The final Montauk Madness post honors The Beatles, who won the bronze medal over Bob Dylan with 63% of the vote.
In an alternate universe, the Fab Four would be our overall winners. They lost to Elvis Costello in the semi-finals after an influx of Costello votes from a fan site, and otherwise would likely have won. Had they advanced to the finals, I’d give them pretty good odds against Billy Joel.
While we wait for the result of our final matchup, I’ll offer up another Montauk Madness regret. This is an artist who hadn’t even released her sophomore record when the contest started, and therefore wasn’t eligible according to my two-album rule.
But if I could tweak the space-time continuum a bit and put Lorde’s Melodrama in my earbuds prior to April, she would have awkwardly danced her way into the lineup.
Now that we know the first and second place winners of Montauk Madness, today’s runner-up matchup will decide who gets the bronze medal: Bob Dylan or The Beatles?
This pairing was the one considered inevitable by many readers, and indeed it’s the championship battle I arrived at when running through the brackets myself. It pits the most celebrated solo artist in history against the most celebrated band.
Four months, six rounds, 64 contestants, and one Montauk Madness champion. He appeared in the very first matchup and he’s here at the end. Ladies and gentlemen, your winner: Mr. Billy Joel!
Joel faced off against Elvis Costello in the final round, and it was quite a battle. In fact, the outcome was decided by our closest margin yet, 51% to 49%. Just a couple of votes separated these two well-loved entertainers.
I know all the Montauk Madness fans are crying out in pain as they realize they’ll have to wait a little longer to learn which artist won the championship matchup. I apologize.
But I couldn’t let today pass without acknowledging two cosmically important, once in a lifetime events: the Total Solar Eclipse and my sister Amy’s 50th birthday.
So let us pause to watch the world fall into an overwhelming darkness. And let’s check out the eclipse, too.
Just kidding, Amy! 50 is the new 30, and you wear it more like 25. I’ve been around for nearly 45 of those 50 years and you’ve inspired, amused and enriched me through every one of them.
With all my love, Happy Birthday!
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