“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.
I’m not sure how much this song was played over and over by heartbroken teens during my high school years but I will guess that it would top a million easy.
“Seasons Change” by the group Exposé comes in at 11 on our “27 Days of Old School” countdown. The group itself was one of the big names during the freestyle and dance-pop scene during the 80’s, but surprisingly this song was their only No. 1 hit. It just goes to show the power of the ballad and this one became of the the go-to songs for teens (probably college age ones as well) during my days.
It’s actually a pretty downbeat song considering it’s about how couples break up not due to any one major falling out, but due to drifting apart because of time and changes.
For teens who fell in love with this song it became a sort of theme song whenever they broke up with their first, second and upteenth true love. I know that as much as school dances love their slow songs this was rarely played during.
I was told today that one of my favorite anime series of all-time was going to get a new manga adaptation. I am talking about Manabi Straight. It’s from this series that today’s latest song of the day comes from: “Seioh Gakuen Kouka”.
The song was first introduced in the series by it’s main character Manami Amamiya who also goes by the name Manabi. The character’s voice actress is the very talented and popular seiyuu and singer Yui Horie. The song is pretty much the school anthem of the fictitious Seioh High School where Manabi and her high school friends attend. The series goes through the girls’ ups and downs of being high school kids who bond through their love of each other and of their school.
“Seioh Gakuen Kouka” is the school’s anthem and Manabi sings it in front of the entire school during her first day as a transfer student. It’s definitely one of my favorite songs of any genre and type. It brings back my own memories of being a high school student and all the friendships made during those four years.
Seioh Gakuen Kouka
Ima wo ikiru deai no kisetsu yo Mabushii hikari yume wo atsumete Onaji seishun ayumu kiseki Sakura iro no mirai tachi sora wo mau
Aah Seioh yorokobi doko he yo Aah Seioh manabi no sono ni hibike Kagayaku toki nakama to tomo ni aru
Ima wo ikiru yorokobi no naka de Mabushii hikari kaze wo atsumete Koi to kanashi jounetsu ni Kibou iro no musume tachi chuu wo mau
Aah Seioh ai no hibi yo Aah Seioh manabi no sono ni sodate Kagayaku toki nakama to tomo ni aru
Aah miageta ao wa haruka Aah tsukau toki kitto kitto Kagayaku toki nakama to tomo ni aru
Seioh Gakuen Kouka (ver. English)
Live the present moment, the season of encounters. The bright sunlight, the gathering of dreams. The miracle where people walk through the same youth. Cherry-blossom colored futures fly into the sky.
Ah, the cheerful sounds of Seioh! Ah, let it resonate through Seioh’s garden! When we shine, we shine with our friends.
Live the present moment, inside this happiness. The bright sunlight, the gathering of the wind. The burning love passion with the hope-colored girls fly into the sky.
Ah, the days of love at Seioh! Ah, grow up inside Seioh’s garden! When we shine, we shine with our friends.
Ah, the blue sky we look up to is far away. Ah, when we get a hold of it, for sure, for sure, when we shine, we shine with our friends.
Another day and another entry leading up to Valentines Day. Yeah, I know some don’t like this particular holiday. Some think it’s become too commercialized, but I’ve always remained a romantic at heart and I can’t help but look forward to this day.
Even when single this day was a special day to reflect on relationships past. Remembering the good and fun times while trying to learn from the mistakes.
The latest “Song of the Day” comes straight out of my high school days of 1989. I first heard this song on the radio while on break from my very first line reading for a school play. There was a piano in the room where everyone broke for lunch. Someone decided to play this song and soon every guy began to sing the song while the ladies either looked at us with dreamy eyes or something.
When the saying from people of my generation parrot the same lines our parents and their parents before them comes up I believe it to be true. They really don’t make ballads like this anymore. There’s a sincere sense of earnestness and romance to the lyrics and the overall sound of the song.
Over the years some have tried to mock this song and Richard Marx, but it never really goes anywhere. This song remains timeless and for those who look forward to what Valentines Day truly mean beyond the crass commercialism.
