For My Sunday Song #424, we are going the opposite direction from last week and going from Rap Metal to pure Pop Bliss. The song is “Not Over You” by Gavin DeGraw. It was the debut single from his album ‘Sweeter’ which came out on September 20, 2011. The single came out on May 17, 2011 and went 4X Platinum in the U.S. hitting #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and going to #1 Adult Pop Airplay chart. It also charted throughout several countries across the globe. I remember the first time I heard it and I was hooked.
The song was written by Gavin along with OneRepublic’s own Ryan Tepper who is killer pop songwriter. Ryan also produced it along with Jerrod Bettis. The song is about exactly what the title says. He isn’t over his last love. He says he is over her but he really isn’t. The trigger is when he sits down at a restaurant all by himself at a table set for two. He is then to face it head one that he isn’t over her. I also like the part where he said if he was asked he was doing, he would lie and say he is doing just fine to save his pride that he really isn’t. A thought provoking song that shows how sometimes he can be hard to get over someone. What I really I love is how the video shows that she isn’t over him either and they wind up together again.
The main driver musically is Gavin’s keyboards. They are vibrant and bouncy and so catchy. The drums make the song feel alive. It is all upbeat and fun. Gavin’s vocals are smooth, exciting and emotive. The melody of the song is so freaking catchy and is a pure ear worm gem. This is pop music done to pure perfection. Any song that makes you sing it after it is over, is pure gold.
My Sunday Song #423 is from the Rap Metal/Nu Metal band Hollywood Undead. The song is “Been to Hell” and is off their 2011 album ‘American Tragedy’. “Been to Hell” was released as a single on February 5, 2001 as a free download, 2 months prior to the album, and as a single on March 15 of the same year. It went to #13 on the US Heatseeker Songs and #2 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart just missing the Hot 100. It was #5 on the AOL Top 10 Rock Songs of 2011. All-in-all, it did quite well as it even caught my ear. Not a genre I got in to much, but there is something about this band that I just love.
The song was written by the band and was inspired during the 2010 US Recession which hit California hard, which is where these guys are from. The song is about how so many come out to L.A. and Hollywood looking for fame and fortune and yet get eaten alive and spit right back out. It is a place where dreams become nightmares. It is the truth they want to tell to make sure people know what really goes on in Tinsel town.
The band is Daniel “Danny” Murillo – lead vocals, Jorel “J-Dog” Decker – rap vocals, Matthew “Da Kurlzz” Busek – Hype vocals, Dylan “Funny Man”/”King Kong” Alvarez – rap vocals, George “Johnny 3 Tears” Ragan – Rap vocals and Joron “Charlie Scene” Terrell – vocals & guitar. I love how they share the vocals and each verse is rapped by someone different. The guitars are heavy as hell, the electronics programming is simply stellar giving a great beat, a catchy melody and the percussion is powerful. Like I said, not a genre I follow, but there is something powerful about the lyrics and the music that sucks you right in. There is an honesty to it and an authenticity that comes through that will speak to you. And it makes a great song to cruise down the road with the windows down and turned up to 11.
For My Sunday Song #422, we are going a little metal this week with Operator’s “Soulcrusher”. The song is off their debut album called ‘Soulcrusher’ which was released on August 21, 2007. The single went to #8 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and #29 on the Modern Rock Tracks. It was the debut single from the album and it was released prior to the album on May 22, 2007. The band consists of Johnny Strong on vocals, Paul Phillips on guitar, Ricki Lixx on lead guitar, Wade Carpenter on bass and Dorman Pantfoeder on drums.
The song was written by Johnny Strong and it can mean whatever you want it to mean. I was looking at it two ways. First, it is about that person in your life that weighs you down. They suck all the life out of you and yet you let them. You need to man up, say no and get out of that relationship as it is crushing your soul. This can be a significant other, a family member or even a friend.
The second take on it is that I see it as he is talking about himself. This is the only life you have so don’t mess it up. Stop caring about what everybody else is doing or thinking about you. Get out there and make it the best life you can live because you only get one. Stopping doing things that are crushing your soul. Live like this is the only life you have…because it is!
Musically, there is only one way to take it and that is brutally hard & heavy and a slap across the face. The song is relentless. That heavy, hard driving guitar riff is the high point of the song. Vocally Johnny Strong owes a lot to Chris Cornell as I can hear him in those vocals. And they could be mistaken for a Soundgarden clone, but I’d be okay with that. I love how the song midway through, slows it down, the vocals get softer, but the guitars come in and it builds and builds and brings back the barrage of music that will blow your head off. It simply will kick your ass!! It was one of those songs when I first heard it, I was sold from the first note and the album was bought as fast as I could get it.
After a nice long break (6-7 months), My Sunday Song is back!! No themes, no 10 song sets. Only songs I want to write about and for #421, we are going with a power ballad from 1991 by the band Tattoo Rodeo. The song is called “Been Your Fool” and is off their album ‘Rode Hard, Put Away Wet’. The album came out in 1991 and their timing could not have been worse. They get a song that starts to gain some traction and then Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” comes along and ruins everything for any band remotely connected to Hair Metal. But I still remember this one.
The song is credited to the whole band (as I don’t see anything in the liner notes that tells me otherwidse) and they are Dennis Churchill Dries on vocals & bass, Rick Chadock on guitar, Michael Lord on keyboards and Rich Wright on drums. The song is about a guy who thought he was finally over the breakup and had her out of his mind, but not so fast. He goes into a bar, hear’s a song on the jukebox and he can’t stop thinking about her now. He wants to get back with her, but it can’t be the same as he’s been her fool too many times. He fights and says if she reaches out her hand he won’t be her fool again…but we all know he would in a heartbeat. I love how the lyrics show how the power of music can bring back so many memories (good or bad).
The song is a power ballad, but this one is a swampy, bluesy bar song. With a slowed down tempo, a slide guitar and Dennis’ heartbroken vocals, you get dragged in to his misery. His vocals have a grit to them and when he hits those high notes, they are as smooth as silk. Such a great tone. The rhythm section keeps things moving, the drums are the pounding heart with every snare hit. We’ve been a fool to someone so this is all so relatable.
We are to the final My Sunday Song of the 10 Song set on Paul Laine. We are also to the Final My Sunday Song as I am putting it on hold for a little while. I’ve done 420 of these on Sundays in a row, that is quite a lot. Time to do reviews that are backing up because of the Bon Jovi and Def Leppard Series taking up so much time.
For My Sunday Song #420, we get to the final Paul Laine song and we go back to his 1990 debut album ‘Stick It In Your Ear’. The song to end his series is “We Are the Young” which was not a single here in the U.S, but I think it was in Canada where it broke the Top 40 briefly. Why it wasn’t in the States, I have not idea, but it was one of many on this album that could’ve been a single here. The song was written by Paul Laine and produced by the late, great Bruce Fairbairn…that should be enough right there to make you pay attention.
The song is about being young where everything is new and fresh and the world is at your fingertips. You can be whatever you want to be if you go out and grab it as you are wild, young and free. Don’t let anyone hold you back and fight for whatever you want to be. In the story, someone is holding him back and feeling him with lies, but he sees the truth and is ready to break free. So, don’t let anyone hold you back, go out there and take the world on with both hands and make your life you own.
The song opens with dual guitars, one with a cool crunchy guitar riff and the other a little melody, both speed a long at 100 mph. It is a brilliant rock anthem and I could see this blasted at concerts with full audience participation. The guitar break on this is extensive and the solo is just an onslaught of frenzied fingers flying on the frets. The song has some progressive rock undertones as the style changes up a little, but the essence of the song is contained. And that scream Paul does in the middle of that break…holy crap! It is awesome. It is guitar heavy, rock perfection and Paul gives it his all and sounds like the rock god he dreamed to be on that outro a la Robert Plant. This is what it sounds like when you are young and hungry to succeed.
For My Sunday Song #419, we have another song from The Defiant’s. This time around it is “Fallin’ For You” from the bands second album, ‘Zokusho’. It was written by Paul Laine and his buddy Bruno Ravel. If you thought the first album was good, then this one will not disappoint. A band that is celebrating that 80’s rock sound and this particular song is all that and more. This one was a single and even had a video. You gotta love that.
Lyrically, the song is about a woman that comes in to his life when he wasn’t looking for love. Heck, she wasn’t either as she just got out of a relationship. They were both wrong place, wrong time, but the heart wants what the heart wants. He has fallin’ for her hard and wants to know what to do. How can they make it work despite everything saying it can’t. A classic love story that has been in every Rom-Com out there.
