Strummer mural on 7th and A.
The Round of 64 ends in style tonight with a tournament titans like Jeff Buckley. We didn’t allow Hallelujah in last time because the song was too closely associated with him. It turns out he didn’t even discover Leonard Cohen’s original, but a John Cale cover. Cale, the Scottie Pippen of the Velvet Underground, for his part, saw Cohen perform it live and ask for the lyrics. Cohen sent him innumerable pages of poetry that Cale condensed to the version we’ll be hearing today. Listen to all of Day 10’s songs here (at bottom of playlist) and vote by commenting below before 11:59pm on Thursday. You can check out the evolving tournament bracket and our results so far.
#1 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) vs. #16 I Want You Back (Lake Street Dive)
#4 Killing Me Softly (Fugees) vs. #13 Don’t Do It (The Band). The Fugees cover Roberta Flack’s hit from the 70s, and The Band covers Marvin Gaye’s hit from the 60s.
#5 Redemption Song (Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer) vs. #12 Police and Thieves (Clash). Two Joe Strummer songs against each other? That’s my bracketing mistake, although Joe’s fans could take satisfaction in one guaranteed advance to the Round of 32.
#3 With a Little Help From My Friends (Joe Cocker) vs. #14 Johnny B. Goode/Roadrunner (Sex Pistols). Our defending cover champion fends off a truly ridiculous Pistols cover of Chuck Berry and the Modern Lovers.
Living the Dream 
Hallelujah – 8 (Glad we started off with this one. Sad as fuck. So good tho.)
Want You Back – 2 (Ugh, fuck off. This is like if I was forced to go to someone’s “fun Aunt’s” first try at an open mic)
Killing – 8 (Maybe can it with the “chatter” at this beginning of the song and Wyclef’s radio-DJ intrusion… but the SONG… fantastic).
Don’t Do It – 4.5
Redemption – 5.5 (Cash is king, but… this song is Bob’s and it sounds weird covered by someone who speaks SAE* [Standard American English].)
Police – 7 (Not my favorite Clash song, but solid nonetheless)
Help – 7.5 (Solid song. Very overrated but still in the legend category.)
Johnny – 4 (I like the Pistols but this is fuckin painful)
Hallelujah – 8.8
Want You Back- 4.5
Killing – 7
Don’t Do It – 9
Redemption – 6.5
Police – 7.6
Help – 8
Johnny – 4.5)
#1 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley) – 9
#16 I Want You Back (Lake Street Dive) – 5. I didn’t hate it but I don’t want to listen to it again.
#4 Killing Me Softly (Fugees) 8.8
#13 Don’t Do It (The Band) 4.5. Only play that one song about Fanny, The Band.
#5 Redemption Song (Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer) 6
#12 Police and Thieves (Clash) 4.8
#3 With a Little Help From My Friends (Joe Cocker) 6. Yeah this is not the best of all time.
#14 Johnny B. Goode/Roadrunner (Sex Pistols) 5. I don’t really know what to say about this. I love the original, while I have an ambivalent relationship with punk, I’m ready to root for it but this is just annoying and pretty dull.
Hallelujah – 6.5
I Want You – 7.0
Not my favorite cover of Hallelujah.
Killing Me Softly – 6.0
Don’t Do It – 6.5
Killing is a great song, but not this time.
Redemption – 6.0
Police & Thieves – 5.0
With a Little Help – 7.5
Johnny B Goode – 4.5
JBG’s score is a gift.
#1 Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley)
#16 I Want You Back (Lake Street Dive)
Me: 7.5 : 6.5
Anna: 8 : 7
#4 Killing Me Softly (Fugees)
#13 Don’t Do It (The Band)
Me: 7 : 8.3
Anna 8 : 8.2
#5 Redemption Song (Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer)
#12 Police and Thieves (Clash)
Me: 8 : 9
Anna: 8 : 8
#3 With a Little Help From My Friends (Joe Cocker)
#14 Johnny B. Goode/Roadrunner (Sex Pistols)
Me: 7.5 : 6.8
Anna: 6 : 7.6