2024 Round 2 Results

The Second Round is now closed!  The Sweet 16 is set -  Results and (some really great) commentary are below.  Thanks to everyone for participating.  

Round 3 will be released soon - check back soon for some fascinating matchups...

Too much snow here in Northeast Ohio since Thanksgiving to tempt fate.

If you don't know by now (What Child is This?), you're missing the point.

And the best comment of the year thus far:

Secular and legendary.  Cynical if you think about it.  One must imagine Sisyphus letting it snow.

Actually in the era of AI, we don't need to imagine it:

Multiple comments this round on "Jingle Bells" not actually being a Christmas song.  Yes, people.  Yes, you are correct.  Feel better now?  I bet you're all a lot of fun at parties.  Another comment:

I'll take my chances on "bad performances" over "can't jingle on beat" every time.  

Strong disagree from me on this one.  The jingling just becomes background noise.  But you can see the painful high notes coming long before they arrive...and it's not socially acceptable to get up and leave or tackle the performer.  So you just have to wait for it to wash over you and hope that you'll be the same person inside when it's over.

Music theory geeks coming in strong this round:

Chromaticism wins the day.

Nice common-tone diminished seventh chords.

But also there's this:

Picturing nutcrackers invading poor Bethlehem.

Which the CCLC can tell you is a far too common occurrence.  But again, let's let AI bring it to life for us...

Makes me marvel at what my parents must have experienced during WWII.

Every iteration written for piano has way too many accidentals. It’s hard to be merry in those conditions

Take a Vicodin and you'll never know these are two different songs

They are almost the same song, aren't they?

is HYaMLC Passive-Aggressive ? Yes ! and I don't care what you think :)

Gotta say I am really enjoying outsourcing these comments.  Thanks everyone!

My favorite comment:

Not sure either one is really Christmas focused but "Good King" is in every beginning band book and thereby disqualified.

And here's your image of the Snowdown Throwdown.  I have questions...

I remember when this song was introduced in the 1960’s. It was a novel idea for me. Up until that time I thought all Christmas songs were old!

Makes you wonder which new additions will stand the test of time...

I'm taking the drummer's sticks so I can have a silent night

Ironic match up. Going for peace vs. child neglect.

Silence. Always silence.

The people have spoken.  Very quietly.

Why are Jeanette and Isabella never depicted in the manger scene? Surely more deserving than a kid with a drum.

Okay people, it's really getting crowded in there now.

Sounds like Christmas in Mordor.

The inescapable. The inevitable. Anderson band directors will never truly be free.

Matt and Toby, I release you!!!

Ouch.  Santa got his bell rung.

Give it up for contracted words.

Sorry...it's o'er.

This corner of the bracket has no clear leader - God Rest Ye looks to have a path to the Final Four this year...

Another church soprano classic.

For me, I Wonder as I Wander has always had a nostalgically haunting feel to it. I love it.

So beautiful and it evokes strong emotions in me.

Underrated gem edges out a win.  

Perhaps the most surprising Sweet 16 arrival for me.  Although at some point you wonder if people are just voting against the opponents.

Chilaquiles en la mañana de Navidad es muy excelente.

That's not a bad idea...

That's all for this round - stand by for the next set of matchups, and keep the great comments coming!