT BLOC, BRACKET 9
#1: "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds [1985]
#2: "Hotel California" - Eagles [1976]
#3: "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon [1972]
#4: "Only Shallow" - My Bloody Valentine [1991]
Two songs from my personal top 40 of all-time and two songs that almost made the top 500. Awesome bracket.
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 15
#1: "The Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim [1998]
#2: "B.O.B." - OutKast [2000]
#3: "Crying in the Chapel" - The Orioles [1953]
#4: "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock [1983]
AM order for me here, I'm a big fan of the Fatboy Slim album (even though this is not the best song in my opinion) and B.O.B. is pretty fantastic. The other two are enjoyable but nowhere near as good as the first two.
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 13
#1: "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5 [1969]
#2: "Tumbling Dice" - The Rolling Stones [1972]
#3: "No Diggity" - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre) [1996]
#4: "My Funny Valentine" - Chet Baker [1954]
I Want You Back is awesome.
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 7
#1: "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley [1957]
#2: "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival [1969]
#3: "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren [1972]
#4: "I Wonder Why" - Dion & the Belmonts [1959]
Jailhouse Rock is my top 500, Bad Moon Rising should be too, I never saw the light on I Saw The Light and I wonder why I Wonder Why is so highly acclaimed. Yes, I went there.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 12
#1: "Man on the Moon" - R.E.M. [1992]
#2: "I Want You" - Elvis Costello & the Attractions [1986]
#3: "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
#4: "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement [1994]
I don't think any of these songs are among my top 10s for these artists; Pavement might come close though.
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 6
#1: "Autobahn" - Kraftwerk [1974]
#2: "Rock & Roll" - The Velvet Underground [1970]
#3: "Love Letters" - Ketty Lester [1962]
#4: "Revolution" - The Beatles [1968]
Fahren, fahren, fahren auf der Autobahn, with love letters from your heart, and baby it was all right, don't you know it's going to be all right?
The order didn't quite work there, but I thought it was funny two songs had practically the same lyric.
Good songs this week; I see a lot of upsets coming.
TCHAIKOVSKY BLOC, BRACKET 16
1. "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor [1990]
2. "Birthday" - The Sugarcubes [1988]
3. "Crosstown Traffic" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience [1968]
4. "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake [2006]
Going chalk with this one, though very tough call between 1 and 2, both really great.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B. & Rakim [1987]
2. "O Superman (For Massenet)" - Laurie Anderson [1982]
3. "Loser" - Beck [1994]
4. "Theme from S'Express" - S'Express [1989]
Another EXTREMELY tough choice between 1 and 2 (both all-time top 250 for me), but tough funk beats melancholic minimalism this time out.
SCHUBERT BLOC, BRACKET 9
1. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds [1985]
2. "Only Shallow" - My Bloody Valentine [1991]
3. "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon [1972]
4. "Hotel California" - Eagles [1976]
I'm just being unashamedly nostalgic with my #1 this time. Yes, I'd probably rather listen to it than MBV right now.
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 15
1. "B.O.B." - OutKast [2000]
2. "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock [1983]
3. "Crying in the Chapel" - The Orioles [1953]
4. "The Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim [1998]
To echo my previous Breakfast Club theme, this one was "Not even close, Bud!" The best single of the '00s wipes the floor here, though "Rockit" is still pretty fun in its incredibly dated way.
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 13
1. "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5 [1969]
2. "My Funny Valentine" - Chet Baker [1954]
3. "Tumbling Dice" - The Rolling Stones [1972]
4. "No Diggity" - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre) [1996]
Goodness gracious, what a strong bracket! I still have a soft spot for "No Diggity", but it just can't compete. In the end the Jacksons greatest hit wins, though I'm always a sucka for Chet and Exile.
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren [1972]
2. "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley [1957]
3. "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival [1969]
4. "I Wonder Why" - Dion & the Belmonts [1959]
Truth: "No Diggity" would have won this bracket for me. Oh, the vagaries of random seeding! I like Todd when he's in full-on pop mode, so he wins.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 12
1. "I Want You" - Elvis Costello & the Attractions [1986]
2. "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement [1994]
3. "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
4. "Man on the Moon" - R.E.M. [1992]
Honestly, very little separating 1 from 4 here. Elvis scares me on "I Want You", so he's the winner. "Gold Soundz" would dust the bracket if it were in rather than "Cut Your Hair", ho-hum.
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 6
1. "Rock & Roll" - The Velvet Underground [1970]
2. "Autobahn" - Kraftwerk [1974]
3. "Love Letters" - Ketty Lester [1962]
4. "Revolution" - The Beatles [1968]
Hard choice between these fine VU and Kraftwerk songs, but "Rock & Roll" always does the trick for me, poppy or nopoppy. "Revolution" is one of the more overrated Beatles songs out there, never need to hear that one again quite honestly.
Crap, just realized that I forgot to include the decade breakdown. Hope no one missed it too much...
