Year 5, Day 291

Hello. So today's song is Until We Go Down by Ruelle.

Ruelle is the stage name for Margaret Eckford. She grew up in Mississippi, moved to do music school in Australia, and now works out of Nashville. Ruelle is a french word that has multiple meanings including wolf and chamber, and she picked it for that and the sense of mystery the word invoked. Her first album was released in 2010, followed by another in 2012 that were both indie-pop and credited to her real name. It was after that that she adopted the stage name and anew sound, before releasing multiple EPs. Her music isn't big on the radio, but it is basically the go-to for commercials, television, and trailers. I chose this song for this criteria because it's in a car commercial (that played while I was writing this...way to be creepy TV). But I also thought about using it for yesterday's because I knew it was used for The Shannara Chronicles. Apparently she also does the song for Shadowhunters, but it's a different one than this. If I listed everything her songs have been featured in this post would be huge, but all I can say is it's damn impressive.

This one is a song from a commercial. Harder because most of us don’t actually have cable anymore. Still, my grandma chose Maybe Tomorrow by Terry Bush, my mom picked Strong by Will Hoge, and Will went with Like A Rock by Bob Seger. Anna and Sammy chose Hands In My Pockets by Jim Guthrie which was apparently written specifically for the commercial.

Peace.

Year 5, Day 290

Hi everybody. Today I give you Stop, I'm Already Dead by Deadboy and the Elephantmen.

These guys were an indie rock band from Louisiana active from 2000 to 2007. After the split of Agents of Oblivian, two of the members created this band. After a year they added a full lineup. The created a demo, but two people left and those songs got shelved because their absence changed the band's sound dramatically. Their first official album was released in 2002. Again, a bunch of members quit, which led to another new lineup. They released an EP in 2004 through their website, but it got discontinued and the songs re-released on their album released two years later. While the second album under the band name, this one had only two people which changed the way the band was so it's often thought of as the debut. Later that year one of them left the band with no explanation, and within a year it was reported that the band was done.

Looking at another selection based on pop culture, we have songs used a TV show theme music. Written directly for the show is my mom’s choice of the Big Bang theme by Barenaked Ladies. Will picked The Greenback Boogie by IMA Robot, and Sammy warmed 90’s kids hearts with I’ll Be There For You by The Remembrandts. My grandma picked a show only the two of us like, choosing Boom Boom by John Lee Hooker. Anna chose I Don't Want To Be by Gavin DeGraw.

Peace.

Year 5, Day 289

Hello. So today's song is Bellbottoms by the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

These guys are an American alternative rock band formed in 1991 and made up of Jon Spencer, Judah Bauer, and Russell Simins. Jon was part of a lot of bands including Shithaus, Pussy Galore, Gibson Bros., Boss Hog and the Honeymoon Killers. It's with that last band that the group met and eventually formed. An interesting thing about this band is they are affiliated with the most labels I have ever seen. Legit, 19 to date. They've released 14 albums (pus extras) as a group, and each member has an extensive repertoire on their own and with other groups so look into them further if you're interested. These guys pretty much created this sound (although White Stripes made it famous) so I'm a little sad I only know them because of a movie, but at least I know now.

These are songs from movies. I don’t know which movie she was thinking, but my grandma said Joy To The World by Three Dog Night. Then my mom went eighties with a song titled the same as the movie in St. Elmo’s Fire by John Parr. Sammy picked Start The Commotion by The Wiseguys from Kangaroo Jack, and Will picked The Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin because of Thor: Ragnarok. Then last was Anna with Why Should I Worry by Billy Joel from Oliver and Company.

Peace.

Year 5, Day 288

Hi. So today's song is Empty by Jaiden and Boyinaband.

So this isn't a traditional song in the sense that you'll hear it on the radio, but it is an important song for subject matter. These guys are both Youtubers. Boyinaband is David Brown who was in a band called You and What Army that you can look up, but they've been on a hiatus since 2014. David has made a name for himself by creating music that deals with heavy material, such as his viral Don't Stay In School video. Jaiden is primarily an animator, but made a splash when she came out with a video discussing her struggles with an eating disorder and how that's why she wouldn't show her face on camera. Since then she's come out of her shell more, and her video really touched the hearts of a lot of people. One being David who contacted her to see if she'd be interested making a song about it. There is a behind the scenes video that adds a lot to it and I hope you watch it as well. I personally have had my own food issues, though it's not quite at disorder level, but now anytime I think about it I think of this video. It hurts me that Jaiden went through this, but I'm glad she found her way out, and found a way to hopefully help others to get out of their own stuff or even give them an outlet to start a conversation. Every step helps.

Here are some songs that break our hearts. The only one I’ve heard of was Will’s with Don’t Take The Girl by Tim McGraw. Then Anna went with A Change Is Gonna Come by Otis Redding. Sammy picked Rocket Girl by Doc Walker, my mom chose How Do You Get That Lonely by Blaine Larson, and my grandma went with Little Joe by Red Sovine.

Peace.

Year 5, Day 287

Hey guys. Today I give you Payback by Vo Williams featuring Shockbit.

Vo Williams is a composer who's been active since 2015. He doesn't have a lot of information for me to grab from, but there is a list of the TV shows and movies on IMDB that his music has been featured in. This one I know from Pitch which is cancelled now, but if you look baseball there is a pretty stellar season for you to check out. Shockbit is Ricky Luna who is a music producer. There are at least two songs I've found that he's credited on (this one and one with Pitbull) so look that up if you're curious about more.

This one required a song that people would be surprised to know you like. Starting us off with Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper is my grandma, then Fuck You by Cee Lo Green from my mom. Then we have Sammy’s with Love Yourself by Justin Bieber, Will choosing Blank Space by Taylor Swift, and Anna picking Stand By Your Man by Tammy Wynette.

Peace.

Year 5, Day 286

Hiya. So today's song is Ride Wit Me by Nelly featuring St. Lunatics.

Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. has been active since 1993 as Nelly. He formed St. Lunatics while in high school, but went solo to get signed, but the label ended up bringing in the St. Lunatics as well to amp up the rap scene stemming from the Midwest. His debut album came out in 2000 with this song on it, and it went big, as did his next albums in 2002 and in 2003. By 2011 he had five albums and a mixtape which again featured the St Lunatics. He's still around now, making music and has a TV show on BET. The St. Lunatics are made up of Nelly, Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, and City Spud. Like I said before, they got signed after Nelly did, and while City Spud got imprisoned for robbery, the rest made and released their debut album. Afterwards some of the members focused on releasing solo stuff, one even creating his own label. Their next album was supposed to come out in 2009, but wasn't released until 2011, and there hasn't really been anything since.

The criteria here is a song by an artist you hate. Hate is a strong word for someone you don't know, but I really dislike Nelly's music. Sammy went with Give It Away by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Will chose Beez In The Trap by Nicki Minaj featuring 2 Chainz, Anna said Mine by Taylor Swift, and my grandma picked Sorry by Justin Bieber. My mom settled on Born Free by Kid Rock.

Peace.

Year 5, Day 285

What's Up. Today's song is Pony by Ginuwine.

Ginuwine is the stage name for Elgin Baylor Lumpkin whose been active since 1991. He started his career as part of the collective called Swing Mob where he met and worked with some other influential rap artists. The collective eventually folded, but he continued to collaborate with some of those people to create his debut album in 1996. This song was the first single from that album, but it keeps popping back up every couple years from being used for pop culture. On his own he's done eight albums so far. In 2007 he also teamed up with two singers named Tyrese and Tank to form TGT. As a group they were signed in 2012 and released an album in 2013. He's also done a little bit of acting throughout his career, but music is his main thing.

This is supposed to be a song that drives us nuts. Going with older stuff was Sammy with Yellow Submarine by The Beatles, and my mom with Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus. Then more modern was Will with Time To Win by Down With Webster, Anna choosing Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift, and my grandma picking Baby by Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris.

Peace.