David Bowie
Votes due by Saturday, July 2nd at 8 pm EST. New voters, click here to understand what it is we do here.
The PCT has been plugging along for a month now and we’ve only got 4 more divisions (8 more posts) left in the Round of 256. Some quick stats for you nerds out there. So far 115 different people have voted and the site has had more than 13,000 views. Not too shabby. Now is as good a time as any to remind everyone to invite your friends so we can grow the tournament even more. Enough with my nerdly ambitions though, on to today’s match-ups.
Tunes are here! (Except David Bowie, which you can catch on youtube)
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) vs. #16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) Bowie is 1 for 1 in the PCT and looking to maintain his perfect record. He made it to the finals in the last tournament (with some help from Queen), so he’s a force to be reckoned with. Phone Booth gained popularity due to its inclusion on the soundtrack from, of all movies, The Cable Guy (I know, right?). That sample in the background is from B.B. King’s “How Blue Can You Get?”. Let’s see how Primitive Radio Gods fair in their PCT debut.
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) vs. #9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) Alabama Song was originally published in 1927. It was sung by a bunch of prostitutes in the 1930 opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny and has also been covered by David Bowie, who seems to be getting an inordinate amount of coverage this week. The MF in MF Doom stands for Metal Fist, Metal Fingers, or Metal Face. Despite the abundance of metal, this is in fact a hip hop song.
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) vs. #13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) According to wikipedia, 13 is “the natural number after 12 and before 14.” What did we ever do without the internet? Next thing you know they’ll be reminding us that yesterday was Thursday, tomorrow is Saturday and Sunday comes afterwards (ok fine it’s Thursday…I’m posting tomorrow too so I get a pass!)
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. #12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) Washington D.C. rockers Ted Leo and the Pharmacists debut in the PCT today. It seems Ted might want to think about finding someone other than pharmacists, as the band has lost 4 members in the last decade. Bill Withers is no stranger to Living the Dream though. “Ain’t No Sunshine” went down in the first round of the last tournament. We’ll see how lovely his day is in 48 hours…
For your cutting and pasting convenience:
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) vs. #16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods)
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) vs. #9 Alabama Song (Doors, The)
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) vs. #13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole)
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. #12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists)
Living the Dream 
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) 7.5 – Bowie felt good… i think I feel a high-scoring round coming on..
#16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) 4.5 – Or I could be wrong
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) – 4 MF Doom lost at least 2 points because he just keeps losing the rhythm… really unnerving. But he stole one back with the cartoon sample at the end that I couldn’t place – definitely the best part of the song.
#9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) 10
Alabama Song never fails to bring me back to senior year, and hosting parties in my room/attic where we set up our own Whiskey Bar… or to law school where I did the same. And now, at the end of a brutal week of work, I look up and see a row of whiskey bottles on my bookshelf. Think I’m gonna crack one open – absolute perfection.
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) 4 Can I skip from 12 to 14 next time?
#13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) 3
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) 9
#12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) 6
I had completely forgotten about Lovely Day. Terrific song – this was playing the first day I showed up at College for our outing trip – still sticks in my mind.
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) – 7.75
vs. #16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) – 6.8
Anytime I think of David Bowie… this is where my mind goes, and gladly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4zV4pJ8MwM (my favorite part: “Hey Bowie, do you have one funky secret space suit or do you have ch-ch-ch-changes.”)
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) – 5
vs. #9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) – 5
I have to go with average/indifference on both of these. I like that the first one is about cookies (with a k) but I can’t help but feel as though I am missing some sort of subtext here. Meanwhile, I thought I knew who the Doors were before I heard this song. Now I have no idea.
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) – 7.8
vs. #13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) – 5
I really like this song by Big Star. But I am biased towards bands that use the word star or any variation thereof in their name.
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 7.5
vs. #12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) – 6
Lovely Day is on my morning music mix.
Sort of as an aside… I find myself rating genres I actually listen to on a regular basis on a tougher scale. I am not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing.
Life On Mars (David Bowie) 10 [who nominated this? Thanks.]
Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) 8.4 [forgot all about this- steps ahead of other’s 90s radio.]
Kookies (MF Doom) 5
Alabama Song (Doors, The) 6.5
Thirteen (Big Star) 8
Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) 6.5
Lovely Day (Bill Withers) 3.5
Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) 9
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) 5.5
#16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) 5
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) 3
#9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) 5
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) 5
#13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) 4
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) 5
#12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) 7.5
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) = 7.5
#16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) – 7
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) – 4.5
monotone
#9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) – 8
Gollum!
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) –
#13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) – 8. 5
yeah…this is what I want to be listening to this summer, whoever gave the nod – more, please!?!
