Herein, I break down the first round of contestants in the Sun Region of the Weather Channel’s Weather Song Tournament, or as I like to call it, March Madness for Music Nerds! I promise to be mercurial and opinionated, because I know my readers expect nothing less!
On a related note, this being the internet, many commenters have already voiced strong opinions on which songs aren’t included that should’ve been, and are included that shouldn’t, and I have a thought or two about that myself. This kind of curatorial activity always displeases someone, because by definition, you can’t include everything. TWC’s selection committee made the decision to include only songs with weather references in the title, which left out many songs that might actually talk about weather more, and left in some songs where the title is the only weather connection. Oh well, that’s showbiz!
First Round Matchups: Sun Region
Also check out the other regions:
Elements
Rain
Seasons
- The Beatles: “Here Comes The Sun” vs. Donovan: “Sunshine Superman“
This is a no-brainer for me. Both songs were released in 1966, and both reached #1 on the charts, but to me, the Beatles song is less dated and more enduring, while Donovan’s song is a bit goofy (not that that’s entirely a bad thing!).
MMN’s pick: The Beatles: “Here Comes The Sun”
- Sheryl Crow: “Soak Up the Sun” vs. Kenny Chesney: “When the Sun Goes Down“
I’m not a big country music fan, though I do like a lot of what has been called “Y’allternative” (and what my fellow GRAMMY blogger Twang Nation would call Americana). But in this case, I prefer Kenny Chesney’s song. Sheryl Crow is a bit overplayed to me, and anyone who thinks the term “diddly-squat” has any business appearing in a non-satirical song lyric has a lot of karmic penance to do, in my opinion. The fact that it rhymes with the admirable aphorism, “It’s not having what you want / It’s wanting what you’ve got” only serves to highlight the badness.
Okay, the Chesney lyrics ain’t exactly Shakespeare either, but they’re more consistent, at least.
MMN’s pick: Kenny Chesney: “When the Sun Goes Down”
- Katrina and the Waves: “Walking On Sunshine” vs. The Animals: “House of the Rising Sun“
Though I do find “Walking On Sunshine” infectiously joyous and fun to dance to, I’m gonna go old-school with “House of the Rising Sun,” just to be contrary. I dig the guitar arpeggios, and besides, someone has to stand up for our music-historical heritage… or something like that!
MMN’s pick: The Animals: “House of the Rising Sun”
- Stevie Wonder: “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” vs. Louis Armstrong: “On the Sunny Side of the Street“
Oh, boy — this one just hurts. How can I possibly vote against either of these? Weather Channel, you’re killin’ me!
Well, I’ll go with Louis, just because the song is technically more directly weather-related. Still… ouch!
MMN’s pick: Louis Armstrong: “On the Sunny Side of the Street”
- The Beatles: “Good Day Sunshine” vs. Fifth Dimension: “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In“
I guess I’ve outgrown any attraction I ever had for anything psychadelic. I used to live near Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley; I’ve paid my dues. I’m going with classic Beatles again here.
Oh, but if you haven’t seen the ending of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which features an ensemble performance of “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” watch it now. That’s goofy done right!
MMN’s pick: The Beatles: “Good Day Sunshine”
- Bill Withers: “Ain’t No Sunshine” vs. John Denver “Sunshine on My Shoulders“
Apologies to the acoustic guitar and the city I visited last week, but there ain’t no contest here.
Side note: whenever I hear this song, I think of NPR host Renee Montagne gamely singing it to demonstrate how autotune works. She was a good sport!
MMN’s pick: Bill Withers: “Ain’t No Sunshine”
- Gordon Lightfoot: “Sundown” vs. Cream “Sunshine of Your Love“
I’m quite charmed by the syncopated rhythms and vocal harmonies of the Cream song. It’s probably the less weather-related of the two here, so you could justifiably accuse me of inconsistency. But then, I never claimed otherwise!
MMN’s pick: Cream “Sunshine of Your Love”
- The Street: “Sunny Day (Sesame St. Theme)” vs. Elton John: “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me“
Sorry, Sir Elton, but childhood is forever!
MMN’s pick: The Street: Sunny Day (Sesame St. Theme)”
What are your picks, music nerds?
Next up: the Elements Region!
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How do you vote in the Weather Channel Tournament? I can’t find anything that lets me vote.
Hi Edward — The voting windows for each round are only 24 hours long, and voting in the first round started on Monday, so it’s closed now. The next round, Sweet Sixteen, starts on Tuesday, March 20. Check the Weather Songs Tournament index page on the Weather Channel’s site for the latest voting info and results.
Thanks for visiting!