Best Song of the 1980s Bracket [FINALS, SUBMIT BY 1/5]

Tippy Martinez · Post by **Tippy Martinez** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 11:09 pm

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin"
Can't deny that Billie Jean slaps. I like Free Fallin' but it has met it's match here

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 7 Guns n 'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine"
Love Will Tear Us Apart is by far the best song left in this bracket, but I imagine the quiz bowl nuts will opt for Once in a Lifetime instead unfortunately.

9 Hall & Oates, "Maneater" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"
Punk music is good.

Steeve Ho You Fat · Post by **Steeve Ho You Fat** » Fri Dec 25, 2020 2:00 pm

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin"
Michael Jackson was a horrible person, but this isn't a personality contest.

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine"

9 Hall & Oates, "Maneater" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"

BenWeiner27 · Post by **BenWeiner27** » Sat Dec 26, 2020 1:57 am

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin"

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine"

9 Hall & Oates, "Maneater" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Sat Dec 26, 2020 4:22 am

Please submit your votes by the end of the day.

ScoBo · Post by **ScoBo** » Sat Dec 26, 2020 10:39 am

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin"

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine"

9 Hall & Oates, "Maneater" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"

jonpin · Post by **jonpin** » Sat Dec 26, 2020 3:04 pm

Free Fallin'
no opinion
Once in a Lifetime
Craaaaaaaaaaaazy Traaaaaaaaaaaaaain

ValenciaQBowl · Post by **ValenciaQBowl** » Sat Dec 26, 2020 4:58 pm

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin"
--I'm going with the "evaluate the song as an 80s song" method rather than suggesting any support of Michael Jackson, who indeed seems to have been a heinous criminal, though a person who was obviously traumatized in his youth (not that that lets him off the hook). Anyway...

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine"
--It wouldn't be terrible if this was the overall winner, though I presume it won't be.

9 Hall & Oates, "Maneater" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"
--But this is an even better option as the overall winner.

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"
--Shareef is wrong!!!

AgathokakologicalPunk · Sat Dec 26, 2020 11:31 pm

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin" - Tom Petty just hits different - he gets heartland rock right in a way the Dross never does.

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" - Would be a tie if Goth pop was any less annoying.

9 Hall & Oates, "Maneater" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" - Better act gets the nod. Very tough decision.

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train" - Ozzy is getting derailed by a far superior act.

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 1:47 am

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin"

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" vs. 7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine"

9 Hall & Oates, "Maneater" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" vs 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"

Stained Diviner · Post by **Stained Diviner** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:08 am

To be clear, I'm not judging people who vote for Michael Jackson. When people vote for Joy Division over Guns n 'Roses, however, that's completely different.

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 1:46 pm

80s BRACKET ROUND OF 16 RIGHT BRACKET
RESULTS

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" 13, 13 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free Fallin" 8.5

6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" 11.5, 7 Guns n'Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine" 8.5

9 Hall & Oates, "Maneater" 5, 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" 17.5
Hall and Oates were definitely the odd men out from this batch

6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" 12, 10 Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train" 9.5
good night sweet prince of darkness

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 1:58 pm

80s BRACKET QUARTERFINALS
SUBMIT VOTES BY 11:59 PM PST 12/30

BRACKET LEFT
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

BRACKET RIGHT
1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

ValenciaQBowl · Post by **ValenciaQBowl** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 2:24 pm

BRACKET LEFT
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"
--You know what's worse than dirt on Jenny? (I've waited a long time, and if this gets me canceled, I'm okay with it).

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
--I think the time has come for my close personal friend Black Francis, but I can never vote against Pixies.

BRACKET RIGHT
1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

When people vote for Joy Division over Guns n 'Roses, however, that's completely different.

--Middle-aged man fight!!!! (Sure, middle--I plan to live past a hundred).

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"
--Damn, I hope one of these wins, but if I was betting I'd put money on "When Doves Cry."

Stained Diviner · Post by **Stained Diviner** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 3:16 pm

BRACKET LEFT
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

BRACKET RIGHT
5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

Middle-aged is a compliment at this point.

Ben Dillon · Post by **Ben Dillon** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 3:40 pm

BRACKET LEFT
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"
16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

BRACKET RIGHT
1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

ScoBo · Post by **ScoBo** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 3:49 pm

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"
16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

MiltonPlayer47 · Post by **MiltonPlayer47** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 3:50 pm

BRACKET LEFT
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

BRACKET RIGHT
1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

1992 in spaceflight · Post by **1992 in spaceflight** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:12 pm

rylltraka wrote: ↑Sun Dec 27, 2020 1:58 pm 80s BRACKET QUARTERFINALS
SUBMIT VOTES BY 11:59 PM PST 12/30

BRACKET LEFT
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

BRACKET RIGHT
1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 9:09 pm

BRACKET LEFT
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
Neither of these songs is the best from their respective artists, and in this case we can't blame it on the artists peaking during the 70s. In this case the blame lies solely on Mik. (I kid. Thank you for organizing this, Mik.)

BRACKET RIGHT
1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 10:08 pm

Sam wrote: ↑Sun Dec 27, 2020 9:09 pm 16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
Neither of these songs is the best from their respective artists, and in this case we can't blame it on the artists peaking during the 70s. In this case the blame lies solely on Mik. (I kid. Thank you for organizing this, Mik.)

If you recall, I had you all vote on this! On these exact songs! The blame must clearly accrue to anyone but me!

