Category: My Sunday Song

My Sunday Song – “I Believe” by Joe Satriani

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For My Sunday Song #77, I am going with one of my favorite songs by Joe Satriani called “I Believe”.  The song is off one of his best albums called ‘Flying in a Blue Dream’ from 1989.  Joe is known for his guitar playing and making it sing.  Well for this song, Joe is actually singing.  One of the very few songs he has ever done that on which was the first reason I was drawn to this song. It was nice to hear him sing.

The song is a ballad and a much slower pace than you are used to getting from him.  I was enthralled by the dark tone to the song and even the dark lyrics.  The lyrics discussed how hard life is, but it is inspiring to as it was still filled with so much hope.  I will let Joe tell it better from an interview he did with Songfacts.com…

“It was a difficult period in my life, where my father was in the process of passing away, and I was struggling with finishing up the Flying in a Blue Dream record. I was actually writing other songs that were instrumental pieces for the album. I’d be taking breaks during those periods, and I’d pick up the acoustic guitar and would start playing music.

There was a big painting in our apartment that a friend of my wife’s had done. She had worked my wife’s face into this figure, and I used to look at that quite a bit when I would take breaks from working on the album. So I wrote a song really about how difficult life is, but how ultimately, you have hope and you can change things for the better. It was really about writing that song and looking at that picture.”

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My Sunday Song – “Detroit Rock City” by Kiss

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For My Sunday Song #76, I bring you the Kiss classic, “Detroit Rock City”.  The song was the opening track to the album ‘Destoyer’ and it was also the third single in support of the album.  However, the song never charted due to the little B-Side on the back called “Beth” (which is a story for another time).

A fan favorite and still played at shows today, “Detroit Rock City has become one of the band’s most recognizable songs behind “Rock & Roll All Nite”.  The song was so popular, there was even a movie made called “Detroit Rock City” that Kiss actually appeared in.

The song does mention Detroit, but is really about a young fan that is killed why he was on his way to a Kiss concert.  The story is based of an actual event that occurred outside a Kiss concert in Charlotte where a fan was hit by a car and killed outside the arena.  Knowing it is based a real life event adds a little extra to the impact of the song.

The song opens with a radio broadcast (the broadcaster is played by Gene Simmons) of the death of a driver killed in a car crash then seques in to the young man getting into his car and heading to the concert playing Kiss’s “Rock & Roll All Nite” on the radio.  During the song, you go back and forth between the song and hearing the car drive down the road getting closer to the show.  The song ends with the car crashing and immediately goes into the next song on the album “King of the Night Time World”.

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My Sunday Song – “Photograph” by Def Leppard

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For My Sunday Song #75, I am bringing you the song that started it all for me…”Photograph” by Def Leppard.  It was the first single off the massive hit album ‘Pyromania’ and it was the song that started my obsession with Def Leppard.  From that point on, music took a whole new direction in my life.  It was my passion.  I tried to play guitar (rather unsuccessfully) and I couldn’t sing, but I could listen to music.

The song was perfect in my book.  The video was mesmerizing.  The two together captured my attention like nothing ever had.  The song has such a melodic melody and the guitar solo and background vocals were all spot on thanks to Mutt Lange behind the boards.  The guitar riff on the song that is played throughout is instantly recognizable.

I had heard of Def Leppard as my brother had one of their albums, but it was this song and this album that made me a fan…no a fanatic with this band.  I had to have the albums, the singles, the shirts, the posters, the pins…you name it, I had to have it.  And it still goes on today.  They release a video and I own it; a live album and I gotta have it; a deluxe version of an album I already have, yep, I get that as well.  It doesn’t matter.

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My Sunday Song – “I’m Not Alright” by Sanctus Real

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My Sunday Song #74 is “I’m Not Alright” by Sanctus Real.  This is the 2nd time Sanctus Real has made this list and it is another impactful song.  This song is off their 2006 release called ‘The Face of Love’.  It was a #1 song for them on the Christian charts and garnered them a Dove Award nomination for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.  Sadly, they didn’t win.

The song spoke to me in the fact that we aren’t all alright.  We are all broken in mind and spirit.  We are sinners.  The song is his confession that he is broken and that only through God, he is healed and he feels safe.  I can so relate to this song.  I think we all feel broken sometimes.  I know for me when I feel this way, I find that Christian music and God help me get through it.  Sanctus Real delivers songs that are meaningful and relatable.  They are going through the same thing I am going through and it has helped me so many times.

In an interview with 1cubed.com, the band talked about the recording of the song and how the song was originally titled “I’ll Be Fine”.  They felt they were lying to themselves and being fake.  They felt the need to be honest with themselves and everyone that you won’t always be fine.  It turned into this wonderful confession.

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My Sunday Song – “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince

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For My Sunday Song #73, I am going with “Let’s Go Crazy by Prince.  This is the first one of 2018, so let’s get a little crazy and start the year off with a legend. By the end of the year, I will be 50 so we need to go a little nuts this year in preparation for that milestone.  The song came out in 1984 and was off the album ‘Purple Rain’.  It was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and might be his most recognizable song.  I think everyone knows this song and if you don’t, shame on you.

