RESULTS
First off, let’s extend congratulations to Maegan and her partner on welcoming Guillermo’s nephew on July 24! Good news, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” will be continuing on, which has apparently been successful in soothing other tournament babies to sleep. It won’t be the most ridiculous thing you’ll try to get that little one down.
As we crown our division champions, we have to report averages to the thousandths because that’s just how close some of these match-ups are.
Division A Champion: “Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke)
In our closest match up and only upset of this round, “Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke) just barely defeats “Africa” (Toto) 144.4 to 141.3 (7.85 to 8.02 average). This means Sam Cooke will go head to head with our…
Division B Champion: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana)
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana) beat out “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder) 142.1 to 137.7 (7.89 to 7.65 average). That harsh split from Sarena was probably the death knell for poor Stevie.
Division C Champion: “Stand By Me” (Ben E. King)
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King) continues its winning streak and squeaks out the high score of this whole round, beating “When Doves Cry” (Prince) 145.4 to 138 (8.08 to 7.67 average). Will voters continue to stand by Ben E., or will them keep believing when this song goes up again the…
Division D Champion: “Don’t Stop Believin'” (Journey)
“Don’t Stop Believin'” (Journey) ekes out a win against “Caravan” (Van Morrison), 137.6 to 133.95 (7.64 to 7.44 average).
—
This tournament started with 64 songs in tribute to our dear friend Guillermo, and I think he would be pleased with the field of 16 we have left. Any of these songs could win the tourney if they get hot – though the reality is you’re going to get burnt out on some.
We created eight artificial “Divisions” for organizing the tournament, and each of those Divisions is having its final match-up this week. Once we’re down to eight songs, we’ll re-rack them based on scoring average for the quarter-finals.
Here is your first set of Sweet 16 contenders. Some of them come in with outstanding pedigrees, from Stand By Me’s Living the Dream Tourney win, to Superstition’s Hurricane Camp Tourney win, to Journey’s karaoke prominence.
Vote by commenting below before midnight on Sunday. Here’s your playlist.
Division A Finals
“Africa” (Toto) vs. “Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke)
Division B Finals
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana) vs. “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder)
Division C Finals
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King) vs. “When Doves Cry” (Prince)
Division D Finals
“Don’t Stop Believin'” (Journey) vs. “Caravan” (Van Morrison)
Living the Dream 
“Africa” (Toto) vs. “Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke)
9.5 v 6
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana) vs. “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder)
8 v 1 – was very into nirvana today in a way that caught me off guard. never loved superstition
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King) vs. “When Doves Cry” (Prince)
9 v 9 – tough choices! i want them both to advance!
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey) vs. “Caravan” (Van Morrison)
10 v 2 – i don’t love dont stop believin as much as will did, so the 10s are really for him.
1 for Superstition is pretty harsh, Serena!
Reminder to all that scores aren’t relative, 5 is “meh, if it was on the radio I’d leave it on’, 1/2 is ‘absolutely detest this’. But if that’s how you feel, all good 🙂
ha yeah I know. it’s been a while but not my first music tournament rodeo. I just really can’t stand when it comes on at weddings!
ha yeah I know. it’s been a while but not my first music tournament rodeo. I just really can’t stand when it comes on at weddings!
It’s been a while since I voted! My husband and I welcomed our little baby boy (Guillermo’s nephew) on 7/24 and have been figuring out this parenting/not sleeping thing ever since. Yesterday I drove to the bank (by myself…!) and took the 40 minute drive each way to rejoin the music tournament voting block and play my music as loud as I wanted. Here are my votes:
Division A Finals
“Africa” (Toto)-6 vs. “Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke)-7.8
Division B Finals
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana)-8.5 vs. “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder)-9.8
Division C Finals
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King)- 8.5 vs. “When Doves Cry” (Prince)- 8.0
Division D Finals
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey)- 6 vs. “Caravan” (Van Morrison)-7
Congratulations!
