One Year of Songs

The overwhelming majority of people even casually familiar with baseball would recognize "Centerfield," but the overwhelming majority of those people probably couldn't sing a single verse or tell you it was written and performed by the former lead singer of Creedence Clearwater Revival, one of the most successful American rock bands of all time. Fogerty is a Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame member, mostly for writing unforgettable lyrics and songs such as " Proud Mary ," " Fortunate Son ," and " Down on the Corner ." However, once the band split, Fogerty kept writing, coming up with songs that ranged from hyper-political to simply fun, such as "Centerfield." In 2010, Fogerty played "Centerfield" at the annual Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Afterward, the guitar used to make the song was placed on display inside the hall , making it the only song -- other than "Take Me Out to the Ballpark," which is canoni

Few bands have amazing music and amazing stage shows. Alice Cooper is one of them. A hard-rock band if there ever was one, Alice Cooper is best known for vaudevillian performances that always end with Alice dying -- usually by guillotine. "No More Mr. Nice Guy" is rebellious. It's about a kid who has had enough of his always-be-perfect upbringing and lashes out at his community. However, if you've ever heard about Detroit-native Vincent Furnier, Alice Cooper's frontman and creator, you probably know he is widely regarded as one of the nicest people in all of music. Furnier spent his formative years in Arizona but is a regular at Detroit Tigers game and other events -- particularly golf -- around the Motor City. In 2007, he talked about his Michigan roots with Terry Gross and described his friendship with Groucho Marx, who credited Alice Cooper as being one of the last, great vaudevillian acts.

Once billed as the second (or third or fourth or fifth) coming of The Beatles, Oasis was a breath of poppy-fresh air in the grunge era: Riding the line between radio-friendly and just weird enough to be interesting to the hip music crowd. "Don't Look Back in Anger" is a song about reinvention and looking forward to a new life beyond whatever you're doing (or have done). Sadly, the two frontmen for Oasis, brothers Lian and Noel Gallagher, never seemed to get past  some series problems of their own . There are legitimate what-if discussions about two '90s bands: What could Nirvana have done next? What if the Gallagher brothers could tolerate one another? Without a doubt, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? is among the best albums of the decade, but subsequent releases -- while good -- never seemed to have the spark Morning Glory  brought to the table.

Every art scene has that member (or members) who are without question among the most talented in their field but also "too good" for the mainstream -- usually because they refuse to compromise to make their work more accessible to the masses. Faith No More's Mike Patton falls squarely into that category. Between Faith No More and his side-project-turned-main-project-turned-side-project Mr. Bungle, he has unleashed some of the most brilliant metal and metal-adjacent music of the last 40 years. However, nobody seems to know he exists. Yes, some people remember Faith No More as a thunderbolt of a band in the early-'90s, but what happened after Angel Dust , one of the most severely under-appreciated musical documents of the last half-century ? Patton went on to make varied, outlandishly more amazing music. However, it wasn't for radio, and that was a problem. Faith No More recently reunited (without guitarist Jim Martin) and released another solid album -- that, agai

The archetypal American classical composer, Aaron Copland wrote some of the most recognized and beloved songs in the nation's history. However, none is as applauded as "Appalachian Spring," a marathon of a composition that -- if broken down into its various movements -- most people would recognize in bits and pieces but probably would not guess they all come from the same piece. Meant to tell the story of a newlywed couple in Pennsylvania with hints of Greek mythology, Copland grew his arrangement from the Shaker hymn "Simple Gifts" as a ballet for Martha Graham. However, in Copland's mind, the song was not meant to evoke the Appalachians or spring. In fact, Graham's response to the title rather perplexed Copland .

The Everly Brothers perfected two-part harmony, paving the way for groups like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. However, there's something special when siblings, who share genetic makeup, meld into a single, amazing vocal sound. "Bye Bye Love" isn't a particularly tricky song. Its chorus is sung with an open, upper register and accompanied by one of the greatest session guitarists, Chet Atkins (click "View All Audio Clips," then "Stealin' From Chet"). Even the music is pretty simple: Strumming steels in A-major, giving it a very folksy, country vibe while remaining a true, soda-pop song. "Bye Bye Love" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame well ahead of most of its contemporaries and remains one of the best breakup songs of all time.

