And here was my breakdown of each head-to-head (complete with comments).
Ben Folds Five- The Battle of Who Could Care Less
There is some great musical layering going on here. Also, the freaking sound quality on this is almost on a different plane of existence altogether.
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Disturbed- Remember
The video here helps carry the effectiveness of the song. Great film editing that helps enhance an interesting mix of musical adrenaline and thematic delicacy.
WINNER: Ben Folds Five- The Battle of Who Could Care Less
The musicality of this one just screams “winning.”
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The Cure – Just Like Heaven
The title says it all about this song. If this song had popped up without any prompting from judges, it would be an ultimate markout moment. This is just song perfection. No real reason why the lyrics or the musical arrangement stands out above so many others over the course of music history. It’s just one of the clearest cases in pop music of a song that just works to perfection with very little effort or need for complicated dissection.
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The Smashing Pumpkins – Today
No doubt that I love this number. The song just bleeds atmospheric effect and the vocals are virtually “un-imitate-able.” This one could go the distance in many FAN Idol rounds of competition, as the Pumpkins are one of my favorites of all-time!
WINNER: The Cure – Just Like Heaven
To be fair, there aren’t too many songs out there that could have toppled this brilliant number, and for this judge, you may have unfairly set the bar way too high for the remaining songs in the Finals.
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Tears for Fears- Sowing the Seeds of Love
I was highly considering choosing this band for a round of the competition if it weren’t for my own choice for myself of a “use an original artist never before used” rule throughout the competition. It’s a great reminder of how Tears for Fears had so much more to offer than just “that one song.”
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Aerosmith – “Full Circle”
Unique choice from the musical library of Aerosmith, and for that I commend you. I love the delivery of that chorus. It’s so easy to keep in your head hours after listening to the song.
WINNER: Tears for Fears- Sowing the Seeds of Love
In this case, what some might consider “dated lyrics” actually just serves as proof of how out-of-touch most modern love songs really are.
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Three Dog Night- Momma Told Me Not to Come
Before I even opened up the list of songs late tonight, I listened to this song today actually. It’s a great song to pull off the shelf after it’s been collecting dust in the back of most people’s musical memories. Great song choice worthy of finals.
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Barenakedladies- Jane
Wonderful piece and it brings a song to the fight that probably makes this matchup the most difficult to judge thus far. Another great example of simplicity speaking volumes toward the theme of the song. Add in that little touch of humor that’s unique to Barenakedladies and you’ve got quite the selection here!
WINNER: Three Dog Night- Momma Told Me Not to Come
There just a little more longevity to this song that will be the wind that keeps its sails up decades and decades after its first release.
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Nicki Minaj- Super Bass
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JipHEz53sU&ob=av2eDefinitely what I think is the best song from Nicki Minaj, so that carries you pretty far along in this round of Finals. Its bouncy melody speaks for itself, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of the genre or not, there are some impressive vocal stylings that only Minaj can bring to the table in this one. Another good song choice for me.
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The Limousines- Very Busy People
100 percent one of the bands on my mental shortlist that I could have picked for this competition. Someone here actually had the guts to do it. I just didn’t. This wasn’t the song from them I was going to pick, but it’s still memorable and totally awesome, in my opinion. It’s a freaking shame the band lost their record deal this past year. I thought they were going to be real up-and-comers on the indie scene. AND HOW DO ONLY 60,000 PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS VIDEO?! That’s crazy to me.
WINNER: The Limousines- Very Busy People
What can I say? They were definitely in the running to make the competition as a pick of my own at some point.
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Outkast – Roses
I could have sworn this song had already been picked in the competition. Everything about this song is awesome … except for one unfortunate incident that always doesn’t set well with me: it’s just really hard for me to get behind a song that uses “poo poo” as its main hook. (Yeah yeah, I know it’s supposed to be “boo boo,” but that makes it even worse.) I mean, I seriously get into it lyrically and vocally like nobody’s business until I always get to the part where I can’t help but cringe.
