Category Archives: Song of the Day

Song of the Day: Faithfully (by Journey)

Posted on by Arleigh

Back in junior high in the early ’80s, Faithfully dropped in 1983 on Journey’s Frontiers album, and those haunting piano chords instantly hooked us during slow skates or late-night mix tapes. Steve Perry’s raw, soaring voice captured the ache of young love stretching across town, turning everyday pangs into something profound. Even by 1988, deep into high school, it had evolved into a staple power ballad at dances and teen parties, standing tall among the era’s anthems.

What elevated it to one of Journey’s all-time greatest was its blend of emotional depth and universal appeal—highways symbolizing distance, hearts straining but vowing “to be there faithfully,” all without the bombast of hair metal excess. It felt authentic, perfect for those fog-shrouded bus rides home, fueling dreams amid neon-lit awkwardness. Rock historians often hail it as the pinnacle of ’80s power ballads, outshining peers with its sincerity and that unforgettable guitar climb.

Hearing it today still transports me to cassette decks and feathered hair, a true time capsule of innocence. Journey mastered crafting songs that promised soul-deep connection against all odds, cementing Faithfully as their crown jewel and the era’s ballad benchmark.

Faithfully

Highway run into the midnight sun
Wheels go ’round and ’round, you’re on my mind
Restless hearts sleep alone tonight
Sendin’ all my love along the wire

They say that the road ain’t no place to start a family
Right down the line it’s been you and me
And lovin’ a music man ain’t always what it’s supposed to be
Oh, girl you stand by me, I’m forever yours, faithfully

Circus life under the big top world
We all need the clowns to make us smile
Through space and time, always another show
Wondering where I am lost without you

And bein’ apart ain’t easy on this love affair
Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy of rediscovering you
Oh girl, you stand by me, I’m forever yours, faithfully

Faithfully, I’m still yours
I’m forever yours, ever yours
Faithfully

Song of the Day: Lady (by Kenny Rogers)

Posted on by Arleigh

Whenever I hear Kenny Rogers sing “Lady”, it takes me right back to those early ’80s days when life felt slower and simpler. The song would drift through the airwaves on a chilly evening, maybe from a clock radio sitting on my nightstand, and everything would just… pause for a minute. Back then, love songs like that didn’t try too hard — they just spoke straight to the heart. It was the soundtrack of hallway crushes, handwritten notes folded into perfect triangles, and the kind of hope only a teenager could carry.

What made “Lady” stand out wasn’t just Lionel Richie’s tender lyrics or the way he wrapped pop sophistication around a country soul — it was the way Kenny delivered it. His voice carried this warmth and ache that felt completely genuine, like he was singing directly to you. As great as the studio version was, his live performances somehow sounded even better — fuller, more heartfelt, the emotion right there in every note. You could feel that the song worked not just because it was written beautifully, but because Kenny Rogers had the rare ability to make you believe it.

Now, when the song sneaks up on me in a store or on a classic hits station, it’s like opening a window to a world that doesn’t exist anymore — one of Friday night roller rinks, slow dances, and dreams that seemed closer than they really were. “Lady” reminds me of who we were before everything sped up, when music had the power to stop time for three and a half minutes and make you believe in love, even if you didn’t quite understand it yet.

Lady

I’m your knight in shining armor and I love you
You have made me what I am, and
I am yours

My love
There’s so many ways I want to say I love you
Let me hold you in my arms forever more

You have gone and made me such a fool
And I’m so lost in your love
And oh, we belong together
Won’t you believe in my song?

