Category: My Sunday Song

My Sunday Song – “Afterlife” by Switchfoot

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For My Sunday Song #469, we are talking “Afterlife” by the band Switchfoot. The song is off their 8th studio album ‘Vice Verses’ which came out on September 27, 2011. The song was the third single off the album and came out on February 28, 2012 and though it didn’t chart, it was such a powerful song and set the tone as it kicked off the album. It was written by brothers and band members, Tim and Jon Foreman. The song helped propel the album to #8 on the Billboard 200 album chart, #3 on the Rock & Alternative Charts and #1 on the Christian Charts!!

The song sends a powerful message. It reminds us that we are not here for very long, but if we want to feel like we are living forever, we must live our life to the fullest. How we do that is surrender to Jesus and live a life that serves him and others. Don’t be so focused on the future and what happens after we die. Believing in Christ will get allow you to live forever in the afterlife, but start living that way now to make it feel like you are already really living. We are all broken, so surrender now and experience the Joy and embrace the journey of faith.

The music is as powerful as the lyrics. The song is an anthem that starts off with an extended guitar note, then a distorted guitar riff with Jon Foreman singing that first verse like he is calling us to action. The full band comes in and the song goes to another level with an electrifying intensity. The chorus is bombastic and one big hook. Short and sweet. The guitar riff throughout is intense and the little riffs and notes tossed in throughout give the song a punch. The solo is not as in your face and more fit to the song. I like how near the end, there is a moment where the music softens and Jon belts out another verse before the band comes back in and they carry us home.

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My Sunday Song – “Rejoice” by Def Leppard

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For My Sunday Song #468, we are going to talk the brand new song by Def Leppard called “Rejoice”. It was released prior to the start of their latest Las Vegas Residency that is occurring as we speak. The song isn’t from any album (yet) and is the 2nd single they’ve released over the last year, the last one being ’77’. Still no album. I am assuming they will play this during the residency as it would be a great place to debut the song live. I still want an album.

The song was written by Joe Elliott and Phil Collen. The song is about a guy, who according to Joe, is at rock bottom. The guy seems to be at that point where you realize the only way to go is up. He wants to fight his way to the top, he wants to feel Joy again, he wants to hit the point that he can rejoice.

Per Leppard’s press releases…Phil Collen stated…

“I had this riff, this idea for a song a while ago actually, so when Joe came to me I created this drum loop based with a tribal sound and it fit perfectly with this other arrangement I had,” adds Collen. “I sent it to Joe and it was like magic – he sang straight over the top of it. And that’s how the song was formed.

“Then we gave it to Ronan [McHugh, Leppard’s long-serving sound engineer] who’d done a proper drum loop with different sounds. It all started gelling and just sounded like a powerful chant. We love it. It’s hard rock for us. It’s got a bit more of an ‘oomph’ than stuff we’ve been doing for a while. It’s kind of magical.”

Musically, this song takes me back to around their ‘Euphoria’ era with that that guitar sound. The song definitely is heavier than anything they’ve done in awhile. As the band said above, “It’s got a bit more ‘oomph”. I would agree with him as it is a real banger of a song. I like the drum sound with its tribal beat, the harmonies are classic Leppard and Joe Elliott sounds great. It is so great to see Leppard still putting out material and finally having a little balls behind it. A great way to kick of 2026!! So why don’t we all rejoice we have a new Def Leppard Single!!

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My Sunday Song – “Anytime” by McAuley Schenker Group

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For My Sunday Song #467, we are going to talk about the song “Anytime” by the McAuley Schenker Group. I ordered a new box set from them and it got me thinking about this song and how much I love it. The song is off their 1989 album ‘Save Yourself’. The song was released as a single in April 1990 and I remember seeing it on MTV and get swept up in it. Ballads were huge and every band needed one and this delivered on all fronts.

The song was written by singer Robin McAuley and guitarist Steve Mann. The song is about longing for that lost love. It appears that the singer had not truly appreciated what he had until she was gone from his life. He realized he treated her poorly relegating her to “the corner of my empty room”…which I am assuming is a cold dark place in his heart. When she was gone, he realized he loved her and wanted her back. The song is plea for her that anytime she wants him back, he will be there. If she’s lonely and needs to someone to simply call because it sounds like he will come a runnin’.

