MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening of Teardrop)

Climbing the charts on January 27, 1998,
was the English trip-hop band Massive Attack
with their song “Teardrop.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

The vocal you hear wasn’t written or rehearsed.

It was improvised in the studio by
Elizabeth Fraser
from Cocteau Twins.

(Music Cut 3 — brief vocal lead-in)

That day, Fraser had just learned that her close friend
and former partner, Jeff Buckley, had died.

She later said the words came from a feeling
that he was still there.

(Final song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Teardrop on the fire —
fearless on my breath.” — Massive Attack

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening of You Oughta Know)

January 26, 1996.
That’s when Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know”
hit No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

One detail many people didn’t know back then —
the rhythm section on this song features
members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Flea on bass…
and Dave Navarro on guitar.

(Music Cut 3 — brief vocal lead-in)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“I want you to know that I’m happy for you.” — Alanis Morissette

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Opening hook of “Every Morning”)

On January 25, 1999,
Sugar Ray released their single
“Every Morning.”

(Music Cut 2 — groove settles in)

That acoustic hook you hear throughout the song
is NOT an original Sugar Ray creation.

It’s a direct “borrowing”
from Abracadabra
by The Steve Miller Band

(Music Cut 3 — brief vocal lead-in)

Lead singer – Mark McGrath has joked that they basically “stole” the vibe —
but Steve Miller was cool with it.

Probably helped that a songwriting credit came with it…
along with a really nice royalty check.

(Final Song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Somethin’ so deceivin’, when you stop believin’ —
turn me around again.” — Sugar Ray

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Opening of Lightning Crashes)

On January 24, 1996,
Live took “Lightning Crashes”
to No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

To get that haunting, distant vocal tone at the start of this song,
producer Jerry Harrison — formerly of Talking Heads —
had lead singer Ed Kowalczyk record his vocals
inside a bathroom.

(Music Cut 3 — brief vocal lead-in)

So yes — a multi-million-selling vocal performance…
recorded in a space usually reserved for brushing your teeth,
showering,
and other duties.

(Final Song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Forces pullin’ from the center of the earth again —
I can feel it.” — Live

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Opening of Today)

One of the most upbeat-sounding songs of the ’90s
hit No. 1 on January 23, 1996.

“Today” from the Smashing Pumpkins

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

The iconic music video —
with Billy Corgan driving an ice-cream truck through the desert —
was inspired by a childhood memory.

(Music Cut 3 — shot of the ice-cream truck)

An ice-cream man who decided to quit his job
drove through the neighborhood one last time,
giving away everything he had —
free — to all the kids.

(Final Song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Can’t wait for tomorrow —
I might not have that long.” — Smashing Pumpkins

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(opening of “Everybody Hurts”)

One of the most emotionally direct songs of the ’90s hit No. 1 on January 22, 1993.
R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

FYI – The dramatic string arrangement in this song
wasn’t written by a typical session musician.

It was composed by John Paul Jones
from Led Zeppelin.

(Music Cut 3 — Led Zeppelin)

R.E.M. wanted an old-school feel,
and Jones brought that orchestral swagger they were looking for.

(Final Song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“When you’re sure you’ve had enough
of this life, well, hang on.” — R.E.M.

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Opening of Right Here, Right Now)

On today’s date — but back in 1991 —
Jesus Jones released their second album,
Doubt.

(Music Cut 2 — groove settles in)

The original version of “Right Here, Right Now”
used unauthorized samples from
Sign o’ the Times by Prince.

(Prince clip of “Sign O’ the Time”)

Since the producer had already dealt with sample lawsuits,
he insisted the song be changed
before it could ever be released.

(Final Song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Right here, right now —
there is no other place I want to be.” — Jesus Jones

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Opening of Loser)

Back in 1994, on January 20,
Beck took
“Loser” to No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

(Music Cut 2 — groove settles in)

Now THIS amused me —
Beck has said that for this song – he was trying to emulate the delivery of
Chuck D
from Public Enemy.

(Music Cut 3 — brief cut of Bring the Noise)

And yeah —
Beck has also admitted
it didn’t exactly come out the same.

(Final Song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“You can’t write if you can’t relate.” — Beck

So close to using –

“And my time is a piece of wax fallin’ on a termite
Who’s chokin’ on the splinters”

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Opening of Glycerine)

Back in 1996, on January 19,
Bush hit No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart
with “Glycerine.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

By the way —
“Glycerine” is spelled wrong on purpose.
Singer and writer – Gavin Rossdale wanted it to feel more emotional, not technical.

That’s advice which never would have worked for me in spelling class.

(Music Cut 3 — brief vocal lead-in)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Don’t let the days go by.” — Bush

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Opening of Take a Bow)

Nothing grunge about the Queen of Pop —
but on this date back in 1995,
Madonna hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
with “Take a Bow.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

Here’s a detail that caught me off guard —
the guitar on this song was played by Babyface.

And Madonna told him she wanted it played
like Prince would absolutely hate it.

(Final Song clip)

That’s a different way to give a direction

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“All the world is a stage,
And everyone has their part.” — Madonna

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