Song Of The Year: Winner A

It's the late morning of the second day of the 2008 Virgin Festival, the day Noel Gallagher would later get bumped by the crazy simian. I'm debating whether or not to catch the early acts on the main stage because they might be good. For example, Arcade Fire (prior to the release of Funeral) played to about a hundred or so people on Toronto Island as the first band on a day-long bill years ago.

After hemming and hawing I decide against it and plan to get there around 3-ish, passing up the chance to see the group in the pic, the Airborne Toxic Event.

Around June of this year a channel-surfing moment hits MuchMoreMusic, the nation's Music station (except for the Gene Simmons Family Jewels Show, Celebrity Rehab, Movies Of The Week, various crappy teen angst-coms and other non-music programming taking up 22.9 hours out of every 24). And then I hear this song, one which I've played via YouTube no less than 200 times since June. Sometime Around Midnight is the name of the tune, a song which nails on the head all the dread, passion, bitterness and memories of a broken heart or one which has yet to fully mend.

Written by lead singer Mikel Jollett (the guy farthest away in the picture playing guitar) after a series of misfortunes -- including being diagnosed with vitiligo (skin color changes) and alopecia (hair loss) at the same time -- the song described how Jollett met a former ex at a bar and realized he never quite got over her and the awkwardness that ensues.

Starting slowly and soaring by its majestic conclusion, the song seems to hit the perfect balance of power musically and lyrically, even with Jollett reaching a bit vocally near its conclusion. But the keeper has to be the closing verse: "You just have to see her/You just have to see her/You just have to see her/You just have to see her/You just have to see her/Knowing she'll break you in two."

Song B tomorrow.....