The Lux Familiar Cup 2019: Baguette Dilemma Round – Draw and Voting
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Next: Baguette Dilemma Round – Results
UPDATE: Voting for the The Lux Familiar Cup 2019 Baguette Dilemma Round closed at 10.00pm on Sunday 7 July. Click here for the results
Format: similar to the previous tournament, where all the songs initially slug it out in a massive head-to-head to determine the final 32, which then proceeds on a knockout basis. This initial free-for-all is called the Baguette Dilemma Round.
Original instructions:
To take part, all you have to do is to click on the link below and you’ll get a random match-up. Vote for your favourite song of the two, and carry on and on and on.
If you haven’t heard one of the songs, please click ‘Skip’ and move on.
The top 32 songs will be those with the highest win percentages.
There’s no software limit on voting, but if you were planning to spend several hours every day on this and vote 30,000 times in 30 days, please don’t bother. If anyone ends up having made five or ten times as many votes as anyone else, as organiser I’m reserving the right to reduce the value of their votes. It won’t affect the 99.9% of us who are just looking forward to voting in idle moments. This is just a bit of fun!
Any problems spotted, please let me know, and feel free to make any observations below!
✉ Letters Sent (173)
FEATURELESS TV PRODUCER STEVE
Very excited for the start of this of course, but I’m a little puzzled by
“If you haven’t heard one of the songs, please click ‘Skip’ and move on.”
Aside from the, er, unenforceability of this rule, wouldn’t “If you haven’t heard one of the songs, please go listen to it, and be informed before you vote” be better? Plus it might slow down some of the thousand-votes-a-day crowd.
6 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
Sure, it’s unenforceable, I just want people to know there’s no shame involved in not being able to recall a song! I’m sure the “the thousand-votes-a-day crowd” know them all.
6 June 2019
FEATURELESS TV PRODUCER STEVE
Speaking as one who was part of the thou–pardon me, let me start over.
Ahem. Speaking on behalf of someone I know who was part of the thousand-votes-a-day crowd, I can attest this is not necessarily so.
6 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
…aaaaand that’s the first 10,000 votes in. Took 21 hours, and I haven’t even done the Twitter or email notifications yet. Gulp. This could be even bigger than last time.
Remember though, those votes are spread among a lot of songs, so every vote really does count.
7 June 2019
Transit full of keith
In fairness to the thousand-vote -a-day crowd, I found it easy enough to burn through a hundred or so in an idle ten minutes, and it’s quite addictive. I did stop after that, but it brought back strong memories of giving up the tabs…
7 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
Don’t worry, you’re not going to trigger the “Please Don’t” clause without a deliberate attempt to do so. It’ll only come into play if there’s massive daylight between one or two people’s vote tallies and the rest, and to reach that level you’d really have to do very little else other than vote for the next few weeks.
7 June 2019
I, pRoblem chimp
It’s scarily easy to rack up the votes on this, mainly because I keep finding I’ve been voting for songs that really aren’t anywhere near my favourites in a lot of the match ups and then having to vote against one I really like. I think I must have gone for Twydale’s Lament 4 or 5 times just because of what it was up against, but then had to ignore AOR in favour of Harsh Times… and then keep going to try and see if I could get a match where I could vote for Kendo!
7 June 2019
Transit full of keith
Glad there’s another ‘Harsh Times’ tactical voter out there … deserves to make it to the quarters, at the very least.
7 June 2019
Compton mofo
Just had the same two songs come up twice in a row! Akin surely to 3 Gerry Gows
7 June 2019
Two fat feet
I can’t be the first to spot that you can use the back button to vote repeatedly on the same match, and thus skew results in favour of, or against, or even both, particular songs? Only done it once myself, to correct having voted for the wrong song by going back twice to vote for the other
8 June 2019
Mr Galbraith
Incredibly addictive stuff! Reckon I’ve just got through around 40 match-ups during the Bangladeshi national anthem alone.
8 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
Good spot, TFF. I’m not sure if the subsequent repeat votes are recorded, but I’ll take a look and ensure they’re filtered out if someone does the same vote several times in succession.
8 June 2019
Cream cheese and chives
Pouring rain,cricket on the radio, everyone else out and this! Sometimes everything just falls into place. I wonder how big a slice of the pie chart of my day ‘s activities will be given over to it.
8 June 2019
Two fat feet
I may be worrying unduly but for all the times I get an easy decision come up where one song is one of those I automatically vote against regardless of the opposition, but then two of those come up together … I’m torn between the cop-out that is skipping it (I feel obliged still to have an opinion) and voting for a song I don’t like at the risk of it thus creeping into the top 32 at the expense of Damnation for want of a single vote. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that you’re not the only one doing this.
8 June 2019
Two fat feet
If it’s any help Chris, I just voted for Shropshire Lad ten times in a row over Jarg Armani (time 1310) to give you something to look for.
8 June 2019
parsfan
FFS! How many do you have to do before it matches you with your perfect girl?
