I couldn't find a good live version of XTC performing this song, it seems the band had some stage fright issues. Here's the original video and see below for an alternative live version. 1a) XTC "The Mayor of Simpleton":
1b) Joe Jackson "The Mayor Of Simpleton":
I also couldn't find a live version of this song either. That's a shame as this song is a jam. 2) Thompson Twins "My Funky Valentine":
One of our current greatest live bands, sadly I've only been able to see them live once. 3) Pearl Jam "Go":
Another video I couldn't find a whole length live version of. 4) Green Day "Say Goodbye":
5) 2 Unlimited "No One":
It has to be the Steve Perry Journey for this live version. 6) Journey "Stone In Love":
"Holy Fvck" is my favorite CD of 2022. 7) Demi Lovato "City of Angels":
Again no live version available for this song. 8) Fall Out Boy featuring Big Sean "The Mighty Fall":
I couldn't find a great live version of this song. 9) Kenny Rogers "Love Or Something Like It":
10) H.E.A.T. "Rock Your Body":
My favorite line is "Immigrants, we get the job done." 11) Lin Manuel Miranda et al. "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)":
12a) Connor Smith "Steal My Thunder":
Studio version from the "Twisters" soundtrack, the best country CD of 2024. It might be the best CD of 2024. Twenty-nine songs, nearly all of them are great. 12b) Connor Smith featuring Tucker Wetmore "Steal My Thunder":
13a) Lindsey Stirling "The Upside":
13b) Lindsey Stirling featuring Elle King "The Upside":
I'm not a big fan of the sound on this video. 14a) Pink "Beautiful Trauma":
This is such a great song. 14b) Pink "Beautiful Trauma":
15a) My Chemical Romance "The Sharpest Lives";
15b) The studio version of "The Sharpest Lives":
Again I couldn't find a live version of this song. 16) The Dark Element "Not Your Monster":
17) Sam Barber "Tear Us Apart":
18) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Free Girl Now":
On March 1st, 2024 my rock concert girlfriend and I will be going to see "Les Miserables" here in the Eccles Theatre in Salt Lake City. This will be the seventh or eighth time I've seen this amazing musical. It quite likely is my favorite Broadway play ever.
69a) From Sweet Charity "Big Spender":
69b) Shirley Bassey "Big Spender":
70a) "If My Friends Could See Me Now":
70b) Linda Clifford "If My Friends Could See Me Now":
Lea Michele is one of the best singers of this century. 71) From "Funny Girl" "Don't Rain On My Parade":
These next five songs are from "Hair": 72a) "Aquarius":
72b) The 5th Dimensions "Age Of Aquarius":
73) "Hair":
74) "Good Morning Starshine":
75) "Three-Five-Zero-Zero":
76) "The Flesh Failures (Let The Sunshine In)":
These next 8 songs are from "Miss Saigon". 77) "Sun and Moon":
78) "Room 317":
79) "Now That I've Seen Her":
80) "Paper Dragons":
81) "The American Dream":
From "The Man of La Mancha" 82a) Brian Stokes Mitchell "The Impossible Dream":
82b) Elvis Presley "The Impossible Dream":
The next two songs are from Fiddler On The Roof" 83) Chaim Topol "Tradition":
84) Chaim Topol "If I Were A Rich Man":
From "A Little Night Music" 85) Stephen Sondheim and Bernadette Peters "Send In The Clowns":
I hadn't planned on writing this blog today. However I feel that with the life changing moments of 23 years ago I shouldn't let the day pass by. But I'm going to mark the 23rd anniversary of 9/11 by more than just 9/11 songs. There will be some 9/11 songs in there of course, but also some songs that capture the feeling of that dark day. Always Remember, Never Forget. God Bless America!!
1) Judy Collins "Both Sides Now":
2) Terry Jacks "Seasons In The Sun":
3) Bruce Springsteen "The River":
4) The Smiths "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out":
5) Cat Stevens "Moonshadow":
6) Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here":
7) Pearl Jam "Black":
8) Garth Brooks "Wolves":
9) Echo and the Bunnymen "The Killing Moon":
Some of the best 9/11 songs:
10) Neil Young "Let's Roll":
11) Bruce Springsteen "The Rising":
12) Mary Chapin Carpenter "Grand Central Station":
13) Bruce Springsteen "Lonesome Day":
These next two songs are from "Come From Away" 14) Darkness and Trees":
I heard The Greg Kihn Band's "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)" on my morning walk today. I don't completely agree with that assessment but there were a lot of amazings songs before that song was released in 1981. Here are 17 of those great songs.
