Rosanna

Just a quick apology for the lengthy hiatus. The holidays kind of took over. Now we'll get back to business.

Toto released this #2 hit in 1982. The single won a Grammy for record of the year. I love how upbeat it is, even though the subject matter, lamenting a lost love, is basically depressing. You've got to love the 80's for that. Wikipedia also provided an interesting tidbit about this song: it is frequently used by drummers as a perfect example of a half-time or triplet shuffle. That basically means that the beat doesn't come at you straight, there's a little swing to it with a lot of other difficult stuff thrown in.

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.

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.

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.