Division J wraps up today with some fun head to heads. Not as fun as the Jets sending Tom Brady yesterday, but a close second.
Guillermo will be back at the helm for Divisions K and L. Hopefully we’ll have some bracketology updates in the days ahead as well.
All Night Long (Lionel Richie) vs. Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye). Ease your way back into the 4-day week.
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles) vs. La Bamba (Ritchie Valens). Fun old school tunes.
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) vs. It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps). On a personal level, Guillermo and I were not inclined to include any Gaga, nor did anyone lobby particularly hard for her inclusion. However, we’re invoking the “Satisfaction rule”, curtailing criticism that the tournament is less legit because it excluded certain artists.
Caress Me Down (Sublime) vs. Train in Vain (Clash)
One Headlight (Wallflowers) vs. Fuck The Police (NWA)
Angel (Jimi Hendrix) vs. Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin)
You may not love every song, but six decades of music are represented in the match-ups above. Listen at Grooveshark. Vote by commenting below or emailing LTDdotorg@gmail.com before 8:30 pm Wednesday.
Living the Dream 
All Night Long (7) vs. Let’s Get It On (9)
Hit the Road Jack (7) vs. La Bamba (7)
Bad Romance (5) vs. It’s the Same Old Song (6)
Caress Me Down (6) vs. Train in Vain (8)
One Headlight (7) vs. Fuck The Police (9)
Angel (5) vs. Natural Woman (8)
All Night Long (Lionel Richie) 6 vs. Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye) 7
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles) 7 vs. La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) 6
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) 7 vs. It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps) 5
Caress Me Down (Sublime) 4 vs. Train in Vain (Clash) 8
One Headlight (Wallflowers) 7 vs. Fuck The Police (NWA) 7
Angel (Jimi Hendrix) 8 vs. Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) 6 Forgot how nice Angel is.
All Night Long (4) vs. Let’s Get It On (9) – Marvin Gaye is an absolute force in this tournament. Can’t believe he’s never been in any of my tournaments
Hit the Road Jack (6) vs. La Bamba (8) – No explaining the latin feel right now. Listened to some flamenco right before this post and was in the mood (Barcelona Nights by Ottmar Liebert is clutch for those who care)
Bad Romance (5.5) vs. It’s the Same Old Song (5.5)
Caress Me Down (3) vs. Train in Vain (7) – Oddly one of my favorite Clash songs. Psyched that they might have a couple moving forward.
One Headlight (6.5) vs. Fuck The Police (7) – Fuck the Police just keeps hitting… if it were 3 minutes long, I’d have given it about a 3.5… really liked One Headlight though, and had never heard it before.
Angel (4) vs. Natural Woman (7)
All Night Long (Lionel Richie) vs. Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye) 8/7.5
this is a tough match up!!
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles) vs. La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) 6.5/8
I really DO want to dance the bamba when I hear La Bamba! Let’s go.
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) vs. It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps) 8.5/7
I’m glad you guys put in some Gaga.
Caress Me Down (Sublime) vs. Train in Vain (Clash) 5/7
One Headlight (Wallflowers) vs. Fuck The Police (NWA) 7/6
Angel (Jimi Hendrix) vs. Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) 8.5/8
All Night Long (6) vs. Let’s Get It On (9)
Hit the Road Jack (7) vs. La Bamba (4.5)
Bad Romance (7.5) vs. It’s the Same Old Song (6) I can’t believe I rated bad romance that high either
Caress Me Down (6) vs. Train in Vain (5)
One Headlight (7) vs. Fuck The Police (2)
Angel (4) vs. Natural Woman (5.5)
All Night Long (Lionel Richie) vs. Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye). Ease your way back into the 4-day week. = 6:8.5
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles) vs. La Bamba (Ritchie Valens). Fun old school tunes. = 8.5:7
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) vs. It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps). On a personal level, Guillermo and I were not inclined to include any Gaga, nor did anyone lobby particularly hard for her inclusion. However, we’re invoking the “Satisfaction rule”, curtailing criticism that the tournament is less legit because it excluded certain artists. = 6.5:9
(no real comment beyond… tell me the song isn’t solid. not “great,” but def above average.)
Caress Me Down (Sublime) vs. Train in Vain (Clash) = 9:6 (One of my lesser favorite Clash songs. Not sure why, just don’t LOVE it – but alone, very very good song).
One Headlight (Wallflowers) vs. Fuck The Police (NWA) = 9:8 (Again, take the song, not the artist – 1 or 2 hit wonders, in some ways, contribute more to the diversity of the landscape than “solid, dependable” artists – NWA – “Gangsta Gangsta” is a solid 10 – this loses points to the stupid fuckin intro – but a legendary song).
Angel (Jimi Hendrix) vs. Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) = 2:5
All Night Long (Lionel Richie) 7.5
Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye) 9
Poor Lionel. I could jam to all night long all night long, but Marvin Gaye’s packing a silver bullet in this match-up.
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles) 6
La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) 7
We seriously used to sing this song every Christmas when I was growing up. This version isn’t the best, but it’s enough for me.
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) 6.5
It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps) 7.5
Gaga you are so weird. And you are so fun. Unfortunately, you cannot floss with Motown, which continues to crush everything in its path this round. I seriously think songs from the Big Chill soundtrack are undefeated so far. By the way, the Big Chill soundtrack is the best soundtrack in the history of soundtracks.
Caress Me Down (Sublime) 7
Train in Vain (Clash) 7.5
CMD is fun and nostalgic. Train In Vain is also fun and nostalgic in a different way. It’s also really hard to do right on karaoke. I’ve tried. And so did Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 500 Days of Summer, although he messed it up worse than I did. But I digress- Clash by a hair.
