Song of the Day

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9SpgJpLvj8 My Commentary: This song is the reason I believe Ben Rector is one of the greatest songwriters out there. One can take a song in many different ways. The way I look at this song is that he is truly singing about the subjectivity of happiness and success. He speaks of the guy sitting next to him on the plane, someone flying for the first time. Then he speaks of himself, a ridiculously talented singer-songwriter who has plenty of fans. But both feel like they have successful lives. The deeper meaning behind this song is why I find it to be one of Rector's best.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i58IH2D8sWQ My Commentary: Lecrae first gained mainstream attention after his record Anomaly earned him a Grammy nomination for best hip hop artist. Blessings is one of the first songs since Anomaly to be released, and it is a good one. Featuring Ty Dolla $ign, it is a song about recognizing the blessing present in your life. Lecrae has always been magnificent at adding deeper, more spiritual meanings to his songs, and this song is just the latest example.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo-qweh7nbQ My Commentary: This song was ushered into mainstream music recently by its inclusion in the Marvel smash hit, Guardians of the Galaxy. Even though it lay hidden for a while, this song deserves the attention it is getting. It is smooth. It is catchy. It is the perfect driving song. It is the perfect fit for the start of a multi-day road trip. The guitar part is silky smooth as churned butter and compliments the lead singer's voice quite well. It's re-emergence into the mainstream reminds us all of the beauty of music.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bn9mmk2T1c My Commentary: Old Crow Medicine Show has always been one of those groups that I always mention in passing without actually knowing any of their songs. This is the first time I have listened to Dixieland Delight and I must say, this song is an adventure through and through. I think my favorite part of the song is when they start playing the fiddle and the whole song speeds up to a quick tempo. The imagery in my mind at that point is a square dance. Old Crow Medicine Show are masters at bluegrass/folk and they prove that here with this song. 

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-rUgYQk1eM My Commentary: Rescue by Ellie Holcomb is off of her second album, Red Sea Road. It is actually a chorus song because the song is performed by Ellie with the Nashville 9 as background singers. The Nashville 9 are a group of Nashville based singer-songwriters who write songs for a ministry called Young Life. Ellie is a member of this group along with her husband Drew, and other big names such as Brandon Heath. Ellie's voice still takes center stage in this song as her tone and style really draw the listener in. Through two albums, Ellie has shown herself to be a household name in Christian music, and Rescue and the other songs off of Red Sea Road showcase that.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcDYTcTXtI8 My Commentary: I fell upon this band by mistake. I was studying for finals and listening to Colony House on Spotify when they started playing related artists. Trouble was one of the first songs played and I was hooked. I find this song to be a bit off the beaten path in terms of mainstream rock and roll, but it is still well-done. One thing I really like about this song is that it sounds as though it is played in a minor key. Truthfully, I do not know a whole lot about this band, but there sound, especially in this song is tantalizing and almost haunting at the same time.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvwDohEEQ1E My Commentary: Bad Bad Leroy Brown is a fun and energetic song. It gives off a feeling of being stuck in the 50's but it is not, and it gives off a vibe of classic 12 bar blues, a staple of 50's rock and roll, but it is not. Croce writes a song that I think I could recall from the back of my mind. It seems to be almost a cult classic of a song, but it is a song that is very hard not to move to, and I hope you all find the same thing as well.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfmkgQRmmeE My Commentary: Whenever I think of this song, I see myself back in high school at Young Life club with every one singing the "sha na na na na na na...." part as loud as they can. Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison is a classic. It is catchy, it is lighthearted, it is a song you can dance to. It seems so innocent as compared to other songs, that may be due to Van Morrison's light tone he displays throughout the song, or the playful nature of the notes themselves.  

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlot0i3Zykw My commentary: Taylor Swift is one of the greatest songwriters of my generation. If that was ever in doubt prior to her album, Red, it is not now. This song, the title track off of that album seems to hark back to Swift's younger years, as there is a definite country tone in the instrumentation and even in the vocals. It may be fan-service to fans who feel betrayed by the "new Taylor" or it may just be her creative juices flowing in a song that is extravagantly written, that just so happens to fall into a country tone. Much like yesterdays artist, Beyonce, I do not listen to Taylor Swift all that often, but every time I do, I am reminded of who gifted of a singer/songwriter she is.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeonBmeFR8o My Commentary: To be honest, I usually do not listen to Beyonce, so I am in a little bit of unchartered territory here. This is a really good song, and very unlike the songs I consider to be "typical" Beyonce. Hold Up is a very relaxing song that feels more like a song I would listen to while drinking a fruit smoothie poolside instead of in a dance hall. Hold Up surprised me and it is definitely worth the listen.

Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yafHtWzWx0s My Commentary: Believe it or not, before this summer's huge The Joshua Tree Tour, U2 never played this song in concert. This song was chosen as the song of the day to commemorate the 30th anniversary of U2's The Joshua Tree album, in my opinion one of the greatest albums of all time. Red Hill Mining town is kind of a peculiar song because it feels a bit more grungy in the instrumentals, but Bono's soaring voice contradicts the grunge. Red Hill Mining Town is one of the more underrated U2 songs because of its style and its complexity.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-4NFvI5U9w My Commentary: Yesterday, I went to Mt. Vernon and listened to a man play this song on a wooden flute to honor the slaves of General Washington who were buried on the grounds. He then told us the story of how this song was written. The original author was a slave trader on a slave ship. He had a realization of some sort that the actions he was partaking in were wrong, and if I remember correct, he freed all of the slaves on his boat. "Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see." In this version, Chris Tomlin sings a line that goes, "My chains are gone, I've been set free. My God my Savior has ransomed me." I do not know whether or not the original author included this in his work, but if he did, this line adds a lot of depth to his already powerful words.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA9CrafAViY My Commentary: If you ever thought Andra Day was a one hit wonder with her power ballad, Rise Up, Forever Mine should prove you wrong. I think this song shows the versatility of Day's repertoire. She can blast it on a ballad, but she also does really well at the more up tempo songs. When I listen to this song, I am transported to a smoke-filled bar. There is something about Day's voice that I really like, and I believe it is her versatility; which she shows off in its fullest in Forever Mine.

Link to Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLlWIfKO0sU My Commentary: I was one day late. Yesterday, June 1st, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the release of the Beatles famous Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band record, which is listed by Rolling Stone as the number one album of all time. This is a very playful song which is quintessential Beatles. The album is full of incredible Beatles songs such as A Little Help From My Friends, and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, and Lovely Rita. The only way to celebrate is by playing the title track.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MPYMHqGbd4 My Commentary: I Melt With You by Modern English was actually the first song on my iTunes account. It just happened to automatically download when we signed up. I thought it was a cool song, the lead vocalists' accent was really cool. As I have grown, I have grown more and more to appreciate this song in its greatness. It is not one I often search, but I always love when it comes on.