Great turnout tonight, all. Welcome, to our new voters, and great job coaches- three of these battles went down to the wire and caused me extra late night work flipping storylines. But here’s the big question – can Led Zeppelin win the Last Band Standing championship with Fool in the Rain? Listen here and vote by commenting before midnight on Friday.
Game 4 Results
Black Dog (Led Zeppelin) def. Badlands (live) (Bruce Springsteen), 169.2-166.2 . Led Zeppelin surged late to take a 3-1 series lead. Back to back nail-biters for the Boss.
Mrs. Robinson (live) (Paul Simon) def. Isn’t She Lovely (Stevie Wonder), 148.7-146.1. This one flipped multiple times. Simon pulls the series even at 2-2.
Won’t Get Fooled Again (Who) def. Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (AC DC), 145-142.7. I have to apologize for making my second mistake of the week here, originally calling this for AC/DC. Moving the deadline to midnight has not been kind to my math/data entry skills. The series is now tied 2-2.
Sweet Jane (Velvet Underground) def. Shadowplay (Joy Division), 152.4-126.5. Once again, Velvet evens the series, with a little help from one of its only hits.
Game 5 Match-ups
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin)
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon)
See Me, Feel Me (Who) vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC)
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order)
A quick announcement: we are likely to need another round of coaches to step up, starting some time next week. Email me or leave a comment if interested.
Living the Dream 
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) 6 vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 6
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon)
See Me, Feel Me (Who) 6 vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) 6
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) 9 vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order) 5
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin): 5 – 9.5
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 6 – 6.5
See Me, Feel Me (Who) vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) N/A
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order) 7 – 7
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin)
7. : 6.7
I like Led Zeppelin better than I’ve been rating ’em; dunno what’s up.
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon)
6.9 : 8.2
Thought I might give this to SW as I’m a huge sucker for brass, but this is one my fave Simon songs.
See Me, Feel Me (Who) vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC)
7 : 5.8
The video for “see me, feel me” is hilarious. best mountain-climbing moontage since Rocky IV
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order)
## : ##
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin)
8.5 : 9.5
I feel bad turning on Bruce in his hour of need, but Fool in the Rain is one of my three favorite LZ songs, and a former personal music tournament champion.
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon)
6.5 : 8.9
Agree with Pete.
See Me, Feel Me (Who) vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC)
6.4 : 4.5
AC/DC is starting to wear on me, let’s throw some of the hits out there? Thunderstruck?
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order)
9.6 : 8
Rock and Roll is my favorite song off Loaded, which is one of my very favorite albums. Love Vigilantes is good too.
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 7.5 – 6
Fool in the Rain has trouble (and I realize I’m in the minority here) sustaining its full run-time for me. Really into it until the four minute mark, then feels strained and repetitive. And I believe in a Promised Land.
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) XX-XX
See Me, Feel Me (Who) vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) 5.5 – 6.5
Listening to See Me, Feel Me made my mind wander to what Freddie Mercury could have done with this song. Beating Around the Bush is pretty typical AC DC (in ways both good and bad) but proved good accompaniment to my current mood.
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order) 8 – 9
Both great songs. Love Vigilantes’ combo of meaning and bounce wins out for today.
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 6.5 – 9.3
Two solid selections here, but Fool in the Rain is one of my all time favorite Zeppelin tracks (a Led Zeppelin song you can dance to!?!) and it doesn’t suffer from the grandiose ambitions that a lot of their other songs do. Plus, those drums!
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 7.8 — 6.5
Hmm. I gotta say, I am REALLY relating to the message of the Stevie song right now, so I think that may bias my opinion. I do love the harmonies on the Simon song, but I am giving Stevie the slight edge here due to the resonance of emotional confusion.
See Me, Feel Me (Who) vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) 5.2 — 5.6
I appreciate the build of the Who track and the tempo of Beating Around the Bush. The latter is a song that Crucial Taunt should definitely have covered (who gets the reference?). The latter track has a very, very slight edge in my opinion.
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order) ## — ##
I love Rock and Roll, Pete. But prepare to go down next round!
It’s onn. To be fair I had no idea New Order existed beyond Bizarre Love Triangle before this week.
I’ll go see them if they’re playing at the GasWorks. All the other clubs suck.
What about the Shitty Beatles? Meatloaf does not approve.
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) = 6.5 9.0
Ah sorry G, this is one of my favorite Zepplin songs.
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) = 6.5 to 5
See Me, Feel Me (Who) vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) = 5.5 to 5
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order) = 9 to 8.5
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) 7
vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 6
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) 5.5
vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 3
See Me, Feel Me (Who) 5
vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) 5.5
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) 4
vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order) 7.5
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) 6
Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 9.5
I had no clue Led Zeppelin did that song but I always loved it!
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) 6
Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 6.5
See Me, Feel Me (Who) 6
Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) 7
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) 7
Love Vigilantes (New Order) 6
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) 8
vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 7
With all apologies to my dad, I really just don’t like Zeppelin. However, Adrock really pulled in a closer for this match up. This is probably their best song so far. Definitely the most interesting. Then again, I am a sucker for anything with even a hint of a calypso.
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) 6
vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 5.5
See Me, Feel Me (Who) 6.7
vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) 4.8
I think See Me, Feel Me loses something when you haven’t just listened to the rest of the Rock Opera.
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) 7
vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order) 9.5
This is one of my favorite New Order songs.
Championship
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) 8
Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 7
I really really dig what Bruce is saying here. This song came out in 78, I get that Bruce was pretty pissed, (why isn’t obvious to me) but he’s channelling that anger through broken losers, and people making a living. Yet, he has hope that whatever his protagonist is going through, there’s a way to something better. Maybe I’m just in that mindset today, but I’ll always believe, one has to keep pushing no matter what.