The song opens with Prince giving a eulogy accompanied by an organ and it definitely makes it feel like a funeral.  That doesn’t last long and the song kicks in and rocks out.  The outro of the song is Prince showing that he was no slouch on the electric guitar.  It was one of the best guitar solos you will hear in a song.  A freakin’ masterpiece.  It was this song that made everyone fall in love with Prince.  He crossed over genres and even metal heads thought the man was amazing and damn he could play.

When reading the lyrics, the song seems to be about the battle of good and evil.  The devil will try and take you down the elevator, but you need to fight and punch a “higher floor” (God maybe?).  It also seems to be about finding that meaning in life and strive for that.  It seems to have a lot of different meanings.  Now, I am not sure what the “purple banana” is, but sounds like something we should all look for though.  I found this article that spoke about the Purple Banana and it was an interesting take on the song.  Give it a click and check it out.  They basically ask the questions…

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My Sunday Song – “Don’t Give Up” by Ryan Star

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My Sunday Song #72 is “Don’t Give Up” by Ryan Star.  Tomorrow is January 1st, New Year’s Day.  I thought it would be nice to end the year with this song as I think it is appropriate as 2017 saw a year where so many musicians took their own life and suicide prevention became top of mind.  Even a song was released with the suicide prevention hotline number as the title of the song (“1-800-273-8255” by Logic).

“Don’t Give Up” is a piano ballad and Ryan sounds amazing on it.  It is a moving and an inspirational song written by Ryan Star which is telling you to do just that…don’t give up!. There are people out there that love you no matter what happens in your life.  If 2017 was a bad year for you, think of the possibilities that 2018 might hold.  Get back on your feet and fight another day.

Ryan Star is one of my favorite singer/songwriters to come along in many years and I wish he got more press and radio time as he deserves it.  It is songs like this on why I love his music so much.  Give the song a listen and I hope it inspires you in some way!

God Bless!! And Happy New Year!!

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My Sunday Song – “Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy” by David Bowie & Bing Crosby

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My Sunday Song #71 is “Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy” sung by David Bowie & Bing Crosby.  Since tomorrow is Christmas, why not do a Christmas song and this is one of my favorites as I thought the combination of these two was weird and beautiful at the same time.  It covered two different generations as you had the newer generation for Bowie and the old fogeys (I was young when this came out) could enjoy Bing Crosby.

The song was recorded on September 11, 1977 for an Bing Crosby television special that was coming soon. From what I have read about the song, David didn’t really want to sing Little Drummer Boy as he didn’t like the song.  In a panic, the “Peace On Earth” part was written to appease Bowie and it was mixed in with the song.  Whatever the reason, the two pieces together are pure Christmas magic.  I found an article on the story behind the song by Gary Shannon.  (Click on his name to go read the article).

I am not going to ramble on about the song as I will let it speak for itself.  Plus, Christmas is tomorrow so go spend time with you friends and/or family.  Merry Christmas!!

 

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My Sunday Song – “G Train” by Thirdstory

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For My Sunday Song #70, I am going with a lesser known band called Thirdstory.  The song is called “G Train”.  It is off their debut E.P called ‘Searching’ which I did a review back in 2016.  The band consists of only three singer/songwriters – Elliott Skinner, Ben Lusher, and Richard Saunder.  And let me tell you, these guys can sing.

I first came across them when they opened for Tori Kelly back in 2016 on her tour.  The guys were so incredible and their harmonizing was second to none.  Their performance made me go out and download their E.P. because there was one song in the show that stood out to me and is now one of my favorite songs.

“G Train” was written due to the band’s schedule in rehearsing.  One of the members was was always taking the NY Subway back and forth.  On the video, theFader.com states…

…the three members of the group trade stories about lovesickness as they ride the subway through New York City’s boroughs. The song is a perfect soundtrack for the type of deep contemplation that only happens on the train, when you have altogether too much time with your own thoughts.

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My Sunday Song – “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” by KT Tunstall

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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.

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My Sunday Song – “Hold Back the River” by James Bay

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My Sunday Song #68 is “Hold Back the River” by James Bay.  You could say I have become a huge fan of this young man.  I have his album “Chaos & the Calm” (on vinyl and a picture disc at that) and my daughter and I have seen him in concert (Great show – read the review HERE).  He has been posting pictures on Facebook of him in the studio and a new album coming in 2018 which got me listening to him again.

When I hit this song in the playlist, I remembered how much I love this song.  The quiet opening with just some slow picking on the guitar and his voice.  The slow build up and a little faster pace and faster and faster.  It actually has the feel that as you try to hold back the river, it get harder and harder and more intense.

In an interview with The Sun, James said the following about the song:

“I wrote it after my first really busy period as an artist, when music had taken me around the world for the first time, and at the end of the year, I’ve become really eager to see friends and my family properly. ‘Hold Back The River’ is a metaphor for that feeling.”

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