Midnight Blue

So, it has been forever since my last post, and I apologize.  I moved this month and spent many nights stressing, but you know what?  It's alright, because I'm gonna paint it cherry red.  You're probably thinking "paint what?"  Well, I'm not sure, but I do know that I have those lyrics stuck in my head.  They're from "Midnight Blue" by Lou Gramm, which I am sure you've heard many times.  It is an awesome song, and he released it in 1987 on his first solo album.  For some reason, I've had this song playing through my mind for a long time.  I think it's a great tune to haunt your brain, because believe me, there are many others that I would not want invading my mental space.

I am going to paint everything cherry red!

I looked at the lyrics, and I'm not quite sure I follow.  Well, I guess Lou "used to follow," as he sings in the tune.  He sings about a guy who seems to be a bit of a rebel.  He is in love with a girl, but then at the end of the song, he sings that he will be "back again."  Someday--he'll be back again.  He sings, "I'm saving up my love."  Hmm... So, perhaps the guy has to go away for a spell, but since he says "someday" he'll be back again, it seems a bit undefined and open-ended.  Oh well.  I suppose it doesn't matter.  I just love this tune, especially the whole cherry red thing.  Oh, and there is the whole thing about going into the "midnight blue."  It has a sort of fun, rebellious, endless possibility mystique.  Guitar licks and Lou's voice really drive this one home in my opinion, so enjoy the midnight blue!

We Will Miss You, Donna

I'm still a bit in shock over the news of Donna Summer's death today.  I can say with 100 percent truth and certainty, that she was the first woman I recall hearing on the radio in the late '70s.  I was just a little girl, but I was in love with her music.  Used to dance around in my room and sing all her songs in front of the mirror.  As I got older, I listened to more of her music.  I was completely obsessed for a while, actually.  There are so many great songs that she sang --through the 70s and 80s...and beyond.  I remember hearing her version of "O Holy Night" just this past December when I was shopping, and it was breathtaking.  As for her disco tunes, well, they were all amazing.  Anyone remember "Thank God It's Friday?"  Donna Summer sang, "Last Dance" in that movie.  She certainly raised some eyebrows with "Love to Love You Baby," but I give her props for that.  This was long before Madonna and Lady Gaga.  Donna Summer had a voice that was truly like gold.  We will miss you, Donna.  Rest in peace and fill the heavens with your glorious voice.

High Enough

So, again I fall behind on my posts.  I apologize.  I'm been a bit frantic and off schedule with my upcoming move.  Hopefully, everything will settle soon -- and I sure hope I have decent internet service in the new place.  Anyway, I was driving this weekend and heard the song "High Enough" by Damn Yankees.  Excellent song, and I hadn't heard it in a long time.  So, I am glad it came on the radio.  When it first came out,  I thought they were singing "Can you take me higher...," but that is no surprise.  As you know, my hearing is not the best, and hey, sometimes it's just hard to tell what people are singing.  But, as I was listening this time, I was pretty sure it was "high enough" that they were singing.  Looked it up, and bingo!  Yes, that is what they are singing.  Unfortunately, it was released in 1990, so it isn't technically an '80s song, but that is alright.  Damn Yankees is made up of folks from Styx and Night Ranger--and Ted Nugent, so I think it's okay.

Meanwhile, I watched the video this evening, and I'm not sure I follow...  So, there is this couple, and they are on the run from the law (I think they robbed a bank or stole money somehow).  Toward the end of the video, there is this huge shoot-out with the cops and, well, Ted Nugent is out on the porch just rockin' out on his guitar solo while the bullets are flying.  Not quite sure I understood, but I guess it's kind of like that scene in "Titanic" where the string players are just playing along while the ship is sinking.  Actually, I think Ted is just playing as if to say "screw you" to the cops and the law.  Bullets cannot stop him!  I'm good with that.  Anyway, the woman is caught by the cops, goes to jail, and then you see her with a rosary and a priest.  Think he is reading her her last rights.   Come to find out at the very end, it's Ted Nugent again.  AHA!  Perfect!  He has another "ha!" kind of smirk, too.  I looked at the lyrics and history behind the song, and it's actually about a couple falling in love--and how it can be scary, and one person can scare the other away.  But, they ultimately come back to each other and can take each other high enough to fly them over yesterday.  Pretty cool.  I like it.  Good message, good harmony, awesome guitar solo, and just a good tune altogether.  Enjoy!

Making Love Out of Nothing at All

So, I apologize once again for my long hiatus.  It's not like me, really, and I feel very guilty.  That being said, I really wanted to write about a show-stopping tune this evening.  "Total Eclipse of the Heart" came to mind, since I love that song.  It's definitely a monstrous tune and has enjoyed huge popularity--even to the point of being re-recorded in a dance version (which, I admit, is epically tragic in my opinion).  Anyway, I love that tune, and Bonnie Tyler is amazing.  As I was researching the tune, I discovered that it was written by Jim Steinmann, who wrote songs for Meatloaf.  Steinmann also wrote "Making Love Out of Nothing at All"  and offered it to Meatloaf, but there was some kind of conflict with the record company.  Ultimately, "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" was recorded by Air Supply.

