League 6 (Oct 2025)

Joseph Harvey: The male heart yearns for more expeditious shipping routes

• Peter Seeley +3 — DEAR OLD STAN! DEAR OLD STAN! DEAR OLD STAN!
• Corey +2
• Spicey Riche +2 — Yearning is in the voice. And this voice yearns
• SamRobertsND +1 — Peter is doing Alex's BNL bit from the first season of Music League with Stan Rogers, and I am here for it. Fantastic song.
• shea nowicki +1
• Edward James +1 — A beautiful read on the category. Men can only truly yearn for 2 things: women and the sea.
• Brad Stalcup +1 — That guy in the background (you know exactly which one I'm talking about) is really doing all the work to cultivate an atmosphere of longing. An interesting take on the category. Most are about vague desire or longing for a lover. This is about longing to explore for one born too late to explore the world. I like the creativity of the pick.
• judd.baker +1 — Yup this counts. This is certainly a kind of yearning
• Claire 0 — I love this version of the song. But this just wasn’t the kind of yearning I was looking for. Hard to explain
• fionmul -1
• Sam Ary -1

• fionmul +2 — Reminds me of The Dance at the Gym from West Side Story
• Edward James +2 — The Japanese are true craftsman. They take everything that we have created (jazz, baseball, automobile manufacturing, financial markets, imperialism) and become the true masters of them. Only they could have crafted one of the most perfect jazz songs of all time as the intro to a space mystery anime that was originally created to sell toys.
• Brad Stalcup +2 — Yessss.
• SamRobertsND +1 — The Japanese love trumpets and other brass instruments
• Regina Scime +1
• Corey +1
• judd.baker +1 — This right here is it, solid gold. My winner for the round.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Now I want to be a cowboy 🤠
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Obviously very impressive. Could I hum back any part of this solo? Absolutely not. I’m just not a shred fan, I want a good memorable melody which this is not.
• Claire 0 — The cut of this song they use in the title sequence doesn’t include the sax solo—I already loved this song but the first time I heard the full version I was blown away. One of the best tv show theme songs of all time
• Spicey Riche 0 — I’m out of rips, but this stunk

Regina Scime: this song breaks my brain

• Peter Seeley +2 — This is why Leviticus exists
• Corey +2
• Joseph Harvey +1 — This is very fun
• fionmul +1 — A classic. I remember listening when I was like 5.
• SamRobertsND +1 — Thanks for following my advice
• Edward James +1 — This was incredible. Didn’t know Willie Nelson did this kind of thing. I think this was my favorite.
• Brad Stalcup +1
• shea nowicki +1
• judd.baker +1 — total Brad cultural victory
• Claire -1 — Sorry chat I’ve become the person who downvotes something for being too stereotypical of a pull

fionmul: 👻

• Spicey Riche +2
• ared56 +1
• Joseph Harvey +1 — An awesome extended metaphor. The production and writing on this song are so cool and so far above what you’d expect for indie acoustic pop. Tons of interesting twists and turns, well done Lizzy (and Fiona)
• SamRobertsND +1 — Really great
• Edward James +1 — I feel like I’ve heard this before. Her performance is what won me over, I think some of the turns of phrase actually take some of the edge out of the song.
• Regina Scime +1
• Claire +1 — This song is so good holy cow. And it fits the theme both lyrically and sonically
• shea nowicki +1
• judd.baker +1 — This is a great shout
• fionmul 0 — “You’re such a narcissist, you did it on Halloween”
• Peter Seeley 0 — Talented artist, but not a huge fan of the vocal style.

• Corey +2
• Peter Seeley +2 — This song makes me wish I had wheels. Not in the "own a car sense", but actual wheels as bodily appendages.
• Edward James +1 — It's so cliche, but then as soon as the beat hits you know exactly why it's achieved that status. It's infectious, you can't argue with it. It does exactly what it tries to do, which is be perfect for starting out on the road.
• fionmul +1 — OK, probably the definitive answer
• SamRobertsND +1 — One of the two songs on my shortlist, would be hypocritical not to vote for it.
• Spicey Riche +1
• Claire +1 — I didn’t submit this one bc I thought it would be too obvious/stereotypical and wouldn’t land. But the second it hit on the playlist I realized I was wrong. It’s just a perfect song.
• shea nowicki +1
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Also, Cars is not a top 10 pixar movie
• Sam Ary -1

• Corey +1 — I need more thumbs, it's unfair that I have to choose between this many strong contenders.
• Joseph Harvey +1 — I think this is just a little better than the other jazz-funk-pop song here, and Japanese is just a lot more Corey coded than Portuguese or whatever that other one was
• SamRobertsND +1
• Sam Ary +1
• Claire +1 — Hell yeah
• judd.baker +1 — JPop felt too easy but this is something special. Excellent pick. I am confident that Corey would love this song, and that is after all the name of the round. Also this lead vocalist sounds almost exactly like the lead singer of Frederic
• Regina Scime +1
• shea nowicki +1
• Edward James 0 — Naturally, this whole round was chock full of good jazz fusion and/or city pop style songs. I think others beat this one.
• Peter Seeley 0 — If I had another vote I'd give it to this.
• Spicey Riche 0 — This isn’t English either!

• SamRobertsND +2 — Ooh, yes, yes, this is quite nice, yes!
• Joseph Harvey +2 — This is so good. The sax melody is both interesting and the centerpiece of the song, which is what I’m looking for this round. The rest of the song is also great.
• fionmul +1 — Ooh
• Edward James +1 — This is so smooth and delectable and tasty. 10/10
• Claire +1 — The sax really complements and heightens the storytelling here
• judd.baker +1 — Wow this is spectacular
• Spicey Riche 0 — I’m in dire straits trying to make it through this song

Peter Seeley: Imagine you're on the 101 S, and the air is full of smog. The traffic is at a standstill. No matter. You embrace the moment.

• Joseph Harvey +2 — Stunning. I could fall in love to this, easily. Gorgeous, expressive, longing sax part that is actually memorable. This is especially great because the rest of the arrangement is as beautiful as the sax melody.
• Corey +2
• SamRobertsND +1 — Vangelis is Sammy bait
• Edward James +1 — There’s something so perfect about sci-fi futurism and saxophone. You get it here and in the Cowboy Bebop song. They create such an incredible atmosphere.
• judd.baker +1 — Beautiful stuff all around
• fionmul 0 — Yeah
• Regina Scime 0 — This made me chuckle
• Claire 0 — Didn’t make my top 4 but I really love this track
• Spicey Riche 0 — Most overrated sci-fi film ever!

• Joseph Harvey +1 — Yes, this works
• Corey +1
• Edward James +1 — 100% - perfect choice. Hype, destination, energy, raucousness. You can imagine a car of the bros belting it out as you start.
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Where's my car. Need to jump in it and start driving after hearing this song.
• Spicey Riche +1
• Claire +1 — Got me pumped in exactly the way I want to be pumped for a road trip
• Regina Scime 0 — This was #5 for me!
• SamRobertsND 0 — I owe Audioslave and the 88 an apology.
• Peter Seeley 0 — This would be a great for the "it's 3am and my adrenal glands can no longer process caffeine" part of the road trip

• Joseph Harvey +1 — This is a good song and good fit. I never noticed how bizarre the singing in this is but it is unhinged
• Regina Scime +1
• Brad Stalcup +1 — 3 seconds in I knew. Yes.
• SamRobertsND +1 — Ice Age!!! This was the second one on mu shortlist. Such an iconic intro, and the gobbledygook refrain with the whistling is peak 90s slop.
• Spicey Riche +1
• judd.baker +1 — hot take perhaps but the better of the two submissions from the soundtrack of an early 2000’s digitally animated movie
• Edward James 0 — The whole world opens up with its immense potential as you listen to this song. The build up is perfect for drawing you in to the road trip mood.
• fionmul 0 — Damn i do NOT have enough votes

Joseph Harvey: I picture Corey skateboarding through downtown Tokyo while this plays

• Corey +1 — Oh BABY. I would shred around Tokyo Tower to this. That outro has more sex appeal than Aphrodite.
• Edward James +1 — I have a feeling this is Joseph, and while I don’t like the leading comment, all I had in mind while I was listening to this was Joseph’s idea of Tokyo Night Driving as a theme. This is my favorite of the jazzy submissions and knowing some of the stuff Corey has shared with me, I think it will be his as well.
• Sam Ary +1
• Claire +1 — I see the vision
• Regina Scime +1
• shea nowicki +1
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Definitely sounds like the background track of a furistic metroidvania style game. and I'm guessing this is Joseph's submission.
• Peter Seeley 0 — If I had another vote I'd give it to this.
• judd.baker 0 — this sounds awesome and is full metal Corey. This makes the leaderboard if I had one more upvote

• Joseph Harvey +1 — Ah, here we go. Musically and thematically perfect. Wouldn’t be surprised if the man himself submitted this
• Edward James +1 — I am obsessed with this song. The sound, the vibe, and the specific cheesy, 90s anime dialogue style is so perfectly at tuned. I can imagine this as a scene in one of the old anime movies. I have watched with Corey.
• Peter Seeley +1 — I think this is Corey or Judd's submission. Probably Corey's.
• Sam Ary +1
• judd.baker +1 — I have a sneaking feeling this is the man himself. I would be pretty surprised if Corey has never heard this song before. But it is an utterly perfect choice (and if it isn’t Corey, then hats off to the submitter). Lyrically, thematically, sonically, pure unadulterated Coreybait. Should be a front runner. Also a banger. I need to listen to this whole album
• shea nowicki +1
• Corey 0 — Locked in within 25 seconds. My neon is in overdrive. Incredible synths, very Daft Punk. This would fit in the Wraith soundtrack, with Charlie Sheen.
• Spicey Riche 0 — This is like Sonic the Hedgehog meets GTA.

