Workout Playlist Song #7: The Dean's List "La Vie (The Life)"

The Dean's List "La Vie (The Life)"

If you've been paying attention to the extra songs at the end of each of this month's posts, you may have noticed The Dean's List pop up a few times. It's a group that was recommended to me by a friend way back in high school. "The Drive In" mixtape was one that I considered "hot fire" back in those days, and would still argue for the same description today. This mixtape was available on Datpiff, but I don't see it available there anymore. This rap group that was based out of Boston put out some great beats with solid flows to go with it. "La Vie" follows that pattern, and creates something that's easy to workout to if you need something to get yourself going. I highly recommend it to you if you can find it (maybe on Spotify or iTunes) as well as many other songs off this mixtape.

Lyrics to "La Vie (The Life)"

End of Workout

I See Stars "Ten Thousand Feet"

Transition

Desiigner "Panda"

Cooldown

Wolfgang Gartner ft. Jim Jones & Cam'ron "Circus Freaks"

Workout Playlist Song #6: Deadmau5 ft. Rob Swire "Ghosts 'N Stuff"

Deadmau5 ft. Rob Swire "Ghosts 'N Stuff"

EDM is the focus today, as longtime DJ Deadmau5 is in the spotlight. Sometimes you just need some solid beats to help you get through a workout, and this particular song can provide that for you. Mix in some easy vocals that you can sing along to, and you've got an excellent workout song. There are no deep meanings or particularly motivating lyrics that can relate to pushing yourself. This has the feel of a song that's perfect to pop up right in the middle of your set to keep you going. I have personally loved this song for over 6 years, and it doesn't get old. If you're looking for something to keep you upbeat, then try adding this Deadmau5 classic to your playlist.

Lyrics to "Ghosts 'N Stuff"

End of Workout

Martin Solveig "Intoxicated"

Transition

The Dean's List ft. Oncue "All Systems Go"

Cooldown

Tiesto & Oliver Heldens ft. Natalie La Rose "The Right Song" 

Workout Playlist Song #5: Disclosure ft. Lorde "Magnets"

Disclosure ft. Lorde "Magnets"

I've chosen today's song for the pure fact that it's come up on my shuffle for just about every workout over the last two weeks. I'm not sure what kind of message my iPod is trying to send me by this, but I won't complain because it's a pretty great song. It's certainly not the most upbeat song in the world for a workout playlist, but something about its rhythm is what really appeals to me. You can kind of zone out in the flow of the beat, which can be good for workouts if you find yourself focusing too much on how much time is left or how many reps are left. Of course, I also really enjoy Lorde's voice, and this collaboration is as solid as it can get. If you like lower key workout songs, than this one just may be for you.

Lyrics to "Magnets"

End of Workout

Karen Harding "Say Something" (Zac Samuels Remix)

Transition

DNCE "Cake By The Ocean"

Cooldown

Major Lazer ft. Nyla and Fuse ODG "Light It Up" 

Workout Playlist Song #4: Bastille "Power"

Bastille "Power"

Certainly this song is pretty much written about a toxic relationship between two people. It tells the tale of someone holding power over someone else for some time, though the narrator eventually realizes that it's time to break free of this control. I love the message behind this song, and use it as a great motivational workout song. In the case of pushing yourself during your session, the "enemy" is the pain or soreness you feel when you are exercising. There are many instances when you try to tell yourself that you've done enough, that you can cut your workout short. That's when you have to decided that you're not going to let that "power" hold you anymore. My favorite lyric in this song goes "Pain, just synapses firing." If you can remember that, then you can remind yourself that you have the ability to overcome your own doubts. You can hold the "Power."

Lyrics to "Power"

End of Workout

Dean's List "Dear Professor"

Transition

Phantogram "You Don't Get Me High Anymore"

Cooldown

Alive Like Me "Better Off"

Workout Playlist Song #3: Felix Jaehn ft. ALMA "Bonfire"

Felix Jaehn ft. ALMA "Bonfire"

Today's song is a great one out there if you've ever had anyone doubt you. It doesn't even have to be doubt about your ability to exercise or workout, but in life in general. "Bonfire" by Felix Jaehn and ALMA is quite literally a song about using those doubts as fuel to your fire. Most people don't need to be told or suggested to use doubters as a motivational tool. It comes natural that you want to prove somebody wrong on something you feel confident in yourself about. The song depicts the bonfire as being the narrator, and whatever anyone says or does is only "fuel" to that fire. Throw in some classic EDM beats, and you've created a perfect, upbeat workout song. "Live off the gasoline" of what motivates you, and perhaps consider adding "Bonfire" to your workout playlist.

