Vote.
One of the following excuses is true as to why I completely missed doing my post yesterday:
1. I was totally wearing my Tuesday day-of-the-week underpants, so I had no idea it was Monday yesterday.
2. Twilight: Breaking Dawn (Part I) comes out on Friday, and I was busy planning my outfit. Go team Jacob.
3. I completely thought I was supposed to post on Thursday.
So. Yeah. I’m sorry. Anyway! On with the tournament. We’re on to the second half of the Round of 16. After this is the Elite Eight, and we’re in the final days of this tournament. Listen here, and vote in the comments below by Thursday at 5:00PM PST/8:00PM EST.
First up is two ladies with powerful voices, as “Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) goes up against “I Found A Reason” (Cat Power).
Next up the king of covers, with “Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) up against a cover that haunts you, “Mad World” (Gary Jules)
In my favorite-titled match up, “Black Magic Woman” (Santana) is up against “Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen).
And finally, in another wildly apropos match-up, one of these tunes is going to have to go: “I Fought the Law” (The Clash) vs. “Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone). I believe these are the #1 and #2 seed from the round of 32, so this should be an interesting round.
Straight to hell, or straight to the top?
So listen, vote, and decide who belongs in the Elite Eight:
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) vs.”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power)
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) vs. “Mad World” (Gary Jules)
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) vs. “Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen)
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) vs. “Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone)
Living the Dream 
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) 3 – The 30th time i heard the name Valerie, i realize i know 2 valeries – one i loathe and one… well let’s just say she’s never been a good addition to a situation
”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power) 1
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) 6
“Mad World” (Gary Jules) 10
Heard this version of Mad World in a bar on a great saturday night this weekend – so when it popped up after two rough days at work… it’s a touch of an unfair advantage. But so it goes.
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) 9.5
“Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen) 7 — Somehow haven’t voted on this one before, and really liking the take. Won’t be at all unhappy if this advances.
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) 6.7
“Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone) 8.8
Now that’s how you wrap up a Sweet 16
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) vs.”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power) 7 / 2
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) vs. “Mad World” (Gary Jules) 8 / 6
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) vs. “Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen) 5 / 5
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) vs. “Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone) 8 / 7
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) 9
vs.”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power) 6
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) 7
vs. “Mad World” (Gary Jules) 6
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) 5
vs. “Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen) 5
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) 6
vs. “Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone) 10
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) 6.5
”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power) 7
“I Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) 10
“Mad World” (Gary Jules) 6.8
No he won’t! Did you know on the original recording George Harrison did back-up vocals for Tom Petty? You’d think you couldn’t do a stronger version of something like that. You’d think that, but no one told J.R. Cash. Everybody should own an American album, and with this along with
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) 5
“Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen) 7
This is a strange case of me suspecting that in its own time, BMW was just as innovative sounding in its originality compared to the prior recording as STH sounds to me now- its just that Lily has the edge in novelty.
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) 7.5
“Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone) 7.2
I’m with adrock.
Whoops- I never finished my thought on I Won’t Back Down. It was probably going to be something about how IWBD is Track 1 on American: III, and how The Man Comes Around is Track 1 on American IV, and I’d put both in my High Fidelity best Track Ones (at least if the list got to go to Top 25.)
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) vs.”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power) 9 / 3
– I’m sorry but I can’t put aside my Bias…Valerie is one of my fav songs…including both of Amy’s versions! #sorryimnotsorry?
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) vs. “Mad World” (Gary Jules) 5 / 4
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) vs. “Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen) 8 / 7
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) vs. “Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone) 6 / 2
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) vs.”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power) 7.5 to 4.0
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) vs. “Mad World” (Gary Jules) 7.0 to 4.5
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) vs. “Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen) 9.5 to 6.0
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) vs. “Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone) 7.0 to 8.5
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) vs.”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power) 8.5 to 3.5
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) vs. “Mad World” (Gary Jules) 6.0 to 4.0
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) vs. “Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen) 9.5 to 5.0
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) vs. “Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone) 5.5 to 8.0
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) = 8
”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power) = 6
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) = 7.5
“Mad World” (Gary Jules) = 8
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) = 9. Abraxas is still effing amazing.
“Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen) = 7
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) = 6
“Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone) = 10
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) vs.”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power): 9 / 8.3
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) vs. “Mad World” (Gary Jules): 9.5 / 6.7
Johnny keeps getting better – every time I hear this song I like it more. And feel tougher.
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) vs. “Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen): 6 / 10
Lily Allen is killing it on this song. I think my score for this song has been going up every round.
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) vs. “Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone): 7 / 9
scores = anna / jay
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse): 4 / 8.3
”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power): 10 / 9.3
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash): 8.5 / 10
“Mad World” (Gary Jules): 10 / 9.2
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana): 7 / 8.2
“Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen): 8.7 / 7.9
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash): 9 / 7.3
“Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone): 8 / 7.3
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) vs.”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power)
8/8.5 Both so good, but I was feeling Cat Power a bit more than Amy tonight.
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) vs. “Mad World” (Gary Jules)
8/7.9
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) vs. “Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen)
5/10
I don’t like BMW. I love Lily.
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) vs. “Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone)
8.5/9
Overall, this was a great day for the tournament. These are pretty awesome songs.
It’s absolutely nuts that these match-ups generated randomly. Couldn’t be more fitting.
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) vs.”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power): 9.2 : 7
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) vs. “Mad World” (Gary Jules): 7.3 : 6.5
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) vs. “Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen): 6.8 : 8.2
Black Magic Woman has run out of steam for me, whereas I’m overcoming initial skepticism of Lilly.
It is such a treat to hear Allen and her godfather, Joe Strummer, on lead vocals back to back here.
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) vs. “Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone): 9.4 : 9.7
Had to listen twice. This is very hard for me. Any time two of my favorites clash, however, I am comforted that at least one of them will advance.
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) = 7
”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power) = 3
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) = 10
“Mad World” (Gary Jules) = 6.5
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) = 6
“Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen) = 9.5
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) = 10
“Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone) = 10
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse): 8
”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power): 5
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash): 8.5
“Mad World” (Gary Jules): 5
Just couldn’t handle Mad World today.
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana): 7
“Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen): 10
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash): 7.5
“Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone): 9.5
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) = 7.5 [Have I stated my dislike for Amy Winehouse before? In spite of that, this song is a real gem. No qualms with this getting to the next round.]
”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power) = 7 [this just arrested me in the library. Gray day and leaves. Ending is strange though.]
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) = 10 [Perfect Cover. Right song choice for the right singer. Completely reinterprets the original without going to far from the source material. Also, is that Tom Petty doing the back-up vocals?]
“Mad World” (Gary Jules) = 7.8
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) = 6.5
“Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen) = 10
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) = 10
“Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone) = 12.5
(Scorer: you can go ahead and make this a 7.5 to 10, but I cannot give the Clash a 7.5 — but based on the scale of all the other songs this I’ve ranked (and I don’t want to go back and do it again) it’s a 10 to 12.5.
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse) = 5.5
”I Found A Reason” (Cat Power) = 8
“Won’t Back Down” (Johnny Cash) = 7.5
“Mad World” (Gary Jules) = 9.5
“Black Magic Woman” (Santana) = 7
“Straight to Hell” (Lilly Allen) = 10
“I Fought the Law” (The Clash) = 9
“Wonderful World” (Joey Ramone) = 10
I keep thinking maybe this time I won’t like these, and then I do.
So I have no real excuse about missing this round, but what’s with all the time changes for the deadlines? I thought I’d have until 11 since some other rounds went later, but it is my fault for not checking and voting earlier.
Oh wait, just saw that Aiko just voted so I’m gonna do that now and we’ll see if it counts…
nevermind. I don’t think my votes would have changed anything anyway.
Well, I voted ’cause I was doing the results post, so I listened as I was tallying everything (don’t worry, my votes didn’t actually flip anything). A lot of times us west coasteners extend the voting deadline, but in order to have the results up Jacob could get his next post up, we decided on an earlier deadline tonight. It all stemmed from me being a space cadet and missing my post on Monday.
You’re welcome to vote but the results are done and posted.
Anyway! I’m sorry for the shifting deadlines, it’s good to know people on the other coast like them, too. Voting by 5pm is a real bitch most of the time, clearly I didn’t make it anywhere close tonight.
No worries at all, I’m sure it’s hard to manage everyone who helps out with the site (and I appreciate you all managing it!). I’ll be sure to get on my game for the next round 🙂