Song of the Day: Just Once (by James Ingram)

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Arleigh

“Just Once” by James Ingram is one of those early ‘80s ballads that somehow hits twice as hard decades later. Produced by Quincy Jones for his 1981 album The Dude, the song carries that signature Jones polish—smooth arrangement, soft piano lines, and a tasteful rhythm section that gives Ingram’s soulful vocals all the space they need. It’s the kind of track that sneaks up emotionally on you; what sounds like a classic love ballad at first slowly reveals itself to be something heavier, an inner plea for emotional connection that never quite worked out right.

A huge part of the song’s lasting impact came from its unexpected use at the end of The Last American Virgin (1982). That film, a teenage sex comedy on the surface, ends on a gut punch of heartbreak and disillusionment—and “Just Once” rolls in right as the realization sinks in. Instead of tying things up neatly, the song underscores the protagonist’s pain and futility, matching the moment perfectly. It’s almost cruel how the film pairs that kind of emotional devastation with a song this beautiful.

And that’s what makes “Just Once” stand apart from other ballads of its era: it’s not syrupy or idealistic. It’s a bittersweet confession wrapped in a soulful groove, about trying your best and still losing. The honesty in Ingram’s delivery gives the song an authenticity few pop hits manage to capture. Whether you first heard it through Quincy Jones’ production or that unforgettable movie ending, it’s hard to shake off once it finds you—it’s heartbreak with melody, regret with elegance.

Just Once

I did my best
But I guess my best wasn’t good enough
Cause here we are
Back where we were before
Seems nothin’ ever changes
We’re back to being strangers
Wondering if we ought to stay
Or head on out the door

Just once

Can we figure out what we keep doin’ wrong
Why we never last for very long
What are we doin’ wrong?

Just once

Can we find a way to finally make it right
Make the magic last for more than just one night
We could just get to it
I know we could break through it
Hmm hmm

I gave my all
But I think my all may have been too much
Cause Lord knows we’re not gettin’ anywhere
Seems we’re always blowin’
Whatever we’ve got goin’
And it seems at times with all we’ve got
We haven’t got a prayer…

Just once

Can we figure out what we keep doin’ wrong
Why the good times never last for long
Where are we goin’ wrong?

Just once

Can we find a way to finally make it right
Make the magic last for more than just one night
I know we could break through it
If we could just get to it

Just once
I want to understand…
Why it always comes back to goodbye
Why can’t we get ourselves in hand
And admit to one another
We’re no good without each other
Take the best and make it better
Find a way to stay together

Just once…

Can we find a way to finally make it right
Whoa
Make the magic last for more than just one night
I know we could break through it
If we could just get to it

Just Once…

Whoa, oh
We can get to it…

Just Once…

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

Posted on February 3, 2026 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: Fell on Black Days (by Soundgarden)

Posted on November 4, 2025 by Arleigh

As the latest “Song of the Day,” Soundgarden’s Fell on Black Days stands out as one of Chris Cornell’s most hauntingly introspective songs. It captures that quiet terror of realizing, almost suddenly, that life has slipped into a dark space without a clear cause. The lyrics don’t dramatize depression or despair—they circle it, giving voice to numb reflection rather than clear tragedy. Cornell doesn’t sing from a place of theatrical pain but introspective confusion, which makes it all the more relatable: that sense of waking up one day and finding that something within has gone dim.

Cornell’s vocal performance is the emotional backbone of the song. His delivery is restrained at first, almost conversational, carrying that familiar mix of grit and vulnerability that made his voice so magnetic. As the song builds, the tension burns through his tone—he never screams, but you feel the anguish vibrating at the edges. It’s that ability to stay melodic while channeling raw feeling that separates him from many of his grunge-era peers. You can hear both power and exhaustion inhabiting the same breath.

Musically, Fell on Black Days moves with a slow, uneasy groove that fits the song’s mood of quiet dread. Instead of following a typical rock rhythm, it flows a little off-kilter, giving it that feeling of imbalance Cornell describes in the lyrics. The guitars are thick and moody but not overly heavy, letting the vocals breathe. Thayil’s riffing feels more like a shadow behind the melody, while the bass and drums give it a tired, rolling heartbeat. It’s less about flashy playing and more about atmosphere—a sound that matches the weight of realizing your life has turned darker without you noticing.

Fell on Black Days

Whatsoever I’ve feared has come to life
And whatsoever I’ve fought off became my life
Just when everyday seemed to greet me with a smile
Sunspots have faded and now I’m doing time

Now I’m doing time
‘Cause I fell on black days
I fell on black days

Whomsoever I’ve cured I’ve sickened now
And whomsoever I’ve cradled I’ve put you down
I’m a search light soul they say
But I can’t see it in the night
I’m only faking when I get it right
When I get it right
‘Cause I fell on black days
I fell on black days

How would I know
That this could be my fate
How would I know
That this could be my fate, uh yeah

What you wanted to see good has made you blind
And what you wanted to be yours has made it mine
So don’t you lock up something that you wanted to see fly
Hands are for shaking not tying

No, not tying
I sure don’t mind a change
I sure don’t mind a change
Yeah, I sure don’t mind
Sure don’t mind a change
I sure don’t mind a change

‘Cause I fell on black days
I fell on black days

How would I know
That this could be my fate
How would I know
That this could be my fate

I sure don’t mind a change

Song of the Day: You Are So Beautiful (R.I.P. Joe Cocker)

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Arleigh

A rock legend passed away today. Joe Cocker had one of those very unique voices which most everyone recognized. A blues and soul rock singer who performed with some of the rock legends of the 60’s and 70’s, he would become a mainstream hit with songs such as “Up Where We Belong” and his covers of Beatles songs.

It was in 1975, covering a ballad written and composed by Billy Preston, Bruce Fisher and Dennis Wilson that he truly burst into the mainstream scene. The song was “You Are So Beautiful” and while the album it was a part of never truly took off the single itself reached No. 5 on the Billboards chart of that year.

Cocker’s version was much slower in tempo than the original song and this worked well in concert with his gritty, bluesy voice where each word and lyric felt full of emotion that blues and soul singers have become well-known for.

Joe Cocker might have faded away from the mainstream consciousness after the 80’s but rock and blues aficionados always remembered and admired him right down to his last days.

Time for the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame to heed the words of Billy Joel and induct the man in it’s hallowed halls. He’s more than earned it.

You Are So Beautiful

You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me
Can’t you see
Your everything I hoped for
Your everything I need
You are so beautiful to me

Such joy and happiness you bring
Such joy and happiness you bring
Like a dream
A guiding light that shines in the night
Heavens gift to me
You are so beautiful to me