Welcome to the second half of the round of 32. You probably know all of today’s songs pretty well by now, so that doesn’t leave much for me to write. I could tell you how Amy Winehouse and Chan Marshall of Cat Power once considered marketing a grape-based ethanol fuel concentrate called WinePower, but that’s not true. What is true though is that all of the tunes left in the tournament are pretty decent, so it’s safe for you and your friends to listen. Votes are due Friday at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (11pm Friday). Link is here.
Two songs in one match-up? They always said I was my own worst enemy.
In our opener today, we have Amy Winehouse’s infectious Valerie looking to continue its dominance as it faces off against upstart Jose Gonzalez, whose cover of Heartbeats has managed to gain a decent following over the last two rounds.
Today’s contest poses a difficult dilemma for those of you who like Cat Power. Actually, it poses a dilemma for those of you who don’t like Cat Power as well. In any case, one of Chan Marshall’s covers, either Sea of Love or I Found A Reason, is moving on to the sweet sixteen whether you like it or not.
Petty Cash
In our third bout, the Man in Black looks to stay alive as Won’t Back Down takes on Eric Clapton’s version of I Shot the Sheriff.
In the final match-up of the day, Gary Jules‘s Donnie Darko soundtrack staple Mad World looks to run circles around Al Green’s cover of I Wanna Hold Your Hand.
Your pastables are below, your link is here. Happy voting.
Valerie, Amy Winehouse vs Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez
Sea of Love, Cat Power vs I Found a Reason, Cat Power
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash vs I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton
Mad World, Gary Jules vs I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green
Living the Dream 
Valerie, Amy Winehouse vs Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez 6 / 4
Sea of Love, Cat Power vs I Found a Reason, Cat Power 5 / 4
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash vs I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton 7.5 / 7
Mad World, Gary Jules vs I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green 6 / 6
Valerie, Amy Winehouse vs 6
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez 6.2
Sea of Love, Cat Power vs 3
I Found a Reason, Cat Power 2.9
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash vs 10
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton 5
Mad World, Gary Jules vs 6
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green 3
Valerie, Amy Winehouse – 6.5
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez – 8.5
Sea of Love, Cat Power – 5.5
I Found a Reason, Cat Power – 4
these points are all just for her amazing voice… the songs leave something to be desired
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash – 5
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton – 6
Mad World, Gary Jules – 8
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green – 8.5
Valerie, Amy Winehouse 7
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez 5
However far this Amy Winehouse-Mark Ronson song goes, I will never associate Ronson with anything besides this:
Sea of Love, Cat Power 6
I Found a Reason, Cat Power 7
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash 9.4
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton 6
Mad World, Gary Jules 7.5
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green 6
Rewatched Darko last weekend- score up as a result.
Valerie, Amy Winehouse 4.5
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez 5
Meh.
Sea of Love, Cat Power 1.9
I Found a Reason, Cat Power 2
Is this how water torture feels?
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash 5.1
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton 9
I love the man in black, I’ve just never loved the song. Needed Clapton at this point.. huge boost.
Mad World, Gary Jules 8.3
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green 6.1
Only repetition kept Mad World from a 9.5 or better.
Valerie, Amy Winehouse vs Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez 6/9
I like Valerie as it starts but it doesn’t really hold my attention more than bright shiny objects, which is a problem. Heartbeats bears repetition well in the wintry weather.
Sea of Love, Cat Power vs I Found a Reason, Cat Power 4/7.5
I find it surprising that I felt there was such a gap between these songs. I find Sea of Love boring, not so for I Found a Reason.
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash vs I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton 7.8/4.5
Mad World, Gary Jules vs I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green 9.5/6.5
Valerie, Amy Winehouse vs Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez 8.5 to 4.5
Sea of Love, Cat Power vs I Found a Reason, Cat Power 3.6 to 3.5 Wake me when they’re over!
