The Quizbowl Resource Center

Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes vs. Fidelity by Regina Spektor

Maps by Yeah Yeahs Yeahs vs. Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz

Yeah! by Usher featuring Ludacris vs. Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake

Idioteque by Radiohead vs. American Boy by Estelle featuring Kanye West

Fallin' by Alicia Keys vs. Dashboard by Modest Mouse

Hope There's Someone by Antony and the Johnsons vs. 1901 by Phoenix

Hurt by Johnny Cash vs. A Milli by Lil Wayne

Crazy In Love by Beyonce featuring Jay-Z vs. First Day Of My Life by Bright Eyes

Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes vs. Fidelity by Regina Spektor

Maps by Yeah Yeahs Yeahs vs. Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz

Yeah! by Usher featuring Ludacris vs. Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake

Idioteque by Radiohead vs. American Boy by Estelle featuring Kanye West

Fallin' by Alicia Keys vs. Dashboard by Modest Mouse

Hope There's Someone by Antony and the Johnsons vs. 1901 by Phoenix

Hurt by Johnny Cash vs. A Milli by Lil Wayne

Crazy In Love by Beyonce featuring Jay-Z vs. First Day Of My Life by Bright Eyes

Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes 24, Fidelity by Regina Spektor 16

Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz 22, Maps by Yeah Yeahs Yeahs 18

Yeah! by Usher featuring Ludacris 27, Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake 13

American Boy by Estelle featuring Kanye West 22, Idioteque by Radiohead 17

Dashboard by Modest Mouse 26, Fallin' by Alicia Keys 14

1901 by Phoenix 31, Hope There's Someone by Antony and the Johnsons 8

Hurt by Johnny Cash 35, A Milli by Lil Wayne 4

Crazy In Love by Beyonce featuring Jay-Z 32, First Day Of My Life by Bright Eyes 8

The next round will start tomorrow.

You will have until 9 p.m. Eastern on 1/4 to vote.

Song: Crazy
Artist: Gnarls Barkley
Album: St. Elsewhere
Year: 2003

Song: Wake Me Up When September Ends
Artist: Green Day
Album: American Idiot
Year: 2004

Song: Mr. Brightside
Artist: The Killers
Album: Hot Fuss
Year: 2003

Song: Since U Been Gone
Artist: Kelly Clarkson
Album: Breakaway
Year: 2004

Song: Jesus Walks
Artist: Kanye West
Album: The College Dropout
Year: 2004

Song: Wake Up
Artist: Arcade Fire
Album: Funeral
Year: 2004

Song: Toxic
Artist: Britney Spears
Album: In the Zone
Year: 2003

Song: Get Ur Freak On
Artist: Missy Elliott
Album: Miss E… So Addictive
Year: 2001


Song: 99 Problems
Artist: Jay-Z
Album: The Black Album
Year: 2003

Song: Hips Don’t Lie
Artist: Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
Album: Oral Fixation, Vol. 2
Year: 2006

Song: No One Knows
Artist: Queens of the Stone Age
Album: Songs for the Deaf
Year: 2002

Song: Paper Planes
Artist: M.I.A.
Album: Kala
Year: 2007

Song: Ignition (Remix)
Artist: R. Kelly
Album: Chocolate Factory
Year: 2003

Song: A-Punk
Artist: Vampire Weekend
Album: Vampire Weekend
Year: 2007

Song: Chicago
Artist: Sufjan Stevens
Album: Illinois
Year: 2005

Song: Last Nite
Artist: The Strokes
Album: Is This It
Year: 2001

Your ballot:

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-Z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears

Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens

Man, this round is really hard!

Crazy

Mr. Brightside

Wake Up

Toxic

Hips Don't Lie

Paper Planes

Ignition (Remix)

Chicago

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire
there are Arcade Fire songs that theoretically could have won this matchup

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
I really hope this doesn't end up like when Grantland (RIP) voted on the best song of the millennium and the poll was swarmed by Killers fanboys. I still prefer Mr. Brightside to Since U Been Gone.

