Living the Dream Music Tournament: Day 31 Results

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Janos Marton

Great participation tonight. A great victory for Russ Agdern, who used his voter’s choice pick on “Voodoo Chile” in the play-in round, and taught me “Busted” at a campfire in Indiana.  The other big winner was “Hurt”, which posted huge numbers.

Busted (Ray Charles) def. Long Tall Sally (Little Richard), 95-90.

Hurt (Johnny Cash) def. Deacon Blues (Steely Dan), 119.5-79. No regrets on nominating Steely Dan, despite the score.  They are a good band, and while “Reelin in the years” might have been more palatable, this is their best song. Oh well.  Adam Sofair appreciates it.

Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) (Jimi Hendrix) def. El Scorcho (Weezer), 107.5-99.

Tonight Tonight (Smashing Pumpkins) def. Hey Hey My My (Neil Young), 108.5-105.

Wonderwall  (Oasis) def. Farmhouse (Phish), 94-81.  Well, I learned that you can’t please Phish haters with their most pop-like song, and you can’t please Phish fans with their most pop-like song, but at the end of the day, Phish was run out of the tournament.

Steely Dan, Little Richard and Phish all peace out for good.

 

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Coney Island Polar Bear Swim 2011

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Janos Marton

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This was pretty awesome.  On Saturday, January 1, I joined hundreds of New Yorkers in the frigid waters off Coney Island.  The Neptune trident was a hit, but there tons of lavish costumes there, from Santa Claus to the BP oil spill workers.

As you can imagine, the water was staggeringly cold, but the sun was shining, and the sand was comfortable once the crowds stomped out the snow.   Most of my body acclimated well enough, but my feet were tough-timesing it throughout the three trips.

Coney Island is always a great party, or at least, it is for now.  DJs were blasting awesome music and the crowds were have grooving out.   Unfortunately, none of the bars could sell alcohol, as the City shuts down their liquor licenses- part of an effort to bankrupt them to make way for luxury condos.  Just gross.

Assuming Coney Island is still a habitable place for good natured freaks a year from now, I’d love for a bunch of us to return for Polar Bear Swim 2012 and start next year off right.

 

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Living the Dream Music Tournament: Day 32 (Round of 512)

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Janos Marton

Listen on Grooveshark and vote by posting a comment below the post or emailing LTDdotorg@gmail.com.

Where the Streets Have No Name (U2) vs. By the Way (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Here Comes My Baby (Cat Stevens) vs. I’m a Believer (Monkees)

Band on the Run (Paul McCartney) vs. Jack and Diane (John Mellencamp)

Over the Hills and Far Away (Led Zeppelin) vs. Cottonfields (Beach Boys).  Cottonfields was included because the song is an all-time classic in rock lore- I just happen to like Al Jardine’s lead vocals on this version more than other covers.

Guantanamera (Wyclef Jean) vs. Suspicious Minds (Elvis).  Guantanamera’s spot was originally supposed to go to Killing Me Softly, but this song has aged a little better.

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Living the Dream Music Tournament: Day 30 Results

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Janos Marton

A lot of tight battles today.  None of the songs really took off to “Superstition”/ “Sympathy for the Devil” levels, but outside of a few Numbencore haters, most people were doling out friendly scores.  In marquee match-up, Break On Through (Doors) defeated Down on the Corner (CCR), 78-75.

Graceland (Paul Simon) def. Hurricane (Bob Dylan), 68-67 .

Maggie Mae (Rod Stewart) def. White Man in Hammersmith Palais), 70.5-65.

Paper Planes (MIA) def. Encore (Jay Z w/ Linkin Park), 66.8-55. I definitely used the wrong version for Paper Planes, and am agree with Guillermo that the original’s better than this remix.  The problem is that when I check the Grooveshark mix, I listen for about 30 seconds to make sure I have the right version, and this was the same as the original for the first verse.  Anyway, the problem will be corrected for the Round of 256, when it goes up against “Beat It”.

Won’t Get Fooled Again (Who) def. Patience (Guns ‘n Roses), 69-62.5. Are The Who one of the best bands of all time? Absolutely.  Yet after Substitute, Pinball Wizard and Won’t Get Fooled Again, we’ve yet to see a song with the legs to go deep in the tournament.  Obviously Baba O’Riley will, but the overall success of The Who in this tournament may rest on A Quick One While He’s Away.

We Didn’t Start the Fire (Billy Joel) def. Hey Jack Kerouac (10,000 Maniacs), 73.3-55 .  Merchant and co. will get another shot with their superior song, “What’s the Matter Here”.

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Living the Dream Music Tournament: Day 31

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Janos Marton

We begin with Division F tonight.  This division doesn’t have any clear favorites, though The Weight (Band), White Room (Cream) and Over the Hills and Far Away (Led Zeppelin) are up there.  Rather, this division is known for its depth- a lot of solid, mellow tunes.  Tonight’s match-ups are on Grooveshark, except Tonight Tonight.

