There are so many Australian singers and groups who have some really great songs. Today though, I feature Australian country singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers.
We’ve been listening to Kasey Chambers’ songs for a long time, and like most all of them. We have several of her CDs. I’ve even heard her in a live interview, a long time ago, on ABC (Australian Broadcast Corp.), on my shortwave radio. She does lots of worldwide concert tours, and if she ever came here, I’d go for sure.
I like all her songs, so it’s hard to pick just one, but here is a favorite:
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Link to the Wiki article which tells all about the song and the awards.
The song was written by Chambers as a commentary on the reluctance of commercial radio stations towards playing her music, despite her being an established performer.[1] However, the single prompted Chambers’ commercial breakthrough and was most-added song to radio station playlists in 2002.[1]
“Not Pretty Enough”, by Kasey Chambers, is from her album, “Barricades and Brickwalls”, and released in 2002. It was written by Kasey Chambers, and is on the EMI label.
Novelty songs are fun to hear. I think there were more of them in the past, as I don’t much hear any these days. I occasionally hear a fun song done as a parody on YouTube, but not much on the radio like before. They may not be number one hits, but for awhile they make people smile.
I’ve heard this one for many years – the original one. On looking it up today I found that Ray Stevens had done a cover of it, too. There has been lots of other people covering it, and it’s been parts of TV shows and movies.
I did read about the circumstances of all the connections mentioned in a type of family tree, and that it is definitely possible to happen. Very strange when you think about it.
Anyway, the first video is the original singers, and the second is Ray Stevens version with the family tree illustrated.
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From Wiki:
“I’m My Own Grandpa” (sometimes rendered as “I’m My Own Grandpaw“) is a novelty song written by Dwight Latham and Moe Jaffe, performed by Lonzo and Oscar in 1947, about a man who, through an unlikely (but legal) combination of marriages, becomes stepfather to his own stepmother—that is, tacitly dropping the “step-” modifiers, he becomes his own grandfather.
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Now, many many years ago When I was twenty three I was married to a widow Who was pretty as could be
This widow had a grown-up daughter Had hair of red My father fell in love with her And soon the two were wed
This made my dad my son-in-law And changed my very life My daughter was my mother ‘Cause she was my father’s wife
To complicate the matters Even though it brought me joy I soon became the father Of a bouncing baby boy
My little baby then became A brother-in-law to dad And so became my uncle Though it made me very sad
For if he was my uncle That also made him the brother Of the widow’s grown-up daughter Who, of course, was my step-mother
I’m my own grandpa I’m my own grandpa It sounds funny I know But it really is so I’m my own grandpa
My father’s wife then had a son That kept them on the run And he became my grandchild For he was my daughter’s son
My wife is now my mother’s mother And it makes me blue Because, she is my wife She’s my grandmother too
I’m my own grandpa I’m my own grandpa It sounds funny I know But it really is so I’m my own grandpa
Now, if my wife is my grandmother Then, I am her grandchild And every time I think of it It nearly drives me wild
For now I have become The strangest case you ever saw As husband of my grandmother I am my own grandpa
I’m my own grandpa I’m my own grandpa It sounds funny I know But it really is so I’m my own grandpa
I’m my own grandpa I’m my own grandpa It sounds funny I know But it really is so I’m my own grandpa
I found this one by the Dixie Chicks (now just Chicks), and I actually hadn’t heard it before. I like it a lot, though. I read some comments and thoughts about this song from random people, and on Wiki articles, but not much else is known to us about it. Most of these said the song was about either of these three subjects … an ex-lover, an abortion, a child given up for adoption. To me, it would be the adoption view. Listen and read the lyrics and see what you think it is about. The Chicks have never publicly said one way or another.
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“Voice Inside My Head”, by the Dixie Chicks (Chicks), can be found on their 2006 album, Take the Long Way. It was released as a single, too. It was written by Natalie Maines, Dan Wilson, Emily Robison, Linda Perry, and Martha Maguire.
