This week, I’ve had Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”#OnRepeat. I grew up listening to this song repeatedly, but didn’t really quite appreciate it until recently.

Queen is a rick band from London, England that was popular during the 1970s and 1980s. The band was lead by vocalist and pianist, Freddy Mercury (famously known for sliding effortlessly up and down his five-octave range), writing music that blended Pop, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, and Classical music. They were known for experimenting heavily with sound and live stage performance techniques. Some of their most well-known songs are “We Will Rock You,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and “Somebody to Love.”

“Bohemian Rhapsody” was a song written by Freddy Mercury that became one of the most iconic Pop songs in the last several decades. Nearly six minutes in length, the song was written in the format of a suite, with changes in style and tempo, moving from a Ballad section to an “Operatic” section, to an aggressive Hard Rock. Mercury’s virtuosic voice is prominent throughout with an incredibly powerful, piercing upper range that he utilizes while belting. He demonstrates ridiculous efficiency in diction and rhythm, and he was able to slide from subtle and sweet to brash and energetic almost seamlessly. Having grown up listening to Queen, and then training as a vocalist myself, I have gained a whole new level of respect for this song, Freddy Mercury, and the band as a whole.

Take a listen below:

What do you think? What is your favorite Queen song? Let us know in the comments below!

This week, I’ve had Sam Cooke’s “Wonderful World” #OnRepeat. Even though I’m writing a post about this song this week, this song has been running through my brain for the past month or so. Yeah, it’s that good.

I’m pretty sure I’ve written about Sam Cooke before–his voice and music is so soulful and iconic–but if not, Sam Cooke is a singer and songwriter who is considered to be one of the most influential vocalists of his time. His music consisted of Soul, Gospel, R&B, Swing, Jazz, and Pop music, and although he died young, his music is still considered relevant decades later. Some of his most well-known songs are “A Change is Gonna Come,” “You Send Me,” “Cupid,” and “Twistin’ the Night Away.”

“Wonderful World” was originally written by the song writing duo, Lou Adler and Herb Alpert, with Cooke tweaking the lyrics to emphasize education more. The lyrics for the song were written with the theme of love and feelings completely trumping knowledge and education. Cooke’s smooth vocal timbre and seemingly effortless delivery of the melody and the lyrics highlight the theme even more, giving you an image of someone who hasn’t got a care in the world since they have the love of another. Cooke’s voice and performance, combined with the catchy melody and child-like, lullaby lyrics make this song a classic for me; one that is perfect for playing in your car while driving by the beach on a hot summer day.

Take a listen below:

Do you have any songs or singers that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

The week, I’ve had Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” #OnRepeat. I grew up listening to Cyndi Lauper and this song, but only recently rediscovered this song after hearing Anne, Donna, and April sing their own version of this song on the show, Parks and Recreation.

Cyndi Lauper is a singer, songwriter, and actress from New York who was popular during the 1980s. She is a strong LGBTQ activist and has won multiple Grammy Awards and Tony Awards for her songwriting. Her music blends Pop, Rock, Blues, Synthetic Pop, and Soul music. Some of her most well-known songs are “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “True Colors,” “All Through the Night,” and “She Bop,” also composing lyrics and music for the Broadway musical, Kinky Boots.

“Time After Time” was written by Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman for Lauper’s debut album, She’s So Unusual, in 1983. The song lyrics depict a classic theme of love and devotion, but the actual arrangement itself gives the song its iconic sound and 1980s vibe. Lauper’s voice always reminds me of my childhood–I was born in 1988, but a lot of 80s music was played in my parents’ household well into the latter half of the 90s–so I am partial to her music. The range of the melody is reminiscent of Bon Jovi’s “Don’t Stop Believing;” one of those types of songs that has the potential to showcase a singer’s range and command of their voice. Lauper is no different in this regard, but in some ways brings a child-like, innocent quality with her performance, making the meaning behind the lyrics pure and real.

Take a listen below:

What do you think? Do you have any songs or singers that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

This week, I’ve had Blue Swede’s version of “Hooked on a Feeling” #OnRepeat. I’ve been listening to a lot of music from the 1960s and 70s, and this song has been too catchy to keep from playing more than once, especially because of the “ooga-ooga-chackas” (if you’ve heard the song, you know what I’m talking about).

Blue Swede was a rock band from Sweden that played cover songs. They were led by Sweden’s most popular vocalist at the time, Björn Skifs, and were active during the early 1970s. They rose to international success when they released their version of “Hooked on a Feeling,” reaching the top of the Billboard charts for more than three months. Some of their other well-known cover songs are “Silly Milly,” “Never My Love,” and “Hush.”

“Hooked on a Feeling” is a pop song originally recorded by B.J. Thomas in 1968, and was written by Mark James. The Blue Swede version of this song is actually a cover of the British singer-songwriter, Jonathan King, whose version features the well-known “ooga-ooga-chacka.” They also changed the lyrics slightly to avoid any possible drug references. Songs just aren’t written this way anymore–not overly-sexualized or over-dramatic, playful yet simple and to the point. Plus, the music and arrangement is catchy and Björn’s voice cuts through the band like a knife. His swing and flair, combined with a powerful vocal timbre is reminiscent of Tom Jones (the similarities make sense since Jones was popular internationally during the 1960s).

Take a listen below:

Are there any singers or groups that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!