J-E-T-S
I don’t know about you, but I’m loving the Round of 64. The level of play has improved considerably, setting the stage for a lot of fun, close match-ups. Rare has been the Danno Hammer.
The good times continue with Divisions G and H. Listen here (or on the widget) and vote by commenting below before 8pm EST on Friday. Note that we are taking a break over the weekend, and will be back with the second half of the Round of 64 on Sunday night. Let’s face it, during the summer, everyone is getting their outdoor on.
Division G: The best things in life are eclectic. There is no obvious pick for who will come through a pack that includes Otis, Steve Miller, Etta James and the Strokes. The Strokes did just have a tribute album made for the 10-year anniversary. Stop and see if that made you feel old. Where is the tribute to the drinking games I was inventing when that album came out? Anyway, based on numbers alone, “The Joker” is the favorite here, but we’ll see what happens.
Division H: Again, variety as the spice of life. Led Zeppelin has not thrived in either tournament, and they trot out a song on the fringe of their radio playlist here. Meanwhile, Marvin and Tammi’s tune is so well-known it risks overexposure. “Closing Time” remains one of the Cinderella stories of the tournament. People can’t decide if its nostalgic or headache-inducing. The answer may depend on whether you cast your vote Thursday morning or Friday evening.
Here are the friendly pastables:
Division G
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) vs. #4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James)
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) vs. #3 Someday (Strokes)
Division H
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) vs. #4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin)
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. #6 Closing Time (Semisonic)
Living the Dream 
Division G
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 6 vs.
#4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 8 This is a sweet fricken song. Love the organ line.
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 5 vs.
#3 Someday (Strokes) 6
Otis’s song seems kind of boring compared to I’d Rather Go Blind.
Division H
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) 5 vs.
#4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 6
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 9 vs.
#6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 4
Now that I’ve fully embraced the “Reservoir Dogs effect” (can we coin that as an official term?), I’m bumping this up to a nine because of Freaks and Geeks. Good song, really good show.
Division G
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) [8]
#4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) [6.5]
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) [5]
#3 Someday (Strokes) [7]
Division H
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) [7.5]
#4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) [6]
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) [9]
#6 Closing Time (Semisonic) [6.75]
Welcome Back!
Division G
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 6.5
#4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 5.5
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 6
#3 Someday (Strokes) 7.5
Division H
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) 5.5
#4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 5
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 7.5
#6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 7
Anyone in the New York-Metro area go to the Frightened Rabbit show last night? They killed it. I believe they were part of the early stages of this tourney.
Division G
The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 7.5
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 7
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 7.5
Someday (Strokes) 5
Division H
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) 8
What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 6
Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 8
Closing Time (Semisonic) 7
Division G
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) – 5
straight average. i can take it or leave it. sometimes its fun. sometimes its annoying.
#4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) – 3.3
i can appreciate the singing, but it’s just not a style of music that jives with me.
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) – 4
something similar to what i said about etta james
#3 Someday (Strokes) – 6.5
Division H
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) – 6.5
#4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) – 7
just not getting super excited about any of these today…
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) – 6
#6 Closing Time (Semisonic) – 3
Division G
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 7
#4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 4.5
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 5
#3 Someday (Strokes) 7.5
Division H
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) 5
#4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 4.8
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 7.3
#6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 9
The Joker – 7.5 vs. I’d Rather Go Blind – 6.0
That’s How Strong My Love is – 6.0 vs. Someday – 4.0
Ain’t No Mountain – 6.5 vs What Is and Should Never Be – 4.0
Bad Rep – 2.5 vs Closing Time – 7.5
The Joker – 6.0 vs I’d Rather Go Blind – 7.0
That’s How Strong My Love Is – 6.0 vs Someday – 4.0
Ain’t No Mountain – 9.2 vs What Is and Should Never Be – 3.0
Bad Rep – 5.0 vs Closing Time 8.0
Division G
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 6.5
#4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 10
Etta’s raw emotion does more for me than the fun in SMB’s song.
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 8.5
#3 Someday (Strokes) 8
Otis, I love you. But I also have a crush on the Strokes. Tough call tonight.
