Category Archives: song of the day

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Song of the Day #3,244: ‘Warm Blood’ – Carly Rae Jepsen vs. Elvis Costello

The latest Montauk Madness Round One matchup features a prime contender for the whole title (Elvis Costello) vs. a newcomer with only a couple of albums under her belt (Carly Rae Jepsen). Not exactly a fair fight.

But Jepsen is a talent, no question. She might not be Rocky Balboa taking Apollo Creed to 15 rounds and losing by judge’s decision, but Costello is definitely in the other corner having taken a solid shot to the eye, nodding her way and saying “You have great things ahead of you, kid.”

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Song of the Day #3,243: ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ – Chris Stapleton

I last featured this song about a year and a half ago, when I posted a live Country Music Awards performance by Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake. That performance was my introduction to Chris Stapleton… and lot of other people’s, too.

That performance vaulted the country blue singer-songwriter into the national spotlight and helped push his debut album, Traveller, to Billboard’s #1 spot and eventual double-platinum status. Not bad for three minutes’ work.

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Song of the Day #3,242: ‘When I Look at the World’ – U2

One interesting aspect of U2, one of the most popular rock acts of all time, is that they’re essentially a Christian rock band.

Most Christian rock bands explicitly market themselves as such, rather than seeking a wider audience. Presumably, they see their music as a form of proselytizing. U2 doesn’t do that. But so many of their songs are about a relationship with God that they certainly could have gone down that path.

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Song of the Day #3,241: ‘Tempted’ – Squeeze vs. Prince

David Bowie made his Round One appearance and, at least by my vote, bested his first Montauk Madness opponent. Now it’s time for another musical legend who died in 2016 to try his luck, as Prince faces off against the British New Wave band Squeeze.

This is a more difficult decision than it might seem. While I acknowledge Prince’s unique genius and his contribution to rock and R&B music, I don’t own many of his albums. But neither do I own many Squeeze albums.

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Song of the Day #3,240: ‘Leaves That Are Green’ – Simon & Garfunkel vs. Rufus Wainwright

Earlier in the first round of Montauk Madness, I voted for Paul Simon over Elton John. Now Simon shows up again, paired with Art Garfunkel, to take on Rufus Wainwright.

Simon & Garfunkel were one of my first musical loves. I owned all of their albums on vinyl more than a decade after they broke up and was delighted by every poetic turn of phrase, every gorgeous harmony.

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