1920s: 0
1930s: 0
1940s: 0
1950s: 5
1960s: 5
1970s: 6
1980s: 7
1990s: 7
2000s: 2
TCHAIKOVSKY BLOC, BRACKET 16
#102: "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor [1990]
#614: "Crosstown Traffic" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience [1968]
#411: "Birthday" - The Sugarcubes [1988]
#923: "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake [2006]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 5
#60: "Loser" - Beck [1994]
#572: "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B. & Rakim [1987]
#965: "Theme from S'Express" - S'Express [1989]
#453: "O Superman (For Massenet)" - Laurie Anderson [1982]
SCHUBERT BLOC, BRACKET 9
#43: "Hotel California" - Eagles [1976]
#982: "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds [1985]
#555: "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon [1972]
#470: "Only Shallow" - My Bloody Valentine [1991]
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 15
#868: "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock [1983]
#669: "Crying in the Chapel" - The Orioles [1953]
#356: "B.O.B." - OutKast [2000]
#157: "The Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim [1998]
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 13
#32: "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5 [1969]
#544: "Tumbling Dice" - The Rolling Stones [1972]
#993: "My Funny Valentine" - Chet Baker [1954]
#481: "No Diggity" - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre) [1996]
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 7
#704: "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren [1972]- changed my listening habits when I was 16.
#321: "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival [1969]
#192: "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley [1957]
#833: "I Wonder Why" - Dion & the Belmonts [1959]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 12
#92: "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
#604: "Man on the Moon" - R.E.M. [1992]
#933: "I Want You" - Elvis Costello & the Attractions [1986]
#421: "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement [1994]
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 6
#317: "Revolution" - The Beatles [1968]
#708: "Rock & Roll" - The Velvet Underground [1970]
#196: "Autobahn" - Kraftwerk [1974]
#829: "Love Letters" - Ketty Lester [1962]
Strong week, but I ran out of time to comment on everything. Again. Dammit.
TCHAIKOVSKY 16
1. BIRTHDAY. My favorite Björk song, bar none. Sounded like pop music from another, unbearably cool planet when it came out…still does, for that matter.
2. NOTHING COMPARES 2 U. I imagine it’s pretty hard to record a Prince song and really make it one’s own (the Bangles failed, badly). But Sinéad pulls it off—probably the only artist ever to do so.
3. CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC. A minor Hendrix song, which nevertheless succeeds in blowing the doors off.
4. SEXYBACK. You know what? This is a good song. But the bracket is brutal.
WAGNER 5
1. O SUPERMAN. An absolutely perfect avant-garde pop song. Always reminds me of a cross-country drive when almost the only thing I listened to was Anderson’s United States Live box set.
2. LOSER. “Loser” is to Beck as “Creep” is to Radiohead. The similarities are remarkable: far from the more interesting work he/they did later, but both are much better known to the general public, both are hooky and clever, both have chorus lyrics about self-loathing, and both got hung with the “generational anthem” tag.
3. I KNOW YOU GOT SOUL.
4. THEME FROM S’EXPRESS
SCHUBERT 9
1. ONLY SHALLOW. Before MBV, wall-to-wall guitars and distorted feedback rarely appeared in the same sentence with words like “languorous” and “mellow.” The whole Loveless album rewrote the rules in a way that very, very few albums have. And it still sounds fantastic.
2. HOTEL CALIFORNIA. There can’t possibly be another legendary band who have one song that overpowers the rest of its catalog as much as this one. If Henley hadn't written this epic, the Eagles today would have the same level of regard as, what? Thin Lizzy? Bread?
3. DON’T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME). Yes, it’s from the soundtrack of THE high school movie of my senior year of high school. Usually, these days, I’m kinda sick of it; I know Jim Kerr is.
4. YOU’RE SO VAIN. The ultimate inside joke for the singer-songwriter set, from the relentlessly blah Carly Simon.
CHOPIN 15
1. B.O.B. Baroque at speed. It will be the best song of the last ten years for another…(does a Google search)…six months.
2. THE ROCKAFELLER SKANK. Sometimes I think that the great contribution of the great sample artists was to make it acceptable for critically-acclaimed pop music to include “novelty” effects, maybe for the first time since the Coasters. This is so much fun it almost depletes all the oxygen in the room.
3. ROCKIT. It’s the worst introduction imaginable to Herbie Hancock, but incredibly influential, and still fun. I had the iPod on shuffle the other day and Daft Punk's "Short Circuit" came on...nothing like a really good pastiche to make me appreciate the original.
4. CRYING IN THE CHAPEL. This song is as out of place in this bracket as you could imagine. I’d guess it only made the tournament because Elvis covered it, and although it’s a groundbreaking early gospel-pop tune, it’s not terribly dynamic or interesting.
BEETHOVEN 13
1. I WANT YOU BACK. My opinion of this song has vastly improved since the last bracketology. I still can’t totally love any song with a child singer, but the groove is perfection itself.
2. TUMBLING DICE. Nothing groundbreaking here, just the Stones hitting on all cylinders. Second best song on Exile (after “Happy”).
3. NO DIGGITY. There are many brackets this could have won.
4. MY FUNNY VALENTINE. I feel kind of bad ranking something from the Great American Songbook in last place, but it doesn’t do much for me.
BEETHOVEN 7. Chalk, largely because I care so little about most of these songs that I feel like I can’t be arsed to rearrange them.