One Headlight (Wallflowers) 8
Fuck The Police (NWA) 8
This was the hardest match-up for me. I can’t decide, these are both equally great for different reasons. In Brian’s camp, except replace Gangsta Gangsta with Straight Outta Compton. Someone else can break this tie.
Angel (Jimi Hendrix) 5.5
Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) 7
See earlier comment re:Big Chill soundtrack.
All Night Long (Lionel Richie) 8.5
Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye) 8
Wow: hardest one yet. Love the Lionel classics though. I think I’m just in more of a Lionel mood right now.
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles) 5
La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) 5.5
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) 9.5
It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps) 7
I have no shame in saying that I think this is one of the best, catchiest, easiest-to-dance-to pop songs of the last 5-10 years. Everyone knows it; even your mum. That’s got to count for something, right? Same Old Song also makes me smile though but I REALLY want the big G to win this one.
Caress Me Down (Sublime) 4
Train in Vain (Clash) 7
One Headlight (Wallflowers) 8
Fuck The Police (NWA) 4
One Headlight is one of my favourite karaoke numbers. I love it and am therefore incredibly partial. NWA is apparently not for me.
Angel (Jimi Hendrix) 7
Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) 9
Up against most other songs, Angel would probably do much better. This Aretha is ridiculously good.
All Night Long (Lionel Richie) – 7.5
Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye) – 9
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles) – 8
La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) – 5
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) – 5.5
It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps) – 8
Caress Me Down (Sublime) – 7
Train in Vain (Clash) – 8
One Headlight (Wallflowers) – 8.8
Fuck The Police (NWA) – 3
Angel (Jimi Hendrix) – 8
Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) – 9.5
All Night Long (Lionel Richie) 6
Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye) 9
Two classics, but its not even close. Marvin is a contendor.
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles) 8
La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) 8.5
I’m giving Ritchie the edge on this one for a funkier bass line. I think he would have been one of the greatest artists of all time the Big Bopper hadn’t talked him into that stupid Cessna.
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) 4
It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps) 8
Sorry Gaga, I know you’re talented, but this song pisses me off. Your costumes don’t really I do like the “Rad Bromance” remix though. Four Topps cruise to an easy win with a timeless little ditty.
Caress Me Down (Sublime) 8.5
Train in Vain (Clash) 4
Did What I Got make it into the 512? Because that song is awesome. Caress Me Down is good too, I’m glad Sublime finally found a replacement for Bradley recently that can do his beautiful voice justice. The Clash bugged me.
One Headlight (Wallflowers) 7
Fuck The Police (NWA) 7
Bobby’s son made a nice poppy tune. NWA expressed a commonly held sentiment. Neither song is amazing, I don’t expect the winner of this one to go far…
Angel (Jimi Hendrix) 7.5
Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) 8
Angel didn’t touch me as much as Natural Woman, both great songs though with alot of soul…
All Night Long (Lionel Richie): 5
Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye): 7
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles): 5
La Bamba (Ritchie Valens): 4
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga): 7
It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps): 6
Caress Me Down (Sublime): 7
Train in Vain (Clash): 7
One Headlight (Wallflowers): 8
Fuck The Police (NWA): 5
Angel (Jimi Hendrix): 7
Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin): 8
All Night Long (Lionel Richie) 6 vs. Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye) 7.5
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles) 6 vs. La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) 7.5
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) 8 vs. It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps) 6
Caress Me Down (Sublime) 6 vs. Train in Vain (Clash) 9
One Headlight (Wallflowers) 6 vs. Fuck The Police (NWA) 6
Angel (Jimi Hendrix) 7 vs. Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) 8.5
All Night Long (Lionel Richie): 7.5
Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye): 7
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles): 6
La Bamba (Ritchie Valens): 8
Guillermo’s right, this isn’t the best version of La Bamba. It’s pretty good though. Hit the Road Jack felt too short, even by old school standards.
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga): 7.5
It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps): 7
Parts of Bad Romance are incredibly catchy, others annoy me. Four Topps are solid all the way through. My final vote surprised me. Twenty years from now these songs will be played equally often at parties.
Caress Me Down (Sublime): 8
Train in Vain (Clash): 8.5
One Headlight (Wallflowers): 7.5
Fuck The Police (NWA): 8.5
Angel (Jimi Hendrix): 7
Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin): 7.5
All Night Long (Lionel Richie) 6 vs. Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye). 8
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles) 8 7vs. La Bamba (Ritchie Valens). 7
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) 10 vs. It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps). 5
Caress Me Down (Sublime) 2 vs. Train in Vain (Clash) 9
One Headlight (Wallflowers) 6.5 vs. Fuck The Police (NWA) 5.5
Angel (Jimi Hendrix) 7 vs. Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin)8
I’ve adjusted my scoring according to the stats- thanks Gmo
All Night Long (Lionel Richie) – 3
Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye) – 4
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles) –6.5 (timber/voices on the instruments is amazing- great early use of stereo recording)
La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) – 7.5 [just a better mood]
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) – 5.5
It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps) – 4
Caress Me Down (Sublime) – 2
Train in Vain (Clash) – 6
One Headlight (Wallflowers) – 7
Fuck The Police (NWA) – 8.5
Angel (Jimi Hendrix) – 8.5
Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) – 7
All Night Long (Lionel Richie) – 5.5
Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye) – 10
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles) – 7
La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) – 5
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) – 4
It’s the Same Old Song (Four Topps) – 5
Caress Me Down (Sublime) – 7
Train in Vain (Clash) – 8
One Headlight (Wallflowers) – 7
Fuck The Police (NWA) – 4
Angel (Jimi Hendrix) – 7
Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) – 6.5