Right Here Waiting
Oceans apart day after day And I slowly go insane I hear your voice on the line But it doesn’t stop the pain
If I see you next to never How can we say forever
Wherever you go Whatever you do I will be right here waiting for you Whatever it takes Or how my heart breaks I will be right here waiting for you
I took for granted, all the times That I thought would last somehow I hear the laughter, I taste the tears But I can’t get near you now
Oh, can’t you see it baby You’ve got me goin’ crazy
Wherever you go Whatever you do I will be right here waiting for you Whatever it takes Or how my heart breaks I will be right here waiting for you
I wonder how we can survive This romance But in the end if I’m with you I’ll take the chance
Oh, can’t you see it baby You’ve got me goin crazy
Wherever you go Whatever you do I will be right here waiting for you Whatever it takes Or how my heart breaks I will be right here waiting for you Waiting for you
My latest review was one where I mention my surprise at just how good Disney’s latest animated film really turned out. It was a surprise born out of seeing the House that Mickey built returning back to it’s fairy tale roots. A return which first began with 2010’s Tangled and now continues with their latest, Frozen.
Close to everyone who has seen Frozen have fallen in love with the film and with many of the characters in the film. Like all past classic Disney animated films, Frozen also succeeds in having some great musical numbers. Frozen doesn’t just have strong characters, storytelling and musical numbers, but it has some great singing performances to round everything into what looks like a classic in the making.
Disney Animation has been kind enough to provide, for free, one of the biggest highlights of the film and what I consider my favorite singing performance in a cast full of them. Idinia Menzel as Elsa didn’t just hold her own in the acting department, but also knocks it out of the park with her power ballad “Let It Go”. Her voice just has a power all their own which brings the character of Elsa to life. The emotions she shows throughout this number just grows and grows as her character grows gradually from the unsure Elsa and into the sassy and confident queen inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s character from his fairy tale, The Snow Queen.
Best to just watch and listen to Idina Menzel just sing her heart out.
Let It Go
The snow glows white on the mountain night Not a footprint to be seen A kingdom of isolation, and it looks like I’m the Queen The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside Couldn’t keep it in, heaven knows I tried
Don’t let them in, don’t let them see Be the good girl you always have to be Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know Well now they know
Let it go, let it go Can’t hold it back anymore Let it go, let it go Turn away and slam the door I don’t care What they’re going to say Let the storm rage on, the cold never bothered me anyway
It’s funny how some distance Makes everything seem small And the fears that once controlled me Can’t get to me at all
It’s time to see what I can do To test the limits and break through No right, no wrong, no rules for me I’m free
Let it go, let it go I am one with the wind and sky Let it go, let it go You’ll never see me cry Here I stand And here I stay Let the storm rage on
My power flurries through the air and to the ground My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around My one thought crystalizes like an icy blast I’m never going back, The past is in the past
Let it go, let it go When I’ll rise like the break of dawn Let it go, let it go That perfect girl is gone Here I stand in the light of day Let the storm rage on, The cold never bothered me anyway
I came across this AMV while browsing youtube and quite bored. I know the song comes from that Twilight thingamabob so I think this latest “AMV of the Day” will pull a tear or two from my co-founder Lisa Marie.
The latest chosen AMV is called “A Thousand Years” and it’s from YouTube user 93RokuStepperZ. It’s a simple romance-themed video that pretty much takes two of the most romantic and sappiest romance anime of the last couple years and melds it with the ballad by Christina Perri for that long-running sparkly vampire and his girlfriend series.
There’s no super bells and whistles in how the video was made. It’s just a well-edited AMV that focuses on the two couple from the two series. There’s Toyomi and Nagisa from Clannad and Clannad: After Story (BAWWWWWWWW) and then there’s Ryuuji and Taiga from Toradora.
One thing we won’t find in this AMV would be vampires, werewolves or any of that sort. Just moe anime and a tsundere shorty.
Today we see the release of Skyfall on Blu-Ray and DVD. This latest James Bond film surprised quite a bit of people who weren’t sure the franchise would be able to recover from the missed opportunity that was Quantum of Solace. So, it came out of left field that this follow-up ended up being one of the best films of 2012. From the acting, direction and writing the film was top-notch. One other thing which truly stood out about this film was it’s theme song.
“Skyfall” by Adele wasn’t just one of the best film songs of 2012, but most like going to turn out to be in the top 5 of best James Bond theme songs when all has been said and done. This is why to commemorate the release of the film on video I’ve chosen the Adele sung theme song of the same name to be the latest “Song of the Day”.
The song harkens back to the true James Bond classic theme songs by Shirley Bassey like “Goldfinger” and “Diamonds are Forever” right up to my personal favorite, Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die”. Maybe it was destiny that Adele would end up doing a James Bond theme song. Her soulful vocal range just shouts early James Bond and her “Skyfall” easily holds it’s own against the classic Bond themes of the 60’s and early 70’s.
