Friday, December 31, 2021

The "NOT the Holiday Season" 30-Song Tribute Challenge


Day 1: A Song About Writing A Letter: The Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter #23

Day 2: A Song About Ice Or Snow: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow

Day 3: A Song About Making Or Baking Food: Bessie Smith - Nobody In Town Can Bake A Sweet Jelly Roll Like Mine

Day 4: A Song About Decorating Something: Kenny Rogers - You Decorated My Life

Day 5: A Song About Family Gatherings: Ween - Booze Me Up And Get Me High

Day 6: A Song About Counting Down Days: The Cure - Friday I'm In Love

Day 7: A Song About Toys: Melanie - Brand New Key

Day 8: A Song About Chanukah: Six13 - A Hamilton Chanukah

Day 9: A Song About Making (And Checking) Lists: Paul Simon - 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover

Day 10: A Song About Parties And Partying: P!nk - Get The Party Started

Day 11: A Song Referencing Red, Green, Or Blue: Cyrkle - Red Rubber Ball

Day 12: A Song About Shopping And/Or Capitalism: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (featuring Wang) - Thrift Shop

Day 13: A Song About Peace On Earth: George Harrison - Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)

Day 14: A Song About Goodwill Toward Humankind: Bon Jovi - I'll Be There For You

Day 15: A Song From Or About A Holiday Season Movie Or TV Show: Guyz Nite - Die Hard

Day 16: A Song About Lights: Reba McIntyre - The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia

Day 17: A Song About Eggnog Or Other Beverages: Barenaked Ladies - Alcohol

Day 18: A Song About Festively Plump Men: Allan Sherman - Hail To Thee, Fat Person

Day 19: A Song About (Very) Short People: Reverend Horton Heat - Big Dwarf Rodeo

Day 20: A Song About Gift Giving: Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris - The Sweetest Gift

Day 21: A Song About (Changing) Seasons: Hall & Oates - Change Of Seasons

Day 22: A Song About Or By A "Nick" Or A "Kris": Nick Lowe - I Knew The Bride (When She Used To Rock And Roll)

Day 23: AIR OUT THOSE GRIEVANCES! A Song About Festivus (For The Rest Of Us): Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Hate Myself For Loving You

Day 24: A Song Referencing An Eve: Pete Seeger - Letter To Eve

Day 25: A Christmas Song: The Vandals - Oi To The World

Day 26: A Song About Boxing (Day): DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson

Day 27: A Song Relating To Kwanzaa Principles: K’naan - Wavin’ Flag

Day 28: A Song About Vacationing: Lindsey Buckingham - Holiday Road

Day 29: A Song About Making Resolutions: Oasis - Cigarettes And Alcohol

Day 30: A Song About The End Of A Year: Inglese con Teacher Nelly - Coronavirus School Year

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

The "NOT the Marvel Cinematic Universe" 30-Song Tribute Challenge


Day 1: A Song Discussing A Metal Of Some Sort: Walter Egan - Magnet And Steel

Day 2: A Song From The World War II Era: Harry James & His Orchestra - It's Been A Long, Long Time

Day 3: A Song About Military Personnel: XTC - Generals And Majors

Day 4: A Song About Norse Mythological Icons: Judas Priest - Halls Of Valhalla

Day 5: A Song Focused On The Color Green: Booker T & The MGs - Green Onions

Day 6: A Song About Spiders: Jefferson Starship - Black Widow

Day 7: A Song About Archers Or Archery: ABC - Poison Arrow

Day 8: A Song About Black Panthers Or Other Felines: Al Stewart - The Year Of The Cat

Day 9: A Song About Guardians Of Some Sort: Willie Nelson - Someone To Watch Over Me

Day 10: A Song About Extra-Terrestrial Beings: Ella Fitzgerald - Two Little Men In A Flying Saucer

Day 11: A Song About Artificial Intelligence: Royksopp - Suite For A Robotic Girl

Day 12: A Song About Space Travel: The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - I'm The Urban Spaceman

Day 13: A Song About Ants Or Wasps: Adam & The Ants - Antmusic

Day 14: A Song About The Mystic Arts: Fleetwood Mac - Rhiannon

Day 15: A Song About Doctors: David Seville - Witch Doctor

Day 16: A Song About Falcons, Vultures, Or Other Birds: Allan Sherman - The Bronx Bird Watcher

