Alright, I give up trying to get a tie-breaking vote, and I'm just moving on to the next round. Both of the Black Eyed Peas' monster smashes from the last year showed relative vulnerability, barely beating out Secondhand Serenade (who?!) and David Cook to move on. Lady Gaga's performance continues to be extremely confusing. Though "Paparazzi" moved on with ease, her smash hit "Poker Face" is still in a deadlock with "Meet Me Halfway" in the tiebreaker. Meanwhile, "Sweet Dreams" almost unanimously defeated "Blame It," and "Obsessed" proved almost as strong (though I suspect Kanye's fallen reputation may have something to do with that). Boys Like Girls made surprisingly easy work of "Knock You Down." The results and an updated bracket below:
BRACKET 4
4 The Black Eyed Peas "Boom Boom Pow" def. 77 Secondhand Serenade "Fall For You" (6-4)
44 Lady Gaga "Paparazzi" def. 37 Jesse McCartney f/ Ludacris "How Do You Sleep" (7-3)
24 Kevin Rudolf f/ Lil Wayne "Let It Rock" vs. 57 Akon f/ Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall "Beautiful" (5-5)
64 Mariah Carey "Obsessed" def. 17 Kanye West "Heartless" (8-2)
14 T.I. f/ Justin Timberlake "Dead and Gone" def. 67 Jay-Z f/ Rihanna and Kanye West "Run This Town" (7-3)
54 Boys Like Girls "Love Drunk" def. 27 Keri Hilson f/ Ne-Yo and Kanye West "Knock You Down" (7-3)
47 Beyonce "Sweet Dreams" def. 34 Jamie Foxx f/ T-Pain and Yung Joc "Blame It (On the Alcohol)" (9-1)
7 The Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" def. 74 David Cook "Light On" (6-4)
[3 Lady Gaga "Poker Face" vs. 78 The Black Eyed Peas "Meet Me Halfway" (5-5)]
[8 The Fray "You Found Me" def. 73 Flo Rida f/ Wynter "Sugar" (6-4)]
Best of 2009 Tournament DrawBRACKET 1
1 The All-American Rejects "Gives You Hell" def. 80 Rihanna f/ Justin Timberlake "Rehab" (6-4)
40 Pink "So What" vs. 41 Jason DeRulo "Whatcha Say" (10-0)
21 Britney Spears "Womanizer" vs. 60 Drake "Best I Ever Had" (8-2)
61 Rihanna "Disturbia" def. 20 Beyonce "Halo" (8-2)
11 Britney Spears "Circus" def. 70 Pitbull "Hotel Room Service (7-3)
30 Pink "Please Don't Leave Me" def. 51 The Pussycat Dolls "I Hate This Part" (6-4)
31 Miley Cyrus "Party in the USA" def. 50 Kid Cudi "Day 'N Nite" (6-4)
10 Kelly Clarkson "My Life Would Suck Without You" def. 71 Jeremih "Birthday Sex" (10-0)
BRACKET 2
79 Britney Spears "3" def. 2 Lady Gaga f/ Colby O'Donis and Akon "Just Dance" (4-3)
39 Cobra Starship f/ Leighton Meester "Good Girls Go Bad" def. 42 Ne-Yo "Mad" (8-0)
22 Shinedown "Second Chance" def. 59 Matt Nathanson "Come On Get Higher" (6-2)
19 Beyonce "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" def. 62 The Fray "Never Say Never" (5-3)
12 T.I. f/ Rihanna "Live Your Life" def. 69 Beyonce "If I Were a Boy" (4-4)*
29 Lady Gaga "LoveGame" def. 52 Saving Abel "Addicted" (5-3)
49 Daughtry "No Surprise" def. 32 Soulja Boy Tell'em f/ Sammie "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" (7-1)
9 Taylor Swift "You Belong With Me" def. 72 Justin Bieber "One Time" (7-1)
BRACKET 3
3 Lady Gaga "Poker Face" vs. 78 The Black Eyed Peas "Meet Me Halfway" (5-5)*