With a little keyboard opening and then a gritty guitar riff, we get a classic Danger Danger style rocking love song. You get swept up in those big choruses, catchy hooks and that Paul Laine vocal. He was made for these type of songs. The guitar solo is huge, crazy riffs, fast flying fingers. It all screams 80’s and I scream along with it…Hell Yeah!!! A fun song that will get stuck in your head for days.
Give the song a listen and tell me that music doesn’t take you back to the 80’s. 80’s music was the best as it was the most fun and I am thrilled The Defiants are celebrating that sound. It makes you feel so good. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed this week’s song. Have a wonderful and Happy Sunday!!
“Fallin’ For You”
I wasn’t looking for somebody to love me I wasn’t waiting for a second chance You know I’ve never really been that lucky I’d given up trying to understand You were getting over some old heartbreak You never counted on me walking through your door, yeah
I didn’t know I was waiting for you It’s out of my hands and there’s nothing I can do
Girl, I can’t help it (I can’t help it) There’s something in the air tonight I just wanna tell you (wanna tell you) That my heart’s got nothing to hide I can’t hold back even if I tried Tell me what I gotta do ‘Cause girl, you got me Fallin’ for you (fallin’ for you) What’s a boy to do? (Fallin’ for you) You got me fallin’, fallin’ for you, oh
I was runnin’ in the wrong direction I was headed down a dead end road In the mirror was my own reflection Telling me you’re better off alone All I knew is there was someone for me Someone out there with a heart that beat like mine, oh
You were the one I was dreaming about I’m head over heels and there ain’t no doubt
Girl, I can’t help it (I can’t help it) There’s something in the air tonight I just wanna tell you (wanna tell you) That my heart’s got nothing to hide I can’t hold back even if I tried Tell me what I gotta do ‘Cause girl, you got me Fallin’ for you (fallin’ for you) And there ain’t no use (fallin’ for you) You got me fallin’, fallin’ for you
‘Cause that’s the thing about love when you find it Try to hold on and never let go It’s the chance that you take Between love and fate And only your heart will know
I didn’t know I was waiting for you It’s out of my hands and there’s nothing I can do You were the one I was dreaming about I’m head over heels and there ain’t no doubt
Girl, I can’t help it (I can’t help it) There’s something in the air tonight I just wanna tell you (wanna tell you) That I’m ready to give you this heart of mine I can’t hold back even if I tried Tell me what I gotta do ‘Cause girl, you got me Fallin’ for you (fallin’ for you) Girl, I’m stuck on you (fallin’ for you) (Fallin’ for you) and there ain’t no use
what’s a boy to do? (Fallin’ for you, fallin’ for you) oh girl, you got me fallin’ (Fallin’ for you) hey (fallin’ for you) oh, oh, I’m fallin’ (Fallin’ for you, fallin’ for you) fallin’ for you (Fallin’ for you) fallin’ for you (fallin’ for you) fallin’ for you (Fallin’ for you) yeah, you know I can’t help it (fallin’ for you) Oh, I wanna tell you (fallin’ for you) There’s something in the air tonight (fallin’ for you) hoo
For My Sunday Song #418, we are talking about Danger Danger’s song “Wide Awake And Dead” off the band’s third album ‘Dawn’ from 1995. Technically, their fourth recorded, but third release but that is a story for another time. The song was written by Paul Laine and Bruno Ravel. Although not a single, the song was one that connected to me for its dark tone and subject matter.
The song is about some major daddy issues. The child is in pain but the dad doesn’t seem to ever listen to him and care. It was as if no father was ever there. The darkness has filled the boy and he is ready to kill his father. The emptiness he feels has left him emotionless. He is wide awake, but dead inside. It is a horrible situation. Read the lyrics below and see how dark this thing gets. No child should ever feel that way.
The music matches the lyrics. This is 1995, the music scene had taken a darker turn from the party time of the 80’s and the earlier Danger Danger albums. To fit with the times, we get this brilliant song. The more somber tones, the heavier beats, the rich bass all giving to the dark soulless feelings of this little child. The guitar solo screams out with pain. If that isn’t enough, the guitar riff from Bruno that is thrown in every now again after the chorus is so cool. Paul’s vocals show the hurt and despair the child is feeling. There is a spoken part from Paul that is hidden behind the instrumental break that you have to listen close. It gives you more insight to the song. For such a depressing song, you can’t helped but be mesmerized by its beauty at the same time. One of the coolest songs on the album.