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire
I didn't enjoy Funeral when I listened to it, so I probably need to revisit it. The College Dropout is my third favorite Kanye album, but still a 9/10 in my book, with this song in particular, while not one of my favorites, still being a highlight. Jesus Walks wins easily.

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott
Both of these songs are immensely catchy.

99 Problems by Jay-Z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
Hips Don't Lie is overrated

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.
Easiest choice in this round. Out of all the songs still in competition, I hope Paper Planes wins.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend
I voted for Ignition (Remix) the first round, because it's undeniably catchy and a great pop song. Then, I remembered that Kelly is a scumbag and all-around terrible person. After reading up on his history, I'm voting for A-Punk. I know there have been lots of discussions about whether a person's art is affected by their actions, but R. Kelly describing seducing a woman crosses a line for me because of the allegations made against him.

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes
The Strokes are fine, but I'm hoping quizbowl's love for Sufjan and Chicago's gorgeous orchestration and lyrics win out.

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Sherwood Anderson wrote: Doctor Parcival began to plead with George Willard. "You must pay attention to me," he urged. "If something happens perhaps you will be able to write the book that I may never get written. The idea is very simple, so simple that if you are not careful you will forget it. It is this--that everyone in the world is Christ and they are all crucified. That's what I want to say. Don't you forget that. Whatever happens, don't you dare let yourself forget."

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day -- Dunno why, but I could never really get into Crazy that much.
Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson -- The Killers are a good band.
Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire -- Having never listened to a Kanye West song before that I can recall, I was pleasantly surprised.
Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott -- Not a big fan of either, but I guess Toxic is slightly more okay.
99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean -- Hips Don't Lie isn't as good as I thought I remembered it being.
No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.
Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend -- I guess I'm not a Vampire Weekend person, but they're still better than R. Kelly.
Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes -- Chicago is a good song, but Last Nite is Last Nite.

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

Mr. Brightside by The Killers

Jesus Walks by Kanye West

Toxic by Britney Spears

Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

Paper Planes by M.I.A.

A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day
Nostalgia is a powerful thing. Crazy is one hell of a great song, but not great enough to beat any track from American Idiot (except maybe Extraordinary Girl).

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
Hardest choice of the round. I ultimately decided on Mr. Brightside because it starts out strong and has a great hook, while Since U Been Gone sounds a bit dull until the chorus kicks in.

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire
May I please have my hipster cred back now?

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott
Not a fan of either, but Get Ur Freak On is too repetitive.

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
Both are very strong entries, but it's impossible to listen to Hips Don't Lie without wanting to dance.

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.
Another hard choice. While both of these songs have grown on me since the last round, I don't really think either is that great. Both are very repetitive: No One Knows has that same droning riff throughout, and each verse in Paper Planes is repeated twice for some reason! Eventually, I settled on Paper Planes because it offers an interesting commentary on the struggles of immigrants in western countries, and because it's at least different, whereas No One Knows is just another generic 2000s rock song. No matter which one wins, I'm voting against it in the next round.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend
I hate to vote against A-Punk again, but Ignition is just too fun.

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes
Chicago is a beautiful song, and for some reason, I just never got into The Strokes.

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
Jesus Walks by Kanye West
Toxic by Britney Spears
Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
Paper Planes by M.I.A.
A-Punk by Vampire Weekend
Chicago by Sufjan Stevens

A quick note: I've never seen so many hard choices voiced by so many before, so I think these brackets would work best as a melee: for each increment of 16, pick your eight favorite [x].


Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

This, along with Lily Allen vs Amy Winehouse last round, is my example of an absurdly unfair matchup. This and Crazy are both excellent songs which should both advance, but given the choice Wake Me Up gets more of an emotional reaction from me. Vote submitted under snowflake-caliber protest.