Lady
For so many years
I thought I’d never find you
You have come into my life and
Made me whole

Forever
Let me wake to see you each and every morning
Let me hear you whisper softly
In my ear

And in my eyes (In my eyes)
I see no one else but you (I see no one else but you)
There’s no other love like our love
And, oh, girl I’ll always want you near me
I’ve waited for you for so long

Lady
Your love’s the only love I need
Oh, and beside me is where
I want you to be (I want you to be)
‘Cause, my love
There’s somethin’ I want you to know
You’re the love of my life
You’re my lady

Song of the Day: On the Wings of Love (by Jeffrey Osborne)

Posted on by Arleigh

Jeffrey Osborne’s On the Wings of Love always brings back the nostalgia of those junior high and high school dances—the dim lights, the cautious swaying, the mix of nerves and excitement that felt like the biggest deal in the world. It was one of those slow songs that seemed built for that moment: simple, heartfelt, and unafraid to wear its emotions openly. Hearing it again instantly puts you back in that space where a single dance could mean everything.

What stands out now, listening with older ears, is how raw and genuine it sounds. This was music from a time before autotune, when what you heard was pure singing talent—no filters, no layers of studio polish to smooth out the edges. Osborne’s voice carries every ounce of emotion on its own, steady and powerful, but full of warmth. That sincerity is what made the song feel so timeless; it wasn’t just about hitting the notes, it was about meaning them.

Revisiting On the Wings of Love today feels like a little time capsule from when love songs aimed straight for the heart, no tricks or irony. It captures an innocence that’s rare in modern pop—back when melody and emotion were enough to lift you. For February, it’s the perfect reminder that sometimes the purest expressions of love come from nothing more than a beautiful voice and a song that believes in what it’s saying.

On the Wings of Love

Just smile for me and let the day begin
You are the sunshine that lights my heart within
And I’m sure that you’re an angel in disguise
Come take my hand and together we will rise

On the wings of love, up and above the clouds
The only way to fly is on the wings of love
On the wings of love, only the two of us
Together flying high, flying high upon the wings of love

You look at me and I begin to melt
Just like the snow when a ray of sun is felt
And I’m crazy ’bout ya, baby, can’t you see
I’d be delighted if you would come with me

On the wings of love, up and above the clouds
The only way to fly is on the wings of love
On the wings of love, only the two of us
Together flying high, flying high upon the wings of love

Yes, you belong to me and I’m yours exclusively
Right now we live and breathe each other
Inseparable it seems, we’re flowing like a stream
Running free flowing on the wings of love

On the wings of love, up and above the clouds
The only way to fly is on the wings of love
On the wings of love, only the two of us
Together flying high, together flying high

On the wings of love, up and above the clouds
The only way to fly is on the wings of love
On the wings of love, only the two of us
Together flying high, together flying high
Upon the wings of love, of love

Song of the Day: Free by Michael Fredo

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today is National Freedom Day, which celebrates the anniversary of President Lincoln singing the joint House and Senate resolution that proposed the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Today’s song of the day is a favorite of mine and I think it deserves to be heard by more people.  Here is Michael Fredo with Free.

Ain’t never had a day, never had a day
Ain’t never had a day, never had a day

Rising up, the morning sun
Walking down the street, oh, my day has just begun
I’m feeling fine, what’s come over me?
Ain’t never had a day when I feel so, feel so

Feel so free
Ain’t never had a day, what’s come over me, baby?
Feel so free, yeah
Ain’t never had a day, what’s come over me?

I thought this day would never ever end
I felt so high (Felt so high)
I’d do it all again (I’d do it all again)
I can’t explain what’s been in my heart
It’s not about a girl (It’s not about a girl)
It’s about my day and how it started

Feel so free
Ain’t never had a day, what’s come over me, baby?
Feel so free, yeah
Ain’t never had a day when I can fly so, fly so

Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’ve waited for you so long and I cannot say goodbye
So come and fly with me
I’ll take you to a place that you would rather be

The day is done, the night is here
I look up to the sky with stars perfectly clear
The moon is full, I praise the Lord
For another day that we can say, we can say hey

Oh, oh, oh, ain’t never had a day, what’s come over me, baby?
Feel so free, yeah
Ain’t never had a day when I can, when I can groove with you
Never had a day, never had a day
Ain’t never had a day, what’s come over me, baby?
Feel so free, yeah

Never, never, never, never had a day

Free, free
Free, free

Song of the Day: Nothing Ever Happens On Mars from Waiting For Guffman

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today’s song of the day could probably double for a scene that I love but that’s okay.  I’ve always loved the Nothing Ever Happens On Mars song from Waiting to Guffman.