8 June 2019
SO224350
As a newcomer I am very excited to get started on Lux Familiar. I used to appreciate HMHB back in the mid eighties when I’d listen to and make tapes from the John Peel show. But sadly I only ever bought a couple of EPs at the time, which I still own. Move forward 30+ years and idle curiosity on Spotify one day revealed 14 albums to me. I listened to the newest first and it blew my flippin’ socks off. I continued to be astounded by the depth and quality of the HMHB back catalogue. From such unassuming beginnings who would have guessed? I have hardly listened to anything else for the last 3 or 4 months. I mention this because I approach Lux Familiar from the position of someone to whom around 95% of the 200 or so songs are almost completely new to me. No doubt I will have to skip a few because the song names often bear little relationship with the lyrics. Shame I missed out on 30 years of HMHB joy. Never mind. Love the website by the way. Let’s play Lux Familiar!
8 June 2019
The Donkey centre half
Must admit, I started this while the missus was watching something crap on TV and forgot there was no end to the combinations so probably hit a few hundred before remembering. Maybe time for me to head to my Terminus
8 June 2019
SO224350
I see. Some lyrics shown along with the song title. That helps. Thanks.
8 June 2019
featureless tv producer steve
As you vote, please share any interesting pairings you encounter in the random juxtaposition of songs’ titles.
I had a great pairing tonight:
Christian Rock Concert – Let’s Not
9 June 2019
Gipton Teenager
I’ve just had Eno Collaboration – Reasons To Be Miserable (Part 10).
9 June 2019
mister tubbs
Thanks very much for putting this on again. Every bit as addictive as the last one, and some light relief in between bouts of cleaning up my own mothers’ piss! I had Gubba Look Alikes -v- Slight Reprise, and came close to a Gerry Gow moment with Dean Friedman appearing 3 times in the space of 5 matches.
9 June 2019
SO224350
Thy Damnation Slumbereth Not v San Antonio Foam Party (it would’ve worked better the other way round)
9 June 2019
PETER MCORNITHOLOGISTh
DOREEN V I LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU LOOK LIKE JIM REEVES .
9 June 2019
MR GALBRAITH
I hear Stavanger Töestub have booked their plane tickets home already.
9 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
You’d be quite wrong there, Mr G… although we’re only 72,000 votes into the tournament.
9 June 2019
Transit full of keith
Fuckin ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus Excavating Rita.
9 June 2019
GREGG Z.
Several times already, I’ve encountered the dilemma of two corkers squaring off (viz. “Bottleneck at Capel Curig” v. “Fix it So She Dreams of Me”), and I’ve found myself choosing the “underdog” (in my estimation), just to give the song a boost in the voting.
I reckon “Fix It” would get much more love than “Capel Curig”, and seeing that I personally consider the match a draw, I chose the song I would reckon needs more votes.
An ethical dilemma, to be sure. And one I’m quite embarrassed about.
Anyone? Do your worst….
9 June 2019
I, problem chimp
A Lilac Harry Quinn, £24.99 from Argos…
9 June 2019
featureless tv producer steve
@GREGG – Nothing wrong with a little tactical voting, mate. I’ve even voted against NSD once or twice when I found it paired against a personal favorite from the back end of the catalogue.
I recall in the 2015 LFC, Godcore got very little love. I would love to see that rectified, and if it means I have to vote for Sponsoring the Moshpits over Chatteris, then by god that’s what I’m going to do.
10 June 2019
featureless tv producer steve
Favourite, damn it, I meant favourite. I even remembered to add the superfluous “ue” at the end of catalogue, and then I went and screwed up favourite. I try, I really do, I swear.
10 June 2019
Sera6969
Depressed Beyond Tablets vs Totnes Bickering Fair
Plucky outsiders
10 June 2019
GOK WAN ACOLYTE
Just had the Prenton Park derby come up
Friday Nights… v The Announcement
10 June 2019
floreat ultonia
Excellent work all.
I’ve picked 32 faves (2 from each album, an unreleased song and a cover). Hope most of them make the cut…
Bob Todd, 1966
DPAK, Dickie Davies
AOL, Harry Quinn
Inertia, TUCOLO
Wraith, Outsider
Matthew, Monmore
Practice, Labelmates
Uffington, Gubba
Broadstairs, Vagaries
JDOG, Trad. Arr.
Yahoo Chess, Totnes
Tommy Walsh, Leeuwarden
Constance, Adam Boyle
Kno(wsley) B’head, Terminus
Enschede, Armani
Mars Ultras
King of Rome
10 June 2019
Jim in the north sea
Morning all,
SO224350 – I know exactly how you feel. I only got back on board circa ‘Achtung’ after a hiatus from ‘Dickie Davis Eyes’ and Glastonbury in 1986…. not such a hiatus as yours, but still my cup ranneth over for many months thereafter.
Speaking of Toestubs, I’m on my way to Stavanger. I shall wear my safety boots just in case.
Agree with others about the random pairings forcing votes for good songs, but then votes against completely brilliant ones. Maybe a 1-2-X option?
