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Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:07 pm
by BleuPanda
Note: the other topic is still open until 8 PM CST, I just needed to get this up early.


The rules are simple: vote for your favorite in each match below. The winner will move to the next round. The deadline to vote is Thursday, June 23th at 8 P.M. CST. Please listen to these tracks again before voting!

Bracket:
http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=463761

Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
Pixies - Velouria

Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
Oasis - Champagne Supernova

Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

Spoon - Do You
vs.
ABBA - S.O.S.

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
Le Tigre - Deceptacon


Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:09 pm
by BleuPanda
For your consideration:
I have decided to do some write-ups for my own choices for this contest. Three of my entries appear today, and I fear all three will have their fair share of haters (honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised to see “Rebel Girl” end up dead last in the standings for this section). Though I’m not sure I can convince you to vote for these songs, I hope to at least impress upon you why these songs deserve their spots on the acclaimed music list.

Foals – Spanish Sahara:
This is the big one for me, my overall favorite of the Overlooked Songs (among those I’m familiar with). I’ve known the song for years, but it only recently clicked with me after what had to have been the tenth listen (and then solidified itself by being used at the climax of my now favorite video game, which I happened to play right after realizing the greatness of this song). Much like my two favorites of all time, “All My Friends” and “Heroin,” “Spanish Sahara” finds depth in a simple construction. It is built around two repetitive phrases and a crescendo (both of which I’ve learned have the tendency to annoy the unfamiliar), and like the greatest of songs, the theme is as embedded in the music as it is the lyrics.

To me, “Spanish Sahara” is the quintessential existentialist song. Just how “Heroin” tries to simulate the ecstasy of a high through its violent electric violin and hypnotic drumming, “Spanish Sahara” finds its statement through an ever-bubbling loudness. An existential crisis is fueled through the same question over and over again; where Sufjan plainly states “We’re all gonna die” on “Fourth of July,” Foals instead frames it as a back and forth between the victim and the panic attack itself. First observe the chorus:

“Forget the horror here
Forget the horror here
Leave it all down here
It’s future rust and it’s future dust”

This is the victim, confronting the image of the verses (presumably a dead animal floating in the water), and question his own future death. Here he fights back. He tries to throw out the thoughts, to convince himself the end is far in the future. This phrase is repeated three times, and then the bridge replaces it with a separate thought:

“I’m the fury in your head
I’m the fury in your bed
I’m the ghost in the back of your head”

This, much like the previous, gets repeated numerous times. No matter how much you try to escape, this fear of death will always be there, lingering in the background. It both angers and haunts. The chorus pops up one more time, but then the song reverts back to this haunting phrase for its outro. The protagonist can no longer speak over his fears, no longer pretend to be able to forget. Fate is this inevitable being, a force that grows stronger and louder the more you try to resist.

Yet, in spite of its dark lyrics, the music itself offers solace. This isn’t a song that wants you to cry about the end of it all, no, this is a song that wants you to get up and shout about it. Death is all around you, so now is the time to live. Note how seamlessly it flows from its moody beginning into its screaming climax.

In essence, this is musical catharsis.

I know, among my friends, those who don’t enjoy this song get tired of its repetition, but to me, that’s its key element. As someone who has suffered existential meltdowns, “Spanish Sahara” perfectly embodies the never-ending loop that is questioning your own existence. Yet, when I face down these same issues now, I have learned the questions are also the answer. The fear of death is ever-present, and it’s better to embrace that knowledge than to pretend to ignore it.

My main fear about this song is that it doesn’t hit on first listen. It is easy to overlook how special it is if you simply turn it on as background noise; it is an exercise in subtlety. But if you actually give it your full attention, I can imagine it blowing you away.


Bikini Kill – Rebel Girl and Le Tigre - Deceptacon:
Riot grrrl is a shockingly underrated genre, I think at least partially due to masculine biases in music journalism. Of course plenty of female acts get love, but a song this blatantly about lesbian romance is going to turn off a certain group of people.

