Late Night Music Jason and Christy Wedding Edition Part 140..........."I Think I Wanna Marry You"

In honor of Jason and Christy's wedding Saturday, I decided to do a list featuring some of the greatest wedding songs of all time, and some songs that SHOULD be wedding songs. I'm seriously laughing at the amount of Country and R & B on this one. Easily the most of either for any non- genre specific list I've ever done.

There was no way I could feature "Marry The Night" by Lady Gaga on this one- that's just wrong. All other songs receiving votes in this category were featured on the list.

"Marry You"- Bruno Mars. Awesome live performance and remix of Bruno Mars awesome wedding song from his debut album Doo-Wops and Hooligans at the 2011 European VMAs. This elope anthem was a huge hit in Europe and peaked at #10 in Canada and despite not even being released as a single in the United States, it peaked at #85 on the Billboard Hot 100 no doubt aided by the inclusion of the song in the famous Glee "wedding episode" which also featured another Bruno Mars song "Just The Way You Are". I'm really waiting for Bruno Mars second album, as I think the guy is absolutely brilliant and has already crossed genres masterfully. Also, after this cool live remix of a song without a lot of background vocals, I think I'd enjoy one of his live shows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=curhWs6dSeA

"I Do (Cherish You)"- 98 Degrees. This wedding clad video was actually the very first video ever featured on the MTV show Making The Video when MTV still showed music, and very famously featured Doritos girl and Mario Lopez ex-wife Ali Landry and a cameo by the always annoying Dustin Diamond. This solid soul song that was actually cover of a country version by Mark Wills. This version was included on 98 Degrees second album 98 Degree and Rising and went on to peak at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was also included on the soundtrack of the 1999 Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant film Notting Hill. Holy shnikees Ali Landry is hot! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kofixtz2Us

"Let's Get Married"- Jagged Edge. This lead single from Jagged Edge's 2000 album J.E. Heartbreak. This is an awesome R & B song from a great era of soul music, but this video is super cheesy. I'll also never forget their live performance on WWE Friday Night Smackdown! when Teddy Long was about to marry the super hot Kristal Marshall in the storyline. This breakout single for Jagged Edge shot to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went to #1 on the Billboard R & B Charts. I'll also go ahead and say that there is no way in the world to tell twins Brian and Brandon Casey apart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbe_94orQiA

"Give Me You"- Mary J. Blige. I actually know of someone singing this song while walking down the aisle. I still can't figure out what Mary J. Blige did to get Michael Jordan in this video, seeing how he was retired at the time of the filming. This song, which features Eric Clapton on guitar, will always have a special place for me just because it was the fist MJB song I really loved off of her 1999 smash album Mary. While the song was a top 20 hit in the UK, the song only managed to climb to #65 on the Billboard Hot 100 despite the heavily rotated video and the critically acclaimed album. I always thought it was funny how Mary went from crazy hair to teacher look a like in a matter of 2 frames. Easily her biggest wardrobe contrast in any video.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PF5K6Rissc

"Dontchange"- Musiq Soulchild. Great underrated single here from Musiq's 2002 sophomore album Juslisen. I can't believe that I actually never had this song on here before because it was one of the better R & B songs of that year. I have to actually go ahead say also that Musiq is pretty believable as the old patriarch in this very creative video. This song went on to peak at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 while the album was at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart that year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzBD8t0sB-4

"My Last Name"- Dierks Bentley. I'm gonna go ahead and say that this will be more than likely the only Dirks Bentley song I ever have on here. I have to admit that I've actually done this song karaoke before too............wow I just remembered that- talk about rough! This second single off of his self titled 2003 album peaked at #17 on the Billboard Country Chart and made us always think of him as a guy who tried to look like Billy Currington just with a more awful perm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNLdia5Mt10

"Here And Now"- Luther Vandross. Man this song is amazing. This stand alone single in 1989 from Luther would go on to win him the Grammy for Best R & B Male Vocal Performance and would be featured on his 1991 Greatest Hits album. Even though this song was released in 1989, Luther made no secret that he wasn't ready to let go of the 80's in this unbelievably 80's video. I almost feel like I'm watching Naked Eyes or After The Fire video mixed with the opening credits of In Living Color with Luther Vandross dubbed over. How did Luther always smile that big and still sound so awesome?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u_u4nlYmNs

"Chances"- Five For Fighting. You may disagree with me, but I think this song would be a perfect wedding song. It may not be known as one, but if you really listen to the lyrics, this song is all about taking chances and making it work to be something spectacular. I may have missed the meaning, but that's what I gained from it. This song from F4F's 2009 album Slice was surprisingly not as successful as other songs, merely hitting #83 on the Billboard Hot 100, but remains a staple for fans as well as sports montages from ESPN, and was memorably the montage video for Shawn Michaels in his entrance into the 2011 WWE Hall of Fame class. 

