Rays walkup bracket: Final

Well, I guess y’all really like Led Zeppelin. In a year in which we included all 33 entries so that there could be no claims of unfair elimination, we are left with “Whole Lotta Love” vs. “Immigrant Song” in the final. We’ll get to the voting, but first a quick recap of the previous round.

Semifinal recap

Joey Wendle: Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin 66%

over

Ryne Stanek: Still Dre - Dr. Dre 34%

Man oh man did I want to see “Still Dre” in the final. From the opening drop to the Hall of Fame level hydraulics in the video to the fact that is was somehow Ryne Stanek who had this as his walk up song, it seemed like the perfect song to sneak up on folks and make it to the final. It drew the easier of the two Zeppelin songs to defeat, in my opinion, but it still wasn’t even close...

Jake Faria: Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin 63%

over

Andrew Kittredge: Tom Sawyer - Rush 37%

Because there was no denying your Zeppelin thirst this year. Last year Evan Longoria won with “Down and Out” by Tantric, undoubtedly a homer pick that resonated more with fans because of the positive connotations of the song than the actual musical greatness of the song (at least I really hope so). This year, with the face of the franchise plying his trade out in the Bay Area, there was (apparently) a Zeppelin-sized hole in the hearts of Rays fans.

Like Stanek and Dre, Andrew Kittredge and my personal top choice, “Tom Sawyer” couldn’t pull off the upset either, despite coming into the semi-finals with a bit of momentum after winning a one-vote showdown in the quarterfinals. Alas.

Final matchup

Joey Wendle: Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin

Jake Faria: Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin

Honestly, spending 500 words breaking down just exactly which Zeppelin song should win this walkup bracket seems a bit silly, so instead I’ll say briefly that “Immigrant Song” is clearly superior, and since y’all love Zeppelin so much, here are some quick Led Zeppelin related lists/rankings with which you can hopefully agree/disagree with vehemently in the comments section.

Definitive Led Zeppelin album rankings:

Led Zeppelin IV
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin II
Houses of the Holy
In Through the Out Door
Presence
Coda

Top 10 Zeppelin songs:

Kashmir
Immigrant Song
Houses of the Holy
Misty Mountain Hop
Good Times Bad Times
When the Levee Breaks
In the Light
Communication Breakdown
The Song Remains the Same
Trampled Under Foot

Album art ranking:

Led Zeppelin
Houses of the Holy
In Through the Out Door
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin IV
Presence
Coda
Led Zeppelin III

Most overrated Zeppelin songs:

Rock and Roll
Dazed and Confused
Stairway to Heaven

Best references to Zeppelin in pop culture:

John Bonham’s playing Moby Dick for real! (Link: NSFW)
“When it comes down to making out, whenever possible put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV”

Best looking band members:

Jimmy Page
Robert Plant
John Paul Jones
John Bonham

Overall band member rankings:

Jimmy Page
John Bonham
Robert Plant (but the best solo career)
John Paul Jones