Lyrics to "Bonfire"

I've decided to continue to have fun with this month's theme. So, here are the three ending songs to my workout today: 

End of Workout

Glass Animals "Youth"

Transition (End of Workout to Cooldown)

Grayson Chance "Afterlife" (Frank Pole Remix)

Cooldown

Bryson Tiller "Exchange"

Workout Playlist Song #2: Thousand Foot Krutch "Fire It Up"

THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH "FIRE IT UP"

Canadian Christian Rock band Thousand Foot Krutch has been another one of my favorite bands for awhile now. I actually discovered this song on EA Sports' NHL '10 (that should give you an idea of how long I've liked this song), which led me to the discovery of the band itself. If you'd really like to feel old,  Thousand Foot Krutch has been making music since 1995, so only two years less than I've been alive! "Fire It Up" is one those songs that can really get your blood pumping from start to finish. For me, the intro sets the mood, and then the guitars really kick in and make you want to jam out. Somebody needs to fire it up according to the chorus, and in the sense of working out, you're trying to fire yourself up. It's not the easiest thing in the world to motivate yourself sometimes, so having a song that's setting the mood for your workout session can be a big help. So, if you need a little extra motivation, let Thousand Foot Krutch fire you up for your next workout!

Lyrics to "Fire It Up"

Workout Playlist Song 1: Imagine Dragons "Tiptoe"

IMAGINE DRAGONS "TIPTOE"

Hey y'all! Obviously, this blog got neglected over the last few months. I had a lot of changes going on: a new job which meant moving to a new state. I now feel settled in from all these changes, and am ready to get back to posting about great music!

I have recommitted myself to focusing on my personal health by getting back into the gym and losing weight. In honor of this, I have decided to dedicate this upcoming month to songs off of my workout playlist! I know that everyone has their own way of getting themselves hyped up to workout, music included. However, I hope that you may find one or two of my songs good enough to add to your sessions!

Imagine Dragons is a band that I first discovered (as I'm sure everyone did) by their first hit single "Radioactive" (which is also on my playlist). I'm a proud owner of the Night Visions album, and that allowed me to find what I consider to be a hidden gem: "Tiptoe". It follows right after "Radioactive" on the album, and, in my opinion, fits perfectly into the track listing there. This was one of the many songs that I played on repeat, which is why it probably found its way onto my workout playlist. According to the Genius description, "Tiptoe" is supposed to be a song about the narrator scoring a "victory over something momentous, despite not being recognized by others." I think this is a great description if you really analyze the lyrics. The narrator is "tiptoeing higher", sneaking past the competition. There's also multiple mentions of flying off the radar. The part of the song that really gets me going is the bridge, when he repeats "nobody else can take me higher." It's great motivation while pushing yourself that nobody else is going to get you to your workout goals, whatever they may be. You have to be the one to get yourself there. Maybe you'll decide "Tiptoe" will help motivate you to tiptoe past your exercise goals.

Lyrics to "Tiptoe"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang"

Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang"

Straight Outta Compton is a biographical film about the rap group N.W.A. The film was produced with help from the original members Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, as well as the widow of Eazy-E. It also inspired Dr. Dre's third album which came in at #2 on the Billboard 200 a week before the release of the film. The soundtrack was comprised mostly of songs from the group itself, as well as songs by members of the group after they had gone solo. It peaked at #39 on the Billboard 200 chart, and topped the Billboard charts for soundtracks, R&B/Hip Hop Albums and Rap Albums. Today's song was off of Dr. Dre's first solo album, released in 1992. It was the most successful track off the album, as it peaked at #2 on the Hot 100, while also reaching the top spots of both the R&B/Hip Hop and Rap songs charts. It also finished the year end chart for 1993 at #11. N.W.A. produced some great early hip hop both as a group and as individual artists. Hopefully you'll take some time to enjoy today's selection as well as explore some of the rest of the great music they gave us. 

If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here

Lyrics to "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang" 

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites"

Skrillex "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites"

I had actually forgotten about this song until I was doing some research for today's post. The song is featured on the movie Spring Breakers, which tells the tale of college girls who go on spring break and end up getting involved with a drug ring. It actually has a fairly star studded cast, featuring James Franco, Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez. Even more surprising is that the film, while it may come across as being another sex filled party film, has received a decent amount of acclaim. The soundtrack, while not necessarily garnering any awards, has a few major hits. One of those is today's selection, while the other one is "Lights" by Ellie Goulding. Skrillex was chosen to be one of the producers for the soundtrack, which in turn led the soundtrack down an EDM infused road. "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" was one of the more popular EDM songs of its time, and won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording in 2013. It was one of the big songs in my opinion that led us into today's modern EDM that we hear on the radio. I hope you'll take some time to listen to it today.