“Africa” (Toto) vs. “Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke)
J. 8 : 7
A 8 : 6.5
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana) vs. “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder)
J. 7.5 : 7
A 7 : 7
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King) vs. “When Doves Cry” (Prince)
J. 7 : 8.5
A 7 : 8
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey) vs. “Caravan” (Van Morrison)
J 8.5 : 6
A. 7.5 : 8.5
“Africa” (Toto)
“Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke)
Jim: 8 vs 9.5
Beansy: 6 vs 9.5
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana) “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder)
Jim: 8.5 vs 9.5
Beansy: 8 vs 9
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King)
“When Doves Cry” (Prince)
Jim: 9.5 vs 8.5
Beansy: 9.5 vs 9.5
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey)
“Caravan” (Van Morrison)
Jim: 9.5 vs 9.5
Beansy: 8.5 vs 9
“Africa” (Toto): 7.8
“Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke): 6.6
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana): 8.8
“Superstition” (Stevie Wonder): 5.6
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King): 6.9
“When Doves Cry” (Prince): 9
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey): 8.9
“Caravan” (Van Morrison): 5.3
Division A Finals
“Africa” (Toto) vs. “Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke)
This is a bizarre match up.
8 to 8.5
Division B Finals
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana) vs. “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder)
6.5 to 9
We cannot ever not appreciate what Teen Spirit did for the world but in terms of a song to song comparison, c’mon
Division C Finals
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King) vs. “When Doves Cry” (Prince)
9 to 8
Division D Finals
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey) vs. “Caravan” (Van Morrison)
7 to 10
Division A Finals
“Africa” (Toto) vs. “Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke)
ryan: 9 / 9
natalie: 8 / 9
Division B Finals
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana) vs. “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder)
r: 6.5 / 7
n: 9 / 8.5
Division C Finals
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King) vs. “When Doves Cry” (Prince)
r: 9.5 / 4
n: 9.5 / 6
Division D Finals
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey) vs. “Caravan” (Van Morrison)
r: 7 / 8
n: 8.5 / 8.5
i never expect to like “caravan”… and then i do!
Sarah:
“Africa” (Toto): 8.5
“Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke): 9.5
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana): 9
“Superstition” (Stevie Wonder): 7
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King): 8
“When Doves Cry” (Prince): 7
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey): 2
“Caravan” (Van Morrison): 6.5
Danny:
“Africa” (Toto): 8.5
“Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke): 10
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana): 8
“Superstition” (Stevie Wonder): 7.5
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King): 8
“When Doves Cry” (Prince): 4.5
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey): 9
“Caravan” (Van Morrison): 5
“Africa” (Toto) vs. “Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke)
Bob: 7/8.5
Brynna: 7/9
Patti: 7/9
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana) vs. “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder)
Bob: 8.3/8
Brynna: 8.5/8
Patti: 8/8.3
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King) vs. “When Doves Cry” (Prince)
Bob: 8/9
Brynna: 7/8
Patti: 8/9
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey) vs. “Caravan” (Van Morrison)
Bob: 7.7/8.4
Brynna: 8/7
Patti: 6.5/7.5
Sorry for being a few min late!
Division A Finals
“Africa” (Toto) vs. “Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke)
8/7
Division B Finals
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana) vs. “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder)
6/8.5
Division C Finals
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King) vs. “When Doves Cry” (Prince)
8/7
Division D Finals
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey) vs. “Caravan” (Van Morrison)
6/9.75
“Africa” (Toto) vs. “Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke) 8- 6
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana) vs. “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder) 8.5 – 8
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King) vs. “When Doves Cry” (Prince) 7 – 5
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey) vs. “Caravan” (Van Morrison) 8.5 – 6.5
“Africa” (Toto) vs. “Change Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke) 8- 6
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana) vs. “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder) 7.5 – 9
“Stand By Me” (Ben E. King) vs. “When Doves Cry” (Prince) 6 – 9
“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey) vs. “Caravan” (Van Morrison) 8.5 – 7.5
Sorry I’m late!