Beatles Beatdown

VOTE: John and Paul Brackets, Third Round

2007-06-22T13:56:00.001-04:00

Let the Ain't It Sweet Sixteen begin! Polls close on Sunday, June 24 at 11:59 PM.

VOTE: George and Ringo Brackets, Third Round

2007-06-22T13:49:00.000-04:00

REVOTE: George Bracket, Second Round

2007-06-22T13:33:00.000-04:00

I'm really sorry for your ageing head.
-George Harrison, Not Guilty

Let me apologize for my ageing head, too. Last round I accidentally had Norwegian Wood go up against number thirteen seed Because when it should have gone up against number four seed Get Back. Here's the new, correct poll:

RESULTS: John and Paul Brackets

2007-06-21T16:03:00.001-04:00

The votes are in and, for the second straight round in the John bracket, the top seeds all cruised to easy victories. Seeds one through four (I Am the Walrus, Happiness Is a Warm Gun, Hey Jude and Strawberry Fields Forever) outpolled their opponents by a combined ratio of 3:1 and are set to go head to head in what is sure to be an intense next round.

It was more of the same in the Paul bracket, too. Number nine seed Revolution failed to overthrow number one seed A Day in the Life, which, coupled with its 22-1 shellacking of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds in round one, has beat all comers by a total of 34-2. There was one minor upset, though. In the match up between two of the three Beatles songs to feature exclamation points in their titles, number five seed Help! had just enough support to knock off number four seed Oh! Darling. Being for the Beneft of Mr. Kite!, however, had to remain content watching from the sidelines.

JOHN BRACKET SCOREBOARD
I Am the Walrus (1) defeats The End (8)
Final score: 11 to 3

Happiness Is a Warm Gun (2) defeats I'm Looking Through You (10)
Final score: 14 to 2

Hey Jude (3) defeats Dear Prudence (11)
Final score: 10 to 5

Strawberry Fields Forever (4) defeats Two of Us (5)
Final score: 10 to 5

PAUL BRACKET SCOREBOARD
A Day in the Life (1) defeats Revolution (9)
Final score: 12 to 1

Tomorrow Never Knows (2) defeats Baby You're a Rich Man (10)
Final score: 11 to 2

While My Guitar Gently Weeps (3) defeats Here Comes the Sun (6)
Final score: 10 to 3

Help! (5) defeats Oh! Darling (4)
Final score: 7 to 6

RESULTS: George and Ringo Brackets

2007-06-21T15:50:00.001-04:00

Whereas the John and Paul brackets were all about maintaining the status quo, the George and Ringo ones were filled with upsets and close calls in round two. In the George bracket, number three seed Yesterday became the highest ranked song to bow out of the tournament, losing to six seed Let It Be in the battle of McCartney ballads. In the most hotly contested match up, number two seed Don't Let Me Down barely sent number ten seed Golden Slumbers into the night, eking out a one-vote victory.

Meanwhile, in the Ringo's section of the tourney, Helter Skelter proved for the second straight round that thirteen is a lucky number when it comes to seeding, again bumping off its higher ranked opponent. In this case, it was five seed In My Life, who will most likely remember this ignominious defeat forever, not for better.

GEORGE BRACKET SCOREBOARD:
Eleanor Rigby (1) defeats You Never Give Me Your Money (8)
Final score: 20 to 5

Don't Let Me Down (2) defeats Golden Slumbers (10)
Final score: 15 to 14

Let It Be (6) defeats Yesterday (3)
Final score: 13 to 11

RINGO BRACKET SCOREBOARD:
Blackbird (1) defeats You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (8)
Final score: 16 to 6

I Want You (She's So Heavy) (2) defeats A Hard Day's Night (7)
Final score: 17 to 9

Across the Universe (3) defeats Penny Lane (6)
Final score: 16 to 8

Helter Skelter (13) defeats In My Life (5)
Final score: 13 to 12

VOTE: George Bracket, Second Round

2007-06-18T17:09:00.000-04:00

VOTE: Ringo Bracket, Second Round

2007-06-18T17:04:00.000-04:00

VOTE: John Bracket, Second Round

2007-06-15T08:41:00.001-04:00

RESULTS: George and Ringo Brackets

2007-06-14T12:05:00.000-04:00

Apologies for the delay in posting. For the last week, the Beatles Beatdown gang has been chilling at the the Maharishi's ashram in Rishikesh with Mia Farrow and the wireless network there is spotty to say the least.

