Thirty years ago, Canadian songstress Alannah Myles glided to #1 on the charts with her sultry hit single”Black Velvet”:
Alannah Myles was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, and before breaking through with “Black Velvet” she was fairly well known in her home country, even getting a guest shot as a single young mom on a 1984 episode of the popular Canadian TV show THE KIDS OF DEGRASSI STREET. When her hit tune stormed the charts, that smoky voice and those sexy good looks catapulted her to stardom, thanks in large part to constant airplay on MTV.
She won a Grammy for Best Female Rock Performance and three Juno Awards (the Canadian equivalent to the Grammies), but her subsequent LP’s and singles went nowhere in America, and just as meteorically as she rose, Alannah Myles tumbled off the radar here. She has retained a fan base in Europe and her…
We’ve finally reached the finish line. It’s now Halloween. Enjoy the sun while it out and about because when it goes down and the sky darken and turns to black, the ghouls and monsters come out to play.
Those inclined towards enjoying the darker aspects of life will dance and play throughout the night as they continue their way down the highway to hell.
“Highway to Hell”
Living easy, livin’ free Season ticket, on a one – way ride Asking nothing, leave me be Taking everything in my stride Don’t need reason, don’t need rhyme Ain’t nothing I would rather do Going down, party time My friends are gonna be there too
I’m on the highway to hell On the Highway to hell Highway to hell I’m on the highway to hell
No stop signs, speedin’ limit Nobody’s gonna slow me down Like a wheel, gonna spin it Nobody’s gonna mess me ’round Hey Satan! Paid my dues Playin’ in a rockin’ band Hey Mama! Look at me I’m on my way to the promise land
I’m on the highway to hell Highway to hell I’m on the highway to hell Highway to hell
Dont stop me!
I’m on the highway to hell! I’m on the highway to hell! I’m on the highway to hell! I’m on the highway to hell!
And I’m goin down..all the way! I’m on the highway to hell..
After a week hiatus we’re back to reminiscing about and traveling the 80’s nostalgia track with another “Song of the Day” from my youth during the 1980’s.
This time it’s a power ballad from the British-American hard rock band, Foreigner. Yes, that band whose songs have become a staple of Pop 40’s and soft rock radio stations for a couple decades now were originally a hard rock band. While their popularity was never in doubt with the hard rock crowd of the late 70’s and as the decade rolled into the 80’s, it would take a power ballad to find them worldwide appeal from an audience that one wouldn’t associate with hard rock aficionados.
That song would be “Waiting For A Girl Like You” and this power ballad would be one of the band’s biggest hits and a constant requests on soft rock stations. While hard rock bands were never averse to composing power ballads for albums, they usually weren’t the major hits like their harder edged songs. With Foreigner, once the popularity of this song reached global proportions it would dramatically change the band’s future work.
They would become a band more known for their power ballads than their hard rock roots. Some fans of the early version of Foreigner probably didn’t like the change much, but the millions of new fans who did discover the band due to the never-ending radio airplay of their power ballads probably didn’t know what they were missing.
Now a new generation of music lovers will be discovering this band and this song due to the critically-acclaimed and surprise hit series Stranger Things on Netflix.
Waiting For A Girl Like You
So long I’ve been looking too hard, I’ve been waiting too long Sometimes I don’t know what I will find I only know it’s a matter of time When you love someone When you love someone
It feels so right, so warm and true I need to know if you feel it too
Maybe I’m wrong Won’t you tell me if I’m coming on too strong? This heart of mine has been hurt before This time I wanna be sure
I’ve been waiting for a girl like you To come into my life I’ve been waiting for a girl like you (waiting for a love) And a love that will survive I’ve been waiting (I’ve been waiting) for someone new To make me feel alive Yeah, waiting for a girl like you (waiting for a girl) To come into my life
You’re so good When we make love, it’s understood It’s more than a touch or a word we say Only in dreams could it be this way When you love someone Yeah, really love someone
Now, I know it’s right From the moment I wake up till deep in the night There’s nowhere on earth that I’d rather be Than holding you tenderly
I’ve been waiting for a girl like you To come into my life I’ve been waiting for a girl like you (waiting for a love) For a love that will survive
I’ve been waiting (I’ve been waiting) for someone new To make me feel alive Yeah, waiting (waiting) for a girl like you (waiting for a girl) To come into my life
(Ah)
(Ah) I’ve been waiting (Ah) Waiting for you (Ah) Ooh, I’ve been waiting (Waiting) I’ve been waiting, yeah
(I’ve been waiting for a girl like you)
(I’ve been waiting) Won’t you come into my life? My life So long (Waiting for a girl like you)
Last year, I did a mini-series of “Song of the Day” that featured some of my favorite rock and metal guitar solos. This time around I plan to showcase some of my favorite guitar riffs from the world of rock and metal. I’ll be limiting my choice on the metal side to the basic metal. I’m not as well-versed on the more unique and esoteric offshoots of metal. For that one must go to our resident metal intellectual necromoonyeti.
