web analytics

Pop Rock Nation

Author: Jenny

  • Here comes the sun! Ten songs about sunshine…

    The sun is out again!

    A couple of days ago, I lamented about the gloomy weather where I live. This winter has been very rainy. The pond behind my house is about to flood. Luckily, it’s not very close to the house, so we’re not in any danger of being washed away. Still, after awhile, I get sick of rain and the dark, depressing mood that can come with it. I love to see the sun and realize that it’s March and pretty soon, the leaves and flowers will be sprouting. Of course, that also means my allergies will be in full bloom and I’ll have to start mowing the lawn again. But for a few minutes, I can enjoy the sun, right?

    I thought today, I’d focus on some songs about excellent weather. We have a bright, sunny, beautiful day here in central North Carolina, though the air is chilly and brisk with wind.

    The Beatles- Here Comes The Sun

    I count this beautiful hit from The Beatles’ Abbey Road as one of my favorite songs by The Beatles. The melody is inspiring; the lyrics are hopeful; and this song just makes me feel warm all over. George Harrison is credited with writing and singing this gem. Bring on the spring!

    The Beatles- Good Day Sunshine

    Here’s another sunny song from The Beatles, “Good Day Sunshine”. This song is from the 1966 album Revolver and it’s all about being in love and the optimism that comes from being in love. Paul McCartney sings lead and mostly wrote this song. I remember it being used on more than one orange juice ad, too.

    Stevie Wonder- You Are The Sunshine Of My Life

    “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” is an early hit by Stevie Wonder. The first two lines were sung by Jim Gilstrap, with Lani Groves singing the next two. After that, Stevie pipes in with his distinctive vocals. This is a beautiful, classic love song, again using the sun to convey a person’s immense love for another and the joy that person brings.

    James Taylor- Sunny Skies

    James Taylor’s “Sunny Skies” was included on his 1970 album, Sweet Baby James. I guess you could count this as a “deep cut”; it’s kind of a bright, bouncy number featuring James Taylor’s acoustic guitar and impossibly young sounding vocals.

    Violent Femmes- Blister In The Sun

    I’ve always enjoyed the mischievous sounds of Violent Femmes. This is one of those songs a lot of people who were young in the 80s can sing by heart. As I listen to it today, I can’t help but notice how timeless and fun it is.

    Katrina and the Waves- Walking On Sunshine

    Full disclosure here. I can’t stand “Walking On Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves. It’s one of those songs that was custom made for commercials and it’s been way overused over the past 25 years or so. But even if it weren’t used on so many commercials, I just find it an annoying song. It’s a little too manic for my taste. Once again, though, the lyrics compare being in love with being in the sun. A lot of people love this song and it is sort of the quintessential “happy song”. It annoys me, though… This list would be incomplete without it, nevertheless.

    John Denver- Sunshine On My Shoulders

    It makes perfect sense that John Denver’s sweet song about sunshine would make this list. This is the same guy who sang about West Virginia, the Rocky Mountains, and being a country boy. John Denver had a beautiful clarity to his voice and sang with heart and sincerity. This song shows that a song about the sun doesn’t have to be bouncy and optimistic… it can also be pensive.

    Cream- Sunshine Of Your Love

    This is an epic song by Cream, a supergroup that included Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker. Eric Clapton’s bluesy guitar and vocals are very evident in this rock song. I always liked it, until it made a cameo appearance on an episode of the television show 7th Heaven and one of the world’s most irritating actors, Stephen Collins, sang it. Sorry, I know not everyone feels that way… I need to turn off the TV and quit watching re-runs.

    The Animals- House Of The Rising Sun

    Here’s a classic hit from 1964 that continues the sun theme, albeit with somewhat creepy overtones. Instead of being about love, nature, or happiness, this is a song about a house in New Orleans that has been the “ruin of many a poor boy”. Even though this is a spooky song, it’s still fun to crank it on a nice day!

    Smash Mouth- Walkin’ On The Sun

    I have to admit, from the first time I heard this song on a 1997 episode of ER, I have loved it. The lyrics are quirky; the melody is catchy; and the attitude is irreverent. It’s a great song for a sunny day with the top down… either on your car or your body! Not that I advocate public nudity, mind you… It’s just that this song sounds like it might inspire some harmless naughtiness.

