*This is going up early, since we’re out celebrating tonight.
Some heavy hitters take the stage this weekend as Alanis Morrisette, Jeff Buckley and Bon Jovi face elimination. Listen at Grooveshark and vote by commenting below or emailing LTDdotorg@gmail.com before 8pm Monday.
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) vs. #15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette)
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) vs. #10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire)
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) vs. #14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi)
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) vs. #11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley)
Living the Dream 
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) 8.5
#15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 8
Both songs bring something fresh, raw and energetic that you almost wouldn’t expect from their respective artists. Hey Ya is more innovative and funky though.
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 7.5
#10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 9
Tunnels has some fantastic virtuoso instrumentals, but they share the same vocal handicap of Devotchka and recent Flaming Lips. Last time I gave them a much lower score, but they pulled me in today. Sunday Bloody Sunday has fantastic guitarwork and Bono hits it on alot of levels. Still getting a bit bugged by their Linkin Park style keyboardist…
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 8.5
#14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 7.5
Sympathy for the Devil is well put together, Mick has an animal presence in the song. Pretty great all around. Bon Jovi rocks it, but stadium rock can be a bit tiring if you’re not in the right mood.
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 8.5
#11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 9
I Want You Back is too much fun to be something sung by a Grimm’s Fairytale monster. Hallelujah may not be original, but man does it tug on those heartstrings.
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) 8 vs. #15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 6
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 6 vs. #10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 7
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 7 vs. #14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 1
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 9 vs. #11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 6
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) 7
#15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 7
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 7
#10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 2.5
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 5
#14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 7.5
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 6
#11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 8.5
Hey Ya (Outkast) vs. You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) = 9 to 5.5
Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) vs. Tunnels (Arcade Fire) = 7.5 to 7
Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) vs. Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) = 6.5 to 6
I Want You Back (Jackson 5) vs. Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) = 8.5 to 3
My scores:
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) 5
#15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 7
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 8
#10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 3
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 7
#14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 8
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 7
#11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 8
More special guest scores from my Dad:
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) 2- This sounds like nothing. I can almost see them bouncing their heads to it.
#15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 6
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 8- The music in the background is so much better than the others. It’s developed, there’s themes. It’s a more mature piece of music, which is funny considering it’s U2.
#10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 3- horrible production. interesting music, it’s just as loud as the voices, which is awful.
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 7- More volume problems for me. Maybe it’s just my aging ears, but the background vocals are louder than the lead vocals. That shouldn’t happen.
#14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 8- It’s unfair. Both of these songs should go on.
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 4- Nothing different than any other song Jackson 5 did
#11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 7
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) 5.5
#15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 3.5
Not feeling Hey Ya this time out… but at least it’s more fun than Alanis. Can’t believe she played God in Dogma.
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 9.5
#10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 6.5
Tunnels is really growing on me. May have to grab an Arcade Fire album and listen through a few times – just another tournament bonus. SBS is just too damn good. I’m looking forward to an “upset” over Hey Ya.
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 8.5
#14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 8.5
Man this is tough. I so want Prayer to pull through, but Sympathy is just a great song. I think it dragged a bit at the end, which will hurt later on, but for now… just a great matchup, and I can’t make up my mind.
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 6.5
#11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 7
Another weird feeling for me. Hallelujah was striking awesome chords… then it just kept going. If this had been a TV episode (which make good use of it), and ended after 90 seconds, it might have required an 11. The the Jackson 5 came out happy and i was loving it. Then, my brain returned to normal, and the Jackson’s bored me. Now this score doesn’t do justice to the roller coaster.
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) 6.5
#15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 5
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 7.5
#10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 8
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 7.75… I feel they could have said ‘woo, woo’ a fewer number of times… especially at the end when the guitar’s playing.
#14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 7.5
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 8
#11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 7.5
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) 7
#15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 8
The big AM’s finest, angriest hour. Love to unleash this at karaoke.
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 6.5
#10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 7
Hard one – SBS just has so much meaning behind it. Tunnels is the better song though.
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 7
#14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 8
BoJo song probably more iconic over all, although Sympathy is clearly awesome too.
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 7.5
#11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 10
I will back this version of Hallelujah to the bitter end. Completely beautiful and devastating all at once.
Hey Ya (Outkast) 10
You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 5.5
I maintain Hey Ya is one of the more perfect songs ever written. It’s musically complex, lyrically interesting, and catchy as hell. Also I could look at Andre 3000 for days.
Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 7
Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 9
I am just kind of getting sick of old dudes. Repping the youth vote with this one.
Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 6
Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 7.5
I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 7
Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 9.5
Both Hallelujah (although not this version) and Hey Ya have integral associations with my later college years, but even without the nostalgia, these are fantastic songs.
