General Gregory N. Pigott: Late Night Music MLK Edition Part 87......"Kings"

With the MLK Holiday coming up, we are reminded of the late reverend's message of unity, love, and understanding. While we should never forget the power of his message, let us also remember that with the holiday weekend, we should also remember that one of the best tools to help us live with those great qualities is music. So in honor, of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, enjoy tonight's list.

In order to receive votes in this category, the SONG TITLE OR BAND had to have the word "King" in it. Also receiving votes in this category were "King Nothing" by Metallica, "King Rat" by Modest Mouse, "A Farewell To Kings" by Rush, "Boat Behind" by Kings of Convenience, and "King of Kings" by Motorhead,

"Notion"- Kings of Leon. I recently saw an all-access special on Palladia about King of Leon and their background in Nashville as well as their current fame, and I have to admit I was widely entertained. The Followills are freaking hilarious! The funniest they said is that they didn't learn how to play any instruments until after they started writing songs- that's pretty crazy! This song from their smash album "Only By The Night" has always been my favorite and is a pretty cool video to top it off. Everyone knew "Use Somebody" just due to its massive airplay, but this song is still the best on the album to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT6mB8N24_g

"King of New Orleans"- Better Than Ezra. I love any excuse I ever have to put Better Than Ezra on a list, as they've always been one of my favorite bands. After the worldwide success of "Deluxe" in 1993, Better Than Ezra's much anticipated follow up album "Friction, Baby" came out in 1996 with great controversy (see album cover below to see why), but opened up with this great song. This song actually spent a short time on the Billboard Hot 100, but the album, while never as popular as "Deluxe", did produce the crowd/band favorite "Desperately Wanting", which has been used to close every BTE show since. Great live performance here from the House of Blues in New Orleans. I meet people from other pats of the country and I can't really explain how popular Better Than Ezra was and is in Mississippi and Louisiana. This video might give you a small idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hTSKBsADE8

"King of Anything"- Sara Bareilles. After Sara Bareilles' 2007 breakthrough album "Little Voice" made her a household name, she released "Kaleidoscope Heart" late last year, with this single being released a few months before. I would also like to remind everyone once again that I was a fan of Sara Bareilles' first album "Careful Confessions" before she became a household name- just saying. Anyway, this song is up for the Grammy for Best Female Pop Performance at the upcoming Grammy Awards, and with the way this song just shows the evolution of Sara Bareilles as an artist, I'd say she has a good chance to win. This song is a great "I really don't care song" and actually reminds me of alot of people in my life that I sometimes wish weren't there. I'd also like to go on record as saying that Sara Bareilles looks super hot in this video! She gets more beautiful all the time. Bonus points for the brass section on the bus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR7-AUmiNcA

"We'll Be A Dream"- We The Kings featuring Demi Lovato. Ok I've had We The Kings on here before, and yes, they are super goofy, but they are a good band. However, WHAT IN THE WORLD IS DEMI LOVATO DOING IN THIS VIDEO? Either she wants to expand her audience or I was a fan of a junior high band all along and didn't know it. HELP! This song from their album "Smile Kid" is up for a Teen Choice Award as best "Hook Up Video". Why is that even a category. Travis Clark still freaks me out- that hair is HORRIBLE. This video is cool though- bonus points for the many "fights" they depict in it. I have to say the pillow fight would be my personal favorite- just would hate taking a shower or drying off after all the other ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMVYT3QvDW8

"Stand By Me"- Ben E. King. This video made for the soundtrack of the 1986 movie of the same name, features stars of the movie Wil Wheaton and the late River Phoenix. Ben E. King just was so cool in the way he sang this song, and unfortunately for him, he was a one hit wonder......kind of. The re-issue of this single in 1987 to go along with the movie also went to #1 26 years later after being a #1 hit in 1961. Ben also had a very successful career with the Drifters before going solo in the early 1960's. He was also very popular in the UK. However, this classic song has been covered by more genres and artists than I can possibly fathom. Just looking at the list is incredible- I could almost do a whole list of just this song! The song, as mentioned before gained great popularity when it was released with the box office hit "Stand By Me" based on Stephen King's short story "The Body". It was one of the most popular films of the 1980's and not only featured a soon to be famous (and soon to be not fat) Jerry O'Connell, it put Ben E. King back in the spotlight over 25 years later.