To me, Kathleen Hanna is perhaps the most underrated vocalist in punk, and “Rebel Girl” is her key work (alongside “Deceptacon” below). She shifts between girlish innocence and outright shrieking on the flip of a dime. Her voice carries so much energy. The lyrical content doesn’t have a care in the world, getting so specific as to make straight guys sweat (which I’m sure is Hanna’s intent). This isn’t your MTV commercial punk. Every guy can sing along with Green Day; everyone likes to think they’re crazy and hard to understand. “Rebel Girl” refuses this, being just as catchy but carrying themes to make anyone who catches themselves singing along question what they’re actually talking about. This is a key element – Bikini Kill brings what was a fringe group into an accessible form. It pushes the envelope as much as it wants you to realize how mundane it really is. The relationship within the song doesn’t get further than a kiss and a desire to try on each other’s clothes, but boy does its attitude push it into the transgressive.

When you get past the themes, “Rebel Girl” is punk at its finest. The percussion carries a forceful beat, and its main riff is pushy and raw. This is punk from an outside source – and, really, isn’t that what punk’s all about?

The thing that makes me extra sore about the underrated nature of Kathleen Hanna is how much she contributed to two unique genres. Where “Rebel Girl” is the riot grrrl anthem, “Deceptacon” is essentially the birth of modern dance-punk. Le Tigre sets in motion what bands like The Rapture and LCD Soundsystem would build their careers around. “Deceptacon” doubles up on the energy from “Rebel Girl,” and though it doesn’t bother with making much of a statement, it carries some hefty punches, especially when Hanna calls out NOFX in the linoleum floor sequence.

There’s not much to this song outside of it simply being one of the most energetic dance songs around. It’s another showcase for Hanna’s outstanding vocal style, and even though other bands have followed a similar path, the only song that matches its sheer ferocity is “House of Jealous Lovers.”

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:12 pm
by Bang Jan
Pixies - Velouria

Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

Suicide - Ghost Rider

Oasis - Champagne Supernova

Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

ABBA - S.O.S.

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:12 pm
by BleuPanda
10. Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
11. Pixies - Velouria

1. Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
8. Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

4. Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
12. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

2. Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
9. Oasis - Champagne Supernova

5. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
13. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

14. Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
15. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

7. Spoon - Do You
vs.
16. ABBA - S.O.S.

6. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
3. Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:21 pm
by slick
Pixies - Velouria
--- Back in HS heard this for the 1st time and was immediately hooked... a couple of months later 'Doolittle' came out and I wore that cassette out... went out and bought 'Surfer Rosa' and wore that out too!!!

Foals - Spanish Sahara
--- Big fan of this band, this was my 1st introduction to them!!!

Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
--- Definition of overlooked... The Manics never really got a whole lot of love on this side of the pond, but this was one of the few songs that got some radio airplay here and I bought this CD after the 1st time I heard it!!!

Oasis - Champagne Supernova
--- Great way to end an album... always enjoyed this track.

Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
--- My ALL-TIME #1 song!!! I can remember around 1990 when this song came on at the clubs and having the dance floor over crowded and everyone jumping together in Unison...

Erykah Badu - On & On

Spoon - Do You

Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:39 pm
by Henry
Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
Pixies - Velouria

Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne (pass)

Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next (pass)

Oasis - Champagne Supernova

Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

Spoon - Do You
vs.
ABBA - S.O.S. (pass)

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
Le Tigre - Deceptacon (pass)

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 12:39 am
by Bruno
Bat for Lashes - Laura
Foals - Spanish Sahara
Suicide - Ghost Rider
Oasis - Champagne Supernova
Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
Erykah Badu - On & On
Spoon - Do You
Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 2:43 am
by DaveC
Pixies - Velouria

Foals - Spanish Sahara

Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Oasis - Champagne Supernova

Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole

The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

ABBA - S.O.S.

Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:01 am
by bootsy
Pixies - Velouria

Foals - Spanish Sahara

Suicide - Ghost Rider

Oasis - Champagne Supernova

Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole

Erykah Badu - On & On

Spoon - Do You

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 9:18 am
by Romain
Another week with no really difficult choices:

Bat for Lashes - Laura
Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne
Suicide - Ghost Rider
Oasis - Champagne Supernova
Fontella Bass - Rescue Me
The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day
Spoon - Do You
Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 12:27 pm
by Nassim
Should be no surprise as those songs are both relatively acclaimed and hand picked by us, but great selections once more with not a single song I don't like.

1. Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
15. Pixies - Velouria

7. Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
9. Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne
I like Spanish Sahara a lot, but it pales in comparison with Total Life Forever's opener, the majestic and heart wrenching Blue Blood (which also has a pretty awesome video)

6. Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
16. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

2 (tie) Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
2 (tie) Oasis - Champagne Supernova
In the event of a tie, I'll vote... but I really love both songs and can't make a choice right now.

10. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
12. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

14. Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
13. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

5. Spoon - Do You
vs.
11. ABBA - S.O.S.

8. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
4. Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 4:39 pm
by sonofsamiam
7. Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
5. Pixies - Velouria

13. Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
4. Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

6. Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
16. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

8. Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
15. Oasis - Champagne Supernova

10. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
12. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

9. Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
2. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

14. Spoon - Do You
vs.
1. ABBA - S.O.S.

3. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
11. Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Some really great songs this week...

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:25 pm
by whuntva
Velouria

Not a huge fan of either song, but I liked Pixies just a wee bit more.

Spanish Sahara

Foals for me are actually a band that improved with time. Their breakthrough hit still holds up though.

If you Tolerate This, Your Children will be Next

The two most famous Welsh bands both have songs this tournament. I'm more of a SFA guy, but the Manics hold their own against tough competition.

Champagne Supernova

I like both songs a lot, but Oasis a tiny bit more.

Head Like a Hole

Easy Top 100 pick two polls in a row.

Oh Happy Day

More of a mood thing, really.

SOS

Difficult pick as these are my favorite songs by their respective artists. I guess nostalgia wins over more immediate attention.

Deceptacon

Classy, weird fun.

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 10:20 pm
by jamieW
13. Bat for Lashes - Laura 6
vs.
7. Pixies - Velouria 7

3. Foals - Spanish Sahara 7
vs.
5. Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne 7

6. Suicide - Ghost Rider 7
vs.
2. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next 8

14. Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl 6
vs.
15. Oasis - Champagne Supernova 4

1. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole 8
vs.
8. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me 7

11. Erykah Badu - On & On 7
vs.
10. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day 7

16. Spoon - Do You 4
vs.
9. ABBA - S.O.S. 7

4. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2 7
vs.
12. Le Tigre - Deceptacon 7

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 10:29 pm
by jamieW
Nassim wrote:I like Spanish Sahara a lot, but it pales in comparison with Total Life Forever's opener, the majestic and heart wrenching Blue Blood (which also has a pretty awesome video)
I agree with all of this. I always loved the song "Blue Blood," but that video will send chills through you. However, my personal favorite off the album is "What Remains." For some reason, that's one of my all-time favorite songs that feels so painful I have trouble listening to it.

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 6:25 am
by Jackson
Brutal draw for my nomination "So Long Marianne." There are several songs in the tournament nominated by others that I like more, so I wouldn't be devastated if it loses here. Thanks for the write-up on "Spanish Sahara," hopefully I'll appreciate the song more now.

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 6:26 am
by Henrik
IMO a superior top 3 and then really close between the rest. I almost feel bad about voting, as my decisions would probably be different any other day.

8. Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
12. Pixies - Velouria

13. Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
3. Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

11. Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
6. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

5. Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
16. Oasis - Champagne Supernova

10. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
7. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

2. Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
1. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day
Ouch! :(

9. Spoon - Do You
vs.
4. ABBA - S.O.S.

14. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
15. Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 7:19 am
by Jackson
15. Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
3. Pixies - Velouria

5. Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
1. Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

7. Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
6. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

13. Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
16. Oasis - Champagne Supernova

12. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
14. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

10. Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
11. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

8. Spoon - Do You
vs.
4. ABBA - S.O.S.

2. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
9. Le Tigre - Deceptacon


Lots of fun songs this week and nothing I dislike outside of the bottom two (Champagne Supernova looks like it's sailing through but I personally can't stand that song, the repetition of the awful lyric "where were you when we were getting high?" is just grating to me). The Manic Street Preachers song was my favorite discovery; I assumed I was going to vote for the Suicide song going in.

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 12:06 pm
by Honorio
13. Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
2. Pixies - Velouria

8. Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
1. Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

7. Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
3. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

10. Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
16. Oasis - Champagne Supernova

12. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
9. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

5. Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
4. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

11. Spoon - Do You
vs.
6. ABBA - S.O.S.

15. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
14. Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 1:43 pm
by antonius
Pixies - Velouria
Foals - Spanish Sahara
Suicide - Ghost Rider
Oasis - Champagne Supernova
Fontella Bass - Rescue Me
Erykah Badu - On & On
ABBA - S.O.S.
Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 12:30 pm
by BleuPanda
bumping this

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:27 am
by spiritualized
Bat for Lashes - Laura vs Pixies - Velouria
I find this Bat for Lashes song mostly boring, nothing drives me to like it. The Pixies song is better, but one of their weakest song...