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash vs I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton 4.0 to 8.0
Mad World, Gary Jules vs I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green 3.5 to 7.0
Valerie, Amy Winehouse vs Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez 8.0 to 5.0
Sea of Love, Cat Power vs I Found a Reason, Cat Power 6.0 to 4.0
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash vs I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton 6.0 to 8.0
Mad World, Gary Jules vs I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green 6.0 to 7.0
Valerie, Amy Winehouse – 7.5
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez – 8.5
Sea of Love, Cat Power – 7.5
I Found a Reason, Cat Power – 7
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash – 4
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton – 6
Mad World, Gary Jules – 8
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green – 6
Valerie, Amy Winehouse vs Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez: 8.7 / 9.5
Sea of Love, Cat Power vs I Found a Reason, Cat Power: 5.8 / 8.4
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash vs I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton: 9.5 / 6.9
Mad World, Gary Jules vs I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green: 8 / 7
Valerie, Amy Winehouse vs Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez: 9 : 4.5
I find the Gonzalez song pretty boring, and now that I’ve gotten around to checking out the original version (the Knife), I actually like their funky style much better.
Sea of Love, Cat Power vs I Found a Reason, Cat Power: 6 : 8.8
Sea of Love is pretty, but short and not too compelling. I Found a Reason is perfect for Cat Power.
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash vs I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton: 8.5 : 6.7
I don’t think I’ve been giving Cash enough credit on this one. After repeated tournament listens, I’ve almost completely forgotten that Tom Petty wrote this. And who would you rather stand with at the gates of hell? In contrast, Marley still makes a more plausible Sheriff’s deputy assassin than Clapton.
Mad World, Gary Jules vs I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green: 7 : 8.9
Al has really grown on me. This is one of my least favorite Beatles songs too.
Valerie, Amy Winehouse: 7.5
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez: 7
Sea of Love, Cat Power: 5
I Found a Reason, Cat Power: 10
i have to say i think it’s a shame that cat power is facing off against herself. she has an incredible voice and talent, but the mood is one you have to appreciate at the time, especially twice in a row. coming second in the pair, i found a reason seems even slower than it would otherwise! i hope that the beauty of the song still speaks for itself 🙂
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash: 8
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton: 8.6
Mad World, Gary Jules: 10
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green: 8.8
hopefully later tonight i’ll have a couple other people listening too, but just in caaaaase i am voting now!
Valerie, Amy Winehouse [7]
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez [5.25]
Sea of Love, Cat Power [6.25]
I Found a Reason, Cat Power [5]
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash [7.75]
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton [7.25]
Mad World, Gary Jules [8]
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green [5]
Valerie, Amy Winehouse – 9
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez – 5
Sea of Love, Cat Power – 7.5
I Found a Reason, Cat Power – 6
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash – 7.5
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton – 6.5
Mad World, Gary Jules – 8
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green – 6.5
Valerie, Amy Winehouse – 7.5
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez – 7
If no one nominated Heartbeats I was going to, but Valerie is a new favorite…tough.
Sea of Love, Cat Power – 4
I Found a Reason, Cat Power – 5.5
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash – 7.5
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton – 4.5
Mad World, Gary Jules – 5
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green – 8
I don’t know how this matchup might go on a different day, but Al brightens this gloomy afternoon,
Valerie, Amy Winehouse – 6.7 – she so crazy
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez – 5 – kept zoning out
Sea of Love, Cat Power – I like the vocal much better in this one, and the idea of rendering this song with just voice and autoharp is lovely, HOWEVER, it’s just inexcusably simplistic to just repeat the same four chords in this songs progression over and over. so disappointed… – 4
I Found a Reason, Cat Power – 4
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash – too sincere not to be appreciated, I almost nominated his 9 inch nails cover for the same reason – 7.5
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton – 7.5
Mad World, Gary Jules – not standing repeated listens and separation from the film well, but of course, I teach high school piano so I also have to hear it constantly. – 4
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green – just makes me want to play it again, and get up and dance, no matter where I am. It’s not well known, but it’s the only one on my “soul tribute to the Beatles” that I keep replaying – 9.7
Valerie, Amy Winehouse – 8
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez – 8.3
Sea of Love, Cat Power – 6.2
I Found a Reason, Cat Power – 9.3
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash – 10
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton – 6.5
Mad World, Gary Jules – 8.9
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green – 7.6
Valerie, Amy Winehouse 5
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez 4
Sea of Love, Cat Power 3
I Found a Reason, Cat Power 4
I loved the Juno soundtrack until I absolutely hated it. Sea of Love loses solely cus of that unexplained hatred…
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash 6.5
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton 8
Mad World, Gary Jules 6
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green 5
Valerie, Amy Winehouse 8
Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez 5
Sea of Love, Cat Power 10
I Found a Reason, Cat Power 6
I Won’t Back Down, Johnny Cash 6
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton 7
Mad World, Gary Jules 6
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Al Green 7