Your Daily Song Fix

The New Pornographers are a Canadian/American indie rock group. The band has 8 members and their music is often described as power pop. Carl Newman writes most of the band’s music and shares vocal duties with Dan Bejar and the well-known Neko Case. “The Laws Have Changed” is off their second album, Electric Version. I really like the entire album and would also recommend checking out their first album, Mass Romantic, if you like this style of music.

I like most music that Beck has a hand in creating and this song is no exception. Beck’s contribution can’t be underestimated – not only did he write all of the record’s music, he co-wrote the lyrics, produced, and mixed the thing (or so I have read). Shout out to Meara for the excellent song request!

I’ve gotten two requests for this song. “Ben” made Michael Jackson the third-youngest solo artist, at age fourteen, to score a number-one hit single. It was written by Don Black and Walter Scharf and recorded by Michael Jackson for the Motown label in 1972.

Here’s a cheesy one but I like the melody. For all you aspiring pop song writers out there…this one is pretty cool to analyze harmonically.

Kings of Leon are pretty popular with their hit “Sex on Fire” which is a damn good song. Not sure how many people have heard this one. Let me know what you think!

I don’t think this tune is really underplayed but it’s a good one and I got a request for it. I think most people know who Matisyahu but then again, I don’t hear him often on the radio. He is an American Hasidic Jewish reggae musician. “One Day” is off of Matisyahu’s album Light which was released this past August.

“Planet Home” is off of Jamiroquai’s super funky 1999 album Synkronized. Fun fact – Jamiroquai is not the lead singer’s stage name, it is the name of the band that originally included Jay Kay (vocals), Toby Smith (keys), Stuart Zender (bass), Nick Van Gelder (drums), and Wallis Buchanan (didgeridoo). The name Jamiroquai is a portmanteau of “jam” from Jam session and “iroquai” from the Iroquois Indians.

Elvis Costello is one of my favorite artists and My Aim Is True is one of my favorite albums of all time. If you like this style of music, I can guarantee you will love the album. I think this song is worth posting the lyrics.

Now that your picture’s in the paper being rhythmically admired
and you can have anyone that you have ever desired,
all you gotta tell me now is why, why, why, why.

Welcome to the workin’ week.
Oh I know it don’t thrill you, I hope it don’t kill you.
Welcome to the workin’ week.
You gotta do it till you’re through it so you better get to it.

All of your family had to kill to survive,
and they’re still waitin’ for their big day to arrive.
But if they knew how I felt they’d bury me alive.

Welcome to the workin’ week.
Oh I know it don’t thrill you, I hope it don’t kill you.
Welcome to the workin’ week.
You gotta do it till you’re through it so you better get to it.

I hear you sayin’, “Hey, the city’s alright,
when you only read about it in books.
Spend all your money gettin’ so convinced
that you never even bother to look.
Sometimes I wonder if we’re livin’ in the same land,
Why d’you wanna be my friend when I feel like a juggler
running out of hands?

Welcome to the workin’ week, oh, welcome to the working week.