Category: My Sunday Song

My Sunday Song – “On And On” by Saigon Kick

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For My Sunday Song #452, we are talking “On and On” by the very underrated band Saigon Kick. The song is off their third album, ‘Water’, which came out on September 28, 1993. This was an album I didn’t discover until a few years back when I interviewed Jason Bieler on The Lebrain Train with Mike Ladano. I remember “Love is on the Way” off ‘The Lizard’, but I didn’t explore them more back then and boy did I miss out. This song was not a single on the original issue, but when they reissued the album in 2023 the did release it a promotional singer.

“On and On” was written by Jason Bieler and it is a simple song. All it is saying is live in the moment as that feeling can’t be beat. Give your full heart and go for it because everything could be gone tomorrow. The song is specifically talking about a girl that he loves, but it can be applied to anything…an adventure you want to take, a walk on the beach or taking that trip you’ve always wanted to take. Don’t let everything be gone and you regret the what ifs!

Musically, you have Jason on vocals and this is actually the first album he handled the vocals as former lead singer Matt Kramer had left the band. Jason’s vocals are simply stellar. I love his delivery and his energy. On bass, you have Chris McLernon and let me tell you. His work is the coolest thing on the song. He is the driving force as he delivers some killer bass lines. A little funk, a little reggae mixed together with Jason’s simple riffs are pure joy. Phil Varones drumming also knocks it out of the park. The song is so simple, yet so catchy, so joyful and straight up fun. You can’t help but be in a good mood after hearing it.

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My Sunday Song – “Beautiful Disaster” by Jon McLaughlin

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For My Sunday Song #451, we are going to talk about the pop ballad “Beautiful Disaster” by Jon McLaughlin. The song is off his 2007 album ‘Indiana’. The single was released in April of that year and was the first single on the album. It hit #28 on the Adult Top 40 chart and helped push the album to #81 on the Billboard 200 Chart. Jon wrote the song with the help of Jamie Houston and they penned a song that is extremely heartbreaking and yet beautiful at the same time.

“Beautiful Disaster” is about a woman who is so broken inside. She is beyond lonely as it seems she has been left many times before and is now extremely insecure. She doesn’t feel worthy and feels ugly on the inside and out. Everything in the world is telling her she’s not enough…the magazines, the guys who left her and if this was in the present time, the social networks would as well. No one has ever told her that she is perfect the way she is and it is okay to be who you really are not to pretend to be someone she’s not.

She hooks up with guys and does what they want just to feel something. She bends to their will as she is so desperate for a connection. But what she is really looking for is that someone that will take her home and love her for who she is. She simply wants to be Needed. The line…”She never stays the same for long / Assuming that she’ll get it wrong / Perfect only in her imperfection” summarizes how she feels that she has to act a certain way to be loved. It is all terribly sad.

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My Sunday Song – “Ordinary” by Train

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For My Sunday Song #450, we are talking the song “Ordinary” by the band Train. The song is from the Spiderman 2 Soundtrack as well as a bonus studio track on the Train album ‘Alive At Last’. The song was the fourth single off the Spiderman 2 soundtrack and was released August 17, 2004. I believe the song charted at #12 on the Adult Top 40 Chart (not the actual Top 40 Chart). It was written by Pat Monahan from Train and composer Bart Hendrickson.

The song was written for Spiderman 2 and the theme of it fits Spiderman perfectly. He goes out of his way to try and save everyone, but he always get left behind as people move on. It is a really darker theme to it. He does it all for a woman. People think he is trying to save the world but he is simply trying to save the girl. At the same time, he needs her to save him as he is in so deep and he is just a kid. He doesn’t recognize who he is anymore. I love the line “And this web that I’m tied up / Is taking me right up these walls”. He is afraid it is too much. It is the darker side of Peter Parker. And it is awesome.

The song is pretty heavy…for a Train song. The darker themes come out in the music as it has a seriousness too it you aren’t used to with them. The drums are powerful, the guitar is ripping. There is orchestration that gives it a grander feel and the piano is simply haunting. Pat really delivers the lyrics in such a beautiful way. He really feels the lyrics and he conveys the darkness behind Spiderman’s eyes. This is a completely different side of Train and when I heard this song along with another bonus studio track called “New Sensation”, I thought we might get a new direction for the band…but that didn’t happen.

