Today's song of the day was suggested by one of our readers. On our Facebook page, Ian Ruppenthal asked that the song of the day should be Storms by Fleetwood Mac.Storms can be found on the 1979 album, Tusk. At the time of its release, it was one of the most expensive albums ever made. Not in the cost to buy it, but rather in the cost to record and produce it. This album cost over 1 million dollars to record! Now, the song Storms is one of the most beautiful songs on this album. It is the perfect example of the way singer, Stevie Nicks can evoke feelings in her listeners. I consider this song a classic, solely because of the amount of emotion in it. There is so much beauty in the way Nicks writes. While Fleetwood Mac is a band filled with many different types of artists, Stevie Nicks is my personal favorite. When you read through the lyrics, you will see what I mean by all of this. I sincerely hope that you enjoy today's song of the day.
Lyrics:
Every night that goes between
I feel a little less
As you slowly go away from me
This is only another test
Every night you do not come
Your softness fades away
Did I ever really care that much
Is there anything left to say
Every hour of fear I spend
My body tries to cry
Living through each empty night
A deadly calm inside
I haven't felt this way I feel
Since many a year ago
But in those years and the lifetimes past
I did not deal with the road
And I did not deal with you I know
Tho the love has always been
So I search to find an answer there
So I can truly win
Every hour of fear I spend
My body tries to cry
Living through each empty night
A deadly calm inside
So I try to say
Goodbye my friend
I'd like to leave you with something warm
But never have I been a blue calm sea
I have always been a storm
Always been a storm
Ooh always been a storm
I have always been a storm
We were frail
She said,
"Every night he will break your heart"
I should have known from the first
I'd rather be the broken-hearted
I loved you from the start
Save us
And not all the prayers in the world could save us
The song of the day for January 7th is Stand By Me by Ben E. King. This song has been covered numerous times by over 400 artists. One of the most famous cover versions was by the great John Lennon. When Ben E. King wrote the song, he had absolutely no intentions of recording it himself. He planned on writing it only for the use of The Drifters, who passed on the opportunity to record the song. The original release by Ben E. King was released on the 1962 album, Don't Play That Song. Stand By Me has been honored many times for its spectacular success. Most recently, in 2012, King was recognized with the Towering Performance Award for his creation of the song.
Lyrics: When the night has come, and the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we will see No, I won't be afraid, oh, I won't be afraid Just as long as you stand, stand by me So darlin', darlin' stand by me Oh stand by me
Oh stand, stand by me, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darlin', darlin' stand by me
Oh stand by me
Whoa stand now, stand by me, stand by me
*Solo*
And darlin', darlin' stand by me
Oh stand by me
Oh stand now, stand by me, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall
Today's song of the day is Stubborn Love by The Lumineers. The Lumineers are a band that have recently found success in their single Ho Hey. Their self-titled debut album was released in April 2012. In America, it has peaked at number 9 on the charts. Their first single, Ho Hey, peaked at number 3, while reaching the top position on the US Rock charts. It has recently gone platinum, meaning it has reached over 1,000,000 sales.
Stubborn Love was the second official single from the album, and it has not seen much success. So far, it has peaked at 81 on the charts. However, this does not mean it is a bad song. The album was one of the best of 2012, and for me, this song was a standout. We would love to hear your opinions in the comment section below.
Lyrics:
She'll lie and steal and cheat, and beg you from her knees
Make you thinks she means it this time
She'll tear a hole in you, the one you can't repair
But I still love her, I don't really care
When we were young, oh oh, we did enough
When it got cold, ooh ooh, we bundled up
I can't be told, ah ah it can't be done
It's better to feel pain, than nothing at all
The opposite of love's indifference
Pay attention now, I'm standing on your porch screaming out
And I wont leave until you come downstairs
So keep your head up, keep your love
Keep your head up, my love[x2]
Keep your head up, keep your love
I don't blame ya dear for running like you did, all these years
I would do the same, you best believe
The highway signs say we're close, but I don't read those things anymore
Tomorrow we will be starting a new addition to the Taking Notes website. As always, we strive to improve the experience as a reader. With just two posts a week, there is no reason to consistently come to this website. With song of the day, we will be able to post to the site daily. Our hope is that this will cause significant growth in our view count. Another beneficial effect that will come from Song of the Day is the ability to cover a wider range of music. This way, we are not limited to just music that is brand new or music that is very old. We will not have a song of the day on Wednesdays or Thursdays because we will continue to have full album reviews on those days.
