Welcome to the 2026 March Madness Tournament of songs that are comforting, positive, happy, uplifting, encouraging and/or inspirational, but come from outside the Christian tradition. We’re down to the Elite 8! Last week, one song won by only one vote ~ every vote counts! Next week there will be 4, then 2, then 1, with the winner announced on Easter.
We hope you’ll find some new favorites, even if you don’t vote for them! Surveys will be given out on Sunday in church, or you can email your picks to RevRichA@aol.com. Voting closes at noon on Sunday!
Here is how to vote:
In person: choose ONE from each pair of songs.
Online: Just email the numbers; you don’t have to write out the titles.
Click the titles to play; happy listening and have fun!
Classic Bracket
1 Over the Rainbow (Judy Garland, 1939)
2 Stand By Me (Ben E. King, 1961)
Oldies Bracket
4 What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong, 1967)
2 You’ve Got a Friend (Carole King, 1971)
80s and 90s
5 Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler, 1988)
2 Don’t Worry, Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin, 1988)
Modern Bracket
1 You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban, 2009)
3 Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band, 2008)
Classic Bracket
1 Over the Rainbow (Judy Garland, 1939) 16
5 I Believe (Frankie Lane, 1953) 15
2 Stand By Me (Ben E. King, 1961) 18
3 You Are My Sunshine (Jimmie Davis, 1940) 12
Oldies Bracket
4 What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong, 1967) 17
8 I Can See Clearly Now (Johnny Nash, 1972) 13
2 You’ve Got a Friend (Carole King, 1971) 16
6 Three Little Birds (Bob Marley, 1977) 13
80s and 90s
1 Walking On Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves, 1983) 10
5 Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler, 1988) 18
2 Don’t Worry, Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin, 1988) 16
6 Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey, 1981) 12
Modern Bracket
1 You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban, 2009) 17
4 Everything’s Gonna Be Alright (David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney, 2017) 13
3 Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band, 2008) 16
7 I Hope You Dance (Lee Ann Womack, 2000) 13
Classic Bracket
1 Over the Rainbow (Judy Garland, 1939) 27
8 A Spoonful of Sugar (Julie Andrews, 1964) 10
2 Stand By Me (Ben E. King, 1961) 20
7 You’ll Never Walk Alone (Rodgers & Hammerstein, 1945) 19
3 You Are My Sunshine (Jimmie Davis, 1940) 27
6 Feeling Good (Nina Simone 1965) 9
4 Amen (The Impressions 1964) 12
5 I Believe (Frankie Lane, 1953) 23
Oldies Bracket
1 Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel, 1970) 16
8 I Can See Clearly Now (Johnny Nash, 1972) 20
2 You’ve Got a Friend (Carole King, 1971) 27
7 I’m a Believer (The Monkees, 1966) 8
3 Put a Little Love in Your Heart (Jackie Deshannon, 1969) 18
6 Three Little Birds (Bob Marley, 1977) 19
4 What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong, 1967) 26
5 Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan, 1973) 10
80s and 90s
1 Walking On Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves, 1983) 20
8 That’s What Friends Are For (Dionne Warwick, 1985) 17
2 Don’t Worry, Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin, 1988) 26
7 True Colors (Cyndi Lauper, 1986) 10
3 Don’t Give Up (Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush, 1986) 13
6 Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey, 1981) 24
4 Shine (Collective Soul, 1993) 10
5 Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler, 1988) 22
Modern Bracket
1 You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban, 2009) 25
8 The Greatest (Sia, 2016) 10
2 Brave (Sara Bareilles, 2013) 12
7 I Hope You Dance (Lee Ann Womack, 2000) 18
3 Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band, 2008) 21
6 I’m Good (Jelly Roll, 2026) 11
4 Everything’s Gonna Be Alright (David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney, 2017) 26
5 Firework (Katy Perry, 2010) 10
Classic Bracket
___ 1 Follow the Yellow Brick Road (Judy Garland, 1939) 4
2 Over the Rainbow (Judy Garland, 1939) 21