Hey Ya (Outkast) 8 [amazing lyrics….seriously, read them.]
You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 6
Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 5.5 [the violin is weirding me out as is the ending]
Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 10 [if you haven’t listened to this on a snowy day, you’re missing out. I hated this song the first five times or so I heard it, but when this song finally clicks with you, you get it. I’m so tempted to give Sunday a 1 just to push this through to the next round, but I will let the will of the people decide.]
Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 6.5
Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 7
I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 6
Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 9.5 [god. anyone remember when Marissa broke up with Chino? Harbor got really awkward after that….]
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) 7.5
#15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 5
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 8
#10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 5
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 8
#14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 7
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 6.5
#11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 8
You Oughta Know 7
Hey Ya 9.25
Alanis was surprisingly killing it for me, near 8, until 2:30. I have no clue what is happening after that. Awkward bridges do not bode well.
I still remember the first time I ever heard or saw Hey Ya, it was on late night Irish television in November of 2003 while I was studying at Trinity in Dublin. I immediately e-mailed a bunch of friends, probably including a few of you, stunned at this ridiculous new song and wanting to know if it was in the U.S. yet. It had of course been out for months at that point, but still I can’t say that about the moments of most songs.
Sunday Bloody Sunday 7.75
Tunnels 8.5
I’m a sucker for good percussion. But if there is a single thing participating in this tournament has given me, it is a ridiculous introduction and new fascination with Arcade Fire. Good job with that whole Album of the Year thing last night too, guys.
Sympathy For The Devil 6.5
Livin’ On A Prayer 8
I dunno. I normally love Sympathy, but it wasn’t hitting it right now. I’m normally annoyed by Livin’ On A Prayer, but wasn’t this morning. So it goes.
Hallelujah 9
I Want You Back 7
Yes, it’s a cover. Yes Leonard Cohen, Rufus Wainwright, everyone else, etc. Still, Jeff Buckley makes the Jackson 5 seem more like the original boy band than ever. Also, does anyone else hear the beginning of I Want You Back and just want to yell “Oh Romeo, all them girls make yo elbows spin, all you girls make yo elbows spin”?
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) 9
#15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 5
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 5
#10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 7
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 6
#14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 6
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 9.5
#11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 6
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) 9 Any song with a happy beat and sad lyrics does well in my book (see Dancing in the Dark, You Can Call Me Al, Jump)
#15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 7.5
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 7
#10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 9.5 Captivating.
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 7
#14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 8
Was just feeling Bon Jovi during post lunch doldrums. Maybe the 6 minute tribute to Solomon Burke was all the Mick Jagger I could weather for 24 hours…
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 9 One of the best bass lines ever, infectious hook, great vocals.
#11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 6.5
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) vs. #15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) = 8.5:7.5
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) vs. #10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) = 6:10 (Let it be known that I hate Arcade Fire, overall. This song is truly in a class by itself. Try listening to it when you’re feeling pensive, walking through the snow and I dare you not to come apart at the seams.)
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) vs. #14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) = 8:9
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) vs. #11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) = 6.5:8 (Tough to compare these songs. Vibe could not be more different)
Hey Ya (Outkast): 7
You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette): 7
Sunday Bloody Sunday: 5
Tunnels (Arcade Fire): 8
Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones): 8
Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi): 6
Want You Back (Jackson 5): 6
Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley):8
hey ya – 9
you oughta know – 9
this might be my first tie ever? i try really really hard not to give ties, but i just couldn’t make up my mind. these are both so great in their own ways.
sunday bloody sunday – 8
tunnels – 7
the arcade fire song is pretty solid, but it drags a bit
sympathy for the devil – 8.5
livin’ on a prayer – 6.5
normally i get a little more excited about livin on a prayer, but sympathy is a tough act to follow
i want you back – 5
hallelujah – 7.5
j5 annoyed me, jeff buckley hit the mood right (but still doesn’t rock enough to get a higher score)
#2 Hey Ya (Outkast) 9 vs. #15 You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette) 3
#7 Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2) 8 vs. #10 Tunnels (Arcade Fire) 7.5
#3 Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) 8.75 vs. #14 Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) 8
#6 I Want You Back (Jackson 5) 7.5 vs. #11 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) 9
Hey Ya: 9.3. You Oughta Know: 6.7
Sunday Bloody Sunday: 5.3. Tunnels: 9.9
Sympathy for the Devil: 7.3. Living on a Prayer: 6.5
I Want You Back: 8.7. Hallelujah: 9.1
Results (just numbers here, will put up on a page tmrw. Three were super-tight)
Hey Ya 153.25
You Oughta Know 124
Sunday Bloody Sunday 141.25
Tunnels 144.5
Sympathy for the Devil 146.5
Living On A Prayer 140
I Want You Back 143
Hallelujah 155.5