Meanwhile, I’m tipping Harsh Times… and Every Time…. as smokies for the final 16, maybe QF
10 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
One for the stattos (and I know there are a few more learned than myself out there). Here’s the scoring for the top 40 songs so far (don’t worry, no giveaways) using four different scoring methods. There are some small but interesting differences. Method A is the one I’d planned to use, which is the number of wins divided by the number of matches played with a result (win or loss). Method B is the number of wins divided by the total number of matches played (i.e. including skips). C is the average points per game with 2 points for a win, 1 for a skip. D is the average points per game with 3 points for a win, 1 for a skip. Are we using the fairest method?
10 June 2019
Gipton Teenager
@FTVPS . Your excellent idea of posting amusing match-ups (should that just be matches?) puts the cherry on top of the competition (or the meat pie on the terrace).
10 June 2019
Tn
The Coroner’s Footnote – Old Age Killed My Teenage Bride
10 June 2019
Two fat feet
Method A definitely.
If there’s one thing the LFC is known for, it’s simplicity.
10 June 2019
transit full of keith
I’d go for a method that doesn’t penalise less well-known songs that might have been skipped more often (but are still winning lots of head-to-heads). Not sure if I can work out which method that is though.
10 June 2019
Cathy staniforth
Excellent to get Stavanger Töestub.
“Fuck / Shit / Fuck / Twat / Bastard”
10 June 2019
SO224350
Thanks Jim in the North Sea. The annoying thing is that I really did like them but I thought they just sort of faded away. Looking back I realise the timing coincides with the meeting of my now long since ex-spouse, so it’s clearly someone else’s fault. But the lyric “Halfway up the Wrekin with an empty flask of tea” was with me throughout. It’s good to be back.
10 June 2019
Steve Blackmore
I was busy voting away while on the train from my phone. Not ideal as signal kept going in and out but i got a message after one vote along the lines of ‘something fishy vote not counted’. Hope i’m not doing anything wrong.
10 June 2019
brumbiscuit
You didn’t mention that you were on the Trans-Siberian line and had been pinging away the whole journey, did you?
10 June 2019
SO224350
CtSO – scoring method. I assumed it would be something along the lines of plus 1 point for a win and minus 1 point for a loss with nothing for a draw. That way losing a match is as important as winning one. Is it possible to do calculation on that basis? If so, it’d be interesting to see how the result compares to the other measures.
10 June 2019
Robin Yachts
Just had God Gave Us Life Excavating Rita
10 June 2019
The harbinger of nothing
Bob Wilson – Anchorman, Turned Up, Clocked On, Laid Off
11 June 2019
Chigley Skin
Cheers to CtSO for the email heads-up about this year’s Lux Familiar, which I’ve been looking forward to (luxing forward to?) ever since the opening strains of Harsh Times At Umberstone Covert emanated from my speakers for the first time last May. I’m not betting the mortgage that Umberstone have got the legs to go all the way at this first time of asking, but that strike partnership of Emma Ollerhead and Jean Greenhalgh should see them well in the running.
Yet for the first time – having played it very straight in the 2011 and 2015 editions – I also find the cheeky contrarian in me rising to the surface now. As the likes of JDOG, Chatteris, ACP and Shite Day drag their trophy-bearing bulk into the arena like so many bloated Bayerns and Reals, isn’t it strange how their brilliance suddenly seems a bit tarnished through overfamiliarity, and in the heat of the moment you rediscover that soft spot you’ve always had for Busy Little Market Town…
11 June 2019
Steve Blackmore
Just had Lets not See that my bikes kept clean. He he.
11 June 2019
FlintlOck
Visitor for Mr Edmonds Vs Slight Reprise
11 June 2019
Chigley Skin
A Lilac Harry Quinn Upon Westminster Bridge.
11 June 2019
SERA6969
1966 And All That vs The Referee’s Alphabet
seems apt!
11 June 2019
Mr galbraith
If memory serves, CtSO provided occasional updates last time on how many votes had been cast, I’m guessing numbers are greater this time around as excitement reaches fever pitch?
11 June 2019
SO224350
In the same vein as entry 21, above: Everything’s AOR v Reasons to be Miserable (Part 10)
11 June 2019
I, problem chimp
Just had: RSVP, Let’s Not…
11 June 2019
FEATURELESS TV PRODUCER STEVE
I don’t think this makes any sense, but it still made me chuckle.
Give Us Bubblewrap, It Makes The Room Look Bigger
11 June 2019
Steve Blackmore
Four skinny indie kids with goth on our side.
12 June 2019
Huddersfield's very own Steve malkmus
Faithlift v. Ecclesiastical Perks
12 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
Mr Galbraith: last time we had 199,796 votes in 23 days. This time we’ve had (drum roll) 140,081 votes in, er, 6 days. And there’s still 24 days to go!
Songs are still moving around though. The song that was bottom after 2 days has moved up 28 places. Other than that, I’ll just say that two songs have topped 1000 wins, one hasn’t made it to 100 yet, and I’m (very) surprised at how disappointingly songs from the most recent albums are doing.