    The sun is out, just in time for the weekend. I’ve noticed the very first daffodil blooming in the yard. If we could just coax the temperature to rise just a little bit, I might find myself sitting on the deck, catching some rays later on. I hope everyone is enjoying some sun today and has a great weekend!

  • Rain, rain, go away! Songs about rain…

    The rainy weather today sucks…

    I enjoy the occasional rainy day.  It’s good for quiet contemplation, sleep, reading, getting things done around the house.  Lately, we’ve been getting a ton of rain, though.  It’s not the pleasant, romantic type of rain, either, like the kind depicted in a recent Progressive car insurance commercial.  It’s cold and nasty and doesn’t make me want to go outside.  So, in the interest of celebrating yucky weather, today’s post is about songs that mention rain.

    BJ Thomas- Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head

    This one’s a no brainer and it’s surprisingly upbeat for a song about rain. Hey, if you can’t stop the rain from falling, you might as well enjoy it, right?

    The Carpenters- Rainy Days and Mondays

    Here are The Carpenters in all their early 1970s era glory, singing about how rainy days and Mondays always get them down. When I was a teenager, I got sort of obsessed with this melancholy song. I used to listen to it all the time, focusing on Karen Carpenter’s sweet, low, amazingly clear vocals. Perhaps this isn’t a good teen angst song; it’s more appropriate for lonely middle aged women with depressing jobs. But on a rainy day, especially if it’s a Monday, there’s no beating it. It’s good on a Tuesday, too.

    Creedence Clearwater Revival- Have You Ever Seen The Rain

    It took awhile before I developed an appreciation for this classic song by CCR. I think I finally learned to like it in the mid 1990s when I was serving in the Peace Corps in the Republic of Armenia. Some fellow volunteers and I used to sit at the Cascade Steps and play music. “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” was one of the songs we would do. The locals loved it. Looking at more recent pictures of the Cascades, I can see that they’ve really been cleaned up and perhaps finally finished. In the 90s, the steps weren’t quite completed at the top. I used to climb up and down them every day, though they had little to no effect on my figure. Anyway, when it rains, this is a fun song to listen to and reminisce about earlier days.

    Eddie Rabbit- I Love A Rainy Night

    This song takes me back even further than “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” does. When I hear this, I think of roller skating. In the early 80s, I used to go to the local skating rink every Friday night and hang out. I was all of about ten years old and my parents would just drop me off there for hours. It amazes me how things have changed since then. As songs about rain go, this one is pretty chipper.

    Madonna- Rain

    I don’t consider myself a great fan of Madonna’s, but she did contribute a song to the rain song genre with this hit.

    Led Zeppelin- The Rain Song

    I count “The Rain Song” as one of my favorite Led Zeppelin songs. It really needs no commentary from me. This song is so beautiful, with its expressive melody and Robert Plant’s sexy vocals. When I hear this song, I can practically hear the rain coming down in a good way.

    Alison Krauss & Union Station- Rain, Please Go Away

    If you need something motivating, check out this song with Dan Tyminski of Union Station taking lead vocals. It’s even better watching it live, since Alison Krauss and Union Station is one of those bands that easily pass my “live album” test!

    Led Zeppelin- Fool In The Rain

    If you need more motivation on a rainy morning, Led Zeppelin delivers with their festive “Fool In The Rain”.

    O.A.R.- Fool In The Rain

    I wouldn’t normally post a cover version of a song by Led Zeppelin, but this one kicks ass. Robert Randolph plays on it, after all. O.A.R. is short for Of A Revolution and they do a pretty great job with a Led Zeppelin classic.

    Phil Collins- I Wish It Would Rain Down

    Here’s a hit from 1989. Phil Collins and Eric Clapton team up to make an epic 80s era power ballad. I listen to this and picture myself standing in a downpour, staring at the sky screaming “Why?” Knowing me, I’d be screaming “Why” because I had a flat tire or something, not because something romantic or tragic happened. Phil Collins was alright back in the day; paired up with Eric Clapton, he’s pretty great.

