Much More Music: Journey - "Don't Stop Believing" (1981)

My sister and I were out with her friends the other night, at this great place in Burbank called Sardo's (which I should really write about some time). It was a fun night for drinking and karaoke. Just before closing time, what really brought the house down was this one particular song- "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey.

Truly a great song. Everybody had a great time.

Here's a video we can all appreciate, courtesy of the Veoh Video Network. Sing along, play along, hell, have a good time. Ladies and gentlemen, here's probably the best karaoke song of all time- "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey.

Journey
"Don't Stop Believing" (1981)

[Capo 2]
/ D A Bm G / D A F#m G / :

Just a small town girl living in a lonely world
She took the midnight train going anywhere
Just a city boy born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train going anywhere

/ D A Bm G / D A F#m G / :

A singer in a smoky room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on

{Refrain}
Strangers, waiting, up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people, living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night

/ G - D - / / / G - AD ADG

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Paying anything to roll the dice
Just one more time

Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

{Refrain}

Don't stop believing
Hold on to that feeling
Streetlight people
{Repeat}

/ D A / Bm G / D A F#m G /


Check out Journey on their entry on the AllMusicGuide, or read more about the band on their official website, or on their entry on Wikipedia.

Check out more of the Much More Music Project- this blog's attempt to put together my personal views on favorite songs, along with lyrics to sing by, embedded music videos, and even guitar chords, if you feel like playing along with it.

Cheers, everyone!

Last Song Syndrome: Andy Taylor - "Take It Easy" (1986)

Probably one of the most underappreciated pop-rock songs of the 1980's, "Take It Easy" is arguably Andy Taylor's best work outside The Power Station and Duran Duran.

The song was featured on the OST of the 1986 movie American Anthem (which I never got to see- but still probably worth checking out), and featured Andy's preference for a more rock-oriented sound, versus the more synth-pop sound of Duran Duran at the height of their popularity- one of the reasons he left the band just after laying down some guitar tracks for the 1987 album Notorious.

In any case, he was able to take some time off his gig with The Power Station to work on this particular solo project, something he'd work on with ex-Missing Persons drummer Terry Bozzio and bassist Patrick O'Hearn, and ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones.

Found this music video the other day on YouTube- definitely something worth listening to and watching after a long time.


Andy Taylor
"Take It Easy" (1986)

People say I'm crazy, just a fool
But I'm the pigeon and baby, you're the stool

I always dug the color your hair
I always loved the clothes you wear
I can't say that you turn me on
But why'd I stay all night long

Take it easy - on yourself
Take it easy - there ain't no one else
Don't give me reasons
And I won't ask for nothin'

Take it easy - on yourself
Take it easy - there ain't no one else
Don't give me reasons
And I won't ask for nothin'

Rich girls, they run after me
They break my heart, you know I fall in love so easily
I always dug the color your hair
I always loved the clothes you wear
I can't say that you turn me on
But why'd I stay all night long

Take it easy - on yourself
Take it easy - there ain't no one else
Don't give me reasons
And I won't ask for nothin'

Take it easy - on yourself
Take it easy - there ain't no one else
Don't give me reasons
And I won't ask for nothin'
Yeah!

Take it easy - on yourself
Take it easy - there ain't no one else
Don't give me reasons
And I won't ask for nothin'


Check out Andy Taylor's official website here, or his entry on Wikipedia, here.

Can't get that song out of your head? Then check out more of Renzie's Last Song Syndrome Project, the only blog service dedicated to getting that persistent tune out of your system- by giving you lots more of it!

Cheers, everyone!

Much More Music: Icehouse - "Electric Blue" (1987)

Did you know that Icehouse's biggest hit, "Electric Blue" was co-written by John Oates of Hall and Oates?

Yes, he did. It was also written by Icehouse's lead singer Iva Davies. It came from the 1987 album Man of Colours, which also spawned another great Icehouse song, "Crazy".

Even if the band would never surpass the commercial success or the popularity the enjoyed with Man of Colours, both songs- "Crazy" and "Electric Blue" would continue on as favorites for Icehouse fans everywhere, including myself.

And to everyone who's enjoyed the music of Icehouse, here's something you can check out. We found a video on YouTube, chords from Arabella Clauson, and lyrics to sing to. Enjoy!


Icehouse
"Electric Blue" (1987)

  Dm
If a boy had a chance
                       G        C      Dm
A chance with someone like you
          F                G
Are you gonna break his heart?
                       Dm
Let him cry for the moon?
            F                     Bb
Are you hiding somewhere behind those eyes?


