My Sunday Song – “Champagne” by Cavo

For My Sunday Song #428, we popping “Champagne” by the band Cavo. “Champagne” was the lead single of their major label debut album from 2009 called ‘Bright Nights, Dark Days’. The song went to #1 on the US Mainstream Rock Songs and #8 Rock Songs chart taking the album to #47 on the Billboard 200 and to #3 on the Hard Rock Albums chart. Not a bad debut. I bought this album based off this one song and I was not disappointed.

The song was written by Chris Hobbs, Chad La Roy, Brian Smith and Casey Walker and the demo was recorded on Casey Walker’s phone. He wasn’t sure about the song and when he finally played it the band, they started noodling with it and BAM!! within 10 minutes they had the start of a great song. The song itself is about a break up and the the second when he knew it was over after looking in to her eyes. The downfall could’ve been the partying and drinking or even the drugs, but whatever the case may be, it was not good. It sounds like he is blaming himself and wishes she could take from him everything that he can’t be for her. Rather sad and honest look at himself.

Musically, the song is a killer, guitar heavy rock track. Great riffs, pounding drums, driving beats and killer bass line. The song is full of energy and anger and Casey Walker’s vocals personify all those emotions. This is one I love to crank up to 11 while driving down the highway slightly above the speed limit (ok, more than slightly!!). A modern rock song that gave me hope rock was still alive when I heard it originally back in 2009.

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My Sunday Song – “Die For You” by The Weeknd

For My Sunday Song #368, we are on Morgan’s 8th Choice and this time around it is The Weeknd’s song “Die For You” off his 2016 album ‘Starboy’. The song was a single and did fairly well, but in 2022 there was a resurgence on the popularity of this song thanks again to the wonderful social media tool, TikTok (that “wonderful” is very sarcastic btw). The song went all the way to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 six years after its original release. And the Weeknd is not stupid and took advantage of that popularity by releasing an new mix of the song with Ariana Grande. The version we will discuss is not that one. The song was written by an army of writers. Yes, because a good song needs 7 writers and they are the Weeknd,  Doc McKinney,  Cirkut, Prince 85, Cashmere Cat, Dylan Wiggins, and Billy Walsh.

The song was actually the last song written for the album and was apparently hard to finish and that might explain why there are so many writers…and yes, that does bother me. The song is apparently about a former girlfriend (rumored to be Bella Hadid) and their breakup. Although their relationship has ended, he still lovers her and would do anything for her, even die for her. It was hard for him to get over her and there was a lot of frustration and pain over the break up. I think it is a great little love letter for her to let her know he still cares and although they aren’t meant to be together, they are connected as he will always care for her.

The song is a ballad and there is a lot of pain and heartbreak in it and The Weeknd really comes across vocally with that emotion. The music is all electronic, the bass, the drums and the keys, but there is a really nice groove to hit and it gets my head bobbing back and forth. The chorus has a big payoff and is really catchy. The music is amped up, a little heavier and it s really a great beat. He sings at such a high register, it almost feels a lot like Michael Jackson and that is saying something. The song sticks with me long after I have listened to it.

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