• Peter Seeley +2 — This song single handedly justifies the existence of the Portuguese language. Also, totally something Corey would love.
• SamRobertsND +1
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Funky Fresh. I can see a 1990s Corey strolling around town in some medium sized brazilian city with a Sony Walkman listening to this
• Spicey Riche +1 — This isn’t English, but it seems pretty Corey.
• Claire +1 — This merits an upvote purely on the merits of these lyrics: “É hora de salvar a pélvis Soltá-la, libertá-la Agitá-la como o elvis Grande guerreiro e mártir Da nação do rock'n'roll”
• Regina Scime +1
• Corey 0 — Exceptional, appeals to my Brazilian side.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Of the two submissions in this style, this is slightly worse
• Edward James 0 — Recognizing the spiritual connection between Japanese jazz fusion and Brazilian jazz funk notes that this submitter knows what they’re talking about. Sadly, I only have four votes to give. A common theme for this round.
• ared56 -1

• fionmul +2
• ared56 +1
• Regina Scime +1
• Sam Ary +1
• judd.baker +1 — this is wonderful. Totally new discovery but this is beautiful and painful. The mountains are taller than ever before
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Boring
• SamRobertsND 0 — Should've submitted from The Lonely Island
• Edward James 0 — Cool song but didn't really stand out to me
• Claire 0 — This is on theme for sure but just didn’t hit quite as hard as other songs of a similar genre on this list
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Lover's remorse is not quite longing IMO.

• ared56 +2
• Regina Scime +1 — yes
• Brad Stalcup +1
• Sam Ary +1
• judd.baker +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Good but unmemorable
• fionmul 0 — fun fact I played alto sax in band, just wanted to share that
• Peter Seeley 0 — Very good. I wish I had more upvotes to give.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — I wish I had an ability to appreciate this, which I have to assume is an all-time great. To me, this sounds like random jazzy noodling. None of these melodies stick except for the vocals. Why do these jazz classics almost always have boring generic lyrics?
• Edward James 0 — I have to be honest, I think this is a very weak John Coltrane pick.
• Spicey Riche 0 — Boring much?!

• Spicey Riche +2
• ared56 +1
• Brad Stalcup +1 — I LOVE this song. However, there's nothing really standout about the saxophone part. All the instruments are playing in unison. Nonetheless, it has a cool enough unison sound to win a vote.
• shea nowicki +1
• Sam Ary +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Typical
• fionmul 0 — Sure
• Peter Seeley 0 — Great.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Absolute masterpiece. Packed with memorable parts, awesome singing, and with a phenomenal mix. However, the sax is very much just one part of the arrangement here and doesn’t stand out as a lead instrument. I’m going to reward songs where the sax part carries the song.
• Edward James 0 — I feel like to win a vote from me, the saxophone needs to stand out more, whereas this is mostly a combination of horns. Still one of my all time fave songs.
• Claire 0 — Didn’t make my top 4 but I love this song dearly. Hearing it always takes me back to freshman year of college dances. Respect to whoever submitted
• judd.baker 0 — This was definitely the best of the more obvious submissions

• fionmul +2 — Unironically like this song. My fave part is 80 mi away is considered “by Santa Fe” This is the only LOL one for me like the first time I experienced it
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Yes. This is truly unique musical comedy
• SamRobertsND +1 — Amazing
• Peter Seeley +1 — This song beats a dead horse until the dead horse begins to laugh.
• Claire +1 — Okay this is the first time I’d heard this one and it is in fact funny
• Edward James 0 — I almost submitted this myself, so in theory I should vote for it, but the familiarity hurt it.
• judd.baker 0 — A classic of the genre

• Joseph Harvey +1 — The absurdity does make me chuckle
• Edward James +1 — When the stage production music video for this came out it spread like a shockwave through Fisher Hall. I’m pretty sure I made Brad watch it multiple times. In my opinion, actually one of the greatest feats of millennial culture. The only one that I’m already familiar with that I felt a real need to vote for.
• ared56 +1
• Regina Scime +1
• shea nowicki +1
• Corey +1
• fionmul 0 — Funnier to watch the video with it. In the end I had to move this vote elsewhere.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Been there, done that
• Peter Seeley 0 — This was great the first time I've heard it, but listening to it a second time is like microwaving leftovers from a restaurant.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Actual Latin Mass Trad Shia LaBeouf. Fun Fact: my friend invited Shia LaBeouf to his wedding.
• judd.baker 0 — upon relisten, this is so aggressively lol so millennial humor

• Joseph Harvey +2 — Gobsmacking. The intensity in the climax of this song is really incredible. Amazing read on the category, though it pains me to vote for my arch ML enemy, Brad
• Edward James +1 — Sad pathetic artists is a classic It’s so over theme.
• Claire +1 — Key changes oh my. Full disclosure this song annoyed me for the first few minutes, but the way it builds and just gets more and more manic really creates the despairing vibe. Begrudgingly feel like it earned my vote
• judd.baker +1 — This is the money. This is exactly the sort of thing I’m picturing when I think of a song about failure. Brad, I kneel
• Sam Ary +1
• fionmul 0 — Idk I just dont enjoy this voice and it reminds me of a cantor at my parish that I dont prefer lmao
• Peter Seeley 0 — Enjoyable. Great theme.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Utterly fantastic, love this man’s voice

Regina Scime: how my best friend and I kick off every car ride

• fionmul +1 — Wait I’m crying we have a video of me dancing to this as a baby I love this song
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Love me some doobie brothers. This is just a great song.
• Peter Seeley +1
• shea nowicki +1
• Sam Ary +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Close. Not quite a kickoff
• Edward James 0 — Another absolute road trip banger (Alex) but not one I would use for kickoff.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Pains me not to vote for this masterpiece but I'm out of votes. Hard 5th for sure.

• fionmul +2 — 😌😌👦🏽🐍🐅🌳🪷🇮🇳🦜 👹💪🏽 🐑🐑 👦🏽🫱🏼🪨 😵 👦🏽🙌🏽🎖️
• Corey +1 — You wouldn't know it, but I've been influenced by Gospel adjacent acapellas since highschool. Bravo for an unknowingly deep cut.
• Edward James +1 — I know that stylistically is not the same, but I was thinking during this about Corey’s love for the song Mack the Knife. Not only is this stylistically complex and beautiful, it also has the X factor of a little weirdness.
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Whoa. This one blew me away with the dense harmonies, and the jazzy a capella break a minute into the song. Loved it. This also could have fit in the next category. I think Corey would dig it.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — I’m shocked and flabbergasted. I was going to comment “Jacob Collier at home” and then checked the year. I don’t understand how this was even possible in 1988. No pitch correction?? That was utterly unreal. Unfortunately, this doesn’t strike me as especially Corey, although he would certainly appreciate it.
• Spicey Riche 0 — This makes my blood boil with hatred for you pirouetting theatre nerds.
• judd.baker 0 — gosh this is amazing. I am feeling the upvote scarcity

• ared56 +1
• Edward James +1 — This was my favorite by a large margin. Well done. I had considered 2 other Stan Rogers songs for my own submission, but this one beats them both.
• fionmul +1 — Eh it’s ok
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Hauntingly beautiful and leaves me with many questions. It’s a simple and brief story and but well told with just the right admixture of detail and vagueness
• Claire +1 — I hadn’t heard this before. Enjoyed it
• Brad Stalcup 0 — This was another story that was really just told with a musical background. Great storytelling though.

Regina Scime: 50 years on Monday…

• Peter Seeley +2 — This is heads and shoulders above everything else on this play list.
• Edward James +1 — TUESDAY. 50 years on Tuesday. Hence the party/memorial. Getting a vote in spite of the fact we all know it. It's just the best.
• fionmul +1 — This gets a vote (and doubtless many more) and I know this is the perfect category for it but I wanted some more creativity. But I think most of these are weak submissions so I’ll give a vote for it actually being a story and for the meme lol
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Hard to top this one.
• Spicey Riche +1 — I feel like a war of attrition against Eddie and now I have to vote for this song.
• judd.baker +1 — This seemed almost too easy, and then I listened again and had to give in. Unironically brings me to tears. These men died in the line of duty. I’m sorry for making light of their deaths
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This feels a little too easy. Also, I’d never noticed but there is some really awkward phrasing at numerous points in this song. Sting would have done a much better job. Still, plenty of great iconic lines in this
• Claire -1 — Great song, incredibly significant historical event, it’s just not an original pull, sorry 🔔
• shea nowicki -1 — I LOVE this song, but it just felt like an easy choice with the timing of things!

