What are you listening to?
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Belinda Carlisle - You're Nothing Without Me (1991) -- uptempo, driving poprock track
David Lanz - Reverie (1993) - relaxing new age piano instrumental
Benjamin Orr - Stay The Night (1986) - well-crafted poprock track
These songs all remind me of my sweetheart from much younger days. She was beautiful and she would play the piano and sing to me.
So, what is everyone else listening to? 🙂
Comments
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WINDHAND - Diablerie - is my flavour of the month. It's a doom metal song and it's not going to be everyones cup of tea.https://youtu.be/2JhVTnU8MnI
Nik kershaw - Wouldn't it be good is an old classic I keep coming back to. I must have been 10years when it came out!?https://youtu.be/cTLTG4FTNBQ
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Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Frida) - I Know There's Something Going On
Cool euro-rock track from Frida of Abba in 1982. Phil Collins produced the song, played drums, and added backing vocals.
Kate Bush - Experiment IV
A cool song from 1986 with a definitive 80s sound. I believe the video was partially banned in the UK at the time due to the "violent" theme. By today's standards, it's tame.
Robert Plant - Heaven Knows
Robert Plant had a few mainstream rock hits in the 80s, well after his Led Zeppelin days with Jimmy Page. This track from 1988 was one of his solo hits. Interesting lyrics!
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Francis Cabrel - Samedi soir sur la terre (Saturday night on earth). So atmospheric. It helps to know French but even without it, it's wonderful. (It's just about two people meeting and the inevitability of what follows). And when the sax comes in near the end....! I keep coming back to this song.
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Some recent ones:
Kovacs: "Bang Bang" and "Love Parasite"
Neo-torch singing, if there is such a thing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEcR0d-8Lzc
Ellen Foley: "What's a Matter Baby"
Ellen should have been a star, pipes and presence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msLUDUJKA24
Dex Romweber: 'Trouble of the World"
Gothic Americana from Carrboro, North Carolina:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb_yKeeIDGA
Hillbilly Moon Explosion: "Jackson"
Swiss Rockabilly/Country with a bit of punk thrown in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HM_gPFsDpc
Til Lindemann/David Garrett: "Alle Tage ist Kein Sontag"
Lindemann, lead singer of "Rammstein", pursues very interesting things on the side:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEv5KN58blI
Ana Vidovic: "Recuerdos De La Alhambra"
Superb player with a kind of reserved emotion in her interpretations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwjX-m4LkYk
Chumbawamba: 'We Don't Go to God's House Anymore"
The Chumbas produced wonderful albums after "Tubthumping":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1JawSJJggE
C
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Quarterflash - Harden My Heart
Catchy rock track from 1981 with cool sax solos from the lead singer, Rindy Ross.
Pat Methany Group - [It's Just] Talk
Uptempo new age track from 1987. This song was routinely featured on The Weather Channel while the local forecast rolled on the screen. LOL!
Dave Brubeck - Take Five
Classic jazz tune from Dave Brubeck. I loved listening to this song when my girlfriend and I would sometimes drive along the California coast from Ventura to Santa Barbara in August of 1993 late at night with the windows down. The summer temperatures were always very chilly by the ocean at night! Good times and good memories.
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Just Lawyers and accountants , They're not much on dreams
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I’m basically all over the place.
Alice In Chains-Rooster
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uAE6Il6OTcs&pp=ygUXcm9vc3RlciBhbGljZSBpbiBjaGFpbnM%3D
It helped inspire what I wrote this morning.
One of my favorite country songs:
David Allan Coe- A Sad Country Song
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5a5BHJW5Ry0&pp=ygUiZGF2aWQgYWxsYW4gY29lIGEgc2FkIGNvdW50cnkgc29uZw%3D%3D
My favorite artist ever: George Jones-
Back Down to Hung Up on You
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TL9HzlGBmiY&pp=ygUoZ2VvcmdlIGpvbmVzIGJhY2sgZG93biB0byBodW5nIHVwIG9uIHlvdQ%3D%3D
And my love for oldies brings me to this version of a Sam Cooke classic:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8dKaIU2R89I&pp=ygUWYnJpbmcgaXQgb24gaG9tZSB0byBtZQ%3D%3D0 -
I've always enjoyed the songs "Big Log" and "Heaven Knows" by Robert Plant from the mid-80s. From a songwriting and inspiration perspective, both songs are well-written with interesting structures and great arrangements. "Big Log" features an iconic solo guitar riff. My girlfriend and I also enjoy the slowed-down and jazzed-up cover version by Allison Krauss and her brother Viktor.
Viktor Krauss later performed the slowed-down version of the song live in a small venue with guest vocalist Jill Walsh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzGowKkK9KA
I find songs like this inspirational and instructional from a songwriting perspective. Like everyone, I'm always learning and working to improve my songwriting by carefully listening to and dissecting the countless great songs I enjoy. 😀
Cheers,
Joseph
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Another very interesting song from a songwriting perspective is "Wishing You Were Here" from Chicago in 1974, though I wasn't a fan of Terry Kath's vocals in this song. I think Peter Cetera should have sang lead throughout the entire track. When the subject of 'eerie' songs comes up, the part of this song with "ooh-ooh-ooh, wishing you were here" and the parts after that are always mentioned as 'eerie' or 'spooky' in the conversation. That's the main kind of hook that hit songs are made of; something that stands out as unique and catchy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv0OwvsP0ek
As I'm working on a new demo for my song, 'Her Malevolence', I'm thinking of songs like "Wishing You Were Here" and how they are structurally built and arranged, with an ear toward something unique that makes it stands out as catchy, unique, and memorable.
