General Gregory N. Pigott: Late Night Music Part 93........."Certain As The Sun, Rising In The East"

After doing the space thing, I promised one on the sun, so why keep you waiting? It's amazing how popular the sun is when it comes to song writing. Also, sorry this one is coming out in the middle of the day (at 10:32 AM no less!), I was kind of interrupted trying to write this one Thursday night.

In order to receive votes in this category, the song title had to feature the word "sun". Also receiving votes in this category were "Always The Sun" by Richard Durand, "In The Sun" by She And Him, "In The Valley Of The Dying Sun" by House of Heroes, "When The Sun Goes Down" by Arctic Monkeys, and "Waiting For The Sun" by The Doors. Sorry, just never that big of a fan.

"Music Of The Sun"- Rihanna. Man I really seem to be finding alot of these unofficial user made videos lately. This title track from Rihanna's 2005 debut album was never released as a single, but probably should have been. This song obviously shows a different style of what Rihanna would be known to record as an artist. This song shows a glimpse of the album that was filled with alot of Rihanna's Caribbean roots. This song, despite a salsa/reggae feel was co-written by ballad master Dianne Warren.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32DZy0Ls0p0

"Away From The Sun"- 3 Doors Down. This title track from 3 Doors Down 2002 album was released in early 2004 and despite a poor showing on the charts, has always been one of my favorite 3 Doors Down songs. Despite being a "hard rock" band, I think 3 Doors Down and Brad Arnold are made to sing power ballads like this one. They just seem more natural to me on songs like this. I love how this video is super real and deals with real issues. This is also the only 3 Doors Down video I've ever seen that hasn't featured the band at any point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDK5qGlLT8s

"Darkside Of The Sun"- Tokio Hotel. I love this song! This song from Tokio Hotel's 2009 album "Humanoid" features clips from Tokio Hotel's 2009 World Tour. I've featured this song before, but I did not know that this one of the only songs from Tokio Hotel that is actually only available in English, as almost all of their songs are recorded in English and German, as the band hails from Madgeburg, Germany. This video was also the first video containing 100% live track rather than studio music from Tokio Hotel, which is surprising if you look at the amount of videos they made, including being nominated for several MTV and MTV Europe Video Music Awards in 2008 and 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndEeA-cMxWw

"Staring At The Sun"- The Offspring. 1998's "Americana" is one of my all time favorite albums. I listened to The Offpsring so much in high school to get pumped up for football games. This song was a great lead in to "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" as well. I would always play this song right before walking on the field because it was super short and it work me into a frenzy. Surprisingly enough, I just realized that this is the first time I've ever featured The Offspring on "Late Night Music"- sorry about that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuIY6ib91S4

"Walking On The Sun"- Smashmouth. Yes! Another 90's rock song. This lead single from Smash Mouth's 1997 debut album "Fush Yu Mang" hit #2 on the charts, and does nothing but make fun of the Generation X view of the hippie movement. The song was actually written during the 1992 L.A. Riots, and was meant to show a ironic view of the suburbanization of America. I love the drum part of this song, and Steve Harwell is a great example of how a fat guy can be a cool front man, but those capri pants he's wearing are super ridiculous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQj--Kjn0z8

"Morning Sun"- Robbie Williams. This song from Robbie Williams' 2010 album "Reality Killed The Video Star", was the official charity single for BBC's Sport Relief. Despite this, it was the first single Robbie Williams has ever had to not crack the UK Top 40. I'm kinda puzzled by this just due to the big budget video combined with the star power he still carries in England. In a selfish ironic twist, this song was originally meant to be a tribute to Michael Jackson, but Robbie Williams later said it was about himself. I still don't know how you get that far off track on that one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ0dGvcsotg

"Seasons In The Sun"- Terry Jacks. I think we have now found an award for the worst hair of the 1970's. If there was ever any wonder as to why Terry Jacks was a one hit wonder, look no further than this video. This song was actually an adaption of a French song of the same name by Jacques Brel. However, the English version is a little bit more serious than the French version which shows sarcasm about an unfaithful wife. Not surprisingly though, this song was Terry Jacks' only "season in the sun", as this song became a worldwide #1 hit in 1974, but he never charted above #68 in the US again, but did have three more top 10 songs in his native Canada.......but do those really count?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I3gc-EAh-s