1. JAILHOUSE ROCK. Elvis’ last great performance on record. More than enough to take this group.
2. BAD MOON RISING
3. I SAW THE LIGHT
4. I WONDER WHY
WAGNER 12
1. MAN ON THE MOON. According to Peter Buck, this is the archetypal R.E.M. song. I don’t agree, but I can see his point.
2. CUT YOUR HAIR
3. DON’T BE CRUEL
4. I WANT YOU
CHOPIN 6
1. REVOLUTION. Infamous in the political atmosphere of 1968 for advocating nonviolence and asking to see the plan, what’s often overlooked is that it’s more conservative musically than lyrically.
2. ROCK AND ROLL. Get back.
3. AUTOBAHN
4. LOVE LETTERS
TCHAIKOVSKY BLOC, BRACKET 16
1: "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor [1990]
2: "Birthday" - The Sugarcubes [1988]
3: "Crosstown Traffic" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience [1968]
4: "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake [2006]
I'll go chalk here. Nothing excites me too much, but the 1st is definitely above the rest. As much as I like My Love, that's how much I dislike SexyBack.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 5
1: "Loser" - Beck [1994]
2: "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B. & Rakim [1987]
3: "Theme from S'Express" - S'Express [1989]
4: "O Superman (For Massenet)" - Laurie Anderson [1982]
Easy choice for #1. I've never understood why O Superman is the default avant garde choice. I've heard a lot of avant garde and experimental that isn't nearly as annoying.
SCHUBERT BLOC, BRACKET 9
1: "Only Shallow" - My Bloody Valentine [1991]
2: "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon [1972]
3: "Hotel California" - Eagles [1976]
4: "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds [1985]
One of the best opening tracks in rock history. I don't listen to Loveless much anymore, but I don't think I'll ever get sick of that song
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 15
1: "B.O.B." - OutKast [2000]
2: "The Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim [1998]
3: "Crying in the Chapel" - The Orioles [1953]
4: "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock [1983]
Outkast has better songs, but BOB wins pretty easily here.
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 13
1: "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5 [1969]
2: "Tumbling Dice" - The Rolling Stones [1972]
3: "My Funny Valentine" - Chet Baker [1954]
4: "No Diggity" - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre) [1996]
Really tough bracket and the top 3 would have won all the previous brackets. I don't think I'm alone in thinking that Chet Baker is my favorite jazz vocalist. His shy, understated vocals appeal to me more than his vocal only counterparts with strong, demanding voices.
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 7
1: "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren [1972]
2: "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival [1969]
3: "I Wonder Why" - Dion & the Belmonts [1959]
4: "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley [1957]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 12
1: "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement [1994]
2: "Man on the Moon" - R.E.M. [1992]
3: "I Want You" - Elvis Costello & the Attractions [1986]
4: "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 6
1: "Rock & Roll" - The Velvet Underground [1970]
2: "Revolution" - The Beatles [1968]
3: "Autobahn" - Kraftwerk [1974]
4: "Love Letters" - Ketty Lester [1962]
Easy choice for #1. I've never understood why O Superman is the default avant garde choice. I've heard a lot of avant garde and experimental that isn't nearly as annoying.
I have yet to figure out why so many folks rave about O Superman. But, I must admit that I'm not so clear on what music is considered "avant garde."
If one considers Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa to be avant garde, then I would completely concur with your less annoying comment.
My thumbnail definition of avant-garde is now this: if pop music gets a mention, or seems like it COULD get a mention, in Alex Ross' book The Rest Is Noise (a wonderful history of 20th-century classical music), it's avant-garde. For instance, Ross covers Velvet Underground, Brian Eno, Bjork and Radiohead, plus SOME of the work of the Beatles, the Who, David Bowie and Public Enemy.
(I'm not totally thrilled with the term avant-garde, by the by.)
As for Laurie...part of it is that her stage show may have been the most successful marriage of pop and performance art since the Exploding Plastic Inevitable. She's definitely an artist who's better served by the longer form of albums than by individual songs.
I guess I place Anderson in the same category as John Zorn, Phillip Glass, The Boredoms, Residents etc... Different genres, but all attempting to expand the boundaries of their respective genres. I do like some of Anderson's work but not O Superman.
TCHAIKOVSKY BLOC, BRACKET 16
1. "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor [1990]: One of the greatest singles ever, and also one of the greatest -fluke- singles ever – O’Connor’s impassioned, minimalist reinvention of a minor early Prince track isn’t really like anything else she ever did.
2. "Crosstown Traffic" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience [1968]: The only track on ELECTRIC LADYLAND that sounds like it could have come from one of the two previous Experience albums, and it’s practically over before it starts. It’s that weird phased piano that really makes the track.
3. "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake [2006]: Proof positive that his solo debut wasn’t a fluke, and that he was actually holding back before.
4. "Birthday" - The Sugarcubes [1988]: SH2B4. You go back and listen to this, and you realize Bjork was very much a fully formed artist even before she went solo. In the words of Blanche DuBois, gracious, what lung power!
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "Loser" - Beck [1994]: As I (and many) have said before, how easy was it to potentially dismiss him as another alt-rock one-off on the basis of this deceptive opening shot? It remains one of the most distinctive hits of its era, and an easy #1 here.
2. "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B. & Rakim [1987]: One of the best tracks on one of the pivotal hip-hop albums.
3. "O Superman (For Massenet)" - Laurie Anderson [1982]: Still hard to believe this was a huge hit single (in its full 8-minute version, no less!) in the U.K. Hypnotic if you’re into it, torture if you’re not; I fall into the former camp.
