Best Song of the 1980s Bracket [FINALS, SUBMIT BY 1/5]

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Mon Dec 07, 2020 9:53 pm

rylltraka wrote: ↑Mon Dec 07, 2020 4:35 am QUADRANT MAGNUM: ROUND OF 64 RESULTS

1 Madonna, "Like a Virgin" 5, 16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" 19
it was a mistake from the first to let indie bands into this tournament

I guess the Pixies are "indie" compared to Madonna, but I think the last time you could accuse someone of hipsterism for preferring this song was 1995. It's been covered dozens of times and featured prominently in movies and TV shows.

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 16 Billy Bragg, "A New England"
I'm happy I learned about this Billy Bragg song from the bracket, but "Billie Jean" is a better pop song than "New England" is as a folk song.

8 Metallica, "Master of Puppets" vs. 9 David Bowie, "Modern Love"
My first exposure to heavy metal was the Simpsons episode with Spinal Tap, and my second was the feature-length mockumentary with Spinal Tap, whose name escapes me at the moment. As a result, it's always been difficult for me to ever take it seriously enough to genuinely enjoy it.

5 U2, "With or Without You" vs. 12 Def Leppard, "Photograph"
I can see why people turned against U2 style anthems, but these early ones still sound really good and not overplayed (even though they probably are).

4 The Police, "Every Breath You Take" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'"

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes"
I have a theory, so far untested, that "Love Will Tear Us Apart" minus lyrics would work really well as a sitcom theme song. It would be one of those show intros where the actors' name appear on the screen concurrently with a short clip of them doing something archetypical, zany where appropriate. The title would be something like "A House Divided" or "One Big Family." These are just examples, obviously. If anyone would like to plan out the rest of the show I'd be happy to work together on a promo.

3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure" vs. 14 Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"

7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" vs. 10 The B-52s, "Love Shack"
A professor at Minnesota has "Sweet Child o' Mine" as his ringtone, and even as a ringtone the opening is impressive.

2 Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer" vs. 15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"
Both good, "Fight the Power" feels more timeless while still sounding like something from the late 80s.

Stained Diviner · Post by **Stained Diviner** » Mon Dec 07, 2020 10:54 pm

Sam wrote: ↑Mon Dec 07, 2020 9:53 pm Spinal Tap, whose name escapes me at the moment

You got half of it.

Steeve Ho You Fat · Post by **Steeve Ho You Fat** » Mon Dec 07, 2020 11:29 pm

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 16 Billy Bragg, "A New England"

8 Metallica, "Master of Puppets" vs. 9 David Bowie, "Modern Love"

5 U2, "With or Without You" vs. 12 Def Leppard, "Photograph"

4 The Police, "Every Breath You Take" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'"

Yeesh is right for this matchup

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes"

3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure" vs. 14 Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"

7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" vs. 10 The B-52s, "Love Shack"

I loved Guns 'n' Roses as a teenager, and while I don't feel the need to revisit them much anymore, Sweet Child o' Mine is their song with the best staying power. Slash deserves more credit than he gets for the riff, the lyrics are kind of sweet, and Axl doesn't even sound that bad.

2 Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer" vs. 15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"

Everything I said about Journey last time applies equally well here. This song was maybe fine the first time I heard it; it's not fine the 1,000th time I hear drunk people yell it. (also I literally lol'd at Borglum, and Public Enemy is great)

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Mon Dec 07, 2020 11:33 pm

Stained Diviner wrote: ↑Mon Dec 07, 2020 10:54 pm
Sam wrote: ↑Mon Dec 07, 2020 9:53 pm Spinal Tap, whose name escapes me at the moment
You got half of it.

Now I remember: This is...Mighty Wind.

BenWeiner27 · Post by **BenWeiner27** » Tue Dec 08, 2020 10:19 am

1 Michael Jackson,"Billie Jean" vs. 16 Billy Bragg, "A New England" - I had not heard A New England before this tournament, and I actually like it a lot, but it is not as good as Billie Jean

8 Metallica, "Master of Puppets" vs. 9 David Bowie, "Modern Love"

5 U2, "With or Without You" vs. 12 Def Leppard, "Photograph"

4 The Police, "Every Breath You Take" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'" - This is another tough one

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes"

3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure" vs. 14 Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"

7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" vs. 10 The B-52s, "Love Shack"

2 Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer" vs. 15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"

AgathokakologicalPunk · Tue Dec 08, 2020 8:31 pm

1 Michael Jackson,"Billie Jean" vs. 16 Billy Bragg, "A New England" - MJ is clearly better; I also anticipate him taking Bowie out.

