Last year Scarriet moved away from poetry and had an exciting March Madness tournament of: Best pop artists and their two best songs.
Now we follow up with a simpler formula—one song trying to win it all.
While the judges chose new and rarer songs for the 2022 March Madness, it became quickly apparent that there are two ways to appreciate songs.
One: the buzz-inducing physical experience of listening to the song. Songs with modern studio power have an advantage here over older recordings. One can’t help but use this as the sole criterion for liking a song.
Two: the words, melody or sentiment of a song which invades your soul and finds you singing or humming the song to yourself after you have listened to it.
So how do we judge?
We do our best.
And your judgment is all that finally matters.
Fans: some songs in the brackets below—which you may not be familiar with—are linked to you tube. We doubt anyone knows “Womb To Tomb,” a band active in the mid-90s in Boston. And for you old farts, we’ve linked the Jonas Brothers song—a number which captures the basic spirit of today’s extremely popular (and somewhat shallow) music.
We feel all these songs are great—and are delighted you may discover a gem you don’t know.
—Scarriet Editors
DOROTHY KILGALLEN BRACKET
Led Zeppelin—Thank You
Herb Albert & the Tijuana Brass—This Guy’s in Love With You
Simon & Garfunkle—Fakin’ It
Fifth Dimension—Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In
Sugar Loaf—Green Eyed Lady
Doors—Shaman’s Blues
Beatles—Fixing A Hole
The Spinners—I’ll Be Around
Rolling Stones—Lady Jane
Vanity Fare—Hitchin A Ride
Zager & Evans—In the Year 2525
Jefferson Airplane—Comin’ Back To Me
The Who—Melancholia
Bee Gees—And the Sun Will Shine
Erik Darling—True Religion
Donovan—Teas
MINOR COOPER KEITH BRACKET
Jonas Brothers—Only Human
Chicago—Make Me Smile
Mary Hopkin—Those Were The Days My Friend
Jack Jones—A Day In The Life Of A Fool
Bread—It Don’t Matter To Me
Billy Paul—Me and Mrs. Jones
Leslie Gore—You Don’t Own Me
Buffy St. Marie—Universal Soldier
Tommy Edwards—It’s All In The Game
Judy Collins—I Think It’s Going To Rain Today
Nina Simone—Forbidden Fruit
Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem—Whistling Gypsy
America—A Horse With No Name
Dave Clark Five—Because
King Harvest—Dancing In the Moonlight
Syd Barrett—Opel
WINFIELD SCOTT BRACKET
Islely Brothers—Who’s That Lady
Blood Sweat & Tears—You’ve Made Me So Very Happy
Moody Blues—Tuesday Afternoon
Mamas & Papas—Dream A Little Dream Of Me
Brian Hyland—Sealed With A Kiss
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose—Too Late To Turn Back Now
Elliot Smith—Alameda
Love—You Set The Scene
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes—If You Don’t Know Me By Now
10CC—I’m Not In Love
B.T.O.—Taking Care Of Business
Breeders—Invisible Man
Culture Club—Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?
Johnnie Ray—Cry
The Marmalade—Reflections Of My Life
Nancy Wilson—The Good Life
JOHN TOWNSEND TROWBRIDGE BRACKET
ABBA—SOS
Sinead O’Connor—Nothing Compares To You
Al Stewart—Year of the Cat
Nora Jones—Come Away With Me
Pink Floyd—Arnold Layne
Dione Warwick—Walk On By
Culture Club—Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?
Skeeter Davis—End of the World
Paul McCartney—Monkberry Moon Delight
Lobo—I’d Love You To Want Me
Pete Seeger—Danville Girl
Pine Top Smith—Pine Top Smith’s Boogie Woogie
Jacqueline Francois—April In Paris
Classics IV—Stormy
Lotte Lenya—Surabaya Johnny
Womb To Tomb—II