While working on my blogs for Carrie and Kelly - no last names needed - a whole bunch of Maddie Poppe videos played and she's really, really good. She's cute, but even more I love her amazing voice. I'm not saying all the songs or performances are amazing, but I love her voice on each song. I decided to give her her own blog, although I'll be using songs that I didn't use on Part 1. Just sit back and enjoy her amazing voice!!!
Melanie "Brand New Key":
Simon and Garfunkel "Homeward Bound":
"Bare Necessities":
Here's an original "Made You Miss":
Another original "First Aid Kit":
No one will ever do this song as well as Stevie, but I love Maddie's version of the Fleetwood Mac classic "Landslide":
Again I don't think anyone will ever top Sinead's version of this song. Heck Prince wrote the song and was an amazing performer, but his version was never as good as Sinead's version. Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U":
And of course we can't forget Lady Mapo's appearance this year:
If you don't mind sitting through 4 minutes of talking Maddie singing "The Reason" is worth it:
This is the last of these blogs for the ladies and obviously I've saved the best for the last. This blog features the music of the two Queens of "American Idol". That's the amazing Kelly Clarkson and the equally amazing Carrie Underwood. I'm going to alternate their songs.
I'm starting off with the first winner, Kelly Clarkson and her audition. Along with showing off an amazing personality she takes on Madonna's "Express Yourself":
Carrie Underwood finished first place on "AI's" 4th season. In her audition she sang Bonnie Raitt, and many others, "I Can't Make You Love Me":
"Cry":
"Good Girl":
"Breakaway":
"Blown Away":
"Since U Been Gone":
"So Small":
"Behind These Hazel Eyes":
"Just A Dream":
"Addicted":
"Temporary Home":
"Twisted":
"What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)":
"Before He Cheats":
"Miss Independent":
"Church Bells":
"You Thought Wrong":
"Choctaw County":
"My Life Would Suck Without You":
"What Can I Say":
"My Favorite Things":
"Kingdom":
And of course you can't forget Kelly's version of this amazing song from "Hamilton". "It's Quiet Uptown":
I've been procrastinating these countdown blogs for too long, it's time to finish them. I need to finish these Night Ranger countdown blogs then finish the blogs for another overlooked unranked 80's era artist Meat Loaf. After that I will count down the Top 14 Greatest 80s artists, starting with Journey. Once I finally get that done the plan is to go through and re-rank all those bands based on what I have learned.
32) "Right On You":
31) "Call My Name":
30) "Man In Motion":
29) "Love Shot Me Down":
28) "Why Does Love Have To Change":
27) "Faces":
26) "Carry On";
25) "Interstate Love Affair":
The above song is not to be confused with the Stone Temple Pilots classic, one of the 90s best songs:
This song was "waiting" at #1 for 3 weeks and finished #11 on the year end charts. Almost 230 million YouTube views? Thats crazy for in my opinion a pretty mediocre song.
10) Richard Marx "Right Here Waiting":
By contrast this stone cold classic doesn't even have 1/3rd of the listens at 78 million views.
Berlin "Take My Breath Away":
For sake of comparison this video only has 180,000 YouTube views. But that that doesn't shock me at all as I never heard or have completely forgotten this song. "I Like It" was on it's way up at the time and it peaked at #7. 9) Dino "I Like It":
One of the few rock bands that actually broke into the Top Ten, making all the way to # 5.
8) Great White "Once Bitten, Twice Shy":
7) Bon Jovi "Lay Your Hands On Me":
One of the best voices of the 80s, Mick Hucknall. His band and this song rose all the way to #1.
6) Simply Red "If You Don't Know Me By Now":
At this time this song was on it's way up to #2. 5) Bobby Brown "On Our Own":
Albeit a so-called New Wave song, this song was able to break from it's shackles and rise to #4. 4) Love and Rockets "So Alive":
It was #1 for three weeks, which tied for most weeks at #1 for that year, but only finished #55 on the year end chart. In my Top 106 Greatest 80's Era Musicians both Prince and Madonna are very high in the rankings. 3) Madonna "Express Yourself":
Although at this time Prince was on the downward side of his career "Batdance" danced all the way to #1. A perfectly fine song, but let's not kid ourselves this song wouldn't finish in Prince's Top 40 songs. 2) Prince "Batdance":
Step by step it moved it's way to #1, where it stayed for two weeks. 1) Martika "Toy Soldiers":
All thanks to Billboard Magazine for the rankings information, their website is extremely valuable for nerds like me.