For My Sunday Song #417, we are on to another band from Paul Laine called Shugaazer. This was a much more modern sounding Paul then we are used to and you know, I quite dig it. The song this week is called “Song for Lenon” and it is on the band’s only album, 2003’s ‘Shift’. The band consists of Paul Laine on vocals, Chris Matheson on guitar, Roland Churchill on drums and Shane Demers on bass. The song was written by Paul Laine and someone named Par. I didn’t see it in the credits but it could be either Stuart or Patrick “Par”enteau as both were thanked on the album and Patrick took the photographs used in the booklet. If you know, let me know in the comments.
Paul Laine had this to say about “Song for Lenon” when he spoke to MelodicRock.com back in 2003.
“Like many others, I have always been a huge fan of John Lennon and the Beatles. I had just watched the film “Imagine” and I was very moved by his compassion for other people, as well as his love for Yoko. He had a real passion for things he felt strongly about and was not afraid to speak out about them. I was thinking to myself…I wonder what John would talk about if he was still around today…how would he see the world? How would he see his own life and the impact he had on other people? Would he still write about love and peace? I felt compelled to write a song for him expressing my own thoughts and feelings, and in a way, express some feelings that I thought he would have too, if he were still alive.”
I think that explains nicely what the song is about.
The song opens slowly, with a gentle build in the song while we listen to Lennon speaking. Paul comes in with the first verse and during that the full band kicks in. The song is a power ballad and is tender and peaceful as Lennon while the choruses are more powerful like Lennon’s impact on the world. The melodies and the layering of Paul’s vocals are so killer. You can feel the emotion he is trying to get across. Musically, a very modern rock song sound, no 80’s style this time around. The drums are powerful, the guitars are sweeping and the keys add the right amount of texture. All blended nicely together with Laine’s vocals. A very well crafted tune.
For My Sunday Song #416, we are going back to The Defiants and this time around we are talking about “Save Me Tonight” from their self-titled 2016 album. The Defiants are Paul Laine, Bruno Ravel and Rob Marcello and basically they are Danger Danger 2.0. Better, stronger and have aged nicely. The Defiants don’t get much notice here in the States and that is too bad as songs like this show this band has the goods to take over the world. If this was the 80’s, they would be as big as Bon Jovi…at least I think they would…they are better then today’s Bon Jovi at least.
A ballad that is full of so much heartbreak and heartache. The song is about a man who is fallen so deeply in love with this woman, but she is leaving and it is over. He is in so much pain and he wants her to come back and save him and give their love one more chance. There are some great lines that highlight the pain such as “They say love never dies but it sure leaves a scar” and “And all that’s left behind is a tattoo on your heart”. A beautifully written song.
But how beautiful is it really? Is it too sappy? No, not in the least. The Defiants put on a master class on how to perform a ballad. The music is tender, heartfelt and aches with the pains of the lyrics. The opening synths give it an almost atmospheric tone like floating through the air. The guitar tone is almost weeping and that solo will leave you breathless. But the winner is those vocals by Paul Laine. The notes he hits are amazing, the angelic tones, the emotiveness of his words is crazy good. Paul is still one of the finest vocalists out there today. He still has it in spades. If you ever thought the ballad was dead…here is proof it is alive and better than ever.
My Sunday Song #415, we are back to Danger Danger and this time around “Six Million Dollar Man” off the band’s fifth album ‘The Return of the Great Gildersleeves. The album is from 2000 and the song was written by Paul Laine, Bruno Ravel and Steve West. It wasn’t a single, but maybe that was a missed opportunity.
The song is from the big nerd side of Paul. I mean you have to be a nerd to write a song about the “Six Million Dollar Man”. Now, he admitted that he was one to me. He had been writing songs for his next album not expecting there to be another Danger Danger album and lo and behold, they did another one and this song wound up on it. There is no hidden meaning behind the song, it is truly about the TV show and even has a shout out to Jamie Summers and Oscar Goldman.
The song has the lines from the T.V. show…”Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive. We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was. Better…stronger…faster.” And no, they didn’t get permission to use the audio from the show. Shhh…don’t tell anyone. The song is a rocker, party anthem with killer, powerful drumming by Steve West and some killer guitar work from Bruno and I think the solo was actually done by Paul. He also handled the keys and vocals. There are a lot of electronic, sci-fi type sounds with lasers and robots. The song is meant for fun and delivers in spades.
2 Loud 2 Old Music 