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My Sunday Song – “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains of Wayne

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For My Sunday Song #449, we re going to look at the super fun song “Stacy’s Mom” by the band Fountains of Wayne. The single was released on May 19, 2003 and is off their album ‘Welcome Interstate Managers’. The song was probably the biggest mainstream hit for the band where it went to #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it received massive airplay on MTV as Stacy’s Mom was played by Supermodel Rachel Hunter and who didn’t enjoy watching that.

The song was written by bassist Adam Schlesinger and vocalist Chris Collingwood. The song was inspired by a childhood friend of Adam’s who thought his grandmother was really hot. Take that and add a little Mrs. Robinson and you have the song. “Stacy’s Mom” is about a teenage boy who was dating Stacy and loved to spend time at Stacy’s house out by the pool in hopes Stacy’s mom was around. He fantasized that her mom was into him and now that he is older and not the boy he used to be, he could be the man around the house for Stacy’s mom since her dad was no longer in the picture. It is a typical boy fantasy transformed in to a brilliantly executed song.

The song is pure Power Pop and New Wave. So much so in fact the opening riffs is almost identical to The Cars’ classic “Just What I Needed”. I mean…I.D.E.N.T.I.C.A.L. They actually played the opening riff and it was not a sample despite what Ric Ocasek might have thought. The song is a blast. It is so catchy and you instantly get swept in the excitement. It is full of joy and I love the handclaps towards the end. It is one of those bright and sunny songs that feels like Summer and will put a smile on your face.

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My Sunday Song – “In The Age Of The Consecrated Vampire We All Get High” by Rob Zombie

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For My Sunday Song #448, we are going to rock out to “In The Age Of The Consecrated Vampire We All Get High” by Rob Zombie. Now, that is a mouthful. The song was released as a single back on April 13, 2016 and I am not sure where I heard it, but the minute I did…I was hooked. I am sure I discovered because of John 5 who had joined Rob after performing with Marilyn Manson. I’m a big John 5 fan!! The song is from the 2016 album ‘The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser’…another mouthful. The album went to #1 on all the Hard Rock album charts and #6 on the Billboard 200.

The song was written by Rob Zombie and John 5 and the meaning is summed up in the first line…”Think For Yourself and Question Authority”. The song is about rebellion, defiance and exploring your darker side as well as your own mortality. The “Get High” is both doing drugs and escaping but could also be about getting high from standing up and letting your wild spirit fly. Either is fine! The lyrics do make you think the person speaking the words is as drugged out as can be with references to dead girls alive, ghouls picking at bones…but that imagery is what is also so cool about the track.

That isn’t the only thing cool about it though. The music is groovetastic. There are some funky elements, but mostly it is pure metal and John 5’s playing is devilishly good. His tones and sounds are simply stunning. The whole thing sounds as dark and eerie as the lyrics represent. Rob’s vocals are nasty and menacing and give life to the lyrics. There are some cool effects on the vocals at time for emphasis and it all works. At a little over 2 minutes, the song is a get it, get out and leave them wanting more type of song. And I love it. The other band members are Piggy D. on bass, Ginger Fish on drums and Zeuss on keyboards and without them, this song wouldn’t kick ass like it does. The bass is all over this thing, the drums are down right massive and the keyboards/programming effects are the secret sauce to making this all work. This thing is also great for cranking while driving down the road…road rage is a possibility and I’m okay with that!!

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My Sunday Song – “Yankee Rose” by David Lee Roth

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For My Sunday Song #447, we are talking David Lee Roth’s “Yankee Rose”. The song was the debut single off his first full length album, ‘Eat ‘Em And Smile’. ‘Yankee Rose’ was released on June 18, 1986 and went to #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #10 on the Mainstream Rock Chart. The song was a statement piece for David as this was his first album since his parting ways with Van Halen. And I will admit, between ‘Eat ‘Em And Smile’ and Van Halen’s first album, ‘5150’, with their new singer, Sammy Hagar, I like this album and song the best.