"Black Hole Sun"- Soundgarden. This was another one of those bands that it was "cool" to like in 6th and 7th grade. No one knew any members of the band or anything about their smash album other than the fact that it was called "Superunknown". But hey, just look at these guys- how can not be cool? I remember when MTV still showed music videos this video literally being played seemingly once an hour, which was ironic because the song topped out at #24 on the charts, but had to be the most played video of the summer of 1994.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mbBbFH9fAg

"Island In The Sun"- Weezer. I've always been cracked up by these guys. This song featured on their SECOND self-titled album in 2001 (also known as "The Green Album") gets a huge hats off for being a karaoke favorite of Jay Money and Leeboy. The song was picked as a single to have a lighter mood than their previous dark single, "Hash Pipe". This video, known as the "Animals" video was directed by Spike Jonze after the record company and TV networks hated their original video which featured the band playing at a Mexican wedding. This is also Weezer's biggest hit outside of the United States, where it actually reached #7 in Australia and #31 in England.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C3zgYW_FAM

"Sleeping Sun"- Nightwish. Nightwish is a band from Finland, and they really remind me alot of Evanescence. Originally on their 1998 album "Oceanborn", a new video and recording were made for their 2005 greatest hits compilation "Highest Hopes".This video was actually lead singer Tarja Turunen's final appearance with the band, as she was replaced by Annette Olzon in 2007. Despite being popular mainly in their native Finland and France, the last two Nightwish albums have actually charted in the United States. They have also had #1 singles in Hungary and Spain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjd-VLB82FA

"Soak Up The Sun"- Sheryl Crow. This is one of my all time favorite songs to sing along to, and I tell ya, this song was on my constant soundtrack in college. This song was the lead single from Sheryl Crow's 2002 album "C'mon C'mon" and topped out at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was Sheryl Crow's biggest hit since "All I Wanna Do". Sorry, I had to stop writing for a second- Sheryl Crow was so hot in this video. How could Lance Armstrong walk away from that?

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

"Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"- Elton John. Long before his "comeback" single with George Michael, this song was a smash hit on Elton John's 1974 album "Caribou". Like with "Rocket Man", I found some user made video with the original version of the song, because none of Elton John's live performances, as great as they are, can compare to the original, which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Bernie Taupin and Elton John wrote this song in early 1974 to talk about how they each dealt with recent rejections in their life, and is one of the many deeply personal songs Elton had of that era. I still get chills every time I hear this song. Interesting fact is that Beach Boys Carl Wilson and Bruce Johnston along with "Tenille" from Captain and Tenille sing background vocals on this track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbssEkbV96A

"Locking Up The Sun"- Poets Of The Fall. Wow, this is a first. Another band from Finland. This song from their 2006 album "Carnival of Rust" reached #3 in Finland. If you muted this video and knew nothing about the band, I think it would be pretty easy to figure out that they were from a Scandinavian country- I'm just sayin'. Seriously, you have a guy put spikes through a heart, and then you act like that big of a goob? Like Nightwish, Poets Of The Fall are pretty well known around certain European countries, but have never even released an album in the United States. Bonus points for the wrestling ring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iap7PpYNcXQ

BONUS VIDEOS- "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"- Elton John and George Michael. Elton John came out of obscurity to make this his "comeback" single in 1991 before releasing his much awaited album "The One" in 1992. Recorded live at Wembley Arena, no one in the crowd knew Elton John would make an appearance. Still probably, to me, the best live recorded single ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsKqMNDoR4o

"Seasons In The Sun"- Westlife. There's a reason this one was left off........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdv83MFJd7U

"Beauty And The Beast"- Peabo Bryson and Celine Dion. Sorry, it inspired the title.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgYEJHJXFB4