Solomon Burke…in a corner?
Here’s to the most unnecessary holiday of the year! I hope many of you got to kick it instead of heading into work today. To celebrate, take in these fines tunes on Grooveshark (except Man on Fire), and vote by commenting below before 8pm (EST) on Wednesday. The winners of these battles will make it to the fabled Sweet 16. We invited all song nominators to reflect on their songs, which is why you’ll see some tributes below.
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) vs. Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) Alex and Candace nominated these songs, respectively. The Swimmers outperformed the Hold Steady in each of the first two rounds, so they come in the favorites.
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash)
Got the blues? Rock and Roll got you. Get Rhythm makes me smile. Every time. You can find the original release with its bouncing boomchicka on the B-side of Cash’s first #1 hit: I Walk The Line. I’ll fight anyone who says there’s a better 1-2 punch. Listen to later releases with that sweet slide guitar and harmonica and listen to Cash swing it. He’s having a great time. It’s a go to at karaoke because it is fun. You could say that Cash was country, but this is one of the best rock and roll songs of all time. – James
Cry to Me was left off of the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack but Patrick Swayze’s track was not….that put Mr. Burke in the corner and NO ONE puts Solomon Burke in the corner. – Elizabeth.
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn)
Anyone else love Wes Anderson montages? I had recently rewatched a couple of Wes flicks in preparation for Moonrise Kingdom when I first saw the Man on Fire video. It’s beauty and simplicity took me away, and seems like it could fit in such a film. The song itself builds momentum perfectly, like a soft Pixies song. If you’re not dancing with the band by the end of the song, your feet are at least tapping under your desk. – Janos
Margot nominated Tickle Me Pink, which knocked off Neil Young last round.
Long Monday (John Prine) vs. Heaven (Walkmen)
Ryan McCostlin nominated Long Monday, which famously (sort of) won its last matchup by .15 points. Ryan Quinnelly nominated Heaven. So I guess both nominators are named Ryan. Heaven won its last matchup by 1.3.
For your posting ease:
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) vs. Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers)
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash)
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn)
Long Monday (John Prine) vs. Heaven (Walkmen)
Living the Dream 
9- Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) vs.
7- Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers)
This one kind of breaks my heart but I had to go with Hold Steady once I started absent-mindedly singing along.
6- Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) vs.
10- Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash)
I want to bury Burke, but I can’t. It’s a damn good song. Johnny is just that much better.
8- Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) vs.
5- Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn)
Easiest of the matchups to decide. I love the build for Man on Fire. Great jam.
4- Long Monday (John Prine) vs.
6- Heaven (Walkmen)
Snoozer of the round. Not excited by either and kind of wish I could save Burke or Great Lake Swimmers to move them to the next round.
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) vs. Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) 6 – 6.5
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash) 5.5 – 7
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn) 7.5 – 7.5
Long Monday (John Prine) vs. Heaven (Walkmen) 4 – 6
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) vs. Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) = 8 to 7
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash) = 7 to 8.5
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn) = 4.5 to 4
Long Monday (John Prine) vs. Heaven (Walkmen) = 4 to 5.5
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) 5
vs. Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) 6
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke)
vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash)
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) 4
vs. Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn) 6
Long Monday (John Prine) 6
vs. Heaven (Walkmen) 6
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) 6
vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash) 6
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) – 7.75
Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) – 8
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) – 8.5
Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash) – 8.75
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) – 8
Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn) – 7.5
Long Monday (John Prine) – 7.75
Heaven (Walkmen) – 7
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) vs. Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers): 6.8 : 6.5
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash): 7.6 : 7
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn): 9.2 : 6.6
I’m losing faith that Man on Fire can go all the way, but it shouldn’t lose here…
Long Monday (John Prine) vs. Heaven (Walkmen): 6.4 : 4
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) 6.5
vs. Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) 6
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) 5
vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash) 2
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) 7
vs. Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn) 3.5
Long Monday (John Prine) 8
vs. Heaven (Walkmen) 8.5
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) 6
vs. Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) 5
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) 4
vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash) 6.8
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) 8
vs. Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn) 3
Long Monday (John Prine) 6.5
vs. Heaven (Walkmen) 6.5
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) vs. Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) 4.0 vs 6.0 Enough already with the tweet, tweet, tweet!
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash) 6.5 vs 6.0 Tough pick between oldies but Johnny can do better.
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn) 6.5 vs 6.0
Long Monday (John Prine) vs. Heaven (Walkmen) 7.0 vs 5.0
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) vs. Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) 4.5 / 9
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash) 10 / 6.8
THat’s all I have the energy for tonight… will try to finish this and the last round off tomorrow.
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) – 4
Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) – 6
if this song was all verses, it would get a 7, but the chorus doesn’t deserve more than a 5, hence the resulting 6.
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) – 7
Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash) – 6.5
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) – 9
Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn) – 7.5
i feel like man on fire should have a substantial victory just because i love it so much, but damn, tickle me pink is wonderfully catchy.
Long Monday (John Prine) – 7.5
Heaven (Walkmen) – 5
long monday has been growing on me. i think that’s how john prine’s music works. has anyone mentioned who does the female vocals in that song yet? heaven is a decent song, but it sounded too much like “noise” after prine.
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) 5
vs. Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) 6.5
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) 8.2
vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash) 8.1
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) 8.9
vs. Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn) 8.3
Long Monday (John Prine) 7.9
vs. Heaven (Walkmen) 6.8
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) 5
Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) 6.2
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) 8
Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash) 6
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) 8.8
Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn) 6.7
Long Monday (John Prine) 7
Heaven (Walkmen) 7
Sequestered in Memphis (Hold Steady) vs. Pulling on a Line (Great Lake Swimmers) 6.5/7
Cry to Me (Solomon Burke) vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash) 7/8
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) vs. Tickle Me Pink (Johnny Flynn) 8.5/5
Long Monday (John Prine) vs. Heaven (Walkmen) 6/7