Anyway, the votes for the George and Ringo brackets are in and despite some close calls, the top seeds are moving on to the second round with two exceptions. Golden Slumbers became the third number 10 seed to knock off its opponent, beating number 7 seed I Saw Her Standing There by a handful of votes. Then, in the biggest upset of the tournament so far, number 13 seed Helter Skelter bumped off number 4 seed Paperback Writer, probably with help from its supporters in the Manson Family. Keep that in mind if you're planning to vote against it in round two.

Speaking of that, the second round polls are now open for the John and Paul brackets. Scroll down and pick your favorites! Voting will end on Sunday June 17 at 11:59, after which we'll settle the scores in the George and Ringo brackets.

GEORGE BRACKET SCOREBOARD:
Eleanor Rigby (1) defeats Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (16)
Final score: 19 to 2

Don't Let Me Down (2) defeats Getting Better (15)
Final score: 14 to 6

Yesterday (3) defeats We Can Work It Out (14)
Final score: 16 to 4

Get Back (4) defeats Because (13)
Final score 14 to 13

Norwegian Wood (5) defeats Back in the U.S.S.R. (12)
Final score: 13 to 8

Let It Be (6) defeats Come Together (11)
Final score: 15 to 4

Golden Slumbers (10) defeats I Saw Her Standing There (7)
Final score: 19 to 14

You Never Give Me Your Money (8) defeats Lady Madonna (9)
Final score: 18 to 1

RINGO BRACKET SCOREBOARD:
Blackbird (1) defeats Maxwell's Silver Hammer (16)
Final score: 15 to 3

I Want You (2) defeats Martha My Dear (15)
Final score: 11 to 10

Across the Universe (3) defeats Something (14)
Final score: 12 to 10

Helter Skelter (13) defeats Paperback Writer (4)
Final score 12 to 6

In My Life (5) defeats I've Just Seen a Face (12)
Final score: 10 to 9

Penny Lane (6) defeats Got to Get You into My Life (11)
Final score: 12 to 5

A Hard Day's Night (7) defeats Lovely Rita (10)
Final score: 14 to 6

You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (8) defeats Good Day Sunshine (9)
Final score: 14 to 8

Download the Anthology 3 version of Helter Skelter here:
http://www.badongo.com/file/3434713

VOTE: Paul Bracket, Second Round

2007-06-08T14:40:00.000-04:00

RESULTS: John Bracket, First Round

2007-06-04T10:43:00.000-04:00

No surprises at the top of the bracket, as the first five seeds make through to the next round by convincing margins. The first upset of the tournament comes as the number six seed, For No One, loses a one-vote squeaker to Dear Prudence. As today breaks, I'm sure For No One's mind aches as the song finds all the words of kindness written about it in the selection round linger on when you, the voters, no longer need it.

In the other first round upset, there were more goodbye votes than hello ones for number seven seed Hello, Goodbye, as I'm Looking Through You barreled through it in their head-to-head contest.

Voting for the second round will begin on Thursday. In the meantime, scroll down to vote in the first round match ups for the George and Ringo brackets.

SCOREBOARD:
I Am the Walrus (1) defeats She Loves You (16)
Final score: 15 to 8

Happiness Is a Warm Gun (2) defeats Nowhere Man (15)
Final score: 15 to 7

Hey Jude (3) defeats Rocky Raccoon (14)
Final score: 22 to 15

Strawberry Fields Forever (4) defeats Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts... (13)
Final score: 14 to 8

Two of Us (5) defeats Ticket to Ride (12)
Final score: 15 to 8

Dear Prudence (11) defeats For No One (6)
Final score: 12 to 11

I'm Looking Through You (10) defeats Hello, Goodbye (7)
Final score: 14 to 8

The End (8) defeats The Ballad of John and Yoko (9)
Final score: 13 to 9

RESULTS: Paul Bracket, First Round

2007-06-04T10:27:00.000-04:00

Again, no big upsets at the top of the bracket, as seeds one through six crushed their opponents by a combined score of 94 to 39, highlighted by number one seed A Day in the Life's 22 to 1 trouncing of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

The number nine and ten seeds, however, both knocked off their higher-ranked opposites. Baby You're a Rich Man was wealthy in votes as it took down Rain, while the only feeling I've Got a Feeling has is one of disappointment as it was upset by Revolution.

SCOREBOARD:
A Day in the Life (1) defeats Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (16)
Final score: 22 to 1

Tomorrow Never Knows (2) defeats I'm So Tired (15)
Final score: 15 to 7

While My Guitar Gently Weeps (3) defeats Eight Days a Week (14)
Final score: 14 to 8

Oh! Darling (4) deafeats I Want to Hold Your Hand (13)
Final score: 17 to 5

Help! (5) defeats She's Leaving Home (12)
Final score: 14 to 8

Here Comes the Sun (6) defeats Drive My Car (11)
Final score: 12 to 10

Baby You're a Rich Man (10) defeats Rain (7)
Final score: 13 to 9

Revolution (9) defeats I've Got a Feeling (8)
Final score: 13 to 9

Download the Let It Be...Naked version of I've Got a Feeling here:
http://www.badongo.com/file/3307206

VOTE: George Bracket, Round One

2007-06-03T23:26:00.000-04:00

VOTE: Ringo Bracket, Round One

2007-06-03T23:12:00.000-04:00

VOTE: John Bracket, First Round

2007-06-01T00:50:00.001-04:00

VOTE: Paul Bracket, First Round

2007-06-01T00:33:00.000-04:00

I Should Have Known Better

2007-06-01T00:08:00.000-04:00

It's come to my attention there's been some slight confusion about the voting process. Here's how it will work:

In a short while, there will be two posts here containing polls allowing you to vote on the John bracket and the Paul bracket. Those polls will stay open until Sunday night at 11:59 PM.

Then, starting Monday, we'll vote on the songs in the George and Ringo brackets. Once those close on Wednesday night, I'll tabulate the results and we'll repeat the process for round two.

Hope this clears things up.

Tomorrow Never Knows (Except for Tomorrow)

2007-05-31T01:13:00.001-04:00

Well folks, the tourney doesn't even begin until tomorrow, yet we've already had our first upset. Despite being the inspiration for the whole project, When I'm Sixty-Four will be watching from the sidelines. If you're reading this, Paul McCartney, the masses have spoken and they, in answer to your question, will apparently neither need you, nor feed you, in your advanced age.

Anyway, back to the songs that made it to the big dance. All the lists have been counted and the results translated into bracket form. Thanks to everyone who submitted. I'll post some fun statistical analysis of the selections later today (and throughout the tournament), but in the meantime, feel free to rip into me like I'm the NCAA selection committee in the comments.

Songs in the John Bracket go head-to-head tomorrow. Be sure to vote early and often, and, as Mr. Lennon sang in 1968: don't let me down.

Download Charlotte Dada's version of Don't Let Me Down here: http://www.badongo.com/file/3247660

It Was 19 Years, 362 Days Ago Today...

2007-05-29T09:12:00.001-04:00

Just a quick reminder that all picks for the Beatles Beatdown 64 are due in tomorrow by 11:59 PM. If you're jonesing to see Hey Jude take on Hey Bulldog as much as I am on Friday, be sure to send your selections to beatlesbeatdown@gmail.com before the deadline.

In the meantime, please enjoy this short film about a song that's gathered a surprising number of votes:

A Splendid Time Guaranteed for All

2007-05-18T16:23:00.001-04:00

June 1, 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. That means it's been a full 60 years since the most famous NCO this side of Sgt. Slaughter "taught the band to play." In keeping with that sexagenarian spirit, starting the first of June, this site will be home to Beatles Beatdown, a March Madness-style donnybrook pitting your favorite Beatles songs against each other until one remains victorious at the toppermost of the poppermost. In short, there will be no working it out.

Now's your chance to make sure the tunes you cherish the most make it into the When I'm 64 Fracas. Send an email to beatlesbeatdown@gmail.com by May 30 ranking your picks for the Beatdown ranked from 1 to 64. Then check back here on the first of June to vote on which ones make it through to the next round.

Vote early and vote often. Otherwise "And Your Bird Can Sing" might be stuck on the outside looking in and nobody wants that.

A list of every song written and recorded by the Beatles can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Beatles_songs

Enjoy!