Tag Archives: Song of the Day

Song of the Day: If I Can’t Have You by Yvonne Elliman

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today’s Valentine’s Day song of the day is my favorite song of all time, performed by the wonderful Yvonne Elliman.

I don’t know why I’m surviving every lonely day
When there’s got to be no chance for me
My life would end, and it doesn’t matter how I cry
My tears of love are a waste of time

If I turn away, am I strong enough to see it through?
Go crazy is what I will do

If I can’t have you, I don’t want nobody, baby
If I can’t have you, ah-ah-ah, oh
If I can’t have you, I don’t want nobody, baby
If I can’t have you, ah-ah-ah

Can’t let go, and it doesn’t matter how I try
I gave it all so easily to you, my love
To dreams that never will come true
Am I strong enough to see it through?
Go crazy is what I will do

If I can’t have you, I don’t want nobody, baby
If I can’t have you, ah-ah-ah, oh
If I can’t have you, I don’t want nobody, baby
If I can’t have you, ah-ah-ah, oh

If I can’t have you, I don’t want nobody, baby
If I can’t have you, ah-ah-ah, oh
If I can’t have you, I don’t want nobody, baby
If I can’t have you, ah-ah-ah (I’m in love with nobody)

If I can’t have you, I don’t want nobody, baby
If I can’t have you, ah-ah-ah, oh
If I can’t have you, I don’t want nobody, baby
If I can’t have you, ah-ah-ah, no

(Lyrics by Maurice Ernest Gibb / Robin Hugh Gibb / Barry Alan Gibb)

Song of the Day: Wild Thing by The Troggs, featuring Oliver Reed

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

The late, great British actor Oliver Reed was born 87 years ago in London.  Reed was one of those actors who was so infamous for his often alcohol-fueled exploits off-screen that it was often overlooked that he was also a very talented man whose ability to create intriguing characters was appreciated by directors Ken Russell and whose powerful screen presence went far beyond his famously scarred face.  Oliver Reed was one of the actors considered for the role of James Bond after Sean Connery left the part.  With his physicality and his dangerous smile, Reed would have offered an intriguing take on the character.

A British cultural icon, Oliver Reed was someone who tended to show up in the least expected places.  In 1992, The Troggs rerecorded and rereleased their best-known song, Wild Thing.  Accompanying them in the recording was none other than Oliver Reed.  In honor of an actor who could do it all, here is today’s song of the day!

Wild thing, you make my heart sing
You make everything groovy, wild thing
Wild thing, I think I love you
But I wanna know for sure
Come on and hold me tight
I love you

Wild thing, you make my heart sing
You make everything groovy
Wild thing

Wild thing, I think you move me
But I wanna know for sure
Come on and hold me tight
You move me

Wild thing, you make my heart sing
You make everything groovy, wild thing
C’mon, c’mon, wild thing
Check it, check it, wild thing

Songwriters: Matt Dike / Marvin Young / Anthony Terrell Smith

Song of the Day: Little Wing (by Jimi Hendix)

Posted on by Arleigh

Jimi Hendrix was arguably one of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century. Some may dispute that label and maybe pigeonhole him as one of the greatest rock musician, but his impact on the musical landscape goes beyond just rock music, but all of music no matter the genre or style.

He was that one singular musician, just like any prodigy, who came along and burned bright for a short period of time before being snuffed out by the very gift and genius for creativity he became known for. There has been other musicians who have attained legend status since Jimi Hendrix’s untimely death on September 18, 1970, but even they would say that they still couldn’t comprehend what Hendrix was able to do with an electric guitar and in the short time he had in the limelight.

Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” is a microcosm of why musicians and rock historians almost look at Hendrix’s work with nigh-mythical status. The song, released on December 1, 1967, begins with Hendrix’s much slower chord progression accompanied by the haunting use of the glockenspiel that then leads to Hendrix’s vocals and drums. It is around the 1:45 minute mark when the song follows through on its vocals with one of the most precise and a nominee for greatest guitar solo of all-time.

The song itself is not very long, but even in the its two-and-a-half minute running time “Little Wing” achieves what most musicians could only dream of and that is a song that continues to inspire and bewilder (the song has been covered and studied countless times, but no could ever agree how Hendrix did his magic on the song).

Little Wing

Well, she’s walking through the clouds
With a circus mind that’s running wild
Butterflies and zebras and moonbeams
And her fairy tales
That’s all she ever thinks about
Riding with the wind
When I’m sad, she comes to me
With a thousand smiles, she gives to me free
“It’s alright” she says, “It’s alright”
Take anything you want from me, take anything
Anything
Fly on, little wing

[guitar solo]

Great Guitar Solos Series

Song of the Day: The Hunt by Jerry Goldsmith

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

The late composer Jerry Goldsmith was born 96 years ago today.  Over the course of his long career, he composed many classic film scores.  He was nominated for 18 Oscars and won for his score for The Omen.

Today’s song of the day comes from Goldsmith’s score for 1968’s Planet of the Apes!  Listen to this and try not visualize Charlton Heston being chased by a bunch of gorillas on horseback.

Song of the Day: Little People Blues by Vincent & Pesci

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today’s song of the day is an instrumental that was recorded and released in 1972.  Frank Vincent is playing the drums.  Joe Pesci is on guitar.  Even if not for the celebrity connection, I would love this song.  It’s really good!

 

Song of the Day: Raiders March by John Williams

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today is the 93rd birthday of the great composer John Williams and today’s song of the day is one of his greatest compositions.  Here’s is John Williams, conducting Raiders March (from the Indiana Jones films) in Vienna.

Song of the Day: The Girl Who Invented Rock and Roll by Mamie Van Doren

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy 94th birthday to actress and singer, Mamie Van Doren!  Here she is performing today’s song of the day, The Girl Who Invented Rock and Roll! 

This scene is from 1958’s Teacher’s Pet.

 

Song of the Day: Night Train to Mundo Fine by John Carradine

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

On this date, 119 years ago, the great actor John Carradine was born in New York City.

Over the course of his career, Carradine worked for just about everyone.  He appeared on stage.  He appeared in film and television.  He played the great roles of Shakespeare and he also played Dracula.  He was a part of both the John Ford and the Fred Olen Ray stock companies.  He had a reputation for taking almost any role offered to him and, as a result, his huge filmography offers up a wonderful amount of variety.

He was also a singer!  Here he is performing today’s song of the day, Night Train to Mundo Fine!  This song was featured Coleman Francis’s Red Zone Cuba.  Say what you may about the song or the film, how can you not love Carrdine’s dramatic (and perhaps slightly mocking) delivery of the lyrics?