Day 17: A Song About Avenging Something: The Dixie Chicks - Goodbye Earl

Day 18: A Song About Sibling Rivalry: The Juliana Hatfield Three - My Sister

Day 19: A Song About Government Agencies: Weird Al Yankovic - Party In The CIA

Day 20: A Song Referencing Wars: The Byrds - Draft Morning

Day 21: A Song About (Scarlet) Witches: Siouxsie & The Banshees - Spellbound

Day 22: A Song Set In Brooklyn Or Queens, NY: The Beastie Boys - No Sleep Till Brooklyn

Day 23: A Song About Raccoons Or Other Rodents: Ray Stevens - The Mississippi Squirrel Revival

Day 24: A Song Proclaiming, "I Am __________!": Neil Diamond - I Am, I Said

Day 25: A Song Dealing With Vision: Johnny Nash, I Can See Clearly Now

Day 26: A Song About Passing A Legacy To Someone Else: Crosby, Stills & Nash - Teach Your Children

Day 27: A Song About Homecoming And/Or Dances: Kenny Loggins - Celebrate Me Home

Day 28: A Song About Traveling Far From Home: Chaim Topol & Michele Marsh - Far From The Home I Love

Day 29: A Song About Teamwork: The Beatles - With A Little Help From My Friends

Day 30: A Song About Comic Book Characters: Laurie Anderson - O Superman

Sunday, October 31, 2021

The "NOT by Rush" 30-Song Tribute Challenge


Day 1: A Song About A Literary Character: Marillion - Grendel

Day 2: A Song About Subdivisions: Ben Folds - Rockin' The Suburbs

Day 3: A Song About A Year: Melissa Etheridge - 2001

Day 4: A Song Dealing With The Spirit Of Radio: Bruce Springsteen - Radio Nowhere

Day 5: A Song About An Airport: Pink Floyd - Learning To Fly

Day 6: An Instrumental: Beastie Boys - Electric Worm

Day 7: A Song By A Three-Member Band: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Fanfare For The Common Man

Day 8: A Song About Living In The Limelight: Jennifer Lopez - Jenny From The Block

Day 9: A Song About Time Standing Still: Billy Very & The Beaters - At This Moment

Day 10: A Song About Rolling The Bones: Linda Ronstadt - Tumbling Dice

Day 11: A Song Focused On The Working Man: Sammy Kershaw - National Working Women's Holiday

Day 12: A Song Focusing On Vital Signs: Peggy Lee - Fever

Day 13: A Song About Xanadu (Or Some Other Mythical Location): Loreena McKennitt - The Lady Of Shalott

Day 14: A Song About The Manhattan Project: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Enola Gay

Day 15: A Song About A New World Man: Don McLean - Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)

Day 16: A Song Discussing Big Money: Calloway - I Wanna Be Rich

Day 17: A Song Proclaiming, "Show, Don't Tell": Peter Frampton - Show Me The Way

Day 18: A Song About Something Being Closer To The Heart: The Cure - Close To Me

Day 19: A Song About A Snow Dog: George Clinton - Atomic Dog

Day 20: A Song About Trees: Belly - Feed The Tree

Day 21: A Song About Flying By Night: Frank Sinatra - Fly Me To The Moon

Day 22: A Song Expressing A Farewell To Kings: Allan Sherman - You Went The Wrong Way, Old King Louie

Day 23: A Song Focused On (Red) Sports Cars: Jerry Reed - East Bound And Down

Day 24: A Song Assessing Having A Ghost Of A Chance: Rod Stewart - Some Guys Have All The Luck

Day 25: A Song With A Foreign Language Title: Manhattan Transfer - Chanson D'Amour

Day 26: A Song About Bastille Day: La Marseillaise

Day 27: A 10+ Minute Long Song: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile

Day 28: A Song About Betting Your Life: Mary Chapin Carpenter - I Feel Lucky

Day 29: A Song About Freewill: Bon Jovi - It's My Life

Day 30: A Song By A Canadian Artist, Eh?: Great Big Sea - Process Man (The Chemical Worker's Song)

Thursday, September 30, 2021

The "NOT by David Bowie" 30-Song Music Challenge


Day 1: A Song About A Space Oddity: Monty Python's Flying Circus - The Galaxy Song

Day 2: A Song About Rebels: Allan Sherman - The Rebel

Day 3: A Song About Ashes Or Dust: Fleetwood Mac - Gold Dust Woman

Day 4: A Song Focusing On Pressure: Jim's Big Ego - Stress

Day 5: A Song About (Suffragette) Cities: Gil Scott-Heron - We Almost Lost Detroit