Before the age of the internet, when everything gets spoiled well ahead of when it's released, there was a time when you could see the packaging of an album for the first time -- in person -- and see something unexpected -- like a guest appearance, remix, or alternate takes. Sometimes, those were the most exciting parts of buying the album. When The Chemical Brothers' Surrender was released, the eye-popping revelation was a guest appearance by Hope Sandoval, the shy, reclusive lead singer of Mazzy Star. The first time I listened to the album, which was before noon the day it came out, I listened to the opening track numerous times before working my way to the mystery song with the mysterious singer, and it blew my entire mind. The Chemical Brothers had a well-established reputation for chest-pounding, hard-hitting club (READ: rave) jams, but they dialed back their normal production style to allow one of the finest voices you'll ever hear shine on what amounts to an ultra-c

In the early days of rap in New York City, the faces of the genre were young, black men who often used other people's music (sampled) and laid spoken (unsung) verses on top of them. Sampling was looked down upon, but most rappers did not have instruments to lay down new recordings. Rap thrived in a small way as NYC artists who could afford to press their own records or signed to local labels that could get their music to the public had a leg up on everyone else. However, when white artists started to pick up on rap, it began a rise that has made it one of the truly mainstream genres in American pop culture. One of the pioneering white artists was Debbie Harry of Blondie, who fell in love with rap in NYC clubs. "Rapture" -- through its music video on MTV -- put a different face on rap, making it more acceptable to a white audience that saw it as music from "the other." However, Blondie was considered a holdover from the maligned disco era, so when Aerosmith, a we

Rock 'n Roll is nothing without rivalries and good relationships gone bad. Pink Floyd is no exception. Once the ultimate progressive-rock band, founding members Roger Waters and David Gilmour had an epic falling out, forming new, successful bands on their own. Waters and Gilmour each developed stage shows that they each toured around the world to consistently sold-out crowds. While Gilmour's shows were more like musical showcases, Waters incorporated large stage sets that culminated in the early-2010s with a Broadway-style mega-set that included a 35' wall that was built during the first third of a complete playing of The Wall , the band's seminal 1979 album. At a tour stop in London, Gilmour made an unannounced appearance, singing the choruses and playing the two solos from "Comfortably Numb" in front of a raucously elated audience. Those solos are widely regarded as among the greatest in the history of guitar. Last month, I visited one of my cousins near Chi

House is at its best when it's uplifting, giving a sense of wonder and joy when life may otherwise bring you down. "Save the World" is just that kind of song. Its message is simple: Who will have a good time (nee "save the world") and inject fun and love back into the world? Scandinavia has a long, deep history with techno and has produced numerous globally relevant DJs, producers, mixers, and programmers. However, there have been few groups or collectives as commercially successful as Swedish House Mafia, which had two massive, completely sold-out tours before temporarily disbanding in 2013 (only to regroup in 2018). "Save the World" also has a lyrics video , which I prefer, but really, who can deny a video with puppers saving the day ... errr, world?

Lords of Acid makes music to get you horny and ready for sex, and there are no exceptions. "Pussy" was a college-radio hit in the '90s because nobody wanted to be accused of censoring college kids who just want some action. While the FCC has never publicly released a list of words you cannot say on television or radio, most stations censor "the P-word" out of caution. As for "Pussy," the song, it was a discotheque staple in the '90s into the early-'00s. When I DJed, I rarely played LoA-approved venues, but when I did, I would work in one LoA song early and another late -- usually during The Power Hour (1-2 a.m. in Michigan, right before bars close) -- and "Pussy" sometimes led to at least one young woman on stage with her panties around her knees and skirt around her chest. It's good to be the DJ. LoA is on tour with a stop near Detroit in May.