If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here

Lyrics to "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Ghostbusters"

Ray Parker Jr. "Ghostbusters"

Here is yet another iconic movie from the 1980s (and remade in 2016). Ghostbusters is the hilariously funny movie about a team who cleans up the streets from the supernatural in New York City. There are few scenes that stand out more than the giant marshmallow terrorizing everyone at the climax of the film. The soundtrack was carried by the theme song that can be difficult to get out of your head once you start singing it. We have the song to thank for two phrases that stick: "Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!" as well as "I ain't afraid of no ghost!" It peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts and stayed there for three weeks, while also garnering an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. According to Bruce A. Austin, the song can be "purportedly credited with bringing in an extra $20 million for the film." The music video for the song was also a number one hit on MTV. It finished 1984 as the #9 song of the year, and appeared on both digital charts and ringtone charts when those became popular in the mid 2000s. I hope today's selection doesn't get stuck in your head too long!

If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here

Lyrics to "Ghostbusters"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Eye of the Tiger"

Survivor "Eye of the Tiger"

Another icon film series is Rocky. Everyone knows the story of Sylvester Stallone playing the famed fictional boxer, always facing some new adversity with each movie. While Rocky III was not the most successful film in the series, it did provide us with a few iconic items, including today's song selection.  The soundtrack to the film reached #15 on the Billboard 200. "Eye of the Tiger" was the main featured song on the soundtrack, and was the theme song for the third installment of this series. It was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. As far as charts are concerned, it reached the top spot of the Billboard 100, as well as #1 in 8 other countries. It finished on the year end chart in the U.S. at #2. It still appears on various international and digital charts today, proving that its popularity has not dwindled all that much. One other side note about the movie in general is that his was the Rocky film that gave us the statue that resides in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum. I hope you'll enjoy today's selection.

If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here

Lyrics to "Eye of the Tiger"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "All Star"

Smash Mouth "All Star"

My childhood was not complete without the classic animated film Shrek. Who can forget everyone's surprisingly loveable ogre and his donkey friend as they go on a quest to save a princess for the king, only to find out she turns into an ogre at night. It went on to win Academy Awards and be etched as the beginning of one of the best animated film series in my opinion. The soundtrack was nominated for a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, and featured a few fairly well known songs, including Smash Mouth's hit "All Star." Smash Mouth also recorded "I'm A Believer," a song originally performed by Neil Diamond. It peaked at #28 on the Billboard 200, and reached #2 on Billboard's soundtrack chart. While "All Star" was released 2 years before the film and had most of its chart success during that time, it is just as often remembered as a pairing to Shrek. Some would even describe it as a kind of theme song for the main character himself. I would like to think most of you enjoyed the film as much as I did, and will take some time to be an "All Star" today. 

If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here

Lyrics to "All Star"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Moon River"

Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer "Moon River"

We're rewinding the clocks almost 60 years with this post today. Breakfast at Tiffany's is a classic romantic comedy that features Audrey Hepburn in what most consider her greatest role of all time. It won 2 Academy Awards, and remains iconic throughout cultural history. The soundtrack was successful in its own right, winning Henry Mancini Best Original Score at the 1962 Academy Awards. While the soundtrack only peaked at #27 on the early version of the Billboard Top 200, it remained on that chart for almost two years. All of the tracks on the soundtrack are original compositions by Henry Mancini. "Moon River" was the smash hit off of this soundtrack. That's amazing considering it almost didn't make the cut of the film. After a pre-screening, an executive from Paramount Pictures called the song dead weight, and wanted to cut it. It was saved by Hepburn herself, and "only" went on to win Best Original Song at the Academy Awards as well as winning Song of the Year at the 1962 Grammys. With it being the early age of Billboard charts, there is no surefire way to know exactly where the song was in terms of charts, but most people state that they believe it reached #1. While I understand I may be throwing it back to the prime music days for your grandparents, both Breakfast at Tiffany's and "Moon River" have survived this long for their cultural significance of the times. I encourage you to appreciate today's post for just that.