Day 6: A Song About Jeans or Jeanies: Neil Diamond - Forever In Blue Jeans

Day 7: A Song About Changes: Raydio - You Can't Change That

Day 8: A Song Proclaiming, "Let's Dance!": C&C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)

Day 9: A Song Dealing With Cats: Squeeze - Cool For Cats

Day 10: A Song About Being A Hero (If Just For One Day): The Kinks - Celluloid Heroes

Day 11: A Song About Sweet Things: Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion

Day 12: A Song About China Girls: Laid Back - China Girl

Day 13: A Song About The Golden Years (Wop Wop Wop): Adele - When We Were Young

Day 14: A Song About Fame: Weird Al Yankovic - TMZ

Day 15: A Song About Panicking In Detroit (Or Elsewhere): Pat Benatar - Anxiety (Get Nervous)

Day 16: A Song By A Glam Rocker: Sweet - Ballroom Blitz

Day 17: A Song About Sound Or Vision: Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes

Day 18: A Song About Modern Love: The Cure - Lovesong

Day 19: A Song About Young Americans: Steely Dan - Hey Nineteen

Day 20: A Song About Fashion: Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy

Day 21: A Song About Absolute Beginners: Tori Amos - Pretty Good Year

Day 22: A Song About Young Dudes: K.T. Oslin - Younger Men

Day 23: A Song Discussing Scary Monsters: Warren Zevon - Werewolves Of London

Day 24: A Song Discussing Super Creeps: Weird Al Yankovic - Do I Creep You Out?

Day 25: A Song About Diamonds Or Dogs: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Dogs On The Run

Day 26: A Song About Stations: Donald Fagan & The Nightflyers - The Nightfly

Day 27: A Song Asking, "Where Are We Now?": U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Day 28: A Song About Selling The World: Miles Davis - Love For Sale

Day 29: A Song About Not Giving Everything Away: Supertramp - Give A Little Bit

Day 30: A Song By An Artist Who Took On Another Persona: The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

The "NOT by The Traveling Wilburys" 30-Song Music Challenge

Day 1: A Song About Handling Things With Care: Men Without Hats - Safety Dance

Day 2: A Song About A Dirty World: Lou Reed - Last Great American Whale

Day 3: A Song About Being Rattled: Big Joe Turner - Shake, Rattle & Roll

Day 4: A Song Reminiscing About Last Night: The Beatles - Norwegian Wood (That Bird Has Flown)

Day 5: A Bob Dylan Song: Bob Dylan - My Back Pages

Day 6: A Song About Not Being In Love Anymore: Etta James - At Last

Day 7: A Song Offering Congrats To Someone: Cliff Richard - Congratulations

Day 8: A Song Whose Title Is That Of An Alcoholic Drink: John Lee Hooker - One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

Day 9: A Song Dealing With A One-Night Stand: Reba McIntyre - She Thinks His Name Was John

Day 10: A George Harrison Song: George Harrison - What Is Life

Day 11: A Song Set In New Jersey: Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band - Atlantic City

Day 12: A Song Telling A Story: Gordon Lightfoot - The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald

Day 13: A Song Focusing On The End Of The Line: The Clash - Armagideon Time

Day 14: A Song About Something Being Inside Out: REM - Turn You Inside-Out

Day 15: A Jeff Lynne Song: Electric Light Orchestra - Turn To Stone

Day 16: A Song About Wanting Someone In Your Life: Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me

Day 17: A Song About One Of The Deadly Sins: Veruca Salt (from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory) - I Want It All

Day 18: A Song About Being Poor: Michael Franti & Spearhead - Hole In The Bucket

Day 19: A Twist: Dire Straits - Twistin' By The Pool

Day 20: A Roy Orbison Song: Roy Orbison - She's A Mystery To Me

Day 21: A Song Lamenting Environmental Issues: John Anderson with Lorraine Johnson & Carolina Road - Seminole Wind

Day 22: A Song With Multiple Lead Singers: Barenaked Ladies - If I Had $1,000,000

Day 23: A Song Asking A Question About A Significant Other: The Contours - Do You Love Me?

