Today's Song of the Day

Cortez the Killer, Crazy Horse and Neil Young, 1975

This is the mystery of life translated by music. I admit, I've listened to Cortez the Killer upwards of 20 times in a row. I can neither confirm nor deny that one of my mega spin sessions happened yesterday. It's just such a powerfully moving song. It's one of those songs I never want to end -- I never want to let it go.

Ahh. Cortez the Killer is a true unicorn of a song -- it's a beautiful musical narrative fairly devoid of words. It's a pretty rare occurrence when a song literally speaks for itself, right? It's an absolute anomaly when a song exists on its own seemingly independent of its creator the way Cortez the Killer does for me. It's an all-inclusive extremely edifying and satisfying soundtrack that easily stands alone.

It's a little funny, too, that I love Cortez the Killer the way I do because I honestly don't care for Neil Young at all. I know, borderline sacrilege. I was grown the first time I heard this song. (Like I said -- not a Neil Young fan.) I'll never forget that first time with Cortez -- I was awestruck. I didn't know who it was or what I was hearing. All I knew was I was taking it with me for eternity. Don't you love that feeling?

Its brilliance still radiates just like it did at first listen. Cortez the Killer is forever a stand still and listen song for me. The world stops every single time I hear it and I melt into its magic. Thank you, universe, for this stunning work of art.