Is anyone else totally struggling with how early it gets dark right now? All I want to do is hang out in my apartment and make soup and bake things. Is it too soon in the season to want to be cozy all the time?
While I ponder what seasonally appropriate coziness even means, we can listen to this set of songs for Day 2 of the Round of 32! The Grooveshark link covers all the songs, except for Ike and Tina’s Proud Mary. Votes are due by Thursday at 10 pm EST. As we move further into the tournament, people seem to be a little more emotionally attached to their surviving favorites – each song that made it this far had to be pretty scrappy, right? Best of luck moving forward!
First up, Nirvana’s “Man Who Sold the World” is up against The Staples Singers’ “The Weight.“ Nirvana came out of the Round of 64 with a 6.43 average, just behind the average of The Staples Singers at 6.68. This could be anybody’s game!
Next we see Ike and Tina Turner with “Proud Mary” facing off with “Knockin’ on Heavens Door” by Guns N Roses. They came into this round with averages of 6.8 and 6.16.
Third match-up gives us “With a Little Help from my Friends” by Joe Cocker and “Come Together” by Aerosmith. These guys had averages of 7.24 and 6.12, respectively.
For our final set, we’ve got another Beatles cover, “Two of Us” by Aimee Mann and Michael Penn up against “New Speedway Boogie” by Marc Cohn. Their respective averages: 7.18 and 6.27.
So many Beatles covers! But who will make it to the Sweet 16?
Happy voting! Here’s the pasteable:
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers)
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses)
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) vs. Come Together (Aerosmith)
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) vs. New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn)
Living the Dream 
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 6
vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers) 10
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 6
vs. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 7
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) 6
vs. Come Together (Aerosmith) 4
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) 8
vs. New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) 4
This is the bracket that I am most open-minded about, looking forward to this.
Ack, but major Grooveshark problems this morning. Anyone else having streaming issues?
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers): 8.5 : 7.3
These are two songs that for which I would give the originals very high marks. Nirvana’s version is grittier, though less creepy, than Bowie’s. The Staples are as pleasant as always, but what’s missing is the passion to make up for Levon Helm’s lead vocal.
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses): 7.9 : 8.2
Again, love both the originals. Guns n Roses just blow your socks off. GnR in their prime wrote great songs and pulled off great covers, which is why it’s too bad they imploded so soon into their careers. Tina really steps it up. Close call.
Random fact: Bob Dylan (who penned “Knockin” in 1973) called “Proud Mary” the best single of 1969.
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) vs. Come Together (Aerosmith): 8.5 : 8.3
Beatles v. Beatles, huh? I’m hot and cold with Joe Cocker, but was really feeling him today.
Here’s what I dig about Steven Tyler: unlike a lot of covers, he fully buys into these lyrics, which are pretty nonsensical. He’s owning it. Another close one.
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) vs. New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn): 8.8: 6
Let It Be is a pretty overlooked Beatles album, and it’s certainly far from their best, but this song and I’ve Got a Feeling are top-notch, and the last gasps of the Lennon-McCartney partnership. Mann and Penn continue to sooth my mind with this one.
More random facts (I’m not posting this week, so might as well share them now):
The Clash and Ramones both have both a cover and an original in the Round of 32.
The Beatles lead the way with four originals, followed by Paul Simon and Bob Dylan with two.
Nirvana and Cat Power both have two covers.
