Author: Joe Parker

365 Day Song Challenge: Day 155 – “Some Kind Of Wonderful”

Posted on by Joe Parker

Day 155: Your favorite song by a band/artist whose name begins with “G”.

“Some Kind Of Wonderful” – Grand Funk Railroad

Some Kind Of WonderfulJust to mix things up a little, I’ve decided to invite some guest bloggers in. So without further ado…

Hello. I’ll be your guest blogger for the day. I’m also the infamous “Your Wife” in the comments section. Not your wife. Joe’s wife.

When I went to find the songwriting credit online, I was surprised to discover that it was written by Gerry Goffin (may he rest in peace) and Carole King. But that just didn’t seem right. It wasn’t. It turns out that they wrote a completely different song by the same title – most popularly covered by The Drifters in the early 60s. Carole may feel the earth move under her feet but she does not make the earth move with her music – at least not for me. Read More

365 Day Song Challenge: Day 153 – “32 Footsteps”

Posted on by Joe Parker

Day 153: A favorite weird song (with strange, nonsense, or non-sequitur lyrics).

“32 Footsteps” – They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsI took some liberties with the order here. (As I’ve been known to do. Don’t tell.) Why? Because I have got a deal for you! No, it is not a bridge, or a set of Ginsu knives. It’s not even a pyramid scheme (oh, pardon me: multi-level marketing program).

No, it’s something for free. Like, really free. No strings attached. I received an email today from They Might Be Giants containing a special offer. And it relates to today’s song.

Now, narrowing down this post to one song was interesting, because if you’re familiar with the They Might Be Giants album (often referred to by fans as The Pink Album for its album cover) you’ll know that the entire album is pretty much all made up of “strange, nonsense, or non-sequitur lyrics.” Read More

365 Day Song Challenge: Day 152 – “Duke’s Intro (Behind The Lines)”

Posted on by Joe Parker

Day 152: A song by your favorite band/artist whose name begins with “G”.

“Duke’s Intro (Behind The Lines)” – Genesis

Genesis Encore BostonI waited many years to see Genesis live. Many, many years. Many, many, many years.

In 1986 for the Invisible Touch tour I barely knew who they were. By the time 1992 rolled around for the We Can’t Dance tour, I was a much bigger fan, but I was actually on my student exchange when they played Foxboro Stadium (Back when it was still “Foxboro Stadium”).

And then Phil Collins left. Things looked grim. But Mike and Tony decided to forge ahead with the Genesis name.

By 1997 when they announced the Calling All Stations tour with new lead singer Ray Wilson, I was a huge fan of the entire catalog. It wouldn’t be the same without Phil, but I was still excited to go. Read More

365 Day Song Challenge: Day 151 – “Born To Be Wild”

Posted on by Joe Parker

Day 151: A song that you like but for some reason don’t own.

“Born To Be Wild” – Steppenwolf

Born To Be WildI grew up with Classic Rock. Now, when I was growing up, “Classic Rock” meant stuff from the 60s and 70s. Not stuff like “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” or “It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me” or even worse “Alive.” (It still pains me to hear these songs on “Classic Rock” stations, or worse Oldies stations. But then, I refuse to face the reality of age.)

No, when I was growing up, (in addition to having to use an outhouse, churning our own butter and walking in waist-high snow, uphill, both ways to learn in unheated one-room schoolhouses), “Born To Be Wild” was the epitome of classic rock.

And yet, I don’t own it. Read More