Day 24: A Song About Cool, Dry Places: Jane Wiedlan & Sparks - Cool Places

Day 25: A Tom Petty Song: Tom Petty - Leave Virginia Along

Day 26: A Song About Taking One's Breath Away: Kelly Clarkson - Catch My Breath

Day 27: A Song About The Moon And/Or Night Sky: Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Shame On The Moon

Day 28: A Cover Of A '60s Song: The Bangles - Hazy Shade Of Winter

Day 29: A Song About Orphans: Richie Havens - Motherless Child

Day 30: A Song By A Supergroup: Northern Nights - Tears Are Not Enough

Saturday, July 31, 2021

The "NOT by Frank Zappa" 30-Song Tribute Challenge

Day 1: A Song About Dancing Fools: Men Without Hats - Safety Dance

Day 2: A Song About Catholic Girls: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Catholic School Girls Rule

Day 3: A Song About A Garage Band: Patti Smith - So You Want To Be A Rock And Roll Star

Day 4: A Song Focusing On Snow: Fleming & John - Winter Wonderland/Misty Mountain Hop

Day 5: A Song About (Drowning) Witches: Frank Sinatra - Witchcraft

Day 6: A Song About Challenging A Government: Bjork - Declare Independence

Day 7: A Song Featuring A Xylophone: Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues

Day 8: A Song About Valley Girls: OutKast featuring George Clinton - Synthesizer

Day 9: A Song Discussing Dirty Love: Prince & The Revolution - Erotic City

Day 10: An Instrumental: Mason Williams - Classical Gas

Day 11: A Song About Being In Trouble Every Day: Weezer - Troublemaker

Day 12: A Song About Motherly Love: Paul Simon - Mother And Child Reunion

Day 13: A Song Dealing With A (Jewish) Princess: Julie Brown - The Homecoming Queen's Got A Gun

Day 14: A Song About Someone Named Joe: Manhattan Transfer - That's Killer Joe

Day 15: A Song About Having No Heart: Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone

Day 16: A Song About Hungry Freaks: Johnny Cash - Beans For Breakfast

Day 17: A Song About King Kong: Bobby Pickett & Peter Ferrara - King Kong (Your Song)

Day 18: A Song About Brown (Or Any Color) Shoes: Run-DMC - My Adidas

Day 19: A Song By An Innovative Artist: Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

Day 20: A Song About A Disease (Imaginary Or Otherwise): Joe Jackson - Cancer

Day 21: A Song About A Wet T-Shirt Bar Night: Missy Elliott - Shake Your Pom Pom

Day 22: A Song About Cosmik Debris: Devo - Space Junk

Day 23: A Song About Holidays In Berlin (Or Anywhere): Lindsey Buckingham - Holiday Road

Day 24: A Song About Only Being In It For The Money: The Notorious B.I.G. - Mo Money Mo Problems

Day 25: A Song About Cruising For Burgers: Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - The Horizontal Bop

Day 26: A Song Poking Fun At Organized Religion: XTC - Dear God

Day 27: A Song By An Artist Who Crosses Multiple Genres: Fleetwood Mac - Madison Blues

Day 28: A Song About Inventions: Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator

Day 29: A Song Mocking Pop Rock: Allan Sherman - Pop Hates The Beatles

Day 30: A Song About T's & Beer: Joe Walsh - I.L.B.T.'s

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

The "NOT by Styx" 30-Song Tribute Challenge

Day 1: A Song About Sailing Away: Van Morrison - Into The Mystic

Day 2: A Song About Blue Collar Men (And Women): Huey Lewis & Garth Brooks - Workin' For A Livin'

Day 3: A Song Referencing A First Time: Barenaked Ladies - Falling For The First Time

Day 4: A Song About Having Too Much Time On Your Hands: The Rolling Stones - Time Is On My Side

Day 5: A Song Commenting On Illusions: Joe Walsh - Life Of Illusion

Day 6: A Song About Pirate Booty: Kenny Rogers & The Bee Gees - Buried Treasure

Day 7: A Song About The Best Of Times: Pharrell Williams - Happy

Day 8: A Song Referencing A Lady Or Babe: Sonny & Cher - I Got You, Babe

Day 9: A Song About Showing Someone The Way: Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It

Day 10: A Song About A Performance Venue: Weather Report - Birdland

Day 11: A Song Lamenting The Need For Love: Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody

Day 12: A Song Proclaiming Everything Is Cool: The Time - Cool

Day 13: A Song About A Face Card: Juice Newton - Queen Of Hearts

Day 14: A Song About Lighting Up: Bruce Springsteen - Light Of Day

Day 15: A Song About Crystal Balls: Indigo Girls - Love Will Come To You

Day 16: A Song By A Band From Chicago: OK Go - Here It Goes Again

Day 17: A Song Indicating Nothing Ever Goes As Planned: Ben Harper - Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)