12 June 2019
dr desperate
Difficult to decide lyrically between ‘Visitor For Mr Edmonds’ (“Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep…”) and ‘Busy Little Market Town’ (“Buh buh buh buh buh buh buh buh…”).
12 June 2019
Huddersfield's very own Steve malkmus
In an idle moment waiting for a train I got to wondering what one might call the contests to find the best song by other relatively obscure indie-rock acts…
So far I’ve got:
Pavement – “Winner of the…[Cup]”
Sonic Youth – “Quest for the Cup”
Fugazi – “The Argument”
Any further suggestions?
12 June 2019
Transit full of keith
@HVOSM, for a knockout competition of Fall songs, I’d favour ‘Fall Heads Roll’.
12 June 2019
GOK WAN ACOLYTE
Given @CtSO’s comment (59 above) and the fact that there are over 41000 permutations of 205 songs in pairs, if there has been 140000 votes already it suggests that every song has come up against every other one at least once already. The number of votes also suggests that the odd bit of tactical voting (even if a couple of people vote against Chatteris every time it comes up) is unlikely to affect the final outcome.
On a personal level, it’s revealing my lack of familiarity with mid 90s HMHB (Godcore/TLP/Voyage) compared to 80s and post 2000 songs
@HVOSM – a Belle and Sebastian version would probably be The Star of Track and Field
12 June 2019
POP-TART MARK
Isn’t it only over 41,000 if you count Song X v Song Z as a different tie from Song Z v Song X ? Otherwise it’s about 20,910 isn’t it? So the average match has only happened about 7 times and statistically, randomly, I’d guesstimate there’s still a fairly high probability that there will be a tie or ties that have not happened yet.
12 June 2019
POP-TART MARK
It also means of course that you would expect the “same tie twice in a row” miracle to have occurred in the order of 7 times so far, though it could easily have been 0 or 20.
12 June 2019
Gipton Teenager
Asparagus Next Left- Arthur’s Farm
12 June 2019
SO244530
Ha! As if to prove (or possibly disprove?) the point made by POP-TART MARK I not long since had Arthur’s Farm v Asparagus Next Left. Spooky.
12 June 2019
PETER MCORNITHOLOGIST
I am at a loss as to why Chatteris is frequently mentioned in these circles ?
12 June 2019
Embrace the margin
I just had the Totnes Eco-House Fair tie, which was pleasing, if tricky to call.
12 June 2019
SO224350
Can anyone direct me towards the BBC session tracks, please? I thought I’d seen of a link on this site but I can’t find it again. Is there a good source to go to in order to listen or download? Or even to buy a legal copy? Thanks.
12 June 2019
I, problem chimp
Lock Up Your Mountain Bikes, A Lilac Harry Quinn
12 June 2019
Two fat feet
The Chatteris thing is simply a bizarre phenomenomenomenon where it performed really strongly in 2011, but to the apparent chagrin of a number of participants who seemed to feel that because it wasn’t a personal favourite of theirs, it didn’t deserve to do well. No particular reason why it should be singled out but it was, and last time round it appeared to be the subject of a sabotage campaign where an irregular voting pattern was identified (which I won’t go into) – which as it turned out made no difference because even without the suspicious votes it would have lost the tie anyway. I’m a Chatteris fan but I was more disappointed that it appeared somebody (and this probably was orchestrated by an individual) was taking this rather more seriously than strictly necessary. It takes a lot of work for one person to rig a result but somebody appeared to be trying very very hard.
13 June 2019
Steve Blackmore
For S0224350. On your phone download an app called INS TUBE via google not playstore. You can then download and keep any song from You Tube including all the BBC session stuff ..Mars Ultras, Gubba Lookalikes et al. Disregard my suggestion if you have a shite I Phone.
13 June 2019
Steve Blackmore
I think with the number of votes being cast vote rigging would be almost impossible but would be interested to hear if TFF’s comment 10 had been addressed.
13 June 2019
Edward Ian L'Ampoon
How about Dickie Davies Eyes v UFO with a play off against Bastard Son to finally establish the greatest of the “Deans”
13 June 2019
Two fat feet
It’s still possible to go back and vote again on the same match although I don’t know what effect it actually has; Chris appears to be able to view the votes hence I deliberately did one several times over and flagged it up for him to investigate the effects, although I don’t know whether anything came of it.
13 June 2019
SO224350
Thanks, STEVE BLACKMORE. I do indeed have a shite iphone but I will give it a go. But even if your suggestion doesn’t work for me it’s useful to know that You Tube is a good source to find and listen to the session stuff.
13 June 2019
Steve Blackmore
Be sure to listen to Mars Ultras from the Peel session…….priceless!!!
13 June 2019
Poopleby
Interesting pairings, Featureless TV Producer Steve?
Took Problem Chimp… v I, Trog.
