I like Division M. It is so rich in musical history and odd-ball matchups, it really epitomizes what the tournament is all about. You can listen here (except Let It Be), and vote by commenting below or emailing LTDdotorg@gmail.com before 8pm Tuesday.
#1 Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) vs. #8 My Girl (Temptations). I watched an interview last night from the 80s in which Mercury said that Bowie tried to take his name of the song right before the song came out because he was unhappy with his vocals. “Yeah, he’s an asshole,” Mercury reflected.
#4 Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) vs. #5 Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses). The monster smash album versus the monster smash album of the 80s. Lindsey Buckingham wrote Go Your Own Way about Stevie Nicks, who was banging Mick Fleetwood. Awkward…Equally awkward- John and Christie McVie, the other two members of the band, were simultaneously going through a divorce. “You Make Loving Fun” is a Christie McVie tribute to the tour lighting director she was cheating on John with.
#2 Let It Be (Beatles) vs. #7 Is this Love (Bob Marley). Two legends. Can’t really see people being upset with either song winning here.
#3 Tiny Dancer (Elton John) vs. #6 Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang). This is Elton John’s last stand, after losing Rocket Man a few nights ago. Equally significantly, however, Rapper’s Delight is the second to last hip-hop song left in the tournament. The groovy bass-line and fun lyrics have allowed Sugarhill ascend to heights that Biggie, Tupac and Jay-Z could not reach in this tournament. A loss here would leave Eminem as the genre’s sole rep. (Just because Outkast did it doesn’t make “Hey Ya” a hip-hop song, any more than “Train in Vain” is punk.)
Living the Dream 
#1 Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) – 8
#8 My Girl (Temptations) – 7
Yikes. Some tough match-ups this round.
I am a massive Bowie fan (especially in ‘Labyrinth’, obviously) but I don’t love Queen. 2:55 onwards is Bowie-dominated genius though. Whatever happened to Macauley Culkin?
#4 Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) – 9
#5 Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses) – 8
Tough. Rumours is easily one of my top 5 favourite albums but Jungle’s riffs are completely ridiculous in the good way. Almost surprised myself by handing the edge to GnR tonight but the background to GYOW coupled with listen #2 reminding me how crushing the opening lyrics are (the lyrics through the first 30 seconds are so damn heartbreaking) swings things back to the Mac.
#2 Let It Be (Beatles) – 10
#7 Is this Love (Bob Marley) – 7
No contest at all. Let It Be is phenomenal. Not a Bob fan but I do like this song, so it’s closer than it otherwise might be.
#3 Tiny Dancer (Elton John) – 9
#6 Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang) – 4
I am both a Brit and a crazed fan of ‘Almost Famous’. Since Weird Uncle Elton is one of our finest exports and key contributor to what is my favourite scene in what might be my favourite movie, I need to assert myself and set the precedent for Tiny Dancer destroying Rapper’s Delight. Be honest with yourselves: Rapper’s Delight might be fun but it’s really not a great song…right?
#1 Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) 8.5
#8 My Girl (Temptations) 7
#4 Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) 8
#5 Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses) 9
#2 Let It Be (Beatles) 9.5
#7 Is this Love (Bob Marley) 7.5
#3 Tiny Dancer (Elton John) 7.5
#6 Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang) 6
#1 Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) – 8.2
#8 My Girl (Temptations) – 7.9
#4 Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) – 8.1
#5 Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses) – 9.3
#2 Let It Be (Beatles) – 10
#7 Is this Love (Bob Marley) – 6.2
#3 Tiny Dancer (Elton John) – 9.4
#6 Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang) – 7
1 Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) 8
#8 My Girl (Temptations)6
#4 Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) 4
#5 Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses) 9
#2 Let It Be (Beatles) 7
#7 Is this Love (Bob Marley) 7
#3 Tiny Dancer (Elton John) 6
#6 Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang) 7
Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen): 9
My Girl (Temptations): 8
Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac): 6
Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses): 6
Let It Be (Beatles): 7.5
Is this Love (Bob Marley): 6.5
Tiny Dancer (Elton John): 5.5
Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang): 5.5
Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen): 8.8
My Girl (Temptations): 8.4
Two all around great songs
Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac): 6
Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses): 6.5
Wanted to like both of these more, but they just didn’t do it.
Let It Be (Beatles): 7.2
Is this Love (Bob Marley): 9.5
Bob takes this one easy. Let it Be is great, but not as full a song.
Tiny Dancer (Elton John): 6.5
Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang): 10
A bouncer and two random guys off Sugarhill street helped found hip hop. This song still hasn’t stopped a-rockin’ to the bang to the boogity beat.