This past week, Taking Notes Music Reviews has experienced an amazing change. You may have noticed that our URL has changed. We are no longer http://takingnotesmusic.blogspot.com and now we are officially http://www.takingnotesmusic.org. The old URL will still continue to work, but we would love it if you try to use the new address. We are very excited about this because it opens up a great deal of opportunities. This week, we are back to the regular schedule with album reviews on both Wednesday and Thursday. We have a lot more exciting news to share with you in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Ke$ha - "C'Mon": Will Have Mainstream Radio Success and Chart Highly on the Billboard Hot 100
We have decided that with our "Predictions" page, we will be predicting which songs from popular albums will top the charts. These posts will pop up every once in a while, only when our editor, DWilliams, has a strong feeling about a certain song. In this case, it was Ke$ha's latest album, Warrior. This album has done very well and we decided to give it a listen. We have decided that the song that we think will top the charts next, will be the third song, "C'Mon". At this point "C'Mon" is not charting on neither the Billboard Hot 100 nor the iTunes Top 100. We will update this post if "C'Mon" has any chart success.
We just wanted to wish all of our viewers a safe and happy holidays. The past few months have been very exciting for Taking Notes and that is all because of you. We have gone through two completely different designs, in just a few months. Our current design has been very well received, so we plan on sticking with it for a long time. Another exciting thing we would like to announce is that since we officially launched in November, we have had over 5,000 pageviews. This will be our last post of the year and we have a little surprise for you. We have put together a short list of our favorite and least favorite Holiday albums, not in any particular order. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Top 10 Best Holiday Albums
James Taylor - James Taylor At Christmas (2006)
Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album (1957)
Michael Bublé - Christmas (2011)
Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas (1994)
Josh Groban - Noël (2007)
She & Him - A Very She & Him Christmas (2011)
Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector (1963)
Bing Crosby - Merry Christmas (1945)
Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Harry Connick, Jr. - When My Heart Finds Christmas (1993)
Top 5 WORST Christmas Albums
Twisted Sister - A Twisted Christmas (2006)
Roseanne Barr - Roseanne Barr Sings The Christmas Classics
Kenny Chesney - All I Want For Christmas Is A Real Good Tan (2003)
Destiny's Child - 8 Days Of Christmas (2001)
David Hasselhoff - The Night Before Christmas (2004)
And we'll leave you with one of my all time favorite Christmas Songs:
Here at Taking Notes, we truly care about our readers. We want to add a fun and unique page to the Taking Notes website. However, with what we are trying to do, we have many options. When it comes to making predictions, there is a lot to consider as to how to add something like this to the website. We are still brainstorming lists of ideas and would appreciate any ideas you have to make this a regular thing. There is some good news too. We are fairly certain that will have at least one post on the "Predictions" page by the end of the year. With the recent release of Grammy Nominations, we will be going through most of the categories and predicting winners. This will be an entertaining little piece that we think you will enjoy. You can expect to see this on the site in the next few weeks. As always, feel free to leave a comment about your ideas for this new page.
The Stranger was Billy Joel's fifth studio album, released in the fall of 1977. This served as Billy Joel's breakout performance. This album spent six weeks at number two on the album charts in the United States. His previous four albums were fairly successful as well, releasing classic albums such as Piano Man. The lead single off of that album, released in 1973, was called "Piano Man", and is often considered to be one of the most popular songs of all time. But it's this collection of songs that creates one of Joel's most memorable albums. There is not another Billy Joel album that is as consistently listenable as The Stranger. It is another one of my personal favorites, and I hope this article inspires you to give it a listen!
1. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) [9/10] The Stranger starts off as good as any album could. "Movin' Out" tells the story of a boy who is "working too hard" at his low-end job. He tells of his disapproval of how people try to make a living in the United States. It is about how all anyone cares about is "trading in a Chevy for a Cadillac"and that that is the most important thing in the perspective of many immigrants as well. Billy Joel has said that "Anthony" is not a real person but rather "every Irish, Polish, and Italian kid trying to make a living in the U.S." This song does a great job at showing off the way Billy Joel can tell a story. He narrates htis song very well. 2. The Stranger (8/10) The title track demonstrates Joel's ability to be a great rock and roll singer. The song starts with a short intro period of Billy whistling and playing the piano softly. This quickly progresses into a thrilling guitar riff that is constant throughout the majority of the song. This is a song that has the ability to get stuck in your head and drive you crazy for days. The whistling and piano return at the end of the song as the album gets ready switch moods, with "Just The Way You Are" up next. This instrumental piece also serves as a two minute reprise at the end of the album. 3. Just The Way You Are (10/10)
If you haven't heard "Just The Way You Are" yet, go listen to it right now. It was the most successful single off of The Stranger and was a milestone track for Joel. This was his first top ten song in the United States, his first Gold single in the United States, his first top 20 single in the United Kingdom, and it won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1978 Grammy Awards. Billy wrote this song for his first wife, and he did not like it. His band did not like it either and it was not originally supposed to be on the album. But with a little convincing from his other peers, he added it to the final cut. It is one of the most popular love songs of all time and is one of the highlights of this album filled with hits. 4. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (9/10)
While "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" was never released as a single off of The Stranger, it is one of the most popular Billy Joel songs amongst his fans. It is the longest Billy Joel song, coming in at 7 minutes and 37 seconds. It is an assortment of three separate chapters. The first is a gentle piano ballad. This morphs into an upbeat jazz song, highlighted by a classic saxophone solo by a band member. The final piece is a rock and roll driven rock song commonly referred to as "The Ballad of Brenda and Eddie". The original write-up of this song was only this last part, and was going to be called "The Ballad of Brenda and Eddie".
