The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #209

#209: "God Put a Smile on Your Face" (2007) - Mark Ronson

Let's officially welcome in the new year with the adage, "Out with the old, and in with the new," 'cause that's certainly what producer extrodinaire Mark Ronson (remember him, from way back in the countdown, co-producing Nikka Costa's record?) does with the Coldplay cut. He excised the vocals and punched up the track with drumming straight from the Ventures and horns straight from Detroit, plus a few little Space Invaders synth effects, effectively taking a mundane rock track and creating something new, something hot, something that moves, something that matters, something we should all resolve to do this year.

The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #210

#210: "I'll Remember You Long" (2007) - Golden Animals

Okay, we've all sung a round (or dozen) of "Auld Lang Syne," and some of us are recovering from hangovers, and some of us are still partying. Well, for those to whom this does apply, then I give you this one. "I'll Remember You Long" is a closing time, hoist-your-beer-in-the-air singalong. The tune sounds as if it were written, oh, seventy-or-so years ago, perhaps an unearthed Hoagy Carmichael/Johnny Mercer tune. The song uses a Tin Pan Alley melodic structure, and Tommy Eisner's lead vocals hark back to that crooner style of pre-WWII. The production, though, is rooted in the reverb and echo of Sun studios and Gretsch guitars; but the drumming here is modern--loose and minimalist, similar to the playing of Mo Tucker and Meg White. This odd combination of epoch-spanning styles gives the record a unique feel, one that's both fresh and familiar, a sepia-tinted coctail, one part rock, one part blues, and one part jazz, with just a touch of sentiment. Have one on me, pahdner.

You can hear more of the Golden Animals' sonorous stylings at their MySpace page.

The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #211

#211: "Move Your Feet" (2003) - Junior Senior

It's New Year's Eve, people! Get out there and party like it's 2009! Shake your tailfeather and move your feet! If you've got no place to go, just head on down the block, 'cause I'm the DJ tonight, and I'm playing this song.

The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #212

#212: "Keep Me in Your Heart" (2003) - Warren Zevon

His friends and family brought lawyers, guns, and money, 'cause the shit had hit the fan, but it couldn't keep lung cancer from taking the Excitable Boy, the Werewolf of London, the satirical singer, always just this side of cynical, from us in 2003. This recording, from Zevon's last album, is his plea for all of us who loved him or his music. It lets us know--as if we didn't already--that he was a sentimental fool at heart, as are we all. But we all couldn't rock so righteously--and with such wit and honesty--as he.

Rest in peace, Mr. Zevon. We'll keep you right here.

The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #213

#213: "Before I Grow Too Old (Silver and Gold) (2003) - Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros

Singing an old Fats Domino song, transforming the New Orleans R&B/blues shuffle to a country/folk back-porch sway, Strummer--co-founder & lead singer of the Clash, one of the best bands rock and roll (or punk) has ever produced--sounds meditative, yet loose and hopeful, on what's essentially a demo that his then band (and they're great, here), the Mescaleros, put to disc posthumously, as Strummer died of a congenital heart defect in December of 2002.

Strummer's death was no more tragic than anyone else's nor more heartbreaking, but the timeliness of it--dying not too long after he recorded this take--makes this record all the more prescient and harrowing. Of course, Strummer didn't know, but you wouldn't know that from listening to this record, 'cause even though he sounds (fairly) upbeat, the Mescaleros play as if they knew, 'cause this is the best they ever sounded, their playing so empathic, sounding like The Band at their best, which is, pretty much, as great as any rock band ever...even the Clash.

Rest in peace, Mr. Strummer. Hope you got a chance to do everything you wanted, 'cause London's calling you now.

Pigskin Prognostications: Wild-Card Weekend

Man...these are some great matchups. Not a stinker among them. Can't say that too often about this round of the NFL Playoffs.

Falcons 30, Cardinals 20 - You know, if Arizona had any semblance of a running game, they could win this one, 'cause Atlanta can't stop the run well.

Colts 34, Chargers 17 - I believe San Diego is going to find that Indianapolis's pass rushers are much better than any they've face these past four weeks.

Ravens 17, Dolphins 14 - Baltimore's going to be favored pretty highly, and I'm picking them, too, but I'm picking them because Flacco's the real deal, and his receivers have improved much throughout the year, not because of their vaunted defense (which, it should be said, should be vaunted). Miami's faced--and defeated--tough defenses this season. They keep things close: they run the ball well, and they play ball control, and they don't allow teams to notch big plays. Baltimore does, too, though, and their running game--and their D--has been better than Miami's throughout the season.

Eagles 20, Vikings 10 - I think Tavaris Jackson will have a much tougher go of it than McNabb will. Much tougher. However...the Eagles don't have the toughest run defense in the league, and Minnesota sports the league's best runner, so, I think the Vikings will keep it close for awhile.

Fifth Down, Week Seventeen

Well, the regular season's over, and my life has slowed down a bit, so finally--finally--I'll tally up the entire season's worth of predictions and see how I did. But first, this weekend. As always, my original predictions are in italics.

