Every Rose Has Its Thorn

When I was a "tween" there was no such thing. You were just a kid then. I was a kid into music, but didn't know what I liked yet and so listened to whatever was on the radio. Back then, hair bands were big on the radio: Guns n' Roses, Van Halen, and Bon Jovi. This power ballad topped the charts at the end of 1988. It was written while Poison was playing at a country bar in Dallas. Can you hear it?

Something's Coming

From the film version of West Side Story (1961). I knew the music was written by Leonard Bernstein, but I didn't realize that Stephen Sondheim provided the lyrics. I guess they don't seem quite as tongue-in-cheek as some of his other works. You have to admit he is a little weird. Again, this is another song not on the playlist, but luckily YouTube had it, though it does have subtitles in some language I'm not sure of. Go figure.

The Lady is a Tramp

Sing it Frankie. My favorite quote about Frank Sinatra comes from the movie Return to Me. The old guys are playing poker and jacking their jaws. Here is part of their conversation about abusive singers: "Sinatra beat up everybody" and the reply "Frank did not. His people did, he did not." Anyway, here he is singing a 1937 Rodgers and Hart tune from their musical Babes in Arms. By the way, for my friend GinaBean: apparently Alice Cooper has done a cover of this song. Just thought you'd like to know. ;)

Music Box Dancer

In college, I took a group piano class because I have dreams of being able to sit down and play beautiful pieces of music--hasn't happened yet. I've got to buy a piano and then maybe I'll get there. My performance piece for the year was a vastly simplified version of this song. I got an A. I feel a little bad, because someone else did it as well, but they didn't notice the 8va notation and so played it an octave too low. It made me feel like a showoff when it was my turn. Anyway, the piece is a product of disco, bubblegum pop, and the Canadian musician Frank Mills. Recorded in 1974, it made it big in 1979 hitting #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Maintenance Note

A few things have kept me from blogging recently: vacation, work, child... One of the biggest things has been frustration with playlist.com. It's not really their fault. It's just that I don't always get the most current or popular music in my head. For instance, finding Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof is relatively easy, but try finding Tevye's Dream of the same production. Erg. Even worse, there's no way I could find A Sleep and a Forgetting performed by the mainly instrumental group Enoch Train (the song is based on lines from a Wordsworth poem). I didn't want to leave these songs out, since I try not to "edit" what goes into the blog. So I mention them here and we'll continue on.

Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat

Nope, it's not what you're listening to. The only version I could find on playlist.com was a cover done by Don Henley. Yeah, Don Henley. His introspective, laid back style so does not capture the spirit of this song as originally performed by Stubby Kaye who played Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the original Broadway, London, and film versions of Guys and Dolls. It is one of my favorites! Kaye also performs in Fugue for Tinhorns which is what you are listening to and is one of the opening numbers of the show.

Shenandoah

I love this song. I loved it even before I lived in the Shenandoah Valley and saw the north fork of the Shenandoah River. From the top of the Woodstock tower you can see where the river bends 7 times in a row in a slow, rhythmic dance. What longing there is in this song, and who could help but want to see Shenandoah again. it's beautiful.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Such a great song for head banging in the car... ok, cautious jerking of the head while carefully scanning for traffic, lights, and pedestrians (really). Even my toddler was dancing to it while I played it to make sure it was a full recording before adding it to the playlist. I read through all the commentary on Wikipedia about it. It was pretty in depth. My take: fun song. One interesting item I found was that there are 180 overdubs in the opera section to make 3 voices sound like a full choir.

It's All Coming Back

In 1996, I was living in the dorms with my Scottish roommate (what a great year!). I am not the type to be late for class...if I thought I'd be more than 2 minutes late, I just wouldn't go. For us that year, this was the song. I remember it coming on the radio right before I needed to leave for class. It was such a long song, but you had to stay to the very last chord. It was dynamic emotion mixed with potent chords and Celine Dion's soaring, put-it-all-out-there vocals. It was a good year...it's all coming back to me now.

Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey

I'm sure it's just an era thing, but this song feels fairly trippy to me. Paul McCartney included it on his 1971 album Ram. Before looking into it, I just assumed it was another Beatles piece with random lyrics. I will say that I only remembered the second 2 sections of it, and not the Uncle Albert part, probably because that is the more upbeat portion of the song. It being the 70's, the song did hit the Billboard Hot 100 #1 spot.

Axel F

Harold Faltermeyer wrote this Beverly Hills Cop (1984) theme song using 3 synthesizers and a drum machine. It hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985 and was the #1 song in Ireland, Holland, and New Zealand. I pretty much love this version of it found on Youtube. Enjoy.

Kiss Me Deadly

Aren't brains just random. 80's rock takes over from 50's musical. Lita Ford has recorded with Ozzy Osbourne and toured with Queensryche. I didn't even know her name until I looked up the song running through my head. She began her career in a band with Joan Jett that broke up at the end of the 70's. Again, random.

