Greatest Song Ever Written Contest 2010: The Finale

Let's not beat around the bush. The votes are in, the decisions have been made, and we are down to our final two contenders. One of these two songs will be voted the Greatest Song Ever Written. Here they are, presented for your approval.

Send in your final votes to TGSongContest@gmail.com. All votes are due by midnight, March 1st, after which time a winner will be declared.

Let the final round of voting begin! Your two finalists are . . . .

FINAL ROUND

"Dock of the Bay"
by: Otis Redding

Written in 1967 and released in 1968, this soft soul ballad tells the tale of a man who took a chance on a new life - and how it just didn't work out. Set against the backdrop of Steve Cropper's unforgettable guitar stylings, "Dock of the Bay" became the first posthumously-released song to become a #1 Single. Recorded just three days before Redding's tragic death in a plane crash, it has become the song which defined his career, winning 2 Grammys and being covered by artists ranging from Michael Bolton to Pearl Jam. It has forged an unforgettable legacy in the annals of music history, and is without argument one of the finest recordings of all time.

"Moondance"
by: Van Morrison

This blend of jazz and country rock in the inimitable style of Van Morrison has captivated listeners for 40 years. Released in 1970 on an album of the same name, "Moondance" propelled Van Morrison to success as an artist. Its accessible nature as a song and soothing, swinging rhythm has made it one of the most often-covered songs of the modern era, and has been performed in concert by Van Morrison more than anything else he has written. Reminiscent of Frank Sinatra yet easily re-recorded by Michael Buble, "Moondance" has the timeless quality of a truly well-written song, and will continue to swing through the airwaves for decades to come.

Videos of Van Morrison playing "Moondance" are hard to find, so enjoy this link to the song.


"Dock of the Bay" or "Moondance?" Which will win? The decision is in your hands now.

The Best Songs of All Time (Of All Time!)

I've been thinking a lot lately about what are the best songs ever written.

Obviously, this a pretty subjective question. My favorite song is certainly not your favorite song, isn't likely some dude in Arkansas' favorite song (but man, if he is a Matt Good fan, what are the odds?). But still, within the threshold of our western culture, in our shared language, is there one song or some songs that stand head and shoulders above, that EVERYBODY agrees are pretty fantastic pieces of craft, their favorite or not?

The kind of song that you never turn off if it comes on the radio, whether you've heard it a hundred times or the first in a long while. A song that gets stuck in your head and won't go away - but not in an annoying 'god save me from my brain' way, but a hummable friend keeping you company? A timeless song - not connected to a specific era or genre, though it may be a product of both, but who's resonance comes from the simplicity, power, and beauty of the music itself, not it's cultural contextualization. A song that never loses the poignancy of it's lyrics or feels musically out dated - that stays relevant because it has perfectly tied into some basic human truth through words, rhythm, and melody. Songs that cross taste, genre, style - that a fan of rap, rock, country, or classical can all still enjoy and feel connected to.
A perfect song.

A song like that is few and far between, but I have some suggestions - songs that may earn the title of the actual best ever written.

* OTIS REDDING - THE DOCK OF THE BAY
Maybe a perfect song, from opening to end. A wistful tune that has just enough nostalgia to feel comfortable and familiar, but enough momentum to push forward. A brief pause of reflection before the next chapter, and one of the catchiest tunes ever commited to recording. As Otis whistles off, his character walks away onto the next stage. Both relaxing and active, it's pretty perfect, and just pretty in a simple way.

* BILL WITHERS - AIN'T NO SUNSHINE
Similar to the song above, Ain't No Sunshine just gets in your head. Reflective, sad, and true without ever being emo - the way Otis perfectly captures wistful, Bill does melancholy. Poetic lyrics, a slow measured build and a subtle crescendo to the breakdown with a tune that comforts even as it takes stock of your broken heart. That last vocal flourish lingers like the adult love this song is about.

*VAN MORRISON - MOONDANCE
And what Bill Withers does to melancholy, Van Morrison does to romance. From the deft touch of every note to the unrefined sensuality of his absolutely expressive voice, this is a song for lovers, building to the moment where the mood changes. What it lacks in overt sexuality (it's not the song for the actual act) it revels in flirtation, touch, and a journey of attraction. The ensemble is tight, the tune captivating - this is a song to listen to, dance to, experience.

Those are my three perfect songs, according to the criteria I laid out for myself. They may not be my favorites, but they are flawless songs that I think can strike a chord in any listener.
Other strong candidates I've heard include The Cure's Love Song and/or Just Like Heaven, or Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, and I'm still thinking about those - they just might make the cut, especially listening to Floyd while I write - but these are the three I stand by now.

- Jason