8 Metallica, "Master of Puppets" vs. 9 David Bowie, "Modern Love" - Heavy metal is good for the memes but not much else.

5 U2, "With or Without You" vs. 12 Def Leppard, "Photograph" - Bono is best enjoyed when separated by a soundproof barrier.

4 The Police, "Every Breath You Take" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'" - The better of inferior songs from good acts.

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes" - If Peter Gabriel moved any slower Antifa would try to remove him.

3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure" vs. 14 Dolly Parton, "9 to 5" - Did "9 to 5" ever get ripped off by a seedy wannabe?

7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" vs. 10 The B-52s, "Love Shack" - "Love Shack" wore out after one playing.

2 Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer" vs. 15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power" - Public Enemy is eh, but so its "Livin' on a Prayer". Abstain.

ScoBo · Post by **ScoBo** » Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:58 pm

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 16 Billy Bragg, "A New England"
8 Metallica, "Master of Puppets" vs. 9 David Bowie, "Modern Love"
5 U2, "With or Without You" vs. 12 Def Leppard, "Photograph"
4 The Police, "Every Breath You Take" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'"
6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes"
3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure" vs. 14 Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"
7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" vs. 10 The B-52s, "Love Shack"
2 Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer" vs. 15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"

Ben Dillon · Post by **Ben Dillon** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 1:37 am

I freely admit this is probably after the deadline...

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 16 Billy Bragg, "A New England"
8 Metallica, "Master of Puppets" vs. 9 David Bowie, "Modern Love"
5 U2, "With or Without You" vs. 12 Def Leppard, "Photograph"
4 The Police, "Every Breath You Take" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'"
6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes"
3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure" vs. 14 Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"
7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" vs. 10 The B-52s, "Love Shack"
2 Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer" vs. 15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"

Charm Bison · Post by **Charm Bison** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 1:41 am

1 Michael Jackson,"Billie Jean" vs. 16 Billy Bragg, "A New England"

8 Metallica, "Master of Puppets" vs. 9 David Bowie, "Modern Love"

5 U2, "With or Without You" vs. 12 Def Leppard, "Photograph"
Man the finale of The Americans was so good

4 The Police, "Every Breath You Take" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'"

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes"

3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure" vs. 14 Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"

7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" vs. 10 The B-52s, "Love Shack"
This is RIDICULOUSLY close Jesus

2 Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer" vs. 15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"
No disrespect to Livin' on a Prayer, seriously, but......Fight the Power.

meebles127 · Post by **meebles127** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 1:56 am

What the hell, I'll get in on this.

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 16 Billy Bragg, "A New England"

8 Metallica, "Master of Puppets" vs. 9 David Bowie, "Modern Love"

5 U2, "With or Without You" vs. 12 Def Leppard, "Photograph"

4 The Police, "Every Breath You Take" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'"

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes"

3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure" vs. 14 Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"

7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" vs. 10 The B-52s, "Love Shack"

2 Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer" vs. 15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"

A Dim-Witted Saboteur · Wed Dec 09, 2020 12:30 pm

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 16 Billy Bragg, "A New England"
Heehee

8 Metallica, "Master of Puppets" vs. 9 David Bowie, "Modern Love"
I cannot listen to Master of Puppets without thinking of "Exploded Diper" from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie

5 U2, "With or Without You" vs. 12 Def Leppard, "Photograph"

4 The Police, "Every Breath You Take" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'"
Stalkerish but sounds cool

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes"

3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure" vs. 14 Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"
I think the pendulum has swung too far back on Dolly Parton, she's great but she's not the new Messiah like a lot of leftists just discovering that she wrote songs about the experience of work think she is.

7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" vs. 10 The B-52s, "Love Shack"
The Guns and Roses guy's voice sounds annoying.

2 Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer" vs. 15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"

Jcm48 · Post by **Jcm48** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 2:30 pm

1 Michael Jackson,"Billie Jean" vs. 16 Billy Bragg, "A New England"

First time I've heard A New England. I don't think I want to hear it again.

