Some epic battles…
| Match 1 | 459 votes | |
|---|---|---|
| We Built This Village On A Trad. Arr. Tune | 227 | 49.5% |
| Every Time a Bell Rings | 232 | 50.5% |
| Match 2 | 455 votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Everything’s AOR | 321 | 71% |
| When The Evening Sun Goes Down | 134 | 29% |
| Match 3 | 457 votes | |
|---|---|---|
| All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit | 181 | 40% |
| Joy Division Oven Gloves | 276 | 60% |
| Match 4 | 467 votes | |
|---|---|---|
| The Light at the End of the Tunnel (is the Light of an Oncoming Train) | 214 | 46% |
| Oblong of Dreams | 253 | 54% |
Chris The Siteowner
And there we have it: out goes our reigning champion and two-time finalist (Light), as this tournament continues to pay no respect to history. We also have one of the closest match results ever, one which could have gone either way up to the last day of voting.
I suspect there was a small amount of organised voting in match 4, but not enough to make any difference.
In era terms, it wasn’t great for 2001–2008, which has been dominating the early stages of the tournament.
1985–1993:
1 out of 2 got through
1995–2000:
0 out of 0
2001–2008:
1 out of 4
2011–2022:
2 out of 2
Four different albums still in the tournament. Onwards to the semi-finals!
9 October 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Looking back on our semi-finalists’ records in previous tournaments, AOR beat JDOG in the last 16 in 2015 and again in 2019, so JDOG is now showing what it can do without that bogey tie. AOR went out in the last 4 and last 8 on those occasions, so will be hoping for better. ETABR made the last 4 in its only outing to date.
10 October 2023
Two fat feet
4/4 correct and scores 98% accurate. I’m going to stick my neck out therefore and call Oblong to win on its debut appearance.
10 October 2023
BAD LOSER
3/3. If I’d been forced to vote in match 1, on pain of never being able to attend another gig, I’d have voted for ETABR. Probably.
10 October 2023
nige nnto
where did the 4 semi finalists come in the baguette round (not by name, just interested to see if any high seeds have bitten the dust)
10 October 2023
two fat feet
Having now had a chance to feed the results into Deep Blue, Oblong remains the overwhelming favourite, despite having no previous form but based on the strength of its performance against established songs. AOR presents the only credible challenge although both that and JDOG have outperformed their pre-tournament ratings. ETABR, despite having progressed comfortably in the first two rounds, has fallen some way short of expectations overall and is a clear outsider.
10 October 2023
Chris The Siteowner
As you asked, Nige NNTO…
2, 7, 9 and 12
It’s been carnage for the top seeds.
10 October 2023
No chi(m)ps allowed
3 out of 4 through to the semis, not bad. I fear the pace of jdog was too much for DPak. 2 fairly recent releases into the last 4 shows that modern music is just as good as the old tunes. Only AOR left for me as an oldie. Evolution I suppose. It does seem like ood has it( it’s bigger on the inside). Roll on the next round.
10 October 2023
NO Legs Best
Sad to see my two favourite songs (Trad Arr / Evening Sun) out in this round. Can’t see anything but OOD winning at this point so I’ll be straight down Ladbrokes in the morning.
10 October 2023
MULDOON LIVES!
3 out of 4 as I went Dukla over JDOG. My synthetic supporters are in the bin. Clarence must have swayed it to get ETABR through.
10 October 2023
Two fat feet
Should maybe clarify that although the algorithm correctly predicted 4/4, I only got 1/4 of my votes through. Not sure I’m really all that bothered about which one wins now; none that I particularly would like to win, just one that I don’t.
10 October 2023
Rhombus of Nightmares
3 out of 4 of my votes won through but very sad to see Village go home. For my money, ETABR is seriously punching above its weight getting to the SF.
11 October 2023
Steve
So onward to the semis, clouds part showtime.
11 October 2023
Huddersfield’s Very Own Steve Malkmus
I’ll protest my innocence as I’m led to the gallows with regard to shenanigans to oust Light, I don’t know enough people to make even a dent…
Is there a meet at Monmore to decide the semi-finals, or is it predetermined at this stage like the World Cup?
12 October 2023
Chris The Siteowner
See the next page, HVOSM.
12 October 2023