Song of the Day: (various artists) - It's a Beautiful Day (Thank You For Sunshine)

Here are two versions of the same song, both fantastic.  I don't think a song can uplift you any more than this.

TRINIX x Rushawn - It’s A Beautiful Day (Lyrics) | lord i thank you for sunshine thank you for rain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1ykEw42xCk

Prinz, Rushawn, Jermaine Edwards - Beautiful Day (Thank You for Sunshine) (Official Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzq6idkl1B4

Song of the Day: The Book Of Love - Magnetic Fields (and Peter Gabriel)

I was re-watching Scrubs the other day, because:

1) It's a great show that I loved back in the day, and

2) Yes, I'm listening to the rewatch podcast, and gradually rewatching the show.

This is the podcast:

Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-fake-doctors-real-friends-60367049/

They reached the Season 8 finale, which is the true series finale (season 9 wasn't the same show).  Fantastic music in this episode, including the song that is the subject of this post.

Anyway, I was reminded of this song by watching Scrubs.  When I looked up the song I found out that Peter Gabriel's version is actually a cover!  Seems like I should have learned that long ago but here we are.

I'm going to attach several versions.  First two versions by the original artist (Magnetic Fields / Stephin Merritt), one studio and one live.  Then the Peter Gabriel version.  Finally, a video showing the end of the Scrubs finale featuring the song.  What a great way to end a series!

Magnetic Fields - The Book Of Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkjXr9SrzQE

The Magnetic Fields - "The Book of Love" (Live at WFUV)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoAydx7Anuc

Peter Gabriel - The Book of Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmnDXRJ7btE

Scrubs | S08E19 | JD's Final Scene | Peter Gabriel - The Book of Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTVpoT82toY

Song lyrics (x2!) from AZLyrics.com:

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/magneticfields/thebookoflove.html

The Magnetic Fields Lyrics

Play "The Book Of Love"

on Amazon Music Unlimited (ad)

"The Book Of Love"

The book of love is long and boring

No one can lift the damn thing

It's full of charts and facts and figures

and instructions for dancing

but I, I love it when you read to me

and you, you can read me anything

The book of love has music in it

In fact that's where music comes from

Some of it is just transcendental

Some of it is just really dumb

but I, I love it when you sing to me

and you, you can sing me anything

The book of love is long and boring

and written very long ago

It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes

and things we're all too young to know

but I, I love it when you give me things

and you, you ought to give me wedding rings

I, I love it when you give me things

and you, you ought to give me wedding rings

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/petergabriel/thebookoflove.html

Peter Gabriel Lyrics

"The Book Of Love"

(originally by The Magnetic Fields)

(from "Shall We Dance?" soundtrack)

The book of love is long and boring

No one can lift the damn thing

It's full of charts and facts and figures

And instructions for dancing

But I

I love it when you read to me

And you

You can read me anything

The book of love has music in it

In fact that's where music comes from

Some of it's just transcendental

Some of it's just really dumb

But I

I love it when you sing to me

And you

You can sing me anything

The book of love is long and boring

And written very long ago

It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes

And things we're all too young to know

But I

I love it when you give me things

And you

You ought to give me wedding rings

And I

I love it when you give me things

And you

You ought to give me wedding rings

You ought to give me wedding rings

Song of the Day: Billy Joel - Turn The Lights Back On

It's been a long time.  But it was worth the wait.  Billy Joel has a new song out.  Feels like his music has accompanied my life.

I've seen him twice in concert, once at Alpine Valley (classic amphitheater), in 1990.  Once in Atlanta, in a major league baseball park, in 2017 (no, not Miami 2017, unfortunately!).  He puts on a GREAT show, at any age.

https://tblooming.blogspot.com/2017/05/song-of-day-billy-joel-all-for-leyna.html

Back to the song at hand.  This song has so much emotion.  What can I say, I love it.  Particularly at this stage of my life.

I'll post several links to the same song.  You'll see why.

Nothing special about this video, just a great song with lyrics.

Billy Joel - Turn the Lights Back On (Official Lyric Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hexZ5hwia08

If you ever doubted what AI/ML can do, watch this video.  Stunning.  Blew me away.  Best video I've seen in 25 years.

Billy Joel - Turn the Lights Back On (Official Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOf6CMbHPuA

From Rolling Stone:

A Quartet of Billy Joels From Throughout Time Sing ‘Turn the Lights Back On’ in New Video

And of course, to complete the hat trick, here's the third version of the same song.  Live at MSG, naturally.

Billy Joel - Turn The Lights Back On @/MSG 2/9/24

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

Now, some background, as Billy is interviewed by Howard Stern.

Billy Joel Shares the Meaning Behind “Turn the Lights Back On”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X_nftPFn6o

Billy Joel Explains the Best Song He Ever Wrote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usmvUz83WU4

I have to agree, I *love* that song.  You can read online about the woman he's singing about.

Billy Joel Reveals Major Changes He Made to Some of His Now Hit Songs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n9x4NuVits

Funny story about the song "Honesty" starting around 2:42 of that video!

Lyrics, from AZLyrics.com:

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/billyjoel/turnthelightsbackon.html

"Turn The Lights Back On" lyrics

Billy Joel

Please open the door

Nothing is different, we've been here before

Pacing these halls

Trying to talk over the silence

And pride sticks out its tongue

Laughs at the portrait that we've become

Stuck in a frame, unable to change

I was wrong

I'm late, but I'm here right now

Though I used to be romantic

I forgot somehow

Time can make you blind

But I see you now

As we're laying in the darkness

Did I wait too long

To turn the lights back on?

Here, stuck on a hill

Outsiders inside the home that we built

The cold settles in

It's been a long winter of indifference

And maybe you love me, maybe you don't

Maybe you'll learn to, maybe you won't

You've had enough, but I won't give up

On you

I'm late, but I'm here right now

And I'm tryin' to find the magic

That we lost somehow

Maybe I was blind

But I see you now

As we're laying in the darkness

Did I wait too long

To turn the lights back on?

I'm late, but I'm here right now

Is there still time for forgiveness?

Won't you tell me how?

I can't read your mind

But I see you now

As we're layin' in the darkness

Did I wait too long

To turn the lights back on?

I'm here right now

Yes, I'm here right now

Looking for forgiveness

I can see as we're laying in the darkness

Yeah, as we're laying in the darkness

Did I wait too long

To turn the lights back on?

Song of the Day: Prince Performs “Purple Rain” During Downpour | Super Bowl XLI

Once again, it's time for a Super Bowl.  Which means it is time for another Super Bowl halftime show.

Let you young people forget, there is ONE halftime show performance that stands head and shoulders above them all.  Prince.  No lip syncing.  In the rain.  Prince: "Can you make it rain harder?"  

Fantastic talent, at the very top of his game.  He died way too young.  I was privileged to see him play his final concert, at the Fox in Atlanta.

Last year I watched Rihanna's performance.  So much commentary online about whether she was pregnant.  Very few people commenting on the fact that she didn't sing a word.  That show was terrible.  All recorded and lip synced, which I guess they all are nowadays.   :(   I think she's great, of course.  But that show was just a recording with no performance at all.  She barely moved (understandable why, but still).

Anyway here's the video.

Prince Performs “Purple Rain” During Downpour | Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show | NFL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NN3gsSf-Ys

Scroll down, the comments are priceless.

Pretty dope to see God is a Prince fan

The fact that Prince was dry in the middle of rain storm is legendary

He only got wet in the waters of Lake Minatonka

Even the rain isn't worthy enough to touch prince

I imagine mother nature was very honored to have been an integral part of a Prince concert.

It was mighty kind of Prince to allow them to play a football game during his concert.

Every Super Bowl performer before and after will never come close to this. This isn't just a great Super Bowl performance. It's one of the greatest performances in music history.

I come to watch this after every superbowl halftime show just to remind myself that no halftime will ever compare to how incredible this performance was

Song of the Day: County Clover - Midnight Crow

This song has it all for me.  Fantastic music.  Finding a new artist before they've made it big.  The song talks about a CROW (long story, but I love crows!).  I found both videos below when each had less than 10 "likes" even after liking them myself.

Most importantly, it was my daughter who told me about this artist and this video.  Do you know how priceless it is to be able to share something like this with your daughter?  I wouldn't trade it for the world.

County Clover is the stage name for Amanda Grayson (sp?), or A.G. Schiano according to this link:

https://athfest.com/artist/clover-county/

Another link with some songs:

https://soundcloud.com/amgrace1

Finally, the music:

Clover County on The AMP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oz26pep6qw

"Midnight Crow" is the first song in the video.  And the best song in the video, in my very biased opinion.  :)

After a bit of looking, here is another version:

Clover County @ SLEUTH FEST 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEXlLe1gbLE&list=PLTqsEbDj3rrGzco9C23IZjO7mdSYwyxN3&index=3

(Yes, I included the whole list there, if you want to hear more)

Normally I would post lyrics here.  But this song is so new that I couldn't find any lyrics online!  Perfect.  I will see her in person at some point.

Song of the Day: Cyndi Lauper - When You Were Mine (live performance)

Well, this has long been one of my favorite Cyndi Lauper songs.  But of course it is, it is a Prince song originally.  Fantastic.

I've posted this song before, multiple versions.  

https://tblooming.blogspot.com/2016/07/song-of-day-prince-and-cyndi-lauper.html

But I won't let that stop me.  Here is another version YouTubed happened to recommend to me recently.

Cyndi Lauper – When You Were Mine (live performance)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I_Z3TcxQ24

Song of the Day: Mama's Broke - How It Ends

Another sad song.  What can I say?  I love this sad, poignant song about a failed relationship.

But it's not all sad!  Even though it ended, the singer has to admit that it wasn't all bad.  Although maybe, based on the quote below, she doesn't want to remember that "the best [she's] ever had" was someone who let her down so badly.

What can I say, we've all been there.  Or at least I hope we have--I think.  Sometimes you have to take the bad with the good, in order to taste the good.  Look back and realize, oh man, there were some great times, hopefully, in any relationship.

Mama's Broke - How It Ends (Official Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1sLVRceymU

All of the love could never be enough

To cover up the ugly and the sad

But honey if I could, I’d cover up the good

Cause even when it was bad, you were the best I’vе ever had

Then again, later in the song: 

Even when it was bad, you were the best I’ve ever had

Now I know how it ends

But I should have known then

Song lyrics, from Genius:

https://genius.com/Mamas-broke-how-it-ends-lyrics

How It Ends Lyrics

[Verse 1]

All those nights you wouldn’t dance with me

You spent the whole time smoking

And avoiding all my friends

I should have known then

[Verse 2]

Down at the bottom, sitting in the car

You left me on the hilltop

To mourn alone the passing of my friend

I should have known then

I should have known then

[Chorus]

All of the love could never be enough

To cover up the ugly and the sad

But honey if I could, I’d cover up the good

Cause even when it was bad, you were the best I’vе ever had

[Verse 3]

You came in crying, sworе you needed God

Said it broke your heart to go

But I was in your way

There’s nothing left to say

So many lies that all begin this way. A home with a garden, and “I’m yours forever darling” But you wrote the same old story in another woman’s bed Just like all the other men I should have known then

[Chorus]

All of the love could never be enough

To cover up the ugly and the sad

But honey if I could, I’d cover up the good

Even when it was bad, you were the best I’ve ever had

Now I know how it ends

But I should have known then