• Corey +2 — Always been a big fan of this one, it's haunting, somber. Appeals to my melancholic side.
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Amazing Bradcore submission. Hauntingly beautiful, sad, and hopeful
• Spicey Riche +1
• shea nowicki +1
• Peter Seeley 0 — I loved this song the first time I heard it, but after 70 times, I realized I didn't love it so much.
• Edward James 0 — It's the GOAT, but a bit of a tired submission for this group, who have heard us talk about it ad nauseam.
• fionmul 0 — Pleasant sounding so I want to vote for it but it doesn’t really give story to me
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Sadly, I think I submitted the second best song about a shipwreck. What it has going for it is the sweet harmonies and psychological depth. The other one is a better told story. But permit me a story. This was one of those songs that I listened to for the first time and immediately listened to a second time. And then a third. The tears flowed, because it's a beautiful song of hope. And I eventually convinced the boys of the hangar to perform this together. To my knowledge, it' remains the only joint hangar musical performance (besides karaoke).
• judd.baker 0 — Songs Mike Whitman Would Love

• ared56 +3
• Spicey Riche +2 — This gave me goosebumps, goosebumps of yearning.
• Claire +1 — Okay this is kinda corny but I like it. I’ve only seen a couple episodes of community so I have zero idea what the context is. Tbh I’m also just really pleased to see Donald Glover on a ML playlist
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Man, what a pick. Saw this on the list and couldn't wait to get to it. Knowing someone's out there loving you and the eagerness to meet them definitely constitutes longing.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Truly awful on every level
• SamRobertsND 0 — This song is about a rat.
• Peter Seeley 0 — I don't yearn for this.
• Edward James 0 — Sorry Richard or Alex, not gonna work
• judd.baker 0 — wait this is perfect actually
• Regina Scime -1 — phenomenal song, but deeply disappointed that you didn’t choose the Linda Ronstadt/James Ingram version…
• Corey -1 — I don't necessarily have a point against this song, but it had to go somewhere. Forgive me.

• Joseph Harvey +2 — How is this song so great? The pieces are so simple. This song is a transcendent dish at a 5-star restaurant made with vegetables from your dad’s garden. This is truly one for the ages and there is yearning in every note.
• SamRobertsND +1 — Colincore, in fondest memory
• Peter Seeley +1 — RIP Collin McCarthy.
• Edward James +1 — I figure this is Brad, and on that chance I gave it a vote, even though it's been submitted before. It really is a perfect submission, especially because it is about something not yet attained. I think yearning has to be about something you haven't had yet.
• Regina Scime 0 — I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that this was submitted by someone who wasn’t in the league when this was submitted
• fionmul 0 — A repeat so I’m gonna not vote for it but obviously a classic banger
• Claire 0 — So first off: this is one of my favorite songs ever. I know the category doesn’t specify that the yearning in question has to be romantic, but I do think that I’m looking for songs with a sort of pathetic valence. Maybe it’s the CL talking, but this song is about something different to me: there’s a recognition that there’s something right and good about these longings not being fulfilled, and there’s a further truth that this reveals. So sadly it doesn’t get a vote from me (don’t tell Colin)
• judd.baker 0 — This is a great song and really is perfect for this theme. I guess it just sticks out to me less than some of the other submissions for reasons I can’t fully explain, maybe because it’s too general

• fionmul +1 — I mean, maybe the definitive answer. ❄️🤘🏼🥶😥🤧😰 Funny how I’m back in Indiana as I listen. But I prefer the acoustic and I just wish this artist would release it on Spotify. Maybe I’ll slide into his dms 🤔.
• Corey +1 — Anthem for impending departure.
• Regina Scime +1
• Claire +1 — Incredible pull for this category
• shea nowicki +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Amateurish. This guy needs to learn how to sing. And stop whining
• Peter Seeley 0 — Listening to this as I drive down the Pacific Coast Highway. It's 70 degrees and sunny. I grin. A single word escapes my lips: 'schadenfreude'.
• Edward James 0 — Incredible pull for this round. In an ironic twist, I think the song Joseph actually submitted is going to get a vote over this one.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Good pocket pick. But I actually enjoyed this song quite a bit. This is some of Joseph Harvey's more broad-appeal stuff. I prefer the 7 minute Jordan Peterson inspired tracks.

• Joseph Harvey +1 — Apparently this song is controversial which makes me like it much more
• Peter Seeley +1 — Classic for a reason.
• SamRobertsND +1 — Have to counteract the Eddie Yankee downvote
• Edward James +1 — That’s right. It is so over for you. And there will be no we’re so back. The glorious Union forever. I feel about the Confederacy the way my friend Casey once put it “I am only nonviolent because the Lord Himself commands it of me.” I’m reading a book about reconstruction right now so I’m extra amped up on Union supremacy.
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Bold pick. Helps us to keep in mind that alhtough things might be going terribly for us, our families, and what we hold dear, it could all be a part of some greater plan for goodness.
• fionmul 0 — “The Band” is quite iconic. Idk if I knew that was a band but I know I’ve heard this. This is awesome and I wish I had a ton more votes.

• Spicey Riche +2 — If there is a lobby between purgatory and heaven, this is the best approximation of the music there. And if there is a man who may be tempted to forego the beatific vision for a Nintendo themed auricular delight, well I hope that man is Corey.
• Edward James +1 — Not only knowing this exists, but then finding it on Spotify, elevates this to near perfection.
• Peter Seeley +1 — He literally listens to this stuff all the time, it just has funny names like "Samurai Chicken Genshen" or "Honkey Tonk Sushimi Crusaders"
• fionmul 0 — Should have saved for the sax round!
• Corey 0 — A potent rendition of a very nostalgic song. Nevermind, forget what I said, this saxophone is amazing. It has baritone? I feel seen. That genre shift is bonkers in Yonkers.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — I’m torn on this. This feels almost a little obvious in a lazy way - just “video games plus jazz”. If you wanted to go the video games route, there are far more Corey-coded ways to go. Good idea, B- execution. Still, this song is a total banger
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I don't know if I can vote for this one. But I definitely want to hear Corey's sultry voice talking about something over these smooth bars.
• judd.baker 0 — Listening to this whole track made me appreciate anew how excellent the Mii Channel theme is from a video game music engineering perspective
• Regina Scime 0 — I’d like to think Corey vibes with this…

• SamRobertsND +3
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Incredible boomer “I hate my wife” energy. This is a clever and compelling song and as an enjoyer of country with talking in it I appreciated this
• shea nowicki +1
• Peter Seeley 0 — The way he says "turkey" is the height of the song. Almost got a vote for that alone.
• Edward James 0 — Women, amirite???
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Hilarious title. But they never should have gotten married. I guess I was looking for more of a sing-songy song. This is more talking over a musical background.
• Spicey Riche 0 — There really isn’t much of a story here. Just a guy saying he lost a divorce battle a lot.
• Claire 0 — I just feel like “she got all the money in the divorce” is hardly a story, even if you’re telling me the details of what she got
• fionmul -1 — Arguably not a song for 75%. Either way it sucks. You had your pick of all songs that tell a story and this is what you picked. Be better.

• ared56 +1
• Joseph Harvey +1 — This is absolutely great. A rebuke to class resentment: the people who you think have it better than you are often miserable. It’s a great observation of human nature that the narrator still wants to be Richard Cory at the end of this. Also decently musically compelling.
• Spicey Riche +1 — This is the second song this round about me.
• Sam Ary +1
• Peter Seeley 0 — I like this. Nuanced.
• Edward James 0 — Love this song idea and it's good but didn't stand above others. We don't make up characters with full names for songs anymore, and that's a shame.
• fionmul 0 — Want to vote for this for S&G and also “Cory” in the league of Corey but it’s not really a narrative which is what I’m looking for
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Conflicted about this one, because while it technically tells a story, the story is just "rich guy kills himself." At first I thought I might downvote this, but the music saves it.

• Corey +2 — At the bottom of this league lies a big, big song.
• Spicey Riche +1 — Never heard this before, but it was excellent.
• Sam Ary +1
• judd.baker +1 — When I was a kid, my family used to listen to Old Time Radio, and they would play the original CBS radio commercials from the 1950s. Half of them were commercials for cigarettes, pills, or Pepsi, and the other half were charming public service ads. In the latter category was this series of ads that were literally just retellings of old American tall tales like Paul Bunyan. This song captures that vibe exactly. Wonderful stuff
• Edward James 0 — This was so good, classic Americana mythos. 5th place for me, just misses a vote.
• fionmul 0 — Sorry this just isn’t a song it’s a guy talking
• Joseph Harvey 0 — The plaque just says “he was a really big guy”??? He saved your ungrateful lives! Come on this is stupid
• Brad Stalcup -1 — A cool story of heroism and sacrifice. But not really a song.

• Joseph Harvey +2 — YES!! This is music people! Incredible vocal performance, interesting writing, great musicianship all round. That prechorus guitar part is so perfect. Lyrically on point. I need to listen to Jeff Buckley more.
• Regina Scime +1
• fionmul +1
• Edward James 0 — This was beautiful! But again I'm biased against songs that are about loss.
• Claire 0 — It’s a great song but feels like kind of stereotypical pull for this category. Maybe that’s me being too harsh. Idk
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Lo'er, you should've come o'er

• Peter Seeley +2 — Fantastic intro. Everything works together fantastically.
• Corey +1 — I have fond memories of the song, it reminds me of looking at sports stats over a lazy summer.
• Sam Ary +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Really tried hard one with this one, didn't ya? Really dug deep, huh?
• fionmul 0 — I mean yeah
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Close but no 🚬
• Edward James 0 — I have just never liked this song all that much, despite the great sax part
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Almost submitted this one, but chose not to because there's only one sax riff. It's cool and memorable. But it's just one riff over and over. Wouldn't call that the "best" saxophone part. "Iconic" but not "best"
• Spicey Riche 0 — This one wasn’t bad

• Regina Scime +2
• judd.baker +1 — Well a good friend of mine named Steve Goodman wrote that song
• Claire +1 — This is fun, the silly mischievous tone is a big part of why it works I think
• fionmul 0 — Joseph I’m telling your mother
• SamRobertsND 0 — Eh
• Edward James 0 — This is very witty, and I like the presentation style, but didn’t really stand out.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Prurient, but amusing.