Kihn died a little bit less than a month ago at the age of 75. Although he never achieved great success this is one of the first songs that helped me discover my love of music, especially rock music. The Greg Kihn Band "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em):
1) The Crew Cuts "Sh-Boom":
2) The Supremes "Stop In The Name of Love":
3) The Platters "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes":
4) Louis Armstrong "What A Wonderful World":
5) The Lovin' Spoonful "Summer In The City":
6) The Rolling Stones "Gimme Shelter":
7) David Bowie "Space Oddity":
8) Nancy Sinatra "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'":
9) Led Zeppelin "Whole Lotta Love":
10) The Shangri-las "Leader of The Pack":
11) Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody":
12) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band "Born To Run":
13) Pink Floyd "Comfortably Numb":
14) Neil Diamond "Song Sung Blue":
15) Wild Cherry "Play That Funky Music":
16a) Carly Simon "You're So Vain":
16b) The lovely Olivia Rodrigo covering "You're So Vain":
This is the song that inspired this blog. I don't know if most people would consider this song obscure. However it's always been one of my favorite songs from the 70s. 1) Dire Straits "Sultans of Swing":
2) Trace Adkins "Swing":
3) Billy Dean "Swingin' For The Fence":
4) The All-American Rejects "Swing Swing":
5) The Steve Miller Band "Swingtown":
6) Pink Spiders "Modern Swinger":
7) The New Pornographers "All For Swinging You Around":
8) Rival Sons "Keep On Swinging":
9) John Anderson "Swingin'":
10) Swing Out Sister "Breakout":
11) Swing Out Sister "Am I The Same Girl":
12) Swing Out Sister "Twilight World":
These next five songs are by Dire Straits 13) "Romeo and Juliet":
In honor of the 43rd anniversary of MTV, these are the who knows how many best videos from MTV's early days. I am also including videos from pre-MTV days. This blog has expanded from my original intent. From only 51 songs to who knows how many songs? From videos from the late 70s to 1989 now from any notable video since music videos were made.
I'm changing these blogs to the best, no matter how obscure videos of The Beginning Days Of Music Videos Through 1989. I also just might post all the great songs from that era.
137) The Police "Synchronicity 2":
138) The Cars "You Might Think":
139) The Romantics "Talking In Your Sleep":
140) Go West "We Close Our Eyes":
141) Joy Division "Love Will Tear Us Apart":
142) Duran Duran "Is There Something I Should Know":
143) Depeche Mode "But Not Tonight":
144) U2 "Desire":
145) Echo and the Bunnymen "The Cutter":
146) Pat Benatar "We Belong":
Great, but creepy song. 147) Benny Mardones "Into The Night":
I originally had "Sunset Grill" here, but it seems there was never a video made for that song. 148) Don Henley "Johnny Can't Read":
149) Pet Shop Boys "It's A Sin":
150) The Talking Heads "Road To Nowhere":
151) Adam and The Ants "Stand and Deliver":
Jennifer Beals was and still is a beautiful woman. 152) Irene Cara"Flashdance"
Great sad songs, songs that are poignant and songs that are tearjerkers.
68) First Aid Kit "The Boys of Summer":
"Don't ask anymore". From "Evita". 69a) Madonna "Another Suitcase In Another Hall":
One of the few people who could actually sing in the "Les Mis" movie. 69b) Samantha Barks "Another Suitcase In Another Hall":
70) Leona Lewis "Bleeding Love":
71) Peter Cetera "Glory of Love":
The ending of this video kills me every time. 72) James Ingram "Just Once":
Somehow this song isn't on their new greatest hits CD. 73) Little Big Town "The Breaker":
This isn't as good as Garth, but it's still pretty good. The singing tone matches the feeling of the song, which makes the song all that much better. 74) Garth Brooks "Wolves":
75) Brooks & Dunn "Lost And Found":
76) The Hollies "He's Not Heavy, He's My Brother":
In honor of the 43rd anniversary of MTV, these are the who knows how many best videos from MTV's early days. I am also including videos from pre-MTV days. This blog has expanded from my original intent. From only 51 songs to who knows how many songs? From videos from the late 70s to 1989 now from any notable video since music videos were made.
I'm changing these blogs to the best, no matter how obscure videos of The Beginning Days Of Music Videos Through 1989. I also just might post all the great songs from that era.
120) Blotto "Metalhead":
121) Madonna "Like A Virgin":
122) John Lennon "Woman":
123) Peter Schilling "The Different Story (World of Lust and Crime)":
124) Thomas Dolby "Hyperactive":
125) The Graces "Lay Down Your Arms":
126) A Flock of Seagulls "I Ran (So Far Away)":
127) Michael Jackson "Beat It":
128) Mungo Jerry "In The Summertime":
129) Devo "Whip It":
Yes that's Stevie Nicks singing background. 130) John Stewart "Gold":
I always get the goosebumps at the end of this song. 131a) Stan Ridgway "Camouflage":