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

"After All Is Said And Done"- Beyonce and Marc Nelson. I really hate Marc Nelson, but this song is really amazing, as it was featured during the wedding scene of the 1999 movie. The Best Man, and while it was never released as a single, it has been a staple at weddings across the country and was our first real look at Beyonce as not a member of Destiny's Child, and while it was a good track by Marc Nelson, one good song with Beyonce doesn't make leaving Boyz II Men a smart move. Still one of the dumbest moves in the history of music. I wish there was a clip of this scene with this song being played- really a very very very underrated movie, and in my opinion, the best African American produced film of all time (with Love and Basketball being a very close second).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8pOoBqiLYo

"I Cross My Heart"- George Strait. I actually know of 3 weddings this song was featured in, including one I was present at, and while it's a pretty good song, I always feel like I've stepped into a Jeff Foxworthy book when this song plays. Used as the main song of the 1992 horrific movie Pure Country which featured Strait in his disastrous acting debut, the soundtrack became Strait's best selling album ever and this song went to #1 on the Billboard Country Charts and remains one of Strait's most famous songs. I guess I could see that, as long as people forget how embarassingly bad this movie is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnFs7SCI3ZM

"Love Moves In Mysterious Ways"- Michael English. This one gets bonus points for me and Jay Money always listening to it when we were in 5th and 6th grade and thinking it would give us some kinda magic to get some girl to talk to us. It never worked, but hey it was a cool thought. The song was actually a cover of Julia Fordham's British Top 20 hit from 1991, and was then covered on English's 1993 smash album Hope, which would help propel English to his infamous 4 GMA Dove Awards in 1994, which were later returned after his controversial extramarital affair. Really good live performance of this song. Still my favorite song by him.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzY_9Thqxvk

"Happily Ever After"- Case. Bonus points for Beyonce! Between this and the previous Marc Nelson duet, I think we were starting to see which direction Beyonce's career was going to go. This lead single from Case's 1999 album Personal Conversations went to #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains easily his biggest hit for a guy I always thought was pretty talented in a log jammed genre at the time. Dude is so much better than Tyrese, but never got the play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzWIDkUsTa0

"Meet Me At The End Of The Aisle"- Mason Douglas. I freaking love this song and I wish Mason had a video of it. Instead, here is a link to his first ever single which gained him his first recognition in the music industry. For more on Mason Douglas, check out www.masondouglasmusic.com.

http://www.ourstage.com/media_items/BTGPYRGVIARG-meet-me-at-the-end

"Back At One"- Brian McKnight. I kinda wish this video wasn't so depressing, but this title track to Brian McKnight's 1999 album at the height of his success peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is without a doubt his biggest hit ever, and this big budget video helped push the song's popularity. I actually also really liked Mark Wills country version of the song as well, which went to #1 on the Billboard Country Charts.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Im5XeLbHy8

"When God Made You"- Newsong and Natalie Grant. This song from Newsong's 2003 album More Life featured gospel mega star Natalie Grant on a song that went to #33 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, something that neither Christian artist had ever done. This song is very popular in weddings with couples singing it themselves, nothing like a little wedding karaoke!

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

BONUS VIDEOS- "Marry You"- From the famous "Wedding Episode" of Glee. Sorry for the mirrored video, but this was a great scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEHT7wdCQOw

"Love Song"- Tesla. I seriously know someone who walked down the aisle to this song. If I'm lyin, I'm dyin. You can't make stuff like that up.

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

98 Degrees
How was Luther always smiling?
I see this picture and I think he looks like Jamie Kennedy with a perm

Late Night Music Part 139........"Left Handed Guitar Players"

You may think I'm full of it, but it is unbelievable how many items are made completely for right handed people. Being a left handed person, it is extremely difficult to adjust sometimes, and I am 100% serious. In music, some left handed people have said they have learned to play right handed just due to the pressure of someone teaching them to play and the look of having all the guitars in the same direction. As dumb as this sounds, I've decided to dedicate tonight's list to lefties out there everywhere who dare to be different.

In order to be considered for this list, any member of the band who played guitar or bass had to play left handed. Naturally left handed right handed guitar players were disqualified. In a rare "Late Night Music" feat, all songs receiving votes were included in this post.