Funny I love Led Zeppelin… I mean I LOVE Led Zeppelin. If I could play in a dream band band it would have Black Crowes/ Led Zeppelin influences, but tonight Bruce wins.
DAMN this is weird for me to go against a band I love, but I digress (the idea of loyalty to a band which we have no tangible connection is another conversation for another day). This is John Paul, and Bonzo’s hour, and Bonzo is in the pocket here. His drums sound amazing. The beat is so simple, yet perfect.
Contender
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) 8
Love Me Like A Rock (Paul Simon) 7
If You Really Love Me is an awesome song. Seriously, an upbeat song about a dude getting played somehow wins me, and I love a tasteful horn section.
Love me like a Rock is a good song. Temptation is a great lyrical theme, and I’m a sucker for a call and response, but sorry Stevie wins this round to me.
Undercards
See Me, Feel Me (The Who) XX
Beating Around the Bush (AC/DC) XX
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) 8.5
Love Vigilantes (New Order) 8
NOW that’s a song to me. This is a Velvet song I can completely understand emotionally. It’s got groove, and guts. It’s got a killer guitar tone.
Love Vigilantes is a classic. I actually remember this from high school… yeah I’m that old, if you care. Great lyrics, great melody. Total nostalgia.
You two made this one really difficult for me. Thank you.
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) *
Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) *
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) 5.5
Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 4.5
See Me, Feel Me (Who) 6
Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) 7.5
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) 8
Love Vigilantes (New Order) 6.3
This has been a rough week, so these better be good:
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) Love.
Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) Also love.
I coulda gone with an Atlantic City, Hungry Heart, Backstreets, Streets of Philadelphia I guess, but there was something perfect about standing on my last legs with this one. Probably see you guys soon enough as the author of the tournament posts.
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) 7.9
Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 7.8
Arg. Close. Both nice.
Gotta do rest later. Happy to have contributed a total of +0.1 sway in half of the match-ups.
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) 4
vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 7
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) 6
vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 4
See Me, Feel Me (Who) 3
vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) 5
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) 5
vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order) 5
Championship
The Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) 7
Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 8
Contenders
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) 8.3
Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 6.5
Undercards
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) 6.6
Love Vigilantes (New Order) 6.3
See Me, Feel Me (The Who) 5.4
Beating Around the Bush (AC/DC) 8
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen): 7
Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin): 8.5
I’m giving Promised Land a 7 for lyrics alone, Bruce can weave a great story and even though this wasn’t meant to mean much of anything in 2012 it can still be applied to today’s on going issues (Thanks Joe). Fool In The Rain is an extreme departure from what Led Zeppelin had been doing well for so many year., Yet, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a bad thing. It’s rare to hear an upbeat happy sounding song from Zeppelin, but this hits just the right notes. Aside from some sloppy guitar from Page on the solo it holds a great groove.
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder): 9
Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon): 8.7
Happy sounding songs with depressing lyrics are always a win in my book. You’ve got to love the horns in If You Really Love Me. How can you be angry about being cheated on when you have an up beat song with amazing brass. I do love the old R&B/ Doo-wop sounds Paul Simon incorporated into Love Me Like A Rock. Two great songs it’s a hard decision, but I gotta roll with Stevie.
See Me, Feel Me (Who): 2.5
Beating Around the Bush (AC DC): 9.5
See Me, Feel Me seems like a song old even for it’s age, thank God that intro didn’t continue on any longer I had my finger on the skip. After doing a bit of research, and trying to figure out why the song made no sense, this song is completely out of context and only people that understand it’s origins would actual get the song. See Me, Feel Me itself is just bland. As for Beating Around the Bush, there is some monster guitar playing by Angus he’s just ripping out his mind in this song. This is my kind of AC/DC dirty lyrics and awesome musicianship.
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground): 5
Love Vigilantes (New Order): 4
I don’t like talking much about music I really don’t know about or heard much of. I feel bad judging the songs purely on whether I like the sounds and lyrics without really getting into them. Lou Reed is not the best vocalist but he understood musical arrangement, Rock and Roll isn’t terrible it’s just not my kind of music. The same holds true for Love Vigilantes.
Championship
The Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) 2
Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 7
Contenders
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) 10
Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 8
Undercards
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) 8
Love Vigilantes (New Order) 4
See Me, Feel Me (The Who) 7
Beating Around the Bush (AC/DC) 4
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) 7
vs.
Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 6
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) 6
vs.
Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 6
See Me, Feel Me (Who) 3
vs.
Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) 7
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) 5
vs.
Love Vigilantes (New Order) 4
Bruce Springsteen 6
Led Zeppelin 8
Stevie Wonder 9
Paul Simon 7
The Who 7
AC/DC 8
Velvet Underground 6
New Order 9
Second Half
See Me, Feel Me (Who) 4.5
Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) 6
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) 9
Love Vigilantes (New Order) 7
Sara Hamilton, I have no idea where you are or what you do anymore, but once upon a time you nominated “Rock And Roll” to a Hands On Music Tournament, and I will always remember it. Thanks.
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 5.0 to 8.5 This was a great LZ. Downloadable even.
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 8.0 to 6.5
See Me, Feel Me (Who) vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) 6.0 to 4.0
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order) 5.0 to 7.0
Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen) vs. Fool in the Rain (Led Zeppelin) 5.0 to 8.0
If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder) vs. Love Me Like a Rock (Paul Simon) 9.0 to 7.5
See Me, Feel Me (Who) vs. Beating Around the Bush (AC DC) 6.0 to 5.0
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground) vs. Love Vigilantes (New Order) 5.0 to 6.0