5. Vienna (7/10)
According to Billy Joel himself, "Vienna" is a song about the rest of your life. He uses Vienna, Austria as the metaphor in this song because of a personal experience he had while visiting his father there. It is a beautiful song with a lot of meaning behind it. You have to listen to it for yourself because everyone will get something different from it. Joel has also said that this is one of his favorite songs. I wouldn't put it at the top of my list when it comes to ranking his songs, but it is definitely a classy song.
6. Only The Good Die Young (10/10)
"Only The Good Die Young" was the first Billy Joel song I ever heard. I remember this moment vividly because it was an eye-opening experience for the way I looked at music. At that time, I didn't listen to music the way I do today. It was the first time I ever heard a song that I really loved to listen to. That was many years ago, but listening to it now gives me the same feeling. This song was controversial for its time, due to its risqué lyrics. It is a fun and cheerful song that you will definitely get hooked on.
7. She's Always A Woman (8/10)
This is another love song, similar to "Just The Way You Are". However, this single was not nearly as successful as the former. "She's Always A Woman" peaked at number 17 on the US charts. It's about a woman he falls in love with, and how he even loves her flaws. It is a soft piece highlighted by Joel's magnificent piano playing. For any reader that is a serious musician, here's a fun little piece of information. This song is played in three very obscure time signatures: 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8. Another interesting fact is that a version of this song was playing at the World Trade Center as it was destroyed in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
8. Get It Right The First Time (6/10)
I found this song to be forgettable. It is a light rock and roll song that just doesn't match up with some of the other powerful songs on this album. For me, it was the album's low point. With so many great singles on one album, there has to be one that doesn't fit well. Don't get me wrong, it helps make the album complete, but as an individual song, it isn't the best. The song begins by fading in to a cool drumbeat. The addition of a flutist is something you don't usually find in a Billy Joel song. It is definitely not the worst song he has ever done, but on this giant album, it just doesn't stack up.
9. Everybody Has A Dream (7/10)
The final track on this album is another average one. Its not in the same league as "Only The Good Die Young" or "Just The Way You Are" or even "Movin' Out". However, it's a great song to end the album, as it completely sums up the mood of the album. It has moments where it is mellow and parts where it is quick and happy. It all comes together in the end when the song goes back to the haunting whistling and piano playing from "The Stranger" returns. This time it lasts almost two minutes as the album comes to an end.
The Stranger is one of the greatest Billy Joel albums, and possibly one of the best albums of all time. If you are just beginning to listen to him, this is the perfect album to start with. The way this record was put together, my highest recommendation would be to listen to the album from start to finish. Don't just skip to the ones you hear on the radio often. Take the time to listen to it all. The Stranger is such a great album, there are really no words that will do it the justice it deserves. The best thing for you to do is go and listen to it for yourself. While he has had many great albums in his day, I believe that this record represents Billy Joel at his best.
Unfortunately, we have encountered a few minor bugs with the "new" Taking Notes website. This has caused us to turn today into an unplanned maintenance day. We are planning on having the site looking a bit more polished by the end of the day. However, we have been forced to delay today's Throwback Thursday article until tomorrow. Tomorrow, we will publish our article that was supposed to be released today. We will be reviewing Billy Joel's The Stranger, released in 1977. We apologize for the inconvenience but it was a necessary step to take. But, don't forget to check back tomorrow for a fantastic new review for Throwback Thursday. Tomorrow, we will also release some new information on our "Predictions" page that is currently listed as "Coming Soon". It will be an exciting day, so don't forget to check it out! As always, we ask that you check out our Facebook page by either clicking HERE, or by clicking on the Facebook logo on the top right of your screen.
Unorthodox Jukebox is the second studio album released by Bruno Mars. The sophomore album is a highly anticipated follow up to the highly successful Doo-Wops & Hooligans. This album covers a wide range of musical styles with obvious 80s influences. The lead single, "Locked Out of Heaven", was released back in early October. It is currently doing very well and charting pretty high on both the iTunes and Billboard Music charts. So far, this record as received generally positive reviews. This album represents Mars' freedom as an artist to produce great songs in a wide variety of genres. Unorthodox Jukebox is a great follow up album that leaves Hooligans in the dust.
