TV on the Radio eagerly check results

I got my first opportunity to man Guillermo’s massive vote-tracking spreadsheet for this round, and let me tell you it’s a finely crafted piece of work.  Let me also tell you that it might drive you insane if you have an older computer that just really needs to, you know, think about it before scrolling over a couple of columns.  Anyway, on to the results.

In our big blow-out for the round, “’39” by Queen eighty-sixes George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” 196.7 to 140.6, a gap which only widened with some last-minute votes.

George Michael contemplates his defeat

Those same last-minute votes narrowed the gap between TV on the Radio and Sugarhill Gang to less than 10 points, but they weren’t quite enough for TVOTR to overcome the Gang’s lead.  “Apache” beats “Halfway Home,” 184.3 to 174.9.  Nevertheless, both songs land on the wall of 10s, with TV on the Radio earning nods from Jack, Sam, and Tessa, and The Catholic and Jacob giving top honors to the Sugarhill Gang.

Our high score of the round goes to “In the Air Tonight,” which KO’ed “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” 209 to 198.  Even though Pat Benatar wracked up the second highest score of the round, that ain’t how this tournament works, and she’s out.

Finally, voters were unmoved by the far reaching underground influence of the Vaselines, and gave the victory to Smith Western’s “Smile,” 174.9 to 169.1.

All our losers are out of the tournament, but remain in our hearts: George Michael, TV on the Radio, The Vaselines, Pat Benatar.