General Gregory N. Pigott: Late Night Music Part 69........."Calendar Songs"

With my birthday coming up in less than a month, I started thinking about the calendar and how many great songs feature references to the calendar whether it be a certain event or just a reflection of time, the calendar is a popular writing inspiration. Just another thing we take for granted that is there every day but is still just another simple inspiration.

In order to be considered for this list, the SONG TITLE has to feature a SPECIFIC month (not the band). This would disqualify The February Heartache, Blue October, Until June, and Dead By April. The song had to also be referring to that month, for example, "Wish I May" by Breaking Benjamin, "March On" by Good Charlotte, or "August Town" by Duane Stephenson (even thought that is a freaking awesome song) would also be disqualified. Also receiving votes in this category were "January" by Pilot, "January February" by Barbara Dickson, "January Twenty Something" by WHY?,"July" by Natty, "July" by Katatonia, and "October" by U2". NOT RECEIVING VOTES was "July" by Drake. I'm sorry guys, I just can't bring myself to put him on a list, he sucks SO much.

"January Wedding"- The Avett Brothers. These folk singing brothers from North Carolina make the folk music debut for "Late Night Music" with this great live performance from their 2009 hit album "I and Love and You". Probably the biggest folk rock group in the world, their latest album "I and Love and You" peaked at #16 on the Billboard Top 200 albums. For the record, the Asian guy in the video isn't their brother, he's band member Joe Kwon. I am gonna go ahead and nominate the Avett Brothers for the most disinterested looking band in the history of music. Seth Avett could use some help!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq4DsqiW2DI

"February Air"- Lights. Wow, another Canadian artist that I had no idea was Canadian. For some reason, I keep finding synth pop artists to feature on here. Is that genre just becoming that big and we aren't realizing it? (Note- Lights recently ended a tour with Owl City) Whether or not this genre is growing or not, this video, from her 2008 self-titled EP is super cool. First of all, what is that cool toy she has? It almost looks like a "Simon"- remember those? I am also a tad bit confused because the theme of the video is supposed to be futuristic, but yet she has props for the video from the 1970's. Bonus points for the Wonder Woman head band. I'm gonna go ahead and go on record as putting Lights in the "possible future Mrs. Pigott" club.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLbIyqQ2hp0

"February Song"- Josh Groban. First of all, I had no idea Josh Groban even played the piano- I thought he was just a "microphone" kinda guy. In 2006, Josh followed up his mega album "Closer" with "Awake" , with this being the second single, and if you've ever listened to Josh Groban, you can tell his style not only changed, but it evolved. While I like his previous stuff, it almost felt like a choral concert, while this song sounds more like a soft jazz, piano soft rock song with Groban actually using his falsetto head voice, which was very uncommon in Groban's earlier songs. I'm actually really looking forward to Josh's next studio album "Illuminations", because I think his sound will continue to change. However, his look, unfortunately, won't be going anywhere. Oh yeah, I have no idea what this song is about- he has a good way of doing that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzk09LOxszc

"February Stars"- Foo Fighters. Absolutely great live performance here from the song from the Foo Fighters' second album "The Colour and The Shape". While this song was never released as a single, it was actually recorded by Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic in 1994 during Nirvana's last recording session and was originally intended to be a Nirvana song. Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters are incredible, and this song is no different. Does anyone else think that drummer Taylor Hawkins looks just like WWE Superstar Edge? Also, while this song is powerful, please try to look at Pat Smear and try not to laugh- I can't do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZG7PqE7Sds

"April Showers"- Dru Hill. I always like this song from Dru Hill's 1996 album mainly because it let "guy in the background" James Green aka "Woody Rock" sing the entire lead vocal (even though he wrote nearly all of the band's early songs including "5 steps"- and yet he only sings one verse on that one). I always liked Woody because he was a good mellow singer and wasn't flamboyant like the headline catching Sisqo. I actually think the fact that Green lacked the showmanship of Sisqo actually contributed to none of his songs being released as a single. Think about it, every Dru Hill song that was released on mainstream featured Sisqo. While they were all good songs, let's make no mistake about what the record producers wanted. It sucks that a good R&B song like this one can't be featured in the mainstream. Still my favorite Dru song ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXpNF8yr9I4