Mr. Brightside by The Killers

Way better

Jesus Walks by Kanye West

The Arcade Fire one got boring real quick

Toxic by Britney Spears

Again, brutal choice. But it's Britney.

99 Problems by Jay-z

Obvious, but again I'll take Suerte (Whenever Wherever) over both

Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Would take Get Ur Freak On or Crazy over it

A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

I didn't vote for either last round, but A-Punk is nice and quick, and I've never gotten the sense that Ignition Remix is anything but a slightly better version of Rebecca Black's Friday

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens

A great track from a great album, plus Last Nite always seemed kind of empty to me

Crazy
Mr. Brightside
Jesus Walks
Get Ur Freak On
99 Problems
Paper Planes
Ignition
Last Nite

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

(Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott)
Abstain

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
Abstain

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend
This was hard

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes
I'm sorry The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day. Green Day is for angsty teenagers, the dude's voice is annoying, and Crazy is one of the best songs of all time.

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean.

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A. When I was in maybe 9th grade, my Boy Scout troop took a spring break trip to Washington DC and rode the Amtrak there. One of my buddies in the group, who was a, uh, very strange dude, spent the whole trip walking up to people and saying, with no inflection in his voice, "All I want to do is go bang bang bang and take your money." At one point on the train ride, when we were in the dining car, a middle-aged woman walked up to me and whispered in my ear asking if my friend was drunk and I had no response beyond "No he just really likes Paper Planes by M.I.A."

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson - finally giving SUBG some love in a probably hopeless matchup

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day - sizzling hot take: the best Green Day song of the 2000s is "Castaway" from Warning

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson - oh man, tough matchup! I'll stand behind whichever one of these survives the bloodbath.

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott - iconic.

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend - rough beats redux; same as Killers/Kelly really

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

merv1618 wrote:I've never gotten the sense that Ignition Remix is anything but a slightly better version of Rebecca Black's Friday

A truly mindboggling take-like substance.

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

Mr. Brightside by The Killers

Jesus Walks by Kanye West

Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z

Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly

Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day - There are Green Day songs I'd have taken in this match-up (Holiday and Boulevard of Broken Dreams come to mind), but this isn't one of them.

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson - This is a tough choice, but I was always too friendly with exes to really get into Since U Been Gone in my teen years.

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire - I'm finding myself voting against alternative rock a lot more than I would've expected.

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott - Lose Control would've won this matchup for Missy Elliot, but Toxic is iconic.

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean - I have very fond memories of a friend playing this on Youtube on the TV (back when being able to do that was new!) and literally picking up and carrying away her mom, who started dancing to it.

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A. - I like No One Knows, but if I'm putting it head to head against a song with a distinctive sound, that song's going to win.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend - I wanted to like the Vampire Weekend song because R. Kelly is terrible, but if I'm voting on the songs, this is how it has to go.

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes - I see what the Sufjan fuss is about.

Auks Ran Ova wrote:

merv1618 wrote:I've never gotten the sense that Ignition Remix is anything but a slightly better version of Rebecca Black's Friday

A truly mindboggling take-like substance.

Rob's probably right: slightly better could be giving it too much credit.

Auks Ran Ova wrote:sizzling hot take: the best Green Day song of the 2000s is "Castaway" from Warning

You're goddamn right it is. Warning is a criminally underrated album.

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

Mr. Brightside by The Killers

Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears

99 Problems by Jay-z

Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly
Definitely the hardest choice of this round

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens

matt2718 wrote:

Auks Ran Ova wrote:sizzling hot take: the best Green Day song of the 2000s is "Castaway" from Warning

You're goddamn right it is. Warning is a criminally underrated album.

I personally would have picked "Church on Sunday," but these are still good points.

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

Mr. Brightside by The Killers

Jesus Walks by Kanye West

Toxic by Britney Spears

Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

Paper Planes by M.I.A

A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Auks Ran Ova wrote:sizzling hot take: the best Green Day song of the 2000s is "Castaway" from Warning

This was a really good song, I can't believe I hadn't heard it before.