Day 18: A Song About Angry Young Men: Weird Al Yankovic - Angry White Boy Polka

Day 19: A Song About Fooling Yourself: Doobie Brothers - What A Fool Believes

Day 20: A Song About Not Letting Something End: Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop

Day 21: A Song About Long Nights: Joe Walsh - All Night Long

Day 22: A Song Whose Title Is Also That Of A Book: Metallica - For Whom The Bell Tolls

Day 23: A Song Asking, "Why Me?": Simon & Garfunkel - Song For The Asking

Day 24: A Song About Artificial Intelligence: Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity

Day 25: A Song About Miss America: The Kinks - Catch Me Now I'm Falling

Day 26: A Song Referencing An Equinox: Manhattan Transfer - Sing Joy Spring

Day 27: A Song About Renegades: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Rebels

Day 28: A Song Remembering Love At First Sight: Neil Diamond - I'm A Believer

Day 29: A Song Dealing With Greek Mythology: Cream - Tales Of Brave Ulysses

Day 30: A Song Hijacked For Political Purposes: Jackson Browne - Running On Empty

Saturday, June 5, 2021

To the Class of 2021 ...

An open letter to the Wellington High School Speech & Debate Class of 2021 and their parents/guardians:

To quote my CPF Jerry, "What a long, strange trip it's been!”

In debate terms, that journey definitely varied from student to student. Some tooled around Palm Beach County and competed at an array of high schools. Some traveled the nation, visiting college campuses. And this year, everyone traveled from the bedroom to the kitchen to the computer. (And for our novice debaters who became part of our family this year ... I'm sorry the experience wasn't quite what you were promised during the upsell you received from fellow students your junior year.)

Your freshman year, it was Stoneman Douglas. Your junior and senior years, it was COVID-19. Your sophomore year, it was ... oh, hell if I can remember. I'm old and my brain is fried. But I'm sure SOMETHING kinda big happened that year.

And yet ... you persevered. You pushed on. You made vats of lemonade out of the millions of lemons life proverbially handed you the past four years.

And we could not be more in awe of all you accomplished.

As your speech and debate coach, I've watched you grow and mature, to take the learning opportunities handed to you and run with them. I've witnessed you work with more experienced students to learn the fundamentals, then turn around and teach those same basics to newer members of the program. I've seen you use technology and make it work for you in a positive way, and I've seen you make self-representation an art form when pushing to new heights. I've watched and heard you use your voice and speak out for both yourself and others around you who have been harmed by the injustices of the world in which they live.

Albus Dumbledore once said, "Dark times lie ahead of us, and there will be a time when we must choose between what is easy ... and what is right." You have already used your voice to address the evils around us. As you embark on new adventures, I am more than positive you will continue to do so, and to make an amazing mark on everything you do and everywhere you go after Wellington. You've more than proven yourself to your family, friends, and educators. You are in a position of promise, with wide open vistas ahead of you and a wealth of experience to back you up along the way.

And remember, nothing is set; you have the ability and temperament to analyze situations and adapt accordingly. Need to switch majors? Take a gap semester or year? Transfer to a different school? Not a problem. Life is full of making adjustments, and you are more than capable of using the tools you've acquired to successfully navigate your future.

Kieran Abesamis, Devaaun Blackwood, Christopher Castro, Destiny Cortinas, Jacob Davis, Leslie Diaz, Emma Gherlan, Maddie Kaplan, Jakob Lefkowitz, Fairus Lopez, Noah Lopez, Liam MacMahon, Madison Mason, Matthew McGann, Daniel Melton, Gonzalo Pardo Zambrano, Nicholas Raney, and Jenalyn Spies ... thank you for everything. I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet with each of you individually the past week, to present to you the various accolades you have earned the past two years, as well as your college-colored Red Dawn Debaters polos, to talk with you and your family members, and to bring some semblance of "closure" to the most awkward and frustrating 15-month period of our lives (individually and collectively).

Class of 2021 - It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of your world.