8 Metallica, "Master of Puppets" vs. 9 David Bowie, "Modern Love"

I'd vote for almost any other Bowie track but Master of Puppets is just a little too good for Modern Love.

5 U2, "With or Without You" vs. 12 Def Leppard, "Photograph"

Not my favorite U2 song but I cannot stand Def Leppard.

4 The Police, "Every Breath You Take" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'"

Seriously close. I find Free Fallin' just a little more interesting though.

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes"

I'll happily vote for Love Will Tear Us Apart against almost any other song in this bracket.

3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure" vs. 14 Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"

7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" vs. 10 The B-52s, "Love Shack"

Solely for the opening riff.

2 Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer" vs. 15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"

I will probably never vote for Bon Jovi, similarly to Def Leppard.

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 6:23 pm

A friendly reminder that you have until the end of the day to post.

Arras Agility · Post by **Arras Agility** » Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:20 pm

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 16 Billy Bragg, "A New England"
8 Metallica, "Master of Puppets" vs. 9 David Bowie, "Modern Love"
5 U2, "With or Without You" vs. 12 Def Leppard, "Photograph"
4 The Police, "Every Breath You Take" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'"
6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes"
3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure" vs. 14 Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"
7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" vs. 10 The B-52s, "Love Shack"
2 Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer" vs. 15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:41 am

Squeezing this in, I hope:

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean"
9 David Bowie, "Modern Love"
5 U2, "With or Without You"
3 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'"
11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes"
3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure"
7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine"
15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:07 am

Some thoughts on what quizbowl seems to like, through nine rounds:

Likes
Anything that might be described as "indie"
Warbly pop
Cheesy rap
Goofy, energetic Police
Electronic New Wave
80s Mega-hits
Dolly Parton

Dislikes
Anything that might be described as "metal"
Self-serious pop
Cheesy rock
Serious Police
Not-electronic New Wave
Songs we've never heard before
Dolly Parton...but not that much

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 4:22 am

BRACKET HILL: ROUND OF 64 RESULTS

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" 24.5, 16 Billy Bragg, "A New England" 7

8 Metallica, "Master of Puppets" 7, 9 David Bowie, "Modern Love" 24.5
DUN... ...DUN DUN DUN

5 U2, "With or Without You" 20.5, 12 Def Leppard, "Photograph" 9

4 The Police, "Every Breath You Take" 10.5, 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin'" 19

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" 18.5, 11 Peter Gabriel, "In Your Eyes" 11
I get so lost...sometimes

3 Queen and David Bowie, "Under Pressure" 23, 14 Dolly Parton, "9 to 5" 8.5
no parade in Dollywood

7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" 26.5, 10 The B-52s, "Love Shack" 5
you're WHAT

2 Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer" 10.5, 15 Public Enemy, "Fight the Power" 19.5

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 4:39 am

80s BRACKET ROUND OF 64: QUADRANT STEELE
SUBMIT VOTES BY 11:59 PM PST 12/12

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. 16 The Cars, "You Might Think"

8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" vs. 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"

4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"

3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"

7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"

2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"

Stained Diviner · Post by **Stained Diviner** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 8:20 am

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. The Cars, "You Might Think"
I have no idea why Tainted Love is a 1 seed, but I understand why You Might Think is a 16 seed.

8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" vs. 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater"
Benatar makes a statement. Listening to these songs, it's easy to see why I spent much of the 80s listening to 60s and 70s songs.

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"
These songs are good. This is a tough decision.

4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"
Blister in the Sun is good, but Walk This Way is great. Everybody should sing it.

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"
Queen is great, and their songs are great.

3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"
If Morrissey has ever done anything good, tell me what it is. Honestly, I have generally tried to ignore him, and I've been successful.

7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"
Crazy Train is one of the greatest songs of all time.

2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"
Take On Me is a great video for a meh song. I'm not making a hot take here--it is what it is.

ValenciaQBowl · Post by **ValenciaQBowl** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 10:56 am

Ah, it's good to get the guys who actually were teenagers in the '80s in first!

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. The Cars, "You Might Think"
--Yeah, "Tainted Love" is kind of a bizarre 1 seed. However, I vividly remember spending two weeks in Calistoga, California, with my oldest brother and not being able to go anywhere all day while he was at work, so I listened to the radio all day and fell in love with "Tainted Love" and "Abracadabra" by Steve Miller (hmm, that probably should've made the field).