4. "Theme from S'Express" - S'Express [1989]: Eh.
SCHUBERT BLOC, BRACKET 9
1. "Only Shallow" - My Bloody Valentine [1991]: Two of the most iconic singles of the Seventies are no match here for the astonishing opening track (a perfect blend of shimmering hooks and atonal noise) of one of the most influential albums ever recorded.
2. "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon [1972]: Richard Perry’s finest hour as a producer, a gleamingly nasty pop gem that inspired almost as much speculation at the time as “American Pie.” I never get tired of hearing it.
3. "Hotel California" - Eagles [1976]: Believe it or not, I never get tired of this one, either, even though I’m fully aware that the Eagles are the Devil. It’s just brilliant, state-of-the-art California rock from start to fadeout, and those guitars are killer.
4. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds [1985]: Talk about a fluke single – it’s still beyond me how a pretentious New Wave art-rock band was convinced to record a Hollywood movie theme they didn’t write. It definitely brings up the rear here, yet I have a certain fondness for this one, too.
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 15
1. "B.O.B." - OutKast [2000]: The defining track on one of the past decade’s defining albums, a record that has pretty much everything – rapid-fire rapping, slamming rock guitars, a buzzing organ that evokes both the church and the garage, and a where’d-THAT-come-from gospel choir. And it all works.
2. "The Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim [1998]: So ubiquitous at the time that you probably got sick of it. Hopefully, revisiting it this week reminded you how great it is. Right about now! Check it out now!
3. "Crying in the Chapel" - The Orioles [1953]: I knew Elvis’s version, but hadn’t heard the original until now. Possibly the greatest pop gospel song ever written, beautifully understated.
4. "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock [1983]: A jazz legend goes ultra-pop (thanks largely to a classic video). Fascinating for what it is, but hardly the man’s best work.
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 13
1. "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5 [1969]: I can’t imagine anyone ever getting sick of this record. Perfect in every respect, one of the greatest singles Motown or anyone else ever recorded, and a plausible argument could be made that Michael never topped it, because who could?
2. "Tumbling Dice" - The Rolling Stones [1972]: Not the best track on EXILE by any means, but a nice encapsulation of everything that’s great about it.
3. "My Funny Valentine" - Chet Baker [1954]: The definitive version of the classic ballad, from what must have seemed an unlikely source at the time. Who knew Gerry Mulligan’s trumpeter had such a beautiful voice? After this, everyone did.
4. "No Diggity" - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre) [1996]: A good single, but an easy #4.
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren [1972]: An all-oldies bracket, topped (for me, anyway) by the insanely catchy lead track of Rundgren’s magnum opus SOMETHING/ANYTHING? Gotta love those Harrisonesque guitars.
2. "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival [1969]: Fogerty’s genius for hits and how to arrange and produce them was so effortless that it’s easy to take CCR for granted. This rockabilly ode to the end of the world was one of their biggest and one of their best.
3. "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley [1957]: As many have noted, Leiber and Stoller’s lyrics are not only nonsensical but vaguely disturbing (unless this is supposed to be a coed prison), but it’s so entertaining that no one’s ever cared.
4. "I Wonder Why" - Dion & the Belmonts [1959]: Dion’s first single defines doo-wop as well as anything ever could (the syllable “wop” itself is repeated almost to the point of parody), but SH2B4.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 12
1. "I Want You" - Elvis Costello & the Attractions [1986]: A brilliantly dark ode to obsession, extended to the breaking point and beyond. Utterly mesmerizing, and one of Costello’s very best songs.
2. "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement [1994]: In which Stephen Malkmus’s unexpected gift for hooks gets the sonic wallop the first album didn’t have. The Velvet Underground-as-arena-rock-band production of CROOKED RAIN… is probably meant to be at least half-ironic, but that doesn’t make it any less compulsively listenable.
3. "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley [1956]: The other half of the greatest two-sided hit single of all time, and its polar opposite; where “Hound Dog” sounded (deceptively) as if it might careen out of control at any moment, this effortlessly smooth pure pop gem is all about control.
4. "Man on the Moon" - R.E.M. [1992]: I love R.E.M. and I like Andy Kaufman, but I confess that I’ve never been a huge fan of this song. To me, it’s the perfectly nice prelude to one of the greatest pairs of closing tracks ever.
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 6
1. "Rock & Roll" - The Velvet Underground [1970]: I went back and forth on the top two here, and could still change my mind depending on when you ask. I give the nod to Lou Reed’s heartfelt tribute to rock ‘n’ roll radio because it’s a bit more sophisticated both lyrically and musically; the heightened sheen of LOADED’s production really, really works here.
2. "Revolution" - The Beatles [1968]: By contrast, the lyrics and music here are as deliberately blunt and artless as possible, the better to bludgeon you with. The rhythm guitar and drum sounds here are amazing, and the end of the record is about as exciting as the Beatles ever got.
3. "Autobahn" - Kraftwerk [1974]: Manages to sustain a mood for over 22 minutes without wearing out its welcome. A conceptual coup, but a musical one as well.
