Category: 2000’s Music

Yola – Starlight

This is my contribution to Song Lyric Sunday for Jim Adams’s blog. This week’s prompt…Mind, Think, or Brain.

From her 2021 album, Stand for Myself. The song has not charted but her album has been nominated for two Grammy’s.

From Wikipedia

Yola was born in Bristol, England.

Under her given name Yolanda Quartey, Yola first gained notice as a member of the Bristol band Phantom Limb, of which she was a member from 2005 to 2012. That band released two albums. Yola has also performed as a guest vocalist and occasional songwriter for British musical acts like Sub Focus, Massive Attack, Bugz in the Attic, Ginger Wildheart, and Duke Dumont.

Yola decided to launch a solo career after the death of her mother in 2013.

From http://www.stereogum.com

“Starlight” is a song about looking for positive physical, sexual and human connections at every level of your journey towards love. The world seems to attach a negative trope of cold heartlessness to the concept of any sexual connection that isn’t marriage, this song looks through a lens of warmth specifically when it comes to sex positivity. Understanding the necessity of every stage of connection and that it is possible for every stage of your journey in love, sex and connection to be nurturing. Temporary or transitory doesn’t have to be meaningless or miserable. In the right situations every connection can teach us something valuable about who we are, what we want and what is healthy.

“I wanted to put something into the world that showed people what my dating life is like now,” Yola adds of the accompanying music video directed by Ford Fairchild. “I’m currently single, yes, but I’m not neglected or some soulless sex robot. The volume of media dedicated to showing dark skinned Black women having a nice normal time in romantic situations, be it true love or just dating, is still lacking in my opinion.” Watch and listen below.

Starlight

I’ve been trying to hide it
Trying hard to deny it
I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout how it’s gonna go down
Go down

Spent a lifetime without it
Trying hard not to even think about it
I listen alone but I don’t hear a sound
A sound

Because in my mind I’m seeing starlight
One more time for my imagination
I’m not high, don’t let me be misunderstood
Ah-ah-ah

I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout your kissin’
Lord knows what I’ve been missin’
You’re the only who could put me in such a state
A state

Never take your love for granted
I’ve been waiting on you just like we planned it
Taking your time, I’ll sip my wine while I wait
Don’t be late

Because in my mind I’m seeing starlight
One more time for my imagination
I’m not high, don’t let me be misunderstood
Like we should

I’ve been trying to hide it
Trying hard to deny it
I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout how it’s gonna go down
Go down

Because in my mind I’m seeing starlight
One more time for my imagination
I’m not high, don’t let me be misunderstood
Because in my mind we are together
All the time, even the cloudy weather
Ain’t gonna come forward ’cause we just wanna feel good
Like we should
Like we should

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Bobby Ray Wood / Daniel Quine Auerbach / Yolanda Claire Quartey

The Zutons – Valerie

From their 2006 album, Tired of Hanging Around. The song peaked at #9 on the UK singles chart and #8 on Scotland’s singles chart in 2006.

Note…This is not the Monkees hit song.

From independent.co.uk

Not to be confused with the hit of the same title by Steve Winwood, the Zutons’ “Valerie” was the song that gave the Liverpool band their breakthrough.

It was, according to their lead singer Dave McCabe, named for a friend he had met in America who had been caught drink driving. The band’s drummer, Sean Payne, has called it a “musical postcard to her, saying he’s having a hard time and can she come over and see him.” McCabe wrote it in a taxi on the way to visit his mother. “The whole song was written before I got there,” said McCabe. “So 20 minutes, max.” It was recorded at London’s Townhouse Studios, with Stephen Street producing and the band playing together live. “The guitar arpeggio at the start was added as an afterthought to improve the intro,” recalls Street. “It took a couple of attempts of mixing to get it right.”

Amy Winehouse also did a version of the song.

