Beats of the Week + Super Bowl LIX Reaction & Super Bowl LX Prediction!

Beats & Bleachers

Welcome to "Beats & Bleachers," where music meets the game! This is your ultimate destination for everything: music and sports! Each week on Thursdays, the "Beats" segment will bring you reviews and recommendations for five songs, each from a different genre of music, helping you discover new tunes and artists. Meanwhile, in "Bleachers," I will highlight top sports stories, including game recaps, athletic achievements, and more. Whether you're here for the rhythm or the roar of the crowd, there's something for everyone!

Beats:

    Each week, I will be posting my "Beats of the Week"! For this segment of the blog, I will be choosing five songs, one from each genre of music: pop, rock, hip-hop, country, and jazz. I will give a brief review of each song, along with my reasoning as to why I believe they are worth a listen. Here are this week's beats!

Pop - "Die With A Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars 

    "Die With a Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 2025. This track blends Gaga's unique pop style with Mars' R&B flair, creating a memorable dance-pop anthem. It's been a commercial success, showcasing the artists' continued influence in music. The song has dominated airwaves and streaming platforms, resonating with fans across social media. Its catchy melody and beat have made it a standout hit of the year.

Rock - "Mayonaise" by Smashing Pumpkins:

    "Mayonaise" is being featured at the request of a friend of mine, Caleb. "Mayonaise" by The Smashing Pumpkins, from the 1993 album Siamese Dream, is known for its enigmatic lyrics and dynamic musical shifts, which some interpret as reflecting drug use cycles. The song's title amusingly stems from a misheard lyric from their previous album, Gish. Its composition includes unique guitar effects, particularly from a cheap guitar used by Billy Corgan, the band's frontman. Though never initially released as a single, "Mayonaise" has become one of the band's most celebrated tracks, topping fan polls and re-entering charts after its 30th anniversary single release in 2023. It's a staple in their live performances, with various bands covering it, highlighting its enduring appeal and influence in the rock genre. Comment your favorite songs below to possibly have them featured in future "Beats of the Week"!

Hip-Hop - "Who You Foolin" by Gunna

    "Who You Foolin" was requested by another friend of mine. Shout out to Noah! by Gunna is a standout track from his 2019 album Drip or Drown 2, produced by Wheezy. This song is characterized by its use of a Chinese sample of a guzheng, giving it a distinctive, atmospheric feel. Gunna's lyrics delve into themes of authenticity and skepticism, cautioning against those who might try to deceive others in the gritty context of street life. His flow remains smooth yet assertive, perfectly complementing the track's laid-back yet introspective vibe. The song has become a fan favorite for its sharp wordplay and Gunna's ability to blend luxury with raw storytelling.

Country - "I Never Lie" by Zach Top:

   "I Never Lie" is yet another requested feature from my friend Richard. This standout track is from his debut album Cold Beer & Country Music, released in 2024. This neo-traditional country song features a humorous take on post-breakup bravado, with Top claiming he's doing just fine without his ex, all while hinting at the irony of his statements through clever lyrics. The song's success is marked by its viral spread on platforms like TikTok, leading to chart placements on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts. Co-written with Carson Chamberlain and Tim Nichols, the track showcases Top's knack for blending classic country sounds with contemporary storytelling. With its catchy chorus and relatable heartache theme, "I Never Lie" has resonated with fans, contributing to Zach Top's recognition as a new artist of the year at the CMA Awards.

Jazz - "Mack the Knife" by Ella Fitzgerald (Live in Berlin):

    Ella Fitzgerald's 1960 live performance of "Mack the Knife" in Berlin is iconic, not only for its musical quality but also for an unforgettable moment of improvisation. During the performance, Fitzgerald forgot the lyrics but seamlessly transitioned into scat singing and improvised lyrics, showcasing her extraordinary talent and quick thinking. This version starts with the standard melody and lyrics but quickly evolves as Ella humorously acknowledges her forgetfulness to the audience, leading to an improvised verse about her predicament. The performance is a testament to her mastery of jazz improvisation, vocal control, and her ability to connect with an audience, transforming a potential blunder into an engaging and memorable moment. Her version, recorded live, became a defining moment in her career, highlighting the spontaneity and creativity inherent in jazz. It also cemented "Mack the Knife" as one of her signature songs, demonstrating how live jazz can transcend written music through the performer's interaction with the moment. My favorite improvised: "Oh, what's the next chorus to this song, now. This is the one now I don't know..."