8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" vs. 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater"
--"Maneater" is a great song. Hall and Oates have about ten songs that really have staying power.

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"
--I agree with David that this is tough, but "Once in a Lifetime" is the horse I'd ride from this bracket.

4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"
--I had King of Rock on vinyl in high school but didn't like Run DMC's later collab with Aerosmith. It's better than Violent Femmes, though.

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"
--The woozy piano in that song, boy howdy.

3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"
--Morrisey is a terrible human being, and The Smiths are insanely overrated, but "How Soon Is Now" is an incredible song.

7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"
--Yes, "Crazy Train" is fantastic. The guy famous for the opening riff, Randy Rhoads, died in an incredibly stupid plane crash (it was a joyride, they were buzzing the tour bus below) about an hour north of where I live in 1982. You all should listen to Drive-By Truckers' song "Let There Be Rock." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dNCG9P_vZg

2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"
--Tattoo You is the last great Stones' album. Good songs top to bottom, and "Start Me Up" is sleazy Stones at their best.

mrtyrmystry · Post by **mrtyrmystry** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 11:31 am

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. The Cars, "You Might Think"
You Might Think has such a SillyChamp video.

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"
and a little of everything about Once in a Lifetime is SillyChamp, but cu in the final four. Miraculously, its opponent is close to it on several levels.

4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"
The lyrics and mr. Gano's voice are the most annoying thing about the Violent Femmes. I guess I will reserve a paragraph here to discuss music sung by singers whose voices make me want to throttle them, most of which I almost always like. (and which I know is unfair, though I promise if any of you heard my voice and wanted to throttle me I wouldn't be offended) - this includes Modern Lovers guy (Jonathan Richman), Elvis Costello, David Byrne, John Darnielle (mtn goats) and some new-ish emo bands that other people like more than me probably. The reason I forgive all of them (besides the obvious - it's their voice) is that their music is really catchy and sometimes joyous. That's about it.

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"
My taskbar is locked.

3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"

7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"
This is a matchup where I expect my vote go the other way based on how my music taste has "advanced". But Crazy Train is a lot more exciting.

(deal with god)'s lyric ideas are much more interesting though. The idea that men and women have to swap roles to understand each other isn't true so much as any two people do.. which is something that humans know at heart, I often forget, and probably isn't worth continuing to think about.

2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:37 pm

ValenciaQBowl wrote: ↑Thu Dec 10, 2020 10:56 am --Yeah, "Tainted Love" is kind of a bizarre 1 seed. However, I vividly remember spending two weeks in Calistoga, California, with my oldest brother and not being able to go anywhere all day while he was at work, so I listened to the radio all day and fell in love with "Tainted Love" and "Abracadabra" by Steve Miller (hmm, that probably should've made the field).

First off, "Abracadabra" is hot garbage, and not in the top 10 Steve Miller songs. Then again, about half of The SMB's Greatest Hits are unlistenable tripe, and the other half is gold.

But as regards seeding, this is something I struggled with in trying to place the top 4 seeds (16 total songs). A couple are obvious, such as the Michael Jackson hits off Thriller, but the rest are judgment calls. The criteria were unclear: should they be quintessential 80s songs? my personal takes on which pieces of music are excellent? Or what I imagine quizbowl would like (considering we've been discarding iconic hits in favor of smaller, more ironic, barely-charting pieces of music that sound more 'modern')? My thoughts were that "Tainted Love', in addition to being a brilliant piece of sleazy electro-pop, falls under "quintessential", and had a massive impact on the music landscape. What would you want to see as a second seed in its place? I know QB favors rap and indie, but I didn't see any of our selections from those genres at #2, except for "The Message", whose genius was inescapable even for me as a sheltered, rural 18-year-old just experimenting in music.

But of course I could be wrong as to what our voting electorate feels. Anyway, here's the exceptional extended version of "Tainted Love", sliding into their cover of "Where Did Our Love Go."

Additionally, I have avoided linking to the "Tainted Love" video, which is so chintzy (made clearly for about $10 in 1981) that I thought it would hurt its electability.

