R&P: Let's decide -- What are the best songs of 2009 (Round 1 - Part 23)?

Question

The First Annual Rock & Pop Best Song Competition (2009 Edition).
Part twenty-three of the first round. More to come, and you don't have to have voted in any of the previous parts to get started here.
A rare weekend edition for those who have hung around.  

MATCH UP 1
"Magnificent" by U2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi52HjJbwVQ
Bono and the Edge have a musical version of Spider-Man premiering on Broadway.  
VERSUS
"So Close, So Far" by Hoobastank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTaMaHmn3cA
Who?
Bastank

MATCH UP 2
"Hellhole Ratrace" by Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcqwfFKagH4
every Girls video just seems to be found footage of hipsters walking around.
VERSUS
"Sleep Until the War Is Over" by Rob Thomas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIE4R9Mi1vU
Why does that song he did with Santana still play at my neighborhood Chili's?

MATCH UP 3
"The Rake's Song" by The Decemberists
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPEfxZy6JNg
I'm typically underwhelmed by The Decemberists, but this one caught my attention. It builds very nicely upon itself.  
VERSUS
"Penn Station" by The Felice Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8JYLVnNKjs
It may have been WIre who turned me onto these guys.  Has he ever listened to Tallest Man on Earth?  If not, he should. 

MATCH UP 4
"(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" by Weezer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDIzMGh94vo
The album title Raditude was made up by the guy who plays Dwight Schrute on The Office.  
VERSUS
"We Still Got the Taste Dancing On Our Tongues" by Wild Beasts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObF7R0LeUyk
I think Howling is going to hate this guy's voice.  Though I could be wrong.  

MATCH UP 5
"What We Know" by Sonic Youth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyHiZjIo1dc
Ibold and Shelley really drive this song, even through the noise.... YouTube's shallow sound quality sadly limits their contribution to the song.
VERSUS
"Dirty Little Girl" by Burn Halo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF8qPEbBxoo
I like that, contrary to the song, they've worked a moral into the end of the video.... Sometimes life is more than sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll.....

You, the community here at Yahoo! Answers, nominated 350+ songs, your favorites of the year, to face-off in head-to-head battles, tournament style, to determine the best songs of this calendar year.

I ask that you listen to all of the songs... don't vote on name alone. Listen to them, weigh them, and then choose with reason, which song is the better of the two in the given match ups.
Star it, and try to get as many voters to this thing as you can.
All comments are meant to be in good humor.

If you have any trouble with any links, or any of them are broken -- let me know, and I'll fix them ASAP. Thanks.

So, THE QUESTION: which songs do you subjectively prefer of each these match ups (even if it's only the lesser of two evils in your eyes)?

Jimmy Jazz · Accepted Answer

1. Okay seriously I like a lot of really bad awful corporate trash pop music but I want to fight whoever nominated Hoobastank.
Magnificent.

2.  That song he did with Santana will still be played years from now for reasons beyond anyone's cranial capacity, like the way that Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini song still gets air play.  This song isn't too bad though, I'm not sure I'm down with the message but it's entirely possible I'm misinterpreting it.
Hellhole Ratrace.

3.  I wonder which Penn Station they are talking about.  I'm sad when I think about the old Penn Station that used to be in NYC compared to the piece of junk that is there now.  I'm sure the reasons for destroying it made sense at the time.  Thank goodness Grand Central survived the wrecking ball.  Thanks Jackie O!
Penn Station.

4.  We've Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues.

5.  What We Know.

? · Answer

Magnificent - U2
Hellhole Ratrace - Girls
Penn Station - Felice Brothers
We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues - Wild Beasts
What We Know - Sonic Youth

Me · Answer

MATCH UP 1: "Magnificent" by U2
MATCH UP 2: "Hellhole Ratrace" by Girls
MATCHUP 3: "Penn Station" by The Felice Brothers
MATCHUP 4: "We Still Got the Taste Dancing On Our Tongues" by Wild Beasts
MATCHUP 5: "Dirty Little Girl" by Burn Halo

simone · Answer

I have to get a vote in for "We Still Got the Taste Dancing On Our Tongues" by Wild Beasts so the balance between good and evil can be restored.

"Magnificent" by U2
I used to like U2.  Alot.

"Hellhole Ratrace" by Girls
I feel like  I need a haircut.

"The Rake's Song" by The Decemberists
This sounds a little like Interpol.  I'm so glad that winter is over.

"What We Know" by Sonic Youth
Kim Gordon is awesome.  I really liked her shoes.  I didn't vote for this song because of Kim Gordon's shoes but because I'm uncomfortable even acknowledging "Dirty Little Girl" as a contender for best song of 2009.  Although, having the video tramp puke in a public restroom toilet made me realize that stereotypes are human too.

David · Answer

U2
Rob Thomas
The Decemberists
Weezer
Sonic Youth

Anonymous · Answer

to begin with, i have heard the tallest man on earth, but not any of the albums, just his tiny desk show for NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112764691

1. U2...i guess...
2. girls
3. the felice brothers
and on a side note, i didnt nominate this one, i nominated the other one that we had in this from them. and given that this band was like my personal mission to get people to give them a chance for a month or so last year, i feel pretty good about that.
4. wild beasts...when in doubt, go with the one you havent heard of.
5. sonic youth

Anonymous · Answer

Magnificent (first time I'm hearing this and it's not bad at all)
Hellhole Ratrace
Penn Station - yeah I know The Felice Brothers thanks to wire & string too 
(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To
What We Know

toxic_ · Answer

"(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" by Weezer

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R&P: Let's decide -- What are the best songs of 2009 (Round 1 - Part 23)?

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