Valerie

Well, sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I think of all the things, what you do
And in my head, I make a picture’Cause since I’ve come on home
Well, my body’s been a mess
And I’ve missed your ginger hair
And the way you like to dressWon’t you come on over?
And stop makin’ a fool out of me
Why don’t you come on over Valerie?
ValerieDid you have to go to jail?
Put your house up on for sale
Did you get a good lawyer?
I hope you didn’t catch a tan
I hope you’ll find the right man
Who’ll fix it for yaAre you shoppin’ anywhere?
Changed the color of you hair, are you busy?
And did you have to pay the fine
You were dodging all the time, are you still dizzy?Yeah, ’cause since I’ve come on home
Well, my body’s been a mess
And I’ve missed your ginger hair
And the way you like to dressWon’t you come on over?
And stop makin’ a fool out of me
Why don’t you come on over Valerie?
Valerie
Valerie
ValerieWell, sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I think of all the things, what you’re doin’
And in my head I make a picture’Cause since I’ve come on home
Well, my body’s been a mess
And I’ve missed your ginger hair
And the way you like to dressWon’t you come on over?
And stop makin’ a fool out of me
Why don’t you come on over Valerie?
Valerie
Valerie
ValerieYeah, Valerie

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Sean Payne / Russell Pritchard / Boyan Chowdhury / Dave Mccabe / Abi Harding / Paul Molloy

The Raveonettes – The Christmas Song

From their 2011 compilation album, Rarities and B-Sides. The song has not charted but it is their biggest selling song.

From Wikipedia

Rarities/B-Sides marks the first time the 2003 single The Christmas Song has been available on an album, as the song was absent from the 2008 Christmas EP Wishing You a Rave Christmas. Despite that the song has never been included on an album, Sune Rose Wagner stated “it has since become our biggest selling song ever with appearances in countless movies, commercials, etc.

The Christmas Song

All the lights are comin’ on now
How I wish that it would snow now
I don’t feel like going home now
I wish that I could stayAll the trees are on display now
And it’s cold now
I don’t feel like going home now
I wish that I could stayI wish that I could walk
I wish that I could walk you homeAll the lights are comin’ on now
How I wish that it would snow now
I don’t feel like going home now
I wish that I could staySanta’s coming into town
With a suitcase in his hand
Santa’s coming into town
With a suitcase in his hand

AC/DC – Witch’s Spell 

From their 2020 album Power Up. The song has not charted…Happy Halloween!

From digitaljournal.com

Iconic rock band AC/DC has cast a rocking “Witch’s Spell” with their new single and music video. Digital Journal has the scoop.

The song is upbeat and infectious, couple with a retro ’80s vibe to it. The music video was directed, edited, and animated by Wolf & Crow and it utilizes performance footage of the group that was shot by Clemens Habicht; moreover, AC/DC and their creative director, Josh Cheuse, have brought this irresistible track to life in a refreshing manner.

Read more: https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/review-ac-dc-casts-rocking-witchs-spell-with-new-single/article#ixzz7AnaHIme9

Witch’s Spell

Let me tell you your fortune
It could be sinister, or maybe not
Like a leopard, can’t change it’s own spotsRide a moon beam
Sail the starlight
My blaze in the night sky
See the witch’s flightCaught in a witch’s spell
Got a tale to tell
Caught in a witch’s spell
Got a tale to tell
Caught in a witch’s spellGood time maker who likes it hot
Like a card playin’ shark who takes the whole lot
(And that’s a lot)Riding moonbeam
Sail the starlight
My blaze in the night sky
See the witch’s flightCaught in a witch’s spell
Got a tale to tell
Caught in a witch’s spell
Got a tale to tell
Caught in a witch’s spellIt’s all coming to ya
It’s all coming through ya
I get bathed in a light
The spell’s just rightCaught in a witch’s spell
Got a tale to tell
Caught in a witch’s spell
Got a tale to tell
Caught in a witch’s spellCrystal balls and an almanac
She gonna take you to hell and back
I’ve got potions, snake oil style
Good luck charms and a witch’s spell Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Angus Young / Malcolm Young

Blacktop Mojo – Wicked Woman

From their 2021 self titled album. The song has not charted…Happy Halloween!

