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Instrumental earworms

Photo by Jenny

Not every hit requires a singer. Just the other day, I was reminded of instrumental earworms!

I don’t know how it is for other people, but I tend to get music “stuck” in my head. Over the weekend, my husband Bill and I were listening to music when an old favorite from my youth came on. It was by Chuck Mangione, a man famous for his mad flugelhorn skills. In 1977, he had the biggest hit of his career in “Feels So Good”, a smooth jazz classic. It makes me smile every time I hear it, as I remember the days when Pizza Hut’s pizzas still tasted good and people still bought music on vinyl, cassettes, or 8-tracks. I can listen to “Feels So Good” today and it takes me back, because it sounds distinctly 70s… but in a good way. Back in the good old days of Napster, I was actually able to find a great extended version of this piece.

Here’s a groovy studio version of “Feels So Good”.

“Feels So Good” is one of those earworms that comes into your head unexpectedly. I remember back in 1990 or so, I was in a drug store in Farmville, Virginia with a friend and “Feels So Good” played over the store’s stereo system. My friend started to hum off key and then added some hilarious impromptu lyrics because I was buying caffeine pills and he joked that I was headed for a stint in rehab. That’s another fun memory that pops into my head every time I hear this number.

Another instrumental earworm is one that came out around the same time “Feels So Good” did. In 1979, trumpet player Herb Alpert had a big hit with “Rise”. For some reason, every time I hear “Feels So Good”, I feel the need to follow it with “Rise”, which is still a pretty good jazz jam all these years later.

The original video for “Rise”.

Herb Alpert has had quite a lot of instrumental hits over the years. When I was a kid, my parents had his album Whipped Cream and Other Delights, which was memorable for its minty green cover and photo of a lady covered in what appeared to be whipped cream (but was probably shaving cream). I used to listen to “A Taste of Honey” all the time.

I wasn’t around in the 60s, but this takes me back there every time.

In 1961, pianist Floyd Cramer had a hit with the snazzy instrumental “On The Rebound”, another album my parents owned that I heard all the time back in the day.

Does it get more 60s than this?

It seems like the late 70s and early 80s was a time especially conducive to musicians who weren’t necessarily singers. Remember “Music Box Dancer”? It was a hit by Frank Mills in 1979, having originally been used in a film in 1974. It was later used on an episode of The Simpsons and in the Kill Bill movies.

Watch Frank play!

Frank Mills followed up with “The Poet and I”, which I remember hearing on the radio a bit. It wasn’t nearly as successful as “Music Box Dancer” had been, though, and pretty soon Frank Mills faded from the pop music scene.

As the 80s approached, so did new instrumental hits, including “Hooked On Classics”. Basically, this was a medley of classical pieces strung together with hand claps and a subtle beat you can dance to.

I thought this was really cool back in the day, but now it sounds so 80s to me…

I seem to remember “Hooked On Classics” was marketed on television. My best friend from childhood had a copy of the cassette that her mother purchased. This was such a hit in 1982 that it spawned several sequels. Eventually the “Hooked On Classics” fad died, though. People lost interest in renditions of classics they could dance to.

In the 90s, there were some instrumental ear worms that were big hits among the techno fans. Robert Miles’ “Children” was popular in 1996.

I was in Armenia when this song was popular, so it always reminds me of overcrowded public transportation.

Sometime in the 90s, I kind of lost touch with pop music, though it does seem like instrumentals were no longer pop jazzy or showy, like the music played by Frank Mills and Floyd Cramer. It seemed like instrumentals that became hits were new age, techno, or hip hop oriented. I was introduced to a lovely instrumental just in time for my wedding, though. I walked down the aisle to “Highland Cathedral”. I didn’t use Phil Coulter’s version of this piece, but it did help influence me to find the sheet music for the organist and a bagpiper to play.

Every time I hear this, it takes me back to my wedding day. Believe it or not, it was composed in 1982 by Germans, Ulrich Roever and Michael Korb.

I know there are many other popular instrumentals I missed. But these were the ones that crossed my mind this rainy Tuesday morning.

April 30, 2013
Feels Like Home

Randy Newman

Feels Like Home is a lovely song written by Randy Newman. Who sang it best?

This morning, I was writing a review of Feels Like Home, an album Linda Ronstadt released in 1995. I was left with a somewhat mediocre impression of Ronstadt’s version of the title song, which I had originally heard sung by Bonnie Raitt on the soundtrack of Randy Newman’s Faust. Linda Ronstadt had also performed on that album, which featured an all-star line up of singers, including: James Taylor, Don Henley, Elton John, and Randy Newman. I used to listen to Newman’s Faust all the time when it first came out and really enjoyed everyone’s performances. Bonnie Raitt played sort of a loose woman named Martha, while Ronstadt’s character, Margaret, was sweet and virtuous. It seemed to fit. And yet, Bonnie Raitt’s loose character, Martha, sang the very sweet number “Feels Like Home”, a song that is becoming sort of a wedding standard.

