Last week was the 250th Post of My Sunday Song which is amazing for me to think that I have been doing it for that long. that is almost 5 years of My Sunday Songs. To celebrate, I thought we would go through the Top 5 My Sunday Songs of All Time. That’s right, the Top 5 most viewed My Sunday Song Posts. And let me tell you, these are some great, great songs. No need to wait, let’s jump right in to it.

#5 – “Lips On You” by Maroon 5 – with over 1,180 views

My Sunday Song #88 is going to get downright sexy.  The song of choice this week is “Lips on You” by Maroon 5.  The song is off their most recent album ‘Red Pill Blues’ which was released back on November 3, 2017.

The song was co-written by Adam Levine with a slew of people including Kasher Hindlin, Jason Evigan and two people that are all over the charts right now, Julia Michaels and Charlie Puth.  With that many people involved, I would hope a good song would come out of that collaboration and let me tell you…it sure as hell did!!

This is probably my favorite song on the album.  The deep bass, the slower groove and the lyrics are all so damn hot.  When you throw in Adam’s voice, you have pure magic.  This is one song that should be played when you want to get busy and it will make your partner swoon and turn them in to jelly.  The lyrics will guide you through what you should do.  If this doesn’t do it, let me know and we will file a complaint with Maroon 5 and Charlie Puth.

Nowadays you don’t make mixtapes for anyone, you do a playlist and I actually did one for the wife that were songs that made me think of her and yes, this one was included.  That is all you need to know!!!

#4 – “Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)” by Elton John – with over 1,582 views

For My Sunday Song #56, I have gone with one of the greatest John Lennon tribute songs ever written or performed…”Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)” By Elton John.  The song was released in 1982 which was about 18 months after Lennon’s death.  It is off the album ‘Jump Up!’ and was not one of his best albums, but this was the best song on it.  It was a minor hit and only reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

However, for me it resonated as such a beautifully written song.  Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics (as he did for all of Elton’s songs) and Elton did the music.  The lyrics tell such a touching story and the metaphor of an empty garden fort he absence of Lennon is brilliant.  Put that along with the beautiful piano and Elton’s vocals and you have a song that can touch you on so many levels.  Knowing that Elton John was such good friends with Lennon (including being Sean Lennon’s godfather), you could feel Elton’s true feelings of how much he missed his friend and that even adds more to the song.

In researching the song (wikipedia mostly had the better information), I found that the “Garden” was also a reference to John Lennon’s last performance which was at Madison Square Garden in 1974 with Elton John.  The line “Can’t You Come Out to Play” is a reference to the Beatles’ song “Dear Prudence” which is cool. I love finding those things out as I never made that connection so now it adds to the song for me.

From my own personal take on the song, there is another line in here “It’s funny how one insect can damage so much grain”.  That insect is probably a reference to Mark David Chapman who shot and killed Lennon.  The grain are the fans who were all so devastated at the loss of their musical hero.  There are just so many great lines and words that are perfectly describing how people felt.  Bernie Taupin could definitely write a great song.

#3 – “I Started a Joke” by The Bee Gees – with over 1,618 views

For My Sunday Song #67, I am going with a song that randomly pops in my head more often than not, “I Started a Joke”.  The song is by the Bee Gees and I don’t honestly know why I find myself singing it at the most odd times.  I guess it means I really like this song and I actually do.  I was not a Bee Gees fan at all because when I grew up and got in to music, Disco was the Devil.  I actually love the Bee Gees now, but their real early stuff from the late 60’s and early 70’s is the best.

“I Started a Joke” was released back in 1968 and was on their album ‘Idea’.  The song was written by all three brothers and was sung by Robin Gibb.  The song has such a relaxing, somewhat hypnotic sound that is beautiful and psychedelic.  It has a sadness to it and the lyrics do as well (“I started a joke, which started the whole world crying”).  The song has stuck with me and is constantly playing in my head.  For years, I will just start singing this song and looking back it might be at times I was sad but I truly don’t know why it stays with me.

Robin has never explained what the song is about as he felt the song interpretation is up to the listener as any real explanation would detract from what the listener feels it is about.  Robin’s vocals on this song are stunning.  His squeaky, high pitched voice and the melody just makes me feel the song is about loneliness.  I think with the loss of my parents over the last couple years, there is a little part of me that feels a little lonely since they aren’t with me anymore.

In researching the song, I found a story about Robin Gibbs son and how the passing of his father and this song impacted him.  According to The Sun and Songfacts:

Robin-John Gibb told The Sun: “When he passed away we went out, they took the equipment away and we came back in. I picked up my phone and found ‘I Started A Joke’ on YouTube and played it. I put the phone on his chest and that was the first time I broke down. I knew that song and its lyrics were perfect for that moment. That song will always have new meaning to me now.

#2 – “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” by KT Tunstall – with over 2,400 views

My Sunday Song #69 is “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” by KT Tunstall.  The song was released as a single in 2005 from her 2004 debut album ‘Eyes to the Telescope’.  It was a sensational debut song and reached as high as #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and made it to #1 Adult Pop Songs chart.

The acoustic guitar and drum beat had you tapping your feet and bobbing your head instantly.  When you add in that gritty voice, you had an instant classic. KT’s song was a little blues, a little soul and a little rock, but a had a lot of character.  I never knew what the song meant and it didn’t really matter.  It was catchy and had a certain charm to it. I would catch myself singing it all the time when it was released and it was one of the best songs of 2005 for sure.

KT Tunstall discussed the meaning of the song at Contactmusic.com.  She said the following:

“Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” is inspired by old blues, Nashville psycho hillbillies & hazy memories. It tells the story of finding yourself lost on your path, and a choice has to be made. It’s about gambling, fate, listening to your heart, and having the strength to fight the darkness that’s always willing to carry you off.

Apparently, the lyrics came to her quickly and she had it written in like ten minutes.  It is amazing how fast inspiration can come and how wonderful it can turn out to be.  This song is a shining example of that.  

And the #1 My Sunday Song – “Something to Believe In” by Poison – with over 3,020 views

For My Sunday Song #95, this power ballad comes to us from Poison. The song is “Something To Believe In” and is off their 1990 album ‘Flesh & Blood’.  The song went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is great example of how moving and poignant a song can be.

The song is about two people in Bret Michael’s life.  The first is his personal friend and bodyguard, James Kimo Maano or Kimo.  Kimo got hooked up in the rock & roll lifestyle and with his abuse of drugs and alcohol, his life tragically ended early.  When Bret found out, he was inspired to write this song as a tribute to his friend.  When you watch the video of this song, you see an emotional Bret Michaels reacting to pictures that showed up on the TV of his friend.  The Director of the video didn’t tell him the pictures were being used and it took Bret by surprise.  It was a cruel trick, but it captured a real moment.

The other person is Bret’s cousin Bob who had been wounded in Vietnam and the song talks about his struggles mentally with what happened as well as the loss of so many of his cousin’s friends in the way.  It paints a stark reality of the damage war can have on a person.

The whole song discusses reasons for Bret’s loss of faith whether it is from false prophets, the homeless, the impact of war or the loss of a close friend.  The song paints such a graphic picture that you can’t help but be touched by it in some way.  And depends on your mood when you listen, it could even bring a tear to your eyes.

The song opens with only a sad piano playing and then Bret comes in brings the sadness to another level.  The song picks up tempo and adds the power to the ballad.  It is one of Poison’s greatest performances and showed they were a little more than a Hair Metal Glam band.

And there you have it. The Top 5 Most Viewed My Sunday Songs out of the 250 we have done. Thanks for all the support and here is to the next 250 My Sunday Songs!!