Division H
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) 6.9
#4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 9.75
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 5
#6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 5
Meh. I don’t care which of these songs moves on.
Division G
The Joker (Steve Miller Band): 6.5
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James): 8.5
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding): 8
Someday (Strokes): 8
Division H
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell): 6
What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin): 6.5
Bad Reputation (Joan Jett): 7
Closing Time (Semisonic): 7
Division G
The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 8.5
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 7.5
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 9.5
Someday (Strokes) 7.5
Division H
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) 10
What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 9
Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 8.5
Closing Time (Semisonic) 6
Division G
The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 8
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 6.5
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 8
Someday (Strokes) 7.9
Division H
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) 10
What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 3
Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 6
Closing Time (Semisonic) 8.5
Had a listening party last night. It rocked. We drank beer, ate Mexican and debated the issues of the moment. I’m swamped at work, so have to post a person by person breakdown later.
9 voters: Me, Tim, Jen, Ilya, Kelsey, Anna, Jay, Sam, Cristina
7 voters: Me, Tim, Jen, Ilya, Kelsey, Anna, Jay
Division G
9 voters
The Joker (Steve Miller Band): 51 High score is 8.5 from Jay.
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James): 77 10s from Jen, Tim and Ilya [“One of my favorite songs ever”]
9 voters
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding): 58.7 High score is 8 from Sam.
Someday (Strokes): 76 Every single person voted for the Strokes. High score is 9.8 from Tim.
Division H
7 voters
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell): 48.3 High score is 8.5 from Anna and Jay.
What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin): 51.8 High score is 9 from Jay.
Closely divided room.
7 voters
Bad Reputation (Joan Jett): 51.8 High score is 9 from Tim.
Closing Time (Semisonic): 36.5 High score is 9 from Anna.
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) vs. #4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 6/4.5
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) vs. #3 Someday (Strokes) 4.5/8
Aside from my love of The Strokes, Ms. Babij already summed up my feelings on this division.
Division H
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) vs. #4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 7.3/6
Maybe it’s because Ryan Gosling is filming in Schenectady which led to someone bringing up Remember the Titans at work last night, but Ain’t No Mountain High Enough is getting the edge today.
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. #6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 3.5/5
Division G
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) [8]
#4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) [6.5]
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) [7.5]
#3 Someday (Strokes) [9]
Division H
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) [7.5]
#4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) [8]
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) [6]
#6 Closing Time (Semisonic) [8]
BR can actually be pretty grating at the wrong time of life. though 10 things i hate about you was a good movie. rip heath.
Peoples, there is a fire alarm blinking in my face in my office that won’t stop, so there’s your context for what I need in this round- music that will take my mind off that. I do have to say however that Division G is rock solid in terms of survivors (although I’m a little biased.)
Division G
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 7.6
#4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 9.55
Etta got me- this is damn beautiful. Sorry Steve Miller Band, I’m kicking you off the wagon now that we’re halfway to Willamette. Go sit under Independence Rock and think about what decisions you’ll make differently come next spring.
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 9.3
#3 Someday (Strokes) 7.5
I gotta give Etta a tenth on top of Otis. Strokes came out to fight, and I did admittedly always like this song.
Division H
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) 7.4
#4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 7.6
Gaye/Terrell is kinda over-played for me, but this is a really close match for me.
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 8
#6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 4
If Semisonic beats Joan Jett, we all lose.
Division G
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) vs. #4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 7 / 4
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) vs. #3 Someday (Strokes) 4 / 5
Division H
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) vs. #4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 5 / 6
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) vs. #6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 4 / 8
Division G
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) – 6.5
#4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) – 8.7
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) – 9.1
#3 Someday (Strokes) – 8
Division H
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) – 7.5
#4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) – 6.5
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) – 9
#6 Closing Time (Semisonic) – 5
Joan totally hit the spot for an awesome Friday afternoon.
#1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 6.3
#4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 5
#2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 7.5
#3 Someday (Strokes) 5.8
#1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) 8
#4 What Is And Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin) 5.5
#2 Bad Reputation (Joan Jett) 6.5
#6 Closing Time (Semisonic) 8.3