Do Anything For You region
ELITE 8 HIGHLIGHTS
1 Chicago - You're the Inspiration vs. 2 Mike Reno w/Ann Wilson - Almost Paradise
- For Chicago, you want to have you hear me saying that you could advance to the final 4. Trust me, no one needs you more than I to move on since I made you the top seed in the bracket. But when the results of each category were totaled up, it just wasn't enough. With Mike Reno and Ann Wilson, all these dreams I save for a rainy day, they're finally coming true, so I'll share them all with you that Almost Paradise has defeated You're the Inspiration and will represent the Do Anything For you Region in the final 4.
Full of Regret region
ELITE 8 HIGHLIGHTS
1 Survivor - The Search Is Over vs. 7 Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes
- I want to hold you so hear me out Eric Carmen. You weren't the traditional power ballad, so now did I take you by surprise that you made it this far into the tournament? One look at you and I can't disguise that you just couldn't topple the top seed in the bracket. The Search Is Over must feel like it is taking on the world, but that is just your style as it truly embodies what it means to be a power ballad. Survivor will represent the Full of Regret region in the final 4 with a resounding defeat of Hungry Eyes.
Lost Without You region
ELITE 8 HIGHLIGHTS
1 Journey - Faithfully vs. 3 Loverboy - Heaven In Your Eyes
- In the Lost Without You region, It took some time to find the light and now I realize, that this was one of the most difficult match ups to determine an outcome. With Heaven In Your Eyes I know what my heart's been lookin for and what I am feeling inside, but with Faithfully, I get the joy of rediscovering you. On final analysis, it's something that we just can't hide that Journey will move on to the final 4.
Love Hurts region
ELITE 8 HIGHLIGHTS
4 Chicago - Look Away vs. 3 REO Speedwagon - Can't Fight This Feeling
- This entire tournament, I've been keeping you in sight REO Speedwagon. I really wanted to advance Can't Fight This Feeling into the finals as I've been running around in circles in my mind with this decision. And just when I thought that I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might, I actually could fight this feeling. Trust me, it's gotta be this way. Don't look at me, I don't want you to see me this way as I advance Look Away into the final 4 as the champion of the Love Hurts region.
Final 4
PREVIEW
2 Mike Reno w/Ann Wilson - Almost Paradise vs. 1 Survivor - The Search Is Over
1 Journey - Faithfully vs. 4 Chicago - Look Away
This tournament has been anything but predictable. We had tremendous double digit upsets in the early rounds and even some top seeds getting knocked out before anyone estimated. But what we are left with is nothing short of two blockbuster match ups of true heavyweights in the realm of power ballads.
Chicago came in with 7 entries to the tournament and managed to make it into the final 4 with their 4 seed, Look Away, representing the Love Hurts region. Some thought that Loverboy would rise from the Lost Without You Region, but Steve Perry mixing in lyrics about a circus and clowns prevailed. So the right side of the bracket is set where Journey will take on Chicago.
Mike Reno did manage to make it into the final 4 with his solo effort, paired with Ann Wilson from Heart. He proved that Almost Paradise embodied the spirit of the Do Anything For You Region. They will take on Survivor, who really has breezed through the Full of Regret region.
No matter the outcome of the final 4, we are bound to have a championship battle what will be one for the ages. Follow along next weekend as the final 2 will be announced.
Do Anything For You region
SWEET 16 HIGHLIGHTS
Full of Regret region
SWEET 16 HIGHLIGHTS
1 Survivor - The Search Is Over vs. 4 Bryan Adams - Heaven
- Oh thinkin' about all our younger years, Heaven definitely takes me back to 7th grade school dances at Kingsford Junior High. But as terrifying and fond those memories are, that's over now and so is the tournament for Bryan Adams. Survivor is asking themselves can we last forever, will we fall apart but the answers will not be known until the elite 8.
14 REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You vs. 7 Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes
- And I meant, every word I said, when I said that REO Speedwagon put up a valiant effort as a 14 seed in this match up. It should be clear that it's the only thing I want to do is to create intriguing match ups in this tournament, but Keep On Loving You is not part of the end game. One look at you and I can't disguise that Hungry Eyes moves on to face Survivor for the right to move on to the final 4.
Lost Without You region
SWEET 16 HIGHLIGHTS
1 Journey - Faithfully vs. 4 Warrant - Heaven
- Results in this tournament ain't always what it's s'posed to be but that is why the games are played. In this case, wheels go 'round and 'round and Faithfully will move on to the next 'round. For Heaven, now the lights are going out and Warrant goes home.
