Welcome back to our nominator-curated Round of 64 where today’s theme, as has been the case in much of the tournament, is Beatles, Beatles Everywhere (three of today’s songs are by the Fab Four and a fourth was co-written by George Harrison, aka Nelson Wilbury). We had about half of this round’s nominators respond to our request for blurbs, but where there are holes, I’ve taken the liberty of inserting some mindless filler just so it doesn’t look awkward. Votes are due by Tuesday at 8pm, link to songs is here, except for Gin and Juice which is here. Happy listening.
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure
According to Wikipedia, Erasure’s 1992 Abba tribute album spawned renewed interest in the Sweedish pop juggernaut, which culminated in the massively successful stage production Mamma Mia! (the exclamation point is part of the title, although I do find this bit of trivia kind of exciting).
With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker
Eat your heart out John Belushi.
I learned on songfacts.com that Sesame Street did a parody of this called “With A Little Yelp From My Friends.” It was performed by “Moe Cocker,” a cocker spaniel who sings about yelping for help when he can’t find his bone or scratch a flea. Watch it here.
Come Together- Aerosmith
ChrisRoomba says:
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I nominated Come Together because of it’s mix of some funky lyrics, with a bluesy sound. But the song is really just a bizarre animal. I love the Beatles version, and really like the Aerosmith version, because it seems more in-tune with Tyler’s crazy talents than even Lennon’s. Aerosmith gets down and dirty with a Beatles tune.
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Save It for Later- Harvey Danger
Guillermo Olivos says:
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There is a part of me that for no rhyme or reason will actively support songs that make me want to bob my head. I don’t know much about Harvey Danger, although I do remember Flagpole Sitta. But you know that line “sometimes I don’t know how I’m meant to act with your lot, sometimes I don’t try I just da da da, da-da-da-da-da.” That’s how I kinda feel back in the Northeast in general. You can make out of place fun, we can all relate to that. Like right now at this conference, where I’m trying to figure out if I’m allowed to hang out with the other business students even though I’m a staff member at a school now. You know what? Fuck it. I’m going out to their happy hour. Da da da.
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Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn
MarkO says:
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Sure, maybe nepotism was a bit at play with Mann and Penn having this cover in I AM SAM – Michael being Sean’s brother. Perhaps it’s the romantic in me, but there’s something about hearing a husband and wife sing these lyrics that’s much more moving and impressive than when the Beatles did. The past sets the way the way for the future. Yes, we all know this, but it’s nice to be reminded. And I’m a sucker for Aimee Mann’s voice.
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Gin and Juice- The Gourds
Meghan says:
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My brother introduced me to this song and is also to blame for my thinking Phish was the artist until I nominated it for this tournament. I know I’ve heard the original a few times, but I always preferred this version. I think it’s fun, great to sing along to, and always brings a smile to my face when it comes up on my ipod.
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Jenny Lewis first made her name as a child sitcom actress specializing in villain roles such as the one pictured above.
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
Before Jenny Lewis was a rock star, she was a child actress with bit roles on several popular sitcoms, including the Golden Girls. In this clip montage, Lewis plays a girl scout who tries to extort Rose by holding her teddy bear hostage.
New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn
According to Wikipedia, Cohn is married to 20-20’s Elizabeth Vargas, who he met in Andre Agassi’s locker room at the 1999 US Open. If you have a strong stomach, you can read the whole story about how they met in an article published in the Times’ “Vows” section.
Grooveshark link plus Gin and Juice link and Pasteble:
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure vs With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker
Come Together- Aerosmith vs Save It for Later- Harvey Danger
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn vs Gin and Juice- The Gourds
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins vs New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn
Living the Dream 
Can we please use this youtube link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hGSR5njZE ) instead of the Grooveshark song for Gin and Juice? The Grooveshark link was used last round but it’s not the version I intended to nominate. Thanks!
i liked this day a lot!!!
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure – 6.7
With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker – 8
Come Together- Aerosmith – 7.5
Save It for Later- Harvey Danger – 8
just as an example of how terrible i am at listening to lyrics… i was specifically listening for the line that gmo referenced in sifl, and it took me THREE listens before i heard it
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn – 6
Gin and Juice- The Gourds – 9.5
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins – 8
New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn – 8.5
this was uber tough.
