Final round...Sucking in the 80s Tournament



Hello there.  This is Lee.  This might be a repeat for some of you, but about 3 years ago I designed a little bit of fun time wasting, and thought you all might like to participate.

 

This is a competition similar to the NCAA basketball brackets, designed to determine the most thoroughly awful artist of the 80s.  This is the month everyone gets the obligatory March Madness brackets to pick from, and this is in that vein….except its not sports-related, much less cycling.  Clearly, the competition here is a little stiffer than we have come to expect in college hoops, but I digress….

 

The selection process was determined through spirited discussion, random suggestions, vague recollections and painful memories.  All of the artists were required to have a minimum of 3 top-20 hits in the 1980s.  This explains why you don't see the Georgia Satellites (One hit wonder) or Roxette (2 hits in 80s, rest in 90s) or Jimmy Buffet (his horrible heyday was in the 70s) in this tournament.  We needed to eliminate artists that, while they may well have sucked during the 80s, had the bulk of their hits in the previous or following decade, or those who didn't have enough hits to begin with.  We can't have Eddie Murphy knock out a top seed just on the strength of how god-awful "My Girl Just Wants to Party All the Time" is, or some similar one-hit wonder with no business in the tournament. 

 

As hard as the selection process was, the seeding was even more difficult and/or arbitrary, and certainly not to be taken too seriously.  IN FACT, if you are the type of person that is looking at this list and feeling incensed at the seeding, or inclusion or a particular artist or lack thereof, you have made my labors all the more worth it. 

 

That having been said, in each round, you will have an opportunity to pick the WORST of the two artists in each “playoff game”.  The cells will be locked to only allow you to pick from these.  As each game is returned, I will tally the total and show the winners of that round, allowing you to pick the winners of the following playoff round games and so on. 

 

(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*BONUS*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)

 

In this first round, you get to pick an artist that didn’t make the list (Tom Petty?  Prince?  Bruce Springsteen?) to face off with Tears for Fears (see bracket).

 

Therefore, if you don't want to pick, just advance Tears for Fears.  After all, it is hard to find an artist that can stand up to the awesome suck-power of a number one seed such as Tears for Fears.  BUT you never know when a Cinderella (there’s another one!) story is going to come along.  REMEMBER – YOU MUST VERIFY THAT THEY HAVE 3 TOP 20 HITS IN THE 80s!  Check www.allmusic.com for verification.  I will further verify all entries that qualify for inclusion.Otherwise, if you think your pick could beat Tears for Fears, TYPE THEM INTO THAT FIELD.  It is the only field that is not a drop down field.

 

ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE:

 

I accitdentally listed Elton John twice (sort of a compulsion....what can i say?), so you will note that the second time it is listed in the face off vs. Kool and the Gang, it has been replaced with Frankie Goes to Hollywood (Relax, Two Tribes, Welcome to the Pleasuredome.....eeeeeeyyyyyywwwww!) in the drop down menu.

 

First round selections are due on Friday March 12, 2010.

Second round selections are due on Wednesday March 17, 2010

Third round selections are due on Sunday March 21, 2010

Fourth round selections, the Excruciating Eight is due on Thursday March 25, 2010

Fifth round selections, the Foulest Four is due on Friday April 2, 2010

The championship round will be due on Sunday April 17, 2010

 

Here is how to play:

 

 

1 - Download the attached PDF, which will allow you to toggle through and select from the series of drop down lists between each round.

 

 

2 – ROUND ONE ONLY - For the write-in round, either vote Tears for Fears, or the artist you feel can take them out.  You can only tab or move between the first round games, as well as the write-in band or artist cell.

 

 

3 - When you have made all of your selections, at the top of the sheet is the option to

email form.  Email that to me.  If it doesn't work for you, please save form and email to me at lee@bigshouldersrealty.com.  If easier for you, you can just list your winners like Phil Collins, Juice Newton, Night Ranger, etc.

 

 

4 - I will then post the results of each round to the website and upload a new PDF for JUST that round of voting.  This is a participation game that can be joined at any point.  There are no prizes other than the satisfaction of knowing you wasted some perfectly good time doing this instead of something useful.

 

 

 

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS TO OTHERS.  Easier if they go to the website but, you can save the PDF to your computer and forward that to them as well, but make sure they know voting deadlines.

 

 

 

And remember.  This is the most important thing in your life right now.

 

 

 

Enjoy.

 

Lee Diamond

 

(Yes, I really did waste all the time that went into this that you are thinking I probably wasted on it.)

 

P.S. - I have a rant saved from when my overall number one pick went down.  I can't say anything now to ruin the surprise, and this time I am pulling for my pick to go all the way!  In the event it doesn't, I have the rant saved for a future posting.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on March 10, 2010 at 2:46am
Oh man. I have a distinct feeling this contest is going to make me feel old!
Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on March 11, 2010 at 4:55am
One more day to vote for the first round.

It is easy.

Open the PDF
Make your selections
Press the email button and it will shoot me your picks.