4. "Love Letters" - Ketty Lester [1962]: A terrific, understated little ballad. Another song that benefits from being featured – and menacingly referenced by Dennis Hopper’s Frank Booth (“You get a love letter from me … and you’re f—ked FOREVER!”) – in BLUE VELVET.
TCHAIKOVSKY BLOC, BRACKET 16
#102: "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor [1990]
#614: "Crosstown Traffic" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience [1968]
#923: "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake [2006]
#411: "Birthday" - The Sugarcubes [1988]
Sinead winds with a great margin, Jimi being too messy here. The more I discover him, the more I think Justin should be the greatest pop star right now (well I guess he might be in the US, but in France he is strangely not that much known), I mean he is not the best current artist for sure but he has style, great singles, is verry funny, good actor... and he can turn an average song into a good one, just like Bjork turn a uninteresting song into something quite intriguing
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 5
#60: "Loser" - Beck [1994]
#572: "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B. & Rakim [1987]
#965: "Theme from S'Express" - S'Express [1989]
#453: "O Superman (For Massenet)" - Laurie Anderson [1982]
Not much competition against back, Eric B & Rakim has done better, the Acid scene has not aged well and O Superman still seems unlistenable to me
SCHUBERT BLOC, BRACKET 9
#43: "Hotel California" - Eagles [1976]
#982: "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds [1985]
#470: "Only Shallow" - My Bloody Valentine [1991]
#555: "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon [1972]
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 15
#356: "B.O.B." - OutKast [2000]
#157: "The Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim [1998]
#669: "Crying in the Chapel" - The Orioles [1953]
#868: "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock [1983]
My favourite single of the decade easily wins this bracket, top 10 songs all time for me.
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 13
#32: "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5 [1969]
#481: "No Diggity" - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre) [1996]
#993: "My Funny Valentine" - Chet Baker [1954]
#544: "Tumbling Dice" - The Rolling Stones [1972]
I really like No Diggity (and My Funny Valentine is a really good discover) but they can't compete with that Jackson 5 wonder. P.S : I like the Stones but do critic really have to put all their 68-72 releases on their lists ?
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 7
#192: "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley [1957]
#704: "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren [1972]
#321: "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival [1969]
#833: "I Wonder Why" - Dion & the Belmonts [1959]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 12
#421: "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement [1994]
#92: "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
#604: "Man on the Moon" - R.E.M. [1992]
#933: "I Want You" - Elvis Costello & the Attractions [1986]
Quick hint to guess my opinion on this bracket : I don't like Pavement much
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 6
#196: "Autobahn" - Kraftwerk [1974]
#317: "Revolution" - The Beatles [1968]
#829: "Love Letters" - Ketty Lester [1962]
#708: "Rock & Roll" - The Velvet Underground [1970]
I'm not a big Kraftwerk fan either but I must admit that their best known songs are very cleverly built, creating brilliant progressions each time
TCHAIKOVSKY BLOC, BRACKET 16
#614: "Crosstown Traffic" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience [1968]
Jimi Hendrix wrote two of my top four albums of all time. I can't get enough. He's the sort of natural talent that I bet if he didn't die he would have stayed around as long as Dylan.
#102: "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor [1990]
One of the best written and produced pop songs of the 90s. I wasn't surprised when I found out who wrote it.
#411: "Birthday" - The Sugarcubes [1988]
When the song started it's awesome weirdness struck me immediately. I didn't know Bjork was in a band before she went solo. I need to get their first album now.
#923: "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake [2006]
There's a really good dance pop song to be extracted from this. But as it is, it's crap. Justin, you're a talented performer. Get rid of all that annoying teenage marketing crap and I might actually enjoy your music. Until then, get the hell back to Saturday Night Live.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 5
#60: "Loser" - Beck [1994]
A fun song that loses it's luster over time. Beck's done so much better since.
#572: "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B. & Rakim [1987]
Finally some non-gangster rap to vote for.
#453: "O Superman (For Massenet)" - Laurie Anderson [1982]
High on cool points, low on 'aesthetic enjoyment' points. Fun and trippy, a bit overly cute.
#965: "Theme from S'Express" - S'Express [1989]
Marinally listenable.
SCHUBERT BLOC, BRACKET 9
#470: "Only Shallow" - My Bloody Valentine [1991]
Awesome song.
#555: "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon [1972]
I appreciate any good song that's accessible enough to be played at work instead of the Backstreet Boys. I heard Carly Simon once auctioned off the identity of the target of the song, and swore the winner to secrecy. (You know if the song came out now she would have twittered it immediately.)
#43: "Hotel California" - Eagles [1976]
The only Eagles song I can stand. And mostly for the guitar.
#982: "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds [1985]
I hate overproduced 80's synth pop. At least this song has a catchy chorus going for it, but even that's brought down by the cheesy echo effect.
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 15
#356: "B.O.B." - OutKast [2000]
Freaking awesome. The quality of the rap this week is so much higher than the last two.
#868: "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock [1983]
Awesome. This is Herbie Hancock? I'll I'd heard of his is Head Hunters.
#157: "The Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim [1998]
Fatboy Slim is actually talented enough to make cut and paste techno sound good.
#669: "Crying in the Chapel" - The Orioles [1953]
Meh. Not much different from other stuff from the same era, and too preachy in a condescending 'Anyone who isn't my religion is a spiritual cripple' kind of way.