• ared56 +2
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Very clever. Songs like this are why free speech is awesome. I wonder what a modern version would sound like. I'd also love to hear the conservative counterpart song.
• shea nowicki +1
• fionmul 0 — Defs the right type of funny for this group as a whole but not I (is this Eddie cuz Pete Seeger was mentioned)
• SamRobertsND 0 — Hi Eddie and/or Brad!
• Peter Seeley 0 — This song is just bullying Judd :-(

• fionmul +2 — 💘❤️‍🩹
• Corey +2 — Songs to sadly ride your riding mower to.
• shea nowicki +1
• Edward James 0 —  no
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Reminds me of the emo bands of the aughts.
• Claire 0 — Hell yeah this song is so good. It pains me to not vote for Bilmuri but I didn’t feel like it was in the top 4 for the theme
• SamRobertsND -1 — Joseph once convinced me to go to a concert for this artist by advertising them as “country rock.”

• ared56 +2
• Sam Ary +2
• Peter Seeley +1 — Certainly didn't expect to enjoy this, but I did. The background stuff is amazing.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Not a fit for category
• SamRobertsND 0 — Great but not on topic
• Edward James 0 — I’m hesitant to say this, because I might be missing something obvious, but I don’t really see how this fits.
• Claire 0 — Enjoy the song and the ironic ending but this one also isn’t sufficiently giving “over”
• judd.baker 0 — The chorus and the riff at 2:55 in this are excellent. But it’s not really giving “failure and despair” so much as just talking about the consequences of a life of dissipation
• Regina Scime -1

• Peter Seeley +2 — Oddly I never heard this before . Very pleasant surprise. I know it's a normie song, but her singing is genuinely moving.
• fionmul +1 — This was really beautiful thank you. I think it could be lyrically a little stronger but I loved it so much that I dont care.
• judd.baker +1 — Beautiful
• Sam Ary +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Beautiful song. Not sufficiently “it’s so over”
• Brad Stalcup 0 — This is a sad song, and I guess it could be interpreted as despair... but it just sounds tired.
• Claire -1 — Good song but it’s not sufficiently giving “over” imo. Realizing things aren’t the way you thought they were =/= it being so over. More like a new start

• Edward James +1 — My friend Nick had a music blog back in the day when people had music blogs, and he had an article that actually inspired this category. He said the best road trip kickoff song when you're 16-22 is "The Great Escape" by Boys Like Girls (my runner up for my submission) - "for when you're young and still feel the shiny promise of life". And that "Thunder Road" is the perfect kickoff song for "when you're past college and the gleam and glamour is starting to wear thin and you're wondering what life might hold." I agree with him still, and therefore this gets my vote. Impeccable choice.
• Regina Scime +1
• Spicey Riche +1
• fionmul 0 — I wanted to vote for Bruce but not enough votes
• Brad Stalcup 0 — The way this song builds just seems to lend itself really well to getting onto the highway and "rolling down the windows and letting back your hair"
• SamRobertsND 0 — Hi Fiona! This doesn't work!
• judd.baker 0 — As with other submissions (perhaps even my own, upon hearing the whole playlist): roadtrip, absolutely. Kickoff? I’m not convinced

• fionmul +1 — I think this wins as far as which eagles submission is best
• SamRobertsND +1 — This was the Eagles' song to pick. Right tempo
• judd.baker +1 — See above. As the poet said, “I’ve had a long night and I hate the f-kin Eagles, man”—but with that said, something about this song and only this song really gets me. Platonic form of road trip song almost
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This is a great song. More of a second hour of road trip song though
• Edward James 0 — You could say it's hypocritical of me to ignore this one and upvote the other Eagles song, but this one does not invoke for me the same "Let's start on a new journey" feeling that Peaceful Easy Feeling does.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Halfway through a road trip? Absolutely. Starting off a roadtrip? Not quite energetic enough.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Good for sixth hour of driving, right before lunch.

• Joseph Harvey +1 — This is a little too chill for a kickoff, but the iconic intro helps a lot. I love this song so much though
• fionmul +1 — Yep. it’s basic in some ways but surely the people will exalt it and I won’t be mad
• Regina Scime +1
• Peter Seeley +1 — Very good getting you hyped but not going full bore just yet.
• Edward James 0 — I do not see this as a road trip kickoff song. This is a late night, 2 hours into the road trip after dark has set in, type of song. Better than I remember it being tho.
• Claire 0 — I genuinely think this song sounds like what the beginning of a beautiful driving adventure feels like
• judd.baker 0 — Great song. Kind of an emo start to a road trip tho
• SamRobertsND -1 — Every damn U2 song is the same, and even so, you go with this instead of the obvious pick, "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Mistake! Colin would never have done this!

• Joseph Harvey +1 — This is it!! An anarchist plot to overthrow one world government by crashing the world’s computer systems is as Coreycore as it gets. The super 90s beat and jungle-like atmosphere are perfect. The humorous undertones are spot on. I could easily picture Corey doing this (censored) for karaoke
• ared56 +1
• judd.baker +1 — This is a grand slam of a pick. Every part of it is perfect. The hook is funky, the lyrics are spectacular, this captures both the Corey ethos and a fairly niche part of the Coreycore genre. A+.
• Regina Scime +1 — Great read of Corey’s anarchist side
• Corey 0 — Honestly, never been much of a Deltron guy. Too urban for my tastes, though I can respect the lyricality. Very Adult Swim.
• Edward James 0 — I've had this in mind for a Corey round for weeks. Early 2000s concept rap album about a dystopian society in the year 3030. Corey could actually be Del the Funky Homosapien (or Deltron 3030).
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Eh.
• Peter Seeley -1 — Pain.

• Brad Stalcup +1 — This is awesome. And I think Corey would love it. Well chosen.
• Sam Ary +1
• Claire +1
• judd.baker +1 — last but not least, wow. I thought I was being clever by submitting Brazilian funk and someone had to one up me with Senegalese folk fusion. Obscure international fusion rock is an essential pillar of the Coreybait genre
• Corey 0 — Feels like something I'd run into in one of my international compilation albums. Intriguing, but it doesn't quite grab me.
• Edward James 0 — This has Judd written all over it. Great song, but middle of the pack for me, and therefore, I assume it is also the middle of the pack for Corey.
• Joseph Harvey -1 — Sorry, this ain’t it

• SamRobertsND +1
• Peter Seeley +1 — I hadn't heard this before. I like it.
• Brad Stalcup +1 — This might be the best combination of musicality and narrative on the list.
• Sam Ary +1
• judd.baker +1 — goodness gracious this is beautiful. Jim Croce was a poet
• fionmul 0 — Points for actual singing and brevity but it’s still not really giving story
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Didn’t take in a single thing from this
• Edward James -1 — I LOVE JIM CROCE and I like this song! But all these songs are great, and so I am choosing to downvote the one that stood out to me least, which was this one.
• Regina Scime -1

Spicey Riche: The greatest love song of our generation.

• shea nowicki +1
• Edward James +1 — Sammy told me "there's a song on this playlist that is powerful Eddie bait." It was this one, and he was right. Could not love this more. I also think it gets the category as I envisioned it. You can't really "yearn" for something you've already had. Too many of the songs are about that.That's a different emotion. Very similar, but different in meaningful ways.
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Man what a fun song. This might be the only one that I've added to my liked songs in all of these playlists so far. Right up my alley. It perfectly encapsulates the simplicity and bigness of 8th grade longing. Citronella is definitely a name that someone gave to their child only because they don't know what citronella is.
• judd.baker +1 — bruh this is so good. That opening hook is pure honey. This is good old fashioned non weird non incel yearning. Irresistible
• SamRobertsND 0 — Eddiecore
• Peter Seeley 0 — Fun. Not yearny though.
• Regina Scime 0 — middle schoolers are indeed some of the most yearning creatures on the face of this earth. other songs spoke to me more personally, though.
• Joseph Harvey -1 — I knew from the first strum I would hate this

• SamRobertsND +1 — Better Eddiecore
• Regina Scime +1 — love the vibe!
• Edward James +1 — "I'm yearning for a man I rejected." Women, amirite? This is one of the most beautiful songs I can recall hearing in a long time.
• Sam Ary +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — OK this was pretty decent! I don’t know how “yearning” this is as much as “I still like you” though. There are some head scratchers too. Why did you say you didn’t love him? This seems like a self created problem
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Musically very interesting and fun. Lyrically lacking, and way too much reverb.
• Claire -1 — This has such an upbeat vibe musically that it doesn’t really feel yearn-y enough. Maybe that contrast is intentional and meant to be deep, but it didn’t work for me

• Corey +2
• SamRobertsND +1 — Easy money
• Sam Ary +1
• judd.baker +1 — I don’t doubt that others will comment the same thing, that “yearning” and “break up pain” are certainly not the same thing. All the same, there’s something so definitive and deeply cutting about this song. It’s beautiful, so earnest and unbelievably painful. After a full listen to this playlist, Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus are still lingering as a voice inside my yed.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Tom Staffelbach league. This is a great song. It’s amazing how long they make you wait for the chorus but the payoff is worth it!
• Edward James 0 — I feel like there needs to be an element of pathetic-ness to capture the true essence of the category.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Young love longing. Lover's remorse isn't quite longing IMO.
• Peter Seeley -1 — Pain, but not from longing.
• Spicey Riche -1

• fionmul +1 — Funny and informative
• Edward James +1 — Similar to VeggieTales, I thought this would be pretty dumb, but a lot of the turns of phrase were very clever and got a laugh out of me
• shea nowicki +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This is cringe and not funny
• SamRobertsND 0 — Millenial slop
• Peter Seeley 0 — Some funny lines.