Foals - Spanish Sahara- Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne
Tough match, very tough match. Excellent song from Foals, but a teeny bit long. Marianne is a classic.

Suicide - Ghost Ridervs Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
Great song from the Welsh outfit, sticks in your mind and powerful message

Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl vs. Oasis - Champagne Supernova
Super punk song from the riot grrrl head honchos - love Oasis, but this song is too downtempo.

Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole - Fontella Bass - Rescue Me
Couldn't have a more polarized matchup :) I still prefer the Aretha version of Rescue Me

Erykah Badu - On & Onvs.The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day
Both good songs, slight bias towards Happy Day because of the Spiritualized live rendering of this song.

Spoon - Do You vs ABBA - S.O.S.
From the first few notes, I just cannot not like ANY song from Spoon. Abba's is a good one, but far from their best.

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2 vs. Le Tigre - Deceptacon :music-rockon:

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 11:47 am
by luney6
Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
Pixies - Velouria

Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
Oasis - Champagne Supernova

Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

Spoon - Do You
vs.
ABBA - S.O.S.

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 2:53 pm
by Krurze
Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
Pixies - Velouria

Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
Oasis - Champagne Supernova

Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

Spoon - Do You
vs.
ABBA - S.O.S.

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 6:36 pm
by acroamor
Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
Pixies - Velouria

Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
Oasis - Champagne Supernova

Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

Spoon - Do You
vs.
ABBA - S.O.S.

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:00 pm
by Dan
12. Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
1. Pixies – Velouria

3. Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
10. Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

13. Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
7. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

9. Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
15. Oasis - Champagne Supernova

16. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
2. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

11. Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
4. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

6. Spoon - Do You
vs.
5. ABBA - S.O.S.

8. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
14. Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 9:02 pm
by Rob
spiritualized wrote: Suicide - Ghost Ridervs Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
Great song from the Welsh outfit, sticks in your mind and powerful message
The funny thing is that Ghost Rider has the same message: about the bad influence modern society has on our kids.
BleuPanda wrote: Riot grrrl is a shockingly underrated genre,
Thanks for your long post. I enjoyed it. I wanted to reply to this specifically, because I'm a huge fan of Riot grrrl (I nominated my favorite song of the movement, 7 Year Bitch's M.I.A., in Unacclaimed last year). Last year I had a fase in which I listened to a lot of Riot grrrl and Rebel Girl was among the favorite tracks. Didn't know Deceptacon, though. That one is even better. Sadly, Rebel Girl matches against a song that I not only love, but that - along with the whole album - helped me stay positive during a bad time. Damn, these tough match-ups. I rank Rebel Girl eleventh of the week, but that is because I think eleven songs are amazing. Three are quite good. One is just okay. The last I dislike a lot.

4. Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
12. Pixies - Velouria
I vaguely remember that Laura was mostly negatively received when it appeared about two years ago in Bracketology. It seems to do a bit better now. I still love it.

8. Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
6. Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne
Very hard choice Spanish Sahara is definitely beautiful and might grow, but So Long Marianne has some of the strongest poetry set to song and it is even a good match for Cohen's limited, but warm voice.

9. Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
2. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
Like I said, two similar themed songs, though very different approaches to rock. There is a strange beauty to much of the work from Manic Street Preachers. I'm always surprised that they aren't considered at the top of the pop/ rock pantheon.

11. Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
1. Oasis - Champagne Supernova
See my reaction to BleuPanda above.

10. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
15. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me
A rare easy choice. Head Like a Hole rocks. Rescue Me is catchy, but slight.

5. Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
7. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day
And this is a very tough one. I never really listened to Erykah Badu, but her vocals are really my cup of tea. A great discovery and a very good song, even if I'm sensitive to the spiritual side of the Edwin Hawkins Singers too.

13. Spoon - Do You
vs.
16. ABBA - S.O.S.
Spoon is probably one of the most acclaimed bands I don't think I ever heard a single song from, up til this week. Turns out that their sound is rather typical for indie music, but Do You gets fittingly ghostly towards the end. Definitely worth a listen and perhaps a grower, but not innovative enough to stand out here. At least it's better than the dreadful S.O.S. That songs begins great, but then becomes a pop song of the type that I personally just can't stand. A bit too catchy or hooky, with lyrics that cry for help, but sung in soulless, happy voices. Well, at least it's not the Pierce Brosnan version.

14. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
3. Le Tigre - Deceptacon
Discoveries like Deceptacon are the main reason for playing this game. Shook Ones is decent rap, but Deceptacon is filled with life and fury.

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 12:24 am
by babydoll
8. Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
14. Pixies - Velouria
That line - "Laura, you're more than a superstar" - is really stunning. The rest - not so much. I have only heard five Pixies songs before this and I had only managed to like one song. The rest of the songs I was really indifferent to. This song did not make me want to go out and check their albums.

13. Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
6. Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne
Leonard Cohen's song is good, but not as good as "Suzanne" from the same album. Foals' "Spanish Sahara" was a good song, but it went on for too long. They should have cut at least two minutes of it. I honestly don't think it would make that much of a difference. Sorry, Bleu.

7. Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
12. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
The electronics on "Ghost Rider" is really great. At the beginning of "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next", I thought this song would be the sure winner in this matchup, but as the song went on, I realized I had forgotten it was even playing.

4. Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
15. Oasis - Champagne Supernova
"Rebel Girl" is a great song! Thanks, Bleu! Plus the idea of the Gallagher brothers thinking they were good enough to merit a seven-minutes-long version of a song when it would have been great as a three-minute song makes me do this:
Image

16. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
1. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me
I'm disappointed by people's reactions to this song. I think this song is a masterpiece. Fontella Bass herself said that the "Mm-mm" part was due to her forgetting the lyrics, but it's a fortunate mistake for those seconds are just pure ecstatic! Plus did you know that Maurice White was the drummer on this? Great vocal and drum performance. "Best song that Aretha Franklin never recorded" Is what people say about this. I agree.

Trent Reznor couldn't really sing well, could he? He was much better at the instrumentals, and this song features great instrumentals, but again, dude couldn't sing. I had no idea what he said.

3. Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
11. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day
I love Baduizm and "On & On" is the highlight of the album. Gospel is nice, but Badu somehow managed to beat the Lord in this case.

10. Spoon - Do You
vs.
2. ABBA - SOS
Eh, nice instrumentals on "Do You" but tell Spoon to give me a call when they deliver a stunning vocal performance like Agnetha's here. Seriously, those verses and how Agnetha sings them are beyond brilliant. Plus I like the distorted guitar sound.

5. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
9. Le Tigre - Deceptacon
"Deceptacon" was a delightfully weird song, but the video I saw was too weird for me to focus on much else. What I love about rap is the way rappers get their emotions out there and "Shook Ones Pt. 2" is no different. Plus it's a great rap song. Thanks to whoever nominated this.

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 6:18 am
by bootsy
babydoll wrote: "Deceptacon" was a delightfully weird song, but the video I saw was too weird for me to focus on much else. What I love about rap is the way rappers get their emotions out there and "Shook Ones Pt. 2" is no different. Plus it's a great rap song. Thanks to whoever nominated this.
:greetings-waveyellow:

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 7:52 am
by spiritualized
babydoll wrote:
14. Pixies - Velouria
This song did not make me want to go out and check their albums.
Ooooh. :o We need to fix this - should do a Pixies game / rate tracks to make you discover how great this band is
babydoll wrote: 1. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me
"Best song that Aretha Franklin never recorded" Is what people say about this. I agree.
Oh God, I feel like a total pillock now. I was convinced that "Rescue Me" was performed by Aretha. It shows that a) I don't pay enough attention when listening to these tracks b) I still have a lot to learn musically speaking !

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 8:21 am
by Otisredding
Pixies - Velouria

Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl

Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

Erykah Badu - On & On

ABBA - S.O.S.

Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 12:30 pm
by deadpacifist
Pixies - Velouria
Foals - Spanish Sahara
Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
Oasis - Champagne Supernova
Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
Erykah Badu - On & On
Spoon - Do You
Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 7:04 pm
by babydoll
spiritualized wrote:
babydoll wrote: 1. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me
"Best song that Aretha Franklin never recorded" Is what people say about this. I agree.
Oh God, I feel like a total pillock now. I was convinced that "Rescue Me" was performed by Aretha. It shows that a) I don't pay enough attention when listening to these tracks b) I still have a lot to learn musically speaking !
Well, Aretha kind of did, but it was an commercial jingle for Pizza Hut titled "Deliver Me". According to research.

