General Gregory N. Pigott: Late Night Music Wimbledon Edition Part 197......"The Night Time Is The Right Time"

It really has been a while since I wrote one of these so late. So, I figured I would pay homage to my old calling card of late posts and make sure you know that the “Night Time Is the Right Time”.

In order to receive votes in this category, the SONG TITLE had to have the word “Night”, NOT “Tonight”.

Also receiving votes in this category were: “Lost In The Night” by Uzi, “The Night’s Still Young” by Billy Joel, “Stay The Night” by Chicago, and “We Owned The Night” by Lady Antebellum.

NOT receiving votes was “The Night Is Still Young” by Nicki Minaj.

“Some Nights”- Fun. New York indie group Fun made a splash in 2012 with this title track from their eponymous second album. This single about teenage angst shot to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. While this song was clearly about teenage years being so crazy, the band felt the need to confuse us with this Civil War video that gives a clear message of the greater losses of war than just the soldiers involved. However, my question is what in the world does this have to do with this song? I will keep waiting for that answer. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy this song that is the ultimate power pop ballad and features some pretty impressive Beach Boys-esque harmony. After the success of this single and “We Are Young”, Nate Ruess and Fun decided to go to hiatus. I guess they didn’t want us to have any more fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQkBeOisNM0

“Rhythm of the Night”- DeBarge. I seriously love this song and video on so many levels. Like I have written before, this song was the coming out party for world renown balladeer Diane Warren as this was her first hit single. Disco was breathing its dying breaths in 1985, and the public was looking for a group to keep the dance party going, and what we got was El DeBarge, his horrible hair, and his followers of merry siblings. The amount of 1980’s cliches in this video is so hilarious it’s not even funny. I watch this video and think of everything that was ripped off from the Jackson 5, Kool and the Gang, Lionel Richie, and even Elton John. Man the 80’s were a fun time. This title track from DeBarge’s 1985 album shot to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became easily their biggest hit in an already successful career. I do realize that the year was 1985, but this hair and wardrobe is quite possibly the worst in music history. It was like they tried to do dress up as Flock of Seagulls for halloween or something.

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

“Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”- Katy Perry. Katy Perry was at the top of her fame when this single from the 2011 smash album Teenage Dream shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with this highly entertaining video which features cameos from Corey Feldman, Debbie Gibson, Hanson, Darren Criss, and Kevin McHale. The video, seen here, was inspired by the Molly Ringwald classic film “Sixteen Candles” and does a great job of satirizing the entire genre. That led to this video being awarded the award for Best Music Video at the 2012 People’s Choice Awards. As much as most of you know like to say or claim, Katy Perry is just one of those singers that sticks in your head and doesn’t get out. I kind of see her as a more jovial Taylor Swift because her lyrics are just as real and raw, but don’t always revolve around a dude that sat behind her in school in 8th grade and hurt her feelings. Maybe it’s just me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlyXNRrsk4A

“Of The Night”- Bastille. London rock quartet Bastille recorded the ultimate mash up when they combined “Rhythm of the Night” by Corona (more on that one in a second) and “Rhythm is a Dancer” by Snap! What resulted was this worldwide hit which went to #2 on the British Singles Chart and a track that was released on the re-issue of the band’s debut album Bad Blood called All This Bad Blood. The song and the video featuring American actor James Franco was met with critical acclaim, as it is quite possibly the only true mashup I can ever remember being so successful. I am really looking forward to Bastille’s much anticipated follow up album Wild World coming out in a few months. I smell a bonus video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCTDKLjdok4

“The Rhythm Of The Night”- Corona. Speaking of the devil. Before I go any further, let me emphasize that there is a “The” at the beginning of this song to distinguish it from the DeBarge song. Now, this Italian dance group that seemed to have an affection for Mexican beer shot to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 with this title track from their 1993 debut album. This song would go on to easily be Corona’s biggest hit as it also shot to #1 in their native Italy. Despite the fat beat and the cool cord progression, the repetitive lyrics make this song quickly annoying despite it going down in one hit wonder lore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3ltZmI5LQw

