If you read this blog yesterday, you probably saw this coming a mile away. This is the song that denied "Nobody Does It Better" an Academy Award and a #1 spot on the Billboard charts.
If you didn't read this blog yesterday, you're probably wondering who Kasey Cisyk looks like Didi Conn (she doesn't - Cisyk sang, Conn lipsynced in a brilliant movie performance) and, more importantly, why this isn't Debbie Boone (her immense hit was a cover).
Either way, yesterday's blog got me to listening to this song, and I remembered how well-constructed it was. Give it a listen and a chance.
18 June 2018
18 June 2018 - Carly Simon - Nobody Does It Better
James Bond movie themes are a different animal than most other movie songs.
Before this one, they all shared the name of the movie. In this case, although the Marvin Hamlisch-penned song referenced the movie's title, it wasn't called The Spy Who Loved Me.
This song, although fondly remembered today, only made it to #2 on the Billboard charts... because the biggest hit of all time pre-Whitney was Debbie Boone's version of "You Light Up My Life", which spent 13 weeks at #1, in front of this song for three of them. "Nobody Does It Better" went on to also lose the Academy Award to Kasey Cisyk's version of "You Light Up My Life". AAAARRRGGGGGHH!
But enough about THAT song. This song is great. We should enjoy it today. Tomorrow is another day.
Before this one, they all shared the name of the movie. In this case, although the Marvin Hamlisch-penned song referenced the movie's title, it wasn't called The Spy Who Loved Me.
This song, although fondly remembered today, only made it to #2 on the Billboard charts... because the biggest hit of all time pre-Whitney was Debbie Boone's version of "You Light Up My Life", which spent 13 weeks at #1, in front of this song for three of them. "Nobody Does It Better" went on to also lose the Academy Award to Kasey Cisyk's version of "You Light Up My Life". AAAARRRGGGGGHH!
But enough about THAT song. This song is great. We should enjoy it today. Tomorrow is another day.
15 June 2018
15 June 2018 - Coolio feat. L.V. - Gangsta's Paradise
From the 1995 movie Dangerous Minds, this was Coolio's biggest hit by far, and one that he took very seriously. I'm sure you've heard it, but I always want to give you a fact about these songs you didn't know.
This song doesn't have a clean version - because it doesn't need one. There's no profanities in it, at all. This is because the song leans heavily on a sample of the song "Pasttime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder, who wouldn't approve the sample unless there was no profanity used in the song (which, by the way, was loved by Stevie in its last version).
So, feel confident that Stevie Wonder is keeping your kids safe.
This song doesn't have a clean version - because it doesn't need one. There's no profanities in it, at all. This is because the song leans heavily on a sample of the song "Pasttime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder, who wouldn't approve the sample unless there was no profanity used in the song (which, by the way, was loved by Stevie in its last version).
So, feel confident that Stevie Wonder is keeping your kids safe.
14 June 2018
14 June 2018 - Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive
It's a little hard to believe it's taken us THIS LONG to post The Bee Gees, arguably the most underrated group in history. Because of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack that they put together, and largely because of this song, the group is remembered for their dated disco work. However, they were producers and hitmakers long BEFORE and long AFTER this song.
Unfortunately, they also did that ill-advised Sgt. Pepper movie, which probably hasn't helped with their reputation.
Back to this song, though. It set the mood for the whole movie and, really, the entire disco era. It's now remembered fondly, although Barry Gibb's extreme falsetto was frequently ridiculed in the years immediately following the death of disco. Now, I wish I had his voice.
The song is so awesome, they did a 2nd video for it, in a pre-MTV era where a video wasn't a foregone conclusion.
Unfortunately, they also did that ill-advised Sgt. Pepper movie, which probably hasn't helped with their reputation.
Back to this song, though. It set the mood for the whole movie and, really, the entire disco era. It's now remembered fondly, although Barry Gibb's extreme falsetto was frequently ridiculed in the years immediately following the death of disco. Now, I wish I had his voice.
The song is so awesome, they did a 2nd video for it, in a pre-MTV era where a video wasn't a foregone conclusion.
13 June 2018
13 June 2018 - B.J. Thomas - Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
If you've seen Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, you know this song comes as a jarring and unexpected but pleasant surprise in that movie. If you haven't, you might be surprised to learn that this song was written for a movie, by the famed songwriting team Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It would be the first of many Number 1 hits for B.J. Thomas as well.
It's justifiably considered one of the greatest movie songs of all time, even winning the Academy Award for Best Song in 1970.
It's justifiably considered one of the greatest movie songs of all time, even winning the Academy Award for Best Song in 1970.
12 June 2018
12 June 2018 - Dolly Parton - 9 To 5
This song (and movie) was the first that a lot of people outside of country music fans had heard of the well-established Dolly Parton. The movie itself was the brainchild of co-star Jane Fonda, but Dolly's song (and acting) propelled the working-class movie to another level. It was a huge crossover hit - one of the biggest of 1980 - and remains a pop-country classic to this day.
11 June 2018
11 June 2018 - Olivia Newton John - Twist Of Fate
This was ONJ's last US Top 10 hit, and it was a doozy.....
A synth-pop classic to accompany a movie she did with the-fading-star John Travolta, in kind of a Grease reunion. Two of a Kind was a terrible film - and everyone knows it - but this soundtrack, which was a bigger hit than the film, saved it.
A synth-pop classic to accompany a movie she did with the-fading-star John Travolta, in kind of a Grease reunion. Two of a Kind was a terrible film - and everyone knows it - but this soundtrack, which was a bigger hit than the film, saved it.
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