If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here

Lyrics to "Moon River"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing"

Aerosmith "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing"

There seems to be few things the filmmakers in Hollywood love more than to imagine all the potential doomsday scenarios out there. Whether they're realistic or unrealistic, they never miss a chance to destroy the earth in all sorts of ways. Armageddon is one of those movies. It was directed by Michael Bay, who has a reputation of producing blockbuster films with lots of action. While it is not the most scientifically accurate film in terms of a catastrophe like this, it was still the highest grossing film of 1998. The soundtrack featured a few well known bands, including today's selection. "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" was written by Aerosmith specifically for this film. It reached the top of both the American and Canadian album charts during 1998. Aerosmith was selected to record this song after Steven Tyler's daughter, Liv, was selected as a cast member for the film. It was Aerosmith's first #1 hit, and remained atop the charts for four weeks. Hopefully you don't miss a thing today with this post.

If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here

Lyrics to "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" 

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Let It Go"

Idina Menzel "Let It Go"

Whether you liked or disliked Disney's Frozen, there is no disputing the success of the soundtrack, with the song "Let It Go" leading the charge. The album came in at #18 in its first week on the Billboard 200, and a few weeks later it became just the fourth animated soundtrack in film history to reach #1. Subsequently, it became the first animated film to stay at #1 for more than one week since Lion King, and ultimately spent 13 non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the charts. It ended 2014 as the best selling soundtrack of the year, becoming the 6th soundtrack and the second Disney album (Mary Poppins) to achieve that feat. To compile onto all those chart numbers, it also won two Grammy awards, one of which went to "Let It Go." The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard 100, and was the first song from an animated film to reach the top 10 since "Colors of the Wind" from Pocahontas. It ended the year as the 9th best selling single of 2014. It's obvious that both the film and the soundtrack were largely successful, and that this is another Disney classic that will live on for generations. Hopefully you aren't stuck asking winter to "Let It Go" with the latest snowstorm bracing the Northeast halfway through the month of April.


If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here


Lyrics to "Let It Go"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Fortunate Son"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "FORTUNATE SON"

Creedence Clearwater Revival "Fortunate Son"

I am confident to say that most of you have probably seen or at least heard of the movie Forrest Gump. It's one of my favorite films, and it's regarded as a classic by most in the cinema industry. The soundtrack is one that does a great job of choosing songs that go along with the times or events featured in the movie. It reached #2 on the Billboard 200, and ended at 88 on the Billboard 200 chart of the decade. There seems to be something about soundtracks that primarily use old songs that bring out a bit of nostalgia. I feel like it allows people to rediscover their love for songs they had forgotten about. We've seen this with the Guardians of the Galaxy series, and Forrest Gump is similar. "Fortunate Son" specifically is the poster child protest song of the Vietnam War Era. It is in the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress as being historically and culturally relevant. Today's post is a perfect combination of a classic movie with a classic song.


If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here


Lyrics to "Fortunate Son"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Jai Ho"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "JAI HO"

Sukhwinder  Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer & Vijay Prakash "Jai Ho"

Slumdog Millionaire was a successful movie about a boy who appears on India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and is accused of cheating. It won multiple Academy Awards as well as the award for Best Picture at the Oscars. The soundtrack was equally successful, grabbing the Golden Globe for Best Original Score, two Academy Awards and two Grammy awards. One of those Grammys was for today's song selection as Best Song Written for Visual Media. A.R. Rahman, who composed the original score for the film, said he was trying "to mix modern India with old India" for the soundtrack. As a result of his score, the soundtrack peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200. The lyrics to "Jai Ho" are a mix of Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi. I hope you'll enjoy an award winning song from an award winning movie.


If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here


Lyrics to "Jai Ho"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Young Folks"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "YOUNG FOLKS"

Peter Bjorn and John "Young Folks"

This song comes from a personal favorite movie of mine, 21. It's a movie about the card game blackjack. More specifically, it is based on the true story of the blackjack team from MIT. Incredibly intelligent students who were great at math were brought together by a professor to learn how to count cards and create a system to sweep through any casino in Vegas. The soundtrack, while not dazzling in terms of awards that previous ones had, falls in line with what you would expect from a movie based on a college experience. There are plenty of more alternative and indie songs that I would argue are actually fairly well known. "Young Folks" falls into that category, and it's got a very catchy beat. It was moderately successful on alternative charts across the world, being more popular in Europe. This is probably based on the fact that the group is originally from Sweden. Even though nothing is flashy about the success of anything related to today's pick, I certainly hope you'll enjoy it.


If you want to learn more about the movie as well as view the track listing, click here


Lyrics to "Young Folks"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Disco Inferno"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "DISCO INFERNO"

The Trammps "Disco Inferno"

If you love disco, than you've probably seen the film Saturday Night Fever. The 1977 hit movie was all about the disco era, and the soundtrack is no different. There are plenty of famous disco hits, including "Stayin Alive," "Night Fever," "Boogie Shoes," and today's selection. It is the best selling soundtrack of all time, with current numbers at 45 million copies sold. It stayed at #1 on Billboard's charts for 24 consecutive weeks in 1978, and remained on that same chart for 120 weeks into 1980. It is also apart of the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress for its cultural significance. The album produced 6 Grammy awards, including album of the year in 1979. To put the icing on the cake, the album produced 7 separate #1's on the Pop Singles Chart. Ironically enough, "Disco Inferno" was not one of those singles, although it is just as widely recognized as any of the others. Disco music was the birth of dance music, and it is still a groovy way to shake out stress. It's no wonder this soundtrack was so successful, and hopefully you'll find some joy with it today.


If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here


Lyrics to "Disco Inferno"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "My Heart Will Go On"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "MY HEART WILL GO ON"

Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On"

Before this song started to become popular to use for memes and dubs over sports moments, "My Heart Will Go On" was the most recognized song from the blockbuster Titanic. The soundtrack to the movie is widely successful, as it is one of the highest selling soundtracks of all time and the highest selling primarily orchestral soundtrack ever. It spent 16 straight weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200, and is the last album to spend at least ten consecutive weeks at #1. On top of that, it was #1 on the charts of 14 other countries as well. It finished #5 on the top albums of the decade (1990-1999), and currently ranks at #163 on the Billboard 200 of all time albums. The song itself is just as popular, and is considered Celine Dion's signature hit of her entire career. It was #1 across the world, and was listed on Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America. It is currently the second best selling single of all time by a female artist, and the 8th best overall. I could go on and on about the major success of both the soundtrack and the single, but I think you all get the point. Enjoy a classic song from a classic movie.


If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here


Lyrics to "My Heart Will Go On"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Danger Zone"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "DANGER ZONE"

Kenny Loggins "Danger Zone"

Top Gun is another movie from the 1980s that is beloved by many. "Danger Zone" is a song that almost everyone recognizes, and it is thanks to the movie. The soundtrack to the movie was #1 on Billboard's chart for 5 weeks, and was the best selling soundtrack of 1986. With four songs breaking into Billboard's Top 100 chart that year, it makes sense. "Danger Zone" peaked at #2 on the chart, while "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin made it to #1. "Take My Breath Away" won Best Original Song both at the Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. An interesting fact about today's song is that multiple other musical artists were approached to do "Danger Zone." All declined for various reasons, before it was decided that Kenny Loggins would be the one to do it. The song was in the top 15 of seven worldwide charts, and finished at #42 on Billboard's year end chart for 1986. The music video, according to MuchMusic network, was described by the U.S. Navy as "one of the best recruiting tools ever." I can guarantee that most of you have probably felt yourself naturally singing this song when you feel as though you're doing something dangerous. Take the time to step into the "Danger Zone" today.


If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here


Lyrics to "Danger Zone"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Pray For Me"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "PRAY FOR ME"

The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar "Pray For Me"

While Black Panther is not that far removed from being in theaters, it received massive acclaim during its time there. It is currently the highest grossing film of the year, and is both the third highest grossing film of all time in the U.S. and tenth highest grossing film of all time. The soundtrack has been just as successful thus far. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, and remained in the top spot during its second week as well. Kendrick Lamar was chosen by director Kevin Coogler to create the soundtrack because "his artistic themes align with those we explore in the film." The soundtrack has three singles that have entered into the top 25 of Billboard's Hot 100 chart, including today's selection, which reached its peak at #7. I personally don't think the song is done peaking, as I believe it will continue to be widely popular well into the summer. I also wouldn't be surprised to see another song or two from this soundtrack take off. Time will tell, but given the combination of a blockbuster movie with a few hit singles, I am confident both the film and the soundtrack will remain high on the charts for years to come.


If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as the track listing, click here


Lyrics to "Pray For Me"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "When Doves Cry"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "WHEN DOVES CRY"

Prince "When Doves Cry"

Purple Rain, the film, was a semi autobiographical film with Prince as the main character. The album of the same name was the soundtrack for the movie, and is considered not only the greatest work created by Prince, but also one of the greatest albums of all time. It had two songs reach #1 on the charts, including today's song selection. The soundtrack has been certified platinum 13 times, and as of 2008, was the third best selling soundtrack album of all time. Following Prince's death, the album ascended back up to #2 on the Billboard 200. Previously, it had stayed atop the charts for 24 weeks straight back when it was released, and stayed in the top 10 for a total of 32 straight weeks. "When Doves Cry" is noted for its lack of bass. According to Genius, this was a choice of Prince, as to make it sound "like something's missing." The song itself was inspired by his relationship with Vanity 6 member Susan Moonsie. Enjoy one of the more popular Prince songs of all time, off of the most popular Prince album of all time.

If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here

Lyrics to "When Doves Cry"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Heathens"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "HEATHENS"

Twenty-One Pilots "Heathens"

I tend to be more of a Marvel person when it comes to the two different types of major superhero films out there these days. However, I went and saw Suicide Squad and really enjoyed it. The soundtrack also became widely popular as it was released. It reached #1 on the Billboard 200 weekly charts, and finished #20 on the Billboard 200 year end chart. It had quite a few singles that became radio hits, including "Heathens." It was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Compilation  Soundtrack for Visual Media in 2017. The song featured today peaked at #2 on the weekly Billboard chart, and was in the top 20 of 41 different charts worldwide. It was Twenty One Pilots first huge hit since the success of their album Blurryface. According to Genius, Tyler Joseph stated that he wanted the song to be "a Twenty One Pilots song first, then a song for the movie." He also stated that as the song came together, he could feel that it had the identity they wanted while also fitting in well with the theme of the movie. I hope you'll take some time to enjoy today's selection as well as the rest of the music this soundtrack has to offer.

If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as the track listing, click here

Lyrics to "'Heathens"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Jungle Boogie"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE "JUNGLE BOOGIE"

Kool and the Gang "Jungle Boogie"

Like many other Quentin Tarantino films, Pulp Fiction is very unconventional. The soundtrack follows that same pattern as it adds some dialogue from the film as tracks, as well as mixing in songs from the actual film. The soundtrack reached #21 on the Billboard charts, and, like a few other soundtracks featured, have a lot of songs from previous decades. That is evident with today's selection, as "'Jungle Boogie" was released in 1973. The soundtrack received praise as being "in tune" with the film in which it is associated. While there was no particular demographic that the film was trying to reach, according to Kathy Nelson, VP/GM of MCA soundtracks, they were still very focused soundtracks that had a certain kind of personality. The music from this soundtrack even appeared in some television ads as much as two years after the release of the film, showing just how popular it really was. While there isn't much lyrically to "Jungle Boogie," it remains a well known song that, in my opinion, is really just trying to get you to dance and move to the rhythm. Whether you enjoy Tarantino movies or not, there's no fiction that this was a popular soundtrack and movie.


If you want to know more about the soundtrack and to see a track listing, click here


Lyrics to "Jungle Boogie"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Pump It Up"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "PUMP IT UP"

Joe Budden "Pump It Up"

I am probably one of the biggest fans of the Fast and Furious series. I know there are some out there who think it's full of pointless action scenes involving cars, guns and fighting. And, while the newer movies seem to have gone that way, it doesn't make me like them any less. My favorite move in the whole series, which I always feel may be the best one in the whole series, is 2 Fast 2 Furious. It is from that soundtrack that we get "Pump It Up." This was the first movie in the series that featured Ludacris, and it was his label that had a big influence on the music selection for this soundtrack. Luda had a few songs that he put on it, including his hit "Act A Fool," but it really seemed to be Joe Budden's track that really took off. The soundtrack was certified gold in 2003, and reached #5 on Billboard's Top 200. "Pump It Up" has also been featured in a few other movies, as well as Madden 2004. It was one of my personal pump up songs (how fitting) for listening before athletic events. I will warn you that there are some explicit lyrics, but I hope you enjoy today's selection.


If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as the track list, click here


Lyrics to "Pump It Up"  

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Don't You Forget About Me"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "DON'T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME"

Simple Minds "Don't You Forget About Me"

One of the most iconic movie endings of the 1980s and possibly all time, "Don't You Forget About Me" plays at the end of The Breakfast Club. When you think of that movie, you think of that ending just as much as the message the movie tries to send. Aside from this song, the rest of the soundtrack is not as well known, and has received negative reviews throughout the years, even though it reached as high as #17 on Billboard's Album chart. However, that doesn't overshadow the success of the song itself.  It reached #1 on Billboard's Hot 100, and has been the bands most successful song in the U.S. to date. There is irony in that fact as, according to Genius, the band recorded this song in roughly three hours and forgot about it, considering it "just another song they recorded for somebody." It is clearly more than that now, and remains etched together with The Breakfast Club for generations to come.


If you want to learn more about the movie, the soundtrack and see the full track list, click here


Lyrics to "Don't You Forget About Me"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "(I'VE HAD) THE TIME OF MY LIFE"

Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes "(I've Had) The Time of my Life"

Dirty Dancing is one of the most iconic movies from the 1980s. It is still beloved today, and,  every now and then, people like to slip in a "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" quote. The soundtrack for the movie subsequently was also successful. It spent 18 weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts. Today's track selection from the soundtrack was the most successful song from it. It was specifically recorded for the movie, and won awards across multiple platforms: Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Group or Duo, Academy Award for Best Original Song & Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. It also reached #1 on the Billboard charts. Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes were handpicked by the music production crew to record the song. The soundtrack as a whole created an oldies music revival, which created an unexpected boost for RCA records. That sounds similar to yesterday's soundtrack from Guardians of the Galaxy, which was also composed entirely of older songs. Hopefully nobody puts you in a corner today to check out today's selection.

If you want more information about the movie and the soundtrack, as well as the full track listing, check it out here

Lyrics to "(I've Had) The Time of my Life"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Escape (The Pina Colada Song"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "ESCAPE (THE PIÑA COLADA SONG)"

Rupert Holmes "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)

You probably didn't need to see Guardians of the Galaxy to recognize this song. It is one of those songs that almost everybody seems to love and can sing along to. If you have seen the movie, than you know that all the songs on its soundtrack come from the 1970s. The Awesome Mix is a mixtape created by Peter Quill's mother and given to him shortly before her death in the beginning of the movie. It is a collection of her favorite songs, which come from that decade. "Escape" plays in the film when Quill is recovering his cassette player from the guard who confiscated it when he and the other guardians were taken into prison. Director James Gunn gave Composer Tyler Bates a mission to have most of the score already in place before filming so as "to use them for emotional scenes and big action scenes." He also stated that he wanted to play the songs on set so that the actors could get a feel for why the particular song fit into the scene they were filming and understand it. The song itself, isolated from the soundtrack, is really basic in that it is a man wishing to escape his current relationship. This is Rupert Holmes' claim to fame, even though he did a lot of other things musically besides just this song. And, according to Genius, he doesn't even like Piña Coladas! 

As you can tell, the month of April will be all about songs off of movie soundtracks. It's a cool semi-crossover of pop culture, which allows a spotlight on both the song and the movie. I hope you'll enjoy following along this month's journey!

If you want more information about how the soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy came together, as well as the full track list, you can find it here

Lyrics to "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)

International Artist Spotlight: Daft Punk

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: DAFT PUNK

Daft Punk "One More Time"

You just might have had a feeling that since March contains St. Patrick's Day, you might "Get Lucky" with this month's theme ending on Daft Punk. May I formally introduce you to the French duo who has been rocking the dance music scene for 25 years. They have been one of the faces of EDM and House music, and have been collaborating with a lot of other world renowned artists recently. Their first album, Homework, was released  in 1997, and, while the first hit off of that album was "Da Funk," the most popular song that came off of that album was "Around The World." Discovery followed in 2001, with a few more smash hits, including the chosen song today, which was near the top of both club and mainstream charts. This allowed that album to reach #2 on the UK charts. Their most recent album, Random Access Memories, contained "Get Lucky," featuring Pharell Williams. It was their first #1 song on the UK charts, and was the most streamed new song in the history of Spotify. Given that the personas of the members of Daft Punk are largely robotic, thanks to the helmets they wear whenever they make appearances, it should be no surprise that this group also did the soundtrack for Tron: Legacy in 2008. In addition to all of their musical success, they are also very talented artists. You can see a lot of this talent on display with the products they sell, as well as some of their earlier music videos that involve animation. While I'm sure Daft Punk is not a new group to most of you, I encourage you to use an hour or two of the last day of the month to rediscover some of their music. And, don't forget to check back for the theme for April!

Learn more about Daft Punk here

Lyrics to "One More Time"

International Artist Spotlight: Lorde

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: LORDE

Lorde "Perfect Places"

A pop artist that can fall into a few different genres, Lorde was first introduced to the world with her single "Royals." It sat atop the Billboard charts for 9 consecutive weeks, and eventually won Song of the Year at the Grammys in 2013. Lorde hails from New Zealand, and largely gained success doing covers at first. It was her first EP that she posted on her Soundcloud account that brought her popularity, which included "Royals." She also created music for Mockingjacy, Part 1 from The Hunger Games series. Her most recent album, Melodrama, was released last year, and was nominated for Album of the Year at the most recent Grammys. She is only 21, and yet she already has a large fan base. She chose her name from her fascination with royalty, but added the "E" at the end to add more femininity to it. She has been on Time's list of most influential teenagers twice, and has also been featured on Forbes' list of 30 under 30 who are changing the world. She's just another example of a young wave of pop stars who have already gained quite a bit of acclaim at an early age. Her future appears bright, and I encourage you to give her music a listen.