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day
"Crazy" is one of the worst songs of all time and I would vote for literally any song over it.

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley[ vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

MiltonPlayer47 wrote:

matt2718 wrote:

Auks Ran Ova wrote:sizzling hot take: the best Green Day song of the 2000s is "Castaway" from Warning

You're goddamn right it is. Warning is a criminally underrated album.

I personally would have picked "Church on Sunday," but these are still good points.

I'm not going so far as to discredit American Idiot, or the records after it that I haven't listened to, but the best part of Warning is the melancholy within "Macy's Day Parade".

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

"Crazy" is fine - in its minimalism and weirdness and Cee-lo's neat vocals - but I don't really get the hype.

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Listening to "Mr. Brightside" for the 8000th time, what really strikes me is the wall-of-sound, new-wavy instrumentation, which I think is just perfect and drives the song in excellent tandem with the vocals. "Since U Been Gone" has that great chorus, but it also has that spoken-vocal verse quality which became popular in bubblegum pop in the 2000s and which only results in mediocre and forgettable halves of songs where you just wait for the chorus. The guitar break is also useless.

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

This Arcade Fire song is all right, especially the jitterbug section near the end, but isn't super distinctive to me. It's a jesus walkover. "Jesus Walks" is probably the first rap song I listened to after about 15 years of age where I just went "whoa".

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

I didn't think I would vote this way before a re-listen, but "Get Ur Freak On" really loses points for the repetition of its backbeat, whereas "Toxic"'s production is responsible for about 60% of the song's quality. And how! That production is excellent and varied throughout.

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

Have to give the nod to "99 Problems" for being compelling throughout from start to finish. The Shakira parts of "Hips Don't Lie" are great, but the Wyclef parts run from "fine" to "embarrassing".

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Somehow people are saying "No One Knows" isn't distinctive, which seems bizarre. I continue to not like the timbre or the endless loop of "Paper Planes".

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

"A-Punk" is fine, but not my idea of outstanding music; "Ignition" is a beautifully produced R&B song, its artist's proclivities notwithstanding.

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

I continue to not get Sufjan Stevens.

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire. Both of these are fantastic, and I'd vote for either in the next round.

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott. Toxic is getting better the more I listen to it, and Get Ur Freak On is getting worse.

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend. A-Punk is not especially memorable, and there are probably other Vampire Weekend songs I would have picked, but Ignition is nearly unlistenable.

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes. Love you, Sufjan, but your time here is up.

These are all good songs. The choices here were much tougher to come to than the previous round:

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire
I couldn't really decide between these two songs, which are both great. Kanye gets the edge because he's Kanye.

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott

99 Problems by Jay-z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.
I don't know how far "Paper Planes" will go, but it's one of my favorite songs and I'm going to keep voting for it.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend
"Ignition" may actually be the one song here I don't like much, and A-Punk is my favorite Vampire Weekend song that isn't on Modern Vampires of the City.

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley vs. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day
I think I would've taken Boulevard of Broken Dreams over both of these.

Mr. Brightside by The Killers vs. Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Jesus Walks by Kanye West vs. Wake Up by Arcade Fire
Kanye is pretty good at making music.

Toxic by Britney Spears vs. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott
Toxic is the best Britney song. Hands down. Get Ur Freak On is a good song, but ultimately not as good as I remember it being.

99 Problems by Jay-Z vs. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
Hip's Don't Lie doesn't really hold up but 99 Problems is a very very good rap song.

No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age vs. Paper Planes by M.I.A.
I like No One Knows a lot, but I think it is kind of obligated to lose to Paper Planes here.

Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly vs. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend
I do not like A-Punk.

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens vs. Last Nite by The Strokes
Arrrgggghhhh. This is so hard. Both of these songs deserve to go at least two more rounds.