Ten Great Songs From One Great Year

2002

To many, it does not seem like this was ten years ago. However to me, it certainly does. My memories from this year are, at best, fuzzy. It was a terrible year for me physically due to being misdiagnosed and slowly succumbing to heart disease. However, it worked out well in the long run, as I received a new heart and a new lease on life.

But things started poorly for the world at large in 2002, as well. While still dealing with the shock of 9/11, we learned of the kidnapping and brutal murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, at the hands of Al-Qaeda. Two weeks later, Princess Margaret  - Queen Elizabeth's sister - dies in her sleep aged 71 after suffering a major stroke. Sadly, the Queen Mother also passes away just a month later, at the age of 101.

In March, a Palestinian suicide bomber kills 30 Israeli civilians and injures 140 others at the Park Hotel in Netanya, triggering Operation Defensive Shield, a large-scale counter-terrorist Israeli military incursion into the West Bank, two days later. This leads to a 38-day stand-off in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, which ends when the Palestinians inside agree to have 13 suspected militants among them deported to several different countries.

As the tech bubble continues to burst, MCI WorldComm files Chapter 11. It is the largest such bankruptcy in history. Earlier in the year, Enron Energy Group also went bankrupt and exposed the massive amount of fraud and corruption many of these companies dealt in. The shockwaves cost stockholders billions of dollars. October brought in another series of tragedies as the Beltway Sniper began their (two men who worked together) reign of terror. Ten people were killed and three others critically injured in various locations throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area and along Interstate 95 in Virginia. Two weeks later, the US Congress authorizes the Iraq War Resolution. Following this, President Bush announces the Department of Homeland Security, in an effort to thwart another attack on American soil.

A Moment Like This -- Kelly Clarkson (lyrics)

American Idol, an American version of the British show Pop Idol, debuted on the FOX Network on June 11, 2002, and became an instant success. As of 2011, it was the most watched TV series in the Nielsen ratings and the only program to have been number one for eight consecutive seasons. Clarkson was Idol's first winner, and this was released as her first single after she performed the song on the show. In a sign to come that American Idol would influence the entire music industry, the song broke the record for the biggest jump to #1 in the history of the US Hot 100 chart when it soared 52-1 on the week of October 5th. The record had been held for 37 years by the Beatles. In April 1964, "Can't Buy Me Love" rose from 27-1 (Clarkson's record has since been beaten in 2007 by Maroon 5's "It Makes Me Wonder," which went 64-1). Clarkson explained why she never wants to perform this song again in a 2011 interview with Entertainment Weekly: "Here's the thing: I get it. It was a moment thing for whoever won [American Idol], but that song wasn't written for me. I loved singing it for the finale. That's what it was for, but you ain't going to catch me anytime soon or ever singing that song again. Someone would have to be dying in front of me, saying, 'My last wish is for you to sing that song!' for me to sing that song."



Complicated -- Avril Lavigne (lyrics)

In 1999, Lavigne won a radio contest to perform with fellow Canadian singer Shania Twain at the Corel Centre (now Scotiabank Place) in Ottawa, before an audience of 20,000 people. Twain and Lavigne sang "What Made You Say That" and Lavigne told Twain she was going to be "a famous singer." According to the singer, most of her songs are about real people and real situations, but this one was not written about anyone in particular. She says, "It's basically about life, people being fake, and relationships." Lavigne is listed as one of the songwriters on this, but there is some question as to how much she contributed. According to The Matrix, they wrote most of the song and Avril just changed a few words. Lavigne insists she contributed a lot more to the song, including most of the lyrics and the melody. A huge part of Lavigne's appeal is that she writes her own songs. This set her apart from singers like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, and let Arista Records position her as a singer-songwriter like Michelle Branch and Vanessa Carlton. "Complicated" reached #1 in numerous countries, but fell one spot short in the US. However, it was nominated for a Grammy for "Song of the Year." However, she lost out to Norah Jones' "Don't Know Way."



The Middle -- Jimmy Eat World (lyrics)

This is about fitting in, and how you don't have to be the same as other people to be popular. This was the breakout hit for Jimmy Eat World, who released their first album in 1994. The song climbed to #1 on the Modern Rock chart in 2001 and made the Top 10 on the Pop charts in the summer of 2002. The band formed in Mesa, Arizona in 1993. Singer/guitarist Jim Adkins and drummer Zach Lind, who had been friends since preschool, joined with guitarist Tom Linton and bass player Mitch Porter to try their hand at music. In its early years, Jimmy Eat World was a punk rock band, with Linton serving as their primary singer. Within the span of a couple of years, the band recorded and released three singles and a full-length on local label Wooden Blue Records. Contrary to popular belief, the band name acronym (JEW) is not a reference to the band's religious beliefs, nor to member Jim Adkins. The band's name came from a crayon drawing made after an incident between Linton's younger brothers, Jim and Ed, who fought frequently. Jim usually won, but Ed sought revenge by drawing a picture of Jim shoving the Earth into his mouth; the picture bore the caption "Jimmy eat world".



Lose Yourself -- Eminem (lyrics)

This was featured in Eminem's first movie, 8 Mile. The movie is based on Eminem's life, he grew up in a poor Detroit neighborhood and followed his dream of rap stardom. The movie got very good reviews as Eminem turned out to be a surprisingly good actor. On the movie set, Eminem had a trailer where he could record songs for the movie during breaks in filming. He wrote this in character as B. Rabbit, who he played in 8 Mile. Writing in character was nothing new for Eminem, as he had previously written songs as his alter ego, Slim Shady. When the movie studio released the first trailers, this song did not exist, so they used "Cleanin' Out My Closet," which the studio wanted to feature in the movie. Eminem thought that song was too personal for the movie, which was one reason he was so determined to write something that fit the character. This won an Oscar for Best Song From A Movie, beating out songs by Paul Simon and U2. It was a bold choice for the academy, who usually pick fairly tame songs by Randy Newman, Sting, or Elton John. Barbra Streisand announced the award, and seemed surprised and happy that Eminem won. With a 12-week run at #1 on the Hot 100, this song is the most commercially successful Oscar winning tune.



