Prog World Cup: Group A (Read the instructions)

8 groups, 32 countries, each represented by one and only one band.

Countries selected were those that had more albums with, at least, 30 ratings.

Bands selected to represent these countries were chosen by historic relevance and/or personal preference.

First and SECOND place will advance next round. So think your vote carefully before casting it.

Last day to vote for group A: September 27th

Edited by Morningrise - September 25 2018 at 08:33

Bubu leading 3-0 against Yes? Let me savour the moment I feel it won't last long...

Of the four choices here, Yes.

Bubu!!!!

Is Negura Bunget the only band that can represent Romania? Extreme metal next to those symph or eclectic legends? What about Phoenix? 

Cristi wrote: Is Negura Bunget the only band that can represent Romania? Extreme metal next to those symph or eclectic legends? What about Phoenix?  Sfinx? Celelalte Cuvinte?  Excuse the complaining...

It's ok.

They are all valid options. But since the competition won't have loads of metal choices, I picked Negura Bunget to represent Romania.

I also tried to balance the number of classic and modern acts.

Besides, "Om" is the highest ranked romanian album on this site (247th), so I don't think Negura Bunget is that much bad of a choice.

Morningrise wrote: Cristi wrote: Is Negura Bunget the only band that can represent Romania? Extreme metal next to those symph or eclectic legends? What about Phoenix?  Sfinx? Celelalte Cuvinte?  Excuse the complaining... It's ok. They are all valid options. But since the competition won't have loads of metal choices, I picked Negura Bunget to represent Romania. I also tried to balance the number of classic and modern acts. Besides, "Om" is the highest ranked romanian album on this site (247th), so I don't think Negura Bunget is that much bad of a choice.

Cristi wrote: Morningrise wrote: Cristi wrote: Is Negura Bunget the only band that can represent Romania? Extreme metal next to those symph or eclectic legends? What about Phoenix?  Sfinx? Celelalte Cuvinte?  Excuse the complaining... It's ok. They are all valid options. But since the competition won't have loads of metal choices, I picked Negura Bunget to represent Romania. I also tried to balance the number of classic and modern acts. Besides, "Om" is the highest ranked romanian album on this site (247th), so I don't think Negura Bunget is that much bad of a choice. NB would get votes only from metal listeners, which aren't that many anyway.  Up against Yes? Few have a chance to win. Yes is too big, famous and beloved.  Maybe bands in these polls could be similar in genre, the popular genres will always win, progressive metal will never win, it's one of the least popular ones here on PA forum. :)

I know Yes will probably win the competition easily. It's just for fun.

The real competition for the romanians is against Bubu and Bacamarte for 2nd place in the group so that they can advance one more round.

It's true. Metal genres are less popular here generally speaking. But there are some metal bands which are really beloved, such as Riverside or Opeth.

If I tried to include all bands of similar genre here, I would get criticisms as well. Let's say I decided to go for the most classic forms of prog, and I chose Triumvirat to represent Germany...

"What about Eloy? Grobschnitt? And Neuschwanstein?"

Some who do not understand the poll theme might even go:

"WHAT THE HELL IS TRIUMVIRAT DOING REPRESENTING GERMANY INSTEAD OF CAN????"

You can't please them all

The only Romanian bands I have albums by in PA are Phoenix and Sfinx (had heard some Negura Bunget and refreshed my memory before voting). My favourite "modern" Romanian-born composer is Vladimir Cosma who is not in ProgArchives, but would be of interest to various people here. Marius Popp is another not in PA but with some Prog music that I love. I'll do my own little Romanian poll since I have had insomnia once again.

As it is right now, the UK is sure to win this contest, and once again it will end up being amongst a few predictable bands.

If I were to do it, I'd maybe only include bands with about the same level of PA knownness and indeed mix it up genre-wise (maybe I'd keep out any that made the top 100 Prog albums list) or limit it to ones with 300 or less ratings. Anyway, it will be interesting to see how this differs from past World Cups and if there is some way to level the playing field more as the results were, I think, ultimately too predictable before. If the journey is more important than the destination, and the point is about bringing lesser-known bands to the attention of people, then I think the competition has merit.

Perhaps asking people to say a little bit about each band in their posts would be interesting, since I do think these work better when those who vote try to become at least somewhat familiar with all of the options before voting.

It's your topic, Morningrise though, and you can do it how you like (in the past, they have tended to take over the polls forum overmuch for my tastes). Polls can be fun, but at least for myself, I'm hoping to discover new-to-me music along the way when taking part in people's polls as well as have some enjoyable conversation with whomever starts a poll and posts in it. The social aspect is as important to me as discovering new-to-me music.

Edited by Logan - September 25 2018 at 07:14

Yes score my G'OLÉ !