Jcm48 · Post by **Jcm48** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:09 pm

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. The Cars, "You Might Think"

Really like Tainted Love. Always have.

8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" vs. 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater"

I don't like either song enough to even cast a vote.

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"

4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"

This is another song that I probably won't vote against.

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"

I wish Should I Stay Or Should I Go won that prelims match. I would've voted for it here.

3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"

7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"

I found this song from the Meg Myers cover version that came out a year or two ago. I do prefer that cover but the original is easily good enough to get my vote.

2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"

Surprised that Take On Me is losing this match, as of the time of my vote.

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:15 pm

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. The Cars, "You Might Think"
This round has a strong lineup of music videos. I don't know if I would say "You Might Think" and "Walk This Way" are "good" in the way that "Take On Me" or "Sledgehammer" are actually Good Art, but they're beautifully silly. I especially like the conceit of "Walk This Way" being the result of an out-of-control feud between apartment neighbors. Maybe the next time my neighbors are playing their ukulele at midnight on a weekday I should respond with my finest turntable tricks.

Anyway "Tainted Love" is the better song.

8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" vs. 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater"
I enjoyed this more the second time.

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"
It's too bad these songs are against each other. Both have lyrics that are mostly nonsense but still somehow work in conveying the point. "Once in a Lifetime" is a little more interesting to me but it's close.

4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"
Maybe this is the natural result of immediately following the most fruitful decade of popular music, but many of the songs in this bracket feel like the 15th or 16th best song of great artists. This pairing is the perfect exemplar of that phenomenon. The Clash are great! Queen is great! "Rock the Casbah" is...pretty good? "Another One Bites the Dust" is...also pretty good, though a little worse?

3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"

7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"
To engage in Chowdhurian reminiscences for a moment: when I was younger I didn't listen to much music, and definitely didn't listen to much new music, and definitely, definitely didn't listen to enough new music to find stuff my parents would object to. (They also weren't the types of parents who would have cared that much if I did.) Kate Bush was the closest exception to this. I loved Kate Bush. My dad enjoyed listening to her on vinyls and found her a little too piercing on CDs (I don't know how real this is but his actions were consistent with his claims); everyone else in my family really disliked her music. So, on top of enjoying her music for its own sake, I had the pleasure of a tiny act of rebellion whenever I played The Whole Story in my room.

2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"
I recognize "Start Me Up" is a better song, but I like "Take On Me" more. I'm not sure if this is the correct way to vote or not, I could see myself making the opposite decision tomorrow.

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:25 pm

Sam wrote: ↑Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:15 pm Maybe this is the natural result of immediately following the most fruitful decade of popular music, but many of the songs in this bracket feel like the 15th or 16th best song of great artists. This pairing is the perfect exemplar of that phenomenon. The Clash are great! Queen is great! "Rock the Casbah" is...pretty good? "Another One Bites the Dust" is...also pretty good, though a little worse?

Similarly, does "Start Me Up" even make the top 16 of a bracket of Rolling Stones songs?

Stained Diviner · Post by **Stained Diviner** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:50 pm

This mostly reasonable ranking puts it at 29, which I don't have a problem with.

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:40 pm

ValenciaQBowl wrote: ↑Thu Dec 10, 2020 10:56 am ..."Abracadabra" by Steve Miller (hmm, that probably should've made the field).

i'm gonna call the cops

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:44 pm

rylltraka wrote: ↑Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:25 pm
Sam wrote: ↑Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:15 pm Maybe this is the natural result of immediately following the most fruitful decade of popular music, but many of the songs in this bracket feel like the 15th or 16th best song of great artists. This pairing is the perfect exemplar of that phenomenon. The Clash are great! Queen is great! "Rock the Casbah" is...pretty good? "Another One Bites the Dust" is...also pretty good, though a little worse?
Similarly, does "Start Me Up" even make the top 16 of a bracket of Rolling Stones songs?

It is the last great Stones song.

ValenciaQBowl · Post by **ValenciaQBowl** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:48 pm

i'm gonna call the cops

Cops love Steve Miller.

ScoBo · Post by **ScoBo** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 11:57 pm

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. The Cars, "You Might Think"
If you're playing on a Zeecraft system from around the mid-2000's, pick the side that plays the buzzer tone twice.

