Did we mention former American Idol, David Cook stopped by our studios last week to promote his new album, This Loud Morning?!?!
#30DaySongChallenge2
Day 18 - A song about a girl:
Not just any girl - the sublime Ms. Billie Holiday. I realized I hadn’t used any U2 in the challenge yet, and though this song is an outlier in terms of their typical sound, it’s one of my all time favorites. The lyrics are so evocative of that wintry tour stop in New York City, and of the exploration of American culture and music that led to the recording of Rattle and Hum. Plus, the band is cookin’. I love a full horn section.
U2 - Angel of Harlem
It was a cold and wet December day
When we touched the ground at JFK
Snow was melting on the ground
On BLS I heard the sound
Of an angel
New York, like a Christmas tree
Tonight this city belongs to me
Angel
Soul love
This love won’t let me go
So long
Angel of Harlem
Birdland on fifty-three
The street sounds like a symphony
We got John Coltrane and a love supreme
Miles, and she’s got to be an angel
Lady Day got diamond eyes
She sees the truth behind the lies
Angel
Soul love
This love won’t let me go
So long
Angel of Harlem
Angel of Harlem
She says it’s heart
Heart and soul…
Yeah, yeah…(yeah)
Yeah, yeah…(right now)
Blue light on the avenue
God knows they got to you
An empty glass, the lady sings
Eyes swollen like a bee sting
Blinded you lost your way
Through the side streets and the alleyway
Like a star exploding in the night
Falling to the city in broad daylight
An angel in Devil’s shoes
Salvation in the blues
You never looked like an angel
Yeah, yeah
Angel of Harlem
Angel
Angel of Harlem
Angel
#30DaySongChallenge2
Day 17 - A song with a message:
I love the scene in Cameron Crowe’s movie Singles where Jeremy Piven does a mash-up of this song with Public Enemy. “What’s so funny about p-p-peace!”
Come to think of it, a true Costello/Enemy collab would probably be the world’s ultimate message song…
Elvis Costello - (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
(Written by Nick Lowe)
As I walk through
This wicked world
Searchin’ for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?
And each time I feel like this inside,
There’s one thing I wanna know:
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding?
And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
‘Cause each time I feel it slippin’ away, just makes me wanna cry.
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding?
So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
‘Cause each time I feel it slippin’ away, just makes me wanna cry.
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love & understanding?
#30DaySongChallenge2
Day 16 - A song to watch sports to:
Proud member of Red Sox Nation.
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
Where it began, I can’t begin to know when
But then I know it’s growing strong
Oh, wasn’t the spring, whooo
And spring became the summer
Who’d believe you’d come along
Hands, touching hands, reaching out
Touching me, touching you
Oh, sweet Caroline
Good times never seem so good
I’ve been inclined to believe it never would
And now I, I look at the night, whooo
And it don’t seem so lonely
We fill it up with only two, oh
And when I hurt
Hurting runs off my shoulder
How can I hurt when holding you
Oh, one, touching one, reaching out
Touching me, touching you
Oh, sweet Caroline
Good times never seem so good
Oh I’ve been inclined to believe it never would
Ohhh, sweet Caroline, good times never seem so good
#30DaySongChallenge2
Day 15 - A song about home:
Texans have a nearly nationalistic sense of pride and self-identity that is truly baffling to outsiders. When I first moved here as a hyper-intellectual, Rory Gilmorish New England teenager, I sure didn’t get it. How could a state be at the same time so welcoming on the surface, yet so insular at the core? The cult success of Friday Night Lights has helped the rest of the world understand the unique psychology of being Texan, and I think this song does the same thing with a bit more of a wink and a smile.
Lyle Lovett - That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas)
You say you’re not from Texas
Man as if I couldn’t tell
You think you pull your boots on right
And wear your hat so well
So pardon me my laughter
‘Cause I sure do understand
Even Moses got excited
When he saw the promised land
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway
See I was born and raised in Texas
And it means so much to me
Though my girl comes from down in Georgia
We were up in Tennessee
And as we were driving down the highway
She asked me baby what’s so great
How come you’re always going on
About your Lone Star State
I said that’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway
Oh the road it looked so lovely
As she stood there on the side
And she grew smaller in my mirror
As I watched her wave goodbye
Those boys from Carolina
They sure enough could sing
But when they came on down to Texas
We all showed them how to swing
Now David’s on the radio
And old Champ’s still on the guitar
And Uncle Walt he’s home with Heidi
Hiding in her loving arms
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway
They’re OK in Oklahoma
Up in Arkansas they’re fair
But those old folks in Missouri
They don’t even know you’re there
But at a dance hall down in Texas
That’s the finest place to be
The women they all look beautiful
And their men will buy your beer for free
And they’ll say that’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway
So won’t you let me help you Mister
Just pull your hat down the way I do
And buy your pants just a little longer
And next time somebody laughs at you
You just tell ‘em you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway
#30DaySongChallenge2
Day 14 - A song from the year I was born:
This clip is so full of 70’s awesomeness. It’s also kind of a great song, indelible Coca-Cola imagery notwithstanding.