13 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
TFF: Yes, I can pull the data dump into a huge spreadsheet and analyse it, which I’ve just had the chance to do. It doesn’t look like going back and voting has any effect unless you change your mind in which case both are recorded. Thinking about it, that’s exactly what we’d want to happen. By the way, one person has voted a lot more times than anyone else so far, although bizarrely that’s involved nearly 5000 ‘skips’, so I’m not sure what’s going on there. Hey ho.
I’m very impressed with the concerted effort which one voter is putting into voting for “Uffington Wassail” and which another is putting into “Emerging From Gorse”, but all I can say is that in the great scheme of things, it’s making very little difference (and if it did, it would only be fair that I disqualified the votes). The sheer number of votes coming in from over 800 people so far means this is going to be a pretty fair exercise.
13 June 2019
Two fat feet
I suspect you’ll find that the skip junkie might be just looking for one song to promote and vote for that as many times as possible (or against, to sabotage it).
13 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
Yes, that seems to be the case. It looks like the big voters are all voting heavily for a small selection of songs, but not against any in particular.
13 June 2019
Steve Blackmore
Sounds like one way or another the outcomes going to be fixed anyway.
13 June 2019
Mr galbraith
More than 800 different people voting? I’m mildly impressed!
Certainly more impressed than my other half, who assumed all the tapping of my phone screen at regular intervals meant that I was swiping left and right….
13 June 2019
dr desperate
I don’t know why, but discussion of ranking algorithms always reminds me of this scene from Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The Social Network’: more or less how I imagine the origins of the Lux Familiar Cup (but without the strippers).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLnd6-thEHM
13 June 2019
SO224350
Thanks for the signposting, I’ve just heard Mars Ultras and Mr Cave for the first time. Without giving too much away if they were to come up against each other on Lux Familiar I’d have no hesitation in picking the winner.
13 June 2019
Gipton Teenager
I put the LFC voting widget on my homepage on my phone, which worked well for a while, but now I get a message asking me to resubmit form. As I need to “vote early, vote often” does anyone have a solution?
13 June 2019
Gipton Teenager
Westward Ho!- Massive Letdown – Lord Hereford’s Knob
(snigger)
14 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
GT: Anyone getting any tech problems, feel free to email me although I can’t guarantee I’ll have an answer!
14 June 2019
Two fat feet
ITMA’s taken a savage beating from me this morning because it keeps coming up against better songs (three in a row even). Needed to come up against Split Single to get a win, and that might only have been because I can’t remember how that one goes. Not actually a big favourite and wouldn’t make my own last 32 but I do feel a bit mean towards a decent song.
15 June 2019
Steve Blackmore
Who’s gonna post last nights set list then.
15 June 2019
BOBBY SVARC
Give in, who?
15 June 2019
Adrian/Sophie
The lyric previews are a very nice touch for making me recall the song I’m voting for, but I also appreciate how it generates an excellent smartarse indie band album cover for Slight Reprise:
15 June 2019
Poopleby
Unfortunately The Unfortunate Gwatkin just lost three in a row due to outstanding opposition. I’ll have to keep going to redress the balance.
15 June 2019
featureless tv producer steve
Let’s Not – Irk The Purists
(Incidentally, I went against the advice, and voted to Irk The Purists.)
16 June 2019
SO224530
Fix It So She Dreams Of Me Sealclubbing
16 June 2019
Gok wan ACOLYTE
Ode to Joyce v Doreen
And my favourite
Lock Up Your Mountain Bikes v Emergency Locksmith
16 June 2019
Two fat feet
You’ll have to take my word for it but I just had the Trumpton Riots derby come up
16 June 2019
Transit full of keith
Carry on Cremating Nove on the Sly
He Who Would Valium Take, On the Roids
16 June 2019
featureless tv producer steve
@SO224530 – That’s fantastic. You have my vote for best match so far.
@TWO FAT FEET – Who won? I would have had some trouble with that one.
17 June 2019
SO224530
Thanks Featureless TV Producer Steve, but if a linesman were to raise an offside flag I would applaud his decision. I had that one a while ago and I am pretty sure it was actually the other way round ‘Sealclubbing, Fix It So She Dreams Of Me’, which works in Yoda speech but as I don’t do Star Wars I don’t feel I can use that in mitigation. But if we are allowed to make them up completely, which we aren’t, then I have one that I will keep on the reserves bench for now, ready to send on deep in injury time.
17 June 2019
Transit full of keith
Must confess I did make up the Valium/Roids one. The others were genuine – as was this morning’s el clasico:
“Lord Hereford’s Knob, You’re Hard”.
17 June 2019
SO224350
…and that’s my substitute used. Chapeau!
17 June 2019
Two fat feet
@Featureless – the home side always wins
17 June 2019
Gipton Teenager
@FTVP Steve. As instigator of the amusing matches side project, how about you giving it a name?
17 June 2019
nagasaki shinpad
this is far too addictive…don’t we have work to do?
17 June 2019
nagasaki shinpad
He who would Valium Take- Upon Westminster Bridge
17 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
Voting days: 9
Voting days remaining: 19
Matches played: 238,879
Songs with 75% or higher win ratio: 4
Songs with 10% or lower win ratio: 2
Songs with over 1500 wins: 2
Songs in 1st place which weren’t in the last Baguette Dilemma round’s top five: 1 ?
Song appearing in most matches: Gubba Look-a-likes, 2219
Song appearing in fewest matches: Doreen, 1923
17 June 2019
Gok WAN Acolyte
I’m sure that CtSO won’t reveal, but I’m going to make a guess that Visitor for Mr Edmonds, and Slight Reprise, are the two polling at less than10% win ratio; the two with more than 1500 wins are NSD and Harsh Times (which makes Harsh Times my guess for the “Not in the Top 5 last time”)
I could of course be underestimating the love for David Wainwright’s Feet since its profile was raised by its inclusion on “Some Fell on Stony Ground”, but I suspect not
17 June 2019
PETER MCORNITHOLOGIST
Very miffed to hear that blessed Doreen has been severely handicapped .
17 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
Not in any way handicapped, it’s all on a percentage of matches won, so playing fewer matches won’t hurt anyone’s chances.
17 June 2019
featureless tv producer steve
@GIPTON TEENAGER – I’ve been trying off and on for too many hours now to believe I can come up with a suitable moniker. Let’s open it up to better, more creative minds than mine.
I’d like it to include the word ‘juxtaposition’ but it doesn’t have to.
18 June 2019
Cream cheese and chives
Jukebox Juxtaposition Jury ?
18 June 2019
Gipton Teenager
Clash Of The Titles?
18 June 2019
dr desperate
Luxtaposition?
18 June 2019
LUX INFERIOR
Luxperimental Side Project
18 June 2019
FEATURELESS TV PRODUCER STEVE
All those are better than anything I came up with.
18 June 2019
The Donkey Centre Half
What we really need now is for Nigel to confirm that for one gig they will play the top 20 in a TOTP countdown format – maybe with bits of Yellow Pearl and Whole Lotta Love in between songs.
18 June 2019
SO224350
Man Of Constant Sorrow (With A Garage In Constant Use) Took Problem Chimp To Ideal Home Show.
As well as the unintended meaning of this Luxtaposition I wonder if there should be a separate side side-project to discover both the longest and the shortest possible Juxs?
I am now keeping screenshots of my suggestions in the event of a steward’s enquiry (sorry I don’t know football equivalent as I don’t do footie).
19 June 2019
Two fat feet
I suppose that would be a VAR review.
19 June 2019
I, problem chimp
Neither of these are actual match ups, but the tracks popped up in the last few lots of choices and the possible combinations made me laugh:
Depressed beyond tablets on passing lilac urine
On passing lilac urine upon Westminster Bridge
19 June 2019
ds
It is very easy to burn through a hundred or so votes in a few idle minutes, but algorithmically, that may even be quite interesting to see what trends there are in specific comparisons, or any trends about which songs are preferred over overs in pairs. There will be obvious ones of course, but they’re not the interesting ones: the darker corners may be more fun…
19 June 2019
The harbinger of nothing
While voting on Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus vs Asparagus Next Left, a box randomly popped up in Chrome asking whether I would like the page in English or French. Pardon my English…
19 June 2019
The harbinger of nothing
Here’s another Lux Familiar sub-game idea (well, it’s not really a game, but good for discussion):
What would be your most difficult tie? Is there one for which a score draw is the only acceptable result? Mine would be ITMA vs Ready Steady Goa. Two personal favourites, both complete underdogs.
20 June 2019
Steve Blackmore
My score draw would be ‘Get Kramer’ versus ‘Emerging from gorse’.
20 June 2019
GOK Wan acolyte
Had a few score draws, most recently Vitus Geralaitis v Trad Arr Tune.
Also just had the Tess Derby: Lark Descending v Thy Damnation Slumbereth Not
20 June 2019
parsfan
Judging by the stats and some of the comments, I’m beginning to think that not everyone is listening to both songs before making their choice.
20 June 2019
featureless tv producer steve
In a cruel twist of fate which so often occurs in competitions such as this, I found myself voting for RSVP four times in a stretch of six matches tonight.
Well, not all that cruel. I like RSVP, and the competition was weak.
21 June 2019
Nigel
Simple really
Know both songs – pick favourite
Know one song – must have listened to the other one at some point and gone “meh” – vote for the one you know
Know neither – Skip
21 June 2019
parsfan
Just had the “Tune Derby” score draw. After much pondering went with OT. In less time then I spent thinking about it the replay came up so I quickly picked LDNT. Order restored.
I’ve not paid enough attention, and I’m sure it’s not, but it seems like some songs are always home and others away. The derby above, for example, and Christian Rock Concert has only ever been playing away for me. I noticed as I felt its clash with Upon Westminster Bridge would have been better the other way round. Since then, ever on the road.
Back to it, no doubt CRC v OT will appear in the next couple of fixtures and prove me wrong.
22 June 2019
Gipton Teenager
Nice work CTSO. Has the break had any effect on the voting?