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I was only a kid When I said goodbye to you Ten summers ago But it feels like yesterday Lost, scared and alone Nothing I could give to you I tried, I really did But I couldn’t find another way
And I want and I need Somehow to believe In the choice I made Am I better off this way
I can hear the voice inside my head Saying you should be with me instead Every time I’m feeling down, I wonder What would it be like with you around
So I, I made my way Cold and roaming in the wild I’m forever changed By someone I never knew Now I’ve, I’ve got a place I’ve got a husband and a child But I’ll never forget What I’ve given up in you
And I want, I need Somehow to believe In the choice I made Am I better off this way
I can hear the voice inside my head Saying you should be with me instead Every time I’m feeling down, I wonder What would it be like with you around
And I want, I need Somehow to believe In the choice I made Am I better off this way
This is a good song that I’ve liked for a long time. I do like a lot of Blondie’s songs. I looked at a few videos for this song, but didn’t like them much, so just went with this album cover one. When listening to the song I always imagined a bunch of beach and ocean scenes, but the other videos were strange city scenes, or outer space weirdness. No beaches or tides, but one had giant goldfish, and with my fish phobia I had to shut it off fast! haha 🙂
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From a Wiki article:
“The Tide Is High” is a 1967 rocksteady song written by John Holt, originally produced by Duke Reid and performed by the Jamaican group the Paragons, with Holt as lead singer. The song gained international attention in 1980, when a cover version by the American band Blondie became a US and UK number one hit.[2] The song topped the UK Singles Chart again in 2002 with a version by the British girl group Atomic Kitten, while Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall had a minor hit with his interpretation in 2008.
The tide is high but I’m holdin’ on I’m gonna be your number one
I’m not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no It’s not the things you do that tease and hurt me bad But it’s the way you do the things you do to me I’m not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no
The tide is high but I’m holdin’ on I’m gonna be your number one, number one
Ev’ry girl wants you to be her man But I’ll wait my dear till it’s my turn I’m not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no
The tide is high but I’m holdin’ on I’m gonna be your number one, number one, number one
Ev’ry girl wants you to be her man But I’ll wait my dear till it’s my turn I’m not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no
The tide is high but I’m holding on I’m gonna be your number one, number one, number one
The tide is high but I’m holding on I’m gonna be your number one The tide is high but I’m holding on I’m gonna be your number one The tide is high but I’m holding on I’m gonna be your number one The tide is high but I’m holding on I’m gonna be your number one
I wasn’t very sure what this prompt called for. Was it songs no one ever heard of, by some band I like but nobody else ever heard of, or what? Then I thought maybe it was a song by a popular band that just never got to be well known as a single. Anyway, I went with this one by Lady GaGa. I like her songs, and had never heard this one. I like it a lot, though I read it was never selected to be a break out single hit song.
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From Wiki articles:
“MANiCURE” totally hits its mark as a triumphant post-breakup romp, and is one of the instances on the album in which Gaga’s vocal performance is jubilantly unabashed. Perhaps if the album had been given a few more cracks at a smash hit, “MANiCURE” would have reached its potential as one.
“Manicure” (stylized as “MANiCURE“) is a song written by Lady Gaga and produced by DJ White Shadow in 2012 from her fourth studio album, ARTPOP.
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Put some lipstick on Perfume your neck and slip your high heels on Rinse and curl your hair Loosen your hips and get a dress to wear I’m the one who’s Been comin’ ’round lookin’ lovin’ you You’re the medicine I need to heal the way you make me feel
I’m gon’ be manicured You wanna be man cured Ma ma ma manicured She wanna be man cured (man cured) Salon’s enough for her Not to feel so insecure Ma ma ma manicure She wanna be take care’n of Can you feel it, can you feel it, can you feel it I’m addicted to the love that you garner (man cured) Can you feel it, can you feel it, can you feel it Like a serial killer, man is a goner (man cured)
Touch me in the dark Put your hands all over my body parts Throw me on the bed Squeeze, tease me, please me, that’s what I said ‘Cause I’m the, trick who’s Been comin’ ’round lookin’ lovin’ you You’re the, the medicine I need to heal the way, the way, the way you make me feel
I’m gon’ be manicured You wanna be man cured Ma ma ma manicured She wanna be man cured (man cured) Salon’s enough for her Not to feel so insecure Ma ma ma manicure She wanna be take care’n of Can you feel it, can you feel it, can you feel it I’m addicted to the love that you garner (man cured) Can you feel it, can you feel it, can you feel it Like a serial killer, man is a goner
Man cure! Man cure! Heal me, cause I’m addicted to love Save me, cause I’m addicted to love Man cure!
I’m gon’ be manicured You wanna be man cured Ma ma ma manicured She wanna be man cured Salon’s enough for her Not to feel so insecure Ma ma ma manicure She wanna be take care’n of (man cured) Can you feel it, can you feel it, can you feel it I’m addicted to the love that you garner (man cured) Can you feel it, can you feel it, can you feel it Like a serial killer, man is a goner (man cured)
“Shine” is a really good song, I think. It does speak of teaching.
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I also have a funny/strange story about this song.
I heard it on the radio a long time ago and liked it a lot. So I called up the radio station to find out who sang it and what it was called. The DJ told me, and then said if I wanted the cassette tape of their songs I could have one if I could come get it. Well, I sure did, so got in the car to go over there.
The thing was, we lived 30 miles away, and I had no idea where the station was in the big city. He gave me direction, and I did finally find it and collected my tape from them. Yay!
