Late Night Music NBA Lockout Edition Part 114........."State Your Peace"

Just thought that since I had done cities, I should do states. It was literally that simple. Plus, I was so behind, I really needed to put something out seeing how I went the entire month of October without a single entry- yikes!

In order to receive votes in this category, the SONG TITLE had to include the name of a US State- this unfortunately, would disqualify "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. Also receiving votes in this category were "Mississippi Queen" by Mountain, "My Head's In Mississippi" by ZZ Top, "Mississippi's Crying" by Payton Rae, "Midnight In Mississippi" by Blue Mountain, and "Mississippi Girl" by Faith Hill. See a pattern on that one?

"Arizona"- Priscilla Renea. I am so glad I found an excuse to put Priscilla Renea on here! Ever since recently hearing her music for the first time, I seriously can't stop listening. Despite not reaching lots of commercial sales yet, her debut album "Jukebox" has been critically acclaimed, and has several songs that play in constant rotation at Sprint. I've let a few people listen to her and they all thought they were listening to Rhianna- and I could see that. Bonus points in this song for naming 3 other states besides Arizona.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXA_SSo2bUU

"California Dreamin'"- The Mamas And The Papas. In 1965, the Mamas and the Papas got on the hippie train as official spokespeople for the "let's move to California because it's cool and we want to be rebellious phase" that took over the country. With their debut album "If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears", this lead single which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 made everyone want to move to the West Coast, even though not a single member of the band was from California and one wasn't even American. Whatever sells right? With that being said, the Mamas and the Papas were pioneers in the fact that they were a mixed gender band before they became more common in the late 1960's. Also, band member Cass Elliott was also one of the first and still one of the only "plus size" women to become big in the music industry, and the rest of the band almost didn't let her in just due to the perceived bad press from having a larger woman in the group. Oh yeah, I can't listen to this song without thinking about Forrest Gump for some reason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-aK6JnyFmk

"California Girlz"- Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg. To quote my good friend John Lassiter "Katy Perry.......what a disaster". I can't say I disagree, but this lead single from her second major label album "Teenage Dream" was not only a worldwide #1 hit, it's for some reason being played in the Superdome during Saints games. Call me old fashioned, but if I see a video about California, I don't see expect to see a cross between Candyland and Burl Ives Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer. Even Snoop Dogg can't save it at that point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F57P9C4SAW4

"California Girls"- The Beach Boys. Who would have thought that one of the funnest songs of the 60's was written by a Brian Wilson LSD trip? Ok, I was joking. This 1965 song off of The Beach Boys album "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!)" hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the most popular songs of the 60's, even directly influencing the Beatles 1968 song "Back In The USSR". Also, any time you make an appearance in "Rush Hour 2" and "Rush Hour 3" you know you've arrived! My question has always been how many of the Beach Boys were actually surfers? Do they look like surfers to you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fviwc3YeG8

"New York State of Mind"- Billy Joel. Ok this one is tough, because many people thought he was talking about the city, but if you listen to the lyrics, we're gonna give it to the state. This song from his 1976 album "Turnstiles" was literally written as he was "taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line" which was taking him back to New York after 3 years in Los Angeles. This move back to NYC proved to be very important, as it marked the turning point in Billy Joel's writing career, as he soon became one of the top acts in the world after back to back Best Album Grammys for "The Stranger" and "52nd Street", which would come out the following years. Even though this song was never made much noise as a single, it remains one of Billy Joel's most famous songs and a crowd favorite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZh8YjbDiVk

"Why Georgia"- John Mayer. This one was tough because the song is almost like he's talking to the state of Georgia like a woman. I counted it just because of the reference to I-85 which goes right through downtown Atlanta- so sue me. Anyway, this song from John Mayer's debut album "Room For Squares" is about Mayer's time in Atlanta and his dealing with himself about the success of his career. Ok sorry, I've already had enough of this video- I hate watching John Mayer sing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhYn7ryaWNE

"Sweet Home Alabama"- Lynyrd Skynyrd. Sorry, I went there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C29Fs-WNIrg

"Texas Tornado"- Tracy Lawrence. Ok, now I'm starting to worry about myself. Has this song now been on two lists? Quite possibly the worst video ever made, not to mention probably THE dumbest country music video ever made. What in the world does this video have to do with the song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bY4rk7D51M

"Carolina In My Mind"- James Taylor. Most people really think that James Taylor first album was "Sweet Baby James" in 1970. However, James Taylor actually released one album on the Beatles label Apple Records after meeting them in London in 1968. Obviously about his homesickness while in the UK, the song received very little commercial success, but is one of his most popular songs ever and seems to be played every time James Taylor picks up a guitar in front of people. His self titled debut album would be his only release with the Beatles, as he traveled back to the US shortly after and released his critically acclaimed and world famous follow up album, "Sweet Baby James".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gic6B-B6rpg

"All My Exes Live In Texas"- George Strait. Ok, now I'm getting ridiculous. You have to admit though, George Strait really is one of the coolest guys in music. I know I made fun of him in for his movie "Pure Country", but everyone else did too- just because you're a great singer doesn't mean you can act, and that's ok. Just keep giving us good country anthems like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMNw_-yUm_0

"Tennessee"- Arrested Development. Yes! I get to put these guys on here again. Like I said before, in 5th grade, you were not cool unless you had Arrested Development's debut and one and only hit album, "3 Years, 5 Months, and 2 Days In The Life Of......". Who's life? I have no idea. Why did this album make you cool? Because everyone had it. Why did everyone have it? Again, I have no idea. Maybe because Arrested Development was more of a gimmick group that was on the radio a lot just because they were so different and people were growing tired of gangsta rap. The album spawned 3 singles that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, including this one which was their debut track. This song was actually written about a sad incident about band member Speech's brother dying shortly after seeing him at his grandmother's funeral in Tennessee. Bonus points to Dionne Farris for leaving the group shortly after because she knew they were a gimmick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VCdJyOAQYM

"Old Alabama"- Brad Paisley. Great song, great video, and great artist, but this video is almost disqualified right out off the bat for having Jeff Gordon in it. This latest single from Brad Paisley is from his latest album "This Is Country Music" and peaked at #38 on the Billboard Hot 100 after hitting #1 on the Country charts. Is it just me, or does Brad Paisley look a little bit like Marc Anthony without his cowboy hat on? I'm also gonna take away all possible bonus points for the band Alabama appearing in the video just because the video is filmed in North Carolina- really guys?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDRfrVMrV6Q

BONUS VIDEOS- "Empire State of Mind"- Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. Couldn't leave it off- one of my favorite songs ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjsXo9l6I8

"State Your Peace"- Hootie and The Blowfish". Great version of their song "State Your Peace".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMJ0Jl0OQ0I

"City Love"- Priscilla Renea. My favorite song by Priscilla Renea- absolutely love this song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35MNqd4ehtY

Priscilla Renea

Turnstiles

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