Sweet About Me -- Gabriella Cilmi

This was a free iTunes video, and then I was able to pick up the album in the cheap rack. It's an interesting song from a (then very) young lady who plays with the image of girls as sweet, or not so much.

The song almost qualifies for a "Better as a Video", because the video is interesting to watch.

Amazon Associates Links for Lessons To Be Learned: CD MP3

Old Time Religion - Savae

This was an Amazon freebie from 2011. I couldn't even confirm until a few minutes ago that Savae actually was the San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble. I've had trouble finding other stuff by them, but boy is their version of Old Time Religion a killer:

The sampler I got for free for them is still $0.99, it's a bargain: MP3

The Motown Song -- Rod Stewart and The Temptations

This came up on the random draw for Friday, when I thought "Didn't it have a wacky music video?" Yes, indeed, it did.

The song: It's a 90s Rod Stewart pop song. I love singing along with The Temptations, and it's really nice. I like it enough for it to be in my list of favorites. Sometimes you stick with the music you grow up with....

The video: Now this is where it gets gonzo. The trend of mixing animation and live action was in full swing (Paula Abdul and MC Stray Cat, anyone?), and Rod both turned the knob to 11 and made fun of nearly everyone in the industry. He manages to make fun of Sinead O'Connor, Madonna, Vanilla Ice, and even makes a jab at Elton John's Eisenhower hat phase, all while keeping a catchy beat going.

It's not great, and I'm not even certain it's good, but it's certainly fun and an experience.

Amazon Associates Links for Vagabond Hearts: CD MP3

Static Waves -- Andrew Belle and Katie Herzig

Sometimes I think I have too many songs in my collection; I can't pay attention to artists like I should. This is off Andrew Velle's debut album, and it's another Amazon freebie I got in a sampler (for TuneCore Records this time).

I always could relate to it because Paula and I almost didn't meet. She didn't want to come to that New Year's Eve party, and had to get talked into it. I actually left it before meeting her, because I was working with some people on a project (that I later got thrown out of...), but a guy who rode with me wanted to go back to see someone else there. God meant for us to meet, so we would have, but it could have gone so differently...

I need to go back and start looking for Andrew Belle music...

Amazon Associates Links for The Ladder: CD MP3

The Lotto -- Ingrid Michaelson and AJR

This is a NoiseTrade special, hyping Ingrid Michaelson's then-next tour (the "Hell No" tour in 2016). You know, way back in pre-history before COVID when people actually went out and heard musicians in person...

Anyway, I technically get to be a hipster here, because I became a fan of AJR before they hit it at least somewhat big.

Moreover, this was a big David and Paula song. This fit our life, since we never had a bunch of money and were happy doing free (or low priced) stuff instead of spending a lot of money.

I was going to show you a live version of the song, since they never made a video, but most had poor sound quality. Instead, you get the song-only version:

Amazon Associates Links for The Lotto: MP3

See Hey (I Love You) -- Michael Franti & Spearhead featuring Cherine Anderson

The iTunes Store freebies strike again. Technically, this is "Alternative", but it's a neat mix of reggae, rap, and pop. Plus, I love the basic message of romance and a guy loving a girl (and vice versa). I've kept this in my favorites rotation ever since I got it in 2009, and it's not coming out.

A bonus: Cherine Anderson is a good singer in her own right, and has a neat gospel song named Victory deserving of a listen. I'm buying it right now, and we'll cover it in more detail when it comes around on the guitar.

Amazon Associates Links for All Rebel Rockers: MP3

Black Velvet - Alannah Myles

Technically she's not a one-hit wonder in the US, because a second song charted in the top 40, but she's pretty close to one. Alannah Myles had more success overseas and in her native Canada than in the US with her career. Here in the US, this one tune about Elvis is all the fortune she's had.

Interestingly, it isn't the only version of the song to chart at the same time. Atlantic worked with Robin Lee to release a country version of the song at the same time, and it charted as well. I'm not sure how I managed to miss this the first time around.

Amazon Associates Links for Alannah Myles: CD MP3