Results: The votes broke late for “Valerie”, which was close a huge upset at the hands of Rage Against the Machine.
“In My Life” (The Beatles) def. “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” (Digable Planets), 129-97.5
“Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show) def. “Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne), 123-104.5.
“Train in Vain” (The Clash) def. “Sinnerman” (Nina Simone), 136.5-113, with today’s high score.
“Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse) def. “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine), 127.5-122.
Here we are, folks, the last batch of fresh songs before we move on to Round 2! This is quite an eclectic group of songs (which could be said for all divisions, but this one feels especially so), spanning several decades and genres. Something for everyone!
Listen to them all on this Spotify playlist, and share your scores in the comments section below. Voting is open until Thursday at midnight.
Round 1, Division H:
“In My Life” (The Beatles) vs “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” (Digable Planets)
“Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne) vs “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show)
“Sinnerman” (Nina Simone) vs “Train in Vain” (The Clash)
“Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse) vs “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine)
Stories from the vault…
“In My Life” by Brian: When I got married a few years ago I immediately asked Gmo to make a playlist for Friday night and after the band Saturday. He obviously killed it. This was what played as we walked back down from getting married and he and I spent a long time discussing this pick. I wanted to find something more classically G but I got stuck on this so here we are.
“Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)”
“Hold you in My Arms” by Ryan Q: G-Mo and I met in Nevada and caravaned to Lake Tahoe in November of 2006. Me in my Tundra pickup and him in his old Astro Van with his dog, Hellicopter. He’d just learned about Ray Lamontagne from visiting Elizabeth in Colorado and had been playing almost nothing but this album. We camped one night before snowstorms began and they never stopped. We were essentially trapped in a blizzard and our only recourse was to both sleep in his van. Snowtrucks plowed 24hrs long, and we wouldnt get more than an hour of sleep before a truck would force us to wake up and move to a new spot so they could plow the freshly accumulated snow. Every time this happened the stereo would ignite at the turn of the key and Ray would wail his tunes. Rinse. Repeat. I must have heard this song alone 50 times, and it didn’t really get old, even when it was fetching me from a peaceful sleep. It was so damn cold in Tahoe during this experience I swear the opening guitar riff to this song actually gives me a shiver though. It was brutal but a worthwhile experience to have had with a good friend. I love that music can send me back to that place.
“Wagon Wheel” by Jaye: This came on Pandora today as I was driving and it seems fitting since it is the one song I remember when I think about Biloxi
“Sinnerman” by Amy: Gmo hosted a casual tournament one day at 188. I joined. I am notorious for hating games, but every now and then I’ll give one a try. So I nominated this song and I gave it a 10. G said I just CAN’T give it a ten. Ten is like off the charts. Nothing gets a ten. And then I defended the song and talked about how awesome it was and he thought about it and was like, actually you’re right.. this might actually be a ten. It was tough to choose between this and Mississippi Goddamn.
“Train in Vain” by Astrid: Besides Africa, there is no song that reminds me more of Guillermo. In the summer of ’06 this song was on his everyday playlist. There was always something about it that captured his spirit to me, this uplifting vibe no matter how bad it got.
“Valerie” by Committee: Covers Tournament Champ
“Killing in the Name” by Scull: Given current events, I found myself listening to this one a few times in recent weeks. Not sure if Will was ever a big Rage fan, but his shared political leanings and commitment to making the world a better, more just place were never in doubt. Also with regard to the path usually taken in life – “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me” is pure Guillermo, except he would probably cackle after. Miss you buddy.
Living the Dream 
“In My Life” (The Beatles) vs “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” (Digable Planets)
7 vs 3
not my fave beatles song, but i get why people love it. both gains and loses a couple points for being my junior prom song. i am not cool enough to like the digable planets song as much as i should.
“Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne) vs “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show)
6.5 vs 6
two solid songs, but not sure i’d opt into either – half a point extra for the first one bc of that story
“Sinnerman” (Nina Simone) vs “Train in Vain” (The Clash)
4 vs 9.5
sorry to nina simone fans, this song was actually new to me and i found myself skipping through it a bunch. also train in vain was one of my playlist regulars for a while too 🙂
“Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse) vs “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine)
5 vs 6.5
do not love listening to either of these songs, but i can appreciate both of them. i DO love the sweet stripped down lauren mayberry cover of ratm: https://consequenceofsound.net/2013/05/listen-to-chvrches-lauren-mayberry-cover-of-rage-against-the-machines-killing-in-the-name/
“In My Life” (The Beatles) 7 vs “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” (Digable Planets) 5
“Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne) 4 vs “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show) 6
“Sinnerman” (Nina Simone) 7 vs “Train in Vain” (The Clash) 9
“Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse) 8 vs “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine) 4
Valerie was a great discovery for me in the covers tournament.
this was HARD! such starkly different songs in each matchup (except maybe the second). i listened to and scored everything monday night but felt unsure about half of them and had to go back and listen to them in reverse order today.
“In My Life” (The Beatles) vs “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” (Digable Planets)
ryan: 5.5 / 4
natalie: 6.5 / 6
“we zoom like dat”… fitting
“Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne) vs “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show)
r: 5.5 / 6
n: 6 / 9
“wagon wheel” is so played out, buuut it turns out it’s still a damn good song.