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) – 8.4
The Weight (The Staples Singers) – 7.6
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) – 7
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) – 8.7
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) – 6.8
Come Together (Aerosmith) – 9
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) – 10
New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) – 9.5 never heard this before, i dig it
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) – 7
The Weight (The Staples Singers) – 8
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) – 7
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) – 6
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) – 8.5
Come Together (Aerosmith) – 8
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) – 5
New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) – 9
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 8
vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers) 6
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 6
vs. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 9
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) 8
vs. Come Together (Aerosmith) 7
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) 8
vs. New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) 2
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers) 6 / 7.5
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 7.5 / 8.5
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) vs. Come Together (Aerosmith) 7 / 7.5
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) vs. New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) 7 / 6
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers) 5.0 to 5.5
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 9.0 to 6.0
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) vs. Come Together (Aerosmith) 6.0 to 7.0
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) vs. New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) 6.0 to 8.5
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers) 3.5 to 5.0
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 9.3 to 5.0
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) vs. Come Together (Aerosmith) 6.0 to 7.0
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) vs. New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) 5.0 to 9.0
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 5.3
The Weight (The Staples Singers) 10++
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 8.9
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 8.899
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) 8.59
Come Together (Aerosmith) 8.58
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) 6.9
New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) 6.8
Those middle votes look my thought process.
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 7
vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers) 5.5
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 6
vs. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 4
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) 7.5
vs. Come Together (Aerosmith) 5
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) 7
vs. New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) 4.5
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) [6.2]
The Weight (The Staples Singers) [7]
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) [7.4]
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) [6]
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) [8.5]
Come Together (Aerosmith) [5]
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) [10]
New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) [6]
Mann and Penn are perfect on this cloudy afternoon.
So good to be back online, and have time to finally vote. It’s been a long nearly two weeks. First week, just had no internet. Then I was swamped with deadlines at work thanks to Storm Alfred. What a great set of matchups to come back to…
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) vs. The Weight (The Staples Singers):8/9
The intro to “Man” is so good. Cobain’s voice: eerie. If I imagined a soundtrack to my life (what, you don’t do this all the time?!?!) I would imagine this version of “The Weight” each June as I pull out of the school parking lot for the final time before summer vacation.
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) vs. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses): 7/10
Definitive songs for both.
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) vs. Come Together (Aerosmith): 10/9.5
I may have nominated Come Together, but part of that was because I love the cover, and part because I thought the Joe Cocker version was simply him making the song his own. Maybe it was the Wonder Years in me. I know his is better. I’ve just got to accept this match up.
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) vs. New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn): 5/5
Okay, one weak match-up.
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 7.5
The Weight (The Staples Singers) 3.8
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 5.5
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 6.5
Tina is starting to grow on me…
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) 8.5
Come Together (Aerosmith) 6.5
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) 9.5
New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) 5
Two of Us has been such a calming/happy song for me since this tournament started and it just keeps getting better. I can appreciate New Speedway Boogie, but it doesn’t really do anything for me.
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 7.8
The Weight (The Staples Singers) 7.9
I prefer Track 4 off Unplugged way more than Track 14. Also I kinda like it when Kurt Cobain says “I laughed and shook his hand.” This is dark, but not in that guttural artistic way that a lot of WDYSLN defenders were touting last round- I can swallow this better. I maintain that the Staples do a good thing, The Band does a great thing, and when they do it together on Last Waltz, it becomes an awesome thing.
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 8.2
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 9.5
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) 8.6
Come Together (Aerosmith) 8
Little Guillermo hearted Winnie.
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) 6
New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) 7
Still can’t believe Boogie beat Harvey. But, I like it better than the IAS song.
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 6.5
The Weight (The Staples Singers) 7
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 10
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 7.5
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) 5.5
Come Together (Aerosmith) 8.5
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) 7.3
New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) 8.5
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) 3
The Weight (The Staples Singers) 6.5
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) 6
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) 6.5
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) 10
Come Together (Aerosmith) 7
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) 6
New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) 5
Votes for me/ Chris B
Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) – 6.7 / 9.5
The Weight (The Staples Singers) – 9.8 / 6.5
Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner) – 9.3 / 4
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Guns N Roses) – 5 / 4
With a Little Help from my Friends (Joe Cocker) – 8.7 / 10
Come Together (Aerosmith) – 5.9 / 5
Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn) – 7.7 / 8
New Speedway Boogie (Marc Cohn) – 6.2 / 8.5