(I just freeze)
F                     Bb
I just freeze every time you see through me
    F               Bb
And it's all over you, electric blue
   F
(On my knees)  On my knees
Bb                    Dm          Eb
Help me baby tell me what can I do?  Electric blue

 Dm
Oh I had a dream
                           G       C      Dm
For a moment I believed it was true
              F          G
Oh, I'd have given anything
                       Dm
Just to be there with you
            F                     Bb
Are you hiding somewhere behind those eyes?


(I just freeze)
F                     Bb
I just freeze every time you see through me
    F               Bb
And it's all over you, electric blue
   F
(In too deep)  In too deep
Bb                             Dm                Bb
Standin' here, waiting as I'm broken in two, electric blue
  F
(I can see)  I can see, can
Bb                        F                Bb
See that it may be just a vision of you, electric blue.
    F
(On my knees)  On my knees,
Bb                    Dm            Eb
Help me baby, tell me what can I do?  Electric blue


Cm  Ab  Cm  Gm


Dm               F                     Bb
Are you hiding somewhere behind those eyes?
     F
(In those eyes)
F                     Bb
I just freeze every time you see through me
    F               Bb
And it's all over you, electric blue
   F
(In too deep)  In too deep
Bb                             Dm                Bb
Standin' here, waiting as I'm broken in two, electric blue
  F
(I can see)  I can see, can
Bb                        F                Bb
See that it may be just a vision of you, electric blue.
    F
(On my knees)  On my knees.
Bb                    Dm            Eb
Help me baby, tell me what can I do?  electric blue

(In those eyes)
F                     Bb
I just freeze every time you see through me
    F               Bb
And it's all over you, electric blue
   F
(In too deep)  In too deep
Bb                             Dm                Bb
Standin' here, waiting as I'm broken in two, electric blue
  F
(I can see)  I can see, can
Bb                        F                Bb
See that it may be just a vision of you, electric blue.
    F
(On my knees)  On my knees,
Bb                    Dm            Eb
Help me baby, tell me what can I do?  electric blue

You may want to visit Icehouse's official website here, or check out their entry on Wikipedia here.

Check out more of the Much More Music Project- this blog's attempt to put together my personal views on favorite songs, along with lyrics to sing by, an embedded music video
from YouTube, and even guitar chords, if you feel like playing along with it.

Cheers, everyone!

Last Song Syndrome: The Police - "Don't Stand So Close To Me '86" (1986)

1986 was a very good year- I was just starting high school, and music video shows were pretty much the coolest thing around at the time. The Philippines didn't have MTV at the time, just various one-hour shows featuring videos which I assume came straight from the recording companies.

In any case, "Don't Stand So Close To Me '86" by The Police, if I could remember it right, was one of those videos that was different from the others at the time. Watching it again now, I think it was because it made more use of computer graphics.

It was definitely one of those songs that got me into The Police, and it was much much later that I discovered that there was an earlier version of the song- one that came out in 1980, which helped introduce The Police in the US. That's Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland to the right.

"Don't Stand So Close To Me '86" might very well be my most favorite song from The Police- mostly because it made me a fan of the band, and well, because it's a pretty good song.

Here's a video I found on YouTube, and some lyrics you can sing to. Enjoy!


The Police
"Don't Stand So Close To Me '86" (1986)

Young teacher, the subject
Of schoolgirl fantasy
She wants him so badly
Knows what she wants to be
Inside her there's no room
This girl's an open page
Book marking she's so close now
This girl is half his age

Don't stand so close to me
Don't stand so close to me

Her friends are so jealous
You know how bad girls get
Sometimes it's not so easy
To be the teacher's pet
Temptation, frustration
So bad it makes him cry
Wet bus stop, she's waiting
His car is warm and dry

Don't stand so close to me
Don't stand so close to me

Don't stand so close to me
Don't stand so close to me

Loose talk in the classroom
Too hurt they try and try
Strong words in the staffroom
The accusations fly
It's no use
He sees her
He starts to shake he starts to cough
Just like the old man in
That famous book by Nabokov

Don't stand so close to me
Don't stand so close to me
Don't stand so close to me
Don't stand so close to me

Check out The Police's official website here, or their Wikipedia entry here.

Can't get that song out of your head? Then check out more of Renzie's Last Song Syndrome Project, the only blog service dedicated to getting that persistent tune out of your system- by giving you lots more of it!

Cheers, everyone!

Last Song Syndrome: Lou Gramm - "Just Between You and Me" (1989)

Again, this is one of my favorites from the old days of radio. Lou Gramm is one of the main creative forces behind the 70's/80's rock band Foreigner- that's him to the right with Mick Jones, Rick Willis and Dennis Elliott. In fact, we already wrote a post on one of my all-time favorite Foreigner songs, "Hot Blooded", on this particular blog.

