And visions of 00s bangers danced in their heads

End of year mix for you, a spot opens up, and writers, start your engines!

Been a little bit quiet recently over at the March Danceness International HQ in Tucson, Arizona, at least from the outside.

We’re writing with a bit of news, a newly-opened up spot in this year’s upcoming tournament (ping us ASAP if you want it; first-come, first-served), some writerly deadlines, some upcoming material, and an end of year mix for you all from The Selection Committee, Ander & Megan.

First up, the open spot. One of our writers had to give up their spot for this year’s tournament, which means there is a spot open now for someone interested. (We often find ourselves needing another pinch-hitter in the months to come also, so even if you’re not the first one to respond here, it’d be worth letting us know if you want to remain on deck). The good news is you can pick any eligible song still, if we fill this before 2024, which we can.

At the stroke of midnight, the tournament field will be locked. We told our contributors they could still switch up until that point. (One has!)

So if you want to write, or if you’re champing at the bit to stay on deck as a pinch hitter in this wildly akilter metaphor, let us know ASAP.

Writers: your tournament essays are due 1/31. Be in touch with us so we know when to expect it!

We also have another extracurricular on the Best Song to Listen to Getting Ready for the Club, by fab repeat Xnesser Kristine Langley Mahler. That’s coming out this week.

And we also have our yearly year-end mix for you. Here’s the Youtube version (preferred, since the Apple Music one is missing some only-on-Youtube live covers). If you want an mp3 version (we do, but we don’t know if anyone else does any more), ping us for a dropbox link. It features new music some some of our favs this year, including at least 4 Aussie artists: (Xness faves) Quivers covering REM’s “Radio Song,” (Xness faves) Haiku Hands, (new to us) Tropical Fuckstorm covering “Stayin’ Alive,” and new fav Angie McMahon doing an all-timer cover of “Knowing Me, Knowing You.” (If Ander could just have you listen to one thing this year, it’s this. Megan’s maybe not quite AS onboard, but is definitely onboard.)

The 2023 Xmas mix also remembers some of the greats we lost this year: Shane McGowan, Sinead O’Connor (serious oof), Gordon Lightfoot, Tina Turner, and David Crosby. And a Tilly & the Wall song we forgot that just kills it, and another revelatory cover by boygenius. Give it a listen! Tell us what you think.

If you’ll be at our NYE party we’ll have a burned CD for you. Everyone else has to do the digital.

What are you listening to as they year flips from 23 to 24? One more recommendation: we just discovered Charly Bliss (through their great and very game cover of March Fadness 90s Edition Len’s “Steal My Sunshine” on the AV club’s Underground Series, thankfully being put back online by enterprising Youtubers: this gives us some hope in the waning of the year). Anyhow Charly Bliss’s stuff is all great, but we’re especially fans of their newest LP Young Enough. So good, y’all!

Now that 2024 is nearly upon us, it’s getting serious for all the tournament writers. They’ll be digging deep for you. Once the ball drops we’ll solidify the field and get the bracket ready for you so you can start your strategizin.

Stay safe, stay warm, stay lit, and we’ll see you not too far off!

Ander & Megan