El Scorcho (Weezer) vs. Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) (Jimi Hendrix)

Busted (Ray Charles) vs. Long Tall Sally (Little Richard)

Tonight Tonight (Smashing Pumpkins) vs. Hey Hey My My (Neil Young)

Wonderwall (Oasis) vs. Farmhouse (Phish)

Deacon Blues (Steely Dan) vs. Hurt (Johnny Cash)

 

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Living the Dream Music Tournament: Day 29 Results

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Janos Marton

Even though none of these match-ups were down to the wire sensations, I consider it a healthy day at the tournament when the top scoring loser would not have beaten the lowest scoring winner.  Kudos to Orce and Nick for trying to rally their dark horse songs, but we’ve seen throughout this tourney that people have a soft spot for the classics.  Probably the most interesting match-up was Barry White vs. R. Kelly, with strong opinions and votes on both sides.  “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love” topped “Ignition”, 83-76.

Ruby Soho (Rancid)  def. Where Eagles Dare (Misfits), 80-68.   Rancid’s Out Come the Wolves is a rare punk album with immensely catchy tunes and street cred.  “Roots of Radicals”, which we’ll hear in a few weeks, won a 128-song tournament in 2001.

Burning Down the House (Talking Heads) def. 26 or 6 to 4 (Chicago), 91-78.

Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin) def. Carolina Drama (Raconteurs), 100-76.

In My Life (Beatles) def. She Don’t Use Jelly (Flaming Lips), 84.5-70.

It’s the end of the road for Chicago, R.Kelly and the Raconteurs.  The Misfits and the Lips both have another song coming later.

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Living the Dream Music Tournament: Day 28 Results

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Janos Marton

A couple blow-outs today, as the underdogs came out with no magic against some top legends.

Here Comes the Sun (Beatles) def. Safety Dance (Men Without Hats), 56-50.

Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen) def. Losing My Edge (LCD Soundsystem), 55-37.

Electric Avenue (Eddy Grant) def. Tennessee (Arrested Development), 55-49.

Seven Nation Army (White Stripes) def. Hero of the Day (Metallica), 49-33.  Adam Small’s gonna be upset that Metallica got no traction.

Beat It (Michael Jackson) def. Birthday (Sugarcubes), 59-40.

That’s it for the Sugarcubes, but Bjork still has a song from her solo career left in the tourney.  The same can’t be said for our other departing artists, Men Without Hats, Arrested Development and Metallica.  It’s pretty rare to lose four artists in a single day.

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Living the Dream Music Tournament: Day 30

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Janos Marton

Division E closes out with classics and legends.  Listen here and vote by commenting below or emailing LTDdotorg@gmail.com.

Down on the Corner (CCR) vs. Break on Through (Doors)

Hey Jack Kerouac (10,000 Maniacs) vs. We Didn’t Start the Fire (Billy Joel)

Maggie Mae (Rod Stewart)  vs. White Man in Hammersmith Palais (Clash)

Encore (Jay Z w/ Linkin Park) vs. Paper Planes (MIA)

Graceland (Paul Simon) vs. Hurricane (Bob Dylan)

Patience (Guns n Roses) vs. Won’t Get Fooled Again (Who)

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Living the Dream Music Tournament: Day 27 Results

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Janos Marton

I’m so glad you made it!  Gimme Some Lovin’ (Spencer Davis Group) defeats the iconic Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry), 72-69.5.

Three Little Birds (Bob Marley) def. Touch of Grey (Grateful Dead), 68-58.  The Dead’s only pop hit isn’t catchy enough.

Sweet Jane (Velvet Underground) def. The Rising (Bruce Springsteen), 73.5-53.   All of us here at 14th street were having big problems with Sweet Jane’s bridge, which could be a problem against a stronger opponent.

Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin) def. Rock ‘n Roll Radio (Ramones), 63.5-61.

All Apologies (Nirvana) def. I’ll Be There (Jackson 5), 63-59.

Mrs. Robinson (Simon and Garfunkel) def. Same Boy You’ve Always Known (White Stripes), 64.5-60.

For the five artists that when down today, all remain in the tournament through other songs, which you’re not going to see very often.

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Living the Dream Music Tournament: Day 29

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Janos Marton

A lot of great songs to listen to as you ease back into work or studying.  Listen at Grooveshark, and vote by commenting below or emailing LTDdotorg@gmail.com. In My Life available here.

Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin) vs. Carolina Drama (Raconteurs)

26 or 6 to 4 (Chicago) vs. Burning Down the House (Talking Heads)

She Don’t Use Jelly (Flaming Lips) vs. In My Life (Beatles)

Ruby Soho (Rancid) vs. Where Eagles Dare (Misfits)

Can’t Get Enough of Your Love (Barry White) vs. Remix to Ignition (R. Kelly)

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