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 7
I’m going to lose all my cred here, but I actually like the Kirk Franklin sample better http://youtu.be/7pxHDaqxpuk
#12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) – 6.5
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) – oops! 7
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) 7 vs. #16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) 5
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) 5 vs. #9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) 7
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) 6 vs. #13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) 6
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) 7 vs. #12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) 5
Actually showing up to work on the Friday before the 4th means no one is in the office, you actually get some work done, and you can listen to music.
Life On Mars (David Bowie) vs. Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) = 8 to 3
Did I tell this story? I was watching ‘The Labyrinth’ with my mom when I was a little kid. David Bowie was looking all crazy, dancing around and I remember asking my mom “Why is he so weird?” My mom answered me matter-of-factly “well, he’s bisexual, he’s into guys AND girls” You may think that is an overly-simple answer, but in a way its not. It blew my little kid mind, but also made me realize, “Oh, ok, that’s cool, no big deal” It was a non-issue and we moved on and I continued to be terrified by the part where the main character thinks she’s back in her room and it turns out to be fake. Ugh that part still scares me a little bit.
Great tune.
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) vs. #9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) = 7 to 9
Saltines and triscuts, yes, but ‘Alabama Song’ is pure Madness. Also very recently learned this is based on a Bertolt Brecht piece. Had no idea. Goes to show that pop stars used to be literate and had real ideas.
Thirteen (Big Star) vs. Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) = 6.5 to 9.5
“Thirteen” would score an extra point if he didn’t throwin the phrase “outlaw for my love.”
But some roots rocksteady should advance to represent against all the spineless washed up classic rock that it over-performing in this tournament. Time to get tough.
Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) = 8 to 9
Big up to Ted Leo on many, many levels.
And as far as artists go in this bracket, Brecht’s reach didn’t stop at Morrison. Bowie release an EP in 81ish of Brecht’s Baal– it’s a rarity but pretty cool.
fascinating!
Life On Mars 7.5
Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand 7.6
A plane takes off from Baltimore and touches down on Bourbon Street. And Labyrinth was terrifying. I own it, but it was terrifying. The end just made me really confused as a kid, I totally relate to Adam. She’s in her room, and then like a dumpster truck starts collapsing it and it turns out she’s in the dump and not home at all? Ugh, that’s awful. Bluto sad.
Kookies: 3
Alabama Song: 7
Jim Morrison covering 1930’s vaudeville? I’ll vote for that. Sorry Ballz, I’m not sure we’ll ever be in musical sync, but that takes nothing away from the strange happenings of 2004-2005 Room M.
Thirteen: 7.1
Ruff and Tuff: 7.3
Ahh, wish Danno hadn’t been lazy on this one. Big Star is Alex Chilton’s band. Alex Chilton is The Replacements song that won its first match-up back in Division F. It’s a cool tourney sub-plot. But Ruff and Tuff sounds zydeco-esque, and I can like that.
Lovely Day: 6.5
The Sons Of Cain: 9.2
DUDE. This song is benefiting from playing on a Friday before a holiday weekend when I’m at work. Nice one.
Life On Mars 7
Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand 7.5
Kookies: 5.5
Alabamie Song: 4
Dug Kookies until it wouldn’t end.
Thirteen: 6
Ruff and Tuff: 7
Lovely Day: 6
The Sons Of Cain: 8
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) – 4.5
#16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) – 6.5 (i’ve never seen the cable guy, so there’s no assocation there for me)
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) – 2.5
#9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) – 5
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) – 6.5
#13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) – 6
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 3.5
#12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) – 5
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) vs. #16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods): 6.5/5
Really appreciate that whoever added Life on Mars to YouTube decided to give us Bowie as Jareth. It also reminded me how much I loved Ludo when I was little (SMELL BAD!!!). Have to watch Labyrinth with the little girl…As for phonebooth…I forgot about that song. Thanks.
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) vs. #9 Alabama Song (Doors, The): 2/6
One thing I cannot abide is people who REALLY do rap by talking over a beat. Sad. Alabama song reminded me of soph. year of high school, and the kid who used to sing it, who also quit amidst a hazing scandal. Oh, wait…that’s another story for another time. But really, doesn’t Alabama Song seem like it should be used in a Scoobie Doo or a haunted house? Thanks, I’m glad I’m not the only one…
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) vs. #13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole):4.5/4
When you’re Thirteen, it would be helpful to be Ruff and Tuff, because it’s such an awful age. Kids have to put up with a lot of shite. That is all…
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. #12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists): 6/7
There isn’t anything wrong with Lovely Day, but Sons of Cain kind of wails.
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) vs. #16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) 6.0 to 4.5 Still not a big fan of Bowie but this was oK. The Gods started out OK but should have had the prescience to know this group does not like long songs and the OK fell of the table about the 4 minute mark. And change up that base line once and awhile. Borrrrrrrrrrrrring!
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) vs. #9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) 2.0 to 6.5 I wasn’t buying any cookies from this group and I’ll take whiskey over cookies any time. On second though, I’ll take them both.