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 13
#544: "Tumbling Dice" - The Rolling Stones [1972]
Awesome southern roots sounding rock song. One of the highlights of the best phase of the Stones' career.
#32: "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5 [1969]
It's amazing this sound came from a group of kids.
#481: "No Diggity" - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre) [1996]
This is by no means a bad song, but top 500 of all time? Really?
#993: "My Funny Valentine" - Chet Baker [1954]
Smooth piano song but a ltitle dull
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 7
#833: "I Wonder Why" - Dion & the Belmonts [1959]
I don't know why I have a soft spot from these 50's pop style group harmonies. I just like them.
#192: "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley [1957]
Elvis Presley works best when he's not too blatantly hook driven. Unfortunately, this song is.
#321: "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival [1969]
Not bad. I like the bluegrassy elements, but CCR never stand out much to me.
#704: "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren [1972]
A little bland.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 12
#92: "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
I love really early, energetic Elvis.
#421: "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement [1994]
One of the stronger Pavement songs. Also pretty typical for Pavement. A lot of noise and 'Screw you pop culture'.
#933: "I Want You" - Elvis Costello & the Attractions [1986]
Elvis Costello could play in any genre if he tried.
#604: "Man on the Moon" - R.E.M. [1992]
Pretty good song but overrated due to the emotional subject matter.
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 6
#708: "Rock & Roll" - The Velvet Underground [1970]
Typically energetic and scratchy Lou Reed song.
#317: "Revolution" - The Beatles [1968]
Awesome song with great lyrics. This version I don't get to listen to much.
#196: "Autobahn" - Kraftwerk [1974]
Kraftwerk are one of those bands that gets a little too much credit for coming first. They sound good, particularly on Autobahn, but a little too robotic, and often overlong.
#829: "Love Letters" - Ketty Lester [1962]
Meh. Pretty typical loungy song.
TCHAIKOVSKY BLOC, BRACKET 16
1 - "Birthday" - The Sugarcubes [1988]
2 - "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor [1990]
3 - "Crosstown Traffic" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience [1968]
4 - "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake [2006]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 5
1 - "Loser" - Beck [1994]
2 - "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B. & Rakim [1987]
3 - "Theme from S'Express" - S'Express [1989]
4 - "O Superman (For Massenet)" - Laurie Anderson [1982]
SCHUBERT BLOC, BRACKET 9
1 - "Only Shallow" - My Bloody Valentine [1991]
2 - "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds [1985]
3 - "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon [1972]
4 - "Hotel California" - Eagles [1976]
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 15
1 - "The Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim [1998]
2 - "B.O.B." - OutKast [2000]
3 - "Crying in the Chapel" - The Orioles [1953]
4 - "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock [1983]
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 13
1 - "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5 [1969]
2 - "Tumbling Dice" - The Rolling Stones [1972]
3 - "No Diggity" - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre) [1996]
4 - "My Funny Valentine" - Chet Baker [1954]
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 7
1 - "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren [1972]
2 - "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival [1969]
3 - "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley [1957]
4 - "I Wonder Why" - Dion & the Belmonts [1959]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 12
1 - "Man on the Moon" - R.E.M. [1992]
2 - "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement [1994]
3 - "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
4 - "I Want You" - Elvis Costello & the Attractions [1986]
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 6
1 - "Rock & Roll" - The Velvet Underground [1970]
2 - "Revolution" - The Beatles [1968]
3 - "Autobahn" - Kraftwerk [1974]
4 - "Love Letters" - Ketty Lester [1962]
I'll just do the couple brackets I care about this week.
TCHAIKOVSKY BLOC, BRACKET 16
1. "Crosstown Traffic" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience [1968]
2. "Birthday" - The Sugarcubes [1988]
3. "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake [2006]
4. "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor [1990]
I've never really understood the hype for "Nothing Compares 2 U." "Birthday" was a nice discovery from running the songs poll, but "Crosstown Traffic" a one of Hendrix's best straightforward rockers.
SCHUBERT BLOC, BRACKET 9
1. "Only Shallow" - My Bloody Valentine [1991]
2. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds [1985]
3. "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon [1972]
4. "Hotel California" - Eagles [1976]
Generally I can at least tolerate most highly acclaimed songs, but not so with "Hotel California." I turn it off immediately whenever it comes on the radio. "Only Shallow," on the other hand, is the leadoff track of my #1 album. So you can see why I'd love to see an upset here.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 12
1. "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement [1994]
2. "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
3. "Man on the Moon" - R.E.M. [1992]
4. "I Want You" - Elvis Costello & the Attractions [1986]
"Cut Your Hair" is the perfect offbeat, catchy indie track.
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 6
1. "Rock & Roll" - The Velvet Underground [1970]
2. "Autobahn" - Kraftwerk [1974]
3. "Revolution" - The Beatles [1968]
4. "Love Letters" - Ketty Lester [1962]
"Rock & Roll" is just amazing; I'm pleasantly surprised it's a part of the AM3000.
Very sorry. I was out with some friends and only just got back. Here's my ballot.
TCHAIKOVSKY BLOC, BRACKET 16
1. "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor [1990]
One of the most beautiful songs of all time, and one of the simplest music videos of all time. Anyone who's seen it remembers the tear that falls down O'Connor's cheek at the "all the flowers that you planted, Mama" line. Interesting that possibly Prince's best song is done by someone else.
