King of Birds

The lyric that hit me this morning was:

A thumbnail sketch, a jeweler's stone
A main idea to call my own

...though the rendering in this video, and most commentary on the web tells me the word is "mean" and not "main." Other fans have made the same mistake, and there is interesting commentary over at Pop Songs, as usual.

Artist: R.E.M.
Year: 1987
Rating: Hot!

No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature

Another song in my head just 'cause I heard it on the radio. I've considered stopping listening to the radio in the car just because I think it's tainting the "purity" of songs emerging from my brain.

Artist: The Guess Who
Year: 1970 (still sounds like the '60s though, don't it?)
Rating: Warm

Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses

Shockingly, this is the first U2 song to enter my brain since starting this project. And it's mainly here because I heard it on the radio the other day. But the opening lines do resonate with me emotionally this week, as does the final sentiment in the song, so I'm guessing I woke with it for a reason.

You're dangerous 'cause you're honest/You're dangerous, you don't know what you want (and) Don't turn around, don't turn around again/Don't turn around, and don't look back.

Artist: U2
Year: 1991
Rating: Luke Hot

Notes:
I did invoke U2 in this entry previously.
Also, I've been driving more than I used to, since I now have a car. Commercial radio is seeping in big time. I can't reiterate enough that the Eagles are played too frequently on classic rock stations.

On and On, Redux

Last in my head on June 3, 2009 - interestingly, near to exactly a year ago.

Artist: Stephen Bishop
Year: 1977
Rating: Hot!

Be My Baby

Just like Ronnie said...* Artist: The Ronettes Year: 1963 Rating: Luke Hot Note: Co-written by the mighty Ellie Greenwich, of Brill Building-fame and later-to-be-convicted-murderer Phil Spector. *A Nod to Eddie Money.

The Ballad of Davy Crockett

In my head 'cause I saw The Fantastic Mr. Fox a while back, and it's used in the opening credits. I can't find much info about this version of the song out there, but it's a resonant tune, lodged in the brains of many of us born in the States in the post-WWII era through maybe my generation. I wonder how many Gen Y'ers and younger know it.

Artist: The Wellingtons
Year: 1954 (original)
Rating: Warm

Mellow Yellow

I'm just mad about Saffron/And she's just mad about me.

Could have sworn I'd blogged about this song before, but nope.

Artist: Donovan
Year: 1966
Rating: Warm

Black Dog

I've always wanted to play this song on kazoo.

Artist: Led Zeppelin
Year: 1971
Rating: Luke Hot

Everybody Sleeps

At night we close our eyes/Until the morning creeps.

Artist: Joe Raposo and Daniel Wilcox
Year: 1972
Rating: Warm

Before the End of the Race

Listen to the iLike sample.

I took the advice, afforded the price
and I woke up amused in the arms of another

Cavalier about love in such a pleasing meter. And a catchy guitar hook, to boot.

This is my 15th entry about my favorite Canadian indie rockers, Sloan. They show no signs of slowing down as the leader of the pack of bands firing off in the neural pathways of my long-term memory.

Artist: Sloan
Year: 2006
Rating: Luke Hot