To start things off is a classic hard rock tune the began the post-Bon Scott Era (the band’s previous frontman who had tragically passed away before recording this follow-up album). The band would tap ex-Geordie frontman Brian Johnson to front the band. The rest as they say is rock history.
The Back In Black album would become one of the biggest-selling rock albums in history and it’s title track would become just one of many platinum-certified hits from that album. The song would become not just one of rock’s greatest songs, but become a pop icon as films, tv shows and event sporting events would use it’s iconic opening riff and follow-up melody to celebrate one’s rebellious nature.
Back In Black
Back in black I hit the sack It’s been too long I’m glad to be back Yes, I’m let loose From the noose That’s kept me hanging around I’ve been looking at the sky and it’s gettin’ me high Forget the hearse ’cause I never die I got nine lives Cats eyes Cruisin’ every woman, never wonderin’ why
CHORUS: ‘Cause I’m back Yes, I’m back Well, I’m back Yes, I’m back Well, I’m back, back Well I’m back in black Yes, I’m back in black
Back in the back Of a Cadillac Number one with a bullet, I’m a power pack Yes, I’m in a bang With a gang They’ve got to catch me if they want me to hang Cause I’m back on the track And I’m beatin’ the flack Nobody’s gonna get me on another rap So look at me now I’m just makin’ my play Don’t try to push your luck, just get out of my way
CHORUS
Well, I’m back, Yes I’m back Well, I’m back, Yes I’m back Well, I’m back, back Well I’m back in black Yes I’m back in black
hooo yeah Ohh yeah Yes I am Oooh yeah, yeah Oh yeah Back in now Well I’m back, I’m back Back, I’m back Back, I’m back Back, I’m back Back, I’m back Back Back in black Yes I’m back in black
While still looking to finish up my review of the latest entry in The Fast & The Furious franchise I thought it best to just put up the song which has led to many a-filmgoer trapped in a box of their emotions and feels.
Everyone by now knows how the release of Furious 7 has a tinge of both sentimentality and bittersweet emotions as this was the final film filmed by Paul Walker before his untimely death in late 2013. The shadow of Walker’s death had cast a shadow over the film. Whether people thought the film was good or not became a sidenote as the filmmakers, actors and everyone involved gave Paul Walker a moving final tribute by film’s end.
“See You Again” brings back Wiz Khalifa who also contributed what would become the theme song for Fast and Furious 6 with “Ride or Die.” This time Wiz has Charlie Puth doing the chorus. The combination of Puth’s heartfelt vocals and Khalifa’s rhymes made for a moving musical tribute to one of the founders of the The Fast & The Furious franchise and to a close friend to all involved in it.
See You Again
Charlie Puth)
It’s been a long day without you my friend
And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again
We’ve come a long way from where we began
Oh I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again
When I see you again
(Wiz Khalifa)
Damn who knew all the planes we flew
Good things we’ve been through
That I’ll be standing right here
Talking to you about another path I
Know we loved to hit the road and laugh
But something told me that it wouldn’t last
Had to switch up look at things different see the bigger picture
Those were the days hard work forever pays now I see you in a better place
How could we not talk about family when family’s all that we got?
Everything I went through you were standing there by my side
And now you gonna be with me for the last ride
(Charlie Puth)
It’s been a long day without you my friend
And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again
We’ve come a long way from where we began
Oh I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again
when I see you again
(Wiz Khalifa)
First you both go out your way
And the vibe is feeling strong and what’s
Small turn to a friendship a friendship
Turn into a bond and that bond will never Be broke and the love will never get lost
And when brotherhood come first then the line
Will never be crossed established it on our own
When that line had to be drawn and that line is what
We reach so remember me when I’m gone
How could we not talk about family when family’s all that we got?