The song was written by David Lee Roth and his shiny new guitarist, Steve Vai. If there is anyone that can compete with Eddie Van Halen on creativity, it might be Steve. The song is about the Statue of Liberty as there are numerous references to her and America in general. The Statue was in the public eye back in 1986 as she was getting a major renovation for her 100th anniversary of her standing and welcoming the world. There are a lot of great lines celebrating America such as national anthem, apple pie, sea to shining sea, firecrackin’ on the fourth of July and many others. A very, fun and patriotic song.

Musically, it is simply stellar. The drum beat that opens and then the conversation between David and Steve Vai’s guitar. The guitar would speak, literally, and Dave would reply back. Steve Vai could make the guitar do whatever he wanted. His playing through out is inspirational. The quick riffs, the killer solo all make this song heads and shoulders better than most out there at the time. David was the same old cocky self. He did his usual speak/sing style of lyric delivery and you realize that his Van Halen was the best…arguments can begin below in the comment section. The song is a pure 80’s rocker and just slays. Now, the rest of the band was pretty killer too as you had Billy Sheehan on bass and damn he slaps that baby hard. On drums is Gregg Bissonette and he lays down a great beat and keeps the song pounding forward. All together, this was on unstoppable force…for at least one album anyways.

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My Sunday Song – “Edison’s Medicine” by Tesla

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For My Sunday Song #446, we are talking “Edison’s Medicine” by the band Tesla. The song was released as a single back in 1991 on the band’s ‘Psychotic Supper’ album. The song peaked at #20 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart which helped catapult the album to #13 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. The song is credited to everyone in the band, well, everyone except the drummer. Also credited is Michael Barbiero who was the producer of the album (amongst other things). Now, why would a band called “Tesla” write a song that has “Edison” in the name. Well, I’ll let Frank Hannon tell you…

Frank Hannon explained, “We raised over 100,000 signatures on a petition to get a statue of Nikola Tesla in the Smithsonian, and because they had a display of Edison in there, they felt that it would contradict that and they didn’t want to do it. We were pissed, so we wrote a song called ‘Edison’s Medicine’ about that.”

The song is about Nikola Tesla’s rivalry with Thomas Edison. And if it wasn’t obvious enough by now, the band took their name from Nikola…and not that stupid electric car by Elon Musk. The song talks about how Edison stole Tesla’s idea/works (“guilty of crime”) and Tesla was thought to be crazy when it turns out he was really a genius and way ahead of his time (“man outta time”). Edison was worried about fame and fortune while Tesla only cared about the invention and wound up broke (“Their nickels and pence/ Meant more than did sense”). The whole song picks apart Edison as and in the end the world knows that Tesla was the brains behind it all.

The opening guitar riff is freaking sick. The whole band explodes in and the song is off to the races. I love a song that opens with a guitar solo. Musically, it is electrifying. Jeff Keith’s vocals are stellar. He sings the hell out of this thing (as he always does). The chorus is really catchy and grabs hold. When we get to the second guitar solo, you get a shock to the system. The sounds they make are freaky and really add a new layer to the song. The drumming on here is pretty great as well as the fills are simply perfect giving the song a little more punch a feel. The song one of their best they’ve ever done, or it is for me. A rock & roll masterpiece.

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My Sunday Song – “America’s Sweetheart” by Elle King

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For My Sunday Song #445, this week we tackle the hit song “America’s Sweetheart” by Elle King. Released February 8, 2016 off her album ‘Love Stuff’ and written by her with Martin Johnson. The song did really well charting on 5 different US charts and two in Canada where it went Platinum. At the end of the year it was #30 on the US Hot Rock Songs of the year. A cool bit of trivia about Elle is she is the daughter of actor/comedian Rob Schneider although I don’t know if they have much of a relationship, but that is a whole other conversation for another day and by another site.