In my opinion, “Feels Like Home” is a really great song, even though I read somewhere that Randy Newman didn’t think it was particularly special or meaningful. The lyrics are about a relationship that makes the singer feel very comfortable and “at home”. It’s kind of the way I feel about my husband, Bill, who manages to make me feel beautiful and loved no matter how batshit crazy I get at certain times of the month. In fact, I even recorded my own version of this song for Bill on SingSnap.com. He doesn’t mind. He’s had to listen to me sing ever since we got married over ten years ago. Besides, he knows when I sing this song for him, I sing it with heartfelt devotion and true LOVE…

But what about the other singers? I can think of six different interpretations of this one song. They’re all different and, I’m sure, each version speaks to different people in a different way. So today, I want to compare and contrast the many stylings of Randy Newman’s “Feels Like Home”.

Version #1- Randy Newman

Randy Newman wrote this song and he included it on his 2008 album Harps and Angels. Bill gave me that album as a Christmas gift one year, knowing that I really enjoy Randy Newman’s music. No, he’s not the greatest singer in the world, but he’s witty and charming and his piano playing has a certain recognizable character. Here’s his version of his song, “Feels Like Home”.

Listening to this, I hear that Randy Newman’s quirky vocals are not particularly tuneful. And yet, there’s something kind of moving about the way he sings this song. He sells it with his quirkiness. I also like the key he sings this in and the subtle orchestral backing to his piano. I think songs often sound better when they’re sung by the person who created them. Randy Newman knows what he was thinking of when he wrote this. Still, he wasn’t the first one to make “Feels Like Home” popular.

Version #2- Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Raitt sang this for Faust and here she is, singing it on Rosie O’Donnell’s talk show circa 1997.

I think Bonnie Raitt’s vocals are very warm and heartfelt when she sings “Feels Like Home”. I like the way she keeps it sweet and simple. And of course, this is the very first version I was exposed to, so it has a special place in my heart. On the other hand, if you are familiar with Newman’s Faust, you realize that this song is not as sweet as it seems, especially given the character of Martha, who was a bit of a ‘ho. Martha was being deceptive when she sang this love song for Faust; it was intended to trick him. Seems kind of funny, now that it’s a wedding standard.

Version #3- Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt covered this song on her 1995 album Feels Like Home.

Linda Ronstadt sings this in the same key Bonnie Raitt did and has help from Emmylou Harris on the chorus. I think she did a nice job on this song, though it seems a bit bloodless and sterile to me. Obviously, it’s about perfect in terms of Linda’s singing, but I don’t get the same sense that Linda was as into it as Bonnie was. But that’s just me.

Version #4- Chantal Kreviazuk

Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk sang a version of “Feels Like Home” that appeared in the films The Notebook, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, and The Terminal, as well as the television show, Dawson’s Creek.

I must confess I first heard this version of Randy Newman’s song when I saw the film The Terminal. While I love the key she sings this in, I’m not that wild about Chantal Kreviazuk’s take on “Feels Like Home”. She has a very thick accent that is distracting to me. Still, this arrangement turns the song into an emotional love song and I can see why so many people are using it at weddings.

Version #5- Edwina Hayes

Edwina Hayes’ version of “Feels Like Home” was used in the soundtrack for the 2009 film, My Sister’s Keeper.

English singer-songwriter Edwina Hayes sings a gorgeous version of “Feels Like Home”. I have goosebumps when I hear her sing this song, even though I didn’t actually see the film it was featured on. I like the simple guitar arrangement. This makes me want to seek out more music by Edwina Hayes. As this ends, I have a lump in my throat, which means it got to my heart.

Version #6 Raul Malo and Martina McBride

This duet version appeared on Raul Malo’s 2006 album, You’re Only Lonely.

I heard this version for the first time this morning. I think Raul Malo and Martina McBride both have beautiful voices, but I don’t really feel like they have a lot of chemistry on this song. When they sing it, I don’t believe it. Still, it’s technically very good. I’m not that familiar with Raul Malo, who is the frontman for The Mavericks and a member of Los Super Seven. I might have to seek out more of his music, too.

The verdict

I think my favorite version of “Feels Like Home” is probably still Bonnie Raitt’s, but that might be because her version was the first one I ever heard. I also really love Bonnie Raitt’s voice, which sounds so real and warm to me… like it comes from someone who has really lived. I’m very impressed with Edwina Hayes’ version of “Feels Like Home”, though the sheer perfection of her vocals is almost more than I can stand. Randy Newman’s version, while technically imperfect, touches me because the words and music are his and he knows just how he wants to sell it. I also love the way he plays piano.

Ordinarily, I love a lot of Linda Ronstadt’s music, though I’m left a little cold by her version of “Feels Like Home”, even though she had some help from Emmylou Harris. And while Chantal Kreviazuk has a lovely voice and I love the key she sings “Feels Like Home” in, I am distracted by her thick accent and breathy emotion. On the other hand, I think her reading is probably what really put this song on the map. Raul Malo and Martina McBride turn “Feels Like Home” into an appealing duet, though to me, the chemistry between them is a bit lacking.

