eyes on delta spirit this round...
Moving right along, my voting friends, moving right along. It’s time to pick our 2 favorites from each of Divisions C and D.
Votes are due Wednesday, August 3rd at 8 pm EDT. Comment below with your scores. Listen here or use the widget for all except Mavis Staples.
The first matchup is looking to be a fierce battle. Jackie Wilson’s “Higher and Higher” has been cruising through the bracket so far. Jackie’s a Rock’n’Roll Hall of Famer, #68 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list, and “Higher and Higher” was a chart-topping single. However, “People C’mon” from The Delta Spirit has been catching the attention of many of our voters, and past scores tell me it has potential to boot the R&B singer out of the tournament.
The other spot in Division C will belong to either The Kinks or Mavis Staples, with the former singing about the perfect say to spend a “Sunny Afternoon” (lazing, of course) and the latter singing everyone’s 2nd favorite (?) version of soul classic “Son of a Preacherman”. Mavis was the underdog in the Round of 128, a #6 seed eliminating #3 “Interstate Love Song”.
The Division D semi’s start with a couple high scorers. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros say “go big or go Home” when it comes to music tournaments. The Man in Black is pushing along with his rendition of Shel Silverstein’s story about “A Boy Named Sue”, as shared with a bunch of prisoners.
he got the blues...
“Fisherman’s Blues” from The Waterboys has just been squeaking by thus far in this tournament but no one has stopped the UK folk-rockers yet. This round’s challenger is “Let Me Go” from geeky modern rockers Cake.
The shortlist….
Division C:
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit)
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. #6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples)
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. #4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash)
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. #3 Let Me Go (Cake)
Living the Dream 
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) 7
vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) 5
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) 10 vs.
#6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) 5
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) 7
vs. #4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) 10
As many of you know, Shel Silverstein, the famed children’s author, wrote A Boy Named Sue for Johnny Cash. He also wrote a lesser known follow up to the song called Father of a Boy Named Sue. As the title suggests, it tells the story from the father’s point of view. For those expecting the Shel Silverstein you remember from the Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends, be prepared for something slightly different.
http://grooveshark.com/#/playlist/Father+Of+A+Boy+Named+Sue/57830322
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) 7
vs. #3 Let Me Go (Cake) 5
Division C:
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) – 8.5
vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) – 2.5
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. – 5
#6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) – 7
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. – 6
#4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) – 5
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. -5
#3 Let Me Go (Cake) – 7
Division C:
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) 8
vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) 8.4
Lord knows the mistakes I will make. Giving this one to Delta Spirit, however, is not one of them. No hammer time, because Higher and Higher is great, but it’s not as gritty as I like now that August has arrived.
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) 7
#6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) 6.7
I’m not sure if it will happen or not, but Delta Spirit vs. The Kinks would put Division C in the running for angstiest group.,
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) 8
#4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) 7
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) 10
#3 Let Me Go (Cake) 4
Adventures on boats and trains with you in my arms? And a fiddle? I mean, I am all over this. The best thing about this song is that it manages to paint a beautiful picture of solitude, of waves crashing and fields flying by in the darkness…and then there’s this whole “you in my arms” thing, and I imagine the you feeling the same thing as the me.
So in that sense it’s a celebration of dependent independence. And of lovers on adventures together in far off places where the stars are the ceilings. I don’t know, I feel a great affinity for this song. Let Me Go just sounds hokey compared to FB, not feeling that one today.
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit): 9/7
Jackie Wilson’s rising up, and I really love Delta Spirit (but only really like this song).
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. #6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples): 6/6
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. #4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash):7/6.5
That whistling is catchy, and so is the melody and rhythm. The man in black just makes me laugh.
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. #3 Let Me Go (Cake): 5/6.75
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) = 6.5 to 4
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. #6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) = 7 to 3
As a red flag waving socialist, I feel Davies’s pointed criticism of the tax man is misguided.
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. #4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) = 9 to 5
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. #3 Let Me Go (Cake) = 4 to 6.5
Listen to it again: it’s not criticism of the tax man, it’s criticism of the rich man who complains about getting taxed.
I was just joking around, but you’re right! I’ve now realized I’ve never really listened to the lyrics that closely.
Scores for me and my sister Claire:
Division C:
Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) 6.5/ 6
People C’mon (Delta Spirit) 7.5/ 7
Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) 8.5/7.5
Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) 4.5/6.5
Division D:
Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) 9.5/9.5
A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) 9/9
Such an unfair matchup. Would love both of these to go on.
Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) 5.5/5
Let Me Go (Cake) 7/6
Division C:
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) – 9.5 – gets me every time
vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) – 4
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. – 6
#6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) – 8.5
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. – 7
#4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) – 7
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. – 5.5
#3 Let Me Go (Cake) – 8.5 best cake song around
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) – 6.5
vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) – 7
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. – 6
#6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) – 3
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. – 9
#4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) – 8.5
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. – 5.5
#3 Let Me Go (Cake) – 7.5
Sorry, Gmo, I don’t think I heard the same song as you. Give some suggestions on what else I should listen to by them. Let Me Go isn’t my favorite Cake song, which is odd since I nominated this one. Cake is very hit or miss for me. When the their great riffs and melodies compliment McShea’s speaksinging I love their work.