The song itself has a very simple melody that incorporates the iconic 007 theme. Almost sung like a mournful ballad that hints at the danger and death awaiting the intrepid 007 and those around him, the song spends much of it’s running time with Adele singing in a very subdued fashion until we hit the final third of the track when she finally lets her inner diva shine….and shine she does.
Skyfall
This is the end Hold your breath and count to ten Feel the Earth move and then Hear my heart burst again
For this is the end I’ve drowned and dreamt this moment So overdue I owe them Swept away I’m stolen
Let the sky fall When it crumbles We will stand tall Face it all together
Let the sky fall When it crumbles We will stand tall Face it all together At skyfall At skyfall
Skyfall is where we start A thousand miles and poles apart Where worlds collide and days are dark You may have my number You can take my name But you’ll never have my heart
Let the sky fall When it crumbles We will stand tall Face it all together
Let the sky fall When it crumbles We will stand tall Face it all together At skyfall
Where you go I go What you see I see I know I’d never be me Without the security
Of your loving arms Keeping me from harm Put your hand in my hand And we’ll stand
Let the sky fall When it crumbles We will stand tall Face it all together
Let the sky fall When it crumbles We will stand tall Face it all together At skyfall
Well, finally reach Valentine’s Day and to the finish line of the romance-themed choices for “Song of the Day”. We’ve had quite a list of songs which looks at romance and love from many differing angles. In the end, all of the previous songs were just foreplay and led up to the choices made for today. I couldn’t decide which song from Marvin Gaye to pick so I went with both.
What better way to close out Valentine’s Day and Night but with the two songs which probably led to some exceptional endings to couples’ Valentine’s Day for decades since their release. So, here’s Marvin Gaye with “Let’s Get It On” and “Sexual Healing” and I hope everyone have a safe, exceptional and epic Valentine’s Day.
Let’s Get It On
I’ve been really tryin baby Tryin to hold back this feeling for so long And if you feel like I feel baby Come on, oh come on, ooh
Let’s get it on, ow baby Let’s get it on, let’s love baby Let’s get it on, sugar Let’s get it on, woo
We’re all sensitive people with so much to give Understand me sugar Since we got to be, let’s live, I love you There’s nothin’ wrong with me lovin’ you, baby no no And givin’ yourself to me can never be wrong If the love is true, oh baby ooh
Don’t you know how sweet and wonderful life can be, ooh ooh I’m askin’ you baby to get it on with me, ooh ooh ooh I ain’t goin’ to worry, I ain’t goin’ to push, won’t push you baby So come on come on come on come on come on baby Stop beatin’ round the bush, hey
Let’s get it on, ooh ooh Let’s get it on, you know what I’m talkin’ about Come on baby, hey hey, let your love come out If you believe in love let’s get it on, ooh Let’s get it on baby, this minute, oh yeah Let’s get it on, eeeeeeeeee Please get it on, hey hey
Come on come on come on come on come on darlin’ Stop beatin’ round the bush, oh, gonna get it on Beggin’ you baby I want to get it on You don’t have to worry that it’s wrong If the spirit moves you, let me groove you Good, let your love come down, oh
Get it on, come on baby, do you know I mean it I’ve been sanctified, hey hey Girl you give me good feelings, so good Somethin’ like summertime
Sexual Healing
Ooh baby, now let’s get down tonight
Baby I’m hot just like an oven I need some lovin’ And baby, I can’t hold it much longer It’s getting stronger and stronger
And when I get that feeling I want Sexual Healing Sexual Healing, oh baby Makes me feel so fine Helps to relieve my mind Sexual Healing baby, is good for me Sexual Healing is something that’s good for me
Whenever blue tear drops are falling And my emotional stability is leaving me There is something I can do I can get on the telephone and call you up baby, and Honey I know you’ll be there to heal me The love you give to me will free me If you don’t know the thing you’re dealing Oh I can tell you, darling, that it’s Sexual Healing
Get up, Get up, Get up, Get up – let’s make love tonight Wake up, Wake up, Wake up, Wake up – ‘cos you do it right
Baby I got sick this morning A sea was storming inside of me Baby I think I’m capsizing The waves are rising and rising
And when I get that feeling I want Sexual Healing Sexual Healing is good for me Makes me feel so fine, it’s such a rush Helps to relieve the mind, and it’s good for us Sexual Healing, baby, it’s good for me Sexual Healing is something that’s good for me And it’s good for me and it’s so good to me My baby ohhh
Come take control, just grab a hold Of my body and mind soon we’ll be making it Honey, oh we’re feeling fine You’re my medicine open up and let me in Darling, you’re so great I can’t wait for you to operate
(Heal me my darling) I can’t wait for you to operate
When I get this feeling, I need sexual healing oh when I get this feeling, I need Sexual Healing, I gotta have sexual healing, Darling ‘cos I’m all alone sexual healing, darling, ’till you come back home
The latest song as we get closer to Valentine’s Day has Vanessa Williams returning once again with some back-up in the form of R&B star Brian McKnight.
