The beat goes on- as we wrap up Division H, we are officially halfway done with the Round of 256. For those keeping score, we are now 62.5% done with the tournament overall. And on such a momentous occasion, we salute Frank Sinatra, Madonna and Eminem, three legends of their time, who face elimination below. The Cars also face elimination, but they are more catchy than legendary.
Listen at Grooveshark (except We Can Work It Out) and vote by commenting below or emailing LTDdotorg@gmail.com before 9pm on Friday night.
(Grooveshark link fixed)
#2 American Girl (Tom Petty) vs. #15 Sex Machine (James Brown)
#7 Just What I Needed (Cars) vs. #10 Like A Prayer (Madonna)
#3 We Can Work It Out (Beatles) vs. #14 New York, New York (Frank Sinatra)
#6 Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) vs. #11 Lose Yourself (Eminem)
Living the Dream 
#2 American Girl (Tom Petty) 8 vs. #15 Sex Machine (James Brown) 7
#7 Just What I Needed (Cars) 7 vs. #10 Like A Prayer (Madonna) 7
#3 We Can Work It Out (Beatles) 7 vs. #14 New York, New York (Frank Sinatra) 5
#6 Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) 7 vs. #11 Lose Yourself (Eminem) 5
American Girl (Tom Petty) 7.5
Sex Machine (James Brown) 6
Just What I Needed (Cars) 7
Like A Prayer (Madonna) 5
We Can Work It Out (Beatles) 8
New York, New York (Frank Sinatra) 5
Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) 6
Lose Yourself (Eminem) 7
#2 American Girl (Tom Petty) 4.5
#15 Sex Machine (James Brown) 9.5
#7 Just What I Needed (Cars) 6.5
#10 Like A Prayer (Madonna) 6.3
#3 We Can Work It Out (Beatles) 7
#14 New York, New York (Frank Sinatra) 7.5
Thoroughly enjoyed this set
#6 Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) 6.8
#11 Lose Yourself (Eminem) 9.3
-American Girl (Tom Petty) 6
So I used to listen to a lot of Girl Talk at the gym and a lousy side effect is that when you suddenly realize where one of his samples is from, it’s really jarring when Lil Wayne or whoever doesn’t then layer over it.
-Sex Machine (James Brown) 3.5
I was going to say it’s ironic that a song called “Sex Machine” seems interminable, but sometimes, when it’s bad, five minutes can seem like an eternity.
Just What I Needed (Cars) 9.5
Like A Prayer (Madonna) 8.5
A truly difficult match-up! Madonna at her best. It kept almost dragging but then it would change or pick up. But I feel like the Cars were somehow utterly of their time while also being ahead of their time and entirely classic. So I guess they win.
We Can Work It Out (Beatles) 5.5
New York, New York (Frank Sinatra) 7
I love a good show tune. That Beatles tune is sweet and pretty but fluff.
Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) 6.5
Lose Yourself (Eminem) 7.5
American Girl (Tom Petty) 8
Sex Machine (James Brown) 5.5
Just What I Needed (Cars)
Like A Prayer (Madonna) 4
just not feeling madonna today 6.5
We Can Work It Out (Beatles) 7
New York, New York (Frank Sinatra) 8
Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) 5
Lose Yourself (Eminem) 9.5
whoops…that should be:
Just What I Needed (Cars)6.5
Like A Prayer (Madonna) 4
American Girl (Tom Petty) 7
Sex Machine (James Brown) 4.5
Just What I Needed (Cars) 7 [just a touch too slow. Great hardcore/punk covers of this are out there– Polyglot is one.]
Like A Prayer (Madonna) 8.5 [I had never noticed the production on this– voices in the background, strange bells/guitar added, etc. Much more complex and smooth than I remember…apparently. last reprise in unnecessary however.]
We Can Work It Out (Beatles) 6.5
New York, New York (Frank Sinatra) 3.5
Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) 8
Lose Yourself (Eminem) 10 […..I have an urge to buy a Cadillac.]
#2 American Girl (Tom Petty) 8
#15 Sex Machine (James Brown) 7
#7 Just What I Needed (Cars) 6.5
#10 Like A Prayer (Madonna) 5.5
#3 We Can Work It Out (Beatles) 8.5
#14 New York, New York (Frank Sinatra) 7.5
#6 Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) 5
#11 Lose Yourself (Eminem) 9.5
American Girl 7
Sex Machine 6
Like A Prayer 8.5
Just What I Needed 7
Huh, that was unexpected.