Robin McAuley’s vocals are what make this song work so well. You can hear the longing in his vocals. He pulls out so much emotion you start to feel bad for him and hope she will call so they can get back together. As good as his vocals are, the music has to match to make it all work. The atmospheric keyboards at the beginning then accompanied by an acoustic guitar are so soft and gentle. If you thought the vocals were longing, the music will break your heart as well. There is a co-solo in the song with both Schenker and Mann that works so perfectly for the song. It accentuates the feelings and adds even more texture to the overall song. When all is said done, it is a brilliant masterpiece. It shows that when a ballad is done well, it can’t be beat. One of my all time favorite ballads from this era.

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My Sunday Song – “Bleed It Out” by Linkin Park

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For My Sunday Song #467, we are talking “Bleed it Out” by Linkin Park. The song is off their 2007 album ‘Minutes to Midnight and was the 2nd single off the album. The song went to #1 in the UK on their Rock chart and to #2 in the US and the Alternative charts (#3 on the Mainstream Rock Chart). It went 4x platinum in the U.S. which is crazy for a song that didn’t break the Top 40 on the Hits chart. The album was also produced by Rick Rubin, so they brought out the big guns.

The song was written by Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda with all the music composed and credited to the entire Linkin Park band. The original working title of the song was “Accident”. According to Mike, the song is about the struggles of writing a song. For this particular one, he was having so much trouble with it and worked on it for over a month. The opening line highlights the struggles, “Yeah, here we go fro the hundredth time”, referring to how many times he has re-written the song. The process was driving him nuts and he was losing his mind. He bleeds for these songs and then ends up throwing it away and starting over to make the song better.

Well, he eventually found the right words and made a pretty damn fine song. I also love the line that says “Half the words don’t mean a thing / And I know that I won’t be satisfied” as that is usually the case for most songs. The words are there sometimes simply because they sound good together. Def Leppard has confessed to that in the past. Still, so much time and effort is put into it to make it right and he ended doing great with it. Another great example of the meaning behind the song is “Go stop the show /Choppy words and a sloppy flow” as it refers to picking the correct words so everything flows (again, they don’t have to mean anything, just needs to flow right).

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My Sunday Song – “Psychosane” by Adrenaline Mob

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For My Sunday Song #466, we are talking Adrenaline Mob’s killer track “Psychosane”. Adrenaline Mob was Mike Portnoy’s first project after leaving Dream Theatre. Also in the band were singer Russel Allen (Symphony X) and guitarist Mike Orlando who were the chief songwriters to the song as well. The song is from their 2013 debut album, ‘Omerta’, which went to #70 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

The song was inspired by the movie ‘American Psycho’ where Christian Bale’s character would be acting totally sane and then a minute later would be totally unhinged cutting people up. The song appears to be describing a sane person that suddenly has a rush of feelings coming across your mind that is an intense, adrenaline filled, psychotic episode that will see you going bat shit crazy and completely destructive. You should embrace the feeling and act upon it and then all will be right with the world. It seems to be living with like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type of feeling.

Musically, the song is an intense, bombastic metal track that comes at you like Mike Tyson craving an ear. Portnoy’s drums are massive and a gut punch to your soul. The guitar riff by Orlando is simply nasty, leaving you scratching at your skin trying to shake that feeling of dread. Allen’s vocals are menacing and evil with a grit to it that echoes in your mind driving you insane. You get a spoken part by Allen repeating over and over “Going psychosane / Motherfucking psychosane“. The guitar solo is lethal and Orlando even throws in an old school talk box despite the overall sound being a very modern rock piece in the same vein as maybe Godsmack or Shinedown. The song lives up to the bands name as an Adrenaline filled metal track that will leave you wanting to destroy anything or anyone in your path.