2. "Crosstown Traffic" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience [1968]
After the iconic "All Along the Watchtower," it's the most obvious choice for a single off the brilliant-but-experimental "Electric Ladyland." This would be an easy winner in a lot of other brackets, but nothing compares to "Nothing Compares 2 U."
3. "Birthday" - The Sugarcubes [1988]
Still haven't dug into the Sugarcubes much.
4. "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake [2006]
Thank you, Justin Timberlake. Thank you so much. I can't tell you how much I had missed "sexy" until it was gone. God bless you for bringing it back. I don't know how many times I had seen a beautiful woman on TV and thought, "Is she sexy? I don't know." It was because sexy was gone. Now that you have brought it back, I am once again able to identify what sexy is. You have my undying appreciation.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "Loser" - Beck [1994]
I looked at this bracket, and there wasn't anything that immediately jumped out at me as the "obvious" #1 pick. I had to listen to this one again before I realized that "Loser" *is* the obvious pick. In spite of all of Beck's changes in musical tone over the years, you have to admit that this is the sort of thing you first think of when you think of Beck. He is and probably always will be the "soy un perdidor" guy. And for as eclectic as Mr. Hansen has been over the years, try to remember back to when this song first came out and just how unexpected it was. It still holds up to this day. Kudos to you, Beck.
2. "Theme from S'Express" - S'Express [1989]
There are a lot of genres of music that I've discovered since first stumbling upon Acclaimed Music. Of those new (at least to me) genres, the one that I have enjoyed more than any other is late '80s house music. Downloading this song has been a particularly nice discovery. There aren't a lot of brackets where I would put this one as high as #2, but it gets three points from me here.
3. "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B. & Rakim [1987]
Great song, just in a tough bracket.
4. "O Superman (For Massenet)" - Laurie Anderson [1982]
How the hell did this become a hit single? I just don't get it.
SCHUBERT BLOC, BRACKET 9
1. "Hotel California" - Eagles [1976]
Whoa. Brutal, brutal bracket for me. "Hotel California" stands head-and-shoulders above the rest, but the remaining three are pretty much interchangeable. Kudos to you if you can sing all the lyrics to this one by memory. I'm close, but I'm not quite there.
2. "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon [1972]
Yes, it's the biggest question in pop music. Who is the "you"? David Bowie? Mick Jagger? Warren Beatty? James Taylor?
Regardless, it's one of my all-time favorite songs. Sure, it's very adult contemporary. Sure, it's not terribly complex musically. But God, what a song. That said, I'm sure it won't get many votes in this competition...
3. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds [1985]
Cheesy and over-produced '80s pop, to be sure. But that's my kind of music. And let's be honest, this song is pretty much synonymous with "The Breakfast Club," which to my way of thinking is one of the better '80s movies, and one of the best movies about high school life.
4. "Only Shallow" - My Bloody Valentine [1991]
God... SHTB4. My first introduction to MBV (and consequently, "Loveless") was "Soon," so when I finally delved into the album, I was expecting a more danceable album, not the guitar onslaught that it is. After I realized that "Soon" was the exception on the album, I had to take another listen to the album, and "Only Shallow" stands out as the album's highlight. What a fantastic album opener. But like I said before, SHTB4.
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 15
1. "B.O.B." - OutKast [2000]
VERY little difference for me between 1 and 2, and on any given day, these two might be switched. This was the song that introduced me to OutKast, and for a long time it was about the fastest rap song I'd ever heard. In fact, the rhythm section of this song owes more to someone like Goldie than any other southern rap song. Pitchfork is convinced that this is the best song of the '00s. I'd be hard-pressed to think of one that could top it.
2. "The Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim [1998]
I feel really bad moving this one to the #2 spot, but c'est la vie. For anyone who missed Fatboy's debut album when it first came out (and I was one of those), this was the song that introduced us to his modus operandi: take a phrase and repeat it ad nauseum. It worked here, with an amazing result. Brilliant song.
3. "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock [1983]
I'll admit it. I'm a big Herbie Hancock fan. I was thrilled when, a couple of years ago, he upset Kanye and Amy Winehouse to win the Grammy for Album of the Year. (Was it really the year's best album? Of course not, but I was just ecstatic to see a jazz album win it.) But this has got to be one of the most unlikely hits in the history of modern music. I mean, who in 1983 could have predicted that a jazz/rap instrumental would be as popular as this became? Sure, the video helped. But it just amazes me that this one became such a hit. I have so many other preferred Hancock tunes ("Chameleon," "Watermelon Man," "Cantaloupe Island").
4. "Crying in the Chapel" - The Orioles [1953]
I have nothing against this song, it's just up against three much better songs.
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 13
1. "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5 [1969]
This song will forever be linked to "Clerks 2" for me. One of the happiest-sounding records ever. I defy you to listen to this song and not smile.
2. "Tumbling Dice" - The Rolling Stones [1972]
I've ragged on other Stones songs, but not this one. One of my favorites from the boys, and every time I listen to it, I'm reminded that I need to finally listen to "Exile on Main St."
3. "My Funny Valentine" - Chet Baker [1954]
A standard in every jazz musician's repertoire, and this is usually considered to be the definitive version of the song. But Baker's voice has always struck me as bland. Personally I think he should have stuck to being a trumpeter.