Monday, May 31, 2021

The "NOT by Van Halen" 30-Song Tribute Challenge

Day 1: A Song About 1984: Radiohead - 2+2=5

Day 2: A Song About Jumping: The Sugar Hill Gang - Apache (Jump On It)

Day 3: A Song About A Central American Country: Neon - Viva Guatemala

Day 4: A Song About Beautiful Girls: Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman

Day 5: A Vandellas, Kinks, or Roy Orbison Song: The Kinks - Tired Of Waiting For You

Day 6: A Song About Ice Cream: Weird Al Yankovic - I Love Rocky Road

Day 7: A Song About Teachers: Ramones - Rock 'n' Roll High School

Day 8: A Song About Being No Good: The Knack - Good Girls Don't

Day 9: A Song About Dreams: Billy Joel - The River Of Dreams

Day 10: A Song With A Kick-Ass Guitar Solo: Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, Dhani Harrison, and Prince - While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Day 11: A Song About Standing On Top Of The World: The Beach Boys - Catch A Wave

Day 12: A Song About Waiting: The Jacksons - Wait

Day 13: A Song About Running With (Or Without) The Devil: Ohio Players - Running From The Devil

Day 14: A Song Whose Title Is A Number: Melissa Etheridge - 2001

Day 15: A Song About Someone Crying: Fleetwood Mac - Landslide

Day 16: A Song About Dancing The Night Away: The Cars - Shake It Up

Day 17: A Song With A Kick-Ass Drum Solo: Peter Gabriel - Rhythm Of The Heat

Day 18: A Song Wishing Someone Happy Trails: Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - I've Had The Time Of My Life

Day 19: A Song About Cathedrals: Robyn Hitchcock - Cathedral

Day 20: A Song About Little (Or Big) Guitars: John Mellencamp - Play Guitar

Day 21: A Song About Love Walking In: Neil Diamond - I'm A Believer

Day 22: A Song Referencing The Best Of Both Worlds: George Michael & Aretha Franklin - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)

Day 23: A Song About Summer Nights: Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Night Moves

Day 24: A Song Whose Title Reeks Of Sexual Innuendo: AC/DC - Big Balls

Day 25: A Song About Finishing What Ya Started: Traveling Wilburys - End Of The Line

Day 26: A Song About Burgers ('Cause Everybody Wants Some!): Weird Al Yankovic - Trapped In The Drive-Thru

Day 27: A Song About Right Now: Meat Loaf - Paradise By The Dashboard Lights

Day 28: A Song About A Man On A Mission: Bon Jovi - It's My Life

Day 29: A Song That Ain't Talkin 'Bout Love: Prince & The Revolution - Let's Pretend We're Married

Day 30: A Song By A Band With Multiple Family Members: Cowboy Junkies - Miles From Our Home

Friday, April 30, 2021

The "NOT by Norah Jones" 30-Song Tribute Challenge

Day 1: A Song Whose Title Begins With The Letter "Y": The Beatles - Yellow Submarine

Day 2: A Song Dealing With A Cold, Cold Heart: Foreigner - Cold As Ice

Day 3: A Song Wishing For Someone To Come Away With You: Phil Phillips - Sea Of Love

Day 4: A Song About Painters Or Painting: Tom Waits - Nighthawk Postcards (From Easy Street)

Day 5: A Song Mentioning A Nightingale Or Another Bird: Rosemary Clooney - A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square

Day 6: A Song Taking Place At Sunrise: Frank Sinatra - Sunrise In The Morning

Day 7: A Song Set In Or At A Carnival: Drive-By Truckers - The Flying Wallendas

Day 8: A Song About Someone Creeping In: The Vogues - Turn Around, Look At Me

Day 9: A Humble Song: Moxy Fruvous - King Of Spain

Day 10: A Sinking Song: Harry Chapin - Dance Band On The Titanic

Day 11: A Song Focusing On Elections: Chicago - Vote For Me

Day 12: A Song Featuring Pirates: Blues Traveler - Hook

Day 13: A Song About Waiting: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - The Waiting

Day 14: An American Anthem: Woody Guthrie - This Land Is Your Land

Day 15: A September Or December Song: The Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone

Day 16: An Ode To Man's Best Friend: The Monkees - I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog

Day 17: A Song About Aging And The Elderly: Simon & Garfunkel - Old Friends / Bookends

Day 18: A Song About Saying Goodbye: Scandal - Goodbye To You

Day 19: A Song About Being On The Road: Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Turn The Page

Day 20: A Song Focusing On Peace: Matisyahu - One Day

Day 21: A Song Discussing A Beautiful Friendship: Rolling Stones - Waiting On A Friend

Day 22: A Song About Sleepless Nights: The 5th Dimension - (Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All

Day 23: A Song About Nearness: Hall & Oates - So Close

Day 24: A Song Mentioning Toes (Or Other Body Parts): Allan Sherman - I See Bones

Day 25: A Song About Someone In Jail Or Prison: Was (Not Was) - Dad, I'm In Jail

Day 26: A Song About A Long Way Home: Mary Chapin Carpenter - 10,000 Miles

Day 27: A Song About Leaving A Toxic Relationship: Harry Nilsson - You're Breaking My Heart