"Run"- Snow Patrol. Great live performance here on The Late Show With David Letterman by Snow Patrol of my favorite song by them. This song off of their 2003 album The Final Straw would prove to be Snow Patrol's first major mainstream exposure peaking at #5 on the British Singles Charts, and would go on to be covered by Leona Lewis (I seriously smell a bonus video!) and was recently featured on the NBC Broadway drama Smash covered by former American Idol contestant Katharine McPhee. Oh, and in case you didn't notice, bassist Paul Wilson plays left handed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVSN8gXQ6z8

"Here I Am (Come And Take Me Away)"- UB40. I have to admit that UB40 gets on my nerves- a British reggae band? Really? And the UK is HOW far from the Caribbean? Anyway, despite that, they've had a very long career highlighted by songs like this one that peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990 off of their Gold album Labour of Love II. Interestingly enough ALL THREE Campbell brothers in the band are left handed, and it's seen very clearly here with Robin Campbell in this video. 

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

"Just Like You Said"- Seal. Man I love Seal. Talk about a guy with true soul and real musical talent. This acoustic ballad was featured on his third album, 1999's Human Being, and while it was widely creative, it never capture the magic of 1995's Seal, which reached platinum status. This album was very different just for the fact it was recorded as a tribute to Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. Pretty interesting connection there. As seen in this spectacular live performance from London, Seal not only plays the guitar left handed, but he plays upside down. As we'll see with a few other artist who do this, this not only looks very weird, it looks hard as balls. I have no idea how he does this. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjQMpYyMb8c

"When Can I See You"- Babyface. Here's another guy who plays upside down (seriously, watch it looks so weird!). This 1995 single from Babyface's album For The Cool In You is surprisingly his highest charting single as a solo artist peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. I always found this strange seeing how the guy wrote how many #1 singles for other artist? (I smell a blog on that coming up very soon). This single also earned Babyface the Grammy for Best Male R & B Performance, his first as a singer. I always thought the Asian waitress in this video was smoking hot. I wonder who she was. Ok, now that I've finished watching this video again, I have to think it was smarter for Babyface to give those songs he wrote to other artists. "End Of The Road" just wouldn't have the same ring coming from him- just sayin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee9SCW91urE

"Purple Haze"- The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Jimi Hendrix was interesting because he could play the guitar both handed, and played left handed upside AND re strung. Early in his life, his father forced him to play right handed because he said that playing left handed "was a sign of the devil". So, in protest, Hendrix would play left handed upside down when his father was away, but would also play right handed when his father was around. In his hay day, he played left handed normally, as seen here in this awesome video. This widely famous single from the band's 1967 album Are You Experienced? was actually a bigger hit in the United Kingdom at the time of release, but went on to become one of the most famous heavy metal songs ever written.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MYIc6s5ACY

"All Out Of Love"- Air Supply. For some reason, I feel my credibility as a music guru just went out the window on this one. Was there ever a band more cheesy than Air Supply? What made it even funnier is that they're Australian and seeing them dress like they wanna be the Bee Gees so bad was so funny to me. Graham Russell's upside down left handed playing is featured in the opening sequences of the video, it's followed by Air Supply's super ridiculous outfits, even for the 80's. Despite its stupidness, this song from their 1980 hit album Lost In Love shot to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is easily one of their biggest hits. Wow, this video is so bad I can't stop watching it. Also, is it just me of does Graham Russell look a lot like Jeff Daniels? 

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

"Achy Breaky Heart"- Billy Ray Cyrus. Whatever.

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

"Light On"- David Cook. As much as I hate American Idol, there's no denying David Cook's talent. I kinda like watching him, because I always feel like I'm gonna see Jimmy Fallon shave and reveal that he's really David Cook. After winning American Idol in 2008, this single was released as Cook's first single from his self titled debut album and peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The kid playing the bus boy in the diner here just for some reason reminds me of Josh Hutcherson who played Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games. I'm also gonna go ahead and say that David Cook blows Chris Daughtry away when it comes to American Idol guys who wanna be rockers. There's seriously no contest to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i8ZCp3-n7w

"Revelation"- Third Day. Lefty Mac Powell and lead singer of Third Day has the perfect southern twang for Third Day's songs. This title track from their 2008 album peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs Charts. This is a great rendition here from The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Always great to see talented other genre bands get exposure on a national stage.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu7QKDYqDAQ

