My Sunday Song – “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum

My Sunday Song #89 is going Country with Lady Antebellum’s song “Need You Now”.  The song is the title track to their sophomore album and the single was released on April 11, 2009.  The song became one of their biggest hits selling millions of copies and garnering a Grammy for Record of the Year and Song of the Year a feat which not many Country Artists have ever been able to do.  Only one other Country Artists has ever done that and it was the Dixie Chicks just two years earlier.

The song was written rather quickly according to one of the co-writers of the song Josh Kear.  He stated the following (Songfacts.com):

“Actually, it was the second song we wrote that day,” he said. “We were only together for two-and-a-half hours. We finished the first one in the first 45 minutes. Charles had a guitar thing and an opening line for a song and we wrote ‘Need You Now’ really fast and went, ‘great, that was fun.’ It was the first day I’d ever spent with them. They went their separate ways: it was Charles wife’s birthday, I went home to my wife. Next thing you know it, it’s on the record, title track, first single and here we are. It was actually the very last song they played for the label for deciding what songs were going to put on the album.”

The song is about that late night hook-up.  You get so lonely and you yearn to be with someone so you pick up that phone and the next thing you know…booty call.  The record label was not real keen about one of the lyrics “It’s a quarter after one, I’m a little drunk and I need you now”.  They had an issue with the little drunk part. Smart heads prevailed and the lyric remained and thankfully so because it does add a bit of truth to the whole story.  Who hasn’t done that when they were drunk?  Hell, that was probably when most people did it.

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My Sunday Song – “Lips On You” by Maroon 5

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 guid 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.

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My Sunday Song – “Constant Craving” by k.d. lang

For My Sunday Song #87, I have chosen “Constant Craving” by the amazing k.d. lang.  The song is off her album ‘Ingenue’ in 1992.  The song did well on the charts, obviously, but it was the song that gave k.d. a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Performance in 1993.  The song was also up for Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

The song had a more commercial feel then her previous releases.  She had been going for a more country style, but her androgynous appearance hindered her acceptance into Nashville and country music.  She had hits on the country charts such as “Cryin’ (w/ Roy Orbison) and other songs, but they were never truly embraced her.  Thankfully for us,  she turned more pop and gave us this beauty of an album and song.

“Constant Craving” is such a beautiful song set at a mid-tempo with loads of different acoustic guitars, an accordion and of course k.d.’s amazing and gorgeous voice.  For the background vocals, they used numerous layers of her vocals as well as the Reclines singer, Sue Leonard to assist on the high vocal parts.  For me, it was the song that really turned me on to lang.  It had such a haunting feel to it and with the utter desperation and wanting of the lyrics and I was hooked.

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My Sunday Song – “Dark Horses” by Switchfoot

For My Sunday Song #86, “Dark Horses” by Switchfoot is my choice.  The song is off their ‘Vice Verses’ and the single was released on July 20, 2011.  It reached #1 on the Billboard Christian Rock Songs and #1 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (I don’t really know this chart very well).  It went to #5 on the Rock Alternative Charts as well.  Needless to say, it did very well for the band.

What I like about Switchfoot is they have Christian roots, but can pass as a mainstream act as well.  They are able to get the message out and most people don’t even realize they are getting a positive, heartfelt message of some kind whether it is religious or some point they want to get across.  I love how he can turn that message into such great music.

“Dark Horses” might be a familiar term to those in the sporting world.  A dark horse is a term used to describe a person, team or horse that is not well-known but rises to the top.  The song is talking about the homeless children that aren’t well known, but they have something to offer if they were just given the chance.  Jon & Tim Foreman are wanting to spread the word and put the focus on helping these homeless kids so they have that chance to shine.  For Jon, these kids are the kids he sees on the streets of his home town in San Diego and he works with the organization Stand Up For Kids.  I agree with the band and we shouldn’t write them off, they deserve a chance to shine and succeed just as much as anyone.

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My Sunday Song – “Modern Day Cowboy” by Tesla

For My Sunday Song #85, it is time to go with a western feel with “Modern Day Cowboy” by Tesla.  The song was the band’s second single on their debut album ‘Mechanical Resonance’ released in December of 1986. The single was released in 1987 and peaked at only #35 on the US Mainstream Rock chart which surprises me that this song and these guys didn’t blow up more than they did.

The song became an instant favorite of mine the second I heard it with that monster opening guitar riffs with Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch.  Then the song changed up the guitars to acoustic and then back and forth with the electric guitars.  The two were simply scary good.  The whole cowboy theme song was probably take due to the success of Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive”.

“Modern Day Cowboy” takes you through some of the bad boy cowboys through time starting with Billy the Kidd; then going to the Original Gangsters Al Capone and Bad Boy Jones; and finally moving to present day with our leaders of U.S.A. & the U.S.S.R. and their six guns or in this case nuclear weapons.

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My Sunday Song – “Numb” by Linkin Park

For My Sunday Song #84, I am going with “Numb” by Linkin Park.  The song is the third single and the final track on their second album ‘Meteora’. The song only reached #31 on the Top 40 charts which is okay because it reached #1 on the Alternative Songs chart where it stayed for a mere 12 weeks.

