For What Is Chatteris…
vs.
Twenty Four Hour Garage People
They could barely come bigger than this, with the second-highest polling song in the group stages matched up against the fourth-highest. This is massive, and one of the favourites will fall. Prepare to agonise.
Result
For What Is Chatteris… 163
vs.
Twenty Four Hour Garage People 105
C. L. Murgatroyd
This is a cruel round with classics bound to fall by the wayside. Does one go for the lyrical wizardry of Chatteris or the list (and live) heaven of 24? Such difficult and far reaching decisions!
5 May 2011
Chris the Siteowner
In a dream I’m in 1976-77, with the genius of Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona taking on the entertainers of Fulham with George Best and Rodney Marsh. But for me, in the end, the sheer lyrical brilliance of “A market town which lacks quintessence” has to win on the day, even over the marvellous crowd-pleasing antics of The Song Which Makes HMHB Acceptable To Your Wife.
5 May 2011
chedgzoy
oof – Chatteris by a short head for me. Would expect the winner of this one to go all the way.
5 May 2011
MATLOCK BATH
It’s like United v Liverpool in the FA Cup 3rd round. It’s 24 for me, as probably the funniest song, but Chatteris is probably better as an overall lyrico-musical oneness. That sentence makes me want to put some Vashti Bunyan on …
5 May 2011
smithsocksimon
After Asparagus Next Left cruelly fell in the first round, I’m pinning my hopes on Chatteris, so despite the brilliance of Party People, I’m plumping for the envy of the Fens.
5 May 2011
Mr Larrington
Impossible to decide on this one. I abstain.
5 May 2011
Baggieboy61
If this was AV, I’d have to give both a 1. Whilst agreeing with all the positivity about Chatteris, 24 just gets my vote for its commentary on the modern urban condition. Oh , and its sheer brilliance. Not that Chatteris isn’t.
This is hard.
5 May 2011
Jeff Dreadnought
What’s the Lux Familiar if Chatteris is not there?
5 May 2011
dagenham dave
Surprisingly I found this a very easy decision, ‘Twenty Four Hour…..’ every time. It will make me smile until my dying day.
5 May 2011
Sean Macreavy
I’m amazed that 24’s not getting more votes here! It’s an absolute classic for me. The sheer trivia is genius. Chatteris is beautifully observed though, mind.
5 May 2011
Martin
I’m with Mr L. It’s like choosing which twin should live. Ridiculous draw.
5 May 2011
aiwacat
The most painful choice thus far. In the end, I went for Chatteris, and I thoroughly despise myself for having ‘rejected’ 24. Horrible, horrible, tie.
5 May 2011
TWO FAT FEET
Tie of the round for me, but an easy one to decide. Chatteris wins hands down as a superb bit of whimsy. Garage People doesn’t QUITE reach that plateau but it’s not far off.
5 May 2011
Dave Cooper
24 wins it if only because it was the first HMHB song to make my grumpy son laugh out loud, and for Neil’s increasingly bizarre crisp monologues in the live versions.
It will be a pity to lose either of these beauties though, would have made a cracking semi if not a final, that’s the cup for you.
5 May 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Garage People is good; it’s very, very good and I feel a total scumbag for bursting into its compound, engaging it in a firefight, shooting it in the face, dumping it in the sea then walking away from it (or something).
However Chatteris deserves to live because it contains these 4 lines;
Like a game-bird reserve short on pheasants
Weavers’ cottages devoid of tenants
A market town that lacks quintessence
That’s Chatteris without your presence
and they are just so very, very good.
It’s all about the lesser of two evils. There will inevitably be collateral damage at this stage of the Lux Familiar Cup. Time to Man Up I’m afraid.
5 May 2011
Kingsbeef
Lyrical genius wins a tight game for the home side.
5 May 2011
Trumptonrioter
aaagh Chris what are you doing to me? Chatteris for the drive by shouting or 24 for 10 kit kats and a motoring atlas (which was my fantasy football team name 2 years ago)? chatteris gets it by a whisker
5 May 2011
Mac
I think 24 suffers from over familiarity. Chatteris to upset 24 AET this year
5 May 2011
2 chevrons
The drive by shouting does it for me.
5 May 2011
Poolio
Ten kit-kats and motoring atlas… with crick barriers at both ends… I may have to abstain, I can’t be a part of this…
5 May 2011
EzekialpunchedDanBrown
Oh this is just awful.
Love 24 – especially while you were out at the rollright stones I came and set fire to your shed. Its also the gfs favourite.
So may she never discover how I voted cos that town hall band’s CD really is a grower.
And frankly its one of the best songs ever written by anyone ever.
5 May 2011
Valentina
Leadbelly at the depot just nips in there as first past the post. It’s the shortest of short heads though. And as soon as I’ve voted I’ll wish i’d expressed my preferences the other way round.
No, no. I’m sticking with 24. If only for the fact that a few Xmas ago I unwrapped the pressies from the kids. I didn’t cotton on at the motoring atlas, and remained stubbornly thick with the pack of kit kats. The penny finally dropped as the jar of marmite appeared from the discarded wrappings. Had great fun predicting the rest – though the tube of pringles was a bit of a give away, despite attempts to disguise its shape.
Then again , Ofsted plaudits, envy of the fens … bastard!
5 May 2011
Valentina
And also when I listen to any rendering of 24, in my head I can hear Andy Kershaw giggling in the background. And Kershaw did refer to the biscuits as being our premier folk band. And Kershaw is wonderful (when not stalking).
5 May 2011
Bazz Rose
Chatteris is my favourite HMHB song, but still it wasn’t an easy decision to make because I love the live versions of 24 Hour Garage People and the seaming randomness of it.
5 May 2011
choppyc
Chatteris is the Stoke City of this tournament and going to go all the way to the final.
“Although there was a drive by shouting once”…priceless !!
5 May 2011
Dennis
24 hours…
5 May 2011
Neil G
Garage People for me. It was one of the first songs I heard and it was a wonderful experience. I know it back to front and inside out but it still makes me laugh.
5 May 2011
Jon
Garage People all the way. For all the lyrical excellence of Chatteris, I love the scathing observations and commentary of Garage People. It’s also a song that keeps on evolving and it’s always the first song I pick when introducing someone to HMHB for the first time. I’m yet to come across someone who doesn’t like it.
5 May 2011
bomaya
Never realised Chatteris was so popular. 24 for me I’m afraid.
6 May 2011
Steve Malkmoose
I agree Bomaya. I like Chatteris but I dont have it down as an HMHB classic. So its 24 hour “all day “for me 😉
6 May 2011
Third Rate Les
24 for me, and surprised as ever by Chatteris, which is a sweet and simple one, with neatly worked out lyrics, but lacking the odd magical unpredictability that makes a real cup contender.
7 May 2011
Ferenc Puskás to you
Oi Blackwell! I was born in Ely, hands off!
Still, a classic.
10 May 2011
tomasz.
Dagenham Dave already expressed how I feel about this one, “24HGP” all the way
13 May 2011