In The End -- Linkin Park (lyrics)

The lyrics are based on the struggles lead singer Chester Bennington went through growing up. He was often picked on. In March 2001 The LP was released in 2000, but this song was only released as a single in 2002), 15-year-old Charles Andrew Williams shot and killed 2 of his classmates at his high school in Santee, California. He left a note for his father with the lyrics to this as an attempt to explain his feelings. The key lines were "I tried so hard and got so far, but in the end, it doesn't really matter." In November 8, 2011, the band was awarded with a Global Leadership Award at the Global Leadership Awards Dinner of the United Nations Foundation and the United Nations Association of the United States of America, for their efforts to highlight the importance of the UN and for utilizing their fan base to help those in need through Music For Relief. The band also announced their "Power the World" campaign. "Power the World" encourages their fans to donate in order to give one million families in Haiti solar-powered lights, since the country still faces severe energy poverty. The project supports the Sustainable Energy For All initiative of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The band released several YouTube videos to promote the campaign



Get the Party Started -- Pink (lyrics)

Alecia Beth Moore is the artist known as Pink. She was born to a Catholic father and a Jewish mother in September 1979. Although a healthy baby at birth, she quickly developed asthma that plagued her through her early years. When she was a teenager, she wrote lyrics as an outlet for her feelings, and her mother commented, "Her initial writings were always very introspective. Some of it was very black, and very deep, almost worrisome." She began performing in Philadelphia clubs when she was 14 years old to support her meth addiction, went through phases of using other narcotics and abusing alcohol. Pink quoted, "I was extreme. I went through phases from skateboarder, to hip-hopper, to rave child, to lead singer in a rock band. I did it all, and all at the same time." After opening for 'N Sync in in 2000, she was a part of Lady Marmalade alongside singers Christina Aguilera and Mýa, and rapper Lil' Kim for the soundtrack of the film Moulin Rouge! "Get the Party Started" was written by Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes. Pink was a big fan of Perry's group and contacted her to work on the album. The success of this song caused Perry to put her solo career on hold and instead work with other female singers. In fact, Pink was once arrested for disturbing her neighbors by singing out of her window at 3.30am. The song she was singing was by 4 Non Blondes, and was written by Perry.



Hands Clean -- Alanis Morissette (lyrics)

This is rumored to be autobiographical, about a relationship Morissette had with a much older man when she was a teen pop star in Canada. She was 14 and the guy was about 30, but she won't reveal his name. Part of the song is what the guy thinks, and her response. Of course, rumors abound that this was Dave Coultier, of Full House fame. Many also believe her entire album, 1995's Jagged Little Pill, was about the same person. For her her fifth studio album, Under Rug Swept, in February 2002. For the first time in her career, she took on the role of sole writer and producer of an album. While the LP debuted at #1 on Billboard, and sold over a million copies, it paled in comparison to her previous two albums. This single was the first from the LP and peaked at a modest #23. The followup single, "Precious Illusions" only managed to chart on the Hot AC charts, spelling the end (for now) of her top 40 success.



Superman (It's Not Easy) -- Five For Fighting (lyrics)

Five for Fighting is the stage name of John Ondrasik. He took the name from hockey, where the penalty for fighting is 5 minutes (he is a big LA Kings fan). This song is about trying to fit in and is written from Superman's point of view. The superhero is portrayed as misunderstood and not as powerful as people see him. This became very popular after the September 11 attacks. The reflective tone fit very well with the mood of the United States, and many radio stations played it more. The band has heard from emergency workers and others who found it a source of comfort after the attacks. Ondrasik writes and co-writes music for other artists, including The Backstreet Boys and Josh Groban. He has also contributed to movie soundtracks, such as August Rush, We Were Soldiers, Chicken Little, and Everyone's Hero, and in 2008 wrote and recorded the song "Brothers in Arms" for the award winning documentary film Brothers at War.



Wherever You Will Go - The Calling (lyrics)

The guitarist of The Calling, Aaron Kamin, wrote this song which caught on with the touching message of following someone to the ends of the earth. Aaron explained in a radio interview: "At the time my grandmother's best friend had passed away and she left behind a husband of 50 or more years and I was at the funeral and afterwards I just started thinking of what it would be like to be him and have your whole life change so dramatically and not for the best in a matter of moments. Somebody that you live and grow with and are one with, just to be gone, is crazy and I figured all he ever thinks about probably is finding a way to get back to her or be with her or make sure she's alright or something like that. That was the sentiment behind that." Camino Palmero was first album for the band, who released just one more before splitting up in 2005. The band got a big break when they performed "Wherever You Will Go" in the 2000 movie Coyote Ugly. This song was also featured in commercials promoting the TV series Star Trek: Enterprise. The album was a surprise hit, selling over 800,000 copies, but it caused a lot of tension in the band when drummer Nate Wood and bass player Billy Mohler left the band in 2003 and sued Kamin and lead singer Alex Band, claiming they were not properly paid for their contributions.



Someday -- The Strokes (lyrics)

This song is about the childhood realization that as you get older, you and your friends are likely to drift apart. Upon the release of their debut album Is This It in 2001, the group met much critical acclaim. Since then, the band has maintained a large fan base all over the world, most notably in the United States, the UK, France, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Australia. A number of members have embarked on a variety of side projects, although a fourth album, entitled Angles, was released on March of 2011. They are one of the most prominent indie-rock bands to hail from the U.S. at the dawn of the 21st century and helped start the garage rock revival movement. "Someday" was their third single from their debut LP.



BONUS TRACK

Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) -- Alan Jackson (lyrics)

Written in the wake of the September 11 attacks, it was introduced at the Country Music Association's annual awards show on November 7, 2001. It was then released in late November 2001 as the lead single from the album, Drive, and reached the top of the U.S. Billboard country charts. Jackson wanted to write a song expressing his thoughts and emotions, but he found it hard to do so for many weeks. "I didn't want to write a patriotic song", Jackson said. "And I didn't want it to be vengeful, either. But I didn't want to forget about how I felt and how I knew other people felt that day." The verses focused on others' reactions in the form of questions. One verse asks, "Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow?/Go out and buy you a gun?/Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'/And turn on I Love Lucy reruns?" In between, he asks about the locations of people when the tragedy played out, "Out in the yard with your wife and children?/Or workin' on some stage in LA?" In the chorus, Jackson tries to sum up his own feelings, first by calling himself merely "a singer of simple songs", and "not a real political man." Initially, he felt squeamish about recording it, much less releasing it, because he disliked the idea of capitalizing on a tragedy. On producer Keith Stegall's advice, Jackson played the finished track for a group of executives at his record label. "We just kind of looked at one another." RCA Label Group chairman Joe Galante said later. "Nobody spoke for a full minute."