• Joseph Harvey +1 — This actually made me laugh. Well done
• Edward James +1 — I really liked this, it was super clever.
• ared56 +1
• Brad Stalcup +1 — This song appeals to the frugal part of me. You know the one that made a vow of poverty at one point. But not the part of me that made a vow of chastity.
• Claire +1 — This is not the lil dicky song I thought of submitting for this round. I do, however, enjoy it
• fionmul 0 — This made me dance. We need a “try not to dance” round
• SamRobertsND 0 — I really should've done "Short People" by Randy Newman
• Regina Scime -1
• Corey -1

• ared56 +1
• SamRobertsND +1 — Loved this
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Man this song is so depressing. Especially when you listen to the song and then read the title. Is there no children because of the failing marriage? Or is the fact that they're not having children the main cause?
• judd.baker +1 — calculated Judd bait. John Darnielle has a voice perfectly calibrated for despair
• fionmul 0 — This was really good too. Wish i had a vote for everyone this round.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Was the song supposed to be funny? I thought it was funny. "I hope the junkyard burns down" is an amazing line.
• Edward James 0 — A mountain goats song was a great idea, but I don’t think this is the one.
• Joseph Harvey -1 — Nails on chalkboard vocal phrasing

• Spicey Riche +2
• Brad Stalcup +1 — I kinda loved this one. Fit the category really well, and was really musically interesting. I don't really have personal experience of being on the streets, but I can imagine that the inescapability Hi Alex.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Surprised how much I enjoyed this one.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Great pull out of votes
• Edward James 0 —  I liked this one a lot. Forgot how funny Akon‘s voice is.
• Claire 0 — This song is great. I don’t feel like it perfectly fits the theme though bc even though he’s recognizing the futility of his efforts this far, he’s still trying—there’s some sense of hope, or at least some commitment, that suggests it is not in fact over
• judd.baker 0 — Really enjoyed this

• Corey +1
• Claire +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Absolutely a 10/10 road trip song, but only once things have simmered down nicely, preferably during sunset or after nightfall. This is for the part of the roadtrip where half the passengers in the back are sleeping and a quiet conversation is taking place between the driver and copilot
• Edward James 0 — Absolute banger, but not one I would use for kickoff. This is a cruising into the sunset song.
• fionmul 0 — This is a little bit more middle of the road trip for me, but this is a classic for me and an ex of mine (in a fond way)
• Brad Stalcup 0 — This is 100% Eddie, only because I know of the personal connection you have to this song. This song has a sort of nostalgic feeling to it, as if it's more about the place that's being left than the place you're going. Doesn't quite have the pep or the build needed for a good kickoff song.
• SamRobertsND 0 — A superb song, one of the best country music songs ever written. The violin breaks my heart every time I listen to it. George is a singer whose voice stayed so consistent yet also changed in beautiful ways as he changed, and I hope that everyone here, young or old, longtime fans or newcomers, encounters the true joy that is George Strait. Too slow for theme, didn't vote.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Good for third or fourth hour of driving.

• Regina Scime +1
• ared56 +1
• Claire +1 — Good vibes
• judd.baker +1 — This is what blares from the open windows of the Redle family van on their weekly Sunday trip to Giant Eagle
• Joseph Harvey 0 — The production on this album is absolutely immaculate. It’s kind of a wonder to listen to just for that, but unfortunately it’s lipstick on a very dull and uninteresting pig. These riffs would have been cliche in 1970, much less 2002, and the vocals, while impressive, are hook free
• Edward James 0 — This is a really great song. I always forget that Audioslave is just Rage Against the Machine with Chris Cornell instead of Zac de la Rocha on vocals. I should like them more than I do, and this song was great. But it didn't stand out to me for the category, especially against some of the others.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — This had me tapping my foot. But I'm not sure this is a road trip starter, a little too heavy. But definitely a fun listen.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Truly terrible, nigh unlistenable. Should’ve known such a big group would traffic in poopoo
• Peter Seeley 0 — Good for night driving.
• Spicey Riche -1
• shea nowicki -1

• fionmul +1 — 🤘🏼💃🏻
• Joseph Harvey +1 — A techno love song full of computer metaphors seems spot on
• Edward James 0 — I really think Corey would like this a lot, but I’m on the eight or so songs where I feel similarly, this one just doesn’t rise high enough to get a vote
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I can imagine Corey as a DJ, and him blasting this song at a club. But do I imagine him loving this song while he does it? I don't think so. It just didn't stand out to me.
• judd.baker 0 — This is the part of the playlist I hit snooze on, which admittedly is a good sign in terms of how much Corey (and Joseph) would love it.

Spicey Riche: As the resident jock, I dedicate this to all of you actually.

• ared56 +3 — Corey Nuke for Corey
• SamRobertsND +2
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Would Corey tolerate the vulgarity? Probably. And I think he would probably sympathize with this song on a deep level.
• Edward James 0 — I actually do think Corey is going to love this lol. Hearing OK Go say swear words is jarring, I always think of them as like a middle school band.
• Peter Seeley 0 — I feel like this is a Brad song. Probably weirdly cathartic or something.
• Claire 0 — I have no idea whether Corey would like this song, but it definitely was stuck in my head for an entire freshman science class this week
• Corey -1 — Ok Go knows cuss words? I do feel targeted in an amusingly accurate way though.
• Sam Ary -1
• judd.baker -1 — user was banished to the focaccia mines for this post
• shea nowicki -1

• ared56 +1
• Edward James +1 — The story song with no real point is one of the best country traditions to still live on in some ways.
• Claire +1 — It’s a little silly but it’s def a story
• fionmul 0 — In all humility this is one of the only ones actually telling a story start to finish and you don’t even need to read the words to follow it.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Cute
• Brad Stalcup 0 — This was fun and musically interesting!
• judd.baker 0 — this is how you write a cathartic ending to a funny song
• Spicey Riche -1 — I’m amazed this is the only country song submitted. I feel very blessed by that.

• Regina Scime +2
• Edward James +1 — I feel bad upvoting this because I didn't upvote others that I know, and I have even submitted this for an earlier league lol. But it's SO GOOD.
• Sam Ary +1
• Peter Seeley 0 — Fun song, but everytime I listen to Rush I go into "Rush mode" in which I ignore the lyrics, forget which Rush song I'm listening to (they are all variations on a theme) and just vibe out. So I had no idea what the song was about until I looked up the lyrics.
• fionmul 0 — My criteria are “could this be made into an illustrated book and read aloud?” And “does this tell a story with a beginning middle and end” (as well as is this actually being sung) and this doesn’t meet all of these
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I don't know if there's a more joseph song than this one. I just can't imagine there's anything that speaks to him than these lines: Wind in my hair Shifting and drifting Mechanical music Adrenaline surge Well-weathered leather Hot metal and oil The scented country air Sunlight on chrome The blur of the landscape Every nerve aware But I just don't really like Rush all that much. I'm sorry Joseph.
• Spicey Riche 0 — It’s painful to not upvote Rush, but this is not much of a story.
• Claire 0 — Joseph I’m sorry but driving in a car isn’t a story
• ared56 -1 — Feels more like a dream than a story. Love the song, for some reason just didn’t fit for me.
• judd.baker -1 — Listened to this playlist with the lights off sitting in bed. This was the one song on the entire list that I finished and said, “I didn’t understand a single word of that story”

• ared56 +1 — The blues brother version is better
• Brad Stalcup +1 — What even is a hoochie coocher? I think that's a term made up for this song.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Classic song, but not a particularly narrative song.
• Edward James 0 — Should have submitted the Blues Brothers version
• fionmul 0 — He says he’s going to tell a story and then he kinda doesn’t

Sam Ary: 🍌

• fionmul +2 — Lowkey Flannery O’Connor vibes. But then again maybe that’s too generous. Reads like a children’s book that would be read at a public school.
• Claire +1 — Yep this is for sure a story
• Edward James 0 — This was fun, and it made me realize "Biggest Ball of Twin in Minnesota" by Weird Al is a style parody of this song. But didn't stand out above others.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This is not a very compelling or interesting story at the end of the day, basically nothing happens
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Surprisingly morbid song of the heroism of a truck driver. Didn't much care for it musically but loved the story telling.
• Spicey Riche 0 — What was this?
• judd.baker 0 — Musically I quite enjoyed this, and the narrative is interesting, and the line in the middle about the protagonist calling upon “the only man who could save him now” is great, as is “God, make this a dream!” All that said, it’s still just too much. There is no cathartic ending to this story, it’s just bleak and sad without a real payoff. It feels like the song can’t quite decide whether it’s supposed to be funny or sad and instead of threading the needle between those two, it doesn’t really fully succeed at either. It starts well and ends up frustrating.
• Peter Seeley -1 — Ghastly little story. Music is alright. I was expecting something more tropical. Down vote for not living up to such an enticing title and for obnoxious ending.

