Was Luther Vandross the premier “love song” singer of his generation? I think if you look a little closer, you might realize that Luther’s most affecting vocal performances were not so much love songs as they were songs of lost love, unrequited love, or straight up loneliness. This holds true especially when you look at… Read More “A House Is Not A Home” by Luther Vandross (1981)
The great thing about music is that it’s free to be interpreted any way that the listener wants to interpret it. While some songwriters prefer to make the meaning behind a song clear, there are quite a few who are completely okay letting their work be interpreted in a way that makes the most sense… Read More “Dust” by Van Hunt (2004)
“Does She Love That Man” is not a happy song, and Breathe’s David Glasper is not a very happy man (although if you’re familiar with Breathe’s catalog, this might not be a surprise to you). In this particular instance, his lady has left him, and it’s right before Christmas. He appears to be blind to… Read More “Does She Love That Man” by Breathe (featuring David Glasper) (1990)
The issue with cataloguing every five song in your iTunes library is that certain songs (actually-most songs) don’t feel like unequivocally perfect songs every day. Looking ahead at the next few songs, I’m not sure whether they are “5″s or very high “4″s. But I’m going to go with my initial ratings for each. Somewhat interestingly, each… Read More “A Different Corner” by George Michael (1986)
Me and my friend Ed were talking on the train ride home last night about being friends with exes and trying to maintain that relationship after they’ve started seeing someone else. Not easy. Especially if you are still single. The whole “oh, I wasn’t good enough for you…who is this other asshole?” thought process comes… Read More “Dancing On My Own” by Robyn (2010)
“Brick” gave many people (including me) the wrong first impression of Ben Folds Five. Having only been peripherally aware of the trio before they got their major label money, I was not aware of the humor that was such a big part of their lyrical sensibility (even on sadder songs like “Boxing”). “Brick” was so… Read More “Brick” by Ben Folds Five (1997)
Two songs, same title, very different sentiments. David Gray’s “Be Mine” finds the Welsh troubadour falling rapturously in love (or at least becoming seriously infatuated). The soundscape is dreamy, with twinkling keyboards that call to mind shooting stars. Gray’s soul-influenced croon is particularly impassioned, and it’s clear that he’s either high off of longing or… Read More “Be Mine” by David Gray (2002)/”Be Mine!” by Robyn (2005)
This tune (an R&B chart topper that stopped just a few spots short of the pop top 40) revisits a theme not uncommon to LV’s music-loneliness and the desire to be loved. It’s not a “woe is me”-type song; actually it’s a self-consolation letter. Luther’s not resigned; he sounds absolutely certain that the special love he’s… Read More “Any Love” by Luther Vandross (1988)
Five Star Jamz 