Rays walkup music bracket, Round 2

It was a quick turn around from the Rays’ last off day (Thursday), but the lovely readers at DRB showed up and voted in droves for the first round of our Rays walkup music bracket. We had eight first-round matchups, two of which were exceptionally close in the final vote.

In today’s rundown, we’ll briefly review the first round matchups, and set up the second round for voting to commence. The Rays have their next off day next Monday, so the voting will last until then.

A friendly reminder that the seeds were created by a random number generator, and if you want to read the first two parts of this series, here is Part 1 (introduction and eliminating down to 16 contenders) and here is Part 2 (Round 1 of the vote).

Round 1 Recap

1) Jake Odorizzi - Country Grammar (Nelly) over

16) Daniel Robertson - Something Just Like This (The Chainsmokers & Coldplay)

The Odorizzi/Nelly combination drew nearly twice the total number of votes as the Robertson/Coldplay combination, winning by a total of 215 to 109. Given the large universe of folks who just hate Coldplay and the large universe of folks who love 90s R&B (yes, I know it was technically released in 2000, but you know what I mean), this result makes total sense.

15) Steven Souza Jr. - Space Jam (Quad City DJs) over

2) Matt Duffy - When the Levee Breaks (Led Zeppelin)

It goes in line with my belief that this is Souza’s bracket to lose that this matchup drew the highest number of total votes in Round 1 - the people care that “Space Jam” moves on! That being said, there was a strong sentiment that “When the Levee Breaks” could have made a serious run had it not drawn the prohibitive favorite in the first round. Too bad there’s not a loser’s bracket.

3) Chris Archer - Voodoo Child (Jimi Hendrix) over

14) Xavier Cedeño - Daria Mi Vida Por Ella (Victor Manuel)

There were two things I was sure about in regards to the first round: first, that the song I wanted to win this matchup (“Daria Mi Vida Por Ella”) would lose in a blowout; and second, that my hot take on Jimi Hendrix would be skewered by the readers. I was correct on both accounts, as Archer topped Cedeño by a final vote of 273 to 43, and DRB reader npolackw suggested that I stick to podcasts instead of music. You’re not wrong, npolackw.

13) Tim Beckham - DNA (Kendrick Lamar) over

4) Jose Alvarado - No Olvido Mi Pueblo (Ozzie Tales)

It was a rough first round for the Latin songs included in the Sweet 16, but it’s hardly surprising to see Lamar march on by a final vote of 220 to 60. It certainly doesn’t hurt that we’re linking to the music videos in the article, and “DNA” has an outstanding video.

12) Alex Cobb - Intro (The XX) over

5) Colby Rasmus - Wolfpac (Jimmy Hart & Howard Helm)

This is our closest matchup so far. Cobb ended up taking the win by 15 votes (155 to 140), but the vote was neck-and-neck for the vast majority of the voting period, with Rasmus holding a lead several times that I checked. In the end, the readers of DRB made the right call. “Wolfpac” is a hilarious song and near-perfectly ironic choice for the Amish-looking Rasmus, but The XX simply can’t be voted out in the first round.

6) Brad Miller - Tha Crossroads - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony) over

11) Derek Norris - The Beautiful People

The closest matchup in all of Round 1, Miller/Bone Thugs prevailed by a final tally of 156 to 149 - who said your vote doesn’t matter? Once again, I agree with the readers, as the Norris/Manson duo was hilarious, but I’d be slightly terrified if we, as a Rays’ community, chose that as the Rays’ best walkup song.

7) Evan Longoria - Down and Out (Tantric) over

10) Alex Colome - Tiempos (Lapiz Conciente)

“Tiempos” was the worst song of the first round on multiple listens. Longo nabbed the biggest blowout of the first round (280 to 42) as a result.

9) Austin Pruitt - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana) over

8) Curt Casali - Can’t Stop (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

I was honestly a bit surprised (pleasantly, I’ll add) with the ease with which Kurt Cobain et al. dispatched the RHCP in the first round (189 to 116). In fact, the voters thoroughly impressed throughout the first round. Well done, ladies and gentleman.

Round 2 Matchups

1) Jake Odorizzi - Country Grammar (Nelly) vs.

9) Austin Pruitt - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)

This is the lowkey matchup of the bracket so far. It could spark some serious debate as well. It spurred plenty of internal debate for me personally, but in the end I have to give it to Odo/Nelly. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is the better song, but “Country Grammar” is the better walkup song. It’s impossible to hear the opening ten seconds of “Country Grammar” and not be immediately fired up and ready to go.

15) Steven Souza Jr. - Space Jam (Quad City DJs) vs.

7) Evan Longoria - Down and Out (Tantric)

Down and Out, indeed. I can’t see this one being closer than 60-40. Sorry Longo, you went from the easiest matchup to the hardest. Such is life in Random Number Generator Land.

3) Chris Archer - Voodoo Child (Jimi Hendrix) vs.

6) Brad Miller - Tha Crossroads - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony)

This is the weakest second-round matchup in the “podcast” opinion of this author, but I know people feel very strongly about each of these jams. I’d probably lean Jimi despite semi-trashing him in the last round.

13) Tim Beckham - DNA (Kendrick Lamar) vs.

12) Alex Cobb - Intro (The XX)

Oh man, I take back what I said about the Nelly-Nirvana matchup, this is the showdown of the second round. Fitting that it is left for the cleanup spot in these four matchups, as it is going to leave a lot of people torn for a while before making their final vote. “DNA” has the edge in terms of message, meaning, lyrics (by default), and music video (which again, shouldn’t really matter, but definitely does), but I’m going the other way. I got loyalty, but “Intro” honestly might be my own walkup music if when I make the major leagues.

That’s it for Round 2. Cast your votes during the next week and check back next Monday for the semifinal matchups.