Cheers,
Joseph
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Over the years, I have enjoyed a mellow album track from Toto titled "Lea", released in 1986. The song has great production and arrangement with excellent acoustic guitars, synths, percussion, and somber vocals throughout. It's noteworthy from the perspective of building a good ballad in the style of the 80s genre. The energy builds in the long outro, which is a cool way to finish the song.
The track also has great lyrics, including
Lea, how long will you still want me to want you
and
Lea, do you still want me to want you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAUKLcy5f_w
Cheers,
Joseph
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From a songwriting perspective, I've always enjoyed the structure of "Big Love" from Fleetwood Mac in the mid 80s. It features a good balance of acoustic and lead guitar. The fast-paced guitars against the strong percussion showcase the technical skill that make the track interesting. The song is upbeat, but also slightly haunting, which gives it an edge.
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Thanks for posting these Joseph! I just listened to that Toto track and really enjoyed it. Hadn't heard that before. 😁
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You're welcome! Yes, "Lea" is a remarkable track. I've enjoyed it for many years. It's amazing how many great album tracks that were never played on the radio are sort of obscured.
Cheers,
Joseph
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Among the most prolific songwriters of all time, Barry Gibb wrote and produced this hidden gem for a young, talented vocalist named Kelli Wolfe from South Florida in 1991. It's a power ballad with great vocals, excellent arrangement, and solid guitars. It's among my favorite tracks from the 90s. I find tracks like this very instructional in terms of composing an excellent song.
Born to be Loved by You -- Kelli Wolfe Hartman
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Another upbeat 80s song with an excellent guitar riff is "Rock and a Hard Place" by The Rolling Stones from 1989. There's a lot of high energy in this rock classic, and the lead guitar powers the song.
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Can't go wrong with an upbeat Rolling Stones number! That's a good one Joseph!
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Been listening to a LOT of Ren over the past year or so. The guy is positively overflowing with talent, and sets an example that not all modern music has to be assembled by a committee of producers and beat-makers.
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I'm not familiar with Ren, so this has been a good find for me, I'll certainly be listening to some more. Thanks for posting those Matt!
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@RainyDayMan I failed to link to what first dropped my jaw by Ren..his magnum opus Hi Ren, which every artist everywhere should listen to! https://youtu.be/s_nc1IVoMxc1
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Oh yeah! That's a powerful song!
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This talented young lady, Beatrice Florea, has an amazing voice and tons of great videos of cover songs, including this one:
I like her style of singing the song in three part harmonies and presenting the track as triplets of herself in the video.
Cheers,
Joseph
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Lovely pure voice!
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This Gibb-penned song and universal number one was covered by Liz McLarnon of the Atomic Kittens.
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Here's another very talented young lady, Emily Linge, with brilliant cover versions using simple arrangements:
Ordinary World (Duran Duran) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5SoNUBv8Bw
Heartbreaker (Bee Gees) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nS_XAY1ahE
Honesty (Billy Joel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM9ABKuZLoM
Against All Odds (Phil Colins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=behRV4qo4OQ
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Just listened to Josh Turner doing a cover of Nick Drake's song: Road
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@RainyDayMan I've never heard of him, but the acoustic guitar work is good.
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These two songs were released by Samantha Gibb, the daughter of the late Maurice Gibb.
Inside My Head -- https://youtu.be/YHD0UZzt0fQ?si=K9s--lj0Gw751Oe6
When I'm With You -- https://youtu.be/NnO7Z33JY0A?si=_Sgg2gH364Al7bQU
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Ok guys, here is my list:
A live piece from my fave band (video taken at a concert where I worked…)
https://youtu.be/0YRLL8XfRGA?si=MTXxxRikrCSBTL5F
One of my favorite female singers…and to me one of the best of all time:
https://youtu.be/uGthVEza97U?si=xZL1qdJpanqaWTih
(That’s a style of song I’d love to write myself!)
Fave singer: yes it’s German…this song is just wow, lyrics and music.
https://youtu.be/HrsHF3FVolo?si=fst7Eai8581GW9nq
I also love to listen to stuff like: heart, journey, j. Mitchell, M. Ball, M.Bolton and Don Mc Lean.
I’m an enormous fan of Dianne Warren, and I also like rock, folk, musical, 80ies stuff and all that!
The melody makes me listen, but I also need good lyrics. You can give me the most beautiful song, but with lyrics that make no sense (or are just stupid) I won’t listen any longer. And I do love songs where you can find something for your own. A deeper meaning or with a little twist. Social criticism is also welcome.0 -
@RainbowKeeper I had not heard of the Kelly Family. Thanks for sharing that one. Good stuff! I've always liked the Irish band The Corrs.
Irresistible -- https://youtu.be/pM_Q-G_CZ74?si=TRZGMq2ZYJrTy3rp
Among the others you listed, Heart, Journey, and numerous songs composed by Diane Warren are great.
Lara Fabian also has a great voice. In the late 90s, the Gibb brothers wrote a song for her titled "Born Again", but it was not released.
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@icystorm the Kelly Family or kellys as we usually call them are europes #1 family band with top hits all over Europe, South Africa and china.1
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