Eric Carmen - "Make Me Lose Control" (1988)

not-so-known 80's favorites with Renzie Baluyut.

A sudden wave of nostalgia made me remember a whole bunch of songs I was listening to back in High School. Among those old favorites was this one- Eric Carmen's "Make Me Lose Control", which never really got much local airplay when it came out in 1988 (or, um, ever), except on Metro Manila's 99.5 RT, and later on, on 103.5 KLite.

This song remains one of my favorites to this day, and always brings back memories of high school and summer in the 80's

YouTube video of Eric Carmen's "Make Me Lose Control" courtesy of LuiscmckI, who just like me, is a great fan of this song.

Enjoy!

Make Me Lose Control (1988)
Eric Carmen

I run a comb through my hair
And step out in the street
And the city's the color of flame
In the mid-summer heat
Oh yeah

Jennifer's got her daddy's car,
She's playing uptown on the stereo
We go cruisin' so close,
The way they did long ago
My darlin'

(Turn) Turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close never let me go
(Keep) Keep this feelin' alive
Make me lose control
Baby, baby

(When) When I look in your eyes, I go crazy
Fever's high with the lights down low
(So take) Take me over the edge
Make me lose control

We put the top down and park 'neath the moon in the sky
And the wind is so hot in our hair, like a fire in July
Whoa yeah

Jennifer's singin' "Stand By Me",
And she knows every single word by heart
Was love always this good?
Or could this be just the start?
Whoa darlin'

(Turn) Turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close never let me go
(Keep) Keep this feelin' alive
Make me lose control
Baby, baby

(When) When I look in your eyes, I go crazy
Fever's high with the lights down low
(So take) Take me over the edge
Make me lose control

"Be My Baby" comes on, and were movin' in time
And the heat from your touch makes me feel
Like I'm losing my mind
Whoa yeah

(And then they played) "Back In My Arms Again"
(We close our eyes) We start rememberin' when
(We start to kiss) and now the feeling's intense
And we just pray that this night never ends
Woah oh oh, my darlin'

(Turn) Turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close, never let me go
(Keep) Keep this feelin' alive
Make me lose control
Baby

When I look in your eyes, I go crazy
Fever's high with the lights down low
(So take) take me over the edge
Make me lose control
Baby, baby

(Turn) Turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close never let me go
(Keep) Keep this feelin' alive
Make me lose control

When I look in your eyes, I go crazy
Fever's high with the lights down low
(So take) take me over the edge
Make me lose control
Baby, baby

(Turn) Turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close never let me go
(Keep) Keep this feelin' alive
Make me lose control

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!

The Fray - "Look After You" (2007)

Last Song Syndrome with Renzie Baluyut.

If only my old piano teacher had taught me more contemporary songs than some of the
old crap she pulled out her dusty piano seat, I might have actually learned something I wanted to play.

Music from The Fray is music that inspires you to learn to play piano, if you ask me. I remember a much younger cousin of mine jamming on the ivory keys at a family reunion last year, and she could play a mean "How To Save a Life".

Anyway, mental note to self- get a piano, learn some of The Fray. Here's one of my favorites from 2007. The adult alternative classic "Look After You", from one of the band's two channels on YouTube.

Enjoy!

"Look After You" (2007)
The Fray

If I don't say this now, I will surely break
As I'm leaving the one, I want to take.
Forget the urgency, but hurry up and wait.
My heart has started to turn and separate.

Oh oh, oh oh, be my baby, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, be my baby,
I'll look after you.

There now, steady love.
So few come and don't go.
Will you, won't you be the one I always know?
When I'm losing my control,
The city spins around
You're the only one who knows,
You slow it down.

Oh oh, oh oh, be my baby, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, be my baby,
I'll look after you.
And I'll look after you.

If ever there was a doubt
My love, she leans into me.
This most assuredly counts
She says most assuredly.

Oh oh, oh oh, be my baby,
I'll look after you.
After you.
Oh oh, oh oh, be my baby, oh oh
It's always have and never hold.
You've begun to feel like home.
What's mine is yours to leave or take.
What's mine is yours to make your own.
Oh oh, oh oh, be my baby, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, be my baby, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, be my baby, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, be my baby, oh oh

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!

Matt Nathanson - "Come On Get Higher" (2008)

Jammin on Valentines' Day with Renzie Baluyut.

Here's a song you might want to learn to play for your significant other for Valentines Day. The chords and progression seems fairly simple for anyone who's into guitar, so all you have to do is get some practice, really.

Matt Nathanson's "Come On Get Higher" is one of those songs that can fit any Adult Contemporary, or even Adult Alternative playlist or collection, definitely one of those tunes for the ladies.

Check out Matt Nathanson's video for "Come On Get Higher" here on his very own channel on YouTube.

"Come On Get Higher" (2009)
Matt Nathanson

I miss the sound of your voice
And I miss the rush of your skin
And I miss the still of the silence
As you breathe out and I breathe in

If I could walk on water
If I can tell you what’s next
Make you believe, make you forget

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love
So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love

I miss the sound of your voice
The loudest thing in my head
And I hate to remember
All the violent, sweet perfect words that you said

If I could walk on water
If I can tell you what’s next
Make you believe, make you forget

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love
So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love

I miss the pull of your heart
I can taste the sparks on your tongue
I see angels and devils
And God, when you come on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on love
Singin' shalala la
Singin' shalala la

Come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love
So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me, drown me in love

It's all wrong
It's all wrong
It's all right
So, come on, get higher
Come on, get higher
'Cause everything works in your
Everything works in your arms

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!

Coffeehouse This Week - 29 Feb 2008

Triple A Charts
Radio and Records US National Airplay
29 February 2008

1. Jack Johnson - If I Had Eyes --> 7 weeks at number 1
2. Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am
3. R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious
4. Sara Bareilles - Love Song
5. Sheryl Crow - Love Is Free

6. KT Tunstall - Saving My Face
7. Counting Crows - You Can't Count On Me
8. Feist - My Moon My Man
9. Ryan Adams - Everybody Knows
10. Bruce Springsteen - Girls In Their Summer Clothes

11. David Gray - You're The World To Me
12. Mike Doughty - 27 Jennifers
13. Colbie Caillat - Realize
14. Mat Kearney - Breathe In Breathe Out
15. Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place

16. B-52s - Funplex
17. Brandi Carlile - Turpentine
18. John Mayer - Say
19. Lenny Kravitz - I'll Be Waiting
20. OneRepublic - Stop And Stare

21. Shawn Mullins - All In My Head
22. Spoon - Don't You Evah
23. Augustana - Sweet And Low
24. Robert Plant / Alison Krauss - Please Read The Letter
25. Black Crowes - Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution

26. Ben's Brother - Kiss Me Again (Stuttering) --> re-entry
27. Foo Fighters - Long Road To Ruin
28. Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals - Fight Outta You
29. Landon Pigg - Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop --> new
30. Paolo Nutini - Jenny Don't Be Hasty


Triple A Most Added This Week

Steve Winwood f Eric Clapton - Dirty City
Van Morrison - That's Entertainment
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Yael Naim - New Soul
Counting Crows - You Can't Count On Me
Augustana - Sweet and Low
Matt Nathanson - Come On Get Higher
Needtobreathe - More Time
X Levitation Cult - Habit Forming
Feist - I Feel It All
Amy Winehouse - Love Is A Losing Game


Triple A Most Increased Plays

Van Morrison - That's Entertainment
R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Augustana - Sweet and Low
B-52s - Funplex


This Adult Album Alternative chart may be seen in full on the Radio and Records website. Check out other music charts on "My Thoughts In Stereo".