8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" vs. 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater"
5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"
4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"
6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"
3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"
7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"
2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"

MiltonPlayer47 · Post by **MiltonPlayer47** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:35 am

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. The Cars, "You Might Think"

8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" vs. 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater"
This is a tough choice, but I think that I favor the song with more energy here.

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"

4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"

3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"
I hate to have to vote for The Smiths here, but I agree that this is a great song.

7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"

2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"

BenWeiner27 · Post by **BenWeiner27** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 10:55 am

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. The Cars, "You Might Think"

8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" vs. 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"

4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"

3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"

7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"

2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"

Ben Dillon · Post by **Ben Dillon** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:00 am

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. 16 The Cars, "You Might Think"
8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" vs. 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater"
5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"
4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"
6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"
3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"
7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"
Courteously abstain.
2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:27 pm

Typical reminder to submit your votes by tonight.

Wartortullian · Post by **Wartortullian** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 5:38 pm

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. 16 The Cars, "You Might Think"
The first time I heard "Tainted Love", I hated it. The second time, serval months later, I kinda liked it, and that appreciation has only grown. You could say it was...
...a hard sell (I'm so sorry).

8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" vs. 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater"
The classic rock station in Boise played four Pat Benatar songs when I was growing up, and this was one of them. I never really vibed with any of them and kinda wrote her off, but a few years later I heard "We Belong" and it completely changed my opinion of her. "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" is still kinda boring though.

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"
Both of these songs are excellent, but one is excellent-er.

4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"
I appreciate what this cover is trying to do, and I think it's well executed, but I like it significantly less than Aerosmith's original version and run-DMC's other work.

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"
I used to like both of these songs a lot more than I do now. I've grown less tired of "Another One Bites the Dust" since middle school, so I'll vote for that.

3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"

7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"
A great song and a really great song. Same situation as the Talking Heads/REM matchup.

2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"
"Start Me Up" is far and away the best of the Rolling Stones' 80s output, but if it had never been recorded, we'd still have plenty of other Stones songs from earlier decades. "Take On Me", on the other hand, absolutely needs to exist.

AgathokakologicalPunk · Sat Dec 12, 2020 6:43 pm

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. 16 The Cars, "You Might Think"
I can see my dream of a Dire Straits-Cars final isn't going to happen. Nonetheless, I am obligated to vote for one of the best bands in the bracket. It's not the night to let the good times roll, but maybe baby, this move in stereo might shake it up and be just what we needed.

8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" vs. 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater"
The only good part of the Cars losing this round will be that Daryll Hall and John Oates will advance farther.

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"
Very tough matchup b/w songs that are fun to hear and easy to reference in life. The winner of this match is worthy of the win.

4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"
Mixing French and English isn't that cool, just like the Violent Femmes.

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"
Bad selection for the Clash but enough to beat this overplayed knock-off.

3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"
I still maintain that Cyndi Lauper owes all her success to Weird Al and Napoleon Dynamite.

7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"
Even if this song wasn't such a banger, I would vote for it as a tribute to Quiet Riot.

2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"
I'm surprised the Stones are this low, but I'm also surprised their competition from that spot is so weak.

Steeve Ho You Fat · Post by **Steeve Ho You Fat** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:00 am

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" vs. 16 The Cars, "You Might Think"

8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" vs. 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"

4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" vs. 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun"

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs. 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"

3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" vs. 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"

7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" vs. 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"

2 A-ha, "Take On Me" vs. 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:27 am

ROUND OF 64: QUADRANT STEELE
RESULTS

This was a round of murder.

1 Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" 17, 16 The Cars, "You Might Think" 5
For a "bizarre #1 seed", sure won in a walkover.

8 Pat Benatar, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" 8.5, 9 Hall and Oates, "Maneater" 9.5

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" 10, 12 REM, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" 10 [TIE]
My tiebreaker vote goes to "Once in a Lifetime". Same as it ever was.