4. "No Diggity" - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre) [1996]
Bet you thought I'd put this one higher, eh? No, sorry. It's a guilty pleasure of mine, but it's an easy #4 here.
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival [1969]
Not my favorite by CCR, but easily strong enough to take the top spot here.
2. "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren [1972]
I can't tell you how upset I am that my favorite Rundgren song ("Hello It's Me") isn't in Bracketology. Why, oh why is it only "bubbling under"? Still, this one's not half bad. Just not my favorite by Todd.
3. "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley [1957]
Corny as hell, but fun.
4. "I Wonder Why" - Dion & the Belmonts [1959]
Just not my thing.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 12
1. "I Want You" - Elvis Costello & the Attractions [1986]
Anyone ever read Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart"? For those of you who haven't, the narrator of that story is constantly telling the reader that he is NOT MAD! See? All the things I've done PROVE that I'm not mad! I'm very rational! And NOT MAD!
The more the narrator tells the reader how un-mad he is, the more the reader realizes that this guy is bat-shit insane. The repeated insistence of sanity gets creepy and downright terrifying upon each repetition. The same goes with this song. The more that Costello sings about how he wants "you," the scarier it gets. By the end, Costello is completely gone. And it's so incredibly amazing. Fantastic job, Mr. C.
2. "Man on the Moon" - R.E.M. [1992]
One of the weaker #2s I've chosen, but c'est la vie. The other two here just don't compare to even mediocre R.E.M.
3. "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley [1956]
Once again, I have to say how much I generally dislike the King.
4. "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement [1994]
Haven't dug into Pavement either.
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 6
1. "Revolution" - The Beatles [1968]
I know that if I ever bothered to listen to all of "Autobahn" that it would be here instead of the Fab Four. As it is though, this very un-revolutionary ode revolution tops my list.
2. "Autobahn" - Kraftwerk [1974]
What I've heard I like. But I just get impatient and I put on a different song before I listen to all 25 minutes of this one. Mea culpa.
3. "Rock & Roll" - The Velvet Underground [1970]
No thanks.
4. "Love Letters" - Ketty Lester [1962]
Again, no thanks.
Voting for this week is now over.
I hate to be the one who keeps pestering you about this, Matt, but are we going to see the results from two weeks ago?
RESULTS
TCHAIKOVSKY BLOC, BRACKET 16
1. "Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinéad O'Connor (38 points, 7 first-place votes)
2. "Crosstown Traffic" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience (31, 2)
3. "Birthday" - The Sugarcubes (27, 2)
4. "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake (14, 0)
In the next round: the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows"; Robert Johnson's "Hellhound on My Trail"
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 5
1. "Loser" - Beck (35, 7)
2. "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B. & Rakim (30, 2)
3. "Theme from S'Express" - S'Express (18, 0)
4. "O Superman (For Massenet)" - Laurie Anderson (17, 1)
In the next round: Aretha Franklin's "I Say a Little Prayer"; John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme, Pt. 1: Acknowledgement"; Radiohead's "Karma Police"
SCHUBERT BLOC, BRACKET 9
1. "Only Shallow" - My Bloody Valentine (32, 6)
2. "Hotel California" - Eagles (27, 3)
3. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds (27, 2)
4. "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon (24, 0)
In the next round: the Beatles' "In My Life"; the Who's "I Can't Explain"
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 15
1. "B.O.B." - OutKast (36, 7)
2. "The Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim (27, 2)
3. "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock (19, 1)
4. "Crying in the Chapel" - The Orioles (18, 0)
In the next round: Beastie Boys' "Sabotage"; De La Soul's "Me, Myself and I"
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 13
1. "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5 (39, 9)
2. "Tumbling Dice" - The Rolling Stones (28, 1)
3. "My Funny Valentine" - Chet Baker (17, 0)
4. "No Diggity" - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre) (16, 0)
In the next round: the Jimi Hendrix Experience's "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"; Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun"
BEETHOVEN BLOC, BRACKET 7
1. "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren (31, 5)
2. "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival (28, 1)
3. "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley (27, 3)
4. "I Wonder Why" - Dion & the Belmonts (14, 1)
In the next round: Roy Orbison's "Crying"; Duke Ellington & His Orchestra's "Take the 'A' Train; Steely Dan's "Reelin' in the Years"
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 12
1. "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement (30, 3)
2. "Man on the Moon" - R.E.M. (28, 3)
3. "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley (27, 2)
4. "I Want You" - Elvis Costello & the Attractions (25, 3)
In the next round: Patti Smith's "Gloria: In Excelsis Deo/Gloria"
CHOPIN BLOC, BRACKET 6
1. "Rock & Roll" - The Velvet Underground (36, 6)
2. "Revolution" - The Beatles (31, 3)
3. "Autobahn" - Kraftwerk (29, 2)
4. "Love Letters" - Ketty Lester (14, 0)
In the next round: the Animals' "House of the Rising Sun"; Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody"; Television's "Marquee Moon"
I will post results for Weeks 26 and 27 first thing in the morning. I promise. I just need to get some shut-eye first.
Only Shallow and Rock & Roll pull off the upsets! If only the same was true in the all-time poll...