Not only will Sacha Baron Cohen be starring in the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic, but he will be accepting the People's Choice award on behalf of Mercury if Somebody to Love goes all the way.
Greetings voters! After many, many votes (using many, many handles), I’m thrilled to jump to the other side of the blogpost and guest-host today’s matchups. And what matchups they are… Actually, a couple of these could turn out to be complete routs, but you never know how things will turn out. So let your voices be heard and get your votes in by Thursday, August 4th at 8 pm EDT. Comment below with your scores and listen here or using the widget down there.
In our first matchup, we have a heavy favorite looking to take out a scrappy survivor. Queen’s Somebody to Love has romped through the first two rounds, with a monstrous 75 point average margin of victory over the competition. Queen will be facing off against the Pixies’ intergalactic ballad Motorway to Roswell, a song that’s managed to advance into the round of 64 by the slimmest of margins. Having barely survived two squeakers, including a .6 point win in round 1, it’s bested its competition by an average of just 1.5. One gets the feeling that, despite trying hard, this tune may not make it into the round of 32.
Our second round features another intergenerational battle. Jumpin’ Jack Flash is a classic, but Trigger Finger Itch has shown that it can stand up to legends, having already knocked off Elvis Costello and Queen. I was looking around the web for some interesting crossover material, and lo and behold, I found a recent tweet from Midnight Spin wishing Stones frontman Mick Jagger a happy 68th birthday. If that’s not good sportsmanship, I don’t know what is. Way to keep it clean, guys. And Midnight Spin, I hope the sushi Ben shared on July 28 helped you land that vocal take.
Our third matchup may present the greatest contrast in styles that we’ve seen in some time. One of America’s treasures, Louis Armstrong, pits his A Kiss To Build A Dream On against one of America’s idols (has our nation become idolatrous?), as Kelly Clarkson describes how she’s managed to overcome her breathing problems Since U Been Gone.
(For a pick-me-up, check out the 2:35 mark of this awful Kidz Bop cover of Since U Been Gone. Never in the history of the world has a child been so pumped to see a man in a tiger suit do the splits).
The Chicken Man...
In our final matchup, we find Atlantic City, the first of Bruce Springsteen’s two songs to make it to the round of 64, facing off against Harlem Shakes’ Strictly Game. While doing research for this entry, I finally decided to fill a major gap in my Bruce knowledge and find out who the hell the Chicken Man was and why anyone would ever want to blow him up (he sounds like a hilarious guy after all).
Leave it to wikipedia to clear up my long standing confusion about a song lyric: the Chicken Man, it turns out, was the nickname for mafia boss Phillip Testa, who was killed in Philadelphia in 1981. Apparently, not everyone finds chickens funny.
You know the drill: cut, paste and score
Division E:
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs.
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs.
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs.
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs.
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes
Living the Dream 
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs. 5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies: 9.999/5.5
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. 6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin: 4/4
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. 5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson: 4.5/7
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs.3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes: 5/1
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs. – 8.5
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies – 4.5
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. – 4.5
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin – 2
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. – 7
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson – 9
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs. – 4
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes – 5
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs. – 8.5
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies – 7
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. – 7
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin – 6
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. – 10
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson – 7.5
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs. – 8
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes – 5.5
Me and Cristina
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs.
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies
Me: 10 : 7 I played Somebody to Love at a local dive on Saturday and the entire bar was going nuts.
Cristina: 9: 7.5
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs.
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin
Me: 9: 6.5 Was loving Trigger Finger Itch tonight. Using these quality speakers is bringing up all scores.
C: 8.3 : 7.8
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs.
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson
Me: 6.6: 6 A Kiss is about masturbation, right?
C: 8.3: 8.9
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs.
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes
Me: 9.2: 8.5 Tough – was really digging both these songs.
C: 8.1 : 5.7
1) Somebody To Love 8
5) Motorway To Roswell 5
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash 10
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin 9
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong 7
5) Since U Been Gone 8
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen 9
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes 7
1) Somebody To Love 6
5) Motorway To Roswell 10
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash 6
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin 4
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong 6
5) Since U Been Gone 5
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen 7
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes 3
Division E:
Somebody To Love, Queen: 8.6
Motorway To Roswell, Pixies: 6.1
Sorry Jacob, Somebody To Love is picking up some steam.
Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones: 7
Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin: 7.8
Midnight Spin takes this one for me, Jumpin’ Jack Flash never caught on for me
Division F:
A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong: 7
Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson: 7.5
No comment.
Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen: 9.9
Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes: 8.6
sick of holding onto nothing when I just want to hold your hips…ugh, but i know all the words to Atlantic City. and I nominated it. and that has good lyrics too. listened to these twice, gotta give it to the harmonica over the “Kanye” sound (sorry Todd, it’s not personal, and we’ll send you consolation snacks for being a good sport even if you don’t win.)
Somebody To Love, Queen vs. Motorway To Roswell, Pixies = 9 to 5
“Ok, let’s do it!”
Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin = 6 to 6.5
This is an anti-classic rock vote.