"Just What I Needed"- The Cars. Listen to the intro of this song and tell me if you think Fountains of Wayne didn't completely copy the intro of this song for their own hit song "Stacy's Mom" (I smell a bonus video). I swear it sounds exactly the same! I also had no idea that The Cars were from Boston. Talk about a band that "sounds like they're from England but aren't from England". This 1978 debut single from The Cars from their debut self titled album would peak at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100, but would always be one of their most famous songs and always featured the great guitar playing of lefty Eliot Easton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsPh-EgH65M

"Smells Like Teen Spirit"- Nirvana. Perhaps the most famous left handed guitar player of the last 25 years, Kurt Cobain and Nirvana propelled into the spotlight with this unbelievably popular lead single from their 1991 smash album Nevermind that quickly shot to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 along with the very popular video. Both of which were heavily sited as the opening of grunge music into the mainstream as the video gained heavy rotation on MTV. While also being Nirvana's biggest Billboard hit, it is also the only Nirvana song to feature all three band members with song writing credit. Cobain himself admitted to purposely writing this song in the style of one of his favorite bands, the Pixies and was so hell bent on recording it that he made the band keep playing the riff he had written for over an hour. After the band finally agreed on the song, it became one of the most famous songs of the 90's.  

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

"If I Fell"- The Beatles. Kind of random pick here on the Beatles, but it features the most famous and most influential left handed guitar player of all time in Paul McCartney. Intrestingly enough, drummer Ringo Starr was naturally left handed, but played drums right handed while leading with his left hand- seems pretty complicated. This hidden gem from their 1964 box office smash movie and album A Hard Day's Night was also featured on their American album Something New, but was surprisingly only released in Norway as a single, where it went to #1. Paul McCartney initially wanted to play guitar right handed just to not stand out from his bandmates, but after several years of trying, he felt his progression wasn't good enough, so he went to playing naturally left handed. And the rest, as they say, is history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4HLKoFum-4

"Hello, Goodbye"- Paul McCartney. I know I usually don't feature the same artist twice, but it's Paul McCartney. Great live performance here from his 2002 tour (which I saw in New Orleans!) "Back In the USA". What a great song to open a concert with. Originally released as a Beatles single in 1967, the song went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, but was also featured on the soundtrack album to Magical Mystery Tour , even though it did not appear in the movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEZM29p09t4

"For The First Time"- Taylor Willis. Well, after those two, I had to feature internet sensation and soon to be star Taylor Willis with her awesome cover of "For The First Time" by The Script. This girl is still in high school and is already this good! For more of Taylor Willis check out www.youtube.com/eternalheartspeaks

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

BONUS VIDEOS- "Everything We Had"- The Academy Is...... I wanted to count this one just because William Beckett is naturally left handed, but plays guitar right handed.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YqYA_rbh1Q

"You Can Call Me Al"- Paul Simon. Same thing with this one. Paul Simon is naturally left handed. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq-gYOrU8bA

"Run"- Leona Lewis. Great performance from The X Factor.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pIieK1KfA8

"Stacy's Mom"- Fountains Of Wayne. See what I mean? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZLfasMPOU4
Nirvana
Jimi Hendrix
I swear he looks like Jimmy Fallon

Late Night Music NBA Finals Edition Part 138........"The Song Of Diane Warren"

All of you know who is Diane Warren is, you just don't know it. Diane Warren is easily the most under appreciated and most talented songwriter of ballads ever simply because she's not a performer. Her songs have stretched across genres and across decades and produced some of the biggest hits of all times for all kinds of artists, including some of those artists only hit. After listening to a few of them, I decided to do a "Late Night Music" first and dedicate an entire list to a non-performing songwriter.

Also receiving votes in this category were "Reach" by Gloria Estefan, "Love Will Lead You Back" by Taylor Dayne, and "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion. "Solitaire" by Laura Branigan was disqualified because Warren was not the sole writer.

"Rhthym Of The Night"- DeBarge. In probably what was Warren's first major hit, and what would prove to be DeBarge's biggest hit easily, this title track from their 1985 album peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and gave us an hilariously bad hair video that would even make the Commodores look away. This song was written specifically to have this calypso sound similar to the single "All Night Long" by Lionel Richie, as Motown wanted to change the fan base and sound of DeBarge, as the label was suffering in the 80's and is seen as the song that catapulted Diane Warren's career. The popularity of the song was catapulted by its inclusion on the soundtrack of the 1985 cult classic The Last Dragon. That alone would make this song a prime candidate for the second installment of "Great Song, Horrible Movie".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAQSZhazYk8