- We've been livin' on the edge where only the strong survive in this tournament. Can't you see I'm finding it hard to decide the winner in this battle? But all it takes to make me realize who should win is that Loverboy... I need you to stay. Heaven In Your Eyes defeats We Can Last Forever and moves on to face the top seeded Faithfully.
Love Hurts region
SWEET 16 HIGHLIGHTS
1 Air Supply - All Out of Love vs. 4 Chicago - Look Away
- I know you were right believing for so long that All Out of Love deserved to be a top seed in the region but it can't be too late to say that I was so wrong. Look Away takes down Air Supply. That's how it had to be. Yeah, that's how it had to be.
- For Sister Christian oh the time as come, and you know that you're not going to advance into the elite 8. And even as I wander, I'm keeping Can't Fight This Feeling in sight as a strong possibility to make the final 4 out of the Love hurts region. REO Speedwagon defeats Night Ranger as they remember what they started fighting for.
ELITE 8 MATCHUP
Other Tournament Notes
The elite 8 features a strong balance of songs on both sides of the bracket. Is it really anyone's guess as to who will survive or is it only Survivor who can survive? Is Eric Carmen Hungry enough as the lowest remaining seed? Will Chicago be able to match up against Chicago in the finals, or does Loverboy have something to say about that? All of these questions will be answered over the next few days as the elite 8 will become the final 4.
Do Anything For You region
ROUND OF 32 HIGHLIGHTS
1 Chicago - You're the Inspiration vs. 9 Peter Cetera - Glory of Love
- In a much anticipated battle between Petera Certa's solo career and Peter Cetera as a member of Chicago, it was meant to be that as the top seed in the bracket, You're the Inspiration, would prevail. Though it breaks my heart to see you crying Peter, this was a no lose situation as one your songs advances on.
5 Sheriff - When I'm With You vs. 13 Cinderella - Don't Know What You've Got
- If we take some time to think it over, you'd realize that there is no way that Sheriff's When I'm With You could defeat the only Cinderella of the tournament. So I can't tell ya baby what went wrong for Sheriff, but Don't Know What You've Got advances on to the sweet 16 with the upset.
- Steven Tyler told us that he wanted to stay in this moment forever while Jon Bon Jovi wasn't able to buy back yesterday despite promising you tomorrow. Words can't say what Aerosmith can do, but I Don't Want to Miss a Thing is able to bounce I'll Be There for You out of the tournament.
- Deep inside I always knew that when Chicago sang I can't go on, they was referring to this tournament and the inevitable loss of Will You Still Love Me? to a powerhouse like the 2 seed Almost Paradise. With their win, Mike Reno and Ann Wilson are getting closer, closer everyday to the final 4.
SWEET 16 MATCHUPS
1 Chicago - You're the Inspiration vs. 13 Cinderella - Don't Know What You've Got
2 Mike Reno w/Ann Wilson - Almost Paradise vs. 3 Aerosmith - I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
Full of Regret region
ROUND OF 32 HIGHLIGHTS
1 Survivor - The Search Is Over vs. 9 Winger - Miles Away
- How can I convince you what you see is real in this match up between the top seeded The Search Is Over and Miles Away. When times were tough, and you were down and out, Kip Winger and crew were not able to stage another upset as Survivor advances by knocking out Winger.
4 Bryan Adams - Heaven vs. 5 Chicago - Love Me Tomorrow
- In this 4 vs. 5 matchup, it isn't too hard to see that the winner might make a good run toward the final 4. Coming down to the wire, it was Heaven from Bryan Adams that would continue on, while Love Me Tomorrow from Chicago will be going home, and that's all I need to know.
11 Whitesnake - Is This Love? vs. 14 REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You
- You should have known by the tone of my voice that regardless of the outcome of this battle, that a double digit seed would be advancing on to the sweet 16. Despite Is This Love? growing stronger everyday, it was Keep On Loving You from REO Speedwagon who defeats Whitesnake.
2 Chicago - I Don't Wanna Live wo/ Your Love vs. 7 Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes
- And if it was over, maybe it was for the better for Chicago, as their dreams of being crowned best power ballad of all time with I Don't Wanna Live wo/ Your Love are over in the round of 32. Eric Carmen can't disguise that Hungry Eyes is a force to be reckoned with as he advances into the sweet 16 as a 7 seed.