“Because The Night”- 10,000 Maniacs. For some reason, I remember you being cool if you had this famous Unplugged album by Jamestown, New York hippie alt band 10,000 Maniacs. This cover of Patti Smith’s Bruce Springsteen pinned hit would become the band’s biggest hit when it shot to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 cementing lead singer Natalie Merchant into a household name, as she soon left the band to embark on a moderately successful solo career. Despite their cult status, 10,000 Maniacs was easily one of the most complex bands of the era just due to their always revolving door of members and diversity of their instrumentation and randomness of their music. This album and single remains one of the biggest staples of the 90’s MTV era when the video age was at its height.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsRGfGakRWc

“Even The Nights Are Better”- Air Supply. Australian soft rock duo Air Supply took their cheesiness to a new level when this song that was later covered by Anne Murray appeared on their 1982 album Now and Forever and peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and falling a record 36 spot to #42 the following week. I guess they realized exactly what they had done. I find myself not quite white enough to really like this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRx58DgOxeg

“The Nights”- Avicii featuring Nicholas Furlong. Swedish DJ Avicii teamed up with American Nicholas Furlong to record this video game and dance club classic featured on Avicii’s 2014 EP The Days/The Nights. This autobiographical song written by Furlong as a song about his father has a ballad feel while featuring the techno touch of Avicii. This helped the song become a global success while peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot Dance Songs Chart in 2014. The success of this song has led it to become staples of both the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers of the NHL during games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtF6Jej8yb4

“Stay The Night”- The Millionaires. These sisters from Huntington Beach, California included this song on their 2010 EP Cash Only. I am watching this video and listening to this song and wondering why I can’t turn it off. In a weird way, this whole situation reminds me of Katy Perry. Ok, you can move on now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXHyCoJ1h84

“All Night Long (All Night)”- Lionel Richie. The ultimate 1980’s afro man Lionel Richie had recently left the Commodores and included this dance single on his 1983 smash album Can’t Slow Down. The single quickly shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and quickly established Richie as a diverse songwriter as a solo artist with this song’s legacy being cemented when Richie performed it at the 1984 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony in Los Angeles. Now watch this video and then watch the DeBarge video again. See my point?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqAvFx3NxUM

“The Last Night”- Skillet. Memphis Christian Rock band Skillet scored one of the biggest hits of 2006 when this anti-suicide single from their album Comatose helped the band gain a Grammy nomination while this single shot to #1 on the CHR Charts and became CCR’s #1 single of Christian radio of 2006. The single also peaked at #38 Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Chart, showing the band’s always growing mainstream appeal. This song is almost like a heavier version of Third Eye Blind’s “Jumper”. This song has been used by numerous foundations fighting teen suicide and self mutilation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgQLZIuXGWY

“Against The Night”- Child Actor. This Boston duo gave me a headache, so I couldn’t listen to this song very long. At least they’re hot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-N_O4N4vEY

“One Night”- The Corrs. Irish family band the Corrs recorded this single for their 2000 album In Blue. In what sounds like a cross between Olivia Newton-John, Tina Arena, and a really bad acid trip, this song is one where I had to take the headphones out just to finish this entry. The Corrs are a pretty good band, but this song gives me the willies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oWQvp8y4Kc

“One More Night”- Phil Collins. Now on to better music. Phil Collins released this soft ballad as a single on his 1984 mega personal and critically acclaimed album No Jacket Required. Despite the very personal nature of the rest of the album, Collins claimed that this song was written just by hearing a repetitive on his drum machine that got suck in his head. With his very public divorce that was happening at the time, I find this hard to believe, but the repetitive nature of this song from a rhythmic standpoint actually makes this story believable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKVq-P3z5Vg

“By The Time This Night Is Over”- Kenny G featuring Peabo Bryson. Whatever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2376smbzl8

“Dance The Night Away”- Van Halen. Van Halen had their first major hit in what would be a career of a lifetime when this song from their 1979 album Van Halen II peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Van Halen brothers and Michael Anthony apparently wrote this song after being inspired by Fleetwood Mac’s 1976 hit “Go Your Own Way”. While the harmonics of this song sound like many early Van Halen hits basically everything before 1984, the absence of a trademark Eddie Van Halen guitar solo is noticeably absent, as Van Halen thought it would be better to feature the tap harmonics which are prevalent going into the last chorus. Despite their acclaim, I still think the Van Halens get short changed on their musical genius just due to the musical difficulty of their songs. Please also tell me, how many drummers play a drum kit that complex? And while he was and will always be one of the biggest douches in music history, there have been very few people in the history of music who command a stage quite like David Lee Roth in his prime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llfjDUB66Z4