"What Do I Do With The Love?"- Dru Hill. In 1998, Dru Hill followed up their popular self titled debut album with Enter The Dru, which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart. The album was aided by the inclusion of the song "How Deep Is Your Love" being featured on the soundtrack of the surprise blockbuster film Rush Hour, and big budget video to accompany it. The Warren ballad was always one of Sisqo's better solo efforts to me, but the song was never released as a single, probably due to the previous ballad "These Are The Times" being released just after the album was released.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJtqkK7NQlA

"I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing"- Aerosmith. Talk about striking gold! In 1999, Aerosmith scored their first ever Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit with this wildly popular song from the soundtrack from the movie Armageddon. Despite it's immense popularity, the song lost the Academy Award for best Original Song to the Babyface penned "When You Believe" from The Prince Of Egypt. Ironically enough, an award Warren has never won despite being nominated six times. In what was probably Warren's most prolific time as a songwriter, this song still remains one of her most popular and breathed much needed life back into the careers of Aerosmith who reached a completely new audience with this song, which still plays the song at every live performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo_0UXRY_rY

"I Could Not Ask For More"- Edwin McCain. Also, in 1999, recorded this song for the Kevin Costner film Message In A Bottle and also included the track on his third studio album Messenger. I think this Warren song is rare in that really only it and the previous song are songs that were recorded by prominent songwriters that usually wrote their own music. This single peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100, but would peak at #35 two years later when it was covered by Sara Evans- I smell a bonus video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPXRJkla7fI

"Blame It On The Rain"- Milli Vanilli. I really went here. I did not know this until tonight. This song actually knocked another Warren song "When I See You Smile" out of the top spot for #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989 (more on that song in a minute), and would be one of Milli Vanilli's biggest "hits" off of their eponymous debut album Girl, You Know It's True. I gotta admit though, I really wish these guys would have been really singing. That would have been so much fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwrL9MV6jSk

"How Do I Live"- Trisha Yearwood. In an award anomaly in 1998, this song was nominated in the same category sung by two different artists at the 1998 Grammys for Best Female Country Vocal Performance- something that still has not happened in Grammy history since- when this and the LeAnn Rimes version were both nominated. Despite the Rimes version peaking at #2 compared to #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 with a huge video for the song, Yearwood beat out Rimes for the Grammy, with her version also being included on the incredibly awesome 1997 Nicolas Cage movie Con Air, but was never included on any Yearwood album. This is one of my favorite country songs ever and is one I would definitely do karaoke if I sang girl songs. This song also lost at the Academy Awards despite a stirring performance by Yearwood, but only managed to run into a little movie called Titanic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFnD3uwKHag

"The Arms Of The One Who Loves You"- Xscape. Diane Warren proved she had no problem switching genres when this spectacular ballad which featured future reality TV Stars Tiny Cottle and Kandi Burris of Xscape off of their 1998 album Traces Of My Lipstick. This single peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and featured this very confusing video that I've always said jumps around too much. Xscape was an awesome girl group, I think even better than SWV and more soulful than TLC. They just had too much other stuff going on, as this would prove to be one of their last singles off of what was ultimately their last album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5sQA6aDu2A

"Un-Break My Heart"- Toni Braxton. Leave it to Tyson Beckford to ruin a great video......anyway. When Diane Warren first wrote "Un-Break My Heart", Toni Braxton refused to record as she didn't like the song. It was only by the urging of her producer Clive Davis, that she included it on her 1996 smash album Secrets, along with this video , where it went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of Braxton's most famous songs. At the time, Toni Braxton was probably the hottest female singer on the planet, as her previous single "You're Making Me High" had gone to #1 just a few weeks prior making one of just a few female singers to have back to back Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles on the same album. With that being said, Toni Braxton is simply one of the hottest women to ever be in music- there's no arguing with that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Rch6WvPJE

"Give Me You"- Mary J. Blige. I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was the song that got me into Mary J. Blige in 1999. This Diane Warren ballad single was included on her megasmash album Mary, and I still for the life of me cannot get over the fact that the song wasn't even more successful, seeing the surging popularity of Mary J. Blige at the time as well as the inclusion of Eric Clapton on guitar and the appearance of Michael Jordan in the video- one of only two non-Space Jam videos he ever appeared in. This spectacular song peaked at just a surprising #68 on the Billboard Hot 100, but remains one of MJB's most famous songs with fans. However, liked I've said before- I hate Mary's look in this video. Her hair and lipstick is doing entirely too much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PF5K6Rissc