Now as it would happen later on a year or so, we moved to the big city, and now live only a few blocks down the road from that radio station! haha 🙂
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“Shine”, by Collective Soul, is a single from their 1992 album, “Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid”.
It was written by Ed Roland, and is on the Atlantic label.
This is a really good song I’ve liked a long time. I always enjoyed Poison’s music, songs, and videos.
From a Wiki article:
“Every Rose Has Its Thorn” is a power ballad[8][9][10][11][12][13] by American glam metal band Poison. It was released in October 1988 as the third single from Poison’s second album Open Up and Say… Ahh!. The band’s signature song, it is also their only number-one hit in the US, reaching the top spot on December 24, 1988, for three weeks.[14] It also charted at number 11 on the Mainstream Rock chart.[15] It was a number 13 hit in the UK.[16] “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” was named number 34 on VH1‘s “100 Greatest Songs of the 80s”, number 100 on their “100 Greatest Love Songs” and number seven on MTV and VH1 “Top 25 Power Ballads”. Billboard ranked the song number five on their list of “The 10 Best Poison Songs”.[17]
In an interview with VH1’s Behind the Music, Bret Michaels said the inspiration for the song came from a night when he was in a laundromat in Dallas waiting for his clothes to dry, and called his girlfriend on a pay phone. Michaels said he heard a male voice in the background and was devastated; he said he went into the laundromat and wrote “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” as a result.[18]
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Poison released their single, “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn”, from the album, “Open Up and Say…Ahh!”, in 1988. It was on the Capitol label, and written by Bret Michaels, C. C. DeVille, Bobby Dall, and Rikki Rockett.
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We both lie silently still
In the dead of the night
Although we both lie close together
We feel miles apart inside
Was it something I said or something I did
Did the words not come out right
Though I tried not to hurt you
Though I tried
But I guess that’s why they say
Every rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every rose has its thorn
Yeah it does
I listen to our favorite song
Playing on the radio
Hear the DJ say loves a game of easy come and
Easy go
But I wonder does he know
Has he ever felt like this
And I know that you’d be here right now
If I could have let you know somehow I guess
Every rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every rose has its thorn
Though it’s been a while now
I can still feel so much pain
Like a knife that cuts you the wound heals
But the scar, that scar remains
I know I could have saved a love that night
If I’d known what to say
Instead of makin’ love
We both made our separate ways
And now I hear you found somebody new
And that I never meant that much to you
To hear that tears me up inside
And to see you cuts me like a knife I guess
Every rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every rose has its thorn
The Yardbirds had a lot of great songs which charted, but never reached the # 1 spot. This is one of them, and I like it a lot, along with their other songs.
I have an interesting story about the Yardbirds.
Back in the 60s my cousin was married to a guy who was in a local Oklahoma City band called the Sound Pounders (they are somewhat active still today). They eventually got a divorce, but we got to know her ex well as we visited a lot. He is a nice guy.
Anyway, I’m not sure how true this is, but my cousin told me that he was asked by the Yardbirds to come join their band. He turned them down for whatever reasons. Maybe he should have joined this great group? I think so. But that’s all I know about it, maybe true or maybe not, but neat to think of it.
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From a Wiki article:
“Heart Full of Soul” is a song recorded by English rock group the Yardbirds in 1965. Written by Graham Gouldman, it was the Yardbirds’ first single after Jeff Beck replaced Eric Clapton as lead guitarist. Released only three months after “For Your Love“, “Heart Full of Soul” reached the Top 10 on the singles charts in the UK, US, and several other countries.
The Yardbirds first recorded the song with an Indian sitar player performing the distinctive instrumental figures. However, the group were dissatisfied with the results, so Beck developed the part on electric guitar to emulate the sitar. A contemporary review described it as an “oriental touch” and music writers have identified Beck’s contribution as introducing Indian-influenced guitar stylings to rock music and one of the earliest examples of what became known as raga rock.[1][2][3] Beck’s use of a fuzz box has also been cited as perhaps the first significant use of the effect.[4][1]
“Heart Full of Soul”, by the Yardbirds, was released as a single in 1965. It was written by Graham Gouldman, and is on the Columbia (UK), and Epic (US) labels.
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Sick at heart and lonely
Deep in dark despair
Thinking one thought only
Where is she, tell me where
And if she says to you
She don’t want me
Just give her my message
Tell her of my plea
And I know, if she had me back again
Oh, I would never make her sad
I got a heart full of soul
She’s been gone such a long time
Longer than I can bear
But if she says she wants me
Tell her I’ll be there
And if she says to you
She don’t love me
Just give her my message
Tell her of my plea
And I know, if she had me back again
Oh, I would never make her sad
I got a heart full of soul
I always liked this song, as I like the subject, and it is pretty sci-fi to think someday it may be the way the world is in the future.