Falcons 31, Rams 13 - Win. Atlanta's playing for a first-round bye, and St. Louis is playing for their coach's job. Motivation for both is almost equal. Talent, of course, is not. Actual score: Falcons 31, Rams 27.

Patriots 34, Bills 16 - Win. The past five weeks, New England has looked like it did during the regular season last year, and--with a playoff spot on the line--I expect no different this week. Though I had no idea the winds would swirl on the field at 50 m.p.h. Actual score: Patriots 13, Bills 0.

Chiefs 28, Bengals 17 - Loss. KC might blow another close one, but I really admire their quarterback, so here's hoping...AND that shutout Cincinnatti took from Cleveland was one taken from an offensively-anemic team with a fourth-round QB starting. From what I saw of the game, Cincinnatti's D and their running game looked, uh, good! Actual score: Bengals 16, Chiefs 6.

Bears 17, Texans 10 - Loss. I give this one to Chicago based on motivation, because with Houston--especially after last week's whodathunkit loss to Oakland--it all depends on...man, I don't know. Looks like Houston's for real, as is Oakland (see below). Actual score: Texans 31, Bears 24.

Vikings 20, Giants 18- Win. New York will rest Brandon Jacobs and--after the first quarter--most of their starters. I came this close to nailing this one on the head. Actual score: Vikings 20, Giants 19.

Panthers 35, Saints 28 - Win. The Panthers are still trying to secure that first-round bye and not drop from second seed to fifth seed, but Brees is only 402 yards away from Marino's passing yards record, so this one should be good. It was good...if you don't mind watching offensive (meaning the defenses were offensive) scoring fests. Actual score: Panthers 33, Saints 31.

Steelers 21, Browns 0 - Win. The Steelers will probably rest prominent starters after the first half (or first quarter), but even then.... They didn't rest Ben Roethlisberger soon enough (concussion), but it didn't really matter. Savage is gone, and Crennell soon will be. Actual score: Steelers 31, Browns 0.

Buccaneers 24 , Raiders 10 - Loss. Is JaMarcus Russell finally starting to bloom? Maybe so, but I believe the Bucs--hoping for a playoff berth--will stunt his growth this week. Russell's finally playing near his potential, and the Raiders have hope for next year. Actual score: Raiders 31, Buccaneers 24.

Titans 19 , Colts 17 - Loss. They'll both rest starters early, so this will essentially be like a pre-season game, and Tennessee's deeper on D than Indianapolis is, therefore.... I was completely wrong about depth, but not wrong about Tennessee resting their starting QB early, which is what led to this loss: Vince Young was terrible. Actual score: Colts 23, Titans 0.

Lions 17, Packers 16 = Loss. I think Green Bay will win, but I'm not betting any money on any of my picks, so here's hoping that Detroit will avoid the biggest one-season donut in the history of the NFL. Sad. Truly sad. Marinelli's gone. He's gotta go. Not the worse team ever, though. Again, did anyone ever watch the '80 Saints? Actual score: Packers 31, Lions 21.

Ravens 20, Jaguars 10 - Win. Baltimore's fighting for a playoff spot, and Jacksonville's had some internal goings-on this week. Wow, Flacco looked great! Actual score: Ravens 27, Jaguars 7.

Cardinals 27, Seahawks 20 - Win. Yeah, Seattle's been playing great lately, and this is Mike Holmgren's last game, but I just don't believe Kurt Warner and the Birds will lay yet another stinker the week before they host their first playoff game in over forty years. Actual score: Cardinals 34, Seahawks 21.

Redskins 17, 49ers 13 - Loss. If last week's Washington team--and specifically their defense--shows up, this one's theirs. If not, then with the way Samurai Mike has his team primed, it could turn the other way. Actual score: 49ers: 27, Redskins 24.

Dolphins 19, Jets 18 - Win. I'm pulling for Pennington. I guess Farve had to have one more season in which he choked at the end and cost his team dearly. Actual score: Dolphins 24, Jets 17.

Cowboys 27, Eagles 24 - Loss. DeMarcus Ware may not set the single-season sack record in this one (for surely he'll be at least double-teamed), but with enough O-line devoted to him, the Eagles...nah. They won't have a prayer if they pass all day. Their only hope is to run right at Ware, and we all know how much Andy Reid likes to run. I was so completely wrong on this one. Romo was terrible. Awful. Stank. Stunk. I loved it. Actual score: Eagles 44, Cowboys 6.

Chargers 30, Broncos 23 - Win. Rivers has been playing the best ball of his career these past five weeks, and his best ball is as good as anyone else's this season. Actual score: Chargers 52, Broncos 21.

Record this week: 9-7
Record this year: 160-94
Percentage: 58.8%
Average record per week: 9.4 - 5.5 (yeah, I know...I forgot to call two games this year)
Summary: I might have made the playoffs, depending on which division I was in.
Fantasy Football summary: I finished fifth in the league. No trophy. I'll have to hand it over to Scott Hines in September. Bummer.