"When I See You Smile"- Bad English. This song had the dubious honor of being knocked out of the #1 spot in 1989 when Bad English was knocked out by Milli Vanilli who hit the #1 with a Diane Warren song as well. Bad English was a fringe band at best, but this Warren hit turned out to be their one and only #1 hit, and easily their most well known song as hair bands were definitely a dying breed by the time this song fell from the charts. This single was included on Bad English's 1989 self-titled album and provided this video that was about 3 years too late. I also loved the Uncle Sam cover of this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu6pclWsxzs

"I Turn To You"- All-4-One. I don't care what anyone says, this version by All-4-One from the soundtrack of Space Jam is better than Christina Aguilera version that became so famous in 2000. I kinda feel sorry for All-4-One just because they look so ridiculous. Find me another band, ESPECIALLY a boy band that looks more like "dang they just don't look like they can sing" more than All-4-One and I'll call you a dang liar. With that being said, they always had a great blend and I think were the perfect artists for this song. While the original version failed to chart, Aguilera's version did manage to peak at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQRu7C3UD5E

"Music Of My Heart"- N'Sync and Gloria Estefan. This unlikely duet from the movie Music Of The Heart turned out to be one of the bigger hits of 1999 peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and being played to death on MTV when it still had videos. The movie was pretty good, but was always weird to me, as it was directed by Wes Craven. It is still the only movie directed by Wes Craven that was not a horror movie. Talk about a weird one to step out in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Y1NZAs7mU

"Spanish Guitar"- Toni Braxton. I seriously don't know how this song wasn't more popular! Seriously what is not to love about this song and video? I tell ya, Toni Braxton has gotten the shaft lately and it sucks because she's an unbelievable singer. Despite having this super hot video, the song was never officially released as a single from her 2000 album The Heat (which for some reason, I remember being heavily marketed at nauseam in New York City while I was there), but still peaked at #98 on the Billboard Hot 100 just due to heavy airplay requests. The song remains a staple at Braxton live shows, and shows again Warren's diversity writing a soul ballad with a latin twist. Oh yeah, Toni Braxton gets hotters the older she gets- she sets this screen on fire!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvd3qCnsAaY

"Lately I"- Faith Evans. Leave it to P Diddy to include this track on his label's album and then not let it get anywhere near the radio. This is probably the best track on Faith Evans' second album Keep The Faith which peaked at #6 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1998. This track was released as a "single" but had no video made and received little airplay, but remains my favorite Faith Evans track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otri-y0nP7c

"Could I Have This Kiss Forever"- Whitney Houston and Enrique Iglesias. This Diane Warren duet recorded specifically for Whitney's 2000 Greatest Hits album is definitely one of Whitney's more interesting songs, and unlike any other Diane Warren song I ever heard. This oddly had a video made for it, as the other duet single made for the album "Same Script, Different Cast" with Deborah Cox did not have one made- I never understood that one. This was a clever duet combo, as they set this track on fire, and the latin and heavy synthesizer flavor this track make it incredible. This single only peaked at #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 most likely due to the recent heavy backlash on Whitney Houston's drug problems and subsequent interview with Barbara Walters. Despite this, this song remains one of Whitney's hidden gems and one of Diane Warren's most diverse songs.

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

"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"- Starship. It doesn't get much dumber than this song and video. I still can't understand how Jefferson Airplane turned into Starship- how did that happen?????? Anyway, this Warren ballad from the 1987 romantic comedy film Mannequin earned her her first Academy Award nomination, and thankfully didn't win, because I don't think I wanna live in a world where this movie wins any awards. Plus, I have a problem with Grace Slick having an Academy Award. This song was mercifully Starship's last #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, and we never heard from then again.

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

BONUS VIDEOS- "I Could Not Ask For More"- Sara Evans.

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

"I Turn To You"- Christina Aguilera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4q05resEvc

"We Built This City"- Starship. See what I mean?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4q05resEvc

Aerosmith
All-4-One
Dianne Warren

Late Night Music Part 137............."80's Cover Songs"

I love cover songs, and all I can think about is the upcoming adaption of the Broadway 80's musical "Rock of Ages" in theaters next Friday. 80's songs never get old and are always fun to cover, and except for my all time favorite off genre hip hop covers, are the best kind of cover in my opinion.

In order to receive votes in this category, the original song had to be RELEASED between 1980 and 1989. Any songs by 80's cover bands were automatically disqualified (sorry Molly Ringwalds). Also receiving votes in this category were "Tainted Love" by Shades Apart, "Shattered Dreams" by David Cook, "I Can't Go For That" by Brian McKnight and "You Spin Me Round" by Dope.

