My Sunday Song – “Not Over You” by Gavin DeGraw

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.

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White Lion – The Albums Ranked Worst to First

When Danish musician, Mike Tramp moved to New York in 1983, he met this guitar whiz by the name of Vito Bratta and a little band was formed by the name of White Lion (I am sure I over simplified things).  A bass player and drummer were added, a record label was signed and the debut album was ready.  The debut, ‘Fight to Survive’, was finished and the record company hated it and refused to release it.  Oh yeah, they dropped the band as well.  The album eventually was released and then the bass player and drummer were added, labels went bankrupt and it all started all over again.  Not the most auspicious start.

The band’s classic line-up was set with Mike, Vito, James LoMenzo (bass) and Greg D’Angelo (drums).  A record deal was in place with Atlantic and in 1987, the band released ‘Pride’ and success was finally had…at least for a few years.  One thing the makes the band a little different than other bands of the era is that every album has at least one (usually more) song that is political in nature or at least some social commentary to it.  Where this worked on some albums, it totally didn’t work on others.  As a kid, I could care less about political or socially conscious songs, give me Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll.

I was a fan of White LIon’s in the late 80’s and early 90’s so I thought I would rank their albums as I have some familiarity with all their stuff and felt I could judge them properly.  With only 5 studio releases, this one isn’t as long as some of the others I have done which is a nice change of pace for me.

Sit back and see how the albums are ranked and maybe it will spark an interest to go listen to some White Lion.

WORST – RETURN OF THE PRIDE (2008):

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“My First Time” with White Lion’s ‘Pride’

I recently read an article on Mike Tramp that said he was releasing a limited edition box set called “This and That” which would contain 5 CDs and 1 DVD of previously unreleased material as well as some new tracks.  It sounds interesting and got me to thinking about his old band White Lion.  And I immediately remembered ‘Pride’.

Little did I know at the time that ‘Pride’ was not their debut album.  They actually had an album prior called ‘Fight to Survive’ that never amounted to anything.  Since “My First Time” is supposed to be the first time I discover a band and it is not on their debut album, then ‘Pride’ worked.

‘Pride’ came out in 1987 slap dab in the middle of the Hair Band explosion.  That means BIG HAIR!!  Did White Lion have it…uh…YES…

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