All things considered, it’s possible that this might be the song of the year for 2026.
Category Archives: Music Review
Music Video of the Day: I Can’t Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar (1984, dir by Gil Bettman)
52 years ago, on a date that will live in infamy, President Richard Nixon signed into law the national speed limit of 55 Miles Per Hour. Though the law was later repealed, the scourge of the speed limit continues.
Though this song is just a little before my time, it still feels like it was specifically recorded just for me. I have always considered traffic laws, not just the laws themselves but the way they are enforced, to be the epitome of everything that can go wrong when people blindly respect authority.
As for the video, it also feels like it was specifically filmed for me. It’s actually a fun little video with a sense of humor and who hasn’t wanted to tell a traffic judge what he can do with his gavel?
Enjoy!
Music Video of the Day: The Heart of Rock & Roll by Huey Lewis and the News (1983, directed by Edd Griles)
Huey Lewis and the News don’t get the respect they deserve and no, that Patrick Bateman monologue doesn’t count.
The Heart of Rock & Roll was inspired by a gig that the band played in Cleveland. Before the performance, Lewis felt that the band’s hometown of San Francisco had the world’s best rock music fans but, after being greeted by an enthusiastic crowd in Cleveland, he realized that there were true rock and roll fans all over America. “The heart of rock and roll is in Cleveland,” Huey said but when it came time to write the song, it was decided that “still beating” sounded better.
(The band actually directed several regional versions of the song. If you heard the song on the radio in Maryland, Huey included a shout-out to Baltimore. If you were in Texas, he would mention Dallas and Houston. In Canada, he gave credit to Toronto.)
The music video was directed by Edd Griles. Shooting occurred in several different locations while the band was touring. The New York shoot was the most difficult as it lasted for 13 hours and in freezing weather. Amongst the rock and roll greats included in the video: Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Bill Haley, Roy Orbison, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry.
Enjoy!
Music Video of the Day: Any Way You Want It by Journey (1980, directed by ????)
To me, there is no better way to close out the year than with this classic song from Journey! Have a happy and safe New Year’s Eve!
Ever since I first saw Caddyshack (not to mention the episode of The Simpsons were Rodney Dangerfield played Mr. Burns’ son), Any Way You Want It has always been my favorite Journey song. The video is also Journey at its best, simple, without pretension, and rocking!
Song of the Day: Leave Home by The Chemical Brothers
With 2025 soon to be forgotten, now seems like a good time to share one of my favorite songs from The Chemical Brothers.
Music Video of the Day: Far From Over by Frank Stallone (1983, dir by Sylvester Stallone)
2025 may soon come to a close but have no fear. As Frank Stallone reminds us, we are far from over!
Enjoy!
Song of the Day: Machine Gun by Commodores
For today’s song of the day, I wanted to give people a chance dance, even if just while sitting at their desk. Here are the Commodores with Machine Gun.
Song of the Day: Moi Je Jou by Brigitte Bardot
RIP, Brigitte Bardot.
Song of the Day: We Are One By Lydia
When the infamous epic Caligula was first released back in 1979, a disco version of Caligula’s love theme — We Are One — was also released as a promotional gimmick.
This song is so over-the-top, so blatantly exploitive, so insidiously catchy, and so totally inappropriate for so many reasons that become clear after you watch the film it was written for that it simply cannot be ignored. To me, this song represents everything that makes the Grindhouse great.
(As well, I hope whoever was playing bass got paid extra…)
Song of the Day: Main Theme From The War of the Worlds by Leith Stevens
Today’s song of the day is the orchestral theme from the 1953 sci-fi classic, War of the Worlds.