“Sinnerman” (Nina Simone) vs “Train in Vain” (The Clash)
r: 4 / 5
n: 7.5 / 7.5
these are both great in their own ways and impossible to compare. i give up on trying to pick a winner. i was admittedly intimidated/anxious about the length of “sinnerman”, but it really pulls you in.
“Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse) vs “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine)
r: 6 / 7
n: 5.5 / 7.5
i was never a big rage fan, but damn, you can’t not feel that.
“In My Life” (The Beatles) vs “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” (Digable Planets)
A 6 5
J 6 7
Did anyone else think there was something off about the In My Life version on Spotify? Or maybe it’s our speakers are off…
“Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne) vs “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show)
A. 7 : 8
J 6.5 : 8.5
“Sinnerman” (Nina Simone) vs “Train in Vain” (The Clash)
A : 5 : 6.5
J : 6.5 : 8 (this version of Sinnerman is too long)
“Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse) vs “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine)
A: 7.5 : 8.5
J: 8.5 : 9
We both love Valerie and listen to it all the time, but for that reason we both found some late night Rage really refreshing
6.5 – “In My Life” (The Beatles)
8.5 – “Rebirth of Slick” (Digable Planets)
7 – “Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne)
9 – “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show)
7 – “Sinnerman” (Nina Simone)
8 – “Train in Vain” (The Clash)
9 – “Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse) 9 – “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine)
“In My Life” (The Beatles) vs “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” (Digable Planets)
8 to 7.5
“Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne) vs “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show)
5 to 5
“Sinnerman” (Nina Simone) vs “Train in Vain” (The Clash)
7 to 10
I still remember finding a cheap beat up copy of London Calling and discovering Train in Vain was the last, un-noted song on the record. One of my favorite songs ever, it’s perfect.
“Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse) vs “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine)
7.5 to 8
I’m old enough to have seen Rage (and Alice in Chains) at Lollapalooza III. It was my first proper mosh pit and it was just great. One of the most 90s days of my life.
6.5 – “In My Life” (The Beatles)
9.5 “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” (Digable Planets)
I am always feeling the Digable Planets, but even more tonight really feeling them tonight. Such a great album to chill out to. Brian’s story is very sweet, and that’s is a great choice for a wedding recessional. Everything from our ceremony was off the Swiss Army Man soundtrack.
5.5 – “Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne)
9.5 – “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show)
Ray LaMontagne really went up and down so seems like a 4.5 is a good place for it to shake out, though I gave it an extra point for Ryan’s story. Speaking of weddings I had a great time dancing to Wagon Wheel at my wedding, but not with my husband because he hates this kind of music mostly. Maybe apt that he’s not playing tonight.
8.5 – “Sinnerman” (Nina Simone)
8 – “Train in Vain” (The Clash)
I should listen to more Nina Simone. I find her otherworldly and honestly a bit unnerving; still, a 10 minute song that can hold my attention gets respect and edges out another reliably great song.
8 – “Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse)
9.5 – “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine)
I honestly don’t think I’ve listened a Rage Against the Machine song since high school and I didn’t really like them them. I wasn’t prepared to like it now but… apparently I’m way more angry now than I was in high school.
Danny:
8 – “In My Life” (The Beatles)
3.5 – “Rebirth of Slick” (Digable Planets)
4 – “Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne)
5 – “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show)
8.5 – “Sinnerman” (Nina Simone)
9 – “Train in Vain” (The Clash)
7.5 – “Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse)
8.5 – “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine)
Sarah:
8 – “In My Life” (The Beatles)
4 – “Rebirth of Slick” (Digable Planets)
4 – “Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne)
6 – “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show)
10 – “Sinnerman” (Nina Simone)
6 – “Train in Vain” (The Clash)
8 – “Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse)
8 – “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine)
“In My Life” (The Beatles) vs “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” (Digable Planets)
Brynna: 9/4
Patti: 9.5/4
Bob: 10/3
“Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne) vs “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show)
Brynna: 7/8.5
Patti: 6.5/7.5
Bob: 7/8
“Sinnerman” (Nina Simone) vs “Train in Vain” (The Clash)
Brynna: 7/7.5
Patti: 7/7.5
Bob: 5/9
“Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse) vs “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine)
Brynna: 7.5/7
Patti: 7/3
Bob: 6/6.5
6.5. In My Life” (The Beatles)
8.5 – “Rebirth of Slick” (Digable Planets). Ladybugs vocals lines are phenomenal.
8 – “Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne). Was not expecting this
8- “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show)- never my favorite version
7.5 – “Sinnerman” (Nina Simone)- I enjoyed the whole thing
9 – “Train in Vain” (The Clash)
8.8- “Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse)
7.8- “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine)
“In My Life” (The Beatles) vs “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” (Digable Planets)
Ryan Q 9.5/6.8
Brian 9.5/6
“Hold you in My Arms” (Ray LaMontagne) vs “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show)
Ryan Q 7/7
Brian 7.8/8
“Sinnerman” (Nina Simone) vs “Train in Vain” (The Clash)
Ryan Q 6/9.7
Brian 6/9
“Valerie” (Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse) vs “Killing in the Name” (Rage Against the Machine)
Ryan Q 8/6
Brian 7.4/5.8