When You Say Nothing At All

I love Allison Krauss & Union Station. That being said, if the therapy student who walked off with Disc 1 of my 2 CD live recording ever reads this: I want my CD back! When You Say Nothing At All was AKUS's first song to get on the charts, where it hit #3 on Billboard's Hot Country chart in 1995. It was originally part of a tribute album for Keith Whitley, who recorded the song in 1988. As a side note, Allison Krauss has won 27 Grammy's making her the 2nd most awarded artist of all time next to Quincy Jones. Pretty sweet for bluegrass.

Mamma Mia!

The Swedish pop group, Abba, released Mamma Mia! on the 1975 self-titled album, Abba. The song was #1 in Australia, Germany, and the UK. It made it to #32 on the US charts. Something new I learned was that the quartet was initially made up of 2 couples: Bjorn & Agnetha were married, as were Anni-Frid & Benny. Both couples divorced before Abba unofficially disbanded in 1983.

No Matter What

"Knock on the old grey wall..." That's the part running through my head. Good thing there's Google so I can find out song names from just a piece of the lyrics. Written and performed by Badfinger in 1970, the song reached #8 on the Billboard. The band had the makings to continue the Beatles' reign, but soon suffered through money problems and suicides that broke them up.

Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves

Cher's first song to hit #1 in the US, Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves, came off her 7th solo album in 1971. Cher is the only female artist to have hits in the top 5 during each of the last decades (i.e. the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's). She has also won a Grammy, an Oscar, an Emmy, and 3 Golden Globes.

I Can Love You Like That

All-4-One, nicknamed the Dukes of R&B, hit #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995 with this love song. I didn't know (not being a Country music connoisseur) that I Can Love You Like That was originally released earlier that same year by John Michael Montgomery. Interestingly, All-4-One's biggest hit, I Swear, was also released by Montgomery and climbed high on the Country charts prior to their successful cover in 1994.

Habanera

Georges Bizet died only 3 months after the Paris premiere of his last opera, Carmen. He missed its premiere in Vienna 4 months after his death which launched the opera into popularity. Carmen is a seductive gypsy, easily giving and taking away her love. In Habanera, she sings: love is a rebellious bird that no one can tame. Of course if she'd tried to tame herself, she probably wouldn't have ended up dead by the hand of a scorned lover in Act 4.

Pineapple Princess

I've only heard this song once, yet it was what I awoke to this morning inside my head. Go Figure. Originally sung by Annette Funicello in 1960, Pineapple Princess was also featured on the soundtrack to Disney's Lilo & Stich 2. I do have to say that I'm pretty sure there aren't any crocodiles in Hawaii.

Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant

I've been irritated by a book this whole weekend. On Friday, we went to the library and checked out Charlotte Bronte's The Professor. I liked Jane Eyre, so I figured I'd like this one as well. The story is fine, but what irks me are all the conversations in French. I don't know French, I took Spanish in high school. The version I've been reading does not have translations for it either. With this French business on my mind, I've been humming this French carol I sang in high school, Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant-literally, He is Born the Divine Child. That kind of French I can handle.

Eclipse

This isn't my favorite John Denver song. I tend to shy away from the songs that are overtly "save the planet". Eclipse is the 10th track on a reissue of Denver's Back Home Again, originally released in 1974. Grandma's Feather Bed and Matthew vie for my favorite-it all depends on my mood. Since I couldn't put Eclipse on the playlist, you get to read the lyrics for it and listen to Grandma's instead.

The sun is slowly fadin in the western sky
Sometimes it takes forever for the day to end
Sometimes it takes a lifetime
Sometimes I think Ill never see the sun again

In the east a shaded moon is hangin lazily
I do believe I saw the old man smile
I do believe I did
I do believe hes been hangin all the while

I think its kind of interesting the way things get to be
The way that people work with their machines
Serenitys a long time comin to me
The fact I dont believe I know what it means

Theres a heavy smog between me and my mountains
Its enough to make a grown man sit and cry
Its enough to make you wonder
Its enough to make the world roll up and die

I think its kind of interesting the way things get to be
The way that people work with their machines
Serenitys a long time comin to me
The fact I dont believe I know what it means any more

When the sun is slowly fadin in the western sky
Sometimes it takes forever the day to end
Sometimes it takes a lifetime
Sometimes I think Ill never see the sun again
Sun again

Way to Emmaus

We listened to this on a compilation CD, Alleluia II, on our way home from visiting family last Sunday. Nancy Hanson's voice is just beautiful. It's been in my head all day.

Proud Mary

Although I prefer the original 1969 version sung by Creedence Clearwater Revival, right now I've got Tina & Ike's slow intro in my head. Two years after the song reached #2 on the charts for CCR, the Turner's cover landed at #4. Proud Mary's success led to a Grammy for Turner and remains a signature piece for her live performances.

Emotions

1977-Disco Ballad. Pretty much sums it up. I didn't realize that this song was actually a one-hit wonder for Samantha Sang. I thought it was all Bee Gees. I guess Barry Gibbs' falsetto isn't quite that good.

You Belong With Me

For a man who professes a strong dislike of "Country" music, Taylor Swift may be my husband's dirty little secret. He likes to listen to her while working on our computers (yes there is an "s" on the end of that). He says she doesn't sound country to him and (I quote) "nobody's dog dies." There may be a good reason You Belong With Me doesn't sound like country. As one of a growing field of country/pop crossover hits, Swifts latest hit combines intimate lyrics with pop stylings. The song spent time in the top 5 of both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Country song charts this last year.

I'll Make a Man Out of You

Mulan remains one of my favorite classic Disney movies. Until researching it this morning, I had no idea that Donny Osmond is responsible for the vocals on this track. I'll Make a Man Out of You rings with irony as Mulan attempts to go through boot camp as a woman disguised as a man. When the DVD version of the movie came out, my siblings and I would repeatedly watch Jackie Chan's Cantonese music video of the song located in the bonus features.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

Not sure why I woke up with the Platters this morning, not that I mind. The quintet served as a bridge between the Tin Pan Alley music era and the new Rock 'n' Roll of the 1950's. Under the direction of their manager Buck Ram, the Platters excelled at remaking old jazz, gospel, and R&B standards into pop hits. Written for Roberta, a 1933 musical, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes became a popular cover song for pretty much everyone. Jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong and Billie Holliday sang it, as well as rock and pop icons like Cher and Barbara Streisand. Even Led Zeppelin used part of the song during their 1971 tour in Osaka, Japan. The Platter's 1958 version of the song became the quintessential recording and was used in movie and television soundtracks alike.