Spicey Riche: Best Beatles song, no question.

• shea nowicki +1
• judd.baker +1 — I adore this song. One of my favorite Beatles tracks. It’s beautiful, funny, clever, poignant, everything a narrative song could be. I think Paul McCartney succeeds at doing the Americana thing here.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Every time I hear this song , I think of an actual raccoon with a cowboy hat. It is only by the most strenuous mental effort that I dispel this image.
• Edward James 0 — It's always important to remember that all the 60s British invasion bands just wanted to be American country and blues artists. Love this song.
• fionmul 0 — Some of these are just not really enough to be a story like it’s a fragment of one. Reminds me of reading my middle school students writing assignments and also my 1st graders for that matter.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — I would think there would be far more compelling Beatles options than this. This is not all that memorable (the white album is also just kind of weird and not always in a great way)
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Rocky faced with a choice as he confronts Gideon's Bible. Will he forgive the man or not? It seems he does not, to his own demise. Loved the honky tonk feel of this one.

• Claire +1 — Yeah this is yearning for sure
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Toe-tapping. The bridge of this song was tremendously encapsulating of longing in its simplicity: "It was kiss kiss/ then it was bliss bliss/ then it was miss miss" Beautifully simple and longing.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Lyrical concept is ok, I was hoping this would be some kind of emo song based on the title and was musically dissatisfied. What about this instrumentation and melody communicates angst and yearning? Also thought this was “Bellfurries” for a dreadful second
• SamRobertsND 0 — ML Detective work will reward you with the identity of this poster.
• Edward James 0 — I really liked this song a lot. One thing I realized through this playlist is that (and I think this is fair) a lot of people saw songs reflecting on loss as "yearning". Which I just don't. It's very very similar but the specific reality/context from which they sing impacts it in certain ways imo. My votes don't perfectly reflect this, but I was biased against songs that were about loss.
• fionmul 0 — I like this but I usually go for songs that have sad music in addition to lyrics but thanks for showing me this song or reminding me about it

• fionmul +1 — Yes
• Claire +1 — Again, here, the sax is a part of the storytelling
• shea nowicki +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Good, not great
• Joseph Harvey 0 — The sax is not important enough to this.
• Edward James 0 — I felt like the saxophone lick here is supplemental but not load bearing. It’s amazing, but is actually pretty marginal in the song.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Pretty great song, but sax part didn't wow me.
• Spicey Riche 0 — Another song without saxophone. Good work genius
• Regina Scime -1 — As a Michigander, I hate to downvote Bob Seager, but the saxophone in this song just didn’t stand out to me

• shea nowicki +1
• Sam Ary +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Who names their kid mullato
• fionmul 0 — Sophisticated
• Peter Seeley 0 — Chill as frick. Wish I had more upvotes to give.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — 😴 underwhelming musicianship, recording quality, writing.
• Edward James 0 — I really love this, but it just missed a vote. In a packed field, it wins the cool factor, but not the musical factor.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Had high hopes for this one, but it just didn't blow me away (sorry Eddie if you're reading this). I think I liked the piano part more, tbh.
• Spicey Riche 0 — Pianist is trying to hard

• SamRobertsND +1 — Awesome!
• judd.baker +1 — This is genuinely phenomenal
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Not funny
• fionmul 0 — Unmemorable
• Edward James 0 — Good song, but didn’t stand out to me as particularly funny.
• Claire 0 — I too thought of submitting a presidents of the USA song so props for that

Spicey Riche: This song is funny

• Brad Stalcup +1 — "I feel like a prize Asshole No one even mentions my casserole" might be one of the best rhymes in the history of music. I think this is the only one that made me laugh out loud.
• judd.baker +1 — “I feel like a prize asshole, no one even mentions my casserole” is the kind of stuff these guys are legendary for. “Give me a small man’s wetsuit please.”
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Cringe
• fionmul 0 — This was annoying
• SamRobertsND 0 — Eh
• Edward James 0 — One of my favorites from flight of the Conchords, but I’m leaning towards ones I didn’t already know.
• Claire 0 — Funny song for sure but I feel like I’m so familiar with it that it didn’t really hit for me this round

• Edward James +1 — This is the kind of prog sound I like
• shea nowicki +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Sorry Corey, I don’t like this kind of metal
• SamRobertsND 0 — Nice but there are better options

• Joseph Harvey +1 — Hi Judd
• Brad Stalcup +1 — High energy. I can imagine accelerating on the highway during the bridge on this one.
• Sam Ary +1
• Edward James 0 — This is a really great song! But.....hear me out.....I really don't feel like this is a round for unheard of songs. To me a road trip kickoff involved other people, and to get them hyped, you need a song with shared memory. This is my own criteria, but it's how I imagine the category.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Nearly as bad as the first, slightly more tolerable.
• judd.baker 0 — This has the energy of an Eddie submission. I’m not sure if I’m feeling it as a road trip kickoff but golly this is a bange
• fionmul -1
• Peter Seeley -1 — Eh.

• judd.baker +1 — Yup. Definitive for a reason. No remarks. 10/10
• Edward James 0 — I love this song, and it's a cruising song for sure, but would not be my kickoff song.
• Peter Seeley 0 — I'd say this is great for the second day of the road trip, but not as a starter.

Peter Seeley: This song was in fact the kick off song to my journey to SB five years ago. It just happened to be on the radio.

• SamRobertsND +1 — Hi Richard! Or Judd? Maybe Shea if the Communists in Theology have gotten to her just yet. This is Augustine: the Song, and if you can't see that, you're a moral pervert. Cat Stevens was usually on during Roberts family car trips.
• shea nowicki +1
• Sam Ary +1
• fionmul 0 — I think the key part of this prompt is that it’s the very first song kicking off the roadtrip but many of these are great for middle of the trip vibes
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I kept waiting for this song to build to something that it never built to.
• Claire 0 — Lyrically on theme but didn’t hit music/vibe wise for me
• Joseph Harvey -1 — Kind of sounds like Peter Gabriel which I like, but not a good fit for this at all
• Edward James -1 — This is similar to Peaceful Easy Feeling in terms of the type of road trip vibe it creates, but sadly I am just not a big fan of Yusuf Islam, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens. Probably the hardest downvote to assign so far, so don't feel too bad!

• Peter Seeley +1 — I was actually touched by the story .
• shea nowicki +1
• Edward James 0 — It's the GOAT - only doesn't get a vote because I want to prioritize songs that we don't all know.
• fionmul 0 — I like this song a lot and im not sure what all to vote for but this song is similar to Livin on a Prayer in that it’s not really a story to me it’s just like oh a couple of people have it hard and we wanna get outta here together and we are in love etc
• Joseph Harvey 0 — I’m very torn on this one. The narrative is very subtle and sad, it doesn’t hit you over the head with “this happened and then this happened” and leaves you to paint a picture of what is going on in these people’s lives. However, despite some strong melodies and sections, the way these solid pieces are put together dumps the momentum over and over again the way we get FOUR bars of that main guitar part between every verse and chorus. There’s also some awkward phrasing at some points and these fumbles hold the song back from receiving a vote.
• judd.baker 0 — upon listening again I was struck by how the verses don’t rhyme, they’re just sort of stream of consciousness. Kind of cool
• Sam Ary -1

• Regina Scime +2
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Man I think I could say every word to this song. I've listened to it so many times. It was the song I analyzed the lyrics for as a project in 7th grade language arts class. I'm pretty sure my teacher hated me for it. As far as story telling goes, though, it's a bit meandering.
• Claire +1 — Hell yeah. Assuming this is Eddie. I haven’t heard this song in a number of years now and I’d forgotten just how many insane one liners it introduced into the young Murphy kids’ repertoire
• Peter Seeley 0 — I hate it. I love it. I mostly hate it. Yet I am in awe or p
• Edward James 0 — One of the songs I'm most glad to have heard live
• fionmul 0 — I think the key for me was songs that had melodic lyrics that told a story and this has a lot of talking
• Spicey Riche 0 — This song is amazing and awful and hilarious and terrible.
• judd.baker 0 — I did not care for Weird Al’s “Albuquerque.” Did not care for Albuquerque. It insists upon itself, Lois.
• SamRobertsND -1
• Joseph Harvey -1 — Brevity is the soul of wit
• Corey -1

Regina Scime: written after his 4 year old fell from a 53rd floor window…

• shea nowicki +1
• Sam Ary +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Eddie hates Eric Clapton, but that's a moral failing.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Very sad, knowing the backstory. But it doesn't make me yearn.
• fionmul 0 — Thanks for making me sad asf I’m glad there’s hope in the song tho
• Claire 0 — This is so tragic, and I perhaps one could describe it as yearning, but it just seems like a different sort of emotion/experience than what I’m taking this category to be about
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I know this song is memeable, but only because it's so vulnerable. I'm not sure this is longing as much as it is mourning. Though the two are close, i think there's a significant difference.
• Edward James -1 — Just don't like it. Never been an Eric Clapton fan

• Regina Scime +1
• Claire +1 — Love this song—automatic upvote from me. When I saw this on the playlist I immediately thought of the Hillsdale forum article about the blue album featuring Dwight Lindley. Idk what that says about me
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Good submission, I was going to upvote until I heard the Jeff Buckley. This is a great example of how rough-around-the-edges musicianship can contribute to a song. It really sounds like something a few college guys put together in a garage in the best way. The chorus progression is really weird and almost doesn’t work but major points for the creativity.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Hillsdalecore
• Edward James 0 — To me, a great yearning song needs to be pathetic, slightly cloying, and generally unattainable. To me this captures the "so hypothetical and unrealistic it's creepy" vibe which men can tend towards. Also a banger and a perfect album ender.
• judd.baker 0 — wow this playlist is so good. Shout out to one of the greatest albums ever made
• Brad Stalcup -1 — Only in dreams would this song be shorter or more interesting.