4 Run-DMC, "Walk This Way" 9.5, 13 Violent Femmes, "Blister in the Sun" 9.5 [TIE]
On the re-listen, I really wasn't super happy with "Walk This Way", which struck me as pretty slow, and inferior to the original, as well as other Run-DMC stuff. More important than good. My vote's for "Blister in the Sun". let us go oooooooooonnnnn

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" 11, 11 Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust" 11 [TIE]
"Rock the Casbah" by a mile. Not sure if the Sharif likes the song

3 Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" 11, 14 The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?" 11 [TIE]
My mother liked Cyndi Lauper, perhaps because she was also a Cindy and there weren't many of them in the pop-culture landscape. Merry Christmas, ma. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"

7 Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill" 5.5, 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train" 15
Amend my previous statement to "quizbowl hates metal, except for this one song"

2 A-ha, "Take On Me" 10.5, 15 The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up" 11.5
guess they got taken on

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:43 am

80s BRACKET ROUND OF 32 (QUADRANTS VICE & MAGNUM)
SUBMIT VOTES BY 11:59 PM PST 12/15

1 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "The Message" vs. 9 Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing"
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 13 Rick James, "Super Freak"
6 Nena, "99 Luftballons" vs. 3 Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"
7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" vs. 2 Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 9 AC/DC, "Back in Black"
12 Van Halen, "Panama" vs. 4 Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
6 Human League, "Don't You Want Me" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
10 Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" vs. 2 Michael Jackson, "Beat It"

mrtyrmystry · Post by **mrtyrmystry** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 10:45 am

1 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "The Message" vs. 9 Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing"
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 13 Rick James, "Super Freak"
6 Nena, "99 Luftballons" vs. 3 Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"
7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" vs. 2 Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 9 AC/DC, "Back in Black"
12 Van Halen, "Panama" vs. 4 Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
6 Human League, "Don't You Want Me" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
10 Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" vs. 2 Michael Jackson, "Beat It"

ValenciaQBowl · Post by **ValenciaQBowl** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 10:50 am

1 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "The Message" vs. 9 Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing"
--If this were "Skateaway" by Dire Straits ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQBKUPwG_Gk), I'd have some pause, but no contest here.

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 13 Rick James, "Super Freak"
--That bass line!

6 Nena, "99 Luftballons" vs. 3 Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"
--This is a very '80s New Wave match-up, but gonna go with the band fronted by Simon LeBon, whose look was my goal in ninth grade.

7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" vs. 2 Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"
--I stopped believin' a long time ago.

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 9 AC/DC, "Back in Black"
--Very difficult for me, as I love both for very different reasons and to listen to in very different situations. But Pixies 4evah!

12 Van Halen, "Panama" vs. 4 Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"

6 Human League, "Don't You Want Me" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
--What are these curious poses? Why does the heat between us make animals strike them? (I'm asking you specifically, Mik).

10 Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" vs. 2 Michael Jackson, "Beat It"
--Tough call for me. The Tears for Fears song still makes me think of the ending ofReal Genius, a fun dumb movie starring Val Kilmer as a physics genius (!!!) that I've weirdly seen over a dozen times. But "Beat It" was a big deal. Having Eddie Van Halen on that song allowed redneck kids on my bus to like Michael Jackson publicly.

BenWeiner27 · Post by **BenWeiner27** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 11:42 am

1 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "The Message" vs. 9 Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing"
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 13 Rick James, "Super Freak"
6 Nena, "99 Luftballons" vs. 3 Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"
7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" vs. 2 Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 9 AC/DC, "Back in Black"
12 Van Halen, "Panama" vs. 4 Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
6 Human League, "Don't You Want Me" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
10 Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" vs. 2 Michael Jackson, "Beat It"

kammajos000 · Post by **kammajos000** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:10 pm

1 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "The Message" vs. 9 Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing"
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 13 Rick James, "Super Freak"
6 Nena, "99 Luftballons" vs. 3 Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"
7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" vs. 2 Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 9 AC/DC, "Back in Black"
12 Van Halen, "Panama" vs. 4 Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
6 Human League, "Don't You Want Me" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
10 Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" vs. 2 Michael Jackson, "Beat It"

ScoBo · Post by **ScoBo** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:22 pm

1 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "The Message" vs. 9 Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing"
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 13 Rick James, "Super Freak"
6 Nena, "99 Luftballons" vs. 3 Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"
7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" vs. 2 Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 9 AC/DC, "Back in Black"
12 Van Halen, "Panama" vs. 4 Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
6 Human League, "Don't You Want Me" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
10 Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" vs. 2 Michael Jackson, "Beat It"

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:27 pm

ValenciaQBowl wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 10:50 am 6 Human League, "Don't You Want Me" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
--What are these curious poses? Why does the heat between us make animals strike them? (I'm asking you specifically, Mik).