A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson = 8 to 6
Since you been gone is a good tune, no doubt. Dig the YYYs guitar solo rip-off from ‘Maps.’ Culture is a vampire.
Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs. Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes = 5 to 8.5
Can I submit this into the tourney late?
oops if it’s not too late, my Bruce Springsteen vs. Harlem Shakes vote is backwards – 8.5 for Bruce, 5 for Harlem Shakes
Got it. That gives the boss a decent lead. But will it hold?
1) Somebody To Love 9
5) Motorway To Roswell 6
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash 7.5
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin 5.5
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong 6
5) Since U Been Gone 8
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen 6.5
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes 7
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs. 8.9
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies 7
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. 8
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin 6.5
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. 10
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson 5
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs. 7
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes 8
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs. 7.2
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies 7
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. 8.5
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin 7.3
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. 7.5
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson 6
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs. 7.5
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes 7.1
Division E:
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs. 5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies 10.0 to 4.0
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. 6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin 6.0 to 8.5
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. 5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson 9.0 to 5.0
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs. 3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes 5.5 to 4.5
Division E:
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs. 5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies 8.5 to 4.0
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. 6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin 6.5 to 7.5
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. 5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson 10.0 to 5.5
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs. 3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes 6.0 to 5.0
1) Somebody To Love, Queen – 7
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies – 5
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. – 8
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin – 4
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong – 10
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson – 7
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen – 8
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes – 8.5
Division E:
1) Somebody To Love, Queen 9
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies 5
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones 4.5
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin 7
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong 9
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson 7.5
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen 5
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes 9
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs. – 8 a touch long, but Fred just piles on to his case for the best frontman of all time.
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies – 6
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. – 9
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin – 8
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. – 7.5
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson – 7.5 (don’t like the song, but man does she have pipes)
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs. – 6
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes – 6.5
Tough division for me.
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs. 8.5
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies 8
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. 6.5
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin 7
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. 6.5
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson 9.5
Oh Louis, I love you, but today I just love Kelly more.
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs. 6.5
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes 9
Division E:
1) Somebody To Love, Queen – 6
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies – 8.8
i don’t know why, but i’m always inclined to hate on queen. on this third listen, though, i was finally getting into somebody to love. but then i listened to the pixies, and damn, i’m really feeling that one.
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones – 8.5
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin – 4.5
song intros are key. if an opening chord or riff can grab me, my opinion of the song is starting high. jjf is one of those songs for me. as for midnight spin – great run, guys, i’m happy for you, but you’re not quite on par with the stones yet.
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong – 2.5
this does nothing for me
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson – 7.4
and this, um, does quite a bit more for me, haha.
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen – 7
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes – 9.5
solid matchup. rooting for the shakes.
Queen – 9
Pixies – 7
Rolling stones – 4
Midnight spin – 5
Louis armstrong – 8.5
Kelly – 8.4
Bruce- 3
Harlem Shakes – 9.5
I am mobiley voting and apparently don’t know how to copy + paste on my iPhone.
Division E:
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs. 5
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies 2
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. 3
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin 9.5
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. 2
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson 1
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs. 7
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes 9
I am voting with some lady friends on the way to our weekend-long beach party on the Oregon coast. Votes are Aiko/Alithea/Jess/Lesley
1) Somebody To Love, Queen 5.5/6/5/3
vs. 5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies 6.5/5.5/6/5
We listened to the live in Montreal version because I’m pretty sure that’s what was nominated. None of is really loved that version.
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. 6/7/7/7
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin 3/1/1/1
Midnight Spin was too much of a Weezer derivation for my ladies.
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. 6/7.5/8/8
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson
7/8.5/9/9
Jess has an extra fondness for Kelly clarkson.
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs. 9/7/9/8
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes 10/9/4/2
Ironically I think my freinds’ Danno hammer will seal the fate of my nomination. This was a heart rending match up for me because I love both these songs. But if the Shakes gotta go, there’s no shame in falling to the Boss.
1) Somebody To Love, Queen vs. – 8.5
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies – 6
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones vs. – 7.5
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin – 8
Division F:
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong vs. – 6.5
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson – 7
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen vs. – 9.5
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes – 8.5
I wish Harlem Shakes didn’t have to meet the Boss. Super tough call.
1) Somebody To Love, Queen 5.5 Just not feeling it today. Too long, too much free-wheeling, just not sitting right.
5) Motorway To Roswell, Pixies 5 Meh
2) Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones 4.5 At this point, I think this song is surviving on reputation more than substance
6) Trigger Finger Itch, Midnight Spin 10 This song however, is loads of substance… absolutely my favorite song left, without question (let’s hope it stays that way).
1) A Kiss To Build A Dream On, Louis Armstrong 7.1 Good but not quite great.
5) Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson 2.5
2) Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen 6
3) Strictly Game, Harlem Shakes 6
Both solid, someone else choose Midnight Spin’s next target…
or louis armstrong’s, if my computer weren’t self making me see things