This song moved up to #7. 27) Natalie Cole "Miss You Like Crazy":
Again I'm a sucker for a good pop song, even such a ridiculous pop song as this. And for whatever reason the girls love the boy bands, this song soared all the way to #1.
26) New Kids On The Block "Hangin' Tough":
This song peaked at #9. This song has some of the best lyrics for I, and how millions of others, feel about music. Music is literally the "doctor of my soul". 25) The Doobie Brothers "The Doctor":
Music is the doctor Makes you feel like you want to Listen to the doctor Just like you ought to Music is the doctor of my soul
How did this song only make it to #8? This is one of Henley's best either solo or with the Eagles songs. Sadly this is the best video available on YouTube.
23) Don Henley "The End of the Innocence":
Despite the incredible funkiness of this song, it made it only to #6. 18) Karyn White "Secret Rendezvous":
This song rose all the way to #1. I know the two front men weren't singers at all. But there's isn't any deniability of the greatness of these songs. 17) Milli Vanilli "Baby Don't Forget My Number":
This song also soared to #1. I know not every song can ascend to #1, but this and the Milli Vanilli song both deserved that high perch. 16) Fine Young Cannibals "Good Thing":
Roxette had 4 #1 songs, but this wasn't one of them. In fact this song didn't even make the Top Ten. Actually on July 29th, 2019 this song had reached it's peak. It didn't rise any higher. Roxette's 4 #1 songs were "Joyride", "The Look", "It Must Have Been Love" and "Listen To Your Heart". 14) Roxette "Dressed For Success":
1989 was probably the peak for the career of Ms. Abdul, this song soared to # 1. 13) Paula Abdul "Cold Hearted Snake":
This song rose to #8, but couldn't move any higher. 12) Expose "What You Don't Know":
This song made it all the way to #2 and stayed there for two weeks. It was kept out of the #1 spot by Milli Vanilli's "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You". 50) Warrant "Heaven":
I have been and always will be a sucker for a great pop song. 49) Michael Bolton "Soul Provider":
This is a song that I have forgotten, but it's a very cool song. Although with his 80s fashion sense, it's hard to believe he ever got himself a woman. 47) Grayson Hugh "Talk It Over":
One of my favorite one hit wonders of the 80s, I love this song so freakin' much.
46) Benny Mardones "Into The Night":
Yes, this is that video. 43) Cher "If I Could Turn Back Time":
Another great pop song 40) Richard Marx "Satisfied":
Skid Row had a Top 40 hit? Really? I never really considered Skid Row Hair Metal, they were another late 80s great rock band. And this song is amazing 39) "18 And Life":
38) Surface "Shower Me With Your Love":
I don't remember this song either, but it's a pretty good song. 36) Michael Damian "Cover Of Love":
35) De La Soul "Me Myself and I":
34) Soul 2 Soul (featuring Caron Wheeler) "Keep On Movin":
I'm surprised "Buffalo Stance" made it all the way up to #3. It definitely deserved a high ranking.
33) Neneh Cherry "Buffalo Stance":
This song was making it's chart debut all those years ago. 74) Indigo Girls "Closer To Fine":
69) Dead Or Alive "Come Home With Me Baby":
It never came a big hit, but that doesn't mean it's not a good song. And to hear that amazing voice makes a serviceable song into a good song. Who doesn't love Stevie?
67) Stevie Nicks "Rooms On Fire":
On it's way down from it's #1 peak, this is an undeniable classic. 66) Paula Abdul "Forever Your Girl":
61) The Cult "Fire Woman":
Only 6,370 views? That's a disgrace. This is a great song from Neneh Cherry's fantastic debut CD "Raw Like Sushi". 59) Neneh Cherry "Kisses On The Wind":
58) Billy Squier "Don't Say You Love Me":
No Hair Metal here, just another great rock song. The rare hard rock song, albeit a ballad, that made it into the Top Ten. This song clawed it's way to #8. 57) Lita Ford and Ozzy Osborne "Close My Eyes Forever":
"You can stand me up to the gates of hell, but I won't back down". 56) Tom Petty "I Won't Back Down":
While this is a great rock song and a great song overall this song only made it to #27. That was much more typical of what happened to a rock song in the late 80s. The Ozzy/ Lita Top Ten duet was an anomaly for that time. But of the two songs I actually think the Warrant song is much better.
55) Warrant "Down Boys":
Is this Bobby Brown's best song? It deservedly crashed the Top Ten, making it all the way to #3.