1) Young Girls (7/10)
Bruno Mars starts off his latest record with a hit. This first song has a stimulating soft rock style that is a great way to begin the album. It is redolent of his previous hit "It Will Rain". This is a track I can definitely see getting a significant amount of radio time in the near future. It's not the happiest song on the album by any means; and Bruno Mars thrives when he is singing happy pop songs. However, this song is a rarity that is bound to be a successful single.
2) Locked Out of Heaven (8/10)
The second track is the lead single off of Unorthodox Jukebox. I think that it is his best single to date. The main reason I like it so much is because of its incredibly obvious resemblance to The Police. His voice even sounds like Sting in this song. Now, let's not let that take away from what Mars has done with it. Even with the similarities in sound, it is still a Bruno Mars song that rocks. I wouldn't be surprised if it continues to top the charts for another month or so.
3) Gorilla (6.5/10)
This song tells the story of a night with Bruno Mars. The song progresses as the night does. It starts off with "a body full of liquor and a cocaine kicker" and later in the song, ends with "you and me making love like gorillas". As the song moves from one stage to another, the song changes from sounding pretty depressing to a song of relief and happiness. They aren't the most intelligent lyrics ever, and that calls for an average track.
4) Treasure (8/10)
Treasure is a song that makes you want to get up and get your groove on. In this track, he takes on an 80s disco style that fits him perfectly. It reminds me of an old pop song that I just can't remember the name of. This song gives me the feeling that disco-pop is the genre of music that Bruno Mars enjoys playing the most. Here is another song that I can definitely see becoming a single, that may be successful on the charts.
5) Moonshine (6/10)
It might just be me, but this song reminds me of something Michael Jackson might produce. This homage isn't as blatant as the resemblance to The Police on "Locked Out of Heaven", but it just shows off Mars' wide range of talent. Anyway, this song is pretty one dimensional and by the end, you're just waiting to move on to the next track. This won't be the song that you'll have stuck in your head all day.
6) When I Was Your Man (8/10)
I am starting to really understand how talented Bruno Mars actually is. He can take any style of music, and make it extraordinary. This song is a piano driven ballad. He sings about a period of heartbreak in his life. You don't usually hear ballads like this from Mars, but he pours his heart out on this one. He literally lists all of the things he did wrong that made him a terrible boyfriend. You can feel the regret in his voice. While he is singing, you will start to feel the same emotions that he is expressing. I would be very happy if a song like this was released as a single for the radio!
7) Natalie (7/10)
"Natalie" is a rant against Mars' ex-girlfriend. "Natalie" was a woman who ran away from him while taking everything he had. It is definitely one of the more polite rants like this, while he does not get too impudent. But, he still expresses his anger and regret perfectly. The song itself is backed by handclaps and a strong bass drum. It is a song to get all of your emotions out when you are unhappy.
8) Show Me (5/10)
Ah-Ha! Back to Mars' Hawaiian roots. This song is filled with steel drums and meaningless lyrics. This mellow track is meant to be heard on a vacation to a tropical island. Personally, I did not like this song. It wasn't a good use of Mars' talents. His vocals in this song sounded a bit off, reminding me of Mike Posner's voice. The care-fee nature of this song was a nice vacation from the deep emotions found throughout the majority of this album, but is my least favorite song.
9) Money Make Her Smile (7/10)
This is the song where Bruno Mars completely understood his abilities as a true pop artist. This track is filled with electronic noise and computerized drumbeats. Not surprisingly, Mars found a way to make this style work for him. This track is based on the artificial sounds created by a machine, that are comparative to The Black Eyed Peas. It is uncharted territory for Bruno, and he does surprisingly well in his first sincere pop song.
10) If I Knew (8/10)
"If I Knew" is like a modernized 60s soul song, brought out mostly due to the passionate group of singers backing him up. This final track is the shortest on the album, coming in at just 2 minutes and 13 seconds. Yet he packs tons of emotion into this short amount of time. It is the complete opposite of the previous song, which made me question the order he decided to put the songs in. It is one of the better songs on the album, and makes for a great finishing piece to a great sophomore album.
Unorthodox Jukebox is a fantastic follow up album for Bruno Mars. It shows off his true ability as a recording artist. He is able to express himself through all kinds of musical styles. I have underestimated Bruno Mars up until this point. The more serious tone of this album, compared to Doo-Wops & Hooligans, is a great improvement. There is a deluxe version available exclusively through Target. This album was a short ten tracks, so I may have to consider picking up the extended version to hear one unreleased song and a few alternate versions of songs on this album. By saying that, I am trying to make it clear that this is a great album that will keep me waiting for his third studio release.
Taking Notes Music is home to the world-renowned musical mastermind, David Williams. This is a unique website where you can find all kinds of music related content. He reviews albums each Wednesday and Thursday with additional content published throughout the week. Stay tuned for more exciting new material!