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

"King Of Magazines"- Danko Jones. This crazy video by Canadian band Danko Jones makes me think I am watching an episode crossed between "Fairly Oddparents" and "Ren and Stimpy" gone horribly wrong. Wow, just wow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxEpJGm-oJg

"King of Sorrow"- Sade. Sade almost broke my rule of having two songs by the same artist on the same list with her other popular song "Your Love Is King", but I went with the one I didn't know as well, but now like alot better. In 2000, Sade "pulled a Maxwell" and released their first new album in 8 years with "Lovers Rock" and led off that album with the great song "By Your Side". The follow up single was this great song and very deep video which shows the true passion in this music. Most people get confused that the lead singer is "Sade", when it is actually the name of the band. While her name IS Sade Adu, she refers to her band as "Sade". While this song is awesome, I'm thinking that she shot this video to explain why Sade goes so long between albums. Let's face it, while they are a cool band, they aren't exactly a new record machine. Is this her way of saying she's too busy and to leave her alone? The band recently went another 10 years between albums with last year's "Soldier Of Love". I guess being in this band is the definition of a part time job. Yes, you read that right, 3 albums in 18 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF7yuNg_zWE

"Love King"- The Dream. I have to admit I never really cared for The Dream just because his name and whole persona are just ridiculous. However, this is a good song, and the women popping out from behind him at the video is super cool. After that, this video gets ridiculous, and you all know how I feel about people wearing sunglasses for no reason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGcQgUnxY14

"The Thrill Is Gone"- B.B. King featuring Tracy Chapman. In 1997, B.B. King released "Deuces Wild", a complete album of duets of him and artists redoing some of his most famous songs. Tracy Chapman and King did this great version of perhaps King's most famous song, and without a doubt his most successful on the charts. Tracy Chapman does a good job here, but it just doesn't get any better than King's original. I love B.B. King not just because he's a fellow Mississippian, but because the guy could rock even at 72 here. Listening to B.B. King play Lucille is something everyone should have to experience in life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVxCtt3s_1M

"Who Would Imagine a King?"- Whitney Houston. Just because I cry watching "The Preacher's Wife". I really wish there was a clip from the movie where they sing this song. My Christmas isn't complete until I watch this movie. Bonus points to anyone who can find one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYGu0dwl4Hk

"When I Fall In Love"- Nat King Cole. Man I tell you, Nat King Cole may have the most smooth and soothing voice in the history of music. I love listening to this guy sing. I really think people need to stop covering this song, because even though Nat King Cole actually covered this song (originally done by Doris Day), this 1956 version is still the best. Nat King Cole is one of the reasons I got into big band/jazz music. I really wonder what his career would have been like had he not died so soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfAb0gNPy6s

"The Rascal King"- The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. I don't get this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NxMlG3M40k

"King of the Mountain"- Midnight Oil. This video is ridiculous. This song from their 1990 album "Blue Sky Mining" was really pushed as a single in the USA (as if you can't tell from this ridiculous video). Not only does no one in the crowd look like they wanna be there, but Peter Garrett looks like the guy in "Men In Black" that has the little dead alien inside him. Maybe if Midnight Oil hadn't tried so hard this song would have done alright- this song is not that bad. It's actually kinda catchy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuC_k51NUqU

"Kings and Queens"- 30 Seconds to Mars. After Jared Leto and 30 Seconds To Mars debuted their lead single from their first album in 4 years "This Is War" in 2009, they made a huge splash by making one of the most popular and most watched videos in internet history. The popularity of the video led to a groundbreaking television performance on "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" that some call the best performance in the history of the program. This song sounds completely different than 30 Seconds To Mars last album, and I think we're gonna see them sound different with every album after this one. Like our good friend and Guiness World Record holder David Scherer, I think it's safe to say that Jared Leto could turn most straight men gay. That guy is amazing. Bonus points for the guy riding off after he gets hit by the car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTMrlHHVx8A

"Sweep The Leg"- No More Kings. All I'm gonna say is that his song from No More Kings 2007 self titled debut album and that the song is written from the perspective of Johnny (played by William Zabka) in "The Karate Kid" (the first one in 1985- not the new stupid one) and his life since being beaten by Daniel Laruso. The video features all of the members of Cobra Kai AND Daniel Laruso. Watch.......and laugh. Bonus points for Richard Haskins- congratulations to him for finding a role that wasn't Mr. Belding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFlQNtL8F9s

BONUS VIDEOS- "By Your Side"- Sade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8QJmI_V3j4

"Check Yes Juliet"- We The Kings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CUyWJ7UINM