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My Sunday Song – “Celebrity Skin” by Hole

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For My Sunday Song #465, we are talking a song from a band I never got into, however, I loved this song. That song is “Celebrity Skin” and the band is Hole. Fronted by Courtney Love, Hole was an alt rock/grunge band from the 90’s. The album, titled ‘Celebrity Skin’, was released on September 8, 1998 and the title track was released as a single on the same day. Back in a time where you didn’t have 5 singles out before the album even came out…the good old days. The song only went to #85 in the Hot 100, but went all the to #1 on the Alternative Rock Chart even going to Platinum status selling over 1 million copies.

The song was written by Courtney Love, Eric Erlandson and Smashing Pumpkins own Billy Corgan. The song was inspired by the year the band took off so Courtney could pursue her Hollywood acting career. It highlights the struggle of maintaining an image in the public eye. It talks about how superficial and hollow that image really is. One minute you are the talk of the town and the next you are yesterday’s news. It even takes a line from Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s poem, “A Superscription” which is “Oh, look at my face / My name is might-have-been”. Heck even the name of the song “Celebrity Skin” is taken from a porno magazine that shows pictures of naked celebrities.

Musically, that opening riff is killer and was contributed by Billy Corgan…and it sounds like something he’d play. The song itself is a slight change of direction for Hole as it is a lot more polished and even a little poppier, but the subject matter still reflects a darkness they are used to exploring. The crunchy guitars from Eric, the thumping bass from Melissa Auf der Maur and heavy drum beat from uncredited Deen Castronovo (Journey) really drive the song forward. Courtney’s vocals are great as she has a little grit to her voice giving it a needed edge for the darker tones, but the chorus she is silky smooth and giving a light & fluffy sound to accentuate the ridiculousness of the celebrity image. A short song as it is under 3 minutes, but it is powerful and effective and a nice kick in the teeth. With the big hooky chorus, I was all in. Still never got in to the band though.

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My Sunday Song – “Do What You Will” by Big Wreck

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For My Sunday Song #464, we are going to talk about the killer track “Do What You Will” by Canadian/American rock band, Big Wreck. Thanks to my buddy Deke for introducing me to this band and sending me a couple of CDs which included the album this song is from, ‘Albatross’. The album came out on March 6, 2012 in Canada, but the U.S. didn’t see it until almost a year later on February 19, 2013. This song isn’t a single, but probably one of the best deep cuts on this album (and there are many).

The song was written by lead singer Ian Thornley. I’m not sure what the lyrics mean exactly, but there is a freedom to them. An exhilarating sensation throughout. When it says “Let ’em out / Let ’em out of the cage”, it feels like it is saying let go of your inhibitions and go full throttle in life. You might crash and burn, but you will feel alive. Then I wonder if it is about a bad relationship that has ended. Instead of fretting on it, let it go and move on with your life. Leave the person behind and let them deal with it the way they want to deal. They can deal with your ashes left behind as you’ve moved on and it isn’t your concern anymore.

What is with that laugh at the beginning of the song. It is quick and throws you for a loop until that blistering riff comes in. It has a crunch and a bite to it. It is mean, vicious yet exciting and thrilling at the same time. It feels a little like grunge, but not depressing in the least. When that first verse comes in, the bass lets loose with a killer groove. Vocally, Ian is a throwback to someone like Chris Cornell as his deeper tone and delicious scream get to the heart of the song. The harmonies are amazing and at times I feel a strong Beatles influence in the song. I like how it rocks out and then there is a slower break which builds in intensity before exploding with a huge Ian scream, more of that sweet riffing and they are back in your face delivering the goods.

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My Sunday Song – “Icky Thump” by The White Stripes

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For My Sunday Song #463, we are going to talk the still applicable song today, “Icky Thump” by The White Stripes. Why do I say still applicable today? Well, the song is about immigration and was written back in the George Bush administration in 2007. As you know, immigration is a hot topic today with all the ICE raids and Border Patrol operations (who were recently in Charlotte arresting a lot of people). It is a topic that I don’t see going away anytime soon. The song was released on April 26, 2007 and went to #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and even #1 on the Alternative Charts going Platinum selling over a 1 million copies. Very successful for sure.