___ 3 Pennies from Heaven (Frank Sinatra, 1936) 6
4 You Are My Sunshine (Jimmie Davis, 1940) 14
5 Accentuate the Positive (Bing Crosby, 1944) 5
___ 6 Oh What a Beautiful Morning (Rodgers & Hammerstein, 1943) 12
7 You’ll Never Walk Alone (Rodgers & Hammerstein, 1945) 14
8 Getting to Know You (Rodgers & Hammerstein, 1951) 2
___ 9 I Believe (Frankie Lane, 1953) 14
10 Climb Ev’ry Mountain (Rodgers & Hammerstein, 1959) 7
11 My Favorite Things (Rodgers & Hammerstein, 1959) 6
___ 12 Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah (James Baskett, 1946) 5
13 High Hopes (Frank Sinatra, 1959) 10
14 A Spoonful of Sugar (Julie Andrews, 1964) 11
___ 15 I Saw the Light (Hank Williams, 1948) 12
16 Feeling Good (Nina Simone 1965) 14
___ 17 Amen (The Impressions 1964) 15
18 People Get Ready (The Impressions 1965) 10
___ 19 Stand By Me (Ben E. King, 1961) 21
20 The Lion Sleeps Tonight (The Tokens, 1961) 6
Oldies Bracket
___ 21 Yesterday (The Beatles, 1965) 7
22 Good Vibrations (The Beach Boys, 1966) 6
23 I’m a Believer (The Monkees, 1966) 12
___ 24 I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan, 1967) 4
25 Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan, 1973) 14
26 Man Gave Names to All the Animals (Bob Dylan, 1979) 7
___ 27 What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong, 1967) 17
28 He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (The Hollies, 1969) 11
___ 29 Put a Little Love in Your Heart (Jackie Deshannon, 1969) 18
30 Love Train (The O’Jays, 1972) 7
___ 31 Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles, 1969) 11
32 I Can See Clearly Now (Johnny Nash, 1972) 12
33 Mr. Blue Sky (Electric Light Orchestra, 1977) 3
___ 34 Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel, 1970) 20
35 Just One Victory (Todd Rundgren, 1972) 1
36 Dust in the Wind (Kansas, 1977) 4
___ 37 You’ve Got a Friend (Carole King, 1971) 18
38 The Rose (Bette Midler, 1979) 7
___ 39 Lean On Me (Bill Withers, 1972) 12
40 Three Little Birds (Bob Marley, 1977) 14
80s and 90s
___ 41 Sailing (Christopher Cross, 1980) 6
42 Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey, 1981) 13
43 Try Jah Love (Third World, 1982) 3
___ 44 40 (How Long Must We Sing This Song) (U2, 1983) 3
45 Walking On Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves, 1983) 18
46 Kyrie (Mr. Mister, 1985) 3
___ 47 Runnin’ Up That Hill (Kate Bush, 1985) 6
48 Don’t Give Up (Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush, 1986) 16
___ 49 That’s What Friends Are For (Dionne Warwick, 1985) 14
50 We Are the World (U.S.A. for Africa, 1985) 11
___ 51 Think of Me (Andrew Lloyd Webber, 1986) 8
52 True Colors (Cyndi Lauper, 1986) 13
53 Follow (Richie Havens, 1988) 2
___ 54 Man in the Mirror (Michael Jackson, 1987) 5
55 Don’t Worry, Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin, 1988) 17
___ 56 My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion, 1997) 4
57 Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler, 1988) 13
58 Circle of Life (Elton John, 1994) 5
___ 59 Trouble Me (10,000 Maniacs, 1989) 8
60 Shine (Collective Soul, 1993) 13
Modern Bracket
___ 61 I Hope You Dance (Lee Ann Womack, 2000) 11
62 Believe (Brooks & Dunn, 2005) 5
63 Heavenly Day (Patty Griffin, 2007) 6
___ 64 The Middle (Jimmy Eat World, 2001) 3
65 Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band, 2008) 12
66 Say Hey (I Love You) (Michael Franti, 2008) 3
___ 67 Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield, 2004) 7
68 Firework (Katy Perry, 2010) 10
___ 69 You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban, 2009) 21
70 You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up) (Josh Groban, 2010) 4
___ 71 Titanium (David Guetta, 2011) 4
72 Don’t You Worry Child (Swedish House Mafia, 2013) 7
73 The Greatest (Sia, 2016) 8
___ 74 Brave (Sara Bareilles, 2013) 14
75 Take Me There (Jackie Evancho, 2014) 5
___ 76 Everything’s Gonna Be Alright (David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney, 2017) 15
77 Look For the Good (Jason Mraz, 2020) 9
___ 78 We Pray (Coldplay, 2024) 7
79 Golden (Huntrix, 2025) 3
80 I’m Good (Jelly Roll, 2026) 13
Centerport United Methodist Church 