Oddly enough, I devoted a substantial amount of space in a blog post I made many years ago to this very problem!

Here we are mid-verse, the second verse of the song:
Dream if you can a courtyard
An ocean of violets in bloom
Animals strike curious poses
They feel the heat, the heat between me and you
Transition to chorus

Let’s pay attention to the third line. This song, unlike many others, clearly aims to be heard and understood by the audience: its vocal performance verges on simple speech. Via the expectations of us, the listener, think about the vocal deixis (what the poetry directs us to envision and focus upon). We see the courtyard, the flowers, fairly logically connected to one another, and typical romantic imagery. Then we include animals, apropos of vary little and with little introduction, and immediately learn that they “strike curious poses” – once again, the issue of interpretation lingers: are the poses themselves curious, or do they indicate the animals’ curiosity? Only in the following line do we receive the explanation for their behavior; without it, the third presents a puzzle without obvious solution, and a disorientation, via the decomposition of meaning, which verges on the sublime.

Consider also, if you have the track available, the manner in which Prince sings the line. He pronounces “Animals” with a strange emphasis on the final syllable, nearly eliding the l; the rest of the line continues with an elongation of most syllables. Once the line is over, the diction snaps back to normal. We’re led into a moment of curiosity as to what precisely is occurring, signaled by wording and “animals”; in that moment we find the workings of the sublime. This is even without mentioning the puzzle of why animals should react in this fashion to human behavior, and why the artist decided to craft this detail into the song itself.

Wartortullian · Post by **Wartortullian** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 2:31 pm

1 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "The Message" vs. 9 Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing" (okay, I was way out of pocket upthread, but that intro still slaps)
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 13 Rick James, "Super Freak"
6 Nena, "99 Luftballons" vs. 3 Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"
7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" vs. 2 Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 9 AC/DC, "Back in Black"
12 Van Halen, "Panama" vs. 4 Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
6 Human League, "Don't You Want Me" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
10 Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" vs. 2 Michael Jackson, "Beat It"

A Dim-Witted Saboteur · Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:29 pm

1 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "The Message" vs. 9 Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing"
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 13 Rick James, "Super Freak"
6 Nena, "99 Luftballons" vs. 3 Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"
7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" vs. 2 Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 9 AC/DC, "Back in Black"
12 Van Halen, "Panama" vs. 4 Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
6 Human League, "Don't You Want Me" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
10 Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" vs. 2 Michael Jackson, "Beat It"

MiltonPlayer47 · Post by **MiltonPlayer47** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 5:31 pm

1 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "The Message" vs. 9 Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing"

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 13 Rick James, "Super Freak"

6 Nena, "99 Luftballons" vs. 3 Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"

7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" vs. 2 Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 9 AC/DC, "Back in Black"

12 Van Halen, "Panama" vs. 4 Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"

6 Human League, "Don't You Want Me" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

10 Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" vs. 2 Michael Jackson, "Beat It"

Steeve Ho You Fat · Post by **Steeve Ho You Fat** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 7:53 pm

1 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "The Message" vs. 9 Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing"
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 13 Rick James, "Super Freak"
This is almost certainly my favorite song in this bracket that I wasn't previously familiar with. Super Freak is funny and a good groove, but feels more disposable.
6 Nena, "99 Luftballons" vs. 3 Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"
7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" vs. 2 Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"
Journey vs not Journey, easy choice

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 9 AC/DC, "Back in Black"
12 Van Halen, "Panama" vs. 4 Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
6 Human League, "Don't You Want Me" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
10 Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" vs. 2 Michael Jackson, "Beat It"

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 8:23 pm

These are all songs I like but none of the decisions were especially difficult.

1 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "The Message" vs. 9 Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing"

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 13 Rick James, "Super Freak"

6 Nena, "99 Luftballons" vs. 3 Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"

7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" vs. 2 Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 9 AC/DC, "Back in Black"

12 Van Halen, "Panama" vs. 4 Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"

6 Human League, "Don't You Want Me" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
The Human League is from Sheffield. Population-wise the Sheffield urban area is maybe the UK equivalent of Phoenix or Miami but seems to have produced far more musical groups than those areas. Has anyone looked into this? Is there a vibrant performance scene there?

10 Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" vs. 2 Michael Jackson, "Beat It"