From rocklinesmagazine.com

The first track is on Blacktop Mojo’s Self-Titled Album is “Wicked Woman” and that down and dirty rock that you’ve come to love from Blacktop Mojo is SO, SO alive and well! This little ditty has a hook that could catch whales, and your body is going to want to jump around like a hooked fish too. In fact, I may give an award to anyone who can listen all the way through without at least tapping a foot! All I can say about the pre-chorus vocals and in the middle 8 is HOT DAMN! The guitar solo is the cherry on top and this is just the first track!

Wicked Woman

She likes the moon
She likes the night
She likes the blood on her hands
She dances naked
Through the trees
Until her eyes glow red
She whispers spells
Into the wind
She communes with the damned
She throws the bones
Into the fire
In darkness she chantsRaised the blade above her head
As I began to bleed she saidOh, Mother in the Sky
Take this sacrifice
I want to live forever
Oh Spirit in the Earth
Give me a new birth
Make me a god like youAround the woods
A thousand eyes look on
As she starts to feast
There was a smile
On her face
As she watched my soul leaveLicked her lips, threw back her head
As blood ran down her chin she saidOh, Mother in the Sky
Take this sacrifice
I want to live forever
Oh Spirit in the Earth
Give me a new birth
Make me a god like youOh, Mother in the Sky
Take this sacrifice
I want to live forever
Oh Spirit in the Earth
Give me a new birth
Make me a god like you Make me a god like you

Source: MusixmatchSongwriters: Alex Smith / Matt James / Chuck Wepfer

Halestorm- “Mz. Hyde”

This is my contribution to Song Lyric Sunday for Jim Adams’s blog. This week’s prompt…Bugs, Insects.

From their 2012 album, The Strange Case Of… The song reached #15 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart on February 21, 2014.

From Songfacts

This song was seen as the focal point of Halestorm’s The Strange Case Of… album. When the band were writing songs for the new record, they had ballads, like “Beautiful With You,” and heavy songs like “You Call Me a Bitch Like It’s a Bad Thing,” but nothing to truly tie them together. This song, which addresses Halestorm singer Lzzy Hale’s Jekyll/Hyde personality wound up serving as the thematic glue that binded the record together. “It was one of the later songs we wrote,” Hale told Yahoo! Music: “At one point, we were looking at a good chunk of 17 to 50 songs that were all over the place. The guys in the band were saying, ‘Well, how can we put all these songs onto this record? We love them all, but there’s no common theme.’ So I came to them with this idea about this Mz. Hyde character. It was actually a personal thing because it was a character I invented that helped me come out of my shell when I was a kid. Growing up, I was a very shy and introverted, so I more or less had to invent Mz. Hyde in order to be the rock star I wanted to be onstage.”

“For years, I’ve been writing about these two sides of myself, and I wanted to capture that in a song.,” Hele continued. “So I brought this to the guys, and all three of them looked at me at the same time and said, ‘Oh my God, that’s it! Lzzy, you are Mz. Hyde! Once we put this song on the record, everything else makes sense because we have the soft side of you and then the harder side of you. That works because you’re like a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde thing!’ And I was like, ‘Well, okay, I’m glad we were able to work that out, basically at my expense.'”

