Running low on battery and stealing library internet, so I will add color commentary tomorrow. Votes due by Wednesday, November 9th at 11 pm. Grooveshark link is here– best of luck to all.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz’ [Update: thanks to G for the muted observation that the original version of SOTR I put up wasn’t the mash with “What A Wonderful World.” I wasn’t aware there was a version without that part until now. As they say:
Where Did You Sleep Last Night vs. Graceland (Color commentary: Kurt Cobain’s stomach pains versus Willie’s transposition of New York City to Austin, neither of which is Graceland. Woooo.)
Killing Me Softly vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone (Color commentary: Killing Me Softly didn’t get this far in the first tournament. If you haven’t heard it, it’s new to you. The Rolling Stones cover a song that in fact never referred to them, but rather the standard motif of Rollin’ Stone imagery pre-dating Muddy Waters’ handle.)
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio vs. Travelin’ Soldier (Color Commentary: KISS covers a song that actually is about them, as Janos points out in earlier commentary. The Dixie Chicks have continued to surprise, as the crowd base has quantitatively shifted to a stronger appreciation of le country.)
Living the Dream 
Somewhere Over The Rainbow vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz’ 6 / 7.5
Where Did You Sleep Last Night vs. Graceland 6 / 6.5
Killing Me Softly vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone 5 / 8
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio vs. Travelin’ Soldier 7 / 4
Somewhere Over The Rainbow 5
vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz’ 5 so creepy. Every time he says “ritzsss” it makes my skin crawl.
Where Did You Sleep Last Night 10
vs. Graceland 6
Killing Me Softly 7
vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone 4
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio 4
vs. Travelin’ Soldier 6
Somewhere Over The Rainbow 6.5 vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz’ 6
God bless Taco and every other 80’s schockateer that made a pseudo spoken cover of a song with a generous dash of synth and made a buck.
Where Did You Sleep Last Night 9 vs. Graceland 3
Sorry Willie. This is the biggest slam dunk. Did you even play the song or just sample the music directly?
Killing Me Softly 7.5 vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone 5.5
Anything I will ham up at Karaoke gets a boost. Stones doing Stone doesn’t do it for me
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio 4 vs. Travelin’ Soldier 5
I’d just prefer some original Kiss. Chicks get the nod because I heard it on the radio and felt sad one time.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow 6
vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz 8
Where Did You Sleep Last Night 10
vs. Graceland 5
Killing Me Softly 6.5
vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone 7
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio 7
vs. Travelin’ Soldier 3
Hanging out in a study room at school with Maggie!
Votes for me / Maggie:
Somewhere Over The Rainbow – 7.5 / 10
Puttin’ On The Ritz’ – 5.5 / 6
Maggie and I discussed what a sad song SOTR is – especially with the way that it is sung here. I still like POTR – but I am getting kind of sick of it….and the whole last minute makes it lose a point.
Julia and Molly just joined us!
Votes: Maureen / Maggie / Julia / Molly:
Where Did You Sleep Last Night – 2.5 / 5 / 4 / 6
Graceland – 8 / 9 / 9 / 5
I know I am a traitor to my generation, but I have never liked and will never like Nirvana. Maggie thought I was ridiculous but then she listened to the song and didn’t enjoy it as much as she remembered. All of us, except for Molly, were feeling Willie’s Graceland.
Killing Me Softly – 8.5 / 10 / 8 / 9
Like A Rollin’ Stone – 6 / 9 / 6 / 5
KMS totally just hit the spot for all 4 of us. Girls in their late 20s have to love this song waaaay more than we have to like Nirvana.
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio – 6 / 6 / 6 / 4
Travelin’ Soldier – 9.3 / 10 / 6 / 3
I liked KISS more than I thought that I did after the last round….but I love Dixie Chicks. So does Maggie – this song is on her workout playlist. Molly is not a fan of country.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow 7
vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz 5
Where Did You Sleep Last Night 2
vs. Graceland 4
Killing Me Softly 6.5
vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone 6
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio 4
vs. Travelin’ Soldier 10!