The lyrics tell the story of a strong, confident and powerful woman who is who she is. No apologies. Don’t try to change her as she will simply stomp on your heart and enjoy it. She is independent and if she wants to get drunk or get tattoos, that is her choice so get the fuck out of the way. It is basically a middle finger to the social norms and how women are expected to behave. There is no fitting her any type of conceived box. America has a definition of sweetheart and she is not it…and hurray for that. This one line sums it all up…”They said I’ll never be the poster type / But they don’t make posters of my kind of life”.

Elle’s vocals are so strong and powerful. The confidence she sings with makes these lyrics come to life and you believe what she is singing about. Don’t mess with her. The way she delivers those verses with that country twang and then that huge chorus with the great harmonies and melody…damn!! It is a country-tinged song with a lot of banjo, but it is also rock with all that attitude and there are some strong pop sensibilities to it as well. There is an electronic beat to it that almost makes it danceable, but it will definitely move you regardless. It was one of those songs that will stop you and your track and make you take notice.

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My Sunday Song – “Rocket” by Robbie Williams (feat. Tony Iommi)

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For My Sunday Song #444, we are talking one of Robbie Williams new songs called “Rocket” off his yet to be officially announced new album ‘BritPop’. The first single from the album is a collaboration between Robbie and Black Sabbath’s own Tony Iommi. The song was also written with Karl Brazil and Tony Longworth. The song debuted on the UK chart at #36 and is a new, refreshed sound for Robbie as it has been some time since a new album and I could not be happier.

The song appears to be about his career and his life. It was a tough road for him with the ups and downs throughout. He says when it works it is great and when it doesn’t it hurts. People came after him when he was on top and kicked him when he was down. Right now he is so glad to be alive and ready to push things to another limit. He is full of confidence and ready to break through with a new sound. If you don’t push yourself you basically are wasting your time and your life. He wants to rocket through and try new things and this is his statement on that fact.

The song is a high energy brit pop sound that rocks out a little bit harder than what we are used to with Robbie. That is in big parts to the killer rock riffs from the one and only Tony Iommi. The song is less than 3 minutes long and flies through like a rocket, thus the title. The drums are frenzied like the riffs while the chorus is big and pretty damn catchy. You will start singing along immediately. There backing vocals from the great Glenn Hughes, but honestly, if you didn’t tell me I might not have noticed that. The song is an adrenaline filled, four to the floor, speed filled junkie, bombastic ride. Hold on to the steering wheel and don’t let go.

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My Sunday Song – “Elvis on Velvet” by Stray Cats

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For My Sunday Song #443, we are going full on Rockabilly with “Elvis on Velvet” by Stray Cats. The song was the first single off their 1992 album ‘Choo Choo Hot Fish’. By 1992, I didn’t even realize that Stray Cats were still an album and song producing entity. It wasn’t until I came across their 1997 greatest hits compilation, ‘Runaway Boys: A Retrospective ’81-’92’ that I ever heard this song. It was the last song on that compilation and when I heard I was blown away. I mean completely floored. I think I hit repeat on that one song for an hour (okay, maybe not, but it was a lot). The song didn’t chart nor the album, but the song might be my absolute favorite song by the band.

It was written by David Neuhauser, Monty Byrom and Tom Kimmel but I don’t think it is a cover. I believe the Stray Cats were the first to release it which makes it their song. It is about Elvis Presley and there are a lot of song titles referenced in the lyrics like Jailhouse Rock, Heartbreak Hotel and Love Me Tender. The Velvet part is in reference to those Black Velvet posters that were made of Elvis that glowed in black light. Really cool actually. Elvis and Velvet have been written about many times including “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles and many others.

The opening drum sound by Slim Jim Phantom is pretty killer. It is reminiscent of David Bowie’s “Modern Love” and has that same groove. Maybe sped up quite a lot, but its there. It grabs you. Then bring in Lee Rocker’s bass and the groove is all set and ready to blast off. With Brian Setzer on guitar and vocals it is all so captivating. I love how Brian delivers the lyrics. They are so controlled, deliberate and rapid fire and sang with a lot of power and attitude. I can feel Elvis curling that lip. Throw in a killer guitar solo that lays waste to your ears and even those licks he plays as the song fades out are simply stellar. You have all the makings of one of the greatest rockabilly rock songs ever done. At least to me that is.

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