The lyrics are on the video.
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“In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)” is a 1969 hit song by the American pop-rock duo of Zager and Evans. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks commencing July 12, 1969.[3] It peaked at number one in the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in August and September that year.[4] The song was written and composed by Rick Evans in 1964 and originally released on a small regional record label (Truth Records) in 1968.[5] It was later picked up by RCA Records. Zager and Evans disbanded in 1971.
The song was recorded primarily in one take in 1968, at a studio in a cow pasture in Odessa, Texas.[11] Members of the Odessa Symphony also participated in the recording.
“In the Year 2525”, by Zager & Evans, was released as a single from the album, 2525 (Exordiom & Terminus), in 1968. It was written by Rick Evans, and is on the Truth & RCA labels.
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In the year 2525, if man is still alive
If woman can survive, they may find
In the year 3535
Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lie
Everything you think, do and say
Is in the pill you took today
In the year 4545
You ain’t gonna need your teeth, won’t need your eyes
You won’t find a thing to chew
Nobody’s gonna look at you
In the year 5555
Your arms hangin’ limp at your sides
Your legs got nothin’ to do
Some machine’s doin’ that for you
In the year 6565
You won’t need no husband, won’t need no wife
You’ll pick your son, pick your daughter too
From the bottom of a long glass tube
In the year 7510
If God’s a coming, He oughta make it by then
Maybe He’ll look around Himself and say
Guess it’s time for the judgment day
In the year 8510
God is gonna shake His mighty head
He’ll either say I’m pleased where man has been
Or tear it down, and start again
In the year 9595
I’m kinda wonderin’ if man is gonna be alive
He’s taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain’t put back nothing
Now it’s been ten thousand years
Man has cried a billion tears
For what, he never knew, now man’s reign is through
But through eternal night, the twinkling of starlight
So very far away, maybe it’s only yesterday
In the year 2525, if man is still alive
If woman can survive, they may find
This week’s theme is songs that were turned down by recording artists that went on to become big hits, or what I like to call missed opportunities.
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This is a really good song. I like most all songs by Kelly Clarkson. It’s funny that lots of songs may be written with a certain artist in mind, but if that person doesn’t, or can’t record it, the song will be offered to other artists. This one was first offered to Pink, and to Hillary Duff, who for reasons of their own, couldn’t record it at the time. Kelly Clarkson steps up and does record it, and it becomes a major hit for her.
From a Wiki article:
“Since U Been Gone” is a song recorded by American singer Kelly Clarkson from her second studio album, Breakaway (2004). The song, which was written and produced by Max Martin and Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, was released as the lead single from Breakaway two weeks before the album was released. It is an uptempopop rock and power poppower ballad that infuses electronic sounds with a mixture of a soft and loud pop rock sound. Martin originally wrote “Since U Been Gone” with Pink in mind, but she turned it down. It was then given to Hilary Duff, but she rejected the song because she could not reach its higher notes. The song was finally given to Clarkson after Clive Davis convinced the writers to give it to her.
It topped the US Pop 100 for six consecutive weeks and the US Pop Songs for seven consecutive weeks respectively. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of over one million copies sold. “Since U Been Gone” was also a worldwide success, peaking in the top five in Austria, Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It also peaked in the top ten in Norway, Germany, and Switzerland.
“Since U Been Gone”, by Kelly Clarkson, was released in 2004. It was written by Max Martin and Lukasz Gottwald, and is on the RCA label.
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Here’s the thing
We started out friends
It was cool, but it was all pretend
Yeah, yeah
Since you been gone
You’re dedicated, you took the time
Wasn’t long ’til I called you mine
Yeah, yeah
Since you been gone
And all you’d ever hear me say
Is how I picture me with you
That’s all you’d ever hear me say
But since you been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I’m so moving on, yeah, yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get what I want
Since you been gone
How can I put it? You put me on
I even fell for that stupid love song
Yeah, yeah
Since you been gone
How come I’d never hear you say
I just wanna be with you?
Guess you never felt that way
But since you been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I’m so moving on, yeah, yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get what I want
Since you been gone
You had your chance, you blew it
Out of sight, out of mind
Shut your mouth, I just can’t take it
Again, and again, and again, and again
Since you been gone (Since you been gone)
I can breathe for the first time
I’m so moving on, yeah, yeah
Thanks to you (Thanks to you)
Now I get, I get what I want
I can breathe for the first time
I’m so moving on, yeah, yeah
Thanks to you (Thanks to you)
Now I get (I get)
You should know (You should know)
That I get
I get what I want
Since you been gone
Since you been gone
Since you been gone
teleportingweena 