As most of you know, the people of Hati have suffered an unimaginable devastation. Last night was the Hope For Hati telethon, and the lines are still open for you to donate. The number is 1-877-99-HAITI for the USA & Canada. The International number is +1 773 360 0205 You can also donate online at www.hopeforhaitinow.org Please help support this cause and spread the message to those who haven’t donated as well. No matter where we come from or live, we’re all apart of this world and need to help each other out.
I’m sure many of you have heard this song before. It has become somewhat of a contemporary Christmas classic. The song was written by Walter Afanasieff and Carey herself. It was recorded for her 1994 Christmas album entitled Merry Christmas, which has went on to become 5x platinum by the RIAA. Since a commercial single was not released for the song in 1994, it did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994 but did become a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Radio Airplay chart. It reached great success on international charts. In 2000, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 after Billboard revised it’s rule to make it possible for singles. to chart without a commercial release. In 2005, the song rapidly became a Number 1 hit on the Hot 100 Recurrents chart for Billboard; and from 2005 onward it has since always peaked at the position at the end of each year.
“Wild Horses” became a hit for the Rolling Stones back in 1971. Ever since then the song has been covered numerous times, including recently by Susan Boyle. While there are many great covers of his song, I’ve always liked the Sundays version of it that was on their 1992 album Blind. I had never even heard of the Sundays or heard the song until I saw the 1996 thriller flick Fear (which is a surprisingly well-made movie.) on TV a couple of years ago, and they had the song playing in the background of one of the more infamous scenes of the movies (It’s best if I don’t go into detail.)
10 years ago at this time this song was a massive number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. This song gave Santana his first number one song, spent 12 weeks on top of the Billboard charts, won Song Of The Year, Record of The Year, and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 2000 Grammys, and was the last number one hit of the 1990’s and first number one of the 2000’s. To put it shortly: This song was massive!
B&D have had more than their fair share of hits over the past two decades, some more deserved than others. They are probably one of the view country acts to have a cross-generational audience throughout their career. From their early 90’s twangy country/rock to their late 90’s/early 2000’s country-pop to their more recent contemporary country which has elements of all in it. They truly have shown throughout the years their staying power, which is why many country music listeners love them, and why others have grown a disdain for them. I’d probably fit the latter group; mostly because their music in the past couple of years has just grown irritating to me, which impart is why I’m somewhat glad they are retiring. But as their career comes to a close, it’s nice to look back at their catalog and know that they have contributed their part to country music.
A little over a year ago I had a post discussing how country music seemed to have lacked the quality it used to. As I look back at this post, I can see that I was being a bit biased, as I was comparing the music that I had grown up to as a kid, to the music of my pre-teen and teen years. Besides that, I also did notice that country music in the last year or so has begun to return to a more country/pop sound that was mainstream during the 1990’s, but with a twist. Mainstream Country in the mid to late 1990’s had a more adult contemporary type sound to it. Country music now seems to have more of an 80’s rock vibe to it with some dancy type beats added in. Whether this is good or bad is up to your opinion.
“How Long Gone” became Brooks & Dunn’s 13th number one US country hit on the Billboard Charts back in 1998. It was their second single off of their ‘98 If You See Heralbum. It followed their smash hit “If You See Him, If You See Her” which featured Reba. The music video was directed by Steven Goldmann. “How Long Gone” can be found on their second greatest hits album.
While it may be winging it a little to call this a flashback, but it’s a little hard to believe that 2006 is slowly becoming more retro as we quickly head into the 2010’s.
This is a new feature on the blog where I’ll feature a certain singer and you can comment on what song you most remember/associate them by. To clarify, it doesn’t have to be the singer’s best song or biggest hit sales wise, but the song that you have remembered them by for the majority of you life. For this edition the singer is George Strait. King George has had hits that have spawned almost 30 decades now and for many I’m sure it’s hard to figure out which song they most remember him by.