I rewatched the Dixie Chicks’ documentary, “Shut up and Sing” this weekend….check it out if you can. 🙂
Somewhere Over The Rainbow – 8.5
Puttin’ On The Ritz’ – 5.5
Where Did You Sleep Last Night – 7
Graceland – 7.3
Killing Me Softly – 6
Like A Rollin’ Stone – 6.5
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio – 6.5
Travelin’ Soldier – 7
Somewhere Over The Rainbow – 6.5
Puttin’ On The Ritz’ – 5
Where Did You Sleep Last Night – 5
Graceland – 5
Can we be real for a second? At this point in the tournament I like all 4 songs below this sentence more than all 4 songs above it. If Dixie Chicks and Nirvana can pull their respective upsets next round, that Elite 8 match is going to be really, really polarized.
Killing Me Softly – 7
Like A Rollin’ Stone – 7.4
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio – 6.55
Travelin’ Soldier – 9
Somewhere Over The Rainbow vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz’ 9.2 to 8.0
Where Did You Sleep Last Night vs. Graceland 3.0 to 4.5
Killing Me Softly vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone 6.0 to 5.0
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio vs. Travelin’ Soldier 5.0 to 7.0
Somewhere Over The Rainbow vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz’ 9.0 to 7.0
Where Did You Sleep Last Night vs. Graceland 3.0 to 6.0
Killing Me Softly vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone 5.5 to 5.0
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio vs. Travelin’ Soldier 4.0 to 7.0
Somewhere Over The Rainbow – 8.5
Puttin’ On The Ritz’ – 6.3
Where Did You Sleep Last Night – 6.5
Graceland – 6.7
Killing Me Softly – 9.8
Like A Rollin’ Stone – 6
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio – 4.5
Travelin’ Soldier – 8.5
Somewhere Over The Rainbow – 5
– THIS VERSION DID NOT HAVE THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG PART. IS THIS THE CORRECT VERSION? NOMINATOR?
Puttin’ On The Ritz’ – 4.7
Where Did You Sleep Last Night – 10. [Generally, probably a 7.5 but I’m adding points]
Not my nomination, but, honestly people? Any score below a 4 is objectively incorrect. You’re actually wrong. From my view, this tournament is part about “how you like it” but it’s also about how good a song is and here, its relationship to the original. There’s plenty of shit that I give points to not because I enjoy it, but because it’s objectively got some musical merit, especially within its genre (e.g. see Whitney Houston). I hate to rant, but I’m seconding Janos sentiment on The Clash…there’s no accounting for taste, but there is some accounting for knowing quality and sincerity when one hears it and not.
For instance, that scream at the end is bone-chilling–it’s a man on his last legs in the last song of his last album where he requested the stage be set like a funeral. He was suffering from herion addiction in part to ease chronic extreme stomach pain. Ever time he sang during that performance was physically painful. Watch the video, look in his eyes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lwsgMzZl3PI#t=270s
FROM WIKI
“The set ended with a performance of a traditional song “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” arranged by blues musician Ledbelly. After the band finished, Cobain argued with the show’s producers, who wanted an encore. Cobain refused because he felt he could not top the performance of that song.” He was dead within 6 months.
Basically, if you don’t factor in your musical history and how seminal this performance was, you’re missing a crucial element of what makes this song, and this entire live performance, so compelling.
Graceland – 4.5 (echo James)
Killing Me Softly – 6.5
Like A Rollin’ Stone – 6.5
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio – 7.5 [This is a great covers album. I’d still say that “I Believe in Miracles” is my favorite version off it.] What make THIS SONG particularly amazing is that it’s KISS covering a song by the Ramones writing a song about Kiss & Co. (ostensibly, Kiss was part of “Rock n’Roll radio” in the mid-70s along with T-Rex, etc. mentioned in the song)
Travelin’ Soldier – 5
Me, then C
Somewhere Over The Rainbow 6.5 / 9.3
vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz’ 7.8 / 6.7
Where Did You Sleep Last Night 9.5 / 10
vs. Graceland 5.8 / 7.7
Agree with Grant. It’s one thing to not like In Utero, or some of the rougher tracks off Nevermind, but this song climaxes so incredibly, you can’t just Nirvana-hate this song away. Similarly, it’s hard to hate on Willie, but there’s nothing remarkable about this cover, and it’s not at the same level as Paul Simon’s original. I also don’t like how he handles the “human trampoline” verse.
Killing Me Softly 6.2 / 9.1
vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone 8.3 / 5
C and I strongly disagree for the second time tonight.
