GatewayRedbirds.com

http://challonge.com/grb_cover_tourney has all the tourney info.

Round 1:

BW23's "Africa" by Mike Masse


Swirls' "The Thong Song" by The Ghost Of Patrick Swayze

When I think of cover songs, both of these songs epitomize exactly what I think of.

I came to vote for Africa. Left voting for The Thong Song, not that the Africa cover was bad, but I felt like TTS Cover was highly transformative in both a comical and well-sung way, and the Africa one didn't feature the high pitch on "rAINs" which is almost the defining moment of the song for me besides the baseline.

"Let me see that tho-o-ong. Baby! That thong thong thong thong thong..."

Maybe it's a prejudice, but I really really dislike ironic covers of black music by white hipsters. It just seems yucky in a culturally appropriative, smarmy kind of way. Even though they're often clever and enjoyable.

Africa is what made Masse a YouTube hit. I dig his covers mainly for the songs themselves, but he's got a classic rock kind of voice which, frankly, is good for just about the only thing he is actually doing with it. And Africa was something we sung in 7th grade music class concert. Our teacher was a Toto fan, and the song always makes me think of him.

The interesting thing on Masse is that he's an attorney that used to just sing in a pizza joint for fun. I don't think he practices law now but makes money doing covers, so he must be doing okay financially.

Low did a more interesting cover of Africa.

Anyone wearing a RUSH t-shirt gets my vote.

ROUND CLOSED!

Congrats BW23! "Africa" advances to the 2nd round!