We Can Work It Out 6
New York, New York 3
Lose Yourself 10
Rudie Can’t Fail 7.5
(Verse 3. Verse 3.)
I feel a little bad for Rudie Can’t Fail- I just watched Grosse Point Blank again recently and it’s just so on. sad songs with happy beats, man. Anyways, I’d be willing to bet the economic downturn has not only increased Eminem’s willingness to sell out in multiple commercials at once, but also the average scores of his songs in music tournaments.
oh also aiko’s Sex Machine comment was awesome. probably slightly behind G’s “how some if these songs get into the tourney of best song of all time is fucking baffling to me” Dr. John comment in my faves of the whole thing. please keep them coming, all.
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American Girl (Tom Petty) 8
Sex Machine (James Brown) 8.5
Just What I Needed (Cars) 7
Like A Prayer (Madonna) 5
We Can Work It Out (Beatles) 8
New York, New York (Frank Sinatra) 7.5
Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) 7.5
Lose Yourself (Eminem) 8
Liked all the songs today except like a prayer, nothing really jumped out at me though…
american girl – 9
sex machine – 6
just what i needed – 7
like a prayer – 8
we can work it out – 9.2
new york, new york – 5.5
rudie can’t fail – 8.5
lose yourself – 8.3
American Girl (Tom Petty) 9
Sex Machine (James Brown) 8
Just What I Needed (Cars) 8
Like A Prayer (Madonna) 9
We Can Work It Out (Beatles) 8
New York, New York (Frank Sinatra) 7.5
Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) 9
Lose Yourself (Eminem) 8
#2 American Girl (Tom Petty) 6
#15 Sex Machine (James Brown) 8
#7 Just What I Needed (Cars) 7
#10 Like A Prayer (Madonna) 7.1
#3 We Can Work It Out (Beatles) 8.5
#14 New York, New York (Frank Sinatra) 7.5
#6 Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) 8
#11 Lose Yourself (Eminem) 7.8
#2 American Girl (Tom Petty) 8
#15 Sex Machine (James Brown) 3
I’m with Aiko, I hate this song. One exception: AmsterJam, Randall’s Island 2005. The Red Hot Chili Peppers did a 15 minute version of this song with Wyclef on guitar, Bootsy Collins on bass, and Snoop Dogg free style rapping jibberish.
#7 Just What I Needed (Cars) 9
I don’t mind you hanging out, and talking in your sleep.
It doesn’t matter where you’ve been, as long as it was deep- yeah!
#10 Like A Prayer (Madonna) 8.5
#3 We Can Work It Out (Beatles) 7.5
#14 New York, New York (Frank Sinatra) 7
#6 Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) 8
#11 Lose Yourself (Eminem) 9
Guillermo’s right, Lose Yourself feels way more relevant in these dark times than it did in the comparatively less dark times of 2003-2004.
#2 American Girl (Tom Petty) vs. #15 Sex Machine (James Brown) = 6 to 8.5
#7 Just What I Needed (Cars) vs. #10 Like A Prayer (Madonna) = 7 to 4
#3 We Can Work It Out (Beatles) vs. #14 New York, New York (Frank Sinatra) = 8 to 7
#6 Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) vs. #11 Lose Yourself (Eminem) = 7 to 9.5
Chrysler
I gotta get Em’s back on this. I don’t know what other commercials he’s been in, but I think the Chrysler commercial was legitimate. He could have definitely been making a lot more money for a lot more shitty products for a very long time. As messed up as the American auto industry is, it’s life or death stuff for a lot of people in a lot of states, and it meant a lot to me that he chose to be in that commercial with that subject matter at that time. He could have packed up and moved to LA or NYC years ago, but he’s always stuck it out.
Mom’s spaghetti.
#2 American Girl (Tom Petty) 7vs. #15 Sex Machine (James Brown)7
#7 Just What I Needed (Cars) 8.3 vs. #10 Like A Prayer (Madonna)6.2
#3 We Can Work It Out (Beatles) 8.5 vs. #14 New York, New York (Frank Sinatra)8.9
#6 Rudie Can’t Fail (Clash) 8vs. #11 Lose Yourself (Eminem)7