Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 13

[Listyguy]

This week we have one of the most intriguing brackets of the tournament, featuring three 60s songs (including two from the Beatles) and one from the 80s.

So here's how the game works: You will be given four brackets with four songs each. Your job is to rank the songs in each bracket from 1-4. You #1 song will be given 4 points, #2 will be given 3, and so on. The winner of each bracket advances to the next round. In the event of tie, whichever song gets more first place votes will advance.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. This poll will close next Sunday at midnight forum time.
54. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
75. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
182. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)
203. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)

12. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
117. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
140. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)
245. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)

39. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
90. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
167. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
218. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)

64. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)
65. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
192. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
193. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)

[slick]

75. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
203. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
182. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)
54. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)

117. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
12. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
245. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
140. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)

167. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
39. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
218. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
90. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)

65. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
64. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)
192. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
193. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)

[whuntva]

Time of your Life
Spanish Sahara
Dreams
Standing in the Way of Control

Green Day takes a slight advantage here. I actually do like this song better than "Spanish Sahara".

Wake Up
She Bangs the Drums
My Baby Just Cares for Me
212

Just relistened to the album today, and as catchy as "She Bangs the Drums" is, "Wake Up" hits me here.

In the Air Tonight
Kaputt
Stillness is the Move
Poker Face

Dirty Projectors got grating. I could barely make it through one verse before my ears bled. Easy top and bottom, though.

"Kaputt" is the song I missed. In order to win "How Did I Miss That?", a song has to be in the Top 1000 that is younger than five years (when I disovered AM), and yet I missed it! It's alright I guess.

Sunday Morning
Redemption Song
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
All you Need is Love

It's a old day in Hell when the Beatles occupy the BOTTOM Two. They just had to go up against my favorite songs from both the Wailers and Velvet Underground!

[GucciLittlePiggy]

The Beatles - All You Need Is Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydfH7iuLR0I

The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqXmBy1_qOQ

[Stephan]

1. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
2. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)
3. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
4. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)

1. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
2. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
3. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
4. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)

1. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
2. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
3. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
4. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)

1. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
2. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
3. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
4. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)

[antonius]

75. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
54. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
203. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
182. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)

12. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
245. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
117. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
140. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)

90. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
167. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
39. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
218. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)

65. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
192. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
193. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
64. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)

[Henry]

75. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
182. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)
54. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
203. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)

12. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
117. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
245. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
140. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)


167. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
90. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
39. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
218. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)

64. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)
193. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
65. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
192. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)

[Krurze]

54. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
182. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)
75. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
203. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)

12. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
117. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
140. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)
245. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)

167. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
218. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
39. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
90. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)

193. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
192. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
64. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)
65. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)

[DaveC]

203. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
182. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)
75. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
54. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)

12. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
245. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
117. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
140. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)

39. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
218. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
90. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
167. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)

65. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
64. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)
192. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
193. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)

[Listyguy]

Time of Your Life
Dreams
Standing in the Way of Control
Spanish Sahara
Like I said last time, I feel like the Green Day song should advance but won't because it's Green Day..."Dreams" is ok but not one of my favorites from "Rumours".

Wake Up
She Bangs the Drums
My Baby Just Cares For Me
212
I'm feeling a rout.

In the Air Tonight
Kaputt
Stillness is the Move
Poker Face
I love "In the Air Tonight". It might be my favorite song of the week if not for Green Day.

Redemption Song
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
Sunday Morning
All You Need is Love
THIS BRACKET.....WHY???? Three songs here that are incredible (and an overrated Beatles song). Shit this bracket is great. You could spread these songs over the four brackets from last week and probably get two or three winners.

[Nassim]

4. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
6. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
11. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
16. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)
Strange bracket with 2 songs which are big in Europe but barely registered any appearances in any US list and one who does the opposite... I'll stick with my continent on this one.
Good Riddance (the one which get acclaim from both side of the Atlantic... but only in English speaking countries) should be eliminated, but not because it is a Green Day song. I would have put most of Dookie songs #2 here, and some of them like Basket Case, Longview or She would have topped the bracket (and Holidays from American Idiot might have too...) but Good Riddance is a lame sappy song that I thought was only used for graduation photo montage powerpoints anymore.
Standing in the Way of Control is not completely full-fledged, feels strangely restrained despite Beth Ditto screams, but thanksfully we have the fantastic Soulwax remix to turn it up to 11. But the original is still one of the best songs of the week.
Spanish Sahara is not my favorite song in Total Life Forever (Blue Blood is in a completely different league) but the first half of this album is really packed with great songs.

1. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
2. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)
9. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
12. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
Really, 212 at the bottom of pretty much every ballot so far ? I mean the competition is tough here but still, that's far too much brilliant fun to be ignored... Can't touch one of my top 10 songs of all time though.

5. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
8. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
10. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
14. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
Bitte Orca is a big example for me of an album I really loved the first time I heard it but don't have any pleasure listening to anymore. Stillness is the Move holds up better, maybe because this oriental flavored R&B cut by an indie combo is the least strange thing in the album (and the catchiest).
Phil's awesome drum break and "Well, I Remember" beats Gaga's "mamamama" and "popoker face" but that's a close call.
Kaputt never worked for me, but it's still as intriguing as ever.

3. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
7. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
13. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)
15. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
Let's face it, if you're a well known Beatles song and you still need 10 years of AM to reach the top 1000, you might not be THAT great (not bad per se either of course).
Redemption Song might be as cliché of "I'm starting to learn the guitar, bro" as Good Riddance but more deservedly so. Could afford being 30 seconds shorter though.

[Listyguy]

(I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner)

[Brad]

75. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
54. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
203. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
182. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)

117. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
12. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
245. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
140. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)

218. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
39. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
167. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
90. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)

192. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
64. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)
193. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
65. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)

Thanks!

[Honorio]

10. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
11. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
14. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)
15. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)

3. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
4. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
8. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
13. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)

6. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
9. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
12. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
16. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)

1. The Velvet Underground & Nico - Sunday Morning (1966)
2. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
5. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
7. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)

Best bracket of the week in my opinion: #4

[Sweepstakes Ron]

1. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
2. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
3. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control
4. Foals - Spanish Sahara

1. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me
2. Azealia Banks - 212
3. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums
4. Arcade Fire - Wake Up

1. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight
2. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move
3. Lady Gaga - Poker Face
4. Destroyer - Kaputt

Picking between those top 2 was PAINFUL, man.

1. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
2. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love
3. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song
4. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning

But picking between these top 2 is the hardest thing ever.

...okay, so "Lucy" made my recent top 100 and "Love" didn't, but things can change!... Not this time, I guess.

I mean, "Redemption Song" is beautiful in every way, and "Sunday Morning" is easily the most tolerable track on VU+N, but those top two... they've been favorites of mine since childhood, and the love for them hasn't depleted one bit.

[Maschine_Man]

54. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
203. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
75. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
182. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)

140. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)
12. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
245. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
117. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)

90. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
39. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
218. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
167. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)

193. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
192. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
64. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)
65. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)

[Henrik]

1. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
7. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
13. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
15. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)

6. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
9. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
10. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
16. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)

2. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
11. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
12. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
14. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)

3. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
4. The Velvet Underground & Nico - Sunday Morning (1966)
5. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)
8. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)

[Romain]

54. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
203. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
182. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)
75. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)

245. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
12. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
117. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
140. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)

218. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
39. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
167. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
90. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)

192. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
193. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
64. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)
65. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)

Whoah, this last bracket is incredible, four of the top five songs of the week are here, My baby just cares for me is the fifth.

[notbrianeno]

75. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
203. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
54. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
182. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)

12. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
140. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)
245. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
117. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)

90. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
218. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
39. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
167. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)

192. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
193. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
65. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
64. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)

[sonofsamiam]

10. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
12. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
15. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
16. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)

Horrible bracket, the Mac wins by default with a song I'm very tired of. And I like Dookie too, but HATE Good Riddance, and always have.

3. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
4. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)
6. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
7. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)

On the other hand, an excellent bracket. All 4 of these are in my 1001-2000 of all-time or so, tight group.

2. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
8. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
9. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
14. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)

I've learned to love the song Kaputt, though I'm generally ambivalent on Destroyer.

1. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
5. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
11. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
13. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)

Two great songs, and two Beatles songs I don't much care for.

[Listyguy]

It's not scary, but don't forget to vote anyway!

[GucciLittlePiggy]

5. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
6. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
13. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)
16. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
The top two in this bracket were very close. "Spanish Sahara" gets the edge here, though, because I've recently discovered Total Life Forever and I really enjoy it.

1. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
2. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
7. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)
15. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
"212" was a fantastic discovery; unfortunately, it's going up against one of the greatest songs I've ever heard and a stand-out track from one of my favorite albums of the '80s.

3. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
4. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
11. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
12. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
Another tough choice at the top, but yet again, the song from the album I prefer gets the slight edge. On the subject, do you guys ever have songs that just get way better once you listen to them in the context of their respective album? That certainly happened with "Kaputt."

8. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
9. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
10. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
14. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)
I love the Beatles, but neither of these are among my favorites of theirs, so my favorite track from the forum's favorite album takes the cake.

[Harold]

1. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
2. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
3. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
4. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)

Story of this tournament for me – classic trumps contemporary. Stevie’s Rumours showcase, with its hauntingly ethereal Buckingham guitar textures and that in-the-pocket-as-always rhythm section, takes the bracket over two very good, very different recent tracks and a fine Green Day song that I never, ever need to hear again.

1. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
2. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
3. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
4. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)

Easiest #1 not just of the week but maybe of the whole tournament. AF’s most overtly anthemic song isn’t my favorite track on Funeral (that would be “Rebellion”), but if I ever made a song list they would probably both be in the top 50. #’s 2 and 3 are both great but can’t hold a candle.

1. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
2. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
3. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
4. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)

I really like “Stillness,” but #1 is one of those anomalies – a track I love by an artist I don’t normally care for. The atmospheric build-up is wonderful, and yes, I almost always do the air-drum thing when the big moment comes, too.

1. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
2. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
3. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
4. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)

Why? Why are all of these songs in the same bracket when #’s 2 and 3 would have easily topped this week’s first and third groups? This isn’t SH2B4 because I’ve never particularly cared for “All You Need is Love,” but the rest are all brilliant, with the extraordinary lead track from this forum’s new #1 album earning pride of place.

[Rob]

After three lackluster weeks Bracketology is finally again back on form. The downside: so many songs that score third or even fourth place here could have one a bracket in the last few weeks.

3. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)
5. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
7. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
12. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)

I'll fully admit to loving Good Riddance. I discovered it around the time I went through a phase such as the song describes and I played it a lot around then. If you discover it at another moment in your life it perhaps doesn't seem very impressive and it might be a bit of obvious, but in a way that is what sometimes pop songs are for: a direct soundtrack for your life. Especially when you're an adolescent apparently.
The other three songs are very good too, though. I'm not a big fan of Rumours, but I've always loved Dreams far more than the rest of the tracks. Standing in the Way of Control is a great discovery and Spanish Sahara is very soothing.

6. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
13. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
14. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)
16. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)

The worst bracket of the week is still very solid. There have been quite a few Arcade Fire tracks in this game, but Wake Up is the best of them. Simone on form is always worth listening to. Banks and The Stones Roses aren't stand-outs in any way, but they are good listens anyway.

2. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
4. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
9. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
10. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)

An amazing bracket. Just like Dreams earlier In the Air Tonight is a standout song in the work of an artist that doesn't do all that much for me. It's such a haunting track, in a way nothing in Collins other work even hints at. Stillness Is the Move is also gorgeous, Poker Face is pop perfection and Destroyer is probable last because I don't know it all that well, but it is a grower.

1. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
8. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
11. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
15. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)

Not the best bracket, but still very strong, because it contains my favorite Marley and very good tracks for The Velvet Underground and The Beatles. All You Need Is Love however, has never been a particular favorite for me.

[jamieW]

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977) 9
The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006) 8
Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010) 7+
Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997) 7

Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004) 10
Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958) 8
The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989) 6
Azealia Banks - 212 (2011) 6

Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981) 10
Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008) 8
Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009) 8
Destroyer - Kaputt (2011) 8

The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966) 8
The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967) 8
Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980) 7+
The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967) 6

[Listyguy]

25ish hours left! I recommend you vote!

[Luke JR68]

54. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (2006)
75. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (1977)
203. Foals - Spanish Sahara (2010)
182. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (1997)
After the Gossip's indie anthem, this bracket is pretty much a dead heat, so the last three could really go any way.

140. Azealia Banks - 212 (2011)
245. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (1958)
12. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (2004)
117. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (1989)
Both "212" and "My Baby" are surprising for very different reasons: In "212"'s case, it is pretty amazing that a song that gave off such strong one-trick pony vibes when I first heard it (even as I was blown away and wowed by it) has held up 3 years later. On the other hand, Nina Simone's track is more straightforward than I thought she was capable of, yet it still works, courtesy of her fantastic skills as a musician. Finally, we get tracks from 2 albums that I obviously haven't given their due. "Wake Up" comes up on top in this matchup because it features all the basic components of a masterpiece, all it needs is an emotional connection on my end to really run wild.

39. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (2009)
90. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2008)
167. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (1981)
218. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)
"Against All Odds" > "In the Air Tonight" when it comes to building up and utilizing tension.

65. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (1980)
192. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1966)
193. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)
64. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (1967)
Love might be all that you need, but some song craft certainly wouldn't hurt... I'm fine with "Lucy", but "All You Need is Love" is one of the few Beatles songs that really gets my goat

[Listyguy]

75. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (70, 11)
54. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (54, 5)
203. Foals - Spanish Sahara (51, 3)
182. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (45, 3)
Fleetwood Mac runs away with the win here, more than doubling any other songs’ first place total. Next round it will see “Heartbeats”, “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.

12. Arcade Fire - Wake Up (75, 14)
245. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (56, 4)
117. The Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (50, 2)
140. Azealia Banks - 212 (39, 2)
Arcade Fire pushes it’s third song through to the next round, and the second in dominating fashion. In fact, the only AF song that didn’t destroy its bracket was up against another AF song. Next round opponents are “Chicago”, “Everlong”, and “Comfortably Numb”. Wow that’s a good bracket.

167. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight (65, 11)
39. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move (59, 3)
218. Destroyer - Kaputt (52, 5)
90. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (44, 3)
And so Phil Collins moves on with a narrow victory over Dirty Projectors. Next round it will face “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” and “Atlantic City”.

192. The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (68, 9)
65. Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song (62, 9)
193. The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (52, 3)
64. The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (38, 1)
In closer bracket than most probably expected, The VU edge Bob Marley to get their first song through to the next round. They have another song to play still, while the Beatles are now out of songs in the first round, but have one already on to the next. “Sunday Morning” will face “Get Lucky”, “Are Friends Electric” and “Big Yellow Taxi” next round.