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio 10 / 9.5
vs. Travelin’ Soldier 6.6 / 5
The Dixie Chicks continue to bring a whimsical smile to my face, but can’t vote for them in the face of true rock and roll.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz’
8.5 -4
Where Did You Sleep Last Night vs. Graceland
9 -5.2
Killing Me Softly vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone
5.6- 9.8
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio vs. Travelin’ Soldier
7 – 5
Somewhere Over The Rainbow vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz’ 7/7.5
SOTR isn’t really standing up to repeat listens. Weirdly, Taco is.
Where Did You Sleep Last Night vs. Graceland 8.5/6
I feel that any song off “Unplugged” loses a little out of context; in context… well, there’s a reason that every scrape, cough, and whisper from that album is forever burned into my memory. I appreciated Nirvana a lot as as 14 year old (especially this album), and that’s been wholeheartedly reviving now in my late 20s. But now I have more appreciation for the rawer early stuff… and the rawer late stuff… and the rawer live stuff… Basically, Nirvana performed like their nerves were exposed to the open air. It’s not always pleasant, but real art shouldn’t always be.
Killing Me Softly vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone 8/4.5
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio vs. Travelin’ Soldier 6/7
Somewhere Over The Rainbow vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz’
4-6 – Taco, this song is perfect 80s NYC.
Where Did You Sleep Last Night vs. Graceland
10-3. Kurt’s eulogy. Willie’s lifting Paul’s guitar tracks and pasting them on his cover. Too nasally and white sounding on the vocals.
Killing Me Softly vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone
8.1- 9. A really inspired cover from the Fugees, but the Rolling Stones are my favorite band and will not be fucked with.
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio vs. Travelin’ Soldier
8-4. Ramones forever. Havana Affair is my favorite cover from that one. I dig the Dixies, don’t dig this bouncy melody.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow [7.25]
vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz [6.5]
Where Did You Sleep Last Night [7]
vs. Graceland [6.5]
Killing Me Softly [7.75]
vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone [5]
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio [5.25]
vs. Travelin’ Soldier [8]
Somewhere Over The Rainbow – 5
Puttin’ On The Ritz’ – 5
Where Did You Sleep Last Night – 7.5
Graceland – 6.5
Killing Me Softly – 9
Like A Rollin’ Stone – 5.5
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio – 6.5
Travelin’ Soldier – 5
Somewhere Over The Rainbow 5
Puttin’ On The Ritz’ 6
Where Did You Sleep Last Night 7
Graceland 5.5
Killing Me Softly 8
Like A Rollin’ Stone 6.5
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio 7
Travelin’ Soldier 9
Somewhere Over The Rainbow – 9, living in the Pacific, this is almost like a theme song sometimes.. so in honor of the first snow in the midwest, i am loving this tropical uke
Puttin’ On The Ritz’ – 8
Where Did You Sleep Last Night – 10, as my soul wails along
Graceland – 9
Killing Me Softly – 9.5
Like A Rollin’ Stone – 8
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio – 8.9
Travelin’ Soldier – 10
great matchups!
Somewhere Over The Rainbow 10
vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz 9.5
Ouch, this is tough, I nominated Taco, but tried to nominate this version of SOTR (somebody beat me to it)!
Where Did You Sleep Last Night 9.5
vs. Graceland 5
Killing Me Softly 9.5
vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone 4.5
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio 3.5
vs. Travelin’ Soldier 8.5
Somewhere Over The Rainbow 4
Puttin’ On The Ritz’ 7
Where Did You Sleep Last Night 5.5
Graceland 6.5
Killing Me Softly 7.1
Like A Rollin’ Stone 9.5
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio 7.5
Travelin’ Soldier 5
Somewhere Over The Rainbow vs. Puttin’ On The Ritz’ 7/5.5
Where Did You Sleep Last Night vs. Graceland 5/9
Killing Me Softly vs. Like A Rollin’ Stone 4/5.5
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio vs. Travelin’ Soldier 4.5/8
Somewhere Over The Rainbow 4
Puttin’ On The Ritz’ 8.5
Where Did You Sleep Last Night – 5.5
Graceland – 6
Killing Me Softly – 10
Like A Rollin’ Stone – 2.3 – That’s a pretty horrible harmonica solo. And I can’t think what else would constitute an improvement over the original here except the cleverness of the band playing their name.
Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio – 6.5
Travelin’ Soldier – 4.5