Song of the Day #3,326: ‘Walk On the Ocean’ – Toad the Wet Sprocket

When this song popped up as the next random selection from my iTunes library, I was certain I’d featured it on the blog before.

After all, it’s the first major single from Toad the Wet Sprocket’s breakthrough album, and I’ve blogged about Toad the Wet Sprocket songs 13 times before.

But no, somehow I’d never made it around to ‘Walk On the Ocean,’ the first song I ever heard, 25 years ago, by a band I still love today.

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Song of the Day #3,325: ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ – Kawehi

I’ll need the weekend to wrap up Round Four of Montauk Madness and prep Round Five, the Final Four, which kicks off next Monday.

In the meantime, enjoy this impressive one-woman take on the recently-dispatched Michael Jackson’s ‘The Way You Make Me Feel.’ Kawehi is a Kansas-based musician who achieved internet fame when a cover of Nirvana’s ‘Heart-Shaped Box’ went viral a few years back. Continue reading

Song of the Day #3,324: ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Love version)’ – The Beatles vs. Randy Newman

Our final Montauk Madness Round Four matchup is another good one. Randy Newman vs. The Beatles.

Newman took out Adele and The Rolling Stones before besting Fiona Apple in Round Three with 80% of the vote. The Beatles blanked Shakira in Round One but have had a progressively harder path, knocking out Ben Folds before winning a relatively close battle against Lyle Lovett, 64/36.

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Song of the Day #3,323: ‘…And in Every Home’ – Elvis Costello vs. Taylor Swift

Our third Round Four matchup pits Elvis Costello against Taylor Swift. Swift has been a giant slayer in the contest thus far, propelled by some major fans and a whole lot of debate. She took out David Byrne in Round One, Tom Petty in Round Two and Simon & Garfunkel in Round Three (72/28).

Costello topped Carly Rae Jepsen, then John Mayer and finally Michael Jackson (with a commanding 90% of the vote).

Swift’s path has been a generational war, Millennials vs. Boomers, and that won’t change in this round. Can she continue to topple the oldsters on her way to the Final Four? Or will Costello prove too tough a foe?

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Song of the Day #3,322: ‘Girl From the North Country’ – Bob Dylan vs. Counting Crows

Our next Montauk Madness Round Four matchup is a bit unexpected. It’s not a big surprise to see Bob Dylan here, but this is rare air for Counting Crows, who happen to enjoy quite a bit of popularity among my meager readership.

Dylan made it here by dispatching Miranda Lambert, Eminem and R.E.M. Even though I voted for him all three times, the losses of Lambert and R.E.M. hurt me. I wish they’d had an easier path. Counting Crows took out Morrissey, David Bowie and Ben Folds Five. I picked them in the first two rounds before siding with Ben Folds Five, but even that was a close call.

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