• Peter Seeley +1 — Delicious.
• Regina Scime +1 — I may or may not have shouted when the saxophone started growling
• SamRobertsND 0 — Good but unmemorable
• fionmul 0 — Eh more unique than some tho
• Edward James 0 — This is my favorite of the jazzy songs. Really good stuff and varied. I just feel like my votes were drawn more towards things that were not just saxophone alone.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Accidentally seduced my wife when I played this in the car.
• Spicey Riche 0 — Ruby isn’t even a real name
• shea nowicki -1 — I think I need to go to jail for this downvote. Just the one I remembered the least in the end. Beautiful lounge music, though.

• Spicey Riche +2
• ared56 +1
• Claire +1 — It’s a fun innovative use of sax in a different genre than you’d expect. Sorry chat, it’s a yes from me
• shea nowicki +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This song features a saxophone part
• Edward James 0 — Absolute banger in every way, and I’m tempted to vote for it simply because Sammy hated on it in the chat. Probably my next vote if I had one more to give.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Licensed to make me ill.
• judd.baker 0 — Do not let the haters sway you, brave soldier, this sax part is terrific
• SamRobertsND -1 — Shitty and annoying
• fionmul -1 — Noo
• Peter Seeley -1 — Obnoxious. This makes me want to cull the local simian population.
• Corey -1 — I really, really didn't want to do this, but I had to put it somewhere. If it's any consolation, this was one of my favorite songs in middle school.

Peter Seeley: Townes was the last real one. Tragic life. Brilliant musician. Curiously Robert Plant and Allison Krauss did a cover which is brilliant in its own right but completely different.

• SamRobertsND +1 — One of the best to ever do it. I almost did "Mr Bojangles" for songs that tell a story.
• fionmul 0 — Lyrically pretty good but musically not giving
• Joseph Harvey 0 — I am unable to receive what this song has to give
• Edward James 0 — Great pick, but when I went to vote, I couldn’t remember even listening to this song. I listened again, but I feel like that keeps it from getting a vote.

• Regina Scime +2
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Wow. It really is so over. Not my favorite song on this list, but definitely nails the category the best.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This lady is a Radiohead fan for sure. I questioned whether she was singing in English at a couple points though
• SamRobertsND 0 — Taking more than her share, had me fighting for air She told me to come, but I was already there 'Cause the walls start shaking, the Earth was quaking My mind was aching and we were making it
• Edward James 0 — I feel bad saying this, because for other songs, I probably would have the opposite feeling, but her voice is just really weird
• judd.baker 0 — I really want to upvote Adrianne Lenker every time, but lyrically this song is almost too murky and vague to me. To really be a song about despair, it’s gotta sound like crying and screaming at the moon
• fionmul -1 — Most other submissions were just way stronger even tho this does sound like a person dying sorta (🥲😂). I think this is Shea, loml. But I have to downvote it I think 😭 ily tho. If this isn’t Shea I dont feel that bad tho.
• Peter Seeley -1 — I'm sure Adrianne is talented, but I despise this vocal style. I will spare you the rant.

• Corey +1 — Timeless.
• Claire +1 — Thought about submitting this one. American Idol in the aughts was such a beautiful cultural moment
• fionmul 0 — This needed to be here; thank you. My vote got stolen from this song by things that were a bit less obvious/flat. Honestly, playlist order effects my voting a lot more than I would have thought.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — One bad day does not an “it’s so over” make. With that said this is an extremely well written song which I never realized before, so thank you
• SamRobertsND 0 — What is this, 2006? Get this American Idol shit out of here
• Edward James 0 — I’m sorry, but this song will never be anything but funny to me. I was giggling throughout. You can even ask Alex.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I can't help but think of American Idol when I hear this song.
• judd.baker -1 — My criteria for this round is that to be truly a song about failure and despair, there’s gotta be no silver lining. This song has too much residual hope, as though too far along in the stages of grief. A little too upbeat, therapeutic, forward-looking

• ared56 +3
• Sam Ary +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Just not feeling it
• Edward James 0 — This was my runner up for a 5th vote, if we had one. This is such a banger, and really gets the hype. I awarded my 4th vote to Peaceful Easy Feeling, however, since it really made me imagine a different view of the category that I could still relate to.
• fionmul 0 — This was the easiest choice I’ve ever made for a submission. I just remembered this one time that I started a road trip this and it slapped. So I can be at peace that I was true to myself even if I get hate (if you’re hating it youre hating on the real me)
• SamRobertsND 0 — Millennial round from last league called, they want their submission back.
• Peter Seeley 0 — I wish to get ignant and hectic after listening to this song. Do I want to drive though? Not sure .
• Corey -1 — May just be me, but this feels more like an intracity drive track than a proper road trip song.
• Regina Scime -1 — Not my vibe for the start of a road trip
• Brad Stalcup -1 — Can't upvote this one, because the original version is called "let's get retarded" (the rest of the lyrics remain unchanged) and has nothing to do with actually starting things off.
• judd.baker -1 — This would be a Corey-esque vote dump from me if the category were kicking off a homeroom party on the last day of sixth grade

Sam Ary: Starting off with a classic

• Edward James +1 — I was right away biased against this, because to me, road trip kickoff needs to be energetic. But I will say that as I listened, I could very easily picture a solo road trip, one meant to clear the mind and reflect, starting off with something like this. It expanded the category for me, and for that it gets a vote.
• shea nowicki +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This is good for the last third of a road trip as the light starts to go golden, this is in no way hype enough for a kickoff
• fionmul 0 — So good but I voted for only one eagle song and thought the other was better
• SamRobertsND 0 — Great song, but there’s a better Eagles pick here.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Good middle of the road trip song
• judd.baker 0 — This is just too low key to be a trip opener. Also being The Eagles is an automatic -10 starting point that has to be overcome somehow (see elsewhere)
• ared56 -1
• Claire -1 — Love the song but of the two eagles songs it’s the one that feels less apt for this round

• fionmul +1 — I enjoyed this
• Corey 0 — Catchy, but like the above, it has very stiff competition, and I have only so many thumbs.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — No
• Edward James 0 — This is a great song, I’ve only heard one other Saint Motel song and I liked that one too. I think this is a song Corey would like, but I just don’t think it stands out among the others.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Corey would like this, but I gave only so many votes to give.
• judd.baker 0 — I really like the one other Saint Motel song I’ve heard but this one is a little underwhelming and I don’t think I really see this as a Coreycore submission.
• shea nowicki 0 — I tried to find my musical overlap with Corey... in the end, I'm not convinced I got it right! I do like this song though lol
• Claire -1 — Meh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

• shea nowicki +1
• fionmul 0 — Something that’s been in my rotation for several years and you might like my friend 🫱🏻‍🫲🏾
• Corey 0 — The music is there, but the lyrics don't quite mesh with me. I can't quite explain it.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — I don’t think Camino is quite Coreycore I’m afraid. I don’t think he would hate it still
• Edward James 0 — Great song, make it three by the band Camino that I like, Claire. But again, doesn’t rise to the top.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I dug this one, but nothing about it stuck out to me as particularly Corey flavored.
• Claire 0 — I obviously love this song but I have zero intuition as to whether or not Corey would
• judd.baker 0 — yawn. Maybe Corey would like this but I say, next
• SamRobertsND -1

fionmul: she once was a true love of mine

• shea nowicki +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Much better than the Bob Dylan version
• Peter Seeley 0 — Ok.
• Edward James 0 — Bob Dylan original is better and better captures the yearning feeling imo
• Claire 0 — Obviously very yearning lyrics. But this version didn’t do it for me, idk
• SamRobertsND -1 — Comedically bad

Peter Seeley: This song has the most yearningest sound you'll ever hear. Don't tell me it's not about longing.