Singin' in the Rain

Apparently, I must need some upbeat songs right now (see last post). And you can't get much more upbeat than Gene Kelly's rendition of Singin' in the Rain from the 1952 musical of the same name. Something I didn't know until doing some research for this song, is that a good majority of the songs in the movie, were reused from earlier shows and films...something that Broadway musicals used to do all the time, but you don't find it so much any more. So, in keeping with that spirit, I have included this clip from Shanghai Knights. You have to wait for it...but, Jackie Chan takes some of his moves from Kelly's puddle dance. I love it.

High Hopes

Frank Sinatra. That about sums it up. High Hopes won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1959 for the movie A Hole in the Head. I love it's optimism and cheese. Definitely good for a pick-me-up.

Rhiannon

I like Fleetwood Mac. They're kind of random. Every song or album doesn't sound just like the one before with different words. I was recently listening to a greatest hits type of album. There were a few songs where I thought, "Oh, this is by them?" So of course after listening to that, I got their 1976 hit Rhiannon stuck in my head.

9 to 5

Dolly Parton has said, "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap." She certainly has a singular image. Her first recording was released in 1967, her latest just last year (2009). I love her more bluegrass sounds. Of course, I like 9 to 5 because of the full, jazzy orchestration that backs up her lively vocals. You can just hear how much fun she's having performing it.

World on Fire

If I was forced to pick someone to trade voices with, it would be a pretty tough choice between Sarah McLachlan and Julie Andrews (pre-surgery). I think I love Sarah's voice because she sings in my range. That and it is warm, mellow, and sometimes haunting. I will say it: it's gorgeous. Sarah sang World on Fire on her Afterglow released in 2003.

Drive

Incubus hit #1 on Billboard's Modern Rock Chart with this song in 2001. The music video was nominated for an MTV Music Award for Best Group Video, but lost to 'N Sync's Pop. I've never even heard that song until today, and frankly I was not impressed. The music video was almost irritating to watch due to it's jerkiness. The song itself left a lot to be desired. I much prefer Drive, with it's M. C. Escher inspired video, mellow instrumentation, and motivating message.

Isn't She Lovely

Stevie Wonder won 4 Grammy awards in 1977 for his album Songs in the Key of Life. The album was a 2 LP set, with Isn't She Lovely featured on the 3rd side. The album has been called one of the most influential of all time. Elton John said, "For me, it's the best album ever made, and I'm always left in awe after I listen to it." Pretty high praise. I might need to go buy it so I can hear the rest of the songs, not just the one stuck in my head this morning.

It's a Grand Night for Singing

This is one of my favorites. I was watching State Fair (1945 version) Sunday while the hubster was at meetings. I love this song... it tends to get stuck in my head. Wow, Dick Haymes, what a crooner. That's all I have to say.

To Sir, With Love

This was the #1 song for the year 1967. Sung by Lulu for a movie of the same name, it held the top Billboard spot for 5 weeks. Lulu was born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie. She went by Lulu Kennedy-Cairns. I'm not sure if that's an improvement, though: they're both mouthfuls.

A Beautiful Morning

Songs have been coming and going so frequently in my head that I can't remember them all to put them on the blog. I think I must have a case of irony. It's grey and drizzly today, but the song stuck in my head is A Beautiful Morning recorded by the Rascals in 1968. The single reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over a million copies that year. Personally, it sounds like what my mom always preaches: get up and move. Of course, she thinks that even when it's not nice outside.

Whenever I Call You Friend

Kenny Loggins released this hit on his 2nd solo album Nightwatch in 1978. Stevie Nicks joins him on the vocals in the original recording. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an intact recording of it for the playlist. Instead you get Michael Johnson & Allison Krauss. Which is a pretty good version, with an acoustic sound.

Don't Sleep in the Subway

I really like Petula (Pet) Clark. Her 1965 Downtown is one of my all-time favorites. Don't Sleep in the Subway is just so logical, and very British. It's awesome. She has recorded hit music in multiple languages including French and Italian. As a side note, Pet was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II. That's one level below getting to be called "Dame".

Reelin' in the Years

Steely Dan released this 1972 hit on their album Can't Buy a Thrill. Elliot Randall's guitar solo was ranked by Guitar World as the 40th best of the top 100. Take that Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Scar Tissue

The Red Hot Chili Peppers released this song in 1999. According to Guitar World, the hit placed 63rd out of the top 100 guitar solos. Scar Tissue's lyrics cover modern music's trinity: drugs, sex, & rock'n'roll.

