The Staple Singers go up against Metallica!
Welcome to Day 3 of the Round of 64! Grooveshark link with tonight’s songs is here, except for Proud Mary. Vote in comment section below, with scores from 1-10 for each song before Sunday, Oct. 30 by 8pm EST. I am giving you guys an extra day to vote, since I know that I won’t be able to put up results on Saturday night. I will be at a Halloween Bar Crawl, dressed up like a hamster. Totally normal.
We have some good stories from most of our nominators in this set of songs. I am loving hearing about why people like these songs, and what they think sets them above the rest of the crowd. Without further ado…the match-ups!
In the Morning (David Gray): “David Gray is an artist who prides himself on his original songwriting and styling of music. So when he makes a cover of a song, you know it’s bound to be great. This track is off of an album that David Gray did entirely made of cover songs a few years back. The album was never released in the US, but I picked up a copy across the pond in 2008 and fell in love with most of the tracks immediately.” – NatalieG
vs. Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana): No blurb for this cover of a David Bowie original. But well, it is Nirvana, so most of us know a little something. Wikipedia says that Kurt Cobain listed the David Bowie album that this song was originally on in his top 50 favorite albums. This version is most well-known for being part of Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in New York.
Turn the Page (Metallica): “I always thought music with a little bit of crunch to it has been sadly absent from these tournaments (or blown to smithereens in the first round). Metallica’s Garage Inc is two discs of covers that kick up the crunch. Although not my favorite track (i.e., songs titled Die, Die, My Darling and Merciful Fate are automatic 1’s for many), Turn the Page is a great take on a great song that doesn’t go too overboard with the distortion. Side note: I find it amusing that when touring for this album, since they were performing all covers, Metallica had a Metallica cover band open each night.” – Danno
vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers): “First, let me say that I don’t think of this version of the Weight as an improvement on the Band’s original studio recording. In a lot of ways, it’s a very different song- more hopeful and uplifting, less weary. According to Robbie Robertson, the Band was influenced by the Staples’ interpretation, incorporating some of their harmonies and phrasing in later live performances, most famous of which is obviously their collaboration in the Last Waltz, but also before that in their performance at Woodstock. In this recording, I like Cleotha Staples’ smokey, tempered delivery (Mavis, the lead vocalist in the Last Waltz version, only does backup here) and Pop Staples’ rich harmonies in the chorus. I can take or leave the strings, but with just about everything the Staples touch, it’s all about the vocals.” – Jacob
True story: My grandma was Tina Turner for Halloween two years ago. She was awesome.
Knock, knock, knockin'
vs. Walk This Way (Run DMC): “There are many songs people consider ground breaking which are, in reality, just popular songs; Run-DMC’s version of “Walk This Way,” however, certainly falls into the former category. “Walk This Way”
catapulted hip hop into the mainstream and started the genre that
would become rap rock. I know Tyler and Perry appear on this track,
but it’s clearly not the original version. DMC, Rev. Run, and
Jam-Master Jay slay this ditty and we all know it. “And it started
with a little kiss, like this…” – Colin
Alrighty, happy voting everyone! Pasteables:
In the Morning (David Gray) vs. Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana)
Turn the Page (Metallica) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers)
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward)
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) vs. Walk This Way (Run DMC)
Living the Dream 
In the Morning (David Gray) vs. Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 4 / 5.5
Turn the Page (Metallica) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers) 6 / 6.5
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) 7.5 / 3
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) vs. Walk This Way (Run DMC) 8 / 7.5
In the Morning (David Gray) 3
vs. Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 6
Turn the Page (Metallica) 5
vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers) 10
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 7
vs. Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) 4
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 7
vs. Walk This Way (Run DMC) 5
In the Morning (David Gray) vs. Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 5/6.5
Turn the Page (Metallica) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers) 5/6
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) 7/6.5
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) vs. Walk This Way (Run DMC) 7/6.5
In the Morning (David Gray) [4]
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) [6.25]
Turn the Page (Metallica) [4]
The Weight (The Staples Singers) [6.5]
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) [8]
Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) [5]
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) [6]
Walk This Way (Run DMC) [7]
In the Morning (David Gray) 4
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 7.5
Turn the Page (Metallica) 3.5
The Weight (The Staples Singers) 6
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 7
Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) 5
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 6.5
Walk This Way (Run DMC) 9
In the Morning (David Gray) 9
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 4
Turn the Page (Metallica) 2.5
The Weight (The Staples Singers) 5
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 8
Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) 6
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 5.5
Walk This Way (Run DMC) 7.5
Run DMC was the perfect Friday song!!! Had it been Monday, that song probably would have annoyed me. 🙂
In the Morning (David Gray) 3.8
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 7
Turn the Page (Metallica) 5.8
The Weight (The Staples Singers) 7
Metallica lost points for being too long.
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 6.8
Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) 7.2
The Turners lost points for being too long.