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 8:56 pm
by Sweepstakes Ron
Laura
So Long Marianne
Ghost Rider
Rebel Girl
Head Like a Hole
On & On - I agree with Henrik that this an incredibly painful matchup. My choice could change at any minute.
SOS
Deceptacon (WALK ON IT WALK ON IT WALKING ONE TWO)

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 10:48 pm
by JohnnyBGoode
1 Bat for Lashes - Laura (in replay, gut reaction was Pixies but then realised Laura was my top ranked song of all of these)
vs.
4 Pixies - Velouria

2 Foals - Spanish Sahara (on penalties)
vs.
3 Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
10 Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next (last victory for the Welsh this week, come on Norn Iron!)

Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
9 Oasis - Champagne Supernova

Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
6 Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
7 The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

5 Spoon - Do You
(in extra time)
vs.
8 ABBA - S.O.S.

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
11 Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 1:11 am
by andyd1010
Probably my favorite group in the bracket. Some fantastic songs here, and I get to pick all of my top 8!

11. Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
3. Pixies - Velouria

6. Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
10. Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

16. Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
7. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

12. Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
1. Oasis - Champagne Supernova

4. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
9. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

15. Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
5. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

2. Spoon - Do You
vs.
13. ABBA - S.O.S.

8. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
14. Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:56 am
by GucciLittlePiggy
Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
Pixies - Velouria

Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
Oasis - Champagne Supernova

Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

Spoon - Do You
vs.
ABBA - S.O.S.

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 7:39 am
by Henrik
Here are the rankings of "Champagne Supernova", by those who have ranked the songs from 1 to 16:
1, 1, 2, 9, 15, 15, 15, 15, 16, 16, 16

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 12:18 pm
by JohnnyBGoode
Oasis you either love them or hate them, though I've just ranked them (well down to 11, no strong feelings after that) & ranked it 9 as well,

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 1:50 pm
by BleuPanda
29 votes, same as last week...and there's currently a tie...

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:41 pm
by EmilienDelRey
Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
Pixies - Velouria

Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
Oasis - Champagne Supernova

Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

Spoon - Do You
vs.
ABBA - S.O.S.

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 2:01 am
by Toni
Almost forgot voting!

11. Bat for Lashes - Laura
vs.
1. Pixies - Velouria

2. Foals - Spanish Sahara
vs.
14. Leonard Cohen - So Long Marianne

16. Suicide - Ghost Rider
vs.
8. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

12. Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
vs.
13. Oasis - Champagne Supernova

6. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
vs.
15. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

10. Erykah Badu - On & On
vs.
3. The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

5. Spoon - Do You
vs.
4. ABBA - S.O.S.

7. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. 2
vs.
9. Le Tigre - Deceptacon

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 2:12 am
by BleuPanda
Toni's vote was after the deadline. I will add it in for the count, but I'm not going to count it in the case of the last match, where it would have created a tie (so it's there for later data but doesn't actually affect any of the matches; it would have counted in the case of a tie, but it wouldn't be allowed to create one after the deadline).

Laura: 12
Velouria: 18

Spanish Sahara: 16
So Long Marianne: 14

Ghost Rider: 14
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next: 16

Rebel Girl: 13
Champagne Supernova: 17

Head Like a Hole: 18
Rescue Me: 13

On & On: 14
Oh Happy Day: 17

Do You: 13
S.O.S.: 17

Shook Ones Pt. 2: 15 (14 with Toni's vote removed)
Deceptacon: 15

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 2:34 am
by Jackson
BleuPanda wrote:
Spanish Sahara: 16
So Long Marianne: 14
I really thought all week I'd finally have a nominee that does well in a tournament, then the last 5 votes were for Spanish Sahara! At least Leonard lost to a good song that will probably win the next couple of matchups.

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 3:25 am
by Toni
For me the quality of this week's songs has been way higher than on the first week. Prove of that is that votes were very ballanced in all of the matches.

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 5:34 am
by Honorio
So long Leonard...

Re: Overlooked Songs: Round 1 Week 2

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 2:48 pm
by andyd1010
Disappointed in the loss by Do You, my favorite song in the competition that I didn't nominate.

Champagne Supernova won, but I'm surprised it's so polarizing. Yes, the lyrics are largely drugged out nonsense, but that's kind of the point. I can still understand disliking them, but the smoothness of the vocal melodies and the guitar solo make it a hard song to hate in my opinion.

I had totally overlooked So Long, Marianne before this. Great song, and after listening to it a bunch this week I might give it the edge over Spanish Sahara. Too late now.

Tough loss for Shook Ones as well. Classic hip hop song. I guess I'm missing what makes Deceptacon great.