...but seriously, what would you replace these with? For me "When Doves Cry" seemed like a no-brainer

mrtyrmystry · Post by **mrtyrmystry** » Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:12 pm

BRACKET LEFT
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

BRACKET RIGHT
1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

eight greight songs

message MIA though

alexdz · Post by **alexdz** » Mon Dec 28, 2020 3:35 pm

BRACKET LEFT
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

BRACKET RIGHT
1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Tue Dec 29, 2020 12:33 am

rylltraka wrote: ↑Sun Dec 27, 2020 10:08 pm If you recall, I had you all vote on this! On these exact songs! The blame must clearly accrue to anyone but me!

...but seriously, what would you replace these with? For me "When Doves Cry" seemed like a no-brainer

I have no memory of this and would be very surprised if there existed any sort of written evidence, digital or otherwise.

I'd put a few songs ahead of "When Doves Cry," the most ahead probably "Purple Rain" and "Little Red Corvette." To be fair I skimmed a few "best of Prince" polls and critics' lists and "When Doves Cry" is often second or third, so the consensus seems to regard it more highly than I do. But "Purple Rain" still normally beats it.

BenWeiner27 · Post by **BenWeiner27** » Tue Dec 29, 2020 1:09 am

BRACKET LEFT
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

BRACKET RIGHT
1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

pray for elves · Post by **pray for elves** » Tue Dec 29, 2020 8:52 am

BRACKET LEFT
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

BRACKET RIGHT
1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

Eight great songs.

jonpin · Post by **jonpin** » Tue Dec 29, 2020 2:20 pm

Fast Car
When Doves Cry
Billie Jean
Once in a Lifetime

AgathokakologicalPunk · Tue Dec 29, 2020 2:46 pm

BRACKET LEFT
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" - This is the most 80s song left imo.

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

BRACKET RIGHT
1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" - Joy Division has grown on me. Abstain.

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" - I just like the Clash better, these songs are pretty comparable as long as "Rock the Casbah" hasn't been overplayed in your life.

Overall a pretty good slate for the 80s, excepting the glaring omission of an arena rock band.

Steeve Ho You Fat · Post by **Steeve Ho You Fat** » Tue Dec 29, 2020 4:17 pm

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

A Dim-Witted Saboteur · Wed Dec 30, 2020 1:27 pm

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"
A sweeping chronicle of Reagan-era devastation with one of my favorite choruses ever vs. like the 6th best 80s song about being horny. Not really a choice.

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"
Rock the Casbah is one of the few Clash songs I do not care for

34 + P.J. Dozier · Post by **34 + P.J. Dozier** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 4:57 pm

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

Arras Agility · Post by **Arras Agility** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:21 pm

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"
here's a take: neither of these is in fact good

ryanrosenberg · Post by **ryanrosenberg** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 3:15 am

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" vs. 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:30 am

80s BRACKET QUARTERFINAL RESULTS

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" 15.5, 7 Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen" 13
only close one of the round

16 Pixies, "Where is My Mind?" 6.5, 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry" 22
to be frank, if I was ranking the songs in this tourney #1-#64, "Where is My Mind?" would be somewhere in the mid-fifties

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" 15, 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" 10
why is the bracket so cold, you cry out in your sleep

5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime" 22, 6 The Clash, "Rock the Casbah" 6.5

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:33 am

80s BRACKET SEMIFINALS
SUBMIT VOTES BY 11:59 PM 1/2

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

MiltonPlayer47 · Post by **MiltonPlayer47** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 12:50 pm

When Doves Cry

Billie Jean

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:13 pm

rylltraka wrote: ↑Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:30 am 1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" 15, 6 Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" 10
why is the bracket so cold, you cry out in your sleep

I was personally hoping for '"Love Will Tear Us Apart:" Will Tear Us Apart?' but maybe that requires a closer match.

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

Krasznahorkai did nothing wrong · Thu Dec 31, 2020 7:00 pm

Fast Car vs. When Doves Cry

Bro when doves cry ain't even close to the best Prince song (tho it's still great obv I mean c'mon it's a Prince song).

Billie Jean vs Once in a Lifetime

BenWeiner27 · Post by **BenWeiner27** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 9:13 pm

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

ScoBo · Post by **ScoBo** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 9:19 pm

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

Ben Dillon · Post by **Ben Dillon** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 9:39 pm

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

A Dim-Witted Saboteur · Thu Dec 31, 2020 10:35 pm

Fast Car

Once in a Lifetime

I distinctly remember where I was when I first heard both of these songs and they're very good memories. That's not true of their opponents.

kammajos000 · Post by **kammajos000** » Fri Jan 01, 2021 12:02 am

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

pray for elves · Post by **pray for elves** » Fri Jan 01, 2021 9:52 am

When Doves Cry

Billie Jean

Steeve Ho You Fat · Post by **Steeve Ho You Fat** » Fri Jan 01, 2021 12:28 pm

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

Even thought neither of these songs are my favorite by the artist, a Prince vs MJ finals seems about right for an '80s music competition.

Stained Diviner · Post by **Stained Diviner** » Fri Jan 01, 2021 1:52 pm

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

The winner of the first matchup gets my vote in the next round. More importantly, I can now guarantee that a good song will win this tournament.

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Fri Jan 01, 2021 2:57 pm

Oof, haven't voted in a long time.

When Doves Cry
Once in a Lifetime

Gerald Ford's Economics · Fri Jan 01, 2021 10:03 pm

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"
5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"
It's a shame that the two best songs in the semifinal had to go against each other. "Billie Jean" vs. "Once in a Lifetime" is tough choice; either of those songs against either "Fast Car" or "When Doves Cry" would be an instant win.

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:40 pm

Please submit your votes for this penultimate round today.

AgathokakologicalPunk · Sat Jan 02, 2021 7:12 pm

5 Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" vs. 3 Prince, "When Doves Cry"

1 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean" vs. 5 Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

jonpin · Post by **jonpin** » Sat Jan 02, 2021 7:33 pm

Billie Jean
Fast Car