Day 28: A Song About A Gambler: Steely Dan - Do It Again

Day 29: A Song Taking Place On A Train: Gap Band - Party Train

Day 30: A Song By A Most Unlikely Duo Pairing: Bing Crosby & David Bowie - The Little Drummer Boy

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

The "NOT by Barenaked Ladies" 30-Song Tribute Challenge


Day 1: A Song Referencing A Big Bang: The Beastie Boys - Intergalactic

Day 2: A Song Discussing A Week: The Cure - Friday I'm In Love

Day 3: A Song About Calling Or Answering: Blondie - Hanging On The Telephone

Day 4: A Song Taking Place In An Old Apartment: Tom Petty & Stevie Nicks - The Apartment Song

Day 5: A Beach Boys Song (Bonus: By Brian Wilson!): Brian Wilson - God Only Knows

Day 6: A Song About A Wrong Man Being Convicted: Bob Dylan - Hurricane

Day 7: A Song About, By, Or Referencing Yoko Ono: Weird Al Yankovic - Achy Breaky Song

Day 8: A Song Set In Or Around The 9th Grade: Rush - Subdivisions

Day 9: A Song About Good Boys: The Manhattan Transfer - Boy From New York City

Day 10: A Song About Needing Sleep: The Beastie Boys - No Sleep Till Brooklyn

Day 11: A Song About Something Too Little, Too Late: Carole King - It's Too Late

Day 12: A Song About Being Pinched: Alison Moyet - Reassuring Pinches

Day 13: A Song Mentioning Someone Named Jane: Jefferson Starship - Jane

Day 14: A Song Taking Place On A Pirate Ship: Christopher Walken - Vengeance

Day 15: A Song About An Alternative Girlfriend: Police - Be My Girl/Sally

Day 16: A Song About The Virtues Of Alcohol: Robert Johnson - Malted Milk

Day 17: A Song With A Shakespeare Reference Of Some Sort: The Manhattan Transfer - Sing Joy Spring

Day 18: A Song About Postcards Or Travel: Lindsay Buckingham - Holiday Road

Day 19: A Song About The Contents Of A Shoe Box: Brie Larson - Shoebox

Day 20: A Song About Falling For The First Time: Lifehouse - First Time

Day 21: A Children's Song: Debbie Friedman - The Alef Bet Song

Day 22: A Song About Having A Million Dollars: Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)

Day 23: A Song Referencing Homes Or Furniture: Billy Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones - Rockin' Alone (On An Old Rocking Chair)

Day 24: A Song About Exotic Pets (Like A Llama, Or An Emu): Rolf Harris - Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport

Day 25: A Song About A K-Car, A Limo, Or Any Other Vehicle: John Travolta - Greased Lightnin'

Day 26: A Song About Mac & Cheese (Or Expensive Dijon Catsup): Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack

Day 27: A Song About (Fake Fur) Coats or (Green) Dresses: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Soundtrack - Joseph's Coat

Day 28: A Song About Some Art (A Picasso Or A Garfunkel): Harry Chapin - Flowers Are Red

Day 29: A Song About Monkeys: The J. Geils Band - Monkey Island

Day 30: A Canadian Artist, Eh?: Great Big Sea - Run, Runaway

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

The "NOT by Queen" 30-Song Tribute Challenge


Day 1: A Song About Accidentally Killing Somebody: The Cure - Killing An Arab

Day 2: A Song About Best Friends: Andrew Gold - Thank You For Being A Friend

Day 3: A Song About Finding Someone To Love: Adele - Make You Feel My Love

Day 4: A Song About Someone Who Is A Big Disgrace: Harry Belafonte & Nat King Cole - Shut Up Your Mouth

Day 5: A Song About Being A Champion: Santana - Winning

Day 6: A Song Referencing Bicycles: Kraftwerk - Tour de France

Day 7: A Song About Biting The Dust: Cowboy Junkies - Murder, Tonight, In The Trailer Park

Day 8: A Song Lamenting Being Under Pressure: Toots & The Maytals - Pressure Drop

Day 9: A Song Dealing With A Magic Of Some Kind: Jay & The Americans - This Magic Moment

Day 10: A Song About Being Gaga Over Radio: Rock Master Scott & The Dynamic Three - Request Line