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure 5.5
With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker 6.5
Come Together- Aerosmith 7
Save It for Later- Harvey Danger 5
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn 6
Gin and Juice- The Gourds 9
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins 5.5
New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn 8
To add on to Guillermo’s Harvey Danger blurb, they’re from Seattle and Sean Nelson, the singer sometimes teaches songwriting at the UW. Also my roommate is a big fan of him and runs into him around town from time to time. On her behalf, I’ll share this essay about how awkward it was to get it on to indie rock in the 90s: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/lets-not-get-it-on/Content?oid=1740140
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure vs With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker 7/6.8
If you can describe something as “earnestly committed to the ridiculous,” I will probably enjoy it. ABBA in general fits the bill, as does this cover.
Come Together- Aerosmith vs Save It for Later- Harvey Danger 3/6.5
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn vs Gin and Juice- The Gourds 7.5/4.5
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins vs New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn 8.5/4.5
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure 4
With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker 6
Come Together- Aerosmith 6.5
Save It for Later- Harvey Danger 4.5
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn 5
Gin and Juice- The Gourds 5.5
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins 6
New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn 5
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure vs With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker 6.5 / 7.5
Come Together- Aerosmith vs Save It for Later- Harvey Danger 6.5 / 6
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn vs Gin and Juice- The Gourds 8 / 5
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins vs New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn 5 / 7
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure 5 vs With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker 6
Come Together- Aerosmith 4 vs Save It for Later- Harvey Danger 5
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn 8 vs Gin and Juice- The Gourds 4
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins 6 vs New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn 4
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure vs With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker 6.0 to 8.0
Come Together- Aerosmith vs Save It for Later- Harvey Danger 6.5 to 5.0
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn vs Gin and Juice- The Gourds 7.0 to 5.0
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins vs New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn 5.0 to 8.5
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure vs With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker 5.5 to 7.5
Come Together- Aerosmith vs Save It for Later- Harvey Danger 7.0 to 4.5
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn vs Gin and Juice- The Gourds 7.5 to 5.0
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins vs New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn 4.5 to 8.75
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure [4.5]
With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker [8.25]
Come Together- Aerosmith [5]
Save It for Later- Harvey Danger [6]
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn [9]
Gin and Juice- The Gourds [5]
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins [6.75]
New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn [5]
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure 4.5
With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker 8
Come Together- Aerosmith 4
Save It for Later- Harvey Danger 7
And there I go thinking they had only one good song in them.
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn 7.5
Gin and Juice- The Gourds 7
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins 7
New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn 5
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure vs With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker: 5 : 6.4
Come Together- Aerosmith vs Save It for Later- Harvey Danger: 7.2 : 6.6
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn vs Gin and Juice- The Gourds: 9 : 8.5
Mann and Penn really do a lovely cover here, and it’s tough to out-duet Lennon/McCartney. Meghan, you must not listen to much Phish 🙂 Before I listened to them that is who I thought it was too- Napster caused a real misdirection on that one. Anyway, this hit the spot post lunch coma, can’t guarantee I’ll score it this high again.
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins vs New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn: 6.1 : 6
I’m going to employ the Adrock rule of docking any song that makes me wish for the original (instead of the cover). Unfortunately, an otherwise pleasant Jenny Lewis takes me there. Of all the Wilburys songs, Handle with Care packed real emotional punch- it’s a bunch of washed up old dudes singing “Handle me with care.” Don’t feel that with Lewis. Fortunately for her, Cohn didn’t do much for me either.
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure [7] Comic.
With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker [6.5] good show.
Come Together- Aerosmith [6]
Save It for Later- Harvey Danger [5]
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn [5]
Gin and Juice- The Gourds [4]
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins [8.5]
New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn [5]
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure vs With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker 5/7.9
Come Together- Aerosmith vs Save It for Later- Harvey Danger 6.5/6.5
Same score popped into my head for both and just couldn’t decide today.
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn vs Gin and Juice- The Gourds 9.5/7
Two of Us is just beautiful, definitely one of my favorites of this tournament. While I liked this version of Gin and Juice better just not quite enough to compete for me.
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins vs New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn 6/5
Take A Chance on Me- Erasure vs With A Little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker
Come Together- Aerosmith 9 vs Save It for Later- Harvey Danger 4
Two of Us- Aimee Mann and Michael Penn 5 vs Gin and Juice- The Gourds 6
Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins 4.5 vs New Speedway Boogie- Marc Cohn 7.5
Whoops, missed the first matchup, sorry trouble with Posting from my phone. 8-6 in favor of Joe cocker