Mz. Hyde

In the daylight,
I’m your sweetheart,
You’re goody-two-shoes prude is a work of art
But you don’t know me,
And soon you won’t forget,
Bad as can be, yeah you know I’m not so innocentBetter beware I go bump in the night,
Devil-may-care with a lust for life,
And I know you,
Can’t resist me,
Soon though you,
Are so addicted
Boy you better run for your life!Welcome to the nightmare in my head, (Oh god!)
Say hello to something scary,
The monster in your bed, (Oh god!)
Just give in and you won’t be sorry,
Welcome to my other side,
Hello it’s Mz Hyde!I can be the bitch,
I can play the whore,
Or your fairytale princess who could ask for more
A touch of wicked,
A pinch of risqué,
Good girl gone bad, my poison is your remedyBetter be scared, better be afraid,
Now that the beast is out of her cage,
And I know you,
Wanna risk it,
Soon though you,
Are so addicted
Boy you better run for your life!Welcome to the nightmare in my head, (My god!)
Say hello to something scary,
The monster in your bed, (My god!)
Just give in and you won’t be sorry,
Welcome to my evil side,
Hello it’s Mz Hyde!
Hello it’s Mz Hyde!
Hello it’s Mz Hyde!I’m the spider crawling down your spine,
Underneath your skin
I will gently violate your mind,
Before I tuck you in
Put on the blindfold
There’s no way to be sure,
Which girl you’ll get to know!
(It’s me Lizzy, I swear)Welcome to the nightmare in my head, (My god!)
Say hello to something scary,
The monster in your bed, (My god!)
Just give in and you won’t be sorry,
The nightmare in my head, (Oh god!)
Say hello to something scary,
The monster in your bed, (Oh god!)
Just give in and you won’t be sorry,
Welcome to my evil side,
Hello it’s Mz Hyde!
Hello it’s Mz Hyde!Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Elizabeth Mae Hale / Scott Christopher Stevens

Robert Finley – Souled Out On You

This is my contribution to Song Lyric Sunday for Jim Adams’s blog. This week’s prompt…City, Country, County, State, Town

From his 2021 album, Sharecroppers Son. The song has not charted.

From thesoulhouse.net

Born in Louisiana into family of sharecroppers, Finley joined the US army at age 19 – honing his musical chops performing at different military bases across Europe. He eventually left the military and worked as a carpenter for several years until he lost his sight due to glaucoma. After releasing an album with the support of the Music Maker Relief Foundation, Finley grabbed the attention of Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys who went on to produce his sophomore album Goin’ Platinum (2017). Finley recently appeared on America’s Got Talent fourteenth season (2019), impressing the judges with his original material and reaching the semi-finals.

Finley’s next album Sharecropper’s Son – produced by Auerbach and released on his label, Easy Eye Sound – is set for release this coming May.

‘Souled Out On You’ is the album’s first single. The song is “the story of a relationship that’s ending,” Finley explains, adding, “It’s about someone who takes on everything in the relationship. All the good and the bad and even after all of that, they notice that it just isn’t going to work out and the relationship has run its course. I took all I could take and I’m starting my life over.”

This tortured ballad begins with just piano and Finley’s frayed vocals, but gradually unravels into a blues-soul lament with a throbbing trombone and bendy guitar solo. ‘There ain’t nothin’ I can say / That’s gonna save us today,’ Finley sings, decrying a doomed relationship which has exhausted his spirit. His voice combines grit and rasp with unexpected range as he delivers the song’s climax in pained falsetto.

Souled Out On You

Souled out on you
Sad but it’s true
After all we’ve been through
I’m souled out on youYou put me through hell
Got me under your spell
No matter how hard I try to hide it
The whole world can tellThere just ain’t no way
No matter how hard I pray
There ain’t nothing I can say
That’s gonna save us the dayI’m souled out on you
It’s sad but it’s true
After all we’ve been through
I’m souled out on youI don’t understand
You got my heart in your hand
I’m doing the best that I can
But I’m only a manAin’t it a pity?
Ain’t it a crying shame?
I’m in the heart of the city
And I still feel the painSouled out on you
It’s sad but it’s true
After all we’ve been through
I’m souled out on youAin’t it a pity?
Is a crying shame?
I’m in the heart of the city
And I still feel the sameSouled out on you
It’s sad but it’s true
After all we’ve been through
I’m just souled out on youSouled out on you
It’s sad but it’s true
After all we have been through
I’m souled out on youSouled out
Souled out
Souled out over you

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Robert Finley

Halestorm – I Miss The Misery

This is my contribution to Song Lyric Sunday for Jim Adams’s blog. This week’s prompt…Anguish/Misery/Torment

From their 2012 album, A Strange Case… The song peaked at #2 on Billboard’s Active Rock chart on September 28, 2012.

