Helena vs. Santeria

[Jorge]

vs.

[Jorge]

I know it's going to get crushed, but I'm gonna go to bat for "Helena". I think it's a very hooky song with a really good melody, nice harmonies, strong performances all around and a massive, lumbering half-time singalong chorus. It's overdramatic and ridiculous but, sort of like "Bring Me to Life" did, it actually works for me.

"Santeria" is an unfairly derided song that I'm not crazy about but is nowhere near as offensively bad as you would think from how often it gets trashed. Still, I'm gonna go with the big emo cryfest on this one.

[PHATJ]

I’m a big fan of Helena.

[Kevin Davis]

I loved "Santeria" back in the day. I have no long-term interest in Sublime but Bradley Nowell was pretty clearly a guy with a lot of potential; he had an effortless knack for melody and an easygoing, elastic voice with a lot of soul in it. His whole presentation hasn't aged well, but bands like MCR are simply outside my register -- there is absolutely zilch musically, sonically, emotionally, or lyrically that I connect with. Sublime it is.

[Norah]

santeria was probably my favorite song for a few weeks in 1996

[Stardog Champion]

Voted for "Helena". They went big and epic for that chorus, and I fell for it.

[Jammer XCI]

How the fuck is Sublime losing to that guyliner smeared incel band?

My Chemical Romance might be the worst band in this tournament not named Simple Plan or Good Charlotte.

[chewm]

I don't hate Santeria

[LoathedVermin72]

I literally stopped the MCR song at 4 seconds. Easy Sublime vote

[ABNorman]

I like both of these, but I went through a big Sublime phase so they get the nod.

[Higgs]

Vote for Lou Dog.

[mf]

Sublime were one of my favorite bands in the nineties and i still love them to this day. Not even a guilty pleasure. Some of the stuff hasn't aged well but it makes for good nostalgia.

Easy vote for Bradley's mad guitar skills

Spoiler: show

[Joesanity]

Sorry Santeria, but too many lame white dudes in terrible cover bands have ruined you for me.

[tragabigzanda]

[Ello Sailor]

Helena kicks ass. I hated MCR as a teen but I can appreciate what they were going for after the fact.

Santeria is cool, but it isn't pop-punk. Boo, Jorge. Boo.

[Jorge]

We're being very loose with the terminology here. People really wanted "Santeria" in, so whatever.

[PHATJ]

Helena kicks ass. I hated MCR as a teen but I can appreciate what they were going for after the fact.

Santeria is cool, but it isn't pop-punk. Boo, Jorge. Boo.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Santeria is awful. I used to like it when it came out, but it has not aged well for me at all.

[mikejasond]

I think Santeria is an amazing song but how is it pop punk? What? I voted against it because it's in the wrong genre tournament

[Jorge]

We're being very loose with the terminology here. People really wanted "Santeria" in, so whatever.