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Dirty Vegas- Days Go By
Definitely one of the superior videos of the entire competition. And while I am a fan of the song, I dunno if it carries as much weight with me as the alternate choice. I can see some people choosing it because of the video appeal, but in a music competition, I’m going to have to take that into consideration as well.
WINNNER: Outkast – Roses
Not an easy decision, but overall, this has the kind of appeal that pushes it just ahead in the duel..
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The Specials- Gangsters
This song is so full of win I don’t even have the words to come with my surprise and delight for its selection. No one has ever made a song that sounds anything like this. Ever. Or at least not that I’m aware of. I love it to death, and I’m insanely jealous that someone has removed it from the eligibility of this competition. Among the picks so far in this season of FAN Idol, this is riding high amongst the top 3 or 4 overall.
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Stone Temple Pilots- Plush
Whoa! This round is impossible to judge. Did you see the last comment I made about The Specials and how it was among the 3 or 4 best songs this season? Well, here comes yet another song that enters those ranks. Also, how has Stone Temple Pilots never been used yet? I wanted to badly, but just speaking in general this set of judges seemed to no-sell most anything that fell into 90s alternative rock category. Well, this is one judge that won’t do that. “Plush” is an amazing song.
WINNER: Stone Temple Pilots- Plush
Only by the slimmest of margins does it get the edge. Best head-to-head individual song matchup in the history of FAN Idol! I’ll be second-guessing myself for the rest of my judging days on this one, no matter who I picked here.
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Norah Jones- Don't Know Why
Another great artist selection! I love the Finals! I was humming a Norah Jones song in my head all weekend long. It wasn’t this one, but it’s still fitting to see her pop up in the Finals. Definitely a memorable song that will stand the test of time.
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My Morning Jacket- Our World
Darn! This competition is hotter than fire right now! What a head-to-head finals! Here’s another song that makes it difficult to judge. Thanks for bringing the A-game yet again with another solid song choice!
WINNER: Norah Jones- Don't Know Why
Not by much, but the determining factor is just that this Norah Jones selection will likely enter in and out of my head for years and years on down the road.
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Robyn Hitchcock and The Venus 3- I'm Falling
Clearly, I need to be listening to more Robyn Hitchcock. Clearly. I’m familiar with the artist by only one or two songs (and perhaps by associating them with The Decembrists), and even then, I haven’t give them the proper due. Great song choice here, and a nice little artist to keep in mind when I’m fumbling through playlists in the near future. Thanks for that!
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LCD Soundsystem- Daft Punk is Playing at My House
HAHAHAHAHA! YES! YES! I love this song! I’m actually super surprised LCD Soundsystem hasn’t been selected in 5 seasons of gameplay. Yes! this song is such a winner at life!
WINNER: LCD Soundsystem- Daft Punk is Playing at My House
Groove. Groove. Groove. This song is how to do it.
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The Automatic Automatic- Monster
Two songs back to back with a mega laugh of delight out of me. I never ever in my life thought I’d see this song make it to FAN Idol. LCD Soundsystem’s “Daft Punk” and now “Monster?!”
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The Tallest Man on Earth- King of Spain
Great representation of the genre. I completely picture myself at an outdoor festival eating a funnel cake that I don’t need and watching the audience take in the music with full appreciation. This is why the finals of FAN Idol exist.
WINNER: The Automatic Automatic- Monster
I just mark for this song for my own personal reasons. It’s probably the unpopular choice to win this head-to-head, but doggone it, it just hit the spot for me.
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Miles Davis- Human Nature
Unforgettable groove that can only be tied to Miles Davis. Well, ok, to Michael Jackson as well, but that only helps this song selection’s cause. What a great way to wrap up the final matchup!
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Jerrod Niemann- One More Drinkin' Song
Welcome to a preview of the next country music sensation. He’s got the George Strait swagger that can make him a lot of money in the industry. I was really confused by the video though. Not going to count that against it necessarily, but still.
WINNER: Miles Davis- Human Nature
The capper on such a fantastic round of Finals!