“Stay The Night”- Zedd featuring Hayley Williams. Despite what most people think, this song was not a Paramore song. German DJ Zedd added to his critical acclaim in the dance/techno genre when he put Meridian, Mississippi native and Paramore front woman Hayley Williams on this track with this amazingly interesting video. This track was added to the deluxe 2013 version of Zedd’s album Clarity and it peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Dance Tracks Chart and became a fixture in the night club circuit on both sides of the Atlantic. The versatility of Williams is shown here as she has already proven herself in the rock and hip hop genres when she absolutely owns the vocals of this dance Euro techno hit. Williams seems to be the glue bridging the gap between niche and mainstream. I think you know where I’m going with this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-gyZ35074k

“All Through The Night”- Cyndi Lauper. In 1984, Cyndi Lauper burst onto the scene with her smash debut album She’s So Unusual which would put her near the top of the music scene for around 3 years in the mid 1980’s. After capturing the hearts of America, she released this ballad as the album’s fourth single showing her true vocal talents and her emotional attachment to her song writing. This track peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and despite it’s success and the popularity of the still new network MTV at the time, Lauper actually did not make an official video for this song. Seen her is a video featuring a live performance of the song from sometime around the release of the single in late 1984. I remember being a young kid thinking her hair was so weird. Even for the 1980’s. Cyndi Lauper was one of those artists that you just wanted to hate, but her tunes just had to be so dang catchy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqDSNZTo8js

“Party All Night”- FEMM. Oh, how we’ve missed the J Pop. These Japanese starlets included this single on their J Pop EP Pow!/L.C.S. As most of you know, I am literally enthralled with watching Asian music videos, as they all have the same type of aura around them that just screams Asian. This song is very average, but how can you not be extremely turned on by these two hot Japanese chicks? Just saying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxNfxMJr0tc

“Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting”- Elton John. This very uncharacteristic Elton John/Bernie Taupin number from his 1973 smash album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was the brain child of the band’s short time in Jamaica in which this song almost came along as a joke. In a tribute to the style of The Who and The Rolling Stones, this song screams British Invasion far more than it does Elton John piano song. Despite this, this single peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has become one of Elton John’s most recognizable being performed over 1,300 times live which makes it easily in the top 10 of Elton’s performed songs. This live performance here features his current backing band from his most recent tour which I was fortunate enough to see in Mobile, Alabama in March of this year. Note that the same drummer (Nigel Olson) and guitarist (Davey Johnstone) are still with the band after recording this song with Elton in 1973.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEsBYtjsGGI

“The Night Before”- The Beatles. And we’ll end this list with a track from the greatest band of all time’s 1965 hit movie and soundtrack album Help!. The film clip from the movie shows the band performing the McCartney number in front of Stonehenge. Despite the ridiculous plot and acting in this movie, many critics have agreed that this and the proceeding A Hard Day’s Night were revolutionary in the creation of the modern music video. Unfortunately, there is no way to get a good video of this clip on youtube, but this recording from BBC Radio gives a good sound which captures the tone of the entire album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDnlu7AaYvM

“The Night Time Is The Right Time”- Ray Charles. You kind of knew this one was coming. This 1958 cover of Nappy Jones R & B hit became a hit for Ray Charles when he featured his backup group The Raelettes to turn the R & B song into a soul/gospel fusion which became one of the staples of his legendary career. This version reached #5 on the Billboard R&B Chart and despite only topping at #95 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song remains one of Charles’ most famous and has been covered by numerous artists and this version is featured in one of the most famous television scenes ever when it was featured in an episode in Season 2 of “The Cosby Show”. You know you’re getting a bonus video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTruv-lVoLk

BONUS VIDEOS-

“Airplanes”- B.O.B. featuring Hayley Williams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6-c223DUU

“Good Grief”- Bastille.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWCB3hpJDXM

“We Are Young”- Fun featuring Janelle Monae.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv6dMFF_yts

“Hello, Goodbye”- The Beatles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rblYSKz_VnI

“I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues”- Elton John.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6KYAVn8ons