54) Bobby Brown "Every Little Step":
But when I get your call I'm all choked up Can't believe you called my home And as a matter of fact, it blows my mind You would even talk to me Because a girl like you is a dream come true A real life fantasy
Going back to the Top Ten songs from so many years ago, this is the top songs plus more from July 29, 1989. Pretty much every song in the upper reaches of the chart is a classic, although I had to go to YouTube for some reminders. But so many genres were under represented on Billboards charts, for whatever reason, especially Hair Metal. Hair Metal wasn't taken seriously, even back then, but that genre produced some great songs. All thanks to Billboard.
Another genre that didn't get enough respect in the 80s was New Wave, it's a crime this song peaked at #97 and was only on the charts for two weeks. 99) Erasure "Stop!":
On it's way down, this song peaked at # 10. 98) Waterfront "Cry":
Honestly I'm surprised this song even made the countdown. 97) Guns N' Roses "Nightrain":
Labeling every rock in the late 80s as Hair Metal is a gross generalization. While some bands did live up to that genre- see Poison, Ratt, Winger- some so called Hair Metal bands were just rock bands. Joe Elliot still insists to this day that Def Leppard weren't hair metal and I would agree with him. Also I never considered G N' R or Cinderella as Hair Metal. While some of the members did have big hair, that was the only thing in common. Cinderella had it's own niche, a very blues rock vive. Again it's a shame this song only reached # 20.
94) Cinderella "Coming Home":
91) Q-Feel "Dancing In Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop)":
This song only peaked at #55, which shocked me when I saw that. However this was near the end of a very hit centric era for Chicago. This song probably didn't go higher probably a bit because of Chicago fatigue. 87) Chicago "We Can Last Forever":
No one would ever accuse these guys of being a Hair Metal band, they were a great rock band. But like so-called Hair Metal they were forced to the sidelines and this song only peaked at #82.
85) Living Color "Open Letter (To A Landlord)":
Of course one reason Hair Metal was forced to the sidelines that it seemed nearly every song was about the same topic. Sex is great, but there are a million things a band can sing about. These guys were very much a Hair Metal band, although you can't deny this song has some chops.
84) Bullet Boys "Smooth Up In Ya":
Back in the late 80s Rap wasn't as prevalent as it is in 2019. Any time a Rap song broke out into the mainstream, it still felt a bit strange. That's a shame, especially when it comes to a song like "Bust". This song was making it's debut almost 30 years ago.
I'm not saying all of these bands are good, I'm just saying they're intriguing. Of these three bands my favorite is Monster Magnet.
Power Trip:
"Executioner's Tax (Swing of the Ax)":
As long as he doesn't sing I like this song. "Firing Squad":
"If Not Us Then Who":
"Manifest Decimation";
"Hornet's Nest":
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club:
"Beat The Devil's Tattoo":
"Spook":
"Red Eyes and Tears":
"Spread Your Love":
"Whatever Happened To My Rock and Roll":
"Berlin":
I realized that I had heard "Space Lord" before but I don't know any of their other songs. So for this band I picked their other songs solely on title alone. Monster Magnet:
I wanted to break a bit out of my usual music blog topics with something a bit different. I looked on-line for the best unknown bands. I picked the five bands that are the most interesting to me. Either I liked their name, have heard some of their music or like them for some other reason. But if you are very familiar with one of these bands, that's great. However I know very little about these bands.
Out of all of these bands Royal Blood is the band I know the best, yet from memory I couldn't tell you even one of their songs.
I was so disappointed when I found out their mascot wasn't a large Mastodon coming out of the fog. Mastodon:
An Alexis Grace died in 2016. But from the scant information I can find on the internet, it's not this Alexis. She finished 11th place in Season 8. Alexis Grace's audition:
"Dirty Diana":
"Never Loved A Man":
With Swedish Gun Factory:
"The Fall":
"Ghost Town":
"The End Art Deco Style":
"I'm So Done":
Albin Fredy (featuring Alexis Grace) "Run After Me":
She was the Season 3 winner. Fantasia's audition:
"Summertime":
"I Believe":
"Baby Mama":
"Truth Is":
"Free Yourself":
"When I See U":
Built off of a sample of the post Lionel Richie Commodores, the original song is below this video. The only bad thing about a sample is that the second song rarely lives up to the original. "Lose To Win":
A tribute to Marvin Gaye. The Commodores "Night Shift":
She was the Season 6 winner. Jordin Sparks audition:
The review is in part 1, this blog intends to highlight the best songs of the second half of Motley Crue's career. This blog covers the music from 1989's "Dr. Feelgood" to the new songs from "The Dirt" soundtrack.