Music Charts on "My Thoughts In Stereo"

Starting this week, I have decided to keep track of specific music charts by way of this blog. Partially for work, and partially for personal purposes, I've always referred to music charts as a gauge of what's going on in the international music scene.

I suppose it started with my fixation on those old chart shows from Casey Kasem (which was on RT and on KC for a time) and Rick Dees (which was on RT for the most part). As I joined the radio industry, the music being played on radio became very diverse- and so you now have different charts tracking airplay and record sales for different radio formats.

Radio and Records or R&R is an industry magazine I've been reading up on (at least as much as I can, anyway) since my early radio days at 99.5 RT. Even to this day, it has always been an invaluable tool to any radio or record industry executive. I've always had it bookmarked, and I continue to refer to their charts on a weekly basis.

I thought I might as well do all that via this blog- check out the pertinent music activity for my current line of work. And so with that, I'll be tracking the following music charts:

1. CHR/Pop - Contemporary Hit Radio or Top 40, is the most popular of all these music charts, hence the term 'pop'. It gives anyone at the very least a reference point of the general feel of the music atmosphere at a particular point in time. Then again, pop music doesn't appeal to everybody, and so you have a wide variety of other 'alternative' formats.

2. AC - The Adult Contemporary format is essentially pop music for a more mature audience; it's CHR radio that's generally devoid of hard rock, hip-hop, teen pop and dance tracks.

3. Urban AC- more like a personal preference, really. Urban AC is mostly soul and R&B music- music that typically caters to an African-American audience, but without the rap or heavy hip-hop.

4. Triple A- is your Adult Album Alternative radio format. Some call it 'underground' , others would refer to it as 'progressive'. It caters (again) to a more mature market, but it differs from regular AC in that it has more a diverse sound- drawing from alternative rock, alternative country, blues, jazz, folk, even world music, but tends to stay away from heavy rock and rap.

5. Smooth Jazz - is also known as new adult contemporary (or NAC). It draws more from pop jazz than it does traditional jazz, but also has R&B, soul and funk elements.

I like keeping track of music so I have an idea who to keep my eyes and ears on- whether looking out for a particular CD, or knowing what song gets used in the soundtrack for certain songs and movies, or just watching out for bits on music and entertainment news.

I'll also be keeping track of the most popular recurrents every week. Recurrents are songs still frequently aired on a radio station even several months after the initial debut. According to Radio and Records, recurrents are:

"...titles that have appeared on the chart for 20 or more weeks and have fallen below the top 20."

The way I see it, recurrents are your more popular songs which have somehow managed to maintain a sizeable (and seemingly sustaining) amount of airplay and sales, and therefore, a persistent deal of likeability. For many radio stations, these songs are 'defining' titles that pretty much make up a signature sound.

So watch out for these charts. I'll try to keep em as regular as possible.

Cheers, everyone!

Last Song Syndrome: Peter, Bjorn and John - "Young Folks" (2006)

Frack it. Couldn't get the damn thing out of my head. See, my girlfriend and I have been catching up on our Gossip Girl episodes. Which is a really swell show- it's like this season's The O.C., Dawson's Creek, Beverly Hills 90210, Dynasty or Falcon Crest, depending on what year you were born.

In fact, TV.com hailed it as 2007's Best Guilty Pleasure- and, yeah, the title seems very deserving. In any case, I've recently compiled some songs from a soundtrack listing I posted another time, and loaded it into my player. And this song just goes on and on in my head.

I've been whistling the damn thing all week, and I hope I can get it out of my system by blogging about it. Not that it's a bad song- it's actually a very cool song- it's just that it drives some people crazy because some of my colleagues are now whistling the thing without even knowing the song.

Yeah, it's that catchy.

"Young Folks" was the very first song used on the very first Gossip Girl episode- where it sets the scene in the Upper East Side train station and Serena comes back into town, and Dan and her sister meets up with their Dad, etc. I didn't care much for the lyrics until about my third listen- and then everything just made sense for the whole show- the song being so appropriate just made it all the more cool.

So here we are, from me to all you fellow Gossip Girl fans: Peter, Bjorn and John's "Young Folks", plus the accompanying YouTube vid from not too long ago (2006).

Peter, Bjorn and John
featuring Victoria Bergsman of The Concretes.
"Young Folks" (2006)

If I told you things I did before
Told you how I used to be
Would you go along with someone like me ?
If you knew my story word for word
Had all of my history
Would you go along with someone like me?

I did before and had my share
It didn't lead nowhere
I would go along with someone like you
It doesn't matter what you did
Who you were hanging with
We could stick around and see this night through

And we don't care about the young folks
Talkin' bout the young style
And we don't care about the old folks
Talkin' 'bout the old style too
And we don't care about our own folks
Talkin' 'bout our own stuff
All we care about is talking
Talking only me and you

Usually when things has gone this far
People tend to disappear
No one would surprise me unless you do
I can tell there's something goin' on
Hours seem to disappear
Everyone is leaving I'm still with you

It doesn't matter what we do
Where we are going to
We can stick around and see this night through

And we don't care about the young folks
Talkin' bout the young style
And we don't care about the old folks
Talkin' 'bout the old style too
And we don't care about our own folks
Talkin' 'bout our own stuff
All we care about is talking
Talking only me and you

And we don't care about the young folks
Talkin' bout the young style
And we don't care about the old folks
Talkin' 'bout the old style too
And we don't care about our own folks
Talkin' 'bout our own stuff
All we care about is talking
Talking only me and you

(repeat)

Talking only me and you

Talking only me and you
Talking only me and you


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: Regina Spektor - Fidelity (2006)

I love "Fidelity". Here's a song I've been singing over and over again in early 2007. I remember hearing it first at the tail-end of an episode of Veronica Mars (at the start of Season 3, I think), and then once again, later on, in an episode of Grey's Anatomy.

Regina Spektor came up with a light, playful song with "Fidelity", which she wrote while watching the John Cusack movie "High Fidelity"- which was based on the Nick Hornby bestseller.

Side Note: Annoyingly enough, one of the Solar channels had decided to use the intro of "Fidelity" on one of its TV promos. It was a simple matter to loop the first few bars (so you won't have Regina singing, and so they can lop their own voice-over on it, presumably), but it's hard to notice how it skips a beat- which happens at least 3 times within said promo. Shoddy worksmanship, Solar- shame on you. Now please send a memo to whatever editor was working on that promo.

In any case, "Fidelity" has been Regina Spektor's most commercially successful single to date. Of course I'm rooting for her, but in the meantime, this song will be a mainstay on my various music players. Enjoy!

Regina Spektor
"Fidelity" (2006)

(Shake it up)

C F
I never loved nobody fully
C F
Always one foot on the ground
F Bb
And by protecting my heart truly
Dm C
I got lost in the sounds
F Bb
I hear in my mind all these voices
Dm C
I hear in my mind all these words
F Bb
I hear in my mind all this music

Dm
And it breaks my heart
C
And it breaks my heart
F C
And it breaks my heart
F Bb C
It breaks my heart





And suppose I never met you
Suppose we never fell in love
Suppose I never ever let you kiss me
so sweet and so soft
Suppose I never ever saw you
Suppose we never ever called
Suppose I kept on singing love songs

Just to break
My own fall
Just to break my fall
Just to break my fall
F
Break my fall
Bb C
Break my fall

Dm
All my friends say that of course its
G
gonna get better, gonna get better
C Bb
Better better better better
C F
Better better better

I never love nobody fully
Always one foot on the ground
And by protecting by heart truly
I got lost in the sounds

I hear in my mind all these voices
I hear in my mind all these words
I hear in my mind all this music
And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart


Check out more on Regina Spektor on her official website. Cheers, everyone :)