This song to me was one of the band’s most powerful songs they had ever done up to that point.  It was a very dark song and I love dark songs.  The subject matter was about kids having to live up to their parent’s expectations and failing. Living as outcasts from their parents and from the world around them.  They are smothered and aren’t allowed to be themselves.  I have a feeling that more people feel that way then don’t.  With Chester Bennington’s death last year, it makes me think how personal this song might have been for him as he sang it with such emotion and feeling.

The video for the song was amazing in that it depicted that very theme with a girl struggling to fit in and having issues with her peers at school and her parents.  She ends up cutting herself and the marks spell out Numb on her arm.  A real tragic story.  The video also intersperses shots of the band performing in a church and I wonder what they were wanting to conveying with that imagery.

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My Sunday Song – “Whistle for the Choir” by The Fratellis

My Sunday Song #83 is “Whistle for the Choir” by The Fratellis.  The song is off their debut album ‘Costello Music’ which peaked at #2 on the UK charts and gave us a few hits including “Chelsea Dagger”.  However, I really liked this song the best.  “Whistle for the Choir” was their third single off the albums and it reached #9 giving them their 2nd Top 10 hit in the UK.  I don’t see where they did very well in the States which is a shame.

The Fratellis are a Scottish trio with a very retro feel and garage rock sound.  This song for me is more of the retro feel as it is a slow ballad using only an acoustic, bass and drum (well it’s a trio – what else are they going to use).  The song has a Beatlesque quality to it and even a little Ray Davies vibe.  I think for those reasons, the song struck a chord with me.  The simple sound and hypnotic beat pulled me in and put me in a trance where I swayed back and forth while listening.  It was encapsulating.  There is a little guitar solo, but also a nice whistle solo as well.

The song tells the story of a guy, who after a night out on the town, meets a girl that is way out of his league.  This doesn’t stop him.  He is going to try and get her anyway.  The nice thing is it doesn’t tell you if he gets the girl or not.

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My Sunday Song – “Angels On the Moon” by Thriving Ivory

For My Sunday Song #82, “Angels on the Moon” by Thriving Ivory is the one I wanted to share this week.  The song was the first single ever released by Thriving Ivory back in March 2008 and actually went Gold in the U.S.  It was a minor hit, but it was a song that stuck with me and moved me in someway.  I became a huge fan of their music as a result.

The song itself can mean so much and people can interpret the meaning differently as there is no set meaning I can find.  For me, it feels like the person is struggling with life and they are in a dark place. He seems lonely, but wants to live and hope people will know his name or at least who he is.  He is ready to break free and live, enjoy life and feel that sunshine on his skin.

The person also talks about people leaving us too soon and when he dreams he sees those that have left before us.  He even shouts out those that were lost in the 9/11 attacks with the line “This is to New York City angels /And the rivers of our blood”.  The loss of those before him, make him want to live that much more.  The song could mean something different to someone else, but this is my take.

The song is a ballad and what I really love about the sound is Clayton Stroope’s vocals.  He has such a unique quality to his vocals.  They are so soothing and inviting to me and you can’t help but feel everything he is singing.  It is also one of those voices you either love or you don’t, but for me I love his sound, his delivery and everything about it.

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My Sunday Song – “Blood on Blood” by Bon Jovi

 

For My Sunday Song #81, I bring you one of my favorite songs off the Bon Jovi album ‘New Jersey’.  That song is “Blood on Blood”.  Back in the day, Bon Jovi actually wrote songs with heart and songs that told great stories.  Stories you cared about and became connected with such as Tommy and Gina in “Livin’ On a Prayer”. “Blood on Blood” was the song that really connected with me.

The song was never released as a single, but I probably listened to it more than any other song on the album.  The song was based on the movie “Stand By Me”.  Jon was so inspired by that movie, he got with Richie Sambora and Desmond Child and they crafted this gem.

The story is about three childhood friends, though not related, were like brothers to each other.  They cut their hands and then shook to signify they were blood brothers, lifelong friends and friends you could call at any time and they would be there to help.

That theme resonated with me.  It resonated so much, I started outlining a book based on that very concept.  Sadly, I never finished that book (or really ever started other than the outline – maybe some day).  Anyway, take a listen to the song and read the lyrics and hopefully you will see what I mean.  It is a powerful song about friendship and if you have a friend or friends like that, then this song is for you!

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My Sunday Song – “Hazard” by Richard Marx

For My Sunday Song #80, I chose the song “Hazard” by Richard Marx.  The song was off Marx’s third album ‘Rush Street’ and went on to become his third #1 song on the Adult Contemporary charts.

I love a song that tells an interesting story and this is one of those songs.  We all know Marx is an incredible songwriter and if you don’t you must live under a rock.  The song “Hazard” tells a great story.  It tells the story of a young man, who is an outcast in the town of Hazard, Nebraska.  No one seems to like him and they all feel he is a little strange.  He meets a girl, Mary, and falls in love, BUT…Mary ends up dead and he is the prime suspect.  What also is great about the story is you don’t find out if he did it or not.  It leaves you as the listener deciding on your interpretation and whether you feel he did it or not.  What do I think?  I might tell you later.

The song is at a ballad like pacing, but definitely not a love song.  The music and pacing give the song an eerie, dark tone to it which adds to the drama of the song and makes you feel the sadness the main character is feeling at the loss of his love and trying to convince everyone he is innocent.  I think it is beautiful.

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