Song of the Day #3,389: ‘Pads, Paws and Claws’ – Elvis Costello

The songwriting matchup of Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello yielded many memorable tunes and a couple of minor hits, including Macca’s ‘My Brave Face’ and Elvis’ ‘Veronica.’

You’ll find lots to love in the deeper cuts as well, such as today’s Random SOTD, from the back half of Costello’s 1989 album Spike.

‘Pads, Paws and Claws’ takes its title from a “junk shop book” and depicts one of the unhealthier relationships in the Costello canon, which is saying something.

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Song of the Day #3,388: ‘Look Back in Anger’ – David Bowie

Time to shed some tears for those who’ve left us, as Day 25 in the 30 Day Music Challenge calls for ‘A Song By An Artist No Longer Living.’

I planned this post before the sad passing of Tom Petty and I opted not to change it up to feature him. His loss is too recent to be acknowledged in this one-off blog post. He deserves a proper tribute, and I plan to give him one soon.

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Song of the Day #3,387: ‘Army’ – Ben Folds Five

I had a harder time than I expected making a pick for Day 24 of the 30 Day Music Challenge, which asks for ‘A Song By a Band/Group You Wish Were Still Together.’

For one thing, most of my favorite artists turn out to be soloists. And the bands are either still together or past the point of getting back together. I don’t see The Beatles, for example, as eligible for this category because two of them are dead. I don’t think my wishing they were back together extends to wishing people back to life.

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Song of the Day #3,386: ‘The Things That Everybody Does (Live)’ – Tift Merritt

The best 30 Day Music Challenge categories are the ones left completely open to the participant’s interpretation. How you interpret the challenge is as meaningful as the song you ultimately pick.

Such is the case with Day 23’s direction to name ‘A Song That You Think Everybody Should Listen To.’ Does that mean a song you find important, so if everybody listened to it the world would somehow become a better place? Or a little-heard song that you feel needs the exposure?

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Song of the Day #3,385: ‘Lose Yourself’ – Eminem

All of you CrossFitters and Orange Theorists, get ready. Day 22 of the 30 Day Music Challenge asks for the name of ‘A Song That Motivates You.’

I immediately thought of this in the context of physical activity because that’s the way I typically see motivational music presented in commercials. But I’m sure we all listen to music to motivate ourselves for other reasons — a big presentation, a test, you name it. Let’s see what my dear readers come up with.

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