This is a radio.
Who knows whether we ever really truly retire from music tournaments. I think it’s more we retire until we think of an interesting way to revitalize. It happened- around the same time a few weeks ago that Nos was wondering what the best songs about the radio might be, I returned to my old High Fidelity mainstay question of the best Side One, Track One. Huge questions.
…and these are all records with a Track One
So we thought and asked on Facebook and built out some lists. In the end, Janos came up with 32 solid nominations on the “radio” question. I couldn’t keep it to 32 on my side, but managed to cut it down to 48 “track one, side one”‘s. So to kick things off, we’ll have to do a few days of same genre play-ins to whittle down the S1T1 side of the bracket. We did have a rule that no artist could have more than one song involved, even across the Radio-T1S1 divide. May we present to you: the list of competitors.
So for newbies, these are the rules- listen to the four match-ups below (in each match-up, the two songs are competing to stay alive.) After each match-up, stop and think, then give each song a score between 0 and 10 based on how you felt about it just then when you listened to it. Post your scores in the comments section of the post. We’ll add up the scores and the loser is eliminated. Eventually one song wins. Playlist is here, and scores on these match-ups due by Friday, February 8th at 8:00 PM.
This is going to be awesome.
-Guillermo
Day One: Side One, Track One Play-In
“Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977)
“Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977)
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003)
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006)
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978)
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975)
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987)
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986)
Living the Dream 
(voting early so people can see what we mean by scoring)
“Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977): 7
“Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977) 7.1
David Bowie wrote “Lust For Life” and did a ton of collaboration with Iggy Pop on this album. According to Nicholas Pegg’s biography on Bowie, the motivation for the rhythm on the riff was the morse code opening to American Forces News Network in Berlin, whatever that means. This was not meant to be an easy match-up to decide. I’m going Sex Pistols by a hair.
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003) 6.4
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006) 7.2
I can’t believe neither of these musical acts exists anymore.
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978) 6.8
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975) 7.5
Have been singing this AC/DC song to myself ever since Monday night. In the battle of godfathers of metal, gonna give it to Bon.
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987) 7
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986) 8.5
Did not realize I liked “Red Rain” this much until this moment. So and Graceland are two of the most important albums of the 80s, yes? Slugfest here…and indicative of how competitive this tourney is seeing that neither scored a first round bye, and 16 other songs did…
7.5- “Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977)
7- “Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977)
I love Lust for Life and even though it has been used incessantly in a commercial (that I cannot remember for the life of me) I have to give it the slight edge. I’ve also amended my integer scoring to include half points for this tournament. So. Excited. Great matchup to start it off.
8.5- “Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003)
6- “Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006)
I don’t even know if it’s my favorite White Stripes opener, but I love Seven Nation Army. It’s gnarly. It’s huge. It’s amazing.
5- “Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978)
6.5- “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975)
AC/DC gets stuck in my head. Other Van Halen songs get stuck in my head, but not Devil. Bon lives.
8- “Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987)
9.5- “Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986)
Toughest matchup last. I love both albums and both artists, but Red Rain gets the big nod for me. One of my favorite Gabriel songs and indicative of the aesthetic of So. The same can be said for Boy in the Bubble and Graceland is immaculate. Tough sledding.
Matchup 1: Lust for Life vs Holidays in the Sun: Concur with James that Lust for Life has survived the commercialization to still be a killer track that can wind me up. Holidays has never been my favorite Pistols track. Love the amazing combination of in your face but slow burn Bowie/Iggy pull off with the layering build to the verse. I’d say Lust for Life takes it 8-6
Matchup 2: Seven Nation Army vs Rehab: Oh man, this one is gonna be a toughie. Again, a nice build by the Stripes, but Amy punches you in the face from jump street. Seven Nation Army is such a great tune, but doesn’t stand up to the Gabe Roth machine. Rehab 7.7 to 6.5
Matchup 3: Running with the Devil vs It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll): BAGPIPES! Totally forgot about them, and I was totally going to give the nod to VH until the bagpipes hit. Really, all wind instruments are at an advantage with me, let’s get that out of the way. This is the closest one yet, but Bonn the boys take it 7.5 to 6.8
Matchup 4: Boy in the Bubble vs Red Rain. Wow, very different matchup from the previous three. I forgot how big and fat the bass is in Bubble. Red Rain is so much fuller. Oh man, this Peter Gabriel fellow can sing. Oh that 80s glossy production. Fun fact: I distinctly remember buying this album on vinyl from The Wiz. But it stands up. 7.5-7, Red Rain takes it.
“Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977) 8.6
“Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977) 9.2
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003) 8.5
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006) 7.9
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978) 7
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975) 8
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987) 5
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986) 6.4
After much agony:
“Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977) “Holidays In The Sun,” – 8
Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977) – 6
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003) – 7
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006) – 8.5
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978) – 8
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975) – 6
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987) – 9
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986) – 8.5
“Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977) – 4.0
“Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977) – 4.5
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003) – 4.5
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006) – 6.0
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978) – 5.0
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975) – 4.0
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987) – 6.0
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986) – 7.0
We’re baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!
“Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977) – 4.5
“Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977) – 4.5
Not overly impressed with either track. Also not familiar with either performer. Must have slept thru the ’70’s
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003) – 4.5
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006) – 6.0
Not Amy’s best, at least not for me, but good enough in this matchup.
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978) – 5.0
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC /DC, T.N.T. (1975) – 4.5
See above. I must have still been asleep. Never a big fan of this genre and Adrock had not yet arrived to “make” me listen.
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987) – 6.0
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986) – 7.0
More familiar with the artisits but necessarily a fan, esp Paul Simon. Much of his music I find formulaic in its melody and/ or pacing. Only the lyrics seem to change. Red Rain was a much more pleasant listen.
“Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977) 5.5
“Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977) 7
Iggy has great energy as always, but the song is so repetitive, it just spirals down in points over time. Sex Pistols though… ever fun.
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003) 5
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006) 4
I don’t know what to do with Seven Nation Army. THe beat is so good… but since i hear it 10 times a game at all sporting events these days, i kind of want to go back in time and assassinate them before they could write it. I’m punting and giving this a 5. If NFL/NBA/COllege Hoops teams weren’t such copycats, it’d probably get an 8. …and yet it still wins. Amy’s just not for me.
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978) 6.5
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975) 9
No contest here. Love EVH’s guitar licks, but god DAMN Bon Scott just dominates David Lee Roth – it’s not even fair.
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987) 6
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986) 9.5
Pleasant Paul is solid, but Peter is one of the voices of Miami Vice…and Red Rain is from one of my all time favorite Vice episodes – how do you beat Crockett and Tubbs going up against G. Gordon Liddy as a bad guy?! You can’t. Absolutely psyched it’s in this tourney. Literally could not be more excited.
Pumped up that we’re back on – thanks Game and G’Mo.
Lust for Life (Iggy Pop) 6
Holidays in the Sun (The Sex Pistols) 7
Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes) 5
Rehab (Amy Winehouse) 4
Adrock, I concur.
Running With the Devil (Van Halen) 8
It’s A Long Way to the Top if You Want to Rock N’ Roll (AC/DC) 9
The bagpipes that come in at 1:25 win this matchup.
Boy in a Bubble (Paul Simon) 7
Red Rain (Peter Gabriel) 6
All GREAT matchups. What a start.
“Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977): 8
“Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977): 9.2
I love both of these songs, and love Lust for Life more. However, “Holidays” is a classic opener, the marching sounds, the gritty guitar, the “bring it” lyrics- this was the punk movement introducing themselves.
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003): 8.5
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006): 7
That SNA bass line beckons you in.
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978): 8.5
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975): 8.5
Both songs exceeded my expectations, great energy. Let someone else choose.
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987): 9
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986): 5
Red Rain did not leave me itching for track 2. Only dud of the bunch.
Lust for Life – 8.7; ranking high today, possibly because it’s Friday afternoon, when the feistiness starts to settle in…
Holidays in the Sun – 6.5
Seven Nation Army – 7.2
Rehab – 6.8
Running with the Devil – 7
It’s a Long way… – 7.1; this was perhaps the hardest match-up, both resonating equally!
Boy in a Bubble – 8; I have a special place in my heart for Graceland
Red Rain – 6; not really feeling it today, oddly enough, even though it’s the only song with “rain” in the title from this group
Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977) = 7.5
“Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977) = 7
I honestly don’t know. Was Lust for Life a hit before Trainspotting?
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003) = 5
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006) = 9
Amy Winehouse has surprisingly gotten better for me with time.
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978) = 5
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975) = 7
I’ll admit I’m a bigger Hagar Van-Halen fan than DLR era Halen. I know that’s crazy but I think its because I never liked the production on the early Van Halen records. I can’t put my finger on it but they always gave me a headache.
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987) = 6.5
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986) = 3
I like the first few Peter Gabriel records (the three self titled albums are good) and early Genesis, but I’m not into So era Gabriel. Sorry.
“Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977) – 6
“Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977) – 5.5
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003) – 7
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006) – 6.5
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978) – 8.5
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975) – 7
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987) – 3
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986) – 2
“Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977) 4.8
“Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977) 5.9
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003) 7.4
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006) 6.5
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978) 8.2
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975) 9
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987) 8.0
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986) 7.2
“Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977) 5
“Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977) 5.5
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003) 7.5
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006) 8.5
Rehab makes me dance like a Peanuts character and it makes me happy.
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978) 6.5
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975) 7.75
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987) 5
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986) 5.5
Sippy / Cristina
“Lust For Life,” Iggy Pop, Lust For Life (1977) 6 10
“Holidays In The Sun,” Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks (1977) 8 / 7
“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes, Elephant (2003) 10 / 8.8
“Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, Back In Black (2006) 9.5 / 8.7
“Running With The Devil,” Van Halen, Van Halen (1978) 8 / 7
“It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll),” AC/DC, T.N.T. (1975) 6.5 /9
“Boy In The Bubble,” Paul Simon, Graceland (1987) 8.5 / 6.7
“Red Rain,” Peter Gabriel, So (1986) 7.5 / 6