One Last Hope

To my knowledge, this is the only piece of music that Danny DeVito has recorded. After a day of this song from Disney's Hercules (1997) running through my head, I had to break out the DVD and watch it. Of course, I always think that they get the ending wrong. Hercules has been trying to prove himself a true hero so that he can rejoin his family on Mt. Olympus. When he finally does, he gives it up to stay with Megara, his true love. That's all well and good, the flaw, however, is this: Hercules becomes a true hero by giving up his life for Meg (until he becomes immortal), but Meg has already given her life to save him. Now don't you think that she has proven herself a true hero? She ought to have been made immortal too. Then everyone could have been together as a great big forever family on Mt. Olympus. Just saying.

(and sorry, I couldn't find the song for my playlist)

Beautiful

Christina Aguilera won a Grammy for this song. But it's in my head because it was on Glee, my new addiction--like I needed another one. Beautiful becomes an anthem in the capable hands of Mercedes (Amber Riley) as she combats social pressures in the episode Home.

Hello, I Love You

Performed on their first demo tape in 1965 , The Doors later released Hello on their album Waiting for the Sun in 1968. It stayed a week at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 later that year. The band's leader, Jim Morrison, would die only 3 years later in Paris of unknown causes.

Love is Spoken Here

Our church choir is singing this on Sunday, so it's been in my head for awhile. Love is Spoken Here was written by Janice Kapp Perry in 1980 (approximately). It was included in the Children's Songbook published in 1989.

I've Got You Under My Skin

Michael Buble is so much better than Harry Connick, Jr. There I said it. Anyway, Buble included this Cole Porter song on his 2005 album It's Time. However, it's quintessential recording features Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle's orchestra. Sinatra's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000 as part of the album Songs for Swinging Lovers. You don't hear titles like that anymore.

This Too Shall Pass

So I'm a sucker for Ok Go's music videos. I love Here it Goes Again and A Million Ways to Be Cruel--my friends and I actually performed that dance. Yeah, we rocked. A while ago, I saw the Rube Goldberg machine version of their newest video, This Too Shall Pass released in March of 2010. Very cool, but the cause and effect visuals overshadowed the music and I didn't have a very distinct impression of the song. Well, today I saw their alternate music video done with the Notre Dame marching band. To borrow some phrasing from my friend DangGina: I. Love. It. To see the video go to Ok Go's YouTube channel. For an added bonus, you can see an interactive floor plan of the RGM version at okgo.net.

Hips Don't Lie

Dancing With the Stars recently performed a tribute to Haiti to Shakira's Hips Don't Lie. Watching it made me wonder why they would pick a song in Spanish when Haitian's speak French and Creole. Well, I didn't know that the rapper featured on the song was Wyclef Jean from Haiti. That made a lot more sense, although if you wanted to hear true Haiti, they could have used music from RAM. I saw one of their weekly concerts at the Hotel Olaffson in Port-Au-Prince. Awesome. You can't help but move.

Big Spender

The musical Sweet Charity chronicles the mishaps of a taxi dancer (someone who gets paid by the dance) in New York. Big Spender is sung by the dancers inviting men to come dance with them. The musical started on Broadway in 1966 to much acclaim and has had several successful revivals including a recent one starring Christina Applegate. Interestingly, Bob Fosse was the original choreographer for the Broadway production.

Daughter

Released in 1993 on their album Vs., Daughter became one of Pearl Jam's biggest hits. According to Eddie Vedder, the band's lead vocalist & guitarist, the song is about a child with a learning disability. It a pretty dark piece of poetry. Then again, I haven't heard too much hope in any of Pearl Jam's songs.

Single Ladies

The dancing in the music video to Beyonce's mega hit, Single Ladies, was inspired by a 1960's dance video choreographed by Bob Fosse. Apparently Beyonce has inspirational powers of her own. Of several parodies on YouTube, I think I like this one the best.

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.

The Puppy Song

I heard this song yesterday on Showstoppers on KBYI radio. Never fail, it's in my head this morning. Written by Harry Nilsson in 1969, The Puppy Song has been sung by several artists including Mary Hopkin, David Cassidy, and the 70's pop group New World. Nilsson's own version played during the opening credits of the hit movie You've Got Mail.

Don't Pull Your Love Out

Don't Pull Your Love... It's by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds from 1971. The LA based band didn't have a ton of hits, but this one and Falling in Love (1975) climbed the Billboard charts to #4 and #1 respectively.

Anvil Chorus

This morning I woke up to Giuseppe Verdi's Anvil Chorus playing in my head. It was actually the opening few measures, not the more known part where the anvils are clanging. Here's a little information about the piece from wikipedia:
The Anvil Chorus is the English term for the Coro di zingari (Italian gypsy chorus), a piece of music from Act 2, Scene 1 of Giuseppe Verdi's Il trovatore (The Troubador) (1853) which depicts Spanish Gypsies striking their anvils at dawn (hence its English name) and singing the praises of hard work, good wine, and their gypsy women.