(Don’t think so, but I’m away from Lyrics Project Towers at the moment, and in not downloading that multi-gigabyte data file on my phone just to check! – CtSO)
27 June 2019
Dr Gez
Must give you the soundboard copy of “It’s A Clear Day (But I Can’t See The Point)” for 2023 :)
28 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
I’m sure the argument will never end, Gez!
28 June 2019
POP-TART MARK
There’ll be a spare place going when ‘Worried Man Blues’ finally gets disqualified for being a cover.
28 June 2019
The harbinger of nothing
Worried Man Blues is actually a song though. More than can be said for Visitor For Mr Edmonds…
29 June 2019
The harbinger of nothing
Would love to hear the soundboard copy of Clear Day. No need to wait until 2023, Gez! ;)
29 June 2019
The harbinger of nothing
Just had the Ellipsis Derby.
Chatteris… Colombia… Chatteris… Colombia…
Chatteris.
29 June 2019
The bastard in the hat
I’m loving these Luxtapositions.
I’ve just had “The Unfortunate Gwatkin Took Problem Chimp To Ideal Home Show”. A closely fought mid-table battle, I think you’ll agree. For me, TUG showed occasional moments of brilliance in the first half, and then had all the momentum in the second half, so that’s a win.
The hardest ties for me (#124) are when I have antipathy to both, and for similar reasons: Dean Friedman vs. Nerys Hughes, for example. But these I just skip. Heresy, perhaps, but there are a few tracks that have blotted their copybooks in my opinion, so (unlike GWA #109) I would pick Slight Reprise over them every time. Unless I was getting click-happy.
Can I propose that extra biscuits be awarded to Luxtapositions where the quoted snippet of lyrics also run together? I don’t have any stonking examples, but I feel sure they’re out there. Unfortunately you can’t copy-paste from the Lux page.
Thanks as ever to CtSO!
29 June 2019
Trapped in Texas
Just had … Visitor For Mr Edmonds – Epiphany.
And I’ll tell you stuff for nothing… I voted for Visitor For Mr Edmonds. I love that song!
29 June 2019
The bastard in the hat
To answer Parsfan (#127): Surely there are ties where you know both tracks well enough to remember your preference? So you don’t need to listen to both tracks on the spot. I think there is danger in Nigel’s approach (#129) of assuming that an unknown track is mediocre, at least for my level of familiarity. (I recently discovered the joys of Ecclesiastical Perks.)
Having said all that, I did just type “half man reprise” into Spotify, and the second track (of two) was from the Blow Monkeys. That’s a blast from the past! I think you’d have to be a serious fan of theirs (a Blowhard?) to deduce the track.
29 June 2019
Jodrell banksy
Very late starting, me, but just got: ‘Every Time a Bell Rings She’s in Broadstairs’ – coincidentally my toughest pick so far…
30 June 2019
parsfan
TBITH, I wasn’t being serious.
That said, for the later rounds I might just do what I suggested. There’s often more to the songs than immediately springs to mind and in isolation, as opposed to in track order as part of the whole album, they can often move up or down in my estimation.
In real football tournaments they play the games to see who wins – rather than just going by who’s the better on paper. That will often be the case, but it’s the better team on the day, the one who better adapts to the conditions, benefits from a lucky bounce or poor refereeing decision that goes through.There’s fewer variables when comparing two recorded songs, of course, but we do them an injustice not to play one against the other and give them each a fair chance.
In other news, during the blackout Christian Rock Concert finally played at home and I witnessed the “up-and-down” derby shortly afterwards. Hoping for the Tesco one before it all ends.
30 June 2019
SO224350
I had to think about the “up-an-down” derby and decided it must be Orme Ascent v Descent of the Stiperstones but I also came up with Joy In Leeuwarden v Depressed Beyond Tablets. I sure there are other possibilities.
1 July 2019
SO224350
I’m not awake yet. I meant “up-and-down” & ‘I am sure…’
1 July 2019
This leaden paul
Dickie Davies Eyes Lord Herefords Knob
1 July 2019
Transit full of keith
Winner.
1 July 2019
paul f
I’ve just had Every Time a Bell Rings Visitor for Mr Edmonds, which caused post-traumatic flashbacks to 90s Saturday night telly.
1 July 2019
Gipton Teenager
.@TOP. Best one so far.
1 July 2019
Gipton Teenager
That’s @TOP.
1 July 2019
Gipton Teenager
I give op.
1 July 2019
Jodrell banksy
Just had a double-down with “Lark Descending Descent of the Stiperstones.”
2 July 2019
featureless tv producer steve
@TLP, that’s utterly fantastic.
2 July 2019
This leaden paul
Y’All are too kind.
2 July 2019
As told to a. boyle
Sealclubbing David Wainwright’s Feet.
Wincing with the pain.
2 July 2019
parsfan
S-numbers – right first time. The right home-away alignment too, ascent then descent.
Camping in Adam Boyle country just now, do looking for the Dumfries derby while I’m here.
