Classic Rock Mega-Knockout: Finals!

Vote for your favorite song

  • Total voters
    21
  • Poll closed .
I love me some Pat Benatar. There are only about 2 or 3 people who I think are better vocalists. Freddie Mercury is one of them. Again, she deserved better. I'm going to vote for her on principle, as this is already a landslide. Here is a blistering live version of the song, from a very early concert supporting her debut album. It provides a glimpse into what might have been -- she could have been remembered as one of the best hard rock vocalists EVER. As it is, she went pop. Oh well. Enjoy. (And check out the entire live album -- it's awesome.)


Oh, and Rhapsody, Goldheart, Miller. The first round ends with a clunker in the final pairing.
 
Classic Rock Mega-Knockout: 256 to 128, Round 4 of 32

These songs battle for the #29 position...

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"You Shook Me All Night Long" (AC/DC) [29] vs. "Crossroads" (Cream) [228]
"You Shook Me All Night Long", live in 1981:

"Crossroads", live in 1968:

"Runnin' With The Devil" (Van Halen) [100] vs. "Surrender" (Cheap Trick) [157]
"Runnin' With The Devil", live in 1983:

"Surrender", live in 1978:
 
"Whole Lotta Love" (Led Zeppelin) [36] vs. "Piece Of My Heart" (Janis Joplin) [221]
"Whole Lotta Love", live in 1973:

"Piece Of My Heart", live in 1968:

"You Give Love A Bad Name" (Bon Jovi) [93] vs. "Suspicious Minds" (Elvis Presley) [349]
"You Give Love A Bad Name", live in 1986:

"Suspicious Minds", live in 1970:

One day left for Round 1
Also open: Round 2 , Round 3
 
On the Elvis video: do not miss 3:00-4:00. Actually, I'd say don't miss any, as the entire performance is amazing. But what Elvis does to that poor singer in the fourth minute is classic.

My votes:

There's too much wild jamming in the Cream song; AC/DC just can't compete. Crossroads
I vote for the song with more than one note in the bassline. Surrender
Tough on the third pair, but Janis has the better song. Piece Of My Heart
Elvis on stage crushes anything. Suspicious Minds
 
The Cream of the "Crossroads".
"Surrender", devil.
I'd rather have a piece of Janis' heart than a whole lotta love from Robert Plant.
Elvis.
 
All firsts.

The studio version of You Give Love a Bad Name is way more convincing. Elvis was a fantastic live act (and singer), he put on a great show. I am sure that helps.
 
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I didn't follow Bon Jovi in the "post-Keep the Faith"-era (1993 and onwards) but to me, You Give Love a Bad Name was one of the first stepping stones in the realm of hardrock. Not long afterwards I got into Guns and Roses, Kiss and Iron Maiden.

This one is full of hooks, with such an immense chorus. No competition, when it comes to such type of songs.

Never been much into Elvis, unless he's left the building (preferably in Bruce Dickinson songs).
 
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Classic Rock Mega-Knockout: 256 to 128, Round 8 of 32

These songs battle for the #25 position...

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"Come Together" (The Beatles) [25] vs. "Jessica" (Allman Brothers Band) [281]
"Come Together", John Lennon live in 1972:

"Jessica", live in 1979:

"Over The Hills And Far Away" (Led Zeppelin) [104] vs. "Sgt. Pepper / With A Little Help From My Friends" (The Beatles) [360]
"Over The Hills And Far Away", live in 1973:

"Sgt. Pepper / With A Little Help From My Friends", Paul and Ringo live in 2014:
 
"Sultans Of Swing" (Dire Straits) [40] vs. "Radar Love" (Golden Earring) [296]
"Sultans Of Swing", live in 1978:

"Radar Love", live in 1973:

"Peace Of Mind" (Boston) [89] vs. "Sunshine Of Your Love" (Cream) [168]
"Peace Of Mind", live in 1979:

"Sunshine Of Your Love", live in 1968:
(Song starts at 1:20.)

One day left for Round 5
Also open: Round 6 , Round 7
 
For probably the first time in this game, I'm voting against both Beatles songs.
 
My votes:

Love those Dickey Betts guitar melodies. Jessica
Beatles have a cute concept there. Zep just rocks. Over The Hills And Far Away
No-brainer on the third. Dire Straits is vastly overrated. Radar Love
Last one's tough, but Boston has the better song. Peace Of Mind
 
I like "Jessica" a lot, but it can't stand up to vintage Lennon.
Irritatingly, both songs are considerably worse than the first pair. I vote Zep.
Isn't there a Simpsons episode where Homer sings "Radar Love"?
Cream.
 
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