The year was 1989, and by that time, Foreigner was one of the biggest rock bands around. Not only were they huge in the late 70's, they were continuing to churn out hits well into the late 80's.

As the band's lead singer, Gramm can be heard distinctly on a lot of their hit songs, including "Feels Like The First Time", "Cold As Ice", the aforementioned "Hot Blooded", "Urgent", "Double Vision", "Juke Box Hero", "Head Games", "Dirty White Boy" and "Say You Will". Of course, their two biggest hits were the synth-ballads "Waiting For A Girl Like You" in 1981, and "I Want To Know What Love Is" in 1984.

Now Lou Gramm and Mick Jones weren't exactly seeing each other eye-to-eye at this time; Jones wanted to keep doing the more commercial (and more lucrative) synth-ballad sound, while Gramm wanted to go back to a more solid rock-n-roll structure.

Lou did get to do what he wanted through a couple of solo projects, the Ready or Not album of 1987, and the Long Hard Look album of 1989, which had the single "Just Between You and Me".

The song's almost 20 years old, but it's still one of my most favorite songs. Been singing to it over the weekend- so check it out here, with a video I found on YouTube, and lyrics to sing to. Enjoy!

Lou Gramm
"Just Between You and Me" (1989)

Staring at each other with accusing eyes
Keep our voices low, and don't act surprised
If the word gets out, yeah, that's alright

I know you're just looking for some sympathy
But listen you don't know how it gets back to me
You're getting reckless, girl, but that's alright

Now don't you know that one cold word's
gonna lead to another
And then we'll have nowhere to go

Chorus:
Even if heaven and earth collide tonight
We'll be all alone in a different light
I don't care what the world can't see
It's just between you and me, you and me.

I see telltale signs of a love in decline
There should be something to say, but we don't take the time
And I don't understand, but that's alright

Now you can turn the page or you can tear me apart
Don't make an open book out of my private heart
You should know better now, but that's alright

Don't you know that one cold word's gonna lead to another
And then we'll have nowhere to go

Chorus:
Even if heaven and earth collide tonight
We'll be all alone in a different light
I don't care what the world can see
It's just between you and me
I say it's just between you and me

If we don't work this out we won't recover
We'll lose this soulful love for one another
But with all I've heard and all I seen
I'm still lost in your mystery

And don't you know that one cold word's gonna lead to another
And then we'll have nowhere to go

Chorus
Even if heaven and earth collide tonight
We'll be all alone in a different light
I don't care what the world can see
It's just between you and me

Even if heaven and earth collide tonight
We'll be all alone in a different light
Now I don't care what the world can see
When it's just between you and me
It's just between you and me
You and me

Heaven and earth
I don't understand

You can check out Lou Gramm's official website here, or his Wikipedia entry here.

Can't get that song out of your head? Then check out more of Renzie's Last Song Syndrome Project, the only blog service dedicated to getting that persistent tune out of your system- by giving you lots more of it!

Cheers, everyone!

Much More Music: Jude Cole - Baby, It's Tonight (1990)

I was tidying up the house to some great oldies I burned on a CD- and this one really brought back memories of some good times.

"Baby, It's Tonight" was a hit from Jude Cole back in 1990. And we played this song a lot back at the old radio station, 99.5 RT. That was probably his most memorable song. Years later, though, he'd move on to do more session work, production, singing and songwriting with the likes of Jewel and Beth Orton.

Now, he manages the rock band Lifehouse- same guys who did "Hanging By A Moment", "Take Me Away" and "You and Me".

Other useless bits of info: Jude Cole is married to Michelle Pfeiffer's sister, Lori (since '93!). Kiefer Sutherland is not only one of his closest buds- they also co-own a recording studio called Ironworks.

In any case, here's some of Jude Cole for you- "Baby, It's Tonight". And you can check out the vid right here, along with some lyrics and chords if you feel like playing along. Enjoy!


Jude Cole
"Baby, It's Tonight" (1990)

Chords & tab pattern by Rick Andrews and Kevin Ross. Updated by Chris Nastally. YouTube video by Vaquero1977. Thanks, guys!

INTRO

e---------------|--------------------------
B---------------|--------------------------
G---7----7--7---|--------------------------
D---4h5--4--0---|---9-9-9-9--9-7-9-7-------
A---------------|---7-7-7-7--7-7-7-7-------
E---------------|---0-0-0-0--0-0-0-0-------
 |                                etc.
 plucked w/
 pick & middle finger

Figure 1   No chord…………1)  0xx22x
                    2)  0xx44x
                    3)  0xx45x

Play Figure 1 until otherwise noted

Won’t you pick up the phone
‘Cause I know that you’re home
Too many words have not been said
For us to be living alone

             (x07650)…(x05430)              (x0523x)….(x04230)
Now all of the fighting           and all of the tears
 (Figure 1)
They don’t matter now

F#m
Another night falls dark and lonely
A          /B          /C#     /D#
You’re the only one that I can turn to

CHORUS:
E    D           A
If I ever needed your arms to hold me
(Figure 1)
Baby it’s tonight
E        D            A
And if I ever needed your eyes to heal me
(Figure 1)
Baby it’s tonight

So come hold me close
And show me that you still care
Let’s take it to where it all began
And start again from there
                  (x5503x)...(x5403x)
‘Cause there’s no way out
(Figure 1)
As far as I can tell

I’m walking in a world of strangers
You’re the only one who really knows me

CHORUS 2x

C D E
              C    D                    E
Oh won’t you please, please pick up the phone, yeah

C D  E (Figure 1)
C                  D              E
Don’t leave me to face this world all alone……take some time

CHORUS OUT

You may want to visit Jude Cole's official website here, or his entry on Wikipedia.

Check out more of the Much More Music Project- this blog's attempt to put together my personal views on favorite songs, along with lyrics to sing by, an embedded music video
from YouTube, and even guitar chords, if you feel like playing along with it.

Cheers, everyone!

Much More Music: Jon Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer (1987)

I suppose it's a guilty pleasure of sorts. I actually liked Bon Jovi probably up until somewhat after the release of the New Jersey album (which was still a good album, in my opinion).

What I didn't like was when some local concert producer brought Bon Jovi over here in the early- or mid-90's (probably even on two different occasions, not sure), and milked their commercial success for all its worth. So you heard them everywhere- not just radio stations and music video channels, but also on noontime TV. You know a song's getting dangerously over-exposed once its hit noontime TV- especially in the form of a contest, or a recurring theme or something.

In any case, "Livin' On A Prayer" remains as one of the greatest rock anthems to come out of the eighties. It was the second single released from the Slippery When Wet album- Bon Jovi's third album (if I'm not mistaken). Originally, the album cover was supposed to feature a close-up shot of a pair of -well, wet and slippery female breasts, which was apparently inspired by the group's visit to a stripclub at some point.

At least that was the idea until some government moral board found out about it, and so in the interest of sales, Slippery When Wet had since then, graced a more decent album cover than the aforementioned female mammaries- giving us the album cover we know so well these days.

So here's "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi- lyrics, music vid, and a whole lot of fun. Enjoy!

Bon Jovi
"Livin' On A Prayer" (1987) 
Em C D ...

(Once upon a time, not so long ago ....)

Em                                 Em/F# (022002)
Tommy used to work on the docks
Em
Union's been on strike, he's down on his luck
  C      D           Em
It's tough,   so tough.

Gina works the dinner all day
Working for her man, she brings home her pay
For love, for love.

                   C   D                Em
She says we've got to hold on to what we've got.
C                 D                           Em
It doesn't make a diff'rence if we make it or not.
   C        D                 Em        C
We've got each other and that's a lot, for love.
  D
We'll give it a shot.

Em  C           D           G                 D7sus4
Woooh, we're halfway there, wo-oh, livin' on a prayer.
Em       C          D
Take my hand we'll make it, I swear
G  C  D7sus4
Wo-oh, livin' on a prayer

Tommy's got his six string in hock,
now he's holding in, when he used to make it talk
So tough, it's so tough.

Gina dreams of running away
She cries in the night, Tommy whispers:
Baby it's okay, someday.

                   C   D                Em
She says we've got to hold on to what we've got.
C                 D                           Em
It doesn't make a diff'rence if we make it or not.
   C        D                 Em        C
We've got each other and that's a lot, for love.
  D
We'll give it a shot.


Em  C           D           G                 D7sus4
Woooh, we're halfway there, wo-oh, livin' on a prayer.
Em       C          D
Take my hand we'll make it, I swear
G  C  D7sus4
Wo-oh, livin' on a prayer
C
Livin' on a prayer.


Solo: Em, C, D, G, C, D ...


Em                    C   D             Em D
Oo-oh, we've got to hold on, ready or not
  C                           D
You live for the fight when it's all that you've got.


Bb   Eb        Fsus4     F
Woooooh, we're half ---- way there
Bb   Eb  F7sus4
Wo---oh, livin' on a prayer
Gm      Eb             F
Take my hand and we'll make it I swear
Bb  Eb F7sus4
Wo-oh, livin on a prayer

For more information on Bon Jovi, get to know the band more on their official website here, or read more about them on Wikipedia. Cheers!