From Twitter

 

Halestorm – I Miss The Misery

Oh, I miss the miseryI’ve been a mess since you stayed
I’ve been a wreck since you changed
Don’t let me get in your way
I miss the lies and the pain
The fights that keep us awake
I’m telling youI miss the bad things
The way you hate me
I miss the screaming
The way that you blame me
Miss the phone calls
When it’s your fault
I miss the late nights
Don’t miss you at all
I like the kick in the face
And the things you do to me
I love the way that it hurts
I don’t miss you, I miss the miseryI’ve tried but I just can’t take it
I’d rather fight than just fake it (’cause I like it rough)
You know that I’ve had enough
I dare ya to call my bluff
Can’t take too much of a good thing
I’m telling youI miss the bad things
The way you hate me
I miss the screaming
The way that you blame me
Miss the phone calls
When it’s your fault
I miss the late nights
Don’t miss you at all
I like the kick in the face
And the things you do to me
I love the way that it hurts
I don’t miss you, I miss the miseryJust know that I’ll make you hurt
(I miss the lies and the pain what you did to me)
When you tell me you’ll make it worse
(I’d rather fight all night than watch the TV)
I hate that feeling inside
You tell me how hard you’ll try
But when we’re at our worst
I miss the miseryI miss the bad things
The way you hate me
I miss the screaming
The way that you blame meI miss the rough sex
Leaves me a mess
I miss the feeling of pains in my chest
Miss the phone calls
When it’s your fault
I miss the late nights
Don’t miss you at all
I like the kick in the face
And the things you do to me
I love the way that it hurtsI don’t miss you, I miss the misery
I don’t miss you, I miss the misery
I don’t miss you, I miss the misery

Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Christine Connolly / Elizabeth Hale / Scott C. Stevens

Halestorm – Jump The Gun

This is my contribution to Song Lyric Sunday for Jim Adams’s blog. This week’s prompt…Begin/End/Finish/Start.

From their 2015 album, Into The Wild Life. The song did not chart.

From Crypticrock.com

The deluxe version of Into the Wild has two bonus tracks. The first of the bonus material is  “Jump the Gun” which is is a bar slinging swing rocker of plucky guitars, funky drumbeats, and sliding piano work while Lzzy throws it down.

Jump The Gun

Boot on the start line
Pistol in the air
‘Quila in the glass and a cold dead stare
Two minutes in baby make your move
If you won’t do it I’ll do it for you
I ain’t waitin’ on you, no
I ain’t waitin’ for youI jump the gun
Oh here I go again
I’m the one
Don’t know when to say when
Here for fun I wasn’t looking for a friend
Now we’re kissing under covers and it’s all
Just because I jumped the gunCheckers on the flag
Time to pay the tab
Hoppin’ in a cab
It’s time to be bad
Cigarette smoke, lipstick on your face
My place or yours
I’m good either way
Oh babe my meter’s runnin’
Oh baby are you coming?I jump the gun
Oh here I go again
I’m the one
Don’t know when to say when
Here for fun I wasn’t looking for a friend
Now we’re kissing under covers and it’s all
Just becauseI jump the gun
Oh here I go again
I’m the one
Don’t know when to say when
Here for fun I wasn’t looking for a friend
Now we’re kissing under covers and it’s all
Just because I jumped the gunWoke up in the morning pounding in my head
Three empty bottles no sheets on the bed
Baby rolled over and this is what he said
He said, “babe I think I love you”Oh babe jump the gun
Oh here I go again
I’m the one
Don’t know when to say when
Here for fun I wasn’t looking for a friend
Now we’re kissing under covers and it’s all
Just because IJumped the gun
Oh, here I go again
I’m the one
Don’t know when to say when
Here for fun I wasn’t looking for a friend
Now we’re kissing under covers and it’s all
Just because
I couldn’t keep in my pocket
Lit the fuse to the rocket
And I’m sinnin’ while I’m winnin’
Now it’s end and a beginning
And we’ll see the rising sun
Because I jumped the gunI jumped the gun (whoa whoa)Boot on the start line
Pistol in the air
‘Quila in the glass, oh here I go again

Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Jaren Johnston / Lizzy Hale / Scott Stevens / Joe Hottinger

Halestorm – Dear Daughter

This is my contribution to Song Lyric Sunday for Jim Adams’s blog. This week’s prompt…Smart/Stupid

From their 2015 album, Into The Wild Life. The song did not chart.

From Songfacts

The origins of this heartfelt ballad in a conversation Lzzy Hale was having with her mom, when Beth Hale asked her daughter if she did a good job raising her. The idea for the track was bouncing around in the singer’s head and she asked fans on social media about things they wished their parents had said to them while they were growing up. A lot of inspiration for this song’s lyrics came from their replies.

Guitarist Joe Hottinger recalled to TeamRock: “When we started trying to turn all of these lyrics and ideas into music, Lzzy started hitting these pianos chords and it just flowed. So she went into the church and sat down at the piano. She had a microphone in front of her. I think what you hear on the song is actually the second take.”

Lzzy Hale discussed this song with Rocksverige.se: “This is a subject that… I mean, obviously, [Halestorm drummer Arejay and I] grew up with a very supportive mother,” she said. “We decided to start a rock band, and she actually said, ‘Yes! Do that! Go for it!’ So, for me, this was… We get to speak to a lot of young girls, and a lot of them do have those supportive parents, but a lot of them don’t. So I think this was my way – lyrically, at least – just passing that on… As in, like, if I were… if and when I were to have a daughter, I would be passing these words on to her… I don’t know… It’s a strange song.”

Bassist Josh Smith added: “It’s a strange song, but [with] a great message. And although it says ‘Dead Daughter’, that’s just great advice for anyone… be it a young kid, or anyone in a spot where they’re, like, ‘Man, I’m in just the pits right now. What the hell’s my life gonna be like in ten years?’ So it’s just good sound advice for anyone kind of trying to find their way.”

Lzzy Hale: “We started this band when I was 13, and my parents supported our decision to immerse ourselves completely in music. What they never let on was that they were terrified for their little girl, whom they wanted to protect from all the ups and downs they knew I’d have to face following my dream.”

“This song is not only an ode to my parents and their unwavering love and support, but it is a passing of the torch to all the young girls I meet and perform in front of every night. I’m living proof that you can do anything you want to in this life full of love, pain, hope and fear. Keep your head held high, and go for it at all costs. If anyone tries to tell you you can’t… Tell ’em to come talk to me!”

Dear Daughter

Dear daughter
Hold your head up high
There’s a world outside
That’s passing by
Dear daughter
Never lose yourself
Remember that
You’re like nobody else

Life throws you in
To the unknown
And you feel like you’re
Out there all alone

These are words
That every girl should have a chance to hear
There will be love
There will be pain
There will be hope
There will be fear
And through it all year after year
Stand or fall I will be right here
For you

Dear daughter
Don’t worry about those stupid girls
If they try to bring you down
It’s cause they’re scared and insecure
Dear daughter
Don’t change for any man
Even if he promises the stars
And takes you by the hand

Life throws you in
To the unknown
And you feel like you’re
Out there all alone

These are words
That every girl should have a chance to hear
There will be love
There will be pain
There will be hope
There will be fear
And through it all year after year
Stand or fall I will be right here
For you

Dear daughter
I was just like you
And just like me
You’re gonna make it through

These are words
That every girl should have a chance to hear
There will be love
There will be pain
There will be hope
There will be fear
And through it all year after year
Stand or fall I will be right here
And after all, I will be right here
For you

Writer/s: ELIZABETH HALE, JOSEPH HOTTINGER, DAVE BASSETT