Some Songs Are Simply Too Much in One Way or Another

Remember those cold mornings in the movie "Groundhog Day" when Phil Connors (Bill Murray) wakes up to "I Got You Babe" on the radio alarm clock?

Nothing against the Sonny and Cher song but it's certainly not a tune I'd want to hear to start my day at 6 a.m. And there are other tunes that I've heard too much in my lifetime. They give me the shivers.

There are a few songs I really liked when they were released, but in my most humble opinion, they've been overplayed on the radio through the years. When they come on, I tune them out.

It would be a nightmarish "Twilight Zone" experience for me to be stranded on an island with the following songs blaring day after day after day.

Here's my list:

"Sympathy for the Devil" — The Rolling Stones 
"Ride Captain Ride" -- The Blues Image 
"The Devil Went Down to Georgia" — Charlie Daniels Band
"Money" — Pink Floyd
"American Pie" — Don McLean 
"Nights in White Satin" — The Moody Blues
"Dueling Banjos" — Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell
"Piano Man" — Billy Joel
"Stairway to Heaven" — Led Zeppelin
"More Than A Feeling" — Boston
"Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" — Rupert Holmes 
"Bohemian Rhapsody" — Queen

And there are a few songs I didn't care that much for when released so they're automatically tuned out:

"Muskrat Love" — America and The Captain and Tennille 
"You Light Up My Life" — Debby Boone
"Tragedy" — The Bee Gees
"Band on the Run" — Paul McCartney and Wings
"You're Beautiful" — James Blunt

And then there are a few songs that are difficult to categorize because they can be like a virus and stick in your head all day:

"Achy Breaky Heart" — Billy Ray Cyrus
"The Final Countdown" — Europe
"Macarena" — Los Del Rio
"Party All the Time" — Eddie Murphy
"Anna (Go to Him)" — The Beatles
"The Candy Man Can" — Sammy Davis Jr.
"Hungry Like the Wolf" — Duran Duran

I'll spare you those irritating Christmas songs. Bah humbug!

Let me add that after not hearing overplayed songs for a while, I don't mind listening to them again. Just not an overdose. It can kill you!

Any songs that fit these criteria for you?

Until the next time . . . 


P.S. -- I'd appreciate it if you'd click the "Follow" button (far right column under "Followers" with all the pretty faces) since Google has eliminated more than 100 followers by shutting down Google+ extensions.

Story Songs: Some Gave All

Billy Ray Cyrus's breakthrough song was the mega-hit "Achy Breaky Heart" in 1992. It was off his debut album, "Save Gave All," which sold more than 4 million copies worldwide.

"Some Gave All" is Cyrus's tribute to veterans. It was written by Cyrus and former wife, Cindy. While many folks dismissed "Achy Breaky Heart" as a silly ditty, "Some Gave All" is a thoughtful and moving tune about the sacrifices veterans have made for our nation. 

The song is about a fellow named Sandy Kane, who the narrator describes as a person that:

 "Few folks knew his name,  
But a hero was he
Left a boy, came back a man"

Sandy tells the narrator that we should never take for granted the price of freedom. While many have served in the military, like Sandy, many lost their lives for our country and other nations:

"All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all"

And Sandy's powerful parting words:

"And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties, yes recall
Some gave all"

This song makes me think of all the seemingly nameless men and women from all walks of life who have been willing to give their lives to protect our freedoms. They don't see themselves as heroes and or anyone special. They simply have a job to do, knowing that it may involve the ultimate sacrifice.

This post is dedicated to two high school friends who gave all in Vietnam -- Marshall Jones and James Huckleberry. I'm sure you have those in your life who gave all as well, so please remember them as well.

"Some Gave All" lyrics