"No Easy Way Out"- Bullet For My Valentine. This Robert Tepper one hit (which peaked at #22 in 1985 alongside the classic Rocky IV Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is done quite well by this Welsh metal band from their 2008 album Scream Aim Fire and was included as a bonus track on the Japanese version of the album. Robert Tepper made a career out of this song, but I guess when you get covered by a Welsh heavy metal band 23 years after the fact, you can finally say that you've made it. This original track was awesome, as the Rocky IV soundtrack is widely considered one of the best workout albums ever, with this song being one of the main reasons why. Man just think if Tepper had done this in a heavy metal style originally!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn7pz5hXa28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwPb7g_BlXQ

"Your Love"- Bon Iver. Man I really wish Bon Iver would record this song as an album track! This live version from the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee is the only known cover they did of this 1986 Outfield classic which peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 on their debut album Play Deep. This track gives perfect reasoning for Bon Iver being named Best New Artist at this year's Grammy Awards, as I never would have ever imagined this song being covered in this style. Is it just me, or doesn't Bon Iver kinda remind you of Phish?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2sIfwlZ4Yk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N1iwQxiHrs

"Come On Eileen"- Sugarland and Sara Bareilles. Man what a duet! Jennifer Nettles seems to have done a lot of these (as evidenced by her many appearances on here lately), not to mention her current role on ABC's Duets. I think it's freaking awesome that two artists this different in genre can not only come together and do this song awesome, but do a song that's in neither one of their wheelhouses. Sara Bareilles has always been good at 80's covers....and I smell a bonus video. This widely popular song, which would go on to become Dexy and the Midnight Runners one and only trademark song in the United States hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983 off their album Too-Rye-Ay. While this performance is unwordly, this tour was recently by the stage collapse deaths at the Oklahoma State Fair. Bonus points for former Better Than Ezra drummer Travis McNabb on the drums in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMDqkBjvdMg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc-P8oDuS0Q

"Manic Monday"- Relient K. This 1986 smash went to #2 for the Bangles off of their album A Different Light, and is done here in a very entertaining way by Ohio's Relient K off of the compilation album Punk Goes 80's. While Relient K is one of the better Christian bands, I've always seen them as goofballs, which makes this song perfect for them. I've also said it several times, but Susanna Hoffs is freaking hot. The most cool fact about this song, is that it was actually written by Prince under the pseudonym Christopher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRmjAbEtAJ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s48kuKLf0mE

"You Win Again"- Sophie Madeleine. A much forgotten Bee Gees song here from their 1987 album E.S.P. that saw great success in Europe, but lacked the airplay in the United States due to the disco backlash only peaking at #75 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, this unreal acoustic cover by British starlet Sophie Madeleine's 30 Days 30 Covers is I dare say, better than the original. I love this woman's voice! For more on Sophie Madeleine, check out www.sophiemadeleine.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqdiwGlb_o8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kses3SfG-lU

"King Of Pain"- Alanis Morissette. I've ne ver been a huge fan of Alanis, but this is a great arrangement of a classic. This song hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983 from The Police's album Synchronicity. This "unplugged" version was included on Alanis's 1999 live album for MTV Alanis Unplugged and was released as a single in 2000. The Unplugged sessions and albums were some of the best things MTV ever did before it turned into teenager TV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShZd6SxdaZk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG5RdTR7_eo

"Against All Odds"- Mariah Carey. Dang Mariah can do some cover songs! I love this solo version tons more than her version with Westlife, despite that version going to #1 in the UK in 2000. Like I said before, it's quite possible that this song trails only Whitney Houston in "song awesomeness to movie suckage" ratio in music history, as the movie who shares the namesake is quite possibly the dumbest movie ever. This Phil Collins version went on to #1 in 1984. However, despite being included on her album Rainbow, the single was never released as a single in the United States for Carey who saw it peak at #2 in Norway, and in the top 20 in several other European nations, with the Westlife version being the more popular. Great live performance here, probably from a European TV appearance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqJSYjRERE8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW71En5Pa5s

"Right Here Waiting"- Monica and 112. Man talk about a hidden gem! I love this version. This final single from Monica's 1998 album The Boy Is Mine never had a video to accompany it (unheard of in those days) and still peaked at #1 on the Billboard Bubbling Under 100 R&B Chart. I never thought much of 112 other than a sideshow act for Bad Boy, but they do a great job complimenting this song. The Richard Marx version from his 1989 album Repeat Offender went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vflsUfONNA8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_E2EHVxNAE