Biographical information here

Lyrics to "Perfect Places"

International Artist Spotlight: Rihanna

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: RIHANNA

Rihanna ft. Jay-Z "Umbrella"

We're venturing to Barbados today to profile one of the most iconic women of pop music. Robyn Rihanna Fenty has only been producing music for roughly ten years, yet she has already racked up a ton of awards. She is the youngest solo artist to record 14 Billboard #1 hits. She has over 100 million gold and platinum singles on the digital scene, and has 8 Grammys to her name. Discovered by two vacationing Def Jam producers, Rihanna's career was launched with the release of her first album that brought us the dance floor hit "Pon de Replay." "Good Girl Gone Bad" was the album that really launched her into stardom, with "Umbrella" being the song of the summer that year. It also sat atop the pop, urban and crossover charts for a whole year! "Umbrella" was the song that brought Rihanna her first Grammy. Many just as successful albums and #1 hits have followed, and she's only 30! With many years remaining in Rihanna's career, we can only look forward to the next great albums and singles to come. Along with all the music success, Rihanna has also been an active businesswoman and philanthropist. She's designed various clothing and accessories, and some of the sales of these items go towards causes she's passionate about. With today' selection, take a moment to recognize the greatness of Rihanna and her music.


If you want to learn more, click here


Lyrics to "Umbrella"

International Artist Spotlight: Carlos Santana

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: CARLOS SANTANA

Carlos Santana ft. Rob Thomas "Smooth (Stereo)"

Today we take a trip to Mexico to profile one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Carlos Santana. Santana has been showcasing his guitar talent with his band for over four decades. He started out playing in legendary places such as The Fillmore, and even performed at the legendary Woodstock Festival in 1969. He's the winner of 10 Grammy Awards, including 9 for a single project, Supernatural, which is where today's classic song comes from. 1998 brought their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH. With the release of an album in 2014, he became just one of two Billboard artists to produce a top 10 album for 6 consecutive decades. I could go on and on with all of the prestigious awards and honors that Santana has collected throughout his career. However, I think his music speaks for itself. A lot of his songs, no matter which decade they are from, are well known and recognizable fairly quickly. Aside from a fantastic music career, Santana has also been an active philanthropist, especially in donating to various children's foundations. Santana has emerged as both a legendary musician and a wonderful human being, and I encourage you to take the time to listen to some of his classics.

You can learn more about Santana here


Lyrics to "Smooth (Stereo)"

International Artist Spotlight: Dua Lipa

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: DUA LIPA

Dua Lipa "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)"

Exactly a month ago, this blog introduced Dua Lipa. She probably didn't need an introduction though, as she's been blowing up top 50 charts in multiple countries for close to a year now. Dua Lipa, while born in London, is ethnically Albanian, and her parents moved to London from Kosovo. She moved back to Kosovo with her family in 2008, before returning back to London to launch her rising music career. At first, she started a career as a model before moving on to music. The song featured today was her first song to enter the Billboard U.S. charts, coming in at 72. She has been featured on tracks with Martin Garrix and Sean Paul. Last month's song "New Rules," was the first number one hit for her in the U.K., and the first female artist to reach that spot since Adele in 2015. She was also the most streamed woman of 2017 on Spotify in the U.K. It appears she's got a bright future ahead of her, as she is starting to work on her second studio album. I am definitely a big fan of hers, and love her voice. I certainly hope you'll enjoy and explore more of her music as well. 

Lyrics to "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)"

International Artist Spotlight: Flume

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: FLUME

Flume ft. Moon Holiday "Insane"

Today, we are going into the world of EDM. Harley Edward Streten, better known as Flume, is a DJ hailing from Australia. He has become really well known over the last few years, producing hits like "Never Be Like You" featuring Kai, and "Say It" featuring Swedish pop star Tove Lo. While those songs came off of the album Skin, there was one album prior to that, which gained him popularity throughout Australia. Many of his songs feature other artists on vocals, which, when combined with his mixes, create some fantastic dance songs. He also produces songs for artists, most notably Lorde. I had the pleasure of getting to see Flume perform live at Firefly last summer, and it was such a great experience. The crowd loved it, and there's few better ways to get pumped up at one in the morning, in my opinion. I'm looking forward to what Flume has for us in the future, as well as continuing to enjoy what he's already given us. I hope you are too. 

Lyrics to "Insane"