    Herb Alpert, Janet Jackson, Lisa Keith- Making Love In The Rain

    Of course, if you have the time and the means, you can always use the rainy weather as an excuse to make love. This slow jam from 1987 brings back a lot of memories for me. I remember buying Herb Alpert’s Keep Your Eye On Me on cassette when I was 14 or 15. I bought it because it was all I could afford. It happened to be on sale and I knew there were a couple of Janet Jackson collaborations on it. This song happens to be one of them; Janet is singing backup. This was recorded before she became a mega star and was better known as an actress. Herb Alpert can be heard tooting his horn, too.

    Guns N’ Roses- November Rain

    No blog post about rain songs would be complete without this new classic by Guns N’ Roses. “November Rain” is definitely one of their epic hits.

    Kate Bush- Cloudbusting

    So this song doesn’t have the word “rain” in the title, but it is a very cool, timeless song about Wilhelm Reich who, along with his son, Peter, made a rain machine called a Cloudbuster. Reich was arrested and imprisoned, and Peter felt guilty because he could not help his dad. Years later, he wrote a book called A Book of Dreams, which Kate Bush read and was inspired by. And the video stars Donald Sutherland, too!

    Dire Straits- It Never Rains

    Okay, so we know it does rain… and often, at least where I live. But I had to include this song because it’s amazing. And after today, I’d like for it to be true… at least for a few days.

    I guess if you have the time, the energy, and the ability to appreciate it, a rainy day really isn’t so bad. But it sure makes house training a dog harder, as I’ve already discovered this morning. So for the love of my carpets, I hope the rain goes away soon. For now, I’m going to enjoy these rain songs. Hope you do, too!

  • Why I love good live albums

    The live album test

    Some years ago, I remember having a conversation with a friend who had just bought a new album and was disappointed because she hadn’t realized it was a “live recording”.  She objected to the sound of the roar of the crowd and the variations on studio perfection that come out on live albums.  My friend said she planned to take the album back to the store because, in her words, “if [she’d] wanted to hear that shit, [she’d] go to a concert.”

    Over time, I’ve discovered that I actually like live albums.  In fact, I find that if I love an artist’s live album, I typically become a diehard fan of their music.  If an artist impresses me live, even if it’s just on a live recording, I find that I respect their talents more.  Sometimes I find live renditions of songs incredibly moving.  A couple of years ago, I was watching a DVD of Stevie Wonder in concert and before I knew it, I had tears rolling down my cheeks.  My husband asked me why I was crying and I couldn’t really explain it.  I think it was the sheer joy of listening to an incredible talent playing for an appreciative crowd.  I am myself an occasional performer and there’s nothing quite like performing with other musicians to get the blood pumping.  I think that energy is infectious.

    So I’ve sort of come up with a “live album” test.  If I really like an artist’s live album, I figure I’m a true fan.  I’ll want to see them in concert.  I’ll want to buy their studio albums as soon as they come out, listen to them, and review them.  It makes me more likely want to follow them and less likely that I’ll lose interest in their career.  A good live album impresses me.  Here are a few live albums I’ve loved and returned to again and again.

    Alison Krauss & Union Station- Live

     

    Alison Krauss & Union Station sing “Oh Atlanta” on Live…

    I discovered Alison Krauss & Union Station in 2002 or so when I bought a couple of her CDs from the old BMG music service. When my husband bought me a CD as a Christmas present and discovered I already owned it, we exchanged it for a copy of Alison Krauss & Union Station’s 2002 double disc set, Live. I quickly fell in love with it and became a devoted follower of their version of “newgrass” music. From there, I branched out to other bluegrass artists and found a couple more I admired. I eventually managed to see Alison Krauss & Union Station in concert and it was one of the best I’ve ever been to, despite the fact that we were in the nosebleed seats.

    AC/DC- Live


    AC/DC playing “Thunderstruck” live…

    Okay, so I’ve never actually seen AC/DC live, I do have their two disc Live album, which is all kinds of fun. I became particularly enamored of their song “Thunderstruck”, which is a lot fun to drive to in icy weather. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to see these guys perform live, but I sure do enjoy their live album. Something tells me their show would kick ass.

