Tag Archives: pop

Fast Car

20 Friday Mar 2020

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Tracy Chapman was an unlikely singer/songwriter to chart in the top 10 in 1988, but there was something so pure, authentic, and truthful in her singing that this song resonated with many and, improbably, became a hit.

Thanks to YouTuber Folk & Country on MV

“Jimmy Mack, You Better Hurry Back”: Martha And The Vandellas

24 Monday Feb 2020

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Monday Morning, Martha and the Vandellas put out the call.

Why Berry Gordy named the group The Vandellas seems to be a mystery, but they charted 26 hits in just nine years.

Thanks to YouTuber SuperCanopus

Kissing Other People

20 Thursday Feb 2020

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I was at a dance theatre concert the other day, and this was one of the songs they danced to in the program. I thought it was a cute pop song, and the accompanying official video by Lennon Stella even more cute.

More at Lennon Stella

“I Wonder How Your Engine Feels”

17 Monday Feb 2020

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Monday morning, Josh Turner and his mucho-talented friends steal a lesser-known Simon and Garfunkel song, “Baby Driver,” and joyride.

Keyboard – Adam Saxe, Vocal – Taylor Bloom, Vocal – Ben Cooley (with the grey hat), Guitar – Josh Turner, Bass – Marc Encabo, Percussion – Bob Sale

More at Josh Turner Guitar

Ooh Baby Baby

14 Monday Oct 2019

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Monday morning, loosen your tie with the man, besides Berry Gordy,  most responsible for the success of Motown, the brilliant singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson.

Gotta love the swivel 1.0 choreography for the Miracles, too.

Thanks to Youtuber QuentinCoxBOI

All The Things You Are: Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald

01 Monday Jul 2019

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Monday morning, we go legit. If you follow my blog regularly, you might know that this is one of my favorite jazz standards (see here and here and here for other versions). But it was originally written for a Broadway play for two duets with a lush orchestra. Here are  two wonderful legit singers, Norm Lewis and the extraordinary Audra McDonald, with their heavenly version.

Thanks to YouTuber Kylie Briggs

The Boy From New York City: The Ad Libs

24 Monday Jun 2019

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Monday morning, The Ad Libs a one-hit wonder group from 1965 with a great American Bandstand beat. Mary Ann Thomas from Bayonne, New Jersey on vocals.

Thanks to YouTuber shoderzmuzik

Mrs. Brown: Nellie McKay

25 Monday Mar 2019

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Monday morning, Nellie McKay takes a page from Herman’s Hermits and visits Mrs. Brown. We went to see Nellie sing a few weeks ago in Manhattan and halfway through her set she stepped out from behind her piano, pulled out her ukulele, and sung this.

More Nellie at Nellie McKay – Topic

“So Hoist Up The John B. Sails”

14 Monday Jan 2019

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Monday morning, taking the worst trip you’ve ever been on. An A-1 cover of the Beach Boys’ “Sloop John B.” Josh Turner on guitar and falsetto really nails it here.

Alec Hamilton (keys), Ben Cooley (Tenor, tambourine) Josh Turner (Electric Guitar), Taylor Bloom (Acoustic Guitar), Marc Encabo (Bass) and Bob Sale (Drums).

Thanks to YouTuber Josh Turner Guitar

Stay: Maurice Williams And The Zodiacs

27 Monday Aug 2018

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As summer winds down on Monday,  a voice behind you pleads, Stay…just a little bit longer.

Maurice WIlliams, who wrote the song at age fifteen and sings lead on the shortest #1 pop song on record, said in an interview that they deliberately kept the song short so that it would get more radio play. They figured that the DJs would use it as a sign off before a commercial break if it was short enough. They were right.

That’s Henry “Shane” Gaston on the falsetto.

Thanks to YouTuber Ken Schilling

Yesterday’s Gone

26 Thursday Jul 2018

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The MonaLisa Twins with another summer British invasion hit of the 60s, Chad and Jeremy’s “Yesterday’s Gone.” Ever-Reliable Wikipedia tells us it was Chad’s first published song.

More MonaLisa Twins at MonaLisa Twins

Good Vibrations

30 Monday Apr 2018

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Monday morning, the theremin calls, and you’re swept into one of the most innovative and influential popular rock songs of the 60s.

Carl Wilson on lead vocals. The song was produced by the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson from countless short pieces of tape, and many session musicians were used as well.

There’s an excellent description of the song’s history, as well as a musical deconstruction, and how the song changed the history of the pop single, at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Vibrations

Thanks to YouTuber tabouriefilms