17 November 2021 - Carole King - So Far Away

Carole King was - is - a prolific songwriter who could sing.  She released her second album, Tapestry, in 1971, and it became a worldwide sensation.  Winning several Grammys, it also spent 15 weeks on top of the Billboard Top 200 album chart, the longest any woman has held the spot.  

This song, a highlight of Tapestry, was a top 20 hit for her in October of that year.  Supported by James Taylor on guitar, the song is very straight-forward about missing someone who isn't there. However, the song isn't just about physical, but also emotional distance.  It's a song full of meloncholy on several levels.  

All these years later, she still performs the song.  Here she is, with James Taylor, in 2013, at the Boston Strong concert, doing an earnest and possibly too chipper version of the tune.  

16 November 2021 - Elvis Presley - My Way

Should this be on Totally Covered?  Yeah, probably.   It was, at least lyrically, written by Paul Anka and popularized by Frank Sinatra in 1969.  

15 November 2021 - Michelle Branch - Everywhere

OK, I admit it.  

I like Michelle Branch.  

She was one of the first artists I felt like I was "too old" to enjoy, a sentiment I have CLEARLY overcome.  But, in 2001, I was in a place in my life where that was a reality.  

In 2021, I realize that that is not a sentiment anyone should have.  

Especially with this song!  It's a brilliant pop-rock masterpiece, co-written by Branch, dealing with the early throes of falling in love - or so it's been intepreted. Branch herself has said that the song is ambiguous on purpose, leaving its meaning to the listener to determine.  Combined with her earnest performance, it ended up being a top 20 hit and one of her biggest worldwide.   

12 November 2021 - The Beatles - Something

Written by George Harrison as a tribute to his then-wife, this was considered by John Lennon himself to be the best song on the Abbey Road album. The 1970 promotional film that followed (and is today's post) was recorded after John Lennon announced his departure from The Beatles - the four members are filmed at their homes with their respective wifes and edited together.  

The song itself is on its surface a straightforward love song - the narrator is complementary towards the source of his affection.  However, the bridge brings the straightforward love to reality - that there is a lot of things unknown for the future, but lovers will still strive together towards an unknown goal.  The guitar solo after that bridge by Harrison is considered one of the greatest of all time.

11 November 2021 - Jewel - You Were Meant For Me

In 1995, Alaska native Jewel Kilcher dropped her last name and her debut album, Pieces of Me.  The album was a hit and generated several singles.   This, her 2nd single from that album, would prove to be the biggest hit of her career, reaching #2 on the US Singles chart. 

The song itself seems like a sad song - it is clearly narrated by a woman struggling with a breakup she doesn't want or now regrets. It can, however, be interpreted as happy - she's getting on with her life despite these feelings, while not losing the emotion that seems sad but is more hopeful.  

10 November 2021 - Lakuna - Lemongrass

Under the Lakuna name, Newport, RI graphic artist David Narcizo has done some music - along with his wife, Melissa - that is more audio experimentation and less traditional music, but using obscure sound samples and tape loops still make for excellent and entertaining sound.  

This song, from 1999's Castle of Crime, is perhaps Lakuna's best known song. It builds from a very industrial opening into a creamy melodic center, with a stark finale.  

9 November 2021 - Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is

This 1984 song was Foreigner's biggest hit in the United States AND the UK, the two home countries of the band.  Lead singer Lou Gramm hails from the greatest city in America, Rochester, NY.  I'm not at all biased.

Gramm's soulful voice is what makes this such a great song.  It's clearly a love song - but it's a deeper love song, which goes right to the fear of that initial love - not being sure if you can face the heartache and pain that could happen, but at the same time, love finds the narrator.  Backed by the New Jersey Mass Choir, the song gets a larger-than-life feeling that matches the subject matter.