43 Akon "Right Now (Na Na Na) def. 38 Sean Kingston "Fire Burning" (6-4)
23 Kings of Leon "Use Somebody" def. 58 Kanye West "Love Lockdown" (7-3)
63 The Ting Tings "That's Not My Name" def. 18 3OH!3 "Don't Trust Me" (6-4)
13 Jason Mraz "I'm Yours" def. 68 Theory of a Deadman "Not Meant To Be" (8-2)
53 Nickelback "If Today Was Your Last Day" def. 28 Pitbull "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" (7-3)
48 Kelly Clarkson "I Do Not Hook Up" def. 33 T.I. "Whatever U Like" (10-0)
8 The Fray "You Found Me" def. 73 Flo Rida f/ Wynter "Sugar" (5-5)*
BRACKET 4
4 The Black Eyed Peas "Boom Boom Pow" def. 77 Secondhand Serenade "Fall For You" (6-4)
44 Lady Gaga "Paparazzi" def. 37 Jesse McCartney f/ Ludacris "How Do You Sleep" (7-3)
24 Kevin Rudolf f/ Lil Wayne "Let It Rock" vs. 57 Akon f/ Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall "Beautiful" (5-5)*
64 Mariah Carey "Obsessed" def. 17 Kanye West "Heartless" (8-2)
14 T.I. f/ Justin Timberlake "Dead and Gone" def. 67 Jay-Z f/ Rihanna and Kanye West "Run This Town" (7-3)
54 Boys Like Girls "Love Drunk" def. 27 Keri Hilson f/ Ne-Yo and Kanye West "Knock You Down" (7-3)
47 Beyonce "Sweet Dreams" def. 34 Jamie Foxx f/ T-Pain and Yung Joc "Blame It (On the Alcohol)" (9-1)
7 The Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" def. 74 David Cook "Light On" (6-4)
BRACKET 5
5 Flo Rida f/ Kesha "Right Round" vs. 76 Kristinia DeBarge "Goodbye"
36 Jordin Sparks "Battlefield" vs. 45 Britney Spears "If U Seek Amy"
25 Katy Perry "Hot N Cold" vs. 56 Ne-Yo "Miss Independent"
16 Katy Perry "Waking Up in Vegas" vs. 65 Kelly Clarkson "Already Gone"
15 Pink "Sober" vs. 66 Leona Lewis "Better In Time"
26 Jay Sean f/ Lil Wayne "Down" vs. 55 The Veronicas "Untouched"
35 Miley Cyrus "The Climb" vs. 46 Nickelback "Gotta Be Somebody"
6 Taylor Swift "Love Story" vs. 75 Owl City "Fireflies"
Well, we have finally reached the end of round 1! Bracket 5 is below:
BRACKET 5
5 Flo Rida f/ Kesha "Right Round" vs. 76 Kristinia DeBarge "Goodbye"
36 Jordin Sparks "Battlefield" vs. 45 Britney Spears "If U Seek Amy"
25 Katy Perry "Hot N Cold" vs. 56 Ne-Yo "Miss Independent"
16 Katy Perry "Waking Up in Vegas" vs. 65 Kelly Clarkson "Already Gone"
15 Pink "Sober" vs. 66 Leona Lewis "Better In Time"
26 Jay Sean f/ Lil Wayne "Down" vs. 55 The Veronicas "Untouched"
35 Miley Cyrus "The Climb" vs. 46 Nickelback "Gotta Be Somebody"
6 Taylor Swift "Love Story" vs. 75 Owl City "Fireflies
[24 Kevin Rudolf f/ Lil Wayne "Let It Rock" vs. 57 Akon f/ Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall "Beautiful"]
ONLY IF YOU DID NOT VOTE ON THIS TIE-BREAKER LAST ROUND!:
[3 Lady Gaga "Poker Face" vs. 78 The Black Eyed Peas "Meet Me Halfway"]
My ballot:
BRACKET 5
5 Flo Rida f/ Kesha "Right Round"
45 Britney Spears "If U Seek Amy"
25 Katy Perry "Hot N Cold"
65 Kelly Clarkson "Already Gone"
15 Pink "Sober"
55 The Veronicas "Untouched"
46 Nickelback "Gotta Be Somebody"
75 Owl City "Fireflies
[57 Akon f/ Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall "Beautiful"]