ETA: Just realized this song was released in 1971 but it hit the Billboard Hot 100 in my birth year so I’ll just stretch the rules like Idol would and allow it. FolkFan stole my original choice anyway :)
New Seekers - I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing
I’d like to build the world a home
and furnish it with love
grow apple trees and honey bees
and snow white turtle doves
I’d like to teach the world to sing
in perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms
and keep it company
I’d like to see the world for once
all standing hand in hand
and hear them echo through the hills
for peace throuout the land
thats the song I hear
Let the world sing today
a song of peace
that echoes on
and never goes away
I’d like to teach the world to sing
in perfect harmony
I’d like to teach the world to sing
in perfect harmony
I’d like to build the world a home
and funish it with love
grow apple trees and honey bees
and snow white turtle doves
I’d like to teach the world to sing
in perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms
and keep it company
#30DaySongChallenge2
Day 13 - A song from a movie/TV soundtrack.
“Rob, thank you for that kind introduction. We’re no longer called Sonic Death Monkey. We’re on the verge of becoming Kathleen Turner Overdrive, but just for tonight, we are Barry Jive and the Uptown Five.”
Jack Black - Let’s Get it On
#30DaySongChallenge2
Day 11 - A song about falling out of love:
God, there are a lot of great break-up songs. Anger, longing, bitterness, empowerment - so many emotions to choose from. I went with resignation. This whole album is an ode to despair, chronicling the months after the breakup of a longterm relationship. It’s Beck literally stripped of his bells and whistles, and it might be my favorite of his many musical incarnations. This is definitely one of my favorite songs.
Beck - Lost Cause
Your sorry eyes; they cut through bone
They make it hard to leave you alone
Leave you here wearing your wounds
Waving your guns at somebody new
Baby you’re lost
Baby you’re lost
Baby you’re a lost cause
There’s too many people you used to know
They see you coming they see you go
They know your secrets and you know theirs
This town is crazy; nobody cares
Baby you’re lost
Baby you’re lost
Baby you’re a lost cause
I’m tired of fighting
I’m tired of fighting
Fighting for a lost cause
There’s a place where you are going
You ain’t never been before
No one left to watch your back now
No one standing at your door
That’s what you thought love was for
Baby you’re lost
Baby you’re lost
Baby you’re a lost cause
I’m tired of fighting
I’m tired of fighting
Fighting for a lost cause
#30DaySongChallenge2
Day 11 - A song about falling in love:
As I read these lyrics I’m realizing that this is really a better song for tomorrow. But the song and the movie are so intertwined in my memory, and the movie is so much about falling in love, that I’m going to pick it anyway. Also, I’m still recovering from my Oscar season hangover (figurative, not literal) and Glen & Marketa’s performance and win for this song in 2008 was one of the greatest moments in Oscar history so there you go. It’s simply too lovely all around not to be included somewhere on my list.
The Swell Season - Falling Slowly
I don’t know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can’t react
And games that never amount
To more than they’re meant
Will play themselves out
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You’ve made it now
Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can’t go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I’m painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It’s time that you won
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You’ve made it now
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You’ve made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I’ll sing along
#30DaySongChallenge2
Day 10 - A song about growing up:
This song puts it in the simplest terms possible. (And I love how creepy and weird the video is).
Michelle Shocked - When I Grow Up
When I grow up I want to be an old woman
When I grow up I want to be an old woman
An old, old, old, old, old, old, old, old woman
Then I think I’m gonna find myself an old man
Then I think I’m gonna marry myself that old man
An old, an old, an old, a really old man
We’re gonna have a hundred and twenty babies
A hundred and five ten fifteen twenty babies
That’s right that’s what
I said a hundred and twenty babies
We’ll raise them on tiger’s milk
And green bananas
Mangoes and coconuts and watermelon
We’re gonna give ‘em that watermelon
When they start yellin
Here’s what they’ll yell
In the summer we’ll sit in a field
And watch the sun melt
In the winter we’ll sit by a fire
And watch the moon freeze me
My old man and a hundred and twenty babies
I said me my old man
And a hundred and twenty babies
When I grow up I want to be an old woman
When I grow up I want to be an old