The song was written by Jack and Meg White and they were really having fun this track. The title, ‘Icky Thump’ comes from a Northern English phrase called ‘Ecky Thump’ which are both euphemisms for the word ‘Hell’. I guess that means the song means Hell Hell. Jack is a staunch Democrat and was completely against all the immigration talk back in the day and wanted to remind everyone that the Whites in the U.S. were immigrants at one time too. If they have a problem with immigration they should kick themselves out for that very reason. He was pointing out the hypocrisy of it all. This whole idea of the song is still relevant today.

The song is about a guy that takes a trip to Mexico and has no problems going South into Mexico (unlike those trying to go North into the U.S.). He meets a woman who houses him and feeds him, but she then assaults him and holds him hostage. Which I am sure he greatly deserved. A very weird song lyrically, but the flow is something only Jack White can do.

Musically, it is pure garage rock with lots of distortion. Jack makes his guitar speak a language that is hard to fathom how he does it, In case you are wondering, Jack used a 1959 Univox synth and during the solo he used Zvex Wooly Mammoth and a DigiTech Whammy pedal to get that really cool sound. Meg’s drums were a constant pounding beat like a marching army. It is a rip roaring track that is everything I love about The White Stripes. It is amazing that these two people can make so much incredible music.

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My Sunday Song – “Hole In My Hand” by Day of Fire

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For My Sunday Song #462, we are talking Day of Fire’s massive song “Hole in My Hand” off their 2006 album ‘Cut & Move’. The Christian Rock band out of Nashville, Tennessee bring us their second album that was produced by Pete Thornton who had worked with Limp Bizkit. Not quite the same type of music, so an interesting choice, but a good one. The song was written by Gregg Hionis, Joseph Alan Pangallo and Richard Joshua Brown

The song could mean a lot of things. I’ve seen that people think it is about addiction or even relationships troubles. For me, I don’t think that at all. I think the song is about struggles with faith. The struggles he has had in life have chipped away at his faith. The title of “Hole in My Hand” could related to the stigmata and I think represent for him his struggles in faith. He is reaching out to his friend, Jesus, in helping bringing the light back in to him. The hole in his hand is a reminder of what he has been through and with God he can stand tall and have the fire burning back in his heart to lift him up. A very uplifting song despite it being a rather dark song overall.

Musically, I love the tone of the guitar, it is sharp and cutting. The drums are heavy and loud and together they give you a feel of desperation and struggle. Singer, Josh Brown, has such a grit to his vocals it bleeds of despair yet a hint of hope. The quieter, darker verses counteractive by the uplifting and bigger choruses show us the possible light in burning brightly and ready to be let loose. The song ends with the guitar, bass and drums exploding and then it all quietly fades away. A very nice touch.

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My Sunday Song – “Shout It Out” by Red Dragon Cartel

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For My Sunday Song #461, we are talking Jake E. Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel and their song form the debut album, “Shout it Out”. The album came out on January 28, 2014 and debuted at #69 on the Billboard 200. While this song was used to promote the album, it did not chart anywhere. For me, it is one of the coolest and best songs on the album. The band consisted of Jake E. Lee, Darren James “D.J.” Smith, Ronnie Mancuso and Jonas Fairley and what a combination of talent. However, they all didn’t necessarily play on the song…we will get to that.

The song was written by Jake E. Lee and Ronnie Mancuso and it appears to be a call to action. Not for anything good though. It is about excess and fame. Doing whatever it takes to get to the top. Find your inner demon and let it loose. Kick everyone down until the can’t take it anymore. Dominate, win and get all the excesses that come with it. Fame and fortune at all costs.

Musically, it is a heavy song. Almost industrial in nature. Jake’s riff has a really killer groove to it that isn’t played the whole time, but is throughout the song. And like every good guitar song needs is a great solo and he delievers. What I like about it is a little different than his playing in the song. It gives it a new dimension. The chorus is so big, I love the cadence of the vocals by Darren. His deliver is deliberate and so menacing too. There is a gang style vocal to the chorus too that takes it all up a notch. The verses are sang slow and like it is the devil on your shoulder, then he goes so high in the vocals and back to a low evil tone. The drums are pounding, metallic in tone and you can feel every beat. A beast of a track and a song that makes you stop and take notice.

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