Song of the Day – “Then Came You” – Dionne Warwick and The Spinners

There are all kinds of stories about how Dionne Warwick didn’t want to do this song, that she didn’t like it. Let’s all take a minute and appreciate her professionalism and how it didn’t matter one way or the other – she killed in this performance.

Song of the Day – “Toxic Girl” – Kings of Convenience

Back in 2001, Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience tried to tell us that Quiet Is the New Loud. Well, no, quiet is quiet and loud is loud. But I do appreciate quiet in my music also.

Song of the Day – “Nikita” – Elton John

…with eyes that look like ice on fire…

A song about a Russian soldier, years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, shows an interesting relationship as the situation becomes worse in Ukraine. Not one of Elton’s biggest hits, but he had very few songs unworthy of a listen.

Song of the Day – “I Can See for Miles” – The Who

They could see for miles. But nobody could see what this country would look like fifty years later. 1968 was a horrible year, but there was some hope.

Song of the Day – “Fine and Dandy” – Errol Garner

You’ve heard about pianists pounding the keys. Well, Garner plays so hard that I’m surprised the piano doesn’t go out of tune by the end of the song. Just listen to this standard, recorded sometime in the early fifties.

Song of the Day – “Valerie Loves Me” – Material Issue

Ah, adolescent male fantasies. Well, to be truthful, adolescent human fantasies. Your crush always feels the same way you do, and if they don’t, they’ll regret it for the rest of their miserable lives.

From 1991’s International Pop Overthrow.

Song of the Day – “Tongue Like a Knife” – Squeeze

I’ve been dealing with TTI (text-to-image) apps a lot lately, and they are far from perfect. I maintain that language is an imperfect method of communicating an image. Take Chris Difford’s opening lyrics to this song.

The head of a hunt on the wall by a painting
An upright piano stood locked by the door
In through the window
The light was fast fading
While I spilt my whiskey
All over the floor

Very evocative of an image, or series of images, but we will each imagine different images. An AI “visualizes” something else entirely, and finds it difficult – no, truly impossible at the moment – to render all the details in a competent way.

This is a roundabout way to say that I find Difford to be a terrific lyricist.

She was the jewel that
Sparkled in darkness
She was the love
Of everyone’s life
She was the catch at
Everyone’s parties
She was the one with a tongue
Like a knife

Song of the Day – “I Can Help” – Billy Swan

It’s my little brother’s 60th birthday, and this song (which he used to love) goes out to him.

Is it time for a couples skate at the roller rink again?

Song of the Day – “You Fall” – Aimee Mann

Just a few months ago, Aimee Mann released a remarkable album, Queens of the Summer Hotel. It is easily my favorite of 2021.

(Granted, I don’t hear many new albums. Given the thousands of albums I have or know well enough to pull my songs from, I just can’t listen to more than ten or so each year, enough to create an attachment.)

I know the subject matter, mental illness, will be off-putting to many. That’s part of the deal – my songs will not necessarily be your songs. I wish that you would give it a try, though.

Song of the Day – “Shambala” – Three Dog Night

Three Dog Night was a hit-making machine. This 1973 song was competing against a B. W. Stevenson version and steamrolled it everywhere – except South Africa.