Everything I went through you were standing there by my side
And now you gonna be with me for the last ride
(Charlie Puth)
So let the light guide your way hold every memory
As you go and every road you take will always lead you home
It’s been a long day without you my friend
And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again
We’ve come a long way from where we began
Oh I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again
When I see you again
To say that I’m a huge fan of Led Zeppelin would be an understatement. They’re the band that combines both my love for hard rock and, ultimately, an even bigger love for that most American of musical style, the blues.
Led Zeppelin have always been rooted in their blues foundation. They’ve been an integral part of the British rock invasion to the US that was steeped heavily in blues rock. With classic blues heavily influencing their sound, Led Zeppelin would take the US by storm starting in 1968 and would continue to do so until the band’s dissolution in 1980 soon after John Bonham’s untimely death.
It’s a song from their third album that, for me, epitomizes Led Zeppelin’s early days. These were the years when they reigned as the blues rock kings of the rock world. They would later experiment and try new sounds with their later albums as the band began to branch out into new, diversified musical styles. Yet, for me, the band will always be that blues rock band from London, England who were the first supergroup.
“Since I’ve Been Loving You” is straight up blues and Robert Plant sings it with such emotional intensity that anyone hearing the song for the first time could easily mistake him and the band as one of the classic American blues bands. The song also makes the latest “Song of the Day” not just because it’s one of my favorites but also because of Jimmy Page once again demonstrating why he’s one of the best rock guitarists.
It’s not often a song starts off with a guitar solo, but this one does and Page does so in a slow, blues tempo that would segue into Robert Plant’s vocals. The second guitar solo arrives after the song’s second verse and would have a more blues rock sound to it, but no less impressive.
Since I’ve Been Loving You
(guitar solo)
Working from seven to eleven every night, It really makes life a drag, I don’t think that’s right. I’ve really been the best, the best of fools, I did what I could. (Yeah) ‘Cause I love you, baby, How I love you, darling, How I love you, baby, My beloved little girl, little girl. But baby, Since I’ve Been Loving You (yeah). I’m about to lose my worried mind, oh, yeah.
Everybody trying to tell me that you didn’t mean me no good. I’ve been trying, Lord, let me tell you, Let me tell you I really did the best I could. I’ve been working from seven to eleven every night, I said It kinda makes my life a drag Lord, that ain’t right… Since I’ve Been Loving You, I’m about to lose my worried mind. (Watch out!)
(guitar solo)
Said I’ve been crying, yeah. Oh, my tears they fell like rain, Don’t you hear them, Don’t you hear them falling? Don’t you hear, Don’t you hear them falling?
Do you remember mama, when I knocked upon your door? I said you had the nerve to tell me you didn’t want me no more, yeah I open my front door, hear my back door slam, You know, I must have one of them new fangled, new fangled back door man.
I’ve been working from seven, seven, seven, to eleven every night, It kinda makes my life a drag… Baby, Since I’ve Been Loving You, I’m about to lose, I’m about to lose, lose my worried mind.
Just one more, just one more, oooh, yeah, Since I’ve been loving you, I’m gonna lose my worried mind.
“Taking More Than Her Share Had Me Fighting For Air She Told Me To Come But I Was Already There”
You shook me all night long! Yes, on the KTSL charts at No. 15 is just one of the greatest rock songs ever. Hyperbole and all that, but this song is just awesome times awesome equals awesome.
AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” first appeared in their mega-blockbuster album in 1980, Back In Black. It wasn’t until 1986 when it was re-released as part of their Who Made Who album. It was during it’s re-release that I first heard and first saw the new video that accompanied the song. I think every teenage boy ended up glued to their TV’s whenever this video came on. They probably ended up taping the video for further repeat viewing.
As is their style, the song was just full of double entendres and the video itself just played up on the song’s lyrics. This video and song was just hard rock at it’s most 1980’s excess and debauchery and it was great.
“All alone silence fills my room But in a memory, I hear you calling me”
Hitting the KTSL charts at No. 12 is the 1990 ballad from the Latin freestyle girl group Sweet Sensation.
“If Wishes Came True” makes this list because it is such an earnest love song that we don’t get much of anyway. This was a song made in a much simpler and less cynical age. While some of its continuing appeal seems to be based on the feeling of nostalgia it brings up for those who grew up during the time this song was released it doesn’t change the fact that it’s an uplifting and hopeful song.
The lyrics are sugary-sweet to the point of causing cavities, but they’re easy to sing-along to and, in the end, there’s nothing wrong with reminiscing about one’s memories.
