Martha Reeves, lead singer of the Vandellas, was responsible for reshaping the song from its early form. She felt it was too repetitive and recalled Marvin Gaye singing it as though serenading a lover. Reeves, instead, envisioned block parties and…
Blog Archives
The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart) 2009 – Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett
This 2010 Academy Award-winning song is one of my favourite country ballads, and an unusual one at that. Typically, such songs are about love, heartbreak, or rural life. But The Weary Kind feels more like a piece of hard-earned advice…
The Way It Is (1986) – Bruce Hornsby and the Range
As a teen hearing this song – The Way It Is, I liked the catchy piano riffs and Hornsby’s cool, intimate vocals, even though it seemed to appeal more to an adult audience with its steady tempo and jazz-inflected sound.…
Free as a Bird (Anthology 1 Version) 1995 – The Beatles
Fellow blogger Nancy at The Elephant’s Trunk posted today’s featured track by the Beatles – Free As A Bird – a reworked version released in 1995 from a home demo John Lennon recorded in 1977. I was so impressed with…
Goodbye Again (1989) – Mary Chapin Carpenter
I had heard of Mary Chapin Carpenter’s name before, but I didn’t recall her music until my friend Christian in New York mentioned today’s featured song – Goodbye Again in his blog. I found it such a haunting and heartfelt…
Aquero (2019) – Bernadette de Lourdes Musical (Ft. Eyma)
I first came across Aquero from the French musical Bernadette de Lourdes when I saw its trailer at my local cinema a few weeks ago. The moment I heard Eyma (pictured above), who plays Bernadette Soubirous, sing the chorus, it…
Love Hurts (1961) – Roy Orbison
Love Hurts was written and composed by the American songwriter Boudleaux Bryant. It was first recorded by the Everly Brothers in July 1960, but was never released as a single due to a falling out with the manager. Love Hurts was first released…
The Valley of Swords (1979) – Mike Batt & Friends
The Valley of Swords by Mike Batt (image left) comes from the No. 1 album in our household growing up, Tarot Suite. This 40-minute record, inspired by tarot card imagery, blends orchestral flourishes with progressive rock and folk influences. My…
Terrible Love (2010) – The National
Terrible Love is another track by the American indie rock band The National defined by its atmospheric soundscapes and dense instrumentation. It’s a slow-burning, melodic piece that builds gradually – much like Runaway, which I featured here last year. Both…
The Unguarded Moment (1981) – The Church
If there was one song that encapsulated the frenetic, anticipatory glee of my late-teen party days, it would have to be today’s featured track – The Unguarded Moment. I can still picture it blasting through the corridor of our Academy…
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