Day 11: A Song About Breaking Free: Fleetwood Mac - Silver Springs

Day 12: A Song About Playing Games: Peter Gabriel - Games Without Frontiers

Day 13: A Song About Having A Big Butt: Spinal Tap - Big Bottom

Day 14: A Song Focusing On Perseverance: Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down

Day 15: A Song About Something Being Crazy: The Kinks - Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues

Day 16: A Song About Suicide Prevention: REM - Everybody Hurts

Day 17: A Song From A Superhero Movie Soundtrack: From Captain America: The First Avenger - Star-Spangled Man With A Plan

Day 18: A Song About Body Language: Dazz Band - Let It Whip

Day 19: A Song About A Hard Life: Jon Butcher Axis - Life Takes A Life

Day 20: A Song About Wanting It All: Veruca Salt (from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory) - I Want It All

Day 21: A Song About The Show Going On: Elton John - I'm Still Standing

Day 22: A Song By A Quartet: The Monkees - I'm A Believer

Day 23: A Song About AIDS: Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Philadelphia

Day 24: A Sing-Along Song (Head Banging In A Car: Optional!): Journey - Don't Stop Believin'

Day 25: A Song From An Opera: Bugs Bunny & Elmer Fudd - "Kill The Wabbit!"

Day 26: A Song About Living Forever: Sting - Moon Over Bourbon Street

Day 27: A Song About Having One Vision: Bon Jovi - It's My Life

Day 28: A Song That Tells A Story: Harry Chapin - WOLD

Day 29: A Song By A Live Aid Performer: Nik Kershaw - The Riddle

Day 30: A Cover Of A Queen Song: Weird Al Yankovic - Bohemian Polka

Sunday, January 31, 2021

The "NOT a Steven Spielberg Movie" 30-Song Tribute Challenge

Day 1: "We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat" - A Song About Sharks: Jimmy Buffett - Fins

Day 2: A Song About Phoning Home: The Jags - Back Of My Hand (I Got Your Number)

Day 3: A Song About Food (Mashed Potatoes Or Otherwise): Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show - The Wonderful Soup Stone

Day 4: A Song About Fighting Nazis & Other Bad People: Dead Kennedys - Nazi Punks Fuck Off

Day 5: A Song About Archeology: C.W. McCall - Comin’ Back For More

Day 6: A Song Focusing On Religious Artifacts: The Call - The Walls Came Down

Day 7: A Song About (Or By) Someone Named Peter, Wendy, or Hook: Wendy & Lisa - Waterfall

Day 8: A Song That Mentions The Color Purple: Sheb Wooley - The Purple People Eater

Day 9: A Song About The Holocaust: Rush - Red Sector A

Day 10: A Song Referencing Dinosaurs: Johnny Cash - The Dinosaur Song

Day 11: A Song Describing An Adventure: Norah Jones - Come Away With Me

Day 12: A Song Whose Lyrics Are From A Child's Point Of View: Harry Chapin - Flowers Are Red

Day 13: (Why'd It Have To Be) A Song About Snakes (Bonus: Asps!): Jello Biafra & Mojo Nixon - Buy My Snake Oil

Day 14: A Song About Con Artists: Morris Day & The Time - Donald Trump (Black Version)

Day 15: A Song About Some Kind Of Close Encounter: George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic - Mothership Connection

Day 16: A Dystopian / Big Brother Themed Song: Eurythmics - Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)

Day 17: A Song About The News Industry: Joe Jackson - Sunday Papers

Day 18: A Song Set In A Courtroom: Pink Floyd - The Trial

Day 19: A Song Referencing The Olympics: Vangelis - Theme From “Chariots of Fire”

Day 20: A Song About Terrorism: Marillion - Grendel

Day 21: A Song About A Giant: Tori Amos - Giant’s Rolling Pin

Day 22: A Song About Airports: Cassadee Pope - Kisses At Airports

Day 23: A Song About Artificial Intelligence: Kraftwerk - The Robots

Day 24: A Song That Mentions Flying (Or Non-Flying) Bicycles: The Smiths - This Charming Man

Day 25: A Song By Blues Singers (Possibly Even Brothers): John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, and The Rolling Stones - Boogie Chillen

Day 26: A Song About Slavery: Bruce Springsteen - O Mary Don’t You Weep

Day 27: A Song That Has A Year As Its Title: Prince - 1999

Day 28: A Song About A Fractured Family: The Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone

Day 29: A Song About Supernatural Events: The Highwaymen - (Ghost) Riders In The Sky

Day 30: A John Williams Song From A Non-Spielberg Movie: John Williams - Suite from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”