#1 Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) 5.1
#8 My Girl (Temptations) 8.3
Wow. What the hell just happened? Queen fell flat and the Temptations sucked me in right from the get go. Can’t believe this just went on…
#4 Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) 6
#5 Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses) 8.8
Now this is a little more like it, though surprised not to be feeling Fleetwood a little more. At least this staves off another music stroke… I think…
#2 Let It Be (Beatles) 8.5
#7 Is this Love (Bob Marley) 4.8
I love Marley, but this just didn’t do it for me today. Paul however was dead on with Let it Be – but what the heck was going on with that beard? That thing frightens me.
#3 Tiny Dancer (Elton John) 8.3
#6 Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang) 4.5
I love the beat to Rapper’s Delight, but the length just beat me into submission. Shockingly, the new Budweiser commercial with Tiny Dancer may have helped out here.
Under Pressure 9
My Girl (Temptations) 6.5
Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) 8.5
Welcome to the Jungle 9
Let It Be (Beatles) 9
Is This Love (Marley) 6.5
Tiny Dancer 9
Rapper’s Delight 6
welcome back!
under pressure – 5
my girl – 3.5
go your own way – 5.5
welcome to the jungle – 7
let it be – 5
is this love – 7
tiny dancer – 7.5
rapper’s delight – 4
#1 Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) 9
#8 My Girl (Temptations) 7
#4 Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) 9.5
#5 Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses) 4
GnR aren’t my scene ever. Lindsey Buckingham ALWAYS is. Fleetwood Mac anecdote — I drive a dinosaur car with a cassette player. I own one cassette. It is Fleetwood Mac’s “The Dance.” I listen to it often enough that it should have died years ago, but it is still going strong. Go Your Own Way is great live.
#2 Let It Be (Beatles) 8
#7 Is this Love (Bob Marley) 6
#3 Tiny Dancer (Elton John) 9
#6 Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang) 3
Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) 6.5
My Girl (Temptations) 6
Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) 9.2
Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses) 2 [can’t stand this song generally, and today just reenforced that.]
Let It Be (Beatles) 8.5
Is this Love (Bob Marley) 5.5
Tiny Dancer (Elton John) 7
Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang) 3 [ok. I’ve exhausted my interest in this song.]
Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) 8.7
My Girl (Temptations) 4.5
Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) 8.5
Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses) 5
Let It Be (Beatles) 7.5
Is this Love (Bob Marley) 5
Tiny Dancer (Elton John) 8
Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang) 4.5
#1 Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) 7.9
#8 My Girl (Temptations) 7
That Bowie story is nuts. Given this is David’s last stand, I say he should appreciate what he has. I’ve given Under Pressure a 10 before, but not this morning.
#4 Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) 9
#5 Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses) 4
It’s a Fleetwood morning. I f-ing love this song, the stilted rhythm, the fact that they sang it when they did and you sorta feel like you can hear it in their voices, everything. And honestly, I’m very confused that this is the surviving Guns N Roses song. Very, very confused.
#2 Let It Be (Beatles) 10
#7 Is this Love (Bob Marley) 7.5
Damn- when this hits, it hits. That’s my second 10 for Let It Be, it slipped in the 256, but showed up to party today. Love the beard, Paul.
#3 Tiny Dancer (Elton John) 8.2
#6 Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang) 4.5
I recognize the historical importance of Sugarhill, but this isn’t a historical importance tournament.
Sweet Child of Mine lost to Zombie by 4 points in the Round of 512
November Rain lost to The Boxer by 3 points in the Round of 256
Not gonna bother looking up Patience, I don’t remember it doing well.
Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) 7.5
My Girl (Temptations) 6.5
Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) 6.5
Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses) 6.9
Let It Be (Beatles) 7.5
Is this Love (Bob Marley) 6.8
Tiny Dancer (Elton John) 8
Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang) 6
#1 Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) [7.75]
#8 My Girl (Temptations) [7]
#4 Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) [8.5]
#5 Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses) [4.5]
#2 Let It Be (Beatles) [9.5]
#7 Is this Love (Bob Marley) [6.5]
#3 Tiny Dancer (Elton John) [8.75]
#6 Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang) [5]
Under Pressure (David Bowie/Queen) 8.1
My Girl (Temptations) 6.5
Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) 8.5
Welcome to the Jungle (Guns n Roses) 7.8
Let It Be (Beatles) 8.9
Is this Love (Bob Marley) 8
Tiny Dancer (Elton John) 9.2
Rapper’s Delight (Sugarhill Gang) 7.3
Would have been an 8 if it weren’t for that painful dinner scene.