A study on the space between notes as much as the notes themselves, Miles Davis's Kind of Blue  is a masterpiece beyond compare. When I lived in Grand Haven, I started listening to NPR's Jazz Profiles , which released  an entire episode on Kind of Blue . I was somewhat enthralled by the album and soon bought it on SACD.  Kind of Blue  kind of blew my mind, and I played it over and over while sorting sports card and/or playing video games. When I went to buy my first "big kid" surround-sound system for my home theater, I took a few CDs, including Kind of Blue . This was my second visit to the store. The first time, the sales rep connected the listening room to a big-ass television and played a sci-fi movie with a soaring score and a ton of sound effects. Most of the speakers were impressive, but I always listened to music more than I've ever watched movies. The rep suggested I bring back music I was familiar with to listen on various speakers, and when I returned w

One of the benefits of living near a large college campus (Michigan State University) is getting to listen to actual college radio (Impact 89 FM). When I was in high school, one of the morning DJs would play this song, and I fell in love with it enough to buy the album it first appeared on, Gordon . During my freshman year of college (Grand Valley State University), I interned at an alternative radio station (WGRD) just as Barenaked Ladies broke big in the US with " The Old Apartment ." At the same time, The Real World , an MTV show featuring a dozen (or so) strangers who lived in a single apartment, was one of the biggest pop-culture phenomena of its time. Thus, when I interned at WGRD, the station had just started "The Real World Grand Rapids," a segment with actual locals put up in an apartment near the station. Participants were contractually obligated to make occasional appearances on the radio, which was met with varying degrees of success. Also at the same ti

Album sequencing is an artform. Some albums -- such as The Decemberists' The Hazards of Love,  Rush's 2112 , or The Who's Tommy  -- have built-in sequencing that tells a story across an entire album. However, albums that are more collections of songs usually prioritize a radio (internet?) hit early on and essentially filter down in hit-worthiness until they reach filler at the end (not unlike journalism's inverted pyramid), but some albums close on particularly poignant songs, sending the listener off with a particular message or sentiment. Few albums have as good of a 1-2 closing as Demon Days . When teamed up with the penultimate " Don't Get Lost in Heaven ," which seamlessly flows into "Demon Days," it's a double shot of send-off. "Don't Get Lost in Heaven" is a dower tale of a bad relationship gone worse, as its narrator tells an unnamed former partner to enjoy a life of bliss while they continue a drug-addled life in misery

Michael Jackson claimed he didn't make "videos"; he made movies. While "Thriller" gets most of the attention, "Smooth Criminal" is equally amazing -- perhaps better. The song is one of the greatest in rock 'n roll history. It's heart-pounding bass and snap-stop sounds make it one of the most recognizable in pop-music history. However, that video is something else and features the famous lean that blew the minds of a generation -- especially when he did it live . It also led researchers to uncover how MJ did it ( in case you want the mystique uncovered ).

A collaboration that made absolutely no sense at first blush -- but produced mega-hits right off the bat -- Gnarls Barkley consists of a highly acclaimed gospel-style R&B singer, CeeLo Green, and one of the most sought-after producers of his time, Danger Mouse. However, their styles seemed to overlap in a weird, funky space that was perfect for each of them, leading to one of the biggest smash hits of the first quarter of the 21st Century -- and a song that's tail will arguably extend into the 2100s. "Crazy" is an inward look at neurosis and how it plays in public spaces. However, CeeLo's delivery makes the song work. His unique vocal texture and range play with syllables and slides like only he can. The song has an oddly Western feel (like The Gorillaz' "Clint Eastwood,"  which was released five years earlier), which plays extremely well vis-a-vis CeeLo's delivery. To top it off, the song's video is beautiful and features a seemingly never-e