• fionmul +1
• Claire +1 — Yeah this is big yearning hours
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Polly is a weird name to fit in this song. There are multiple lines where I really don’t know what they mean. But the vibe is perfect for yearning
• SamRobertsND 0 — Very interesting album
• Edward James 0 — The song needs to speak for itself.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — It's not about longing. At least the lyrics are hard to parse as those of longing. Voice does all the work there.
• judd.baker 0 — musically this is phenomenal. Instant add to a playlist of mine. Lyrically/thematically I think I got filtered a bit, didn’t seem as resonant as other entries.
• ared56 -1
• shea nowicki -1 — I hate to downvote based on preference! I'm sorry! It's not you; it's me!!! :(

• SamRobertsND 0 — Slop but Honest Slop. Reminds me of the Squirtle meme. Sam?
• fionmul 0 — No
• Peter Seeley 0 — Wonderful saxophone. Not a fan of that vocal style.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Sounds messy and amateur. Still some nasty sax sounds though.
• Regina Scime 0 — I may or may not have shouted when the saxophone started growling
• Spicey Riche 0 — More like Klingrunt

• SamRobertsND 0 — Good but unmemorable
• fionmul 0 — Ooh hm
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This is cool in the same way the Bladerunner track is cool but that one is way cooler, sorry. This is really pretty though.
• Edward James 0 — This is my favorite of the instrumental picks.
• Spicey Riche 0 — More like UprisingGrunt

• Joseph Harvey 0 — “This is going to be a long playlist” I thought as this song began
• fionmul 0 — Lowkey grown man, highkey still a fan
• SamRobertsND 0 — Evangelical-core
• Edward James 0 — Let me start off the round by noting that my general rule of thumb for this was it should get a vote if it actually makes me laugh out loud, or at least chuckle to myself. I expected this to be very dumb, and while it was, it was also quite funny. It would be my fifth vote.
• Peter Seeley 0 — The original veggie tales is funnier.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — This was fun.
• judd.baker 0 — This actually kinda slaps

• Joseph Harvey 0 — A joke with no punchline
• fionmul 0 — Most are mediocrely funny but still my vote is very spread. I appreciated this, though. Shoutout NY shoutout Brooklyn.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Annoying
• Edward James 0 — I thought I was going to like this more than I did, but it got kind of stale for me as it went on
• Peter Seeley 0 — I'm glad the Dodgers left that dump
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Man, the way he says words is so irritating. It has a fun music video.

Sam Ary: 🤔

• Corey +1 — DON'T STOP TALKING TO ME I HAVEN'T BEEN LISTENING
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Very exciting seeing post hardcore in ML. This is really cool but I don’t think this is as on the money for Corey as others here. What an insane voice though
• Edward James 0 — I have a feeling this might actually be Corey’s submission. From his extensive Hangar Dialogues™ with Joseph (available as a three CD set wherever fine media is sold) I know he likes this kind of thing. This is one where personal preference leads me to place this just outside the winner’s circle.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Joe? Is this you?
• judd.baker 0 — we were missing a true blue emo track. Thank you for delivering
• Brad Stalcup -1 — A whiny outlier on this list. Would Corey like it? Maybe, but I don't think so.
• Spicey Riche -1 — I don’t know what this is, but probably no one would love it.

• SamRobertsND 0 — First learned about Jewel through the Woodstock 99 documentary. Good sick watch.
• Edward James 0 — This is so beautiful! But it just missed the top 4 for me. I really liked it tho.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Her voice is perfectly longing. 5th place for me.
• judd.baker -1 — Stacked playlist and this was simply the most forgettable song

• Peter Seeley +1 — Ok this is funny
• Corey +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Uh not a funny song?
• Edward James 0 — Vanessa Hudgens, I haven’t forgotten you. Don’t see how this is funny.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — What?! This song is great.
• judd.baker 0 — Idgi. Would downvote but it’s not the worst offender
• Claire 0 — This song is a genuine banger. I may or may not have once sung this at club blue karaoke at the hangar featuring Fiona as Troy. It’s corny, yes, but I don’t think that’s the same thing as “funny”
• fionmul -1 — Nah
• SamRobertsND -1 — Normal song
• ared56 -1

• SamRobertsND +1 — I'm glad you went for it
• Regina Scime +1 — I felt like a lot of the songs weren’t super funny. This is so outlandish, so it stood out to me
• Claire +1 — I think it’s the nonchalance of the delivery that really sells this one
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Uh
• fionmul 0 — but good job with boldness ig? $17 is a good deal tho good for this guy Almost voted for it too
• Edward James 0 — This gets serious props for being inappropriate, but not explicit. It actually had me chuckling, especially the specific singing and presentation style. Ended up being slightly edged out by others.
• Peter Seeley -1 — How can you make a song with such a premise so boring?
• Brad Stalcup -1 — I wish I had detachable ears for this song.
• shea nowicki -1
• judd.baker -1 — This has to be punished

• Spicey Riche +1 — Is it wishful thinking that Corey is the kind of man who would love Alanis Morissette but somehow has never heard of her? Yes.
• Corey 0 — I want to like this more, it has that grungy sound I love, but it faces stiff competition. Also Alanis dropping f bombs feels a little juvenile. I've never listened to her, but she always struck me as more respectable than that. She's an alt-rock musician? I hadn't the slightest idea.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — I think this is close, especially the very 90s verse. Some options here just nail the category more. The amount of poisonous vitriol this lady can distill into her voice is astonishing, have to say
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I'm sorry, just didn't like this one. Although the chorus is definitely an earworm. Would Corey Like it? Maybe.
• Peter Seeley 0 — Eh.
• Claire 0 — Generational banger, and a song that would be my go to karaoke track were I not wary of offending render ears. But I have absolutely no idea how Corey would feel about it
• judd.baker 0 — an Alanis Morisette submission is an enlightened choice. I’m only not upvoting because lyrically I’m not sure if it’s exactly Corey’s thing, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s heard it already. Also it’s a stacked round and votes are in short supply
• fionmul -1 — I….i wasn’t expecting this, a wild kickoff. Corey seems to like songs like this, but I’m not sure about the actual content and meaning of the lyrics. But he likes a fast and clever/humorous song I’m under the impression however that he doesn’t like profanity Im downvoting because this offended my ears the most (sorta hate her voice but I tolerate ironic)
• Edward James -1 — I want to downvote this, but have a sneaking suspicion it is actually Corey. It's just so out of left field for what we know of his music taste.
• Regina Scime -1

Spicey Riche: If you downvote this because it’s too obvious, I will attack you.

• Peter Seeley +1 — It's a classic for a reason.
• SamRobertsND 0 — My best friend's uncle was hitchhiking, and after this one guy picked him up, he popped in a tape where this started playing. His uncle jumped out of the moving car.
• fionmul 0 — Sure
• Edward James 0 — Listening to this again, of course I was struck by how good the saxophone is. But I think the real stand out of the song is George Michael’s incredible voice. Also hard to not hear it as a meme.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — The most obvious pick for this category IMO. But I don't think it's actually the best saxophone part.
• judd.baker 0 — I was going to invoke the “submitting Sting for Joseph Harvey round” rule, but submitting the Wham! version instead of the George Michael solo version just barely saves it from that. The sax part is indeed genuinely excellent, but this fruit is too low hanging imo.
• Joseph Harvey -1 — I’m going to punish the obvious choice here. Every one of us thought about submitting this, so this just feels lazy. The sax equivalent of the stairway to heaven intro. Great, but ubiquitous and thus uninteresting. Honestly, aside from the iconic sax part, this song is utterly forgettable which would tank it anyways
• Claire -1 — It’s an iconic sax part. I don’t know how it manages to capture such intense, campy angst. I love it for that reason. But it’s a iconic sax part, not a *great* sax part.
• Sam Ary -1 — Had to downvote this bc it’s too cliché for this category I’m so sorry

• fionmul 0 — This isn’t funny at all Judd
• SamRobertsND 0 — Normal song? Worse offenders tho
• Peter Seeley 0 — Not really funny.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I think I just don't get this one.
• Claire 0 — I get that op is going for something that’s “funny” but not a novelty song, but it just isn’t funny enough to me to really pull off that read, sorry
• Joseph Harvey -1 — This is not even slightly funny
• Edward James -1 — Not a chance, Judd

• Regina Scime +1 — Normally, I don’t like breakup songs (or breakup-adjacent songs). I can’t really relate to them, and I just don’t quite understand why people like listening to them. BUT THIS SONG CHANGED MY ******* BRAIN CHEMISTRY I will never be the same
• Claire +1 — Great song, and the sax really enhances the poignant angsty vibes
• SamRobertsND 0 — December 27, 2013, for instance. Driving home at night in Louisville, KY. Delilah on the radio. This song is playing. Such good memories.
• fionmul 0 — Ehhh
• Peter Seeley 0 — Good.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This was a lovely song. I wish the saxophone were more prominent, but that part at the end is lovely
• ared56 -1
• Edward James -1 — This song is a banger, and I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. But I don’t think the saxophone is a major component of it . Probably the song where the saxophone does the least for the overall vibe. Hence my downvote.
• Brad Stalcup -1 — I could barely hear the sax and I don't really
• Spicey Riche -1 — This isn’t even a saxophone
• judd.baker -1 — Sax part is decent but making me sit through 4+ minutes of this song to get to it is criminal

• fionmul 0 — The “no good deed goes unpunished” at 2:45 🔥🔥🔥 Not enough votes
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Obviously Erivo’s vocals are great, but this sounds like a song written by AI. There’s no flow to the melody despite some very bright moments
• Peter Seeley 0 — Yet again, great talent that seems wasted to me.
• SamRobertsND 0 — I loved this!!!
• Claire 0 — Oh my gosh this is cool. I haven’t had a chance to see the movie yet but it’s getting me even more pumped. It’s also a good read of the theme imo, didn’t have enough votes tho
• judd.baker 0 — The lyrics without the context from a movie I didn’t see make this much less resonant than other submissions
• ared56 -1
• Edward James -1 — no
• Corey -1 — I dislike this specific musical on principle. It's not even necessarily the song. I will not deny being arbitrary this time.
• Brad Stalcup -1
• Spicey Riche -1
• shea nowicki -1
• Sam Ary -1