This week, I’ve had Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Sherry” #OnRepeat. Even though the song is considered in the Rock genre, it grooves ridiculously well.

Frankie Valli is a singer from Newark, New Jersey known for being the lead singer of the American Pop Rock band, the Four Seasons. The group (originally known as The Four Lovers) were internationally successful in the 1960s and 1970s and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Some of their most well-known songs are “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Rag Doll,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You.”

“Sherry” was written by Bob Gaudio in 1968, and was the group’s first number one hit. The song is written from the view point of a guy who wants to go out with a girl, but she has to ask permission from her parents. Even though the song is somewhat dated (people don’t really ask nor care about whether or not their parents are comfortable with them dating any longer), the subtle desperation found in the lyrics is clearly shown in Frankie Valli’s croon-like wailing voice. His voice reminds me a lot of the Beach Boys, who were pretty popular around this same time and too-wop singers from the 1950s. This, combined with the rhythm arrangement for the song makes for a grooving pop song that easily gets stuck in your head.

Listen below:

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

This week, I’ve had Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” #OnRepeat. Not only is the melody catchy, but every time I hear this song, I find myself wanting a piña colada drink (interestingly enough, I heard he doesn’t like that type of cocktail, but it was the first drink that popped up in his mind when he was writing the song).

Rupert Holmes (born David Goldstein) is a singer-songwriter, playwright, and author originally from England, who moved at a young age to Nanuet, New York. He gained recognition from his playing and songwriting with the bands, The CuffLinks and The Buoys, later collaborating with singers like Barbara Streisand and Judy Collins. He earned several Tony Awards for his 1985 musical, Drood, creating a television series in the 1990s, and even publishing several books. Some of his most well-known songs are “Timothy,” “Him,” “Answering Machine,” and “You Got It All.”

“Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” was written and recorded by Rupert Holmes for his album, Partners in Crime in 1979. The lyrics talk about a man who is bored with his marriage and reads a newspaper ad to meet a woman who likes piña coladas. The song has an interesting twist at the end: the man meets the mysterious woman at a bar only to find out it was his current partner. The song’s lyrics, set in story form, are sung in a “sing-songy” style. This approach works to Holmes’ advantage since the melody and arrangement cause the listener to remember not only the melody, but the words as well. Holmes’ voice, which is a mixture of Elton John and The Beach Boys, brings a light-hearted feel to the already pop-like song. Listen below:

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

This week, I’ve had The Beach Boy’s “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” #OnRepeat. This song has been a favorite of mine for awhile, but I’ve been playing it a lot lately because of the weather and the upbeat nature of the song.

The Beach Boys are a rock group from Hawthorne, California that formed in 1961. Their use of vocal harmony, different musical arrangement techniques, and surf and beach lyrics made them an influential and popular band during the 1960s and 70s. Their music is a blend of 1950s-style Rock’N’Roll, Pop, Jazz, and Psychedelic music, creating a unique sound that was surprisingly more complex than much of the rock music that was being created at the time. Some of the most well-known songs are “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” and “Don’t Worry Baby.”

“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” was written and recorded in 1966 for the album, Pet Sounds, using Classical music influences and instruments that weren’t typically associated with American Pop music, like the accordion. The lyrics describe a young couple who want to be together, but can’t because of their age. Even though the words evoke feelings of lament and longing, the music is bright and upbeat; and the singers’ vocal harmonies and catchy melody make this song easy to get stuck in your head.

Take a listen below:

Is there a singer or group that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!