SWEET 16 MATCHUPS
1 Survivor - The Search Is Over vs. 4 Bryan Adams - Heaven
Lost Without You region
ROUND OF 32 HIGHLIGHTS
1 Journey - Faithfully vs. 9 Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It for You
- You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for, but through space and time Faithfully makes quick work of (Everything I Do) I Do It for You. This leaves Bryan Adams with just one chance to go all the way, all they way, yeah.
- With possible divine intervention, Warrant advances past Amanda, proving that Heaven isn't too far away. Boston, I don't want to see it end either, but your hopes of winning the tournament are over.
- I hope that it won't end is a common feeling among the contenders, but alas there can only be one champion. Heart could hear the ticking of the clock as Heaven In Your Eyes from Loverboy pushes on into the sweet 16 defeating Alone.
- Chicago I need you to stay in the tournament, as it is easy come and easy go for Every Rose Has Its Thorn from Poison. We Can Last Forever moves on to the sweet 16 to face Loverboy in one of the most potentially epic battles of all time.
Love Hurts region
ROUND OF 32 HIGHLIGHTS
SWEET 16 MATCHUPS
Other Tournament Notes
Three double digit seeds remain alive in the tournament (15 Night Ranger - Sister Christian, 13 Cinderella - Don't Know What You've Got, 14 REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You). But the top seeds were top seeds for a reason, and the creme does tend to rise to the top. All 4 number 1 seeds remain and on paper, Survivor - The Search Is Over appears to have the easiest path to the final 4. If they can dispose of 4 Bryan Adams - Heaven they will only have to face the winner of a 7 vs. 14 matchup. But this isn't paper, well maybe it is, but there is a reason they play the games because you never know what will happen.
Be sure to check back next week when the sweet 16 will become the elite 8!
Do Anything For You region
ROUND 1 HIGHLIGHTS
- As the #1 seed it was plain to see that Chicago's You're the Inspiration would quickly dispose of the 16 seed Feel Like Making Love from Bad Company.
- In a small upset, Peter Cetera's Glory of Love upends the higher seeded When I See You Smile from Bad English who won't have to wonder how to ever make it through, because they won't. This creates a revenge match between Chicago featuring Peter Cetera, and Peter Cetera with his solo career.
- With their only tournament entry, Sheriff's When I'm With You takes down Boston's More Than A Feeling. Boston looked out this morning and the sun was gone, as were their hopes of advancing to the final 4 with this entry.
- As the only true Cinderella in the entire big dance, Cinderella pulls a not so surprising upset of Take It On The Run. So it is that REO Speedwagon heard it from a friend who, heard it from a friend who that Don't Know What You've Got (Till It's gone) knocks them out of the tournament.
- These 5 words I swear to you - I'll Be There for You proved to be too much for Eric Carmen's 11th seeded entry of All By Myself. who will continue to feel so insecure on the outside looking in.
- Apparently the one thing Meat Loaf won't do is make it into the second round, as I Don't Want to Miss a Thing, on the shoulders of Bruce Willis saving the world in Armageddon advances past I'd Do Anything for Love from the Loaf.
- Stryper promised to patiently stand by you faithfully, but Chicago always knew that two hearts drawn together bound by destiny would prevail. So as expected, Strypers' Honestly falls to the higher seeded Will You Still Love Me? from Chicago.
- Teamed up Ann Wilson from Heart, Mike Reno of Loverboy dominates Extreme's More Than Words with the duet's smash hit Almost Paradise from the Movie Footloose. We know that these are not the words I want to hear from you Extreme, but your time is up.
ROUND OF 32 MATCHUPS
1 Chicago - You're the Inspiration vs. 9 Peter Cetera - Glory of Love
5 Sheriff - When I'm With You vs. 13 Cinderella - Don't Know What You've Got
3 Aerosmith - I Don't Want to Miss a Thing vs. 6 Bon Jovi - I'll Be There for You
2 Mike Reno w/Ann Wilson - Almost Paradise vs. 7 Chicago - Will You Still Love Me?
- Survivor will continue loving for a moment and taking on the world as their #1 seed The Search Is Over proves to just be too much for Poison, as Bret Michaels will continue to think how things coulda been while their 16 seed I Won't Forget You is knocked out in the first round.
- The months go by, and I know for certain that Winger and their 9 seed Miles Away upsets Mister Misters #1 hit in the US and Canada from 1985, Broken Wings.
- There will be no 5 vs. 12 upset in this region since White Lion never had a chance to love you. Wait will have to wait until next year as Chicago will hurry back into the second round with Love Me Tomorrow,
- In a Canada vs. England match up, Bryan Adams shouldn't find it hard to believe that his 4 seed, Heaven, defeats the 13 seed Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad from Def Leppard.