I admit that I am not a huge Air Supply fan.  I think they are a terrific band, and some of their songs are really memorable -- like this one!  So, it all came back to me when I heard it.  It is definitely one of those classic ballads with beautiful vocals and hugely romantic lyrics.  If you read the lyrics, well, they are pretty intense.  Lots of contradictions and interesting mental imagery -- all because of love.  Yup.  I never really heard anything other than "making love out of nothing at all."  In fact, it's still hard for me to concentrate on the lyrics when I hear this song, because I am spellbound by the piano and the quality of Russell Hitchcock's voice.  But, alas, the song is about someone who is deeply in love with another person and can never let him/her go.  It say "him/her" because the song was actually covered by Bonnie Tyler in 1996.  Check out her video.  It's interesting.  Actually, I think it is kind of creepy, but she looks beautiful, and the video production is great.  Air Supply wins the contest (in my opinion) for the champions of this song.  It would be interesting to hear yet another reincarnation by today's singers.  I wonder who would really have the voice to make it work.  Hmmm...let's ponder that one.  In the meantime, please enjoy the video for this tune.  Albeit kind of cheesy, it is a perfect peek into the fashions, style, and video direction of 1983.  

We Don't Have to...

Take our clothes off to have a good time?  Correct!  I heard this song while shopping at BJ's and just had to write about it this evening.  It seemed to go on forever, and everytime I hear it, it just seems cheesier and cheesier to me.  I do remember when it came out in 1986.  I was pretty young -- had just been playing clarinet for about 2 years.  All of my 6th grade buddies and I giggled over it.  Of course, we really had no idea what the song was about.  To this day, I am still baffled by "cherry wine," so I did a bit of research.  Seems that many of the cherries for this type of drink are grown in Michigan, and Jermaine Stewart was from Chicago -- so it kind of makes sense.  I lived in Elkhart, IN for a long time, and I know that Chicago, Michigan, and Northern Indiana are all kind of in the same area -- so I guess they share certain regional foods and beverages.

Anyway, back to the song.  I had no idea that Jermaine Stewart died at such a young age.  Yes, he passed away in 1997 at the age of 39.  Very sad.  I saw a couple of references to Jermaine as a "one hit wonder" because of this song, which is probably true.  I can't think of any other songs by Jermaine.  This one will forever live in the minds of those of us who grew up in the 80s, and those who happen to be shopping in BJs or a similar store will get hit with this tune from time to time.  The message for the song is clear -- well, sort of.  I get it.  People can have fun without "going too far too fast," but again, I am stuck on the cherry wine.  "We can dance and party all night...and drink some cherry wine...uh huh..."  Well, okay.  Dancing seems to be pretty important in this song.  "Take my hand, let's hit the floor...shake our bodies to the music, maybe then you'll score..."  Hmmm.... maybe a bit of a mixed message.  Guess this girl better show some class and start groovin' on the dance floor before she has a chance at a romantic relationship here.  Wait -- I know there is a girl in the video, but maybe the song isn't about a girl now that I think about it...  Well, the song is fun, cheesy, and silly all at the same time.  My favorite parts: (1) trumpet lines, and (2) "na na na-na na-na...na na..."  Hope you enjoy this one!

Is This Love? Yes, and It's Survivor...

When you hear the song title "Is This Love," you probably think about Whitesnake, right?  I know I do, and I looked at Whitesnake's song with the same title in a previous post.  Meanwhile, I completely forgot about the song "Is This Love" by Survivor.  It was written in 1987, and after I heard it again this evening, I remembered it.  I didn't think it got much airplay back in the day, but it hit number #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It's definitely a great song, and I'm not sure why it is less than a stellar memory in the Survivor discography.  It has the unmistakable Survivor sound, with Jimi Jamison's distinctive vocals.  It also has wonderful lyrics about a man who is obviously in love, but it seems that he is questioning himself or maybe even fighting it a bit.  "Is this love that I'm feelin'?  Is this love that's been keepin' me up all night?"  Yup -- it's love.  Love is at the door, making you toss and turn and lose sight of your clear thinking.  That is what love does to us, and luckily, we have some terrific Survivor songs to express this!  I'm a big Survivor fan and truly enjoy all their songs.  Their songwriting is really first rate and maybe a bit underestimated today.  Survivor's "Is This Love" is probably eclipsed by the Whitesnake "namesake" tune, but this song really is terrific.  Signature Jamison vocals, awesome guitar solo, and an excellent modulation make this one a keeper in my book.  Hope you enjoy it as well!

Virtually Endless Publicity

It's me -- just plugging another article I wrote for MusicianYou magazine - http://www.musicianyou.com/articles/virtually-endless-publicity