    The Police- Live


    The Police performing “Roxanne” live in 1979…

    I’ve never seen The Police live either, but I did buy their 1995 album Live while riding on a train through southern France. I bought the album on cassettes because I had a Walkman and to this day, I can’t listen to their live recordings without being reminded of traveling through France in the mid 1990s. Not a bad memory to associate with a band, eh? I later replaced the cassettes with CDs and I’m always surprised by how that band evolved between the 1979 concert in Boston and the 1983 concert in Atlanta represented on that album. Anyway, it’s safe to say that I love The Police… as long as they’re performing and not breaking down my front door with a search warrant.

    Lyle Lovett- Live In Texas


    Lyle Lovett sings “That’s Right, (You’re Not From Texas)”.

    My husband and I had the great pleasure to see Lyle Lovett perform live in Stuttgart, Germany in March 2009. We had amazing seats and Lyle was up there on stage with a small band. The Germans didn’t seem to get his jokes, especially when he sang “Pantry”, a tongue in cheek song full of double entendres. In 1999, he released Live In Texas, which introduced me to what a great performer he is live. I chose “That’s Right, (You’re Not From Texas)” because pretty soon that will be the story of my life. My husband and I are moving to Texas in 2013.

    James Taylor- Live


    James Taylor sings “Copperline”, live.

    It’s no secret that I am a true JT fan. I’ve only gotten to see him in concert twice; both times were amazing, despite the fact that two drunk women were in front of me the last time and were practically creaming themselves every time James sang one of their favorites. He’s done several live albums and I love them all. I think my favorite two right now are One Man Band and Live At The Troubadour, which he did with Carole King. His most popular live album is probably 1993’s Live I do love “Copperline” too, and it’s probably nearer to my heart now because I live in North Carolina, very close to where James grew up.

    Livingston Taylor- Unsolicited Material


    Livingston Taylor sings “Railroad Bill” at a concert.

    Livingston Taylor is James Taylor’s younger brother. I had the pleasure of seeing him live at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia in October 2003. Again, we were within spitting distance of the stage. Livingston Taylor is amazing live and very approachable. I own two of his live recordings, Unsolicited Material and Snapshot- Live At The Iron Horse. I prefer Unsolicited Material, but it’s pretty hard to find that album these days.

    Robert Randolph and the Family Band- Live At The Wetlands


    Robert Randolph and the Family Band sing “I Don’t Know What You Come To Do”.

    I discovered Robert Randolph and the Family Band at an Eric Clapton concert in Washington, DC. They were the opening band and I’d never heard of them. They were freakin’ awesome. I enjoyed their part of the show much more than I did Clapton’s. When I got home, I immediately bought the two albums they had out at the time. One of them was 2001’s Live At The Wetlands, which was a concert they did at a club that closed shortly after, just days before 9/11. Anyway, they definitely passed the Live Album test with flying colors!

    Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band


    Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band sing “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) in 1984… live…

    I didn’t specify a live album for Bruce Springsteen because he’s released a couple of them. I’ve never seen The Boss live, but I did have a teacher who went to high school with him in Freehold, New Jersey. In 1986, I got a box set with live recordings done between 1975 and 1985 and just about wore it out. No live album test results would be complete without Bruce Springsteen on it.

    Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble


    Stevie Ray Vaughan sings “Pride and Joy” Live at Montreux.

    Again, I didn’t specify an album because just about all of the ones I’ve heard by Stevie Ray Vaughan kick ass. It’s so sad that Stevie Ray Vaughan died so young.

    Heart- Live in Seattle


    Heart performs “Mistral Wind” live in Seattle, 2002.

    Back when I was in college, I had a copy of a live album by Heart which featured them covering Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll”. Ann Wilson did such an amazing job on that song that when I heard about another live album coming out in 2002, I knew I had to have it. Heart has a long history of putting out solid rock hits, some of which are better than others. They do a fine job with “Mistral Wind” here, though.

    There are definitely other artists out there who would easily pass my live album test. I’ll save those for another post. Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!