- Paul Stanley from Kiss was out of his head over you, and now Forever is out the tournament as he and Gene Simmons are toppled by David Coverdale singing Is This Love? with Whitesnake.
- REO Speedwagoon will Keep On Loving You and they will keep on playing into the second round with an upset of the #3 seed High Enough by Damn Yankees. This means that there will be either an 11 seed or a 13 seed playing in the sweet 16!
- Eric Carmen had Peter Cetera in his sights as his Hungry Eyes from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack in 1987 squashes Cetera's solo career in the first round, leaving The next time I fall in love out in the cold.
- Mr. Big's To Be With You was one of the last 4 into the tournament and now has seen it all go down with their chances to advance, as Chicago's desire to not want to live without your love moves on.
ROUND OF 32 MATCHUPS
1 Survivor - The Search Is Over vs. 9 Winger - Miles Away
Lost Without You region
ROUND 1 HIGHLIGHTS
- They say that the road ain't no place to start a family, and it ain't no place for a 16 seed to fare well against the top seed in the bracket. Faithfully from Journey barely breaks a sweat as they take down Beth from Kiss. I guess that you can come home right now after all.
- Look into your heart, and you will find that there was never any doubt that (Everything I Do) I Do It for You from Bryan Adams would steamroll Stealheart's I'll Never Let You Go as the tears start to fall in this minor upset of a 9 seed over an 8.
- Remember after the fire, after all the rain, The Flame from Cheap Trick is extinguished by the lower seeded Amanda from Boston who took them by surprise and made them realize.
- This might be our last goodbye to Europe, as Warrant's Heaven surpasses Carrie . We will always be your biggest fan Jani Lane, even posthumously.
- You don't know how long I have wanted Alone by Heart to upend Without You from Motley Crue, proving Vince Neil really is a sailor lost at sea.
- In their bid to try anything to keep it working, Heaven In Your Eyes from Loverboy ousted Rosanna from Toto, proving that now she's gone.
- If I could have let you know somehow that Poison's 10 seed with Every Rose Has Its Thorn was too much for Alias as they really did lose their mind over this loss from their 7th seeded More than Words Can Say.
- Peter Cetera predicted the future when he sang now there's no way that I can lose in Chicago's We Can Last Forever as they demolish The Ballad of Jayne from L.A. Guns and their wishes slowly turn to sadness.
ROUND OF 32 MATCHUPS
Love Hurts region
ROUND 1 HIGHLIGHTS
- I know you were right believing for so long that the 16th seeded I'll Remember You never had a prayer against the top seeded All Out of Love by Air Supply. Sebastian Bach will have to paint a picture of the days gone by and start looking for another cameo in the Gilmore Girls reboot, reboot as Skid Row is out of the tournament.
- Babe you're not leaving! Styx upsets Journey's Open Arms. Apologies Steve Perry, but we don't need you to stay in the tournament any longer.
- Nothin' lasts forever, but GNR will sure as hell try, as November Rain eliminates the 12th seeded Always. We don't guess, we know Jon Bon Jovi, that you're not that good anymore.
- I guess it's over, baby. It's really over baby for Nazareth as they take a lot of pain when their anthem Love Hurts is thrown out off the tournament by the 4th seeded Look Away from Chicago.
- Love does really bite and so does being upset by an 11 seed. Apparently Chicago needs a little time away as Hard to Say I'm Sorry bows out to Love Bites from Def Leppard.
- When you just won't give me reasons it makes it tough to advance Breathe's How Can I Fall into the second round. Maybe REO Speedwagon can hold out forever as the 3 seed Can't Fight This Feeling advances.
- This may be the most uninteresting match up on the entire board. But I can't stop now, I've traveled so far to see Foreigner's I Want To Know What Love Is moves on and Boy Meets Girl's Waiting For A Star To Fall goes home.
- Sister Christian the time has come for you experience being on the winning side of one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) will NOT survive the tide to play in the next round as Night Ranger stuns Journey.
Other Tournament Notes
Amazingly, all four 9 seeds were able to defeat the slightly higher ranked 8 seeds in every region. Beyond the 9's advancing, there were 6 double digit seeds who upset the lower seeded favorites in the first round.
The first round of the tournament feels like a blur as 64 entries are now paired down to 32. By the end of the weekend, we will be ready for the sweet 16. Stay tuned for more results as we continue to count down to the best power ballad of all time!
