The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #224

#224: "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" (2002) - Erykah Badu (featuring Common)

Love story (that resembles my own, so perhaps I'm a bit biased to the song) that's perhaps an allegory of her love of hip-hop; read it however you want to, but Badu's vocals need no interpretation or inspection, as you can just slide on her smooth tones and her half-jazz, half-slang delivery around the '70s soul groove (with the post-Bitches Brew era keyboard tones), and later fall into the love story of Badu and guest-rapper (and one-time Badu romantic partner) Common, complete with an allusion to Streisand's "The Way We Were." Of course, if those sentiments seem too sweet and sickly, then you probably don't dig love songs in the first place, but you'll still tune in for some prime Baduizism.

Pigskin Prognostications, Week Fifteen

The weather'll be icy in town this evening, and we might/might not have power, and that information...has nothing whatsoever to do with the following information.

Saints 27, Bears 21 - Brees and Bush beat the Bears on a blustery day in the beltway.

Falcons 21, Buccaneers 20 - Tampa Bay trounced Atlanta the last time they played, but that was way back in week two, and Matt Ryan has considerably improved his game, and after Buc D got ran over by Carolina--and with a short week of preparation (and rest)--I'm not sure if they'll be ready for another steamrolling effort by another great running team.

Redskins 20, Bengals 10 - You know, even though this is just his first year, Zorn quite possibly could lose his job at the end of the season if Washington loses this one. They shouldn't, but they're more beat up than Cincinnatti is, and the Redskins' D has been non-existant the past three weeks, and there's been internal strife, and...oh, shoot, who am I kidding? It's the Bengals!

Titans 28, Texans 20 - Houston has been playing good, solid ball as of late, but I don't think they'll have enough D to stop Tennessee.

Packers 31, Jaguars 13 - Green Bay is pretty much out of the playoffs, but I don't believe that'll stop Rodgers desire to prove that his team didn't make a mistake in choosing him, and I don't think Jacksonville's got the talent or moxie on D to stop Rodgers.

Dolphins 14, 49ers 13- If San Fran were playing this one at home, I'd tilt the game their way...and it still might tilt that way, anyway, as they've been playing inspired football as of late.

Seahawks 24, Rams 13 - Senaca Wallace could be auditioning, ya know?

Jets 30, Bills 9 - The Jets bounce back in a big way this week, as the Bills have been playing sloppy, near-emotionless football.

Chargers 35, Chiefs 31 - San Diego's still holding out hope that Denver will slip up just once, so that the Broncos will only be one game up when the two teams face each other the last week of the season. And since San Diego won the first game....

Colts 30, Lions 12 - This smells like a trap game, but with the playoffs on the line, I don't believe Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy will take their feet off the gas just yet; in fact, I expect them to come out throwing, relentless no-huddling, and not take a breath till their three TDs up.

Cardinals 27, Vikings 24 - This one could very easily lean the other way, 'cause Minnesota's D has been playing great lately, and Arizona can't run the ball, but...who's throwing the ball for the Vikings this week? Uh-huh.

Steelers, Ravens - The top two run-stuffing defenses in the league cancel each other out, and then it's Flacco vs. Big Ben, and I believe--as well as Flacco's been playing--that Big Ben's bravado will see him through to V.

Panthers 31, Broncos 21 - Back when Denver played Atlanta a few weeks ago, I predicted the Falcons would win, and I was wrong, 'cause Denver finally found a running game, and their D crowded the line, forcing the Falcons to pass more than they wanted to. I think they'll use a similar defensive philosphy this week, trying to force Delhomme to beat them, but--as good as Roddy White is--Atlanta didn't have a receiver with the talent of Steve Smith, and...Denver's newly-found star running back is out for the year, so....

Patriots 17, Raiders 8 - Wow...Cassell might not be behind center this week. If that's the case, then Oakland should be favored to win. I know I'd pick 'em. I figure, though, that Cassell'll make it back (his father recently passed away) in time for the game, so this pick is based on that assumption.

Cowboys 24, Giants 21- Yeah, the Giants may have the better team, but the Cowboys--after last week's choke job--will be more motivated than ever this week, and they're playing in Dallas.

Eagles 26, Browns 11 - Eagles are playing the league's best football right now, and the Browns...are not.