This one song surprised me when I first heard of it all the way back in 1993 when it was first released. What was surprising to me wasn’t how good it was, but that it was part of the Beverly Hills, 90201 soundtrack which came out the same year. That show was like the guilty pleasure for many people and the fact that they brought the show back with new pretty people for a new generation speaks volume toward it’s place in pop-culture history. But I’m not here to talk about that show. Instead I’m here to talk about “Love Is” sung as a duet by Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight.
“Love Is” is not your typical ballad in that it doesn’t just try to push love and romance as something that’s great and something one cannot live without. On the contrary, this song speaks about love as being something that is hard to keep let alone struggle through. While love is something that’s both beautiful and easy to fall int. That’s the easy part. True love requires constant struggle to keep it from turning into something stale and destructive.
I think everyone who has ever truly fallen in love can understand what this song is talking about.
Love Is
[Vanessa Williams]
They say it’s a river, that circles the earth A beam of light shining to the edge of the universe it conquers all, it changes everything
They say it’s a blessing, they say it’s a gift they say it’s a miracle and I believe that it is it conquers all, but it’s a mystery
Love breaks your heart Love takes no less than everything Love makes it hard and it fades away so easily
[Brian McKnight]
In this world we’ve created in this place that we live in the blink of an eye the darkness slips in love lights the world unites the lovers for eternity
Love breaks the chains Love aches for everyone of us Love takes the tears and the pain, and it turns it in- to the beauty that remains
[Vanessa Williams]
Look at this place it was paradise, but now it’s dying I’ll pray forlove
[Brian McKnight]
I’ll take my chances that it’s not too late
[piano solo bridge]
[Vanessa Williams/Brian McKnight]
Love breaks your heart Love takes no less than everything Love makes it hard and fades away so easily
Oh oh oh
Love breaks the chains Love aches for everyone of us Love takes the tears and the pain, and it turns it in- to the beauty that remains
The latest “Song of the Day” continues my romance-theme leading up to Valentine’s Day and this one holds a special place in my heart and memories.
“Save The Best For Last” was part of Vanessa Williams’ debut album, The Comfort Zone, and was released around 1992. This was one of those songs which just resonated with many listeners. It’s a song about how we’re so intent on trying to find that special someone to be with in our lives that we never realize that they’re right in front of us. I think many young people and adults gravitate to this song because it’s speaks to how we make finding love difficult through our own need to find it. The thing about this song is how it speaks of missed opportunities but it also talks about how such things will balance out in the end and we finally realize who’s in front of us throughout all the searching and struggling.
I like to think that this was the song which finally put Vanessa Williams on the path to stardom. The fact that it was a song that many other singers passed over only to have Williams take it on proves just prescient the lyrics of the song were in the end. What others saw as something that didn’t deserve their time was finally taken on by someone who has turned it into their signature song.
Save The Best For Last
Sometimes the snow comes down in June Sometimes the sun goes ’round the moon I see the passion in your eyes Sometimes it’s all a big surprise ‘Cause there was a time when all I did was wish You’d tell me this was love It’s not the way I hoped or how I planned But somehow it’s enough
And now we’re standing face to face Isn’t this world a crazy place Just when I thought our chance had passed You go and save the best for last
All of the nights you came to me When some silly girl had set you free You wondered how you’d make it through I wondered what was wrong with you
‘Cause how could you give your love to someone else And share your dreams with me Sometimes the very thing you’re looking for Is the one thing you can’t see
And now we’re standing face to face Isn’t this world a crazy place Just when I thought our chance had passed You go and save the best for last
Sometimes the very thing you’re looking for Is the one thing you can’t see
Sometimes the snow comes down in June Sometimes the sun goes ’round the moon Just when I thought our chance had passed You go and save the best for last
Through the Shattered Lens 