"In April"- Wonderwall. Man! I keep finding these artists that fit into genres AFTER the fact. Wonderwall is a German girl group that almost frighteningly reminds me of Taylor Swift and the Dixie Chicks with a splash of Colbie Caillat. This video, which seems very American was for their 2002 debut album "Witchcraft". Will someone please tell me why bands like this record almost exclusively in English and then do nothing to make an American presence, and then don't even have an english fan website? Watch this video, and you'll be asking yourself the same question. Bonus points for the hot chicks covered in water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKqQ0g1Q2LY

"Seven Days In Sunny June"- Jamiroquai. In most circles, Jamiroquai is considered a one hit wonder band just because of their 1997 hit "Vitural Insanity" and the super cool VMA award winning video that went along with it. After that, most of us never heard from Jamiroquai again. However, they have remained constant across the pond in their home country, and as you can tell, have vastly changed their sound from their funk/acid jazz/techno days to actually featuring acoustic guitars and pianos on this song from their 2005 album "Dynamite". Bonus points for Jay Jay being completely idiotic in this video and making it seem like a 1990's beer commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRSH-egVyzk

"Fourth of July"- Soundgarden. In 1994, Soundgarden kept the dying grunge Seattle movement afloat with their super album "Superunknown" which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and established Chris Cornell as one of the best rock band front men in music history. Chris Cornell confused alot of people with this song. While most of his music is profound, it has been rumored that this song was about being on LSD while working at carwash, nuclear war ending the world, or a simple acid trip. Either way, this song really rocks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU4L6THYAbM

"September"- Daughtry. Even artists who suck as bad as Chris Daughtry have good songs from time to time. At least this song wasn't played on the radio at exhaustion. By the time this third single from his latest album "Leave This Town" was released, everyone had figured out that all of Daughtry's songs sound just alike. Is it just me, or does Daughtry seem like Nickelback?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJzBcKM3ZIE

"September"- Earth, Wind, and Fire. Ok, slam dunk here. I really think Maurice White, Phillip Bailey, and Verdine White should go beat the crap out of Daughtry for stealing their song title and making it a song that's not near as cool. This song was rare in that it wasn't included on a single EWF studio album even though it was intended to be included on their 1977 album "I Am", it was released in 1978 as a stand alone single and included on their first Greatest Hits album later that same year. I can't think of another song this big being released that way since Boyz II Men and "End of the Road" in 1993.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S8ZrQG0y6g

"Wake Me Up When September Ends"- Green Day. I had to put this live performance in place of the official video- I can't put you guys through that torture again. Pretty good live performance here, just creepy how much Billy Joe Armstrong really scares me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k70NhRPXzpI

"October"- Evanescence. I came across this song as an unreleased Evanescence single. Wow! Amy Lee is amazing on this song. I'd really like to see Evanescence come out with some new material.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2Cl2B5TZoA

"November Rain"- Guns N' Roses. Another repeat song, but has it gotten any less awesome? This is still one of the best rock ballads ever written.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SbUC-UaAxE

"A Long December"- Counting Crows. I'll say it again, I realize that "Recovering the Satellites" is not near as big as "August and Everything After" but it's an album I've always really enjoyed, including this lead single from that album. I love this song's message about new beginnings, and I REALLY love the addition of Courtney Cox, who was involved with lead singer Adam Duritz at the time, in the video. It just goes to show you that even an ugly crazy looking guy like him can get a girl if he's in a band. I guess there's hope for everyone. Bonus points for the snow in Los Angeles in the video, that would be a meteorological miracle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D5PtyrewSs

"December"- Collective Soul.I realize that yes, this song is super cool, and I realize that Ed Roland is a good lead singer, but this song is a great nominee for my "They Said WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?" list which features songs that you can't understand the lyrics of. I have to admit, I had no idea what most of the lyrics to this song were until I looked them up- then it all made sense that this song is about a break up and then the person trying to crawl back. Despite being hard to understand, Collective Soul and their self-titled album helped usher in the new era of rock music after the death of the Seattle grunge scene in the mid-90's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6exsatE-DUk

BONUS VIDEOS- "September"- Kirk Franklin. What an inspiration. I always listen to this song on September 12th. Bonus points for Maurice White.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQZ6j6UGrM

"St. Patrick's Day"- John Mayer. Live on "Last Call with Carson Daly". This one was close, but just missed it, but I found a way to put it in here- just for you, Devon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ4ZlyVivD0