This holiday weekend our third music tournament in 12 months comes to a close, with #5 With A Little Help From My Friends (Joe Cocker) taking on #2 Valerie (Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson) for the distinguished title of “Best Cover.”
The tourney got off to a slow start, but really picked up steam as the rounds went on. Thanks to the dozens of people who nominated songs, and the many more who voted. Listen to the finalists here, and vote by 8pm EST on Saturday. How about grabbing some crazy relatives around the Thanksgiving table and having them vote? Cocker vs. Winehouse! Beatles vs. Zutons! It’s one more thing to squabble over.
And now we present you with with Road to the Finals, the story of how each of these intrepid covers made it this far:
“With A Help From My Friends” (Joe Cocker) was not even challenged until its battle against “Killing Me Softly”, winning its first five match-ups by an average of more than 20 points, knocking off two fellow Beatles covers in the process.
Round of 128: def. Ain’t No Sunshine (Josh Hogge), 139.6-103.3.
Round of 64: def. Take a Chance On Me (Erasure), 110.35-78.2.
Round of 32: def. Come Together (Aerosmith), 142.7-126.8.
Sweet 16: def. Two of Us (Aimee Mann and Michael Penn), 179.5-162.
Quarter-finals: def. The Weight (Staples Singers), 119.85-101.1
Final Four: def. Killing Me Softly (Fugees), 238.2-235.2.
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson) was even more ruthless in the early rounds of the tournament before surviving a close call against the Man in Black, and against Joey Ramone. It’s something about the dead…
Round of 128: def. Natural Woman (Adele), 130.55-77.
Round of 64: def. Love Me (Department of Eagles), 97.6-74.5.
Round of 32: def. Heartbeats (Jose Gonzalez), 136.4-116.25.
Sweet 16: def. I Found A Reason (Cat Power), 134-104.6.
Quarter-finals: def. I Won’t Back Down (Johnny Cash), 165.3-158.4.
Final Four: def. Wonderful World (Joey Ramone), 227.65-223.05.
Finally, with news of Grooveshark’s impending doom, it’s a good time to salute the website for its invaluable contribution to our tournaments.
Now vote, and be merry!
Living the Dream 
“With A Help From My Friends” (Joe Cocker) 7
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson) 7.5
I really didn’t see myself voting this way, but Amy Winehouse struck a nice chord with me today for some reason
With A Little Help From My Friends 5
Valerie 8
With a Little Help From My Friends 9
Valerie 7
friends – 9
valerie – 8.5
w/ a little help from my friends: 8
valerie: 7.4
With a Little Help – 8.0
Valerie – 7.0
With a Little Help – 8.0
Valerie – 6.5
Little Help – 8.5
Valerie – 6.5
Joe Cocker- 9.2
Amy Winehouse- 7.25
It’s about time a Woodstock representative won one of these. The Winehouse song is catchy, but Little Help From My Friends moves my heart and has grown on me the last few months. Progressively. The Danica McKellar association doesn’t hurt.
Little Help – 5.5
Valerie – 5
pals 8.1
val 8
“With A Help From My Friends” (Joe Cocker) 10
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson) 7
“With A Help From My Friends” (Joe Cocker) 8.3
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson) 7.8
Me and C
WALHFMF: 7.2 / 8. 9
Valerie: 8.8 / 9.2
Both of these songs are pretty significant reinventions, which is appropriate for a top cover song.
With a little help – 9.5
Valerie – 8.7
“With A Help From My Friends” (Joe Cocker) 7
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson) 7.5
With A Help From My Friends (Joe Cocker) 6
Valerie (Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson) 5
“With A Help From My Friends” (Joe Cocker) 10
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson) 7
“With A Help From My Friends” (Joe Cocker) 9
“Valerie” (Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson) 8
For me, a cover isn’t just a song, it’s the creative ownership of something another person wrote and made famous. For these, it’s kind of interesting because I’m unfamiliar with the original versions, so I’m not getting that secondary level of enjoyment. Ah well, two great tunes.