Bleachers: 

    Welcome to the "Bleachers"! Here, we will take a dive into the thrilling world of sports, bringing you anything from the latest highlights, game analyses, athletic achievements, and much more! Whether you're celebrating a big play or witnessing a nail-biting finish, the bleachers are where the magic of sports truly comes alive. This week, we will be reviewing the Super Bowl and my not-so-accurate score prediction, as well as taking an early look at the 2025 MLB Season. 

 Super Bowl LIX -- Eagles 40 - Chiefs 22: 

    February 5th, 2025: "I am predicting that the Chiefs make history with their third straight Super Bowl win. You heard it here first, folks! Chiefs pull off the 'three-peat' with a score of 33-27. Tune in next week to see how I did!"

    Oh my... Well, first of all, thank you for tuning back in! I do appreciate all of you weekly readers! Secondly, though, I sadly could not have been more incorrect in predicting the outcome of Sunday's big game. To my immense shock and disappointment, the Kansas City Chiefs squandered their chance at the "three-peat" and another Super Bowl victory. As someone who grew up a die-hard fan in Kansas City, it was, and still is, a tough pill to swallow. I'm sure it is rather comical for someone to complain about their NFL team not winning a third Super Bowl in a row, I understand that. The fashion in which they lost was simply crushing.

    Nonetheless, since 2018, the Chiefs have had seven straight AFC Championship appearances, five Super Bowl appearances, and three Super Bowl Championships, and they are the only team to have ever appeared in back-to-back-to-back Super Bowls. Even though they fell short of the win, the Chief's future as an organization remains bright! There are no doubts that this offseason will be difficult and full of tough decisions. However, if free agency and the draft are managed well, the Chiefs could very well find themselves back in Super Bowl LX.

    Steering away from my rather biased reactions to Super Bowl LIX, the NFL community absolutely must tip their caps to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles were a dominant force to be reckoned with on Sunday. Their defense recorded 6 sacks on Patrick Mahomes without blitzing once, showcasing an exceptional pass rush from their defensive line. On top of this, Philly forced 3 turnovers from Mahomes, including 2 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by rookie Cooper DeJean (38-yard pick-six).

    Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts also recorded incredible statistics in what was arguably one of the best games of his career. Hurts completed 17/22 passing attempts and threw for two touchdowns. Additionally, he rushed for 72 yards and 1 touchdown. His 72 rushing yards set a new Super Bowl record for most rushing yards by a quarterback. The Eagles simply kicked butt all evening, putting on one of the most assertive Super Bowl performances of all time. 

    For fun, I am going to predict who I think will be the next contenders for Super Bowl LX! The 60th Super Bowl of the NFL is scheduled to be played on February 8th, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. This will be the third Super Bowl to be held in the San Francisco Bay Area and the second Levi's Stadium has hosted, the first being Super Bowl 50 ten years prior. I predict that the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions will face off for their organization's first Super Bowl wins in an exciting blue-out. However, if the Chiefs were to show up for a fourth straight time instead, I would not complain... ;)

    That's all for this week's "Bleachers" segment! However, be sure to return next week as we begin discussing the 2025 MLB season and the start of MLB Spring Training! Will anyone top the juggernaut L.A. Dodgers this year? Could the Kansas City Royals win the AL Central? Will second-year Pittsburgh superstar pitcher Paul Skenes get even better? Can Mike Trout return from injury to post another historic season and prove his #39 Overall rank wrong? We will answer all of these questions and more next week on the Bleachers!

That's a wrap for this week's "Beats & Bleachers"! Thanks for tuning in! I hope you enjoyed my "Beats of the Week," as well as my Super Bowl LIX recap on the Bleachers. Whether you were here for the music, the sports, or both, I appreciate you joining me. Stay tuned for more beats to move to and more games to cheer for. Until next time, keep the music playing and the spirit of the game alive!