Category Archives: song of the day

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Song of the Day #2,995: ‘Physical’ – Olivia Newton-John

physical_olivia_newton_johnWhile I’m on the subject of Olivia Newton-John, I kind of have to give a nod to ‘Physical,’ the 1981 single that spent ten weeks at #1.

This song, which signaled a distinct change of style for the wholesome Newton-John, spent more time at #1 than any other 1980s single.

In 1981, ‘Physical’ was considered racy enough to spark controversy and it was banned from certain radio stations because of its sexual references (apparently a reference to getting “horizontal” was just too suggestive back then). How far we’ve come.

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Song of the Day #2,994: ‘Magic’ – Olivia Newton-John

olivia_newton_johnEvery so often I’ll hear an old song on the radio and fall for it in a way I never managed to the first time around. This usually happens with songs released in the late 70s through early 80s, a time when I was between 6-11 years old and not exactly in control of my own musical landscape.

Olivia Newton-John’s ‘Magic,’ from the 1980 movie Xanadu, is the most recent example. I heard it on an easy listening or oldies station (remember when “oldies” meant 50s and 60s?) and immediately succumbed to the glossy perfection of peak Newton-John.

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Song of the Day #2,993: ‘How Long’ – Eagles

eagles_long_raod_out_edenThe Eagles waited 28 years after The Long Run to release another studio album. In between they broke up, reunited, had one founding member (Don Felder) leave the band for good, released a popular live album (1994’s 10-million selling Hell Freezes Over) and made a fortune touring on their classic hits.

2007’s Long Road Out of Eden, almost certainly the band’s final original album considering the death of Glenn Frey earlier this year, is a double album that tries to recapture the sound and spirit of the band’s early work. It reached #1 on the charts and sold more than 3 million copies, ensuring that the band didn’t have a commercial miss in its entire career.

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Song of the Day #2,992: ‘The Long Run’ – Eagles

eagles_the_long_runAfter releasing two of the best-selling albums in history, the Eagles took a few years off before recording a follow-up. The Long Run, released late in 1979, produced three hit singles and went 7X platinum in the United States yet was still viewed as a disappointment by most critics.

Those hits — the title track, ‘Heartache Tonight’ and ‘I Can’t Tell You Why’ — all reached Billboard’s top ten, with ‘Heartache Tonight’ (featuring Glenn Frey on lead vocals) hitting the top spot.

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Song of the Day #2,991: ‘Promenade’ – U2

u2_unforgettable_fireWell, here’s a somber opportunity for the old “Is today’s Random iTunes selection appropriate for the occasion?” game. Today is the 15th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

So let’s spin the wheel and see what the Random iTunes Fairy comes up with to acknowledge the milestone.

OK. A deep cut on U2’s fourth studio album, The Unforgettable Fire. Could be better, could be worse.

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