One of popular music's most talented and tragic figures, Whitney Houston catapulted to stardom on the back of a string of six consecutive Billboard  Hot 100 #1 hits in the '80s, including "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." With terrific stage presence and a voice that brought power and three-octave range, Houston was a superstar before she knew it. Her fame led to a series of poor choices in her personal life. She got tangled up in drugs and had a publicly horrendous relationship with fellow singer Bobby Brown before she died at age 48. Most people know her from what is widely considered the greatest performance of The National Anthem or her remake of the Dolly Parton hit "I Will Always Love You" for the The Bodyguard  soundtrack, but for me, this is the song that defined her career. Upbeat. Peppy. Easy to dance to. When I DJed, I rotated a dozen (or so) songs to end the night. Sometimes, if the crowd was nice (and the manager wasn't keen to shut down my s

Few bands get to introduce themselves like The Ramones. Clocking in at a neck-breaking 180 bpm and holding steady in a four-chord A-major progression with little variance, "Blitzkrieg Bop" was The Ramones' first single and ushered in a new age of rock 'n roll: Punk. The band ignored all conventions of songwriting or performance and simply went with its gut, producing a truly unique collection of songs. This performance from New Year's Eve 1977 is widely considered one of the most important and finest in rock history. The entire show is one hour and includes 28 songs (from the band's first three albums). Each song finishes in fewer than 3 minutes. ( This video , which claims to be the entire show but is actually only half of it, gives a good flavor for the entire show, which was also released as a double-LP.) Henry Rollins often talks about The Ramones on his spoke-word tours and wrote a heavily-circulated piece about the band in 2014. He often refers to the

Riding the line between a straight-forward rock 'n roll and progressive-rock band, Styx was nothing if not influential to many bands that wanted to push the limits of what it meant to be a "rock band." Using an array of analog instruments and digital effects, many Styx songs sound like snippets of an Andrew Lloyd Webber opera. "Come Sail Away" uses few effects compared to other of Styx's songs, but it's easily the band's most-recognized hit. With soaring piano licks and one of the catchiest instrumental bridges you'll ever hear, it's a rightful staple of classic-rock radio. In 1998, it even got a memorable South Park  treatment as Cartman sang the entire song, including the solos and bridges, in 30 seconds .

One of the most under-appreciated musicians of the 20th Century, Fats Domino's run of hits is still among the greatest in the history of rock 'n roll. For nearly a decade, there was at least one Fats Domino song on the Billboard Hot 100. While other Fats Domino songs get more attention, I've always had a soft spot of "Blue Monday." I suppose most people also hate Mondays , but really, the song's B-key progressions and the terrific breakdown to open each chorus hook me every time. I wasn't a partier when I first heard "Blue Monday," but there's something about the visuals of having a good time but paying for it later that's at least a little romantic. Fats Domino pulled away from the spotlight when his health went downhill in the late-'90s, and after Hurricane Katrina, it turned out he went into full-blown survival mode after he refused to leave his house , living another dozen years before he died in 2017.

Undeniably one of the most talented singers of the '90s, Lauryn Hill was already a star as a member of the then-recently disbanded group The Fugees when she released her only(!?) album. The first single, "Doo-Wop (That Thing)," was an instant hit and catapulted the reclusive Hill into another level of stardom. However, it was all relatively short-lived. Hill soon pulled away from the spotlight and has rarely made public appearances since then. She's canceled dates and even went to prison. Nonetheless, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, on which "Doo-Wop (That Thing)" was released, is considered a classic and even got the Marvel treatment as part of the Hip-Hop Variant series for Ms. Marvel #1 (2015) .

Korn rides a peculiar line between being quite mainstream while still being fun and weird. The band's third album was an overnight commercial success, ushering in the age of nu metal, a blend of rap and metal., which would include bands like Limp Bizkit and Slipknot. "Freak On a Leash" would see extremely high rotation on MTV, which helped fashion the pseudo-genre by elevating bands that otherwise languished on college radio. The video got art direction from Todd McFarlane, who was best known for drawing comic series like Spider-Man , Spawn , and Incredible Hulk . It also won a Grammy .