Every vote counts, guys. Game 7 is in the books. After going neck and neck the last 36 hours, U2 seizes the win and the advance with a last minute surge at the finish. “One” defeats “One Way Out” by the Allman Brothers, 64.2-62.4. And then there were three:
The Rules of the Royal Rumble are as follows:
1) Each Game will feature a song nominated by each of our surviving coaches (Adrock, Janos, and Dan) and the order in which they nominate those songs will shuffle with each game.
2) Scoring is the same- for each of the three songs submit a score between 0 and 10.
3) At the conclusion of the game, all of the scores will be added up and the results announced. The band that gets 3rd place will receive a “strike.” A strike is a bad thing.
4) Three strikes and the band is eliminated. We keep going until there is only one band left (so this will last between six and eight games.)
Got it? Excited? Me too. Our coaches got their Game 1 nominations to me super quickly, so I’m happy to get this started now! Votes due by Thursday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM EST. The playlist is here, and remember, give all three songs a score. Good luck!
Royal Rumble: Game 1
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) vs.
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) vs.
Mysterious Ways (U2)
Living the Dream 
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) vs. 4
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) vs. 7
Mysterious Ways (U2) 8.5
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys): 3 (they have far better material than this song)
Going To California (Led Zeppelin): 8 (I could lie on the beach with a cold beer and listen to this all day)
Mysterious Ways (U2): 0 (b/c I’m that special blend of Irish/U2 Conscientious Objector)
Hey Amy- thanks for voting! Ouch, seems like U2 is a no go for you. We count 0’s as 1’s so we’ll just go with that. I’m including your follow-up e-mail with last names removed for everyone’s benefit.
From: Amy
To: Guillermo
Cc: Daniel
Date: 05/23/2012 10:18 AM
Subject: Re: Book Club
I make no excuses, and I award U2 no points, and may God have mercy on their souls.
I guess its a good thing Amy ignored my many previous attempts to mobilize voter participation…
Danno hammer FTW!!!
I’m Waiting for the Day (The Beach Boys) 5.5
I am not a fan of the Beach Boys. I know this is from their seminal album, but I’m not feeling this song at all.
Going to California (Led Zeppelin) 9
No surprise here. I love Zeppelin. I love the mandolin, and how this song is quiet compared to most of the other songs from this album. It’s beautiful.
Mysterious Ways (U2) 6
This one of the weaker songs on this album along with “Even Better than the Real Thing”. Yes this was a major hit single, but I’ll be a snob/ jerk, and say it’s not very good.
Yea…I’m not a big fan of Mysterious Ways either. I just feel like there are a ton of fantastic U2 songs left to pick from, and this track never needed to see the light of day in this competition. Haha.
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) 6.5
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) 7.5
Mysterious Ways (U2) 6
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) 7
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) 7.8
Mysterious Ways (U2) 7.1
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) 3
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) 7.3
Mysterious Ways (U2) 3.5 * This song reminds me of the days I get stuck in the lobby of the doctors office and forced to listen to the awful soft rock station, and the subsequent feeling of wanting to scream.
I’m Waiting for the Day is a personal favorite of mine from Pet Sounds- there’s a pretty awesome behind the scenes at how it was made that really shows how layered it (and the rest of Pet Sounds) is with instruments that hadn’t really been used in rock before.
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) vs. 6.0
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) vs. 7.0
Mysterious Ways (U2) 5.5
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) vs. 5.0 Mediocre at best from these guys. They have better material.
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) vs. 7.5 Again – a surprise as to what these guys are capable of. How come I don’t remember any of this from the excursions to Hanover?
Mysterious Ways (U2) – 6.5 Better than meh, but not too much.
Because I made you listen to Metallica and Megadeth the whole way!
Surprisingly, I lived thru it.
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) 3 – I kind of like it when the song drops out and you get the drums sounding a bit like my favorite song, Sloop John B. Other than that, though, Brian Wilson’s voice sounds kinda weak.
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) 7 – I love when Zeppelin gets all folk-ish. Robert Plant’s voice can get a bit grating, but the smooth melody saves it.
Mysterious Ways (U2) 4 – Meh is a pretty good description
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) vs. 5.5
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) vs. 8
Mysterious Ways (U2) 6.5
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) 5.5
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) 6
Mysterious Ways (U2) 4
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) N/A
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) 7.5
Mysterious Ways (U2) 7
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) 8.9
Man, the peanut gallery is giving this track the short shrift. That echoey percussion? Those melodious vocals? The interplay of tempos? The complex relationship narrative? Come on people.
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) 9.5
A favorite from my high school years which grew in meaning when I moved to California and then even moreso when I moved away from California. A definite nostalgic touchstone.
Mysterious Ways (U2) 7.1
Rarely do I like more “dancy” or uptempo U2 tracks, but the guitar on this is pretty killer and Bono’s vocals are more fun than irritating. One of their better songs, I think.
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) 4
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) 5.2
Mysterious Ways (U2) 4.2
I’m sorry to say that I was underwhelmed by each song this round. “I’m Waiting for the Day” just blended into every other Beach Boys song for me. The stark contrast of Plant’s noxious wail was unforgiving against the calm and melodic background of “Going to California.” And finally, I will never understand why “Mysterious Ways” was such a big hit. It starts off with this cool guitar intro, but all the verses and bridges sound downright bland. I will say that I’m excited to see what next round will bring from these guys because I know they have so much more to offer in spite of their depleted arsenals.
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) 5
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) 7 – clearly not the best LZ song but of course it’s still solid.
Mysterious Ways (U2) – NA (and yes, NA stands for “NO AMY” in future rounds of voting.)
Daniel, if you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. I’ll take the “NO AMY” comment to heart next time I get the last blueberry muffin at Rudy’s.
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) 6.7
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) 7
Mysterious Ways (U2) 7.2
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) == 6.7
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) == 7.1
Mysterious Ways (U2) == 2
This song makes me want to hit Bono with some kind of blunt object.
Some mediocrity this round.
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys): 4
Pet Sounds is classic, but the Boys still have better material than this tune.
Going To California (Led Zeppelin): 5.5
Better than the other songs here, but not one of the best off of IV.
Mysterious Ways (U2): 2
I have never been a fan of Mysterious Ways, it has begun to grate on me over the past 10 years or so.
A lot of negativity, sorry.
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) 7.1
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) *
Mysterious Ways (U2) 8.3
Wow, i’m not sure i’ve ever heard I’m Waiting For the Day – really enjoyed that. A little surprised by the low scores – very cool track Janos. As for Mysterious Ways, I get the low scores (and believe me i have the hitting bono with a brick reaction a lot) but for whatever reason, i have a tremendous affinity for this song, and have thoroughly loved it live too. Amazingly, I think I’d have given Going to California the low score.
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) 8.4
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) 7.1
Mysterious Ways (U2) 6.0
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) 8.2
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) 6.7
Mysterious Ways (U2) 5.5
BB–8.4
LZ–7
U2–6.8
I’m Waiting For The Day (The Beach Boys) vs. 3
Going To California (Led Zeppelin) vs. 7.5
Mysterious Ways (U2) 9
To all the haters out there: Mysterious Ways is an awesome song. That is all.