The Battle of the Songs: Ready or not!
Jun 14, 2013 21:09:11 GMT 2
Post by ent on Jun 14, 2013 21:09:11 GMT 2
Dear forum members,
Recently, as you all know, the band has celebrated the 30th anniversary of their establishment headlining the Sweden Rock Festival, with a huge setlist that maybe represents the list of their favourite songs, now, in 2013. What about our choice? What about the favourite songs of the distinguished members of the Aphasia forum? Which ones are OUR favourite songs?
How many times have you found yourself wondering which one is REALLY the best song ever released by Europe the band? How many of you out there have maybe an answer that could be different from the easy one? Have you ever asked yourself if you prefer Carrie or New love in town? Better Prisoners in paradise or No stone unturned? How many of you have tried to think of a top five or a top eight and could not, in the end, decide?
Now the “time has come” to find the answers!
How?
Well, I could start a poll but I don’t really thrust polls. I’m thinking about a more methodic (and hopefully funnier) way.
In these last 30 years the band has officially released 108 songs (quite a lot, uh?
). 97 of them come from the nine studio albums. Eleven are b-sides or bonus tracks, only released in some countries or in the collections.
I propose to start a game among us, distinguished forum members
, and a contest among these 108 songs.
The contest will be articulated as follows:
Phase 1: The “Chose the favourite six” phase. In this phase we will pick six songs from each album plus six from the group of eleven “bonus tracks”. At the end of this phase we will remain with 60 songs, while the other 48 will be out of the game.
Phase 2: The “Hey, that’s not fair!” phase. I know, I know…some albums have more songs and other less, “sometimes it’s easy, sometimes so tough”! Ok, in this phase you will have the opportunity to “save” 4 songs from the bucket. So pick up the best 4 from the 48 songs previously excluded. Now we have 64 songs.
Phase 3: The “Now the fun begins” phase. The songs will be semi-randomly grouped into eight groups (each one has eight songs). Not more than 4 songs from the same album can stay in the same group. We will now choose the best 4 from each group. We will then stay with 32 songs.
Phase 4: The “Oh, that is hard” phase. The songs will be completely randomly grouped in 8 groups (each has 4 songs). You choose your favourite two from each group. We will finally have 16 songs.
Phase 5: The “Oh, that hurts!” phase. The songs will be coupled (two by two). You chose the best from each couple. We remain with eight songs (the top eight of the Aphasia forum).
Phase 6: The “Top eight” phase. Same as previous phase: songs coupled, chose one. We now have 4 songs.
Phase 7: The “semi-finals”. Idem. We now have two songs.
Phase 8: “The best song”. You have now the problem to chose which one really is the best Europe song of all times (according to the one and only international Europe forum)
.
Phase 9 (optional): “Chart of the top eight”: If we are still not done with the game :drunk:we can try to put the first eight songs in order.
Good. Question time:
Ok, but, how does it work? Easy. Each phase will last two or three days, to give time to everybody to cast their vote. Whenever I’ll start a phase (right here in this thread) I’ll repeat the rules that concern that phase, I’ll resume the songs that contest for that phase, and write when the phase ends. When the time ends, the votes will be counted and we will pass on the next phase. Clear?
Ok, but, how did you choose the eleven bonus songs? The principles are: official release under the brand name “Europe”, no covers from other artists, no demos, no live tracks. So the eleven chosen are:
1. Broken dreams (from the On the loose EP);
2. On broken wings (B-side from TFC single);
3. Break free (B-side from I’ll cry for you single)
4. Yesterday’s news (From the “1982-1992” collection)
5. Sweet love child (From the “1982-1992” collection)
6. I’ll cry for you (acoustic, from the “1982-1992” collection)
7. The Final Countdown 2000 (I know, I know…you don’t like it! Me neither, but read the principles!)
8. Mr. Government man (From the “Rock the night” collection)
9. A long time comin’ (From the “Rock the night” collection)
10. Here comes the night (From the “Rock the night” collection)
11. Beautiful disaster (Bonus track from the Japanese edition of BoB)
Mmh, oookaaayyy…one minute… are you sure you’ve told us everything about the selection criterias? Well, just a couple of things more:
1. Prelude+Last look at Eden = 1 song!
2. Requiem+My woman my friend = 1 song!
3. Open your heart (WOT version) + Open your heart (OOTW version) = 2 different songs!
4. I’ll cry for you (PiP version) + I’ll cry for you (acoustic version) = 2 different songs!
But, if I say I will play, will I be always obliged to cast my votes? Yes! No, just joking
. Everyone is completely free to participate when they can/want. Of course the more we are, the bigger the fun is. Just try to find five minute every two or three days to login and cast your votes. And, if you have more time, your comments on the votes, on the songs, on the albums, on the contest or whatever will be much appreciated.
Can I enter after the game has begun?/Can I vote only for the last two, three, four… phases? Sure, but why wait?
Can I propose a different rule/song/way to proceed/timeframe between the phases/solution for achieving a more peaceful and happier world? Sure you can. But it’s better if you do that before the game begins. We do not like to change the rules while the ball rolls.
What do I win? Nothing (except fun, hopefully)
Did you ask Stein-Vidar the permission for this? Ooops, actually not! But I do it now: please Stein, can we play? Pleeeease…
.(jokes apart, man, I hope it’s ok for you. And I assume that, if you don’t delete this post, you can stand it. Otherwise, no problem: I’ll stay quiet in my bucket!)
Ok, one last question: why? What’s the purpose for putting up such a mess? I’ll give some reasons and then you’ll find the others:
1. Because it’s funny!
2. Because this could be our way to celebrate the anniversary.
3. Because I’m curious!
4. Because the "europe music" section needs some movement while we wait for the next album
5. Because, maybe, some non-registered fans that eventually drop in could have the will to partecipate
6. Because, maybe, some registered in “read only mode” fans could have the will to partecipate.
7. Because, maybe, some registered fans could have the will to partecipate.
8. Because it’s a way to recall some forgotten songs, an opportunity to listen to them again after a long time and to discuss about them (after all, discussion is what forums stand for, isn’t it?
)
9. Because we can!
End of the self-made questions. I would like to start it all, but please, give a feedback. Let me know if you are interested to participate or not. An answer like “Hell, yeah! Great! When do we start?” would be highly appreciated but I can stand good also with “Ok, let’s give it a try…”. Obviously if I get only two or three feedbacks, it all dies here. I’ve lost only one hour, and you have missed an opportunity. But, hey, we can still stay friends!
Now it’s up to you. Have you got questions? Domande? Preguntas? Fragen? Frågor?
I actually have one question: wanna play?
Recently, as you all know, the band has celebrated the 30th anniversary of their establishment headlining the Sweden Rock Festival, with a huge setlist that maybe represents the list of their favourite songs, now, in 2013. What about our choice? What about the favourite songs of the distinguished members of the Aphasia forum? Which ones are OUR favourite songs?
How many times have you found yourself wondering which one is REALLY the best song ever released by Europe the band? How many of you out there have maybe an answer that could be different from the easy one? Have you ever asked yourself if you prefer Carrie or New love in town? Better Prisoners in paradise or No stone unturned? How many of you have tried to think of a top five or a top eight and could not, in the end, decide?
Now the “time has come” to find the answers!
How?
Well, I could start a poll but I don’t really thrust polls. I’m thinking about a more methodic (and hopefully funnier) way.
In these last 30 years the band has officially released 108 songs (quite a lot, uh?
). 97 of them come from the nine studio albums. Eleven are b-sides or bonus tracks, only released in some countries or in the collections.I propose to start a game among us, distinguished forum members
, and a contest among these 108 songs.The contest will be articulated as follows:
Phase 1: The “Chose the favourite six” phase. In this phase we will pick six songs from each album plus six from the group of eleven “bonus tracks”. At the end of this phase we will remain with 60 songs, while the other 48 will be out of the game.
Phase 2: The “Hey, that’s not fair!” phase. I know, I know…some albums have more songs and other less, “sometimes it’s easy, sometimes so tough”! Ok, in this phase you will have the opportunity to “save” 4 songs from the bucket. So pick up the best 4 from the 48 songs previously excluded. Now we have 64 songs.
Phase 3: The “Now the fun begins” phase. The songs will be semi-randomly grouped into eight groups (each one has eight songs). Not more than 4 songs from the same album can stay in the same group. We will now choose the best 4 from each group. We will then stay with 32 songs.
Phase 4: The “Oh, that is hard” phase. The songs will be completely randomly grouped in 8 groups (each has 4 songs). You choose your favourite two from each group. We will finally have 16 songs.
Phase 5: The “Oh, that hurts!” phase. The songs will be coupled (two by two). You chose the best from each couple. We remain with eight songs (the top eight of the Aphasia forum).
Phase 6: The “Top eight” phase. Same as previous phase: songs coupled, chose one. We now have 4 songs.
Phase 7: The “semi-finals”. Idem. We now have two songs.
Phase 8: “The best song”. You have now the problem to chose which one really is the best Europe song of all times (according to the one and only international Europe forum)
.Phase 9 (optional): “Chart of the top eight”: If we are still not done with the game :drunk:we can try to put the first eight songs in order.
Good. Question time:
Ok, but, how does it work? Easy. Each phase will last two or three days, to give time to everybody to cast their vote. Whenever I’ll start a phase (right here in this thread) I’ll repeat the rules that concern that phase, I’ll resume the songs that contest for that phase, and write when the phase ends. When the time ends, the votes will be counted and we will pass on the next phase. Clear?
Ok, but, how did you choose the eleven bonus songs? The principles are: official release under the brand name “Europe”, no covers from other artists, no demos, no live tracks. So the eleven chosen are:
1. Broken dreams (from the On the loose EP);
2. On broken wings (B-side from TFC single);
3. Break free (B-side from I’ll cry for you single)
4. Yesterday’s news (From the “1982-1992” collection)
5. Sweet love child (From the “1982-1992” collection)
6. I’ll cry for you (acoustic, from the “1982-1992” collection)
7. The Final Countdown 2000 (I know, I know…you don’t like it! Me neither, but read the principles!)
8. Mr. Government man (From the “Rock the night” collection)
9. A long time comin’ (From the “Rock the night” collection)
10. Here comes the night (From the “Rock the night” collection)
11. Beautiful disaster (Bonus track from the Japanese edition of BoB)
Mmh, oookaaayyy…one minute… are you sure you’ve told us everything about the selection criterias? Well, just a couple of things more:
1. Prelude+Last look at Eden = 1 song!
2. Requiem+My woman my friend = 1 song!
3. Open your heart (WOT version) + Open your heart (OOTW version) = 2 different songs!
4. I’ll cry for you (PiP version) + I’ll cry for you (acoustic version) = 2 different songs!
But, if I say I will play, will I be always obliged to cast my votes? Yes! No, just joking
. Everyone is completely free to participate when they can/want. Of course the more we are, the bigger the fun is. Just try to find five minute every two or three days to login and cast your votes. And, if you have more time, your comments on the votes, on the songs, on the albums, on the contest or whatever will be much appreciated. Can I enter after the game has begun?/Can I vote only for the last two, three, four… phases? Sure, but why wait?
Can I propose a different rule/song/way to proceed/timeframe between the phases/solution for achieving a more peaceful and happier world? Sure you can. But it’s better if you do that before the game begins. We do not like to change the rules while the ball rolls.
What do I win? Nothing (except fun, hopefully)
Did you ask Stein-Vidar the permission for this? Ooops, actually not! But I do it now: please Stein, can we play? Pleeeease…
.(jokes apart, man, I hope it’s ok for you. And I assume that, if you don’t delete this post, you can stand it. Otherwise, no problem: I’ll stay quiet in my bucket!) Ok, one last question: why? What’s the purpose for putting up such a mess? I’ll give some reasons and then you’ll find the others:
1. Because it’s funny!
2. Because this could be our way to celebrate the anniversary.
3. Because I’m curious!
4. Because the "europe music" section needs some movement while we wait for the next album
5. Because, maybe, some non-registered fans that eventually drop in could have the will to partecipate
6. Because, maybe, some registered in “read only mode” fans could have the will to partecipate.
7. Because, maybe, some registered fans could have the will to partecipate.
8. Because it’s a way to recall some forgotten songs, an opportunity to listen to them again after a long time and to discuss about them (after all, discussion is what forums stand for, isn’t it?
)9. Because we can!
End of the self-made questions. I would like to start it all, but please, give a feedback. Let me know if you are interested to participate or not. An answer like “Hell, yeah! Great! When do we start?” would be highly appreciated but I can stand good also with “Ok, let’s give it a try…”. Obviously if I get only two or three feedbacks, it all dies here. I’ve lost only one hour, and you have missed an opportunity. But, hey, we can still stay friends!
Now it’s up to you. Have you got questions? Domande? Preguntas? Fragen? Frågor?
I actually have one question: wanna play?
)
Now we'll find if you'll can so brave until the bitter end! 
requested to indicate a preference order. But you can sure 
.