My version

You get extra credit if you listen to my version of “Feels Like Home”. And there’s really no need to compare it to those sung by professionals!

April 25, 2013
When music is a comfort…

Times of trouble are when music is a comfort…

B Strong for Boston
Yesterday, I read about how in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, the New York Yankees honored their opponents, the Boston Red Sox, by playing Neil Diamond’s classic hit, “Sweet Caroline”. I don’t follow baseball, but I read that “Sweet Caroline” is a song traditionally played at Red Sox games and sung along to by Red Sox fans. That the Yankees played it in their honor was very classy, but their gesture had an odd effect on me. I found myself tearing up as I read about how the Yankees, indeed how New York City, showed love and solidarity toward Boston following the tragedy that had visited their city on a day that should have been celebratory.

A clip of “Sweet Caroline” at the Yankees vs. Red Sox game…

Unfortunately, this is not the first time tragedy out of violence has visited the United States, especially during the month of April. For some reason, as spring arrives, so does a certain insanity, which brings with it people who commit terrible acts against others. And it seems to be getting worse instead of better. Over the past twenty years, the third week of April has brought Waco, the Oklahoma City bombing, Columbine, the Virginia Tech Massacre, and now the Boston Marathon bombings.

Now, every September 11th, we remember what happened on 9/11/01. My husband, Bill, who was then my boyfriend, was working in the Pentagon when it was struck by American Airlines Flight 77. I did not know if he was dead or alive that entire day. Later, he showed up on Yahoo! Messenger to let me know he’d escaped unscathed. About a month later, Bill escorted family members of one of the 9/11 victims at the Pentagon to a memorial service. He later described the service to me, telling me that the organizers had chosen a beautiful piece of music that he could not name. He said it was a very moving and comforting piece, like a balm for those who were so grief stricken following the shocking events of September 11th.

I remember back in September 2005, just after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, turning on James Taylor’s 1997 album, Hourglass, and being very soothed by it as I saw the terrible images of people who had lost everything in the massive storm. James Taylor released that album just after losing his father and a few years after having lost his older brother, Alex, to a heart attack. Alex Taylor died on James’s 45th birthday, in part due to his alcoholism. The songs on Hourglass are largely about the troubled times Taylor had endured in the 1980s and 90s. In 1996, he was freshly divorced from his second wife, Kathryn Walker. He seemed to be struggling to make sense of the world with that album, and yet I found it so very comforting as I watched the news and saw so many sad, anguished people.

“Enough To Be On Your Way”, a tribute to James Taylor’s brother, Alex.

“Jump Up Behind Me”, a song James Taylor wrote to honor his father, who rescued him when he was struggling with depression and drug addiction as a young man.

Beth Nielsen Chapman has written several songs that are comforting. Her song “Sand and Water” has been used in several prime time television shows in scenes involving death. She wrote it after having lost her husband, Ernest Chapman, to cancer in 1994. The song has since provided comfort to people who are grieving, but the words are so deeply personal. In the song, she references her son, Ernest, who was a young teenager when he lost his father.

Beth Nielsen Chapman performs “Sand and Water” with Kieran Goss at the Grand Opera House in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Another song that Beth Nielsen Chapman sings that I personally find very comforting is “Godspeed”, which she co-wrote with Annie Roboff. The song was included on the 2001 compilation, The Prince of Egypt: Nashville. The first time I heard this song in 2004, I fell in love with it. It never fails to bring a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes.

Someone used “Godspeed” in a YouTube memorial for Princess Diana.

When Bill and I lost our beloved “bagel” dog MacGregor, who died rather suddenly after we discovered a malignant tumor invading his spinal column, I found myself comforted by several bluegrass songs. I know MacGregor was just a dog, but he was a very special companion to Bill and me. Music helped us process the pain in losing him. When Alison Krauss was an up and coming star, she recorded a beautiful song called “On Heaven’s Bright Shore”, which always makes me feel better when I lose someone dear… after a good cry, of course.

I’m not particularly religious, but this song always comforts me, as does Rhonda Vincent’s beautiful tribute “I Will See You Again”.

About twenty minutes after we lost MacGregor, this song popped up on my iPod. Bill and I were driving home from NC State’s veterinary school with tears rolling down our cheeks. Even as I write this, I’m getting choked up from the memory.

I wish we didn’t have such a need to grieve right now. Just months after the Sandy Hook shootings in Connecticut, we are once again plunged into the shock of unexpected violence perpetrated by someone who felt the need to make a statement with violence against innocent people. Just this morning, I read about a massive blast at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, that could have been the result of an accident or criminal activity. At this writing, it’s not clear what’s happened or why. As you process the senseless events of this week, I wish you peace and the right music to bring you comfort.

April 18, 2013