"Take On Me"- MxPx.  Seattle-based Christian punk band MxPx recorded this former 1985 #1 hit by Norwegian pop band A-Ha on their 1995 EP On The Cover. I like this cover the best out of all the ones made for this song just because it's so different. MxPx is still one of the better Christian bands out there and is still amazingly together after over 20 years. I'm kinda glad MxPx didn't try to make a video to this song, as it's quite possibly one of the best ever made, and I'm not even joking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDmKWVyKXHA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914

"I Melt With You"- Bowling For Soup. Man I love Texas's very own Bowling For Soup, they are so funny and still sound so cool. Their ode to the 80's "1985" is one of my all time favorite lunch break songs. This single was recorded for the soundtrack to the movie Sky High, after being the one and only hit in 1982 for the British band Modern English. Part of the reason I love Bowling For Soup so much is because I can't figure out if they are joking or trying to be serious with this song. Jaret Reddick is one of the funniest front men in music- he's twice as funny as Mark Hoppus from Blink 182, who everyone just thinks is so funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDOPlf0uAmM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuN6gs0AJls

"Every Rose Has Its Thorn"- Miley Cyrus. I never thought I'd say this, but this is fantastic performance from Miley Cyrus doing the 1988 Poison classic in 2010 at the House Of Blues- man this little girl grew up and decided to become a rock star on this song. This song was included on her 2010 album Can't Be Tamed and actually featured former Poison lead singer and song writer Bret Michaels on backing vocals. He admitted that the single was "nailed" and said that while he's reluctant to let the song be covered, he was very pleased with this version. The Poison version from their album Open Up And Say. Ahh! Would be Poison's only #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9dmbfeupRI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2r2nDhTzO4

"Nothing But A Good Time"- Reel Big Fish. Speaking of Poison, ska band Reel Big Fish thought they'd give this Poison classic from above mentioned album which peaked at #6 in 1987. I always love hearing trumpets do guitar parts. Reel Big Fish included this song on their 2007 cover album Fame, Fortune, and Fornication.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXKHaUMxNRw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_88L-CU7PD4

"Hit Me With Your Best Shot"- Martina McBride. I'm such a fan of Martina McBride and I can't figure out whether or not that's a good thing or a bad thing, but the woman can definitely sing and steals the show here with a great cover of the 1980 Pat Benatar classic from her album Crimes of Passion and one of my favorite songs ever to play on Guitar Hero 3. This was the closing song on her 2008 live concert recording from Moline, Illinois Live In Concert, and what a way to end a show!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwN-gx_APzs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JRgHol94Xc

"Hit Me With Your Best Shot"- Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers. Sorry I had to do this one again because this version here is just too freaking sweet. This song from the San Francisco band's famous "van sessions" has become a youtube sensation. For more on Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers check out www.nickibluhm.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsST4I2sbEk

"Separate Ways"- Andre Matos. This classic Journey cover was included on the solo debut of Brazillian metal lead singer Andre Matos on his 2007 album Time To Be Free, but was included on the Japanese deluxe edition- why do these bands always do that? Before his solo career, Andre Matos was the lead singer of Brazillian metal bands Viper, Angra, and Shaaman. What is it about foreign metal bands and their symphonic sound? More on that in a minute. This is one of Journey's better songs (peaked at #8 in 1983), but was without a doubt one of the dumbest videos ever, even for the 80's- thank God Matos didn't try to make one too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMcreUFaIBQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LatorN4P9aA

"Journey Medley"- Glee Cast. I don't care what you say, but this medley of "Faithfully", "Lovin Touchin Squeezin", "Any Way You Want It", and "Don't Stop Believing" is a phenomenal performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XDEAfnLs7A

"We Don't Need Another Hero"- Northern Kings. Remember what I said about foreign metal bands being so symphonic? No one does it more than Scandinavian bands like Finland's Northern Kings, who do exclusively cover songs in their heavy metal style. Actually pretty clever. This single was their first ever off of their 2007 debut album Reborn. I still can't get over the fact that the Tina Turner version of this song from the Mel Gibson blockbuster Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome in 1985 not only went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, but actually features the lyrics "beyond the thunderdome" in it. I'd be willing to bet that will be a once in a lifetime occurence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKwQKqQ8MMY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1FPK5-Rm38

BONUS VIDEOS- "Don't Stop Believing"- Glee Cast. The song and video that introduced Glee to the world on the pilot episode.

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

"Jetplane"- Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers. From her 2011 album Driftwood. Man this woman can sing!

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

"The Rhythm You Started"- Sophie Madeleine. Very creative track from Sophie Madeleine that's the title track of her upcoming album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyHgebxHA7I
Bullet For My Valentine
Sophie Madeleine
Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers