Songs You May Have Missed #132

18 Jun 2012 1 Comment

by Ed Cyphers in On a Lighter Note, Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

todd

Todd Rundgren: “Emperor of the Highway” (1983)

Wherein Todd, ever restless with pop form, casts his ode to arrogant drivers as Operatic Duet:

I am the Emperor of the Highway/I wield the Universal Will/One might chance to overlook my Divineness/Unless I’m sitting in the Imperial Poupe de Ville

I am the Emperor of the Highway/Strapped with foolish mortals such as these/ I need never indicate my intentions /I can stop and go and turn just as I please/For I am the Emperor of the Highway!

Hold! Methinks that thou hast driven too far/I am the Royal Prince of Foreign Sports Cars/Better that I should drive a wheelchair or jog/Than to be blown off by a Regal Road Hog

I am the Emperor of the Highway (Where did you ever get that gas sucking pig of a car?)/This time my friend, you are outclassed (Any real man would drive a stick shift)/For my uncle is the Duke of the State Police (Cut me off again and I will punch your lights out)/And he will place his Royal Boot upon your Ass (This is my exit, we shall meet another day)

Don’t forget who’s Emperor of the Highway/For I am the Emperor of the Highway!

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/03/06/songs-you-may-have-missed-354/

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/10/06/songs-you-may-have-missed-485/

Songs You May Have Missed #131

18 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

bubblegun

The Merrymakers: “April’s Fool” (1997)

Swedish pop is like honey badger: it doesn’t care.

If a song has an uplifting sound it has a chance in relatively feel-good Sweden. And if it’s an appealing blend of pop or power pop influences wrapped up in one tasty three-minute confection, it’s likely a Swedish export.

The Merrymakers’ Bubblegun album is filled with delightful pop melodies crafted by a band who seem to have taken the La’s, Jellyfish and maybe ELO as their template–in fact this song is co-written by Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish, who also helped out as producer. Fitting, as the Merrymakers’ sound carries the DNA of Sturmer’s former band.

Oh, and dig the Harrisonesque slide guitar solo.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2021/11/11/songs-you-may-have-missed-714/

Songs You May Have Missed #130

18 Jun 2012 1 Comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

atlantik

Atlantik: “All Aboard” (2001)

If you take a cruise in the Caribbean, you’re likely to hear this one at one time or another. One of my favorite soca tunes–it’s got hooks aplenty.

Songs You May Have Missed #129

13 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

hanson

Hanson: “Running Man” (2007)

As someone points out in the comments under this song’s YouTube video, this really sounds like Maroon 5. It hadn’t occurred to me, but I agree. And it’s no insult to either band to be compared to the other.

Hanson has grown into a very credible pop rock band who unfortunately will probably never live down the incredible success of “MMMBop”, which typecast them as kiddie bubblegum forever. Too bad: lots of people will miss out on a pretty good band.

Songs You May Have Missed #128

13 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

ruben

Ruben Romero: “Cathedral Bells” (1997)

 

What a soothing sound. So many great albums go out of print in CD form, probably never to return. If you like Romero’s sound, better scarf up a used copy while you can.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2026/03/15/songs-you-may-have-missed-828/

Songs You May Have Missed #127

13 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: , ,

sugar

Sugar: “If I Can’t Change Your Mind” (1992)

From an album countless fans tell of their nostalgia for, the debut album by the band Bob Mould formed after the dissolution of  Hüsker Dü. A great album: guitars buzz and catchy melodies abound.

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