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. Voting is now closed; the winner will be announced on Easter, but we can tell you the final score: it was close at 26-24!
Oldies Winner v. Modern Winner!
4 What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong, 1967)
1 You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban, 2009)
Classic Winner v. Oldies Winner
2 Stand By Me (Ben E. King, 1961) 17
4 What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong, 1967) 30
This was a wild one, as Stand By Me was leading 7-0 in pre-Sunday voting,
only to see What a Wonderful World take a commanding lead on Sunday!
80s & 90s Winner v. Modern Winner
2 Don’t Worry, Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin, 1988) 14
1 You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban, 2009) 32
This one was a winner from the start, ahead 6-1 in pre-Sunday voting,
and only expanding its lead on Sunday morning.
Classic Bracket
1 Over the Rainbow (Judy Garland, 1939) 11
2 Stand By Me (Ben E. King, 1961) 26
Oldies Bracket
4 What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong, 1967) 26
2 You’ve Got a Friend (Carole King, 1971) 14
80s and 90s
5 Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler, 1988) 19
2 Don’t Worry, Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin, 1988) 20
Modern Bracket
1 You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban, 2009) 25
3 Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band, 2008) 15
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 