The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #225

#225: "In the Late Night Hour" (2001) - Ice Cube

Sure, this record--the one new single from Ice Cube's 2001 greatest hits album--is only a compendium of, uh, Cube's greatest hits, lifts and twists from some of his most famous lines, and it's all braggadocio, and lyrically it's not very inspired, but the Neptunes provide some slinky funk, and they keep it fairly loose, not overwhelming the record, all of which provides Cube room to attack the mike like no other rapper this past decade. Sure, at this late date, especially after Cube has set up shop in Hollywood, the lines don't carry much bite (except for the ones about the cops that act differently toward him now), but Cube's bark is fierce enough to overcome whatevery lyrical weaknesses the record might have. When he's on his game, no other rapper--now or then, Chuck D. included--can forcefully and convincingly attack the mike the way Cube can. He spits, full-throat, and he never backs down. His righteous anger and spite and confidence seethes like no front man--no matter the genre--since Johnny Rotten thirty years ago. Cube's force of will holds sway to no one, and he proves it again on this record.

Fifth Down, Week Fourteen

Let's re-cap, shall we? My predictions in italics, as always.

Chargers 24, Raiders 13 - Win. The Chargers played with a short field most of the game, and they have the anemic Raider offense to thank for that. Actual score: Chargers 34, Raiders 7

Bears 27, Jaguars 13 - Win. What's happened to David Garrard? His offensive line--hurt. His receivers--ineffective. Remember when this happened to Peyton Manning, when his line was hurt and his receivers were down? Yeah, I do, too, and Manning played much better than Garrard is playing now. Actual score: Bears 23, Jaguars 10

Vikings 24, Lions 10 - Win. The Lions keep improving, and they keep losing. It's amazing. I've heard all the talk about them possibly going 0-17, the first team to do so, but--is this team as bad as the '80 Saints? No. I remember watching the 'Aints. As bad the inaugural Bucs? Nope. They might be written as the worst ever, though, if they can't translate their improved play into wins. And no, I don't have the answer either, not with their defensive personnel. Actual score: Vikings 20, Lions 16

Falcons 28, Saints 27 - Loss. I knew it'd be close. Fun game. Wish someone had played defense for either team, though. Actual score: Saints 29, Falcons 25

Giants 27, Eagles 18 - Loss. Wow! Burress was actually missed during the game. Did you see Hixon drop that pass? Right in his hands. Sure touchdown. Would have made the difference in the game. Might have made the difference. Dunno. McNabb and Westbrook looked they could've made up that score anytime they wanted to. Actual score: Eagles 20, Giants 14

Colts 31, Bengals 12 - Win. Colts have won six in a row, and they've got a strong chance--a very strong chance--to go to the Super Bowl this year. Actual score: Colts 35, Bengals 3

Packers 24, Texans 21- Loss. Matt Schaub played the game of his life in a game that didn't mattter--well, to anyone but him, his teammates, and his owner. Actual score: Texans 24, Packers 21

Titans 30, Browns 3- Win. Considering his opposition, Dorsey didn't play that poorly. His receivers sure didn't help, though. Actual score: Titans 28, Browns 9

Jets 22, 49ers 10- Loss. You know, the 49ers may just win out and finish at 8-8. They're playing as solid a game as any team out there. Actual score: 49ers 24, Jets 14

Patriots 27, Seahawks 13 - Win. Seneca Wallace looked fantastic, like he's finally grown accustomed to the speed and finally acclimated himself well with his receivers. Too bad about that fumble, though. Actual score:Patriots 24, Seahawks 21

Broncos 34, Chiefs 20- Win. Another Denver RB injured as Hillis is gone for the year. Can the Broncos keep winning with such a depleted offensive backfield? As long as their defense has been playing attack the way they have the past two weeks, they can. Actual score: Broncos 24, Chiefs 17

Miami 17, Buffalo 9 - Win. Playing a home game...in Toronto? Where it's warm? With no offense? Actual score: Dolphins 16, Bills 3

Cardinals 31, Rams 10- Win. Warner's putting on a show much like he did during his Super Bowl days. Question is, can he win in the playoffs without a running game? Maybe. Actual score: Cardinals 34, Rams 10

Steelers 24, Cowboys 20- Win. Choke. Actual score: Steelers 20, Cowboys 13

Ravens 21, Redskins 14 - Loss. Even if Clinton Portis had played, the outcome would have remained the same. Actual score: Ravens 24, Redskins 10

Tampa Bay 20, Carolina 18- Loss. Like Chuck Berry sang, it just goes to show you never can tell: first meeting between these two, Carolina had fewer than ninety yards rushing. This game: 299. Go figure. Actual score: Panthers 38, Buccaneers 23.