"Dr. Feelgood":
"Dr. Feelgood":
One of the very best songs of Motley Crue's career. "Kickstart My Heart":
"Without You":
"Don't Go Away Mad":
"Primal Scream":
These next three songs are from 1994's "Motley Crue", their only CD with John Corabi. The songs are still Crue songs, just a bit grittier. These are basically all Nikki Sixx songs, with help from the other band members. That's basically Motley Crue's songwriting technique.
The life and times of Motley Crue come to Netflix today and never has a title better fit a show than "The Dirt". It will not come as a surprise to anyone that has followed the Crue even a little bit, but the Crue boys were some slimy people, who were allowed to live life to it's worst. What dirt do we have in this movie? The complete lack of morals of Vince Neil, the heroin addiction of Nikki Sixx, the self absorbed mindlessness of Tommy Lee and Mick Mars blind eye. Even Ozzy Osborne dips in his own sleaze in this movie. This is coming from a fan of both the Crue and Ozzy. I love their music, but I'm disgusted by a lot of their choices.
Speaking of their music I wish more time had been spent on their music. We get glimpses of their song writing process- but as any Motley Crue fan knows that's basically Nikki Sixx's gig. What I wanted to see is what things happened that inspired "Home Sweet Home" or "Kickstart My Heart"- other than Sixx's brief death?
I had read "The Dirt" and "The Heroin Diaries" and loved both. As for the movie it was decent, other than all the things that were decadent. One of the best and most heartbreaking parts of "The Dirt" book is the story of Vince Neil's daughter, Skyler. He wasn't the best Dad ever, but he clearly loved his daughter. Skyler's losing battle with cancer brought a much needed humanity to Vince. The movie covers this also, just not as well.
And thanks to the band for shooting down Sixx's idea of naming the band X-Mass, that would've been a x-miss. The band name Motley Crue fit this group of brothers perfectly. A few more of those biographical details would have made the movie even better. Perhaps finding the details that showed more than the wild life of Motley Crue.
I would give this movie a B-. Things I liked about the movie was first and foremost the music. I liked the actors playing Mars, Sixx and Lee- especially Douglas Booth- who played Sixx. I view Sixx as the soul of the band.
Things I didn't like about the movie, the constant and gratuitous sex scenes. I have met my quota for seeing boobs for all year from just this one movie. I wish they would've spent a bit more time finding the actor that plays Vince Neil. The actor doesn't look like Vince at all. I just didn't believe in any way that he could be Vince.
My review in short: I wish the movie would've focused more on the music and a lot less on the sleaze.
Now here are most of the best songs that came from 1981's "Too Fast For Love" to 1987's "Girls Girls Girls":
1) "Live Wire":
2) "Starry Eyes":
3) "Too Fast For Love":
4) "Shout At The Devil":
This video is heavily featured in "The Dirt". 5) "Looks That Kill":
I hadn't planned on writing a third part of this blog, but songs keep on coming to me. I do realize these songs have been moving from the haunting songs to the hauntingly beautiful songs.
34) A Taste Of Honey "Sukiyaki":
35) Alan Parsons Project "Eye In The Sky":
36) Styx "The Best of Times":
I love love love her voice. 37) Norah Jones "Don't Know Why":
38) Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes "Up Where We Belong":
39) Spandau Ballet "True":
40) Berlin "Take My Breath Away":
41) Mr. Mister "Broken Wings":
42) Borns "Electric Love":
This is a haunting version of this song, I wouldn't call the original haunting.
43) Lettice Rowbotham & James Smith "The House of The Rising Sun":
This song is both haunted and haunting 44) Poe "Haunted":
45) For this song the lyrics are haunting, The Kinks "Come Dancing":
An incredibly beautiful song, showing off Audioslave's range. "Dandelion":
"Doesn't Remind Me":
"Exploder":
"Sound Of A Gun":
Hey I only discovered them today and have only listened to their debut CD once. Let me listen to them more and I'll probably have more songs. Ultraphonix:
"Walk Run Crawl":
Rest In Peace Scott!!! Velvet Revolver:
"Slither":
"Let It Roll":
"Fall To Pieces":
"Loving The Alien":
"The Last Fight":
This is a pretty cool performance of the Guns N' Roses classic "Mr Brownstone":