An Apology to President Karzai on Behalf of Americans

 

What a great apology from a beautiful American woman.

Chilling Letter from Proctor and Gamble to Obama 

Who would have thought, and yet many are thinking it.
 By Lou Pritchett, Procter & Gamble 

Lou Pritchett is one of corporate America's true living legends- an acclaimed author, dynamic teacher and one of the world's highest Rated speakers. Successful corporate executives everywhere recognize Him as the foremost leader in change management.. Lou changed the way America does business by creating an audacious concept that came to be known as "partnering." Pritchett rose from soap salesman to Vice-President, Sales and Customer Development for Procter and Gamble and over the course of 36 years; made corporate history. 


This letter was certified true by the website snopes.com

Dear President Obama:

You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived and unlike any of the others, you truly scare me.

You scare me because after months of exposure, I know nothing about you.

You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your expensive Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with no visible signs of support.

You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of youth growing up in America and culturally you are not an American.

You scare me because you have never run a company or met a payroll.

You scare me because you have never had military experience, thus don't understand it at its core.

You scare me because you lack humility and 'class', always blaming others.

You scare me because for over half your life you have aligned yourself with radical extremists who hate America and you refuse to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail.

You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the 'blame America ' crowd and deliver this message abroad.

You scare me because you want to change America to a European style country where the government sector dominates instead of the private sector.

You scare me because you want to replace our health care system with a government controlled one. 

You scare me because you prefer 'wind mills' to responsibly capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.

You scare me because you want to kill the American capitalist goose that lays the golden egg which provides the highest standard of living in the world.

You scare me because you have begun to use 'extortion' tactics against certain banks and corporations. 

You scare me because your own political party shrinks from challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals.

You scare me because you will not openly listen to or even consider opposing points of view from intelligent people.

You scare me because you falsely believe that you are both omnipotent and omniscient.

You scare me because the media gives you a free pass on everything you do.

You scare me because you demonize and want to silence the Limbaugh's, Hannitys, O'Reillys and Becks who offer opposing, conservative points of view.

You scare me because you prefer controlling over governing.

Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second term I will probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years.

Signed,

Lou Pritchett

** This letter was sent to the NY Times but they never acknowledged it. Big surprise. Since it hit the Internet, however, it has had over 500,000 hits. Keep it going. All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men do nothing.

Ten Great Songs From One Great Year

1963

This was 49 years ago and perhaps the last true year of the post-war innocence. Until now, the Baby-boom generation, moving out to the suburbs, white-picket fences and all-American exceptionalism ruled society in general. But there were warnings of change that were soon to erupt - especially on college campuses and in Black neighborhoods. By the end of the decade, assassinations, riots and war would fundamentally change the way we lived.

Part of that change began in January, when George Wallace became the Governor of Alabama. In response to a growing call for Black civil rights, Wallace (in his inaugural address) defiantly proclaims "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever!" However, just two weeks later, Black student Harvey Gantt enters Clemson University in South Carolina, the last U.S. state to hold out against racial integration. Change begins to affect other movements as well. in February, the publication of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique launches the reawakening of the Women's Movement in the United States as women's organizations and consciousness-raising groups spread.

In May, few new items are released; Tab Cola, Coke's first foray into the diet market debuts, the U.S. postal system begins it's "Zip Code" system, "Dr. No," is the first James Bond movie to hit the theaters and "General Hospital" makes its' television debut. The Beatles first LP, Please Please Me, hits the shelves in Britain. In one year's time, the Fab Four will become the most widely known and successful rock and roll band in history. In a sad note, singer Patsy Cline is killed in a plane crash.

But the strife from the Civil Rights movement, including Martin Luther King's march on Selma, Alabama and his famous "I Have a Dream Speech" dominate the headlines - until November 22nd. On that day, known Communist Lee Harvey Oswald assassinates President John F. Kennedy, as his motorcade passes through Dealy Plaza in Dallas. Two days later, Oswald is gunned down while being transferred from city to county jail. His death encourages a massive amount of conspiracy theories regarding who actually killed the President, that continue today - 49 years later.

End of the World -- Skeeter Davis (lyrics)

Born Mary Frances Penick, Skeeter Davis was best known for this tune that peaked at #2 in the US in 1963. The record achieved the unusual feat of reaching the Top 10 on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop, Adult Contemporary, R/B and Country charts. Davis' four-chart top-ten accomplishment has never been duplicated by any other female vocalist in the history of Billboard. However, she had a modest career as a country music artist. One of her successes was her take on the song "One Tin Soldier." However, it did not reach the popularity of Coven's version, which was released off the Billy Jack soundtrack. Davis continued to perform frequently throughout much of the 1990s and into 2000. Quite a bit of her touring during the 1980s and 1990s was in international markets such as Barbados and Singapore where she remained a pop superstar. In 2001 she became incapacitated by the breast cancer that would claim her life. While Davis remained a member of the Grand Ole Opry until her death, she last appeared there in 2002. She died of breast cancer in a Nashville, Tennessee, hospice at the age of 72, on September 19, 2004.



One Fine Day -- The Chiffons (lyrics)

This is about a girl who has a crush on a boy who doesn't appear interested in her. She expects that he'll eventually fall for her, and waits eagerly for that day. It was written by songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin and was intended for Little Eva, who was the babysitter for King and Goffin and had a hit the year earlier with their song "Locomotion." Her voice did not sound right when they recorded it, so this went to The Chiffons. Carole King finally released her "official" version two decades later; her version reached #12 in the US. The group was originally a trio comprising lead singer Judy Craig, Patricia Bennett and Barbara Lee. They formed at James Monroe High School in The Bronx in 1960. In 1962, at the suggestion of songwriter Ronald Mack, the group added Sylvia Peterson, who at age 14 had sung with Little Jimmy and the Tops, sharing lead vocals with Jimmy on "Say You Love Me," the B-side of the Tops' 1959 local hit "Puppy Love." The group then began recording as the Four Pennies, with Peterson singing lead on "When the Boy's Happy." Over the course of 1963, the group gradually adopted the Chiffons name. As late as 2009, Judy Craig was performing as the Chiffons with her daughter and her niece, appearing at select shows throughout the U.S. and internationally.



(Love is Like a) Heat Wave -- Martha and The Vandellas (lyrics

Written by the Motown songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, this was the first Top 10 hit for Martha and the Vandellas. Lead singer Martha Reeves started as a secretary at Motown. In this song, Reeves sings about a guy who turns her on so much that her temperature rises when he's around. Like many of Motown's hits, it's a light and amorous Pop song. In contrast to other Motown groups such as The Supremes and The Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas were known for a harder, R&B sound, typified by this song, "Nowhere to Run", "Jimmy Mack" and, their signature song, "Dancing in the Street". During their nine-year run on the charts from 1963 to 1972, Martha and the Vandellas charted over twenty-six hits and recorded in the styles of doo-wop, R/B, pop, blues, rock and soul. Ten Vandellas songs reached the top ten of the Billboard R/B singles chart, including two R/B number ones. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Martha and the Vandellas #96 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.



Puff, The Magic Dragon -- Peter, Paul and Mary(lyrics)

Peter Yarrow wrote this in 1958 before he joined the group. He wrote it after coming home and seeing a poem on his typewriter with words about the dragon. He based his song on this poem, which was written by Lenny Lipton. A few years later when this became a hit, Yarrow found Lipton and gave him half the songwriting credit. Lipton, who was a camp counselor when Yarrow found him, gets extensive royalties from the song. For his book Behind The Hits John Javna spoke with Lenny Lipton about his poem. Lipton was feeling homesick when he wrote it. One day, he was on his way to dinner at a friend's house, and was a little early, so he stopped at the library and happened to read some Ogden Nash poems. The title of the poem that grabbed him was The Tale Of Custard The Dragon, which is about a "Really-o Truly-o Dragon." Lipton was friends with Peter Yarrow's housemate when they were all students at Cornell University. On the walk from Cornell's library to the friend's house (where he was to eat dinner), he wrote the poem, which was about the loss of childhood. But no one was home when he arrived - there was some sort of mix-up about dinner. So he just went in and used Yarrow's typewriter to get the poem out of his head. Then, he forgot about it. Years later, a friend called and told him Yarrow was looking for him, to give him credit for the lyrics. Lipton had actually forgotten about the poem. The original poem had a verse that did not make it into the song. In it, Puff found another child and played with him after returning. Neither Yarrow nor Lipton remember the verse in any detail, and the paper that was left in Yarrow's typewriter in 1958 has since been lost.



Our Day Will Come -- Ruby and The Romantics (lyrics)

Dionne Warwick recorded the original demo of the song for songwriter Bob Hilliard and she told him how much she liked it. Dionne recalls, "It was written during that period of time when I met Bacharach and David. Bob Hilliard wrote the song also and he said: 'I've got a good little song here and there's a new group called 'Ruby and the Romantics' and will you do the demonstration record?' I said: 'Of course. I'd love to. And I did. And I told him then that it was a really pretty song." In 1982 Dionne Warwick included it as her only cover on her 1982 album Heartbreaker. An Abraham Lincoln quotation over the stage in the auditorium at Akron Central High School, where the group members attended may have been the inspiration for "Our Day Will Come" - "I will study and get ready, and some day my chance will come". Those who attended Akron Central High School in the early 1960s will recall hearing that song sung between classes by members of the group. The follow-up, "My Summer Love" reached #16 on the Hot 100 and a third release, the original version of "Hey There Lonely Boy" climbed to #27. As of 2003, Ruby was working in Barberton, Ohio at The Salvation Army thrift store. Though she rarely sings anymore, she will still sing with her church choir. She also says that she receives no money from the use of her songs.



You've Really Got a Hold On Me -- The Miracles (lyrics)

Miracles leader Smokey Robinson wrote this song for his wife Claudette after hearing Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me" on the radio. Claudette was a singer in The Miracles. She and Robinson had two children - Berry, named after Motown president Berry Gordy, and Tamla, named after Gordy's record label The Miracles recorded on. When Motown was growing into a dominant label in 1962, they set up a tour where many of their acts performed together around the United States. For many people, this was their first look at Motown acts like The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. This was the biggest Motown hit at the time, so The Miracles closed the shows with it. During their nineteen-year run on the American music charts, The Miracles charted over fifty hits and recorded in the genres of doo-wop, soul, disco, and R/B. Twenty-six Miracles songs reached the Top Ten of the Billboard R/B singles chart, including four R/B number ones. Sixteen of the Miracles' songs charted within the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, with seven songs charting within the Top Ten and two – 1970's "The Tears of a Clown" and 1975's "Love Machine" (Part 1) – reaching number-one. Although Robinson left the band in 1971, the original Miracles, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Claudette Rogers and Robinson, re-united in Detroit in 2007 to celebrate the group's 50th anniversary, and performed in a tribute to Motown founder Barry Gordy.



And Then He Kissed Me -- The Crystals (lyrics

This was the very first recording by the Crystals to feature all 4 members. (The year before, they lost a fifth member when Mary Thomas departed to marry). Dolores "La La" Brooks sang lead on this and for the rest of their career as a group. By July, 1963, Phil Spector had already made the Top 100 with 7 chart hits that he produced. He successfully ended his partnership with Lester Sill and began his marriage to Annette Merar. Shortly after his marriage, Spector traveled to New York looking for a song to follow up on the Crystals success with "Da Doo Ron Ron." "Then He Kissed Me" was the perfect song for the group and Phil put together one of his most extravagant productions for the record.Spector produced this using his "Wall Of Sound" technique, which meant long hours in the studio for the musicians, as Spector was notoriously stingy allowing breaks. His engineer Larry Levine recalled: "He didn’t want to give them a bathroom break. Not because he wanted to work them to death, but because he didn’t want them to move microphones or bodies or anything. He wanted everything to stay as it was in the studio. But he would work for three hours or more before we ever put anything on tape. And I think the reason was he wanted to tire these great musicians so that they weren’t playing individualistic; they were too tired. And so they just melded into this wall of sound." In 1987, this song was used in the opening of the movie "Adventures in Babysitting."



Ring of Fire -- Johnny Cash (lyrics)

This was written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore. Kilgore wrote several other Country hits, acted in a few movies, and became a manager for artists like Hank Williams. Kilgore was best man when Carter married Cash. June Carter wrote the lyrics about her relationship with Johnny Cash. She felt being around Cash was like being in a "ring of fire." Cash was involved in drugs and had a very volatile lifestyle. When she wrote this, both June and Johnny were married, but they became singing partners and close friends. By 1967, Cash and Carter were single again and they got married in 1968. Johnny claimed that June saved his life by helping him get off drugs. June died in 2003 after 35 years of marriage to Johnny. In her autobiography I Walked the Line, Johnny Cash's first wife, Vivian Cash, denies that June Carter had any part in writing "Ring of Fire." In her words: "She didn't write that song any more than I did. The truth is, Johnny wrote that song, while pilled up and drunk, about a certain private female body part."



So Much in Love -- The Tymes (lyrics

In 2005 The Tymes were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. As of 2006, they were still performing, with three of the original five group members; they appeared on the PBS special My Music: Love Songs of the 50s and 60s.The Tymes had hits in the UK in the 1960s and 1970s with songs such as "So Much in Love", a U.S. chart topper and million-seller in 1963, "You Little Trustmaker" and "Ms Grace". The last of these became the group's biggest UK hit, reaching Number One in the UK Singles Chart in 1975, but barely dented the Billboard Hot 100 after the success of "So Much in Love". "Ms Grace", while only charting modestly in the U.S., was and remains a regional hit with the Carolina Beach Music scene. The group was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1956 as the Latineers, by Donald Banks, Albert Berry, Norman Burnett, and George Hilliard. After a four year stint on Philadelphia's club circuit, they recruited a new lead vocalist, George Williams in 1960, and changed their name to The Tymes.



Bonus Track

Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah (A Letter from Camp) -- Allan Sherman (lyrics

The music is based on the 1876 Ponchielli opera "Dance Of The Hours." Sherman wrote the lyrics, which are a comical letter from a boy at camp. Sherman was a writer onThe Steve Allen Show and created the game show. He went on to record comedy albums. Sherman's career success was short-lived: after peaking in 1963, his popularity declined rather quickly. After the JFK assassination, impersonator Vaughn Meader vowed to never again do a Kennedy impression, and perhaps because of this ominous shadow – Meader was a very popular parody impressionist of the day – and the resulting reluctance to book such acts, the public saw less of Sherman's type of comedy. By 1965, Sherman had released two albums that did not make the Top 50 and in 1966, Warner Bros. dropped him from the label. His last album for the company, Togetherness, was released in 1967 to poor reviews and poorer sales. All of Sherman's previous releases had been recorded in front of a live studio audience, but Togetherness was not, and the lack of an audience and their response affected the result, as did the nondescript backup singers and studio orchestra. Late in his life, Sherman drank and ate heavily which resulted in a dangerous weight gain; he later developed diabetes and struggled with lung disease. In 1966, his wife Dee filed for divorce and received full custody of their son and daughter. Sherman lived on unemployment benefits for a time and moved into the Motion Picture Home near Calabasas, California for a short time to lose weight. He died of emphysema at home in West Hollywood ten days before his 49th birthday. He is entombed in Culver City, California's Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery.

No surprise the New York Times is assisting the enemy.

"You have a choice between war and dishonor. You will choose dishonor, you will get war." Simply brilliant!

This video is 11 minutes long, but is one of the most impassioned speeches I've ever heard coming out of Britain. Churchill would be proud.

Ten Great Songs From One Great Year

1983
(for a previous 1983 list, click here)

This was one of the best years in rock music history. In fact, my original list (the one I start from each week) had over 90 songs that I was considering for this week (I usually have about 40). The year started with the official completion of the migration of the ARPANET to TCP/IP. Later this month, Lotus 1-2-3 officially hits the shelves, bringing in a new way to create spreadsheets on computers. The early part of 1983 also brought the end of the Klaus Barbie trial and of M*A*S*H, the longest running sitcom on television. The final 2-hour episode becomes the most watched show in history.

In March, President Ronald Reagan makes his initial proposal to develop technology to intercept enemy missiles. The media dub this plan "Star Wars". Two weeks later, an Islamic terror organization, The Islamic Jihad, kills 63 people when they set off a bomb at the US Embassy in Beirut. This was the is seen by some as marking the beginning of anti-U.S. attacks by Islamist groups. Just a few months later, simultaneous suicide truck-bombings destroy both the French and the United States Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, killing 241 U.S. servicemen, 58 French paratroopers and 6 Lebanese civilians. Two days later, American forces invade the Island nation of Grenada. The ensuing way resulted in a restoration of its constitutional government.

In September, Korean Air Lines Flight 007 is shot down by a Soviet Union jet fighter near Moneron Island when the commercial aircraft enters Soviet airspace. All 269 on board are killed including U.S. Congressman Larry McDonald. In response, Reagan ordered the U.S. military to make the developing Global Positioning System (GPS) available for civilian use so that navigational errors like that of KAL 007 could be averted in the future.

In November, Resident Reagan signs a bill creating a federal holiday on the third Monday of every January to honor American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. A week later, the Rev. Jesse Jackson announces his intention to run for President. The immunosuppressant cyclosporine is approved by the FDA, leading to a revolution in the field of transplantation. This drug has been kst responsible for my survival these past 9 years.

Burning Down the House -- Talking Heads (lyrics)

With a lot of help from MTV, who gave the video a lot of play, this song became Talking Heads biggest hit. It received a get a great deal of radio play at the time and has endured as an '80s classic and is often used in movies and TV shows, including Gilmore Girls, 13 Going on 30, Six Feet Under, Revenge of the Nerds and Someone Like You. Talking Heads also performed it in their 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense. Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz is a fan of Funk, and it was a P-Funk show in New York City that inspired this track. When he heard the crowd imploring the band to "Burn Down The House", he got the idea for the title. As he explained in a 1984 interview with National Public Radio (NPR), he and Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth, who is also his wife, created the original track in a jam, then took it to the band where they refined the groove. To form the lyrics, they picked words that fit the rhythms, which is why the words don't make a lot of sense. This is common practice in the world of Funk, where you don't want the lyric to get in the way of the groove on a feel good song.

I Won't Hold You Back -- Toto (lyrics)

Toto IV received six Grammy Awards including Record of the Year for "Rosanna", Album of the Year and Producer of the Year for the band. It reached number four on the Billboard Pop Albums chart shortly after its release in 1982. The single "Rosanna" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album's third single, "Africa", became the group's only Hot 100 #1 hit. Both songs were smash hits in the UK as well, reaching no. 12 and no. 3 respectively. "I Won't Hold You Back" came next and reached the top 10 in the US and the top 40 in the UK. With the success of "Africa", the album climbed back into the top 10 in early 1983. While the band realeased a few mire albums, and had some additional chart success, including the AC #1 "I'll Be Over You" (in 1986), this was the band's apex. While struggling to recreate their earlier successes, the band still recorded. However, their efforts did not recreate any real enthusiasm in the band and in 1992, one of the founders of Toto, drummer Jeff Porcaro suffered a heart attack and passed away at the age of 38. The band, though, continued and even though they disbanded for a couple of years (following their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009), the band reformed and reunited for a brief tour of Europe in the summer to benefit Mike Porcaro Jeff's brother and also a founding member), who has ALS.



Family Man -- Daryl Hall and John Oates (lyrics)

The song is about a chance meeting between a prostitute and a married man who is not interested in having sex with her as he's a family man. She lowers her price and flirts, he is tempted but fortunately by the time he was ready to succumb she'd gone. No one took the idea of MTV more seriously than the duo, who used the medium greatly to their advantage. In 1987, Daryl Hall commented that if not for MTV, it was very likely their career would have been over after "Sara Smile." Today, the two are still very much in the music world. John Oates has recorded with a number of bands in the past few years and Hall is the host of a popular webcast, titled "Live from Dayrl's House." In it, he interviews and performs with guests from all over the rock and roll spectrum. He has also performed live on PBS' Soundstage program and American Idol, as a guest host. This past September, Hall released his 5th solo studio album, Laughing Down Crying. It was his first collection of new material in 15 years.

I Know There's Something Going On -- Frida (lyrics)

Frida is Anni-Frid Lyngstad, a former member of Abba. This was her first and only US chart hit after the group broke up in 1982. This song was written by Russ Ballard, who was lead singer of the band Argent. At this time, he was a much sought after producer and was the man responsible for America's comeback the year before (he co-wrote "You Can Do Magic" with Gerry Beckley). However, this song was also co-written by Phil Collins, who was becoming a superstar in his own right. Collins also plays the amazing drumming on the track, as well as singing backup. The lyrics are about a woman who is convinced her man is cheating on her. Lyngstad has spent many years engaging in charity work - environmental protection in particular. In 2005, she stated in an interview that she had no interest in ever returning to a music career. She currently lives in Zermatt, Switzerland.

Mr. Roboto -- Styx (lyrics)

The album title, Kilroy Was Here, is a phrase that was graffitied all over the place in the 1940s. It went along with a drawing of a creature with a big nose peering over a wall. No one is sure what the phrase means or where it originated, but it was seen in most of Europe and even in Japan during World War II. This slogan was painted in areas that the Allies occupied during the defeat of Germany and Japan. "Kilroy" is the main character of the album. He is a famous Rock Star who is sent to prison by a group called The Majority For Musical Morality. In jail, workers have been replaced by robots, and Kilroy escapes inside a robot costume (thus, Mr. Roboto). This song is about his escape from jail, and makes a statement about the dehumanizing of the working class. Their 1983 tour was a stage production based on the album. The band members wore costumes and had dialogue. However, because of the animosity between band members over the direction of the band (and the departure of sanity for making the band members dress up as if in a stage play), this (along with the single "Babe" a few years previous) began a rift the band was unable to overcome. Eventually, lead singer Dennis DeYoung was fired from the band and ensued a solo career. In 2009, DeYoung released One Hundred Years From Now in the U.S., his first full collection of new songs in some time. His former bandmates, however, still perform live. In November of last year, in what obviously is a slap in DeYoung's face, his name was removed from the history section of Styx's official website. Seriously.

The Smile Has Left Her Eyes -- Asia (lyrics)
 

John Wetton wrote this about bandmate Geoff Downes. In a 1983 magazine interview, Wetton said: "He was going through a complete emotional turmoil over a girl about a year and a half ago, and I identified so strongly that I went home and wrote the song in 5 minutes. Boom! Sat right down at the piano and there it was. If anything's straight from the heart, that song is." The band began upon the demise of Yes and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. However, it was not until 1981 that Geffen Records requested they begin writing new material. Through the popularity of MTV, this supergroup received heavy rotation on Music television - as many as 5 times a day. Furthermore, Billboard named the Asia debut as album of the year. In October 1983, Wetton was forced out of the group on the heels of the comparatively disappointing sales of their 2nd LP, Alpha. The band stated that Wetton quit and there is no universally agreed upon version of what happened. Wetton later revealed one factor may have been his alcohol dependency. In any event, the next leg of their 1983 US tour, scheduled for the fall, was abruptly cancelled, reportedly because of low ticket sales. Ex-King Crimson and ELP front man Greg Lake replaced Wetton for the highly publicized "Asia in Asia" concert at the Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan on Dec. 6, 1983, which was the first concert broadcast over satellite to MTV in the US and later made into a home video. Some of the songs had to be played in a lower key to suit Lake's voice and he read most of the lyrics from a teleprompter. This event spelled the end of the band. Even though they continue to record and release new material, They have never been able to recreate even a modicum of the success their first two albums created.



Overkill -- Men at Work (lyrics)

This was the first single from Men at Work's second album. Their first album, Business As Usual, was a huge hit and helped earn them a Grammy for Best New Artist. The band quickly went from a local Australian group to a worldwide success. Lead singer Colin Hay wrote this song and told us: "It was a song about what was happening at the time, the experience we were going through of stepping into the unknown. It's about having a fear about that, but also knowing that what was going to happen was inevitable. Leaving behind where you are and stepping into something which is out of your control to some degree. That's what it felt like at the time." He added, "That was the first song I wrote where I thought I might make a living as a songwriter. I was very happy with that song."
In 1984, the band took a long break as members pursued other interests and recovered from the two years of constant touring they'd done in support of both albums. However, upon releasing their next LP, only one song charted in the US, and that only at #47. By early 1986, the band was defunct and Hay was working on his first solo album. Colin Hay maintains a successful solo career and plays with Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band. Original band member Ron Strykert lives in Los Angeles, continues to play music and released his first solo album titled Paradise. He has expressed some resentment towards Hay, mainly over royalties. Saxophonist Greg Ham has remained musically active and currently plays sax with the Melbourne-based group The Nudist Funk Orchestra. Bassist John Rees is now a music teacher in Melbourne and Jerry Speiser plays drums for the band The Afterburner.



Promises, Promises -- Naked Eyes (lyrics)

Naked Eyes consisted originally of childhood friends from Bath, England: Pete Byrne on vocals and Rob Fisher on keyboards. The two had formerly played in a band called Neon with future members of Tears for Fears. Naked Eyes were one of the first bands to make significant use of the Fairlight CMI sampling synthesizer on a recording. Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush had used the instrument on prior efforts, but the usage had been far less than Naked Eyes would employ on their debut effort. The debut album Burning Bridges was produced by Tony Mansfield, along with the follow-up album Fuel for the Fire, which also featured two titles produced by Arthur Baker. Their second and third singles, "Promises, Promises" (which appears in an episode of the TV series Knight Rider, and the 12" mix of which features vocals from Madonna) and "When the Lights Go Out", were also hit singles, mainly in the U.S. and in Canada. However, their second album Fuel for the Fire and the single "(What) In the Name of Love", were not as well-received, and the group broke up soon after its release. Fisher sadly died in following surgery. However, Byrne put a new band together and continues to record under the Naked Eyes name. On 2007, they released Fumbling with the Covers, an acoustic album which consisted of covers of Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Elvis Costello songs, along with with his own hits. Currently, the band is finishing work on Rapid Heartbeat. The album is to be released in the summer.



Suddenly Last Summer -- The Motels (lyrics)

This is quite a mysterious song - one that leaves us wondering what exactly happened last summer. According to Motels frontwoman Martha Davis, it was not a specific relationship that inspired the song, but something more complex. She explained in Beyond Race magazine: "'Suddenly Last Summer' woke me up at 3am one morning. It seems that it is a time travel tune because it conjures up images as far back as when I was 12. I believe the song to be about irrevocable change, the loss of innocence, the melancholy associated with not being able to go home again. When I was still living in Berkeley, in my early 20s, I remember sitting in the back yard of the little house I bought after my parents died. It was the end of summer. From down the street, I heard the sound of the ice cream truck with its haunting little song. As I lay there, the first cold wind of autumn started to blow and I knew I would not see the truck again that year, and that summer was over. That incident resonated with me and I think the bells from that truck became the concept for repeating melodic line that runs through 'Suddenly.'" This song ties with their previous hit, "Only The Lonely," for The Motels' highest-charting single. However, it is also their only #1 hit, albeit on the Mainstream Rock chart. The Motels came out of the burgeoning Los Angeles Punk scene and released their first album in 1979. They went through several member changes, and in 1987 they broke up when Martha Davis started her solo career.

I'm Still Standing -- Elton John (lyrics)

The video went over very well on MTV, which helped propel the song up the charts and introduce Elton to a younger audience. With lots of scantily clad and painted people, the colorful video made this Elton's first MTV hit, and showed he was ready to embrace the format, something not every established star was willing to do. It helped the Elton is from England, where videos were popular long before MTV went on the air in 1981. With lyrics by Bernie Taupin, this song is directed at a former lover, as Elton sings about how he is still standing strong without this person. It's most likely not based on personal experience, but conveys a universal theme of finding confidence after a difficult breakup. It's a very uptempo song with some harsh lyrics: "You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use." Taupin and John initially ended their songwriting relationship in 1977. However, they began to collaborate again starting in 1983 (although he did contribute a few songs to Elton's releases during the break). It isn't a coincidence that the reconnection ushered in a major comeback for John.



BONUS TRACK

Why Can't it Wait till Morning -- Phil Collins (lyrics)

This song was from his second solo album Hello, I Must Be Going! It was the fifth single released from the album and was only released in the UK. At the time of this LP. Collins had already begun to make a name for himself as a solo artist in his own (as opposed to as a member of Genesis). The album was his second wildly successful one and featured the top 10 hit (#1 in the UK) "You Can't Hurry Love" - a cover of the Supremes' 1966 #1 hit. Following that album, Collins moved into a more adult-contemporary songwriting style, which - while alienating many Genesis fans, earned him superstardum in pop music circles. However, his continued involvement in Genesis enabled him to stay in their good graces. Personally, this has always been my favorite song of his.

Ten Great Songs From One Great Year

1992

Following the fall of the Iron Curtain, the Russian Federation was created on the first day of the new year. A week later, in what could not have been a reaction, President Bush falls violently ill during a dinner in his honor in Japan. A week after that, The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia begins to break up. Slovenia and Croatia gain independence and international recognition in some Western countries.

In February, serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is sentenced to life in prison. Two years later, he was beaten to death by another inmate. In April, fuel that leaked into a sewer explodes in Guadalajara, Mexico, killing 215 and injuring 1,500 more. Later that week, the acquittal of four police officers in the Rodney King beating criminal trial triggers massive rioting in Los Angeles. The riots will last for six days resulting in 53 deaths and over a $1 billion in damages before order is restored.

August brought in Hurricane Andrew. Only the third category 5 storm to hit the mainland, slams into south Florida, and then Louisiana, and causes a record $26.5 billion in damage before dying out. In October, after performing a song protesting alleged child abuse by the Catholic Church, Sinéad O'Connor rips up a photo of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live, causing huge controversy, leading the switchboards at NBC to ring off the hook.

November brought in a change of leadership in the U.S. as Bill Clinton defeats George Bush to win the Presidential election. Just one year earlier, Bush enjoyed an over 80% approval rating following the first Gulf War. However, economic insecurity doomed his presidency. In December, Prince Charles and Princess Diana publicly announce their separation. Unfortunately, the Princess would be dead in just 5 years.

Smells Like Teen Spirit -- Nirvana (lyrics)

Kurt Cobain wrote this song for Nirvana; it came together in a jam session when he played it for the band. He said: "I was trying to write the ultimate pop song. I was basically trying to rip off The Pixies." Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of the group Bikini Kill, gave Cobain the idea for the title when she spray painted "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" on his bedroom wall after a night of drinking and spraying graffiti around the Seattle area. In his pre-Courtney Love days, Cobain went out with Bikini Kill lead singer Tobi Vail, but she dumped him. Vail wore Teen Spirit deodorant, and Hanna was implying that Cobain was marked with her scent.

Under the Bridge -- Red Hot Chili Peppers (lyrics)

Lead singer Anthony Kiedis wrote this about his days as a heroin addict and the loneliness that went with it. The bridge mentioned in the song is a place where he sometimes went to buy drugs and get high. This was the biggest hit for The Red Hot Chili Peppers, but it was not typical of their sound. This was a ballad, but most of their songs to that point were hard Rock or Funk. This was particularly challenging for Kiedis to sing during the Blood Sugar Sex Magik tour, but the Chili Peppers became comfortable with the sound and followed this up with more slower singles like "Soul To Squeeze" and "Breaking The Girl."



Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough -- Patty Smyth and Don Henley (lyrics)

Many songs are about love, but this one takes a melancholy look at what happens when love isn't enough to keep a couple together. Recorded as a duet, we get both sides of the story, as Henley and Smyth sing about how the best thing for their relationship is for it to end. She had worked with him on his albums Building The Perfect Beast and The End of the Innocence - her singing is most obvious in the song "Sunset Grill." She played him a demo version of the song that she recorded with Glen Burtnik (from Styx), and Henley loved it. Glen explained: "There was the harmony part I was singing with Patty which he learned and sang beautifully when he agreed to appear on her record. I feel forever indebted to Don Henley for his appearing on her recording. He was at the peak of his solo years and I believe it drew attention to the song which might not have happened otherwise."

Little Miss Can't Be Wrong -- The Spin Doctors (lyrics)

This was the second single released from their debut LP, Pocket Full of Kryptonite (the other being "Two Princes"). The history of the Spin Doctors can be traced back to the late 1980s in New York City, originally as a band called Trucking Company, which included Canadian guitarist Eric Schenkman, John Popper, and later Chris Barron, who was John Popper's Princeton, New Jersey high school friend. Popper left this side project to focus on his main gig with Blues Traveler full time. With a name change to Spin Doctors, as well as the addition of Aaron Comess and Mark White, the classic lineup was in place by the spring of 1989.



Right Now -- Van Halen (lyrics)

The song is a message about living in the moment. It came at a time of worldwide political change, especially in Eastern Europe and The Soviet Union. In 1993, this was used in commercials for Crystal Pepsi, a clear cola. The commercials were good, but the product was a huge flop as consumers decided they would rather not see through their soft drink. The group was criticized for "selling out" when the ads came out, but they did it because Pepsi was going to use the song with or without them. Pepsi got the rights to the song, and would have had a sound-alike group record it. Van Halen figured it was best to let them use their version and at least get paid for it. Carolyn Mayer Beug, who also worked with Rod Stewart and Dwight Yoakam, directed the video. She was on board flight 11, which was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

All I Want - Toad The Wet Sprocket (lyrics)

Toad the Wet Sprocket was formed in 1986 at San Marcos High School just outside of Santa Barbara, California, when singer/songwriter Glen Phillips was only 14 and a freshman; the other members were 17 and juniors. The band drew its name from the Eric Idle monologue "Rock Notes" on Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album from 1980, although the name is featured in a parody of The Old Grey Whistle Test on Rutland Weekend Television in 1975. The band's first public appearance was at an open-mic talent contest in September 1986. The band lost the competition. Toad the Wet Sprocket's first album came out in 1989. Bread and Circus was self-financed through their label, Abe Records. The album spawned the singles "Way Away" and "One Little Girl," which made the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, but did not receive much attention. The band finally achieved fame with their third album, Fear. The album was released in 1991, and saw the singles "All I Want" and "Walk on the Ocean" reach the top twenty of the Billboard Hot 100. The album became the band's first RIAA-certified platinum album. In 1992, the cult classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer featured the song "Little Heaven" and was included in the movie soundtrack and 1993, the Mike Myers feature film So I Married an Axe Murderer included the song "Brother" on its soundtrack. Toad the Wet Sprocket formally broke up in July 1998, citing creative differences but temporarily reunited in late 2002, playing a benefit for the Rape Crisis Center in Santa Barbara, and opening a few shows for Counting Crows.

I Can't Make You Love Me -- Bonnie Raitt (lyrics)

This was written by songwriting team of Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin. Reid got the idea from a newspaper article about a guy who got drunk and shot up his girlfriend's car. When the judge sentenced him and asked him what he had learned, he said, "You can't make a woman love you if she don't." Before Mike Reid became a songwriter and Country music artist, he played defensive tackle for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. Although Raitt had been recording since 1971, this was only her second top 40 song. Bruce Hornsby ("The Way It Is") plays the piano on this track.

Jeremy -- Pearl Jam (lyrics)

This song is about a boy who kills himself at school to get revenge on the students who tormented him. It is based on the true story of Jeremy Delle, a 16 year old who killed himself in front of his English class at Richardson High School in Richardson, Texas on January 8, 1991. Eddie Vedder found out about Jeremy when he read an article an article about the incident in the Dallas Morning News, which read: "Because he had missed class, the teacher in his second-period English class told Jeremy to get an admittance slip from the school office. Instead, he returned with the gun, police said. He walked directly to the front of the classroom. 'Miss, I got what I really went for,' he said, then placed the barrel in his mouth and fired." The article adds that three Richardson students committed suicide in 1988. In 1996 Barry Loukaitis, a junior-high student in Washington State, shot and killed 2 students and a teacher when he went to school. He claimed he was copying the video for this song.

Drive -- R.E.M. (lyrics)

The central lyric, "Hey kids, rock n' roll," was borrowed from "Rock On" by David Essex. The words may be the same, but the mood is completely different. This is a much more somber song. Lead singer Michael Stipe explained in the November 12, 2009 issue of Rolling Stone: "There were, before Punk, a few songs that resonated with me. One was David Essex's "Rock On." "Drive" is a homage to that. It was the first song I wrote on computer. Before, I had a typewriter. The reason is my handwriting changes dramatically day to day. I don't trust it. I will write one of the best lyrics ever and discard it because the handwriting looks like s--t. Or the handwriting looks good but it's a crap lyric, lo and behold, it's in the song. Too late."



Why -- Annie Lennox (lyrics)

In November 2007, Annie Lennox was interviewed extensively by Malcolm Bragg on The South Bank Show. In this program she said that "Why," which was her first solo release, was a personal song related to her going solo; she wasn't sure that she could write songs by herself, or where she was going in music or in life. It took her about 10 minutes to write. "It's weird," she added, "Some songs are like that, while others are not." "Why" is the opening track on the Diva album.Lennox, of course, is best known for her work with the Eurythmics ("Sweet Dreams are Made of This").

BONUS TRACK

Boot Scootin' Boogie -- Brooks and Dunn (lyrics)

Brooks and Dunn recorded ten studio albums, one Christmas album and three compilation albums. They also released fifty singles, of which twenty went to number one on the Hot Country Songs charts and nineteen more reached top ten. They also won the Country Music Association Vocal Duo of the Year award every year between 1992 and 2006 (except for 2000). Alvin and the Chipmunks released a cover of this song, done in their signature style, for the 1993 re-release of Urban Chipmunk.