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) vs. #13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) 8.0 to 6.5 Really liked 13. Chill music for me. R & T was oK as well just not good enough.
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. #12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) 7.0 to 3.0 Withers has a great voice; no gimmicks necessary here. But Ted and the Boys need to stop sampling the merchandise.
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) vs. #16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) 6.0 to 5.0
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) vs. #9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) 2.0 to 6.5
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) vs. #13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) 8.0 to 7.0
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) vs. #12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) 8.0 to 3.0
On behalf of two of my childhood friends and me (Roniker/K-dawg/me):
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) – 4.3/ 3.8 / 2 – There was some talk of having to respect Bowie despite wishing the song would end. Clearly I didn’t feel the same way.
vs. #16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) – 4.9/ 6.8 / 7 – There’s some resentment that Primitive Radio Gods mix in BB King.
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) – 2.4/ 1.7 / 2 – No fans here!
vs. #9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) – 6.8/ 7.4/ 4.5 –
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) – 4.9/ 4 / 5.5 –
vs. #13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) – 6/ 4.9 / 6.2 –
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 7.8/ 8 / 4.5 –
vs. #12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) – 3.8/ 3.9/ 4.5 – it started to grow on me, but not enough. “It just felt like screaming.”
So I listened to and scored these while hiking out of the Glacier backwoods (look,, hiking by yourself gets boring after awhile, listening to music is an ideal activity), so I really paid attention to these songs. I am commenting now from a KOA style campground in Billing, MT. I didn’t really want to stay here, but my first choice was flooded.
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) 6
#16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) 9.6
This isn’t my favorite Bowie, but it’s okay. It was also a very poor fit for the scenery. This Primitive Radio Gods song, however, was perfect. I knew I liked this song, but it really was ahead of its time. And yet of its time. I love songs like that, and this one really hit the spot.
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) 6.2
#9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) 8
For once I actually really *listened* to the lyrics to a rap song in this tourney… and I totally didn’t get this song. What the hell was he talking about? I admit I love the oom-PA oom-PA of circus music. It can so easily be cheesy but whatever. Love it.
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) 8.3
#13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) 3.5
I’d never heard Thirteen before… it was simple but it grabbed me. I liked it. Ruff and Tuff, on the other hand, did not grab me.
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) 2
#12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) 6
Lovely Day for some reason reminded me of being at the dentist, even though I don’t think I’ve ever heard it at the dentist.
Oh no, KOA’s are THE WORST! 🙂
Life On Mars (David Bowie) 5.5
Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) 4
I had heard Standing Outside before, but it just kept going and I got pretty sick of it.
Kookies (MF Doom) 5
Alabama Song (Doors, The) 9.5
Thirteen (Big Star) 4
Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) 5
Lovely Day (Bill Withers) 5
Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) 6
Breakfast with the roommates today. Scores for me/Chris/Carolyn
Life On Mars (David Bowie) – 7.5 / 7 / 4
Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) – 8 / 6/ 5
Tough match up this morning – but for me, PRG was just what I wanted to hear.
Kookies (MF Doom) – 2.5 / 3 / 2
Alabama Song (Doors, The) – 6.5 / 8 / 8
No love for Kookies. The last minute or so of that song drastically brought down the scores for all of us.
Thirteen (Big Star) – 8 / 7.5 / 7
Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) – 4 / 5 / 4
None of us had heard Thirteen before – but we all enjoyed it.
Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 8 / 9 / 8.5
Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) – 7.5 / 6.5 / 5
Chris says that Lovely Day is like an instant ray of sunshine. First note, and he was super pumped. And then he and Carolyn had a cute couple-y moment when he said that’s how he feels about her. Precious. ANYWAYS. I remember playing Ted Leo for my college radio show…but then I totally forgot about them. I might have to see what they’ve been up to in the last 5 years. I liked this one (but not more than I liked Bill). Chris said he would have scored it higher if it was up against another song.
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) [7]
#16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) [6.5]
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) [4]
#9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) [6]
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) [4.5]
#13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) [5.5]
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) [8]
#12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) [6]
#1 Life On Mars -5
#16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand – 6
#8 Kookies -4.5
#9 Alabama Song -4.5
#4 Thirteen -6
#13 Ruff and Tuff -5
#5 Lovely Day -7
#12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) – 5
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) 8.5
#16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) – 4
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) – 4
#9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) – 7
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) 4
#13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) 7.8
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) 9
#12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) 5
#1 Life On Mars (David Bowie) – 2.5
#16 Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand (Primitive Radio Gods) – 8
#8 Kookies (MF Doom) – 1.5
#9 Alabama Song (Doors, The) – 4.5
#4 Thirteen (Big Star) – 6
#13 Ruff and Tuff (Stranger Cole) – 4
#5 Lovely Day (Bill Withers) – 7.8
#12 Sons Of Cain (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) -4