2 July 2019
Lord hereford
I now see that I was trying to be too clever with my SO224350 moniker. It’s too fiddly. I even managed to mistype it myself on more than one occasion.
3 July 2019
mister tubbs
Just had Carry On Cremating Dickie Davies Eyes – could at least wait until he’s dead. I’ve been trying to think of any songs that haven’t appeared yet, the only one I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen is Old Tige.
(And you won’t, it’s just a cover – CtSO)
3 July 2019
Chris The Siteowner
Voting days: 25
Voting days remaining: 3
Matches played: 345,524
Songs with 75% or higher win ratio: 1
Songs with 10% or lower win ratio: 2
Songs with over 2500 wins: 1
Songs in 1st place which weren’t in the last Baguette Dilemma round’s top five: 0
Song appearing in most matches: Gubba Look-a-likes, 3522
Song appearing in fewest matches: Hedley Verityesque, 3190
3 July 2019
Lord leominster
I’ve changed my mind again. ‘Lord Hereford’ is a bit too obvious so I’ve moved 21km north. The only trouble is that there is an actual Lord Fox of Leominster but I’m not him and I don’t suppose he’ll sue.
Anyway, here are some Luxtapositions that I have unearthed in recent days. None are contenders for the trophy, I don’t think, but are shared for general interest. Some of the themes have already been explored.
Turn A Blind Eye 99% Of Gargoyles Look Like Bob Todd
Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus Bogus Official
He Who Would Valium Take When The Evenimg Sun Goes Down
Sealclubbing With Goth On Our Side
Fun Day In The Park Reasons To Be Miserable (Part 10)
What Made Columbia Famous…Four Skinny Indie Kids
Turn A Blind Eye Something’s Rotten In The Back Of Iceland
Albert Hammond Bootleg £24.99 Fom Argos
A Lilac Harry Quinn See That My Bike’s Kept Clean
(I particularly like the last one.)
3 July 2019
mister tubbs
@Ctso – Thanks for the clarification about Old Tige, I’d never thought of the possibility of it being a cover. Mind you, I’d never heard of Jim Reeves until I bought the first HMHB album, and until then I’d always heard it as “I love you because you look like Jimmy Greaves”
4 July 2019
Gok WAN Acolyte
In the match that no-one is calling the Brian Cox Derby, I’ve just had
Venus in Flares v Mars Ultras
4 July 2019
brumbiscuit
My last chance to vote, so I thought I’d give it a hammering, resolving only to stop once A Lilac Harry Quinn had appeared. It didn’t, and my resolve broke.
Looking forward to the results…
4 July 2019
Transit full of keith
I’ve tended to keep clicking away until I’ve had at least once chance to vote for ‘Umberstone Covert’.
‘£24.99 from Argos’ is another one that’s been flattening all opposition, to my surprise.
The neatly plotted short story “Girlfriend’s finished with him – fix it so she dreams of me” just came up, as well as the triple misfortune of Shit Arm, Bad Tattoo, Restless Legs (perhaps that’s why she chucked him).
4 July 2019
Jodrell banksy
Had “With Goth On Our Side 13 Eurogoths” immediately followed by the numeral-flip “99% of Gargoyles.. 1966 And All That.” Had to have a bit of a lie down after that.
4 July 2019
Huddersfield's very own Steve malkmus
I note with amusement that if I vote for L’enfer c’est les autres, Google asks me if I want the next one in French or English. If the next match includes Baguette Dilemma…, selecting English turns it into “Dilemma Baguette…”
4 July 2019
The harbinger of nothing
Mr Tubbs, you’re not the only one to hear the wrong celebrities in songs. There are two lyrics where I originally misheard the names of people – despite knowing neither could be right as they became famous after the songs in question were written!
“Flirt with grass and Lleyton Hewitt” (Monmore)
“Come into my world, where Amanda Holden joins a local grindcore outfit” (Let’s Not)
I tend to stick with these in my head as they rather amuse me. Especially the latter, as I have no idea who Vanburn Holder is.
4 July 2019
Bobby Svarc
Vanburn Holder was a West Indian fast bowler who played many years at Worcester.
5 July 2019
Cream cheese and chives
And as an umpire never faced any unpleasant chants from the crowd.
5 July 2019
Edward Ian L'Ampoon
Dickie Davies Eyes, Hair Like Brian May, Don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight
5 July 2019
Chris The Siteowner
My favourite song off the latest album is currently at number 34. My favourite two songs ever are at number 37 and 54. At this rate, I may belatedly introduce a playoff between 30 and 38 for places 31 and 32. Or just take my ball home!
That said, positions 28 to 34 are staggeringly close, so anything could still happen. I hope.
7 July 2019
dickhead in quicksand
Lord Hereford’s Knob – Joy In Leeuwarden (We Are Ready)
Jim Reeves is the answer to the old riddle, “What sings and flies into cliffs?”
7 July 2019
Pirx the purist
On my last turn through, I’ve just had Trumpton Riots v. Studio Banjo.
7 July 2019
Chris The Siteowner
And that’s it. Here come the results…
7 July 2019