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 6
Walk This Way (Run DMC) 6
In the Morning (David Gray) vs. Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 7.5 to 6.0
Turn the Page (Metallica) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers) 5.0 to 5.5
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) 8.5 to 7.5
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) vs. Walk This Way (Run DMC) 5.0 to 3.0
In the Morning (David Gray) vs. Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 8.0 to 3.0
Turn the Page (Metallica) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers) 8.5 to 4.0
Danno – it’s not crunch that’s been missing – it’s life and the Staples sucked all of it out of The Weight
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) 9.0 to 6.0
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) vs. Walk This Way (Run DMC) 3.5 to 2.5
Finally, something to sink your teeth into and clear your aural passages (In the Morning, Turn the Page and Proud Mary).
In the Morning (David Gray) 4.5
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 7.5
Turn the Page (Metallica) 10
The Weight (The Staples Singers) 2.5
Ahhhh there we go. Definitely needed a little crunch. Also reminds me of my first big concert – Summer Sanitarium – where I heard this cover for the first time….and couldn’t form audible words for about 2 days after the singing, screaming and cheering. The Staples Singers aren’t bad at all, but they just make me desperately want to hear The Band, and that doesn’t do a score well.
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 9 – Just so so good. Amazing how well they can pull off the slow and soulful and the fast and aggressive.
Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) 7 – still like this better than Bruce. Just not quite Tina’s power.
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 5.5
Walk This Way (Run DMC) 6
This matchup is tough for me. I’m a big GnR fan, and I love Knockin – but I grew up on the Clapton version, and Axl’s voice just isn’t right for this one in my opinion. Plus it drags. It’s such a great song, and I know that if I had seen it live I’d have loved it, but when the vocals are front and center, I just can’t love it. I’m also big fan of the original Walk, and I know very well this revived Aerosmith’s career (along with a little bit of sobriety), but I just can’t get behind this fusion. I can’t dislike it, the song is too good, but it just causes so many conflicted feelings that I can’t get behind it either.
In the Morning (David Gray) 4.5
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 5.5
Turn the Page (Metallica) 8
The Weight (The Staples Singers) 5
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 8
Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) 6.5
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 6.5
Walk This Way (Run DMC) 5.5
In the Morning (David Gray) – 6
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) – 6
Turn the Page (Metallica) – 6
The Weight (The Staples Singers) – 8
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) – 8
Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) – 4
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) – 5
Walk This Way (Run DMC) – 8.5
In the Morning (David Gray) vs. Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana)
Me: 3: 8.5
C: 5 : 9.8
Ilya 6: 8.5
Sip 6: 9
Rupa 5.7 : 7.9
Turn the Page (Metallica) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers)
Me 6.2 : 7.8
C: 4.2 : 8.3
ILya: 2.5 : 8.5
Sip: 3: 8
Rupa 7.5: 7.6
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward)
Me 7 : 4.5
C 6.6 :3.7
Ilya: 9 : 5
Sip 8.7 :4.7
Rupa 8.1 : 6.2
Adam 6 : 2.5
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) vs. Walk This Way (Run DMC)
Me 8 : 7.7
C 8.1 : 7.8
Ilya 9 : 8
Sip 9 : 8
Rupa – –
Adam: 8.5 : 10
Voting with Lori
In the morning-5/3
The man who sold the world-5.5/7
Turn the page-8.5/8
The weight-8.6/3
Proud Mary-3/2
Atlantic City-8.5/8
Knockin’ on heaven’s door-8/6
Walk this way-3/3
voting with my sister
In the Morning (David Gray) vs. Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana)
lindsay: 8.5/4.5
lacey: 7/4
Turn the Page (Metallica) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers)
lindsay: 5.75/6.5
lacey: 6.5/7
My niece, Savannah, really enjoyed The Weight. Maybe because I sang along but changed the words a little “Take a load off, Vannie and put the load on Auntie”
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward)
I hate Proud Mary. And I am not a fan of Ike & Tina. So I really really hate this version of this song (8 minutes!! WTF!!) and do really like this Atlantic City.
lindsay: 2/8.75
lacey: 2/8
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) vs. Walk This Way (Run DMC)
lindsay: 3/3.5
lacey: 1/1.25
I would have to say that this is not a good day for the tournament. Most of these songs are awful and I’m glad that only half of them can go on.
In the Morning (David Gray) 2.5
vs. Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 7
Turn the Page (Metallica) 9
vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers) 4
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 3.5
vs. Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward) 7
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 6
vs. Walk This Way (Run DMC) 6
Votes for Me / Maggie / Julia:
In the Morning (David Gray): 7.8 / 7 / 6
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana): 5 / 6 / 7.2
Turn the Page (Metallica): 4.2 / 6 / 2.5
The Weight (The Staples Singers): 8.7 / 9 / 8
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner): 9.1 / 8 / 8
Atlantic City (Rodney Parker and the 50 Peso Reward): 7 / 8 / 6.5
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses): 6 / 6 / 4
Walk This Way (Run DMC): 4 / 5 / 3