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) 7.0 to 8.5
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. #6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) 8.0 to 5.0
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. #4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) 5.0 to 8.5
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. #3 Let Me Go (Cake) 7.0 to 6.0
I must say this is all a far cry from my easy listening on the way home tonight – music of the Renaissance from the court of Alfonso V or Aragon and Naples. Try it. You might like it. Album is entitled “Alfons V El Magnanim: El Cancioneros de Montecassino” (Jordi Savall, Le Concert de Nations and La Capella Reial de Catalunya). It won’t hurt. Honest. Now for the important stuff.
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) 7.0 to 10.0 Delta Spirit is really getting my feet a-moving. Maybe I can get rid of my physical therapist.
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. #6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) 8.0 to 5.0 Not my 2nd favorite version; probably not even my 3rd or 4th.
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. #4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) 8.5 to 5.5 Liking Home as well. Another foot mover. And see – no collusion!
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. #3 Let Me Go (Cake) 8.0 to 6.0
All things considered, I’d have expected more sympathy from you for Boy Named Sue!
or empathy, whatever
Sorry about that. I must not have had my brain turned on!
Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) = 8
vs. People C’mon (Delta Spirit) = 5
Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) = 7
vs. Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) = 9
Division D:
Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) =8
vs. A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) = 9.5
Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) = 6.5
vs. Let Me Go (Cake) = 7.5
Division C:
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) – 7
vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) – 5
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. – 4
#6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) – 5
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. – 10
#4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) – 7.5
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. – 5
#3 Let Me Go (Cake) – 6.5
Division C:
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) – 8.5
vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) – 8
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. – 6
#6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) – 8.5
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. – 9.5
#4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) – 7.5
think i’ll name my son “bill or george or….any damn thing than sue.”
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. – 4
#3 Let Me Go (Cake) – 8
Division C:
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) 5.8/7.8
I’m starting to get excited to see Delta Spirit on the playlist…I hope that doesn’t have to end.
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. #6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) 6/3.5
The very best version of Son of a Preacherman will only ever be a 5 for me, so this scored in comparison to that.
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. #4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) 7.5/5
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. #3 Let Me Go (Cake) 4.5/8
Division C:
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) 5 / 6.5
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. #6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) 7 / 2
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. #4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) 8.5 / 7
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. #3 Let Me Go (Cake) 3 / 10
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) – 7.5
how does he hit those notes?
#4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) – 8.5
those were both fun, but the delta spirit hit a little deeper
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) – 9
love it
#6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) – 6.4
want this out, but have a hard time giving mavis the hammer
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) – 7
not feeling this one as much today
#4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) – 5.5
and enjoyed this more than expected
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) – 9.2
#3 Let Me Go (Cake) – 7
Back home from Uganda after a fabulous couple weeks of work. If you every have the chance to go there – DO IT! It is an amazing country.
I am, however, sad to have missed so many days of voting! I got back just in time for Momma Collins’ birthday dinner, so voting tonight reflects some family members: Me / Nora / Mom / Sheila / Rita.
Sorry for some hate-o-rade scores!
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) – 7.5 / 10 / 9 / 8 / 7
vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) – 7 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 3
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. – 7 / 7 / 8 / 4 / 6
#6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) – 8 / 6.5 / 8 / 7 / 3 / 9
Sheila reacted really negatively to the Mavis version – sad day.
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. – 10 / 9 / 7 / 5 / 5
#4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) – 5 / 5 / 1 / 10 / 4
My mom loves Home – she said “I know this song – from that commercial! But I don’t know what the commercial is even for – just that I always like hearing the song, it must have a better memory trigger.” She’s cute, that one. But she seriously loathes Boy Named Sue. I had no idea she harbored such strong feelings about Johnny Cash. On the other hand, Sheila seriously LOVES Boy Named Sue.
Mom dropped out. She and Dad decided to have a glass of wine outside. So me / Nora / Sheila / Rita
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. – 8.5 / 4 / 3 / 10
#3 Let Me Go (Cake) – 6 / 7 / 2 / 4
Rita is from Dublin and loves The Waterboys, her hometown band. She got very excited when this song came on. Sheila appears to dislike almost everything!
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) 6.5
#4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) 7.5
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) 8.3
#6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) 3.5
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) 4.5
#4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) 10
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) 6
#3 Let Me Go (Cake) 2
I am starting listening with less than 20 minutes til voting deadline… I’ll score what I can, then finish this out after 5 and you can choose to count my late votes or not.
#1 Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson) vs. #4 People C’mon (Delta Spirit) 7/7.2
I sort of indifferently like these songs… and so I indifferently would like People C’mon to win. The hand claps at the end got me going but then they didn’t last long enough!
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. #6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples)
I will vote on this after 5 because it’s the match up I care least about.
Division D:
#1 Home (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. #4 A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) 9/4.5
I think I’ve said it before but “Home” expresses my most favorite love song sentiment. Except the spoken interlude, which is getting kind of overly sappy. Boy Named Sue does not stand up to repeated listens in short periods of time. I mean, I wouldn’t read “Where the Sidewalk Ends” over and over again, either, you know? (In elementary school this was a different story).
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. #3 Let Me Go (Cake)
Also ran out of time for this one.
Late votes:
#2 Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks) vs. #6 Son of a Preacherman (Mavis Staples) 6.5/4
Actually was actively not feeling Mavis’s cover today.
#2 Fisherman’s Blues (The Waterboys) vs. #3 Let Me Go (Cake) 4/4