The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #226

#226: "100 Days, 100 Nights" (2007) - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Sharon Jones--born in Georgia, raised in New York--spent her Sundays singing gospel in the church, but listening to this song, we can guess how she spent her Saturday nights...and the toll they spent on her. It took Jones forty years before she began to sing professionally, but listening to this record, you can tell she's got enough experience in heartbreak to make up for all those years when she should have been putting her soul on record. Sounding like a world-weary Etta James, Sharon Jones offers a bit of apocryphl wisdom to other women regarding her own interpretation of how, as Stephen King said, a man's heart is stonier. Then, halfway through the record, Jones invokes the ghost of Elvis (who, after a few bars of slow blues in the Sun Studios' song "Milkcow Blues Boogie," told Scotty and Bill, "Hold it fellas!/That don't move./Let's get real, real gone for a change," and then quadrupled the time signature, thereby helping to create rock and roll) by stopping the song cold, telling her impeccable band The Dap-Kings to "Wait a minute!/ Baby, I need to slow it down a little./Take my time." Jones then transforms the record from a mid-tempo soul joint in 4/4 to a slow 12-bar blues, complete with haunting, gospel-like background vocals, all-the-while witnessing, going from soul to blues to gospel, changing from the general to the specific in order to make the message universal, and that's no easy task. The song's a cautionary tale not only to women, but also to men, who--if they listen closely--might see a sliver of themselves, enough to shame them--Jones's Marley to our Scrooge--into watching how they behave, lest their inamoratae give up the ghost.

The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #227

#227: "What I've Been Meaning to Say" (2005) - Merle Haggard

We go from an upstart singer with a record full of regret and the willingness to admit failure that could have been a country-music hit forty years ago, to a once-upstart singer with a record full of regret and the willingness to admit failure that doesn't sound dissimilar to country-music hits he made forty years ago. Both songs share the same lonesome, honest, self-revealing lyrical theme, and both don appropriately forlorn music, but Hag's got the much better voice, so we'll notch the venerable one's record one place higher than the punk's, and I think--considering the fantastic county music Haggard's made throughout his career, steadily producing quality song after quality song, even through his multiple albums this decade--that maybe Hank would have wanted it this way.

The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #228

#228 - "Angel of Sin" (2006) - Hank Williams III

Spiritually, III is truly his father's son and his grandfather's, uh, grandson. He's a genuine hellraiser, III is: he began his musical career playing drums in a punk band, he sports body-encompassing tattoos, he curses up a storm, he spews liquor, and he curses the establishment whose musical foundation he so often emulates, and he still plays punk music--live. Consequently, III has to this day yet to hit it big, and it's unlikely he will ever find mainstream success. Heck, I don't think he wants it.

He's country music's Johnny Rotten (except that Rotten's music and notoriety garned him acclaim and money, neither of which III has yet to accomplish), and he writes and sings some of the greatest tear-in-my-beer country songs of the past, well, of the past. Of the now, too. "Angel of Sin" is one of those songs of loneliness, of depression, but it's not a depressing record. Nope, the steel guitar and the echo and the feedback are too hauntingly gorgeous to sink this song. The record is sobering though, looking at love sans rose-colored glasses, viewing a relationship from the perspective of one who has come to a point of truth, seeing his life and love honestly, knowing that whatever he does to improve his behavior, his ladyfair just won't respond in kind, won't be loyal, won't be faithful, won't ever be truly his, no matter how much he drinks, no matter how much he remembers the good times, and for someone to come to that point of realization and actualization, well, that can be an epiphany that shatters the soul, but one that's necessary for one to move forward no matter how long it takes to get up off the barstool and take that first step, and if you have ever had a similar experience (as I have, years ago), then sometimes, the only thing that can help you get over the fact that she won't be there for you is by talking to others who've had similar experiences, and if 'fessing up, airing yor laundry to others is too much, then you can just turn on the local country music radio station to find a song about true heartbreak, and after listening for a couple/three hours and you realize that they really don't write 'em like that anymore, you can turn to ol' Hank (actually, that would be young Hank, but don't call him that), and he'll lend you an ear if you'll buy him a round or two and promise not to ask him if he meant to deliberately steal the opening guitar-lick and chord progressions from David Allen Coe's "You Never Even Call Me by My Name."