Happy Thursday - Lee
Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on March 11, 2010 at 5:55am
Who is it who once said:
Leaders lead.

Losers pick other efforts apart.
?
Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on March 11, 2010 at 6:05am
That would be me.

Wait until you see the rant if my pick for all-time suckiest goes down early.

Tony Adams said:
Who is it who once said:
Leaders lead.

Losers pick other efforts apart.
?
Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on March 13, 2010 at 6:21am
The results from round one are in. This new round of 80's suckdom is due on Wednesday March 17. Here are some interesting points from this round of voting:

1 - As with the first running of this contest, several asked why not have Genesis/Phil Collins together and Genesis also received a write-in vote on the play-in game. - Therefore, it is now Phil Collins/Genesis.
2 - There were NO repeats on the play-in game, so Tears for Fears won with less than half the vote. Write-in entries included: White Lion, Prince, Spandau Ballet, Genesis, Paula Abdul, Bruce Springsteen and Men at Work. There were several votes for bands that did not qualify as well, due to not having a minimum of 3 hits as defined by having a minimum of 3 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. It's true that the Fat Boys and Men without Hats are very bad, but they aren't bad enough for this game. Sorry.
3 - There were three sweeps - Michael Bolton over Survivor, New Kids on the Block over Janet Jackson, and Michael McDonald over Stevie Nicks.
4 - Four complaints that I included bands noone has ever heard of. Again....designed no doubt, to make me feel old.
5 - Tony Adams kindly pointed out what a loser I am for picking the artists of the 80s apart and what a hypocrite that makes me. Swimming in it with gusto and pleasure.

Enjoy the next round! - Lee Diamond
Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on March 14, 2010 at 1:18pm
Hi Howard,

How about this.....which of the following is WORSE in each case?

Phil Collins/Genesis or Juice Newton?

Night Ranger or Starship?

Culture Club or Jackson Brown?

Kenny Loggins or Air Supply?

Christopher Cross or Wang Chung?

Robert Palmer or Belinda Carlisle?

Hall and Oates or New Kids on the Block?

New Edition or Michael Bolton?

Michael McDonald or Olivia Newton John?

Elton John or Whitney Houston?

Toto or Georgeo Michael/Wham?

Debbie Gibson or Chicago?

Tears for Fears or Steve Winwood?

Frankie Goes to Hollywood or Poison?

Billy Idol or Huey Lewis and the News?

Lionel Ritchie or Randy Newman?


Better?

Cheers! _ Lee

H3N3 said:
I'm not smart enough to figure any of this out, so I'm just going to be the proverbial dog staring at the pointing finger and respond to what's in this thread. Here goes:


There wasn't much greatness in anything that followed, but Tears for Fears "The Hurting" is one of the best albums of all time. It needs to be taken as a whole.
Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on March 16, 2010 at 5:04am
Selections for the second round of voting are due tomorrow - WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2010 - St. Patrick's Day.

Cheers!
Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on March 17, 2010 at 3:05am
Lee Diamond said:
5 - Tony Adams kindly pointed out what a loser I am for picking the artists of the 80s apart and what a hypocrite that makes me. Swimming in it with gusto and pleasure.

Happy to help! I didn't mean to imply that picking on artists of any particular era was the problem. All eras produce a lot of art that, especially in retrospect, seems absurd or at least no longer strikes us as valuable. The problem I have is the idea that any of it is "bad". It is all entirely subjective and even for a given individual, transient. Lots of the stuff I hated as a teenager, such as country music for example, I now find that I like a lot. It turns out that my earlier opinion was formed not so much by me, but by me automatically following the opinions of my peers. This contest is essentially doing the same thing - a group of people is voting on what art is good or bad.

I am grateful though for ANY discussion with the word "March" in it that does not concern either basketball or green beer.
Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on March 18, 2010 at 2:53pm
The Excrutiating Eight. Now it gets much harder. So far, my pick is holding out.....I am crossing my fingers this time.


No sweeps, but some pretty consistent voting in many cases. Some inspired writing about some of the bands included on the list. Here and in some vote submissions. To clarify, I made the list, and dislike every one of these bands. We can still be friends though. It's cool.....

Anyway, you have until Sunday to vote. Cheers! - Lee
Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on March 22, 2010 at 6:58pm
Round four is here. You can still submit your brackets as per usual, but you can also post your answers here. You can begin voting in any round, as there is no winner or prize or anything. So play along if you like:

Which is worse?

Phil Collins/Genesis or Air Supply?

Christopher Cross or Michael Bolton?

Michael McDonald or George Michael/Wham?

and finally....

Frankie Goes to Hollywood or Randy Newman

Cheers....this round voting is due on Thursday
Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on March 30, 2010 at 3:20pm
New round. You can vote right here if you don't want to download.

Very difficult choices now. Finals are the next round.

Which is worse?

Phil Collins/80's Genesis or Michael Bolton?

Michael McDonald or Randy Newman?




My pick is still in it this year!



Sorry for the delay but note the longer voting options.
Permalink Reply by Todd Allen on March 30, 2010 at 4:22pm
I vote for anyone named Michael.

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