(Mars?  “Where’s that!?”)

It’s such a marvelous scene.  Yes, it captures the absurdity of regional theater but it also captures the underlying sweetness of it as well.  We may laugh but it’s still hard not to be touched by how much the members of the audience love it.

And, in the contest of the show, it’s a nice reminder that we’re not that different.  Martians get bored with their hometown as well!

Song of the Day: Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head, performed by BJ Thomas

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Because today is Paul Newman’s birthday, I figured today’s song of the day should come from one of his films.  There’s a tendency amongst some critics to be dismissive of the use of Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and it’s true that it’s not really the type of song that brings to mind robbing trains and dying in South America.

(Though we all know that Butch Cassidy — and maybe the Sundance Kid, too — actually survived and eventually returned to America.  We all know that, right?)

But, you know what?  It’s a song that really gets stuck in your head and somehow, it just feels appropriate for Paul Newman, an actor whose life wasn’t always happy (his son overdosed in 1976) but who was still almost always described as being one of the nicest guys around.  Plus, look at Paul on that bicycle!  How can you dislike this song?

 

Song of the Day: The Number of the Beast (by Iron Maiden)

Posted on by Arleigh

Iron Maiden’s “The Number of the Beast” has always been more than its fire-and-brimstone title suggests — it’s paranoia turned into power. The song’s galloping riffs and Bruce Dickinson’s almost theatrical wail capture the feeling of witnessing something apocalyptic yet beautiful. In the context of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, that sense of awe and fear fits perfectly with the film’s tone. The track mirrors the world’s collapse into ritual madness — humanity trying to reframe its pain through cultish belief, just as Maiden’s lyrics dance between religious imagery and sheer existential panic.

There’s also a rhythm to the song that mirrors how The Bone Temple paces its moments of horror and release. The pounding drums feel like the heartbeat of survivors, racing through collapsed cities while their faith in reason splinters. Just as Iron Maiden’s piece builds to a manic crescendo, the film layers intensity until chaos feels almost sacred. The chorus could easily underscore the movie’s climactic sequences — not as a literal choice, but emotionally, where fascination with evil becomes indistinguishable from fear.

What ties them together most is their shared refusal to moralize the apocalypse. Iron Maiden tells a story about vision and hysteria — not right or wrong — and The Bone Temple does the same, showing how people build new devotions in the ashes of old systems. Both suggest that when we stare into horror long enough, it stares back with rhythm and purpose. In that way, “The Number of the Beast” isn’t just an anthem of terror; it’s a hymn for the end of reason — making it the perfect spiritual soundtrack for this chapter of the 28 Years Later world.

The Number of the Beast

Woe to you, o’er Earth and Sea
For the Devil sends the beast with wrath
Because he knows the time is short
Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast
For it is a human number
Its number is six hundred and sixty six

I left alone, my mind was blank
I needed time to think to get the memories from my mind
What did I see? Can I believe that what I saw
That night was real and not just fantasy?
Just what I saw, in my old dreams, were they
Reflections of my warped mind staring back at me?
Cause in my dreams, it’s always there
The evil face that twists my mind and brings me to despair

Yeah!

The night was black, was no use holding back
Cause I just had to see, was someone watching me?
In the mist, dark figures move and twist
Was all this for real or just some kind of hell?

666 the number of the beast
Hell and fire was spawned to be released

Torches blazed and sacred chants were phrased
As they start to cry, hands held to the sky
In the night, the fires are burning bright
The ritual has begun, Satan’s work is done

666 the number of the beast
Sacrifice is going on tonight

This can’t go on, I must inform the law
Can this still be real, or just some crazy dream?
But I feel drawn towards the chanting hordes
They seem to mesmerize, can’t avoid their eyes

666 the number of the beast
666 the one for you and me

I’m coming back, I will return
And I’ll possess your body and I’ll make you burn
I have the fire, I have the force
I have the power to make my evil take its course