Song of the Day - I Was Here - Beyoncé

Today is my birthday and rather than post a birthday song by Madonna or Katy Perry like I usually do, I wanted to post a song that's near and dear to me.  I perused my catalog of favorite songs and after a few possibilities I came across this one and I knew immediately.  Beyoncé's I Was Here could have been written by me.  I think above all else in this life, I'd want people to think of me and remember me as someone who lived, someone who loved, and someone who made my mark on this world in my own way.

Oftentimes I feel like I don't belong here.  It feels like no one else thinks the way I do, believes what I believe, or acts the way I do, yet I still persevere in my commitment to leaving my footprint, making the most out of this crazy, precious thing we all call life in the only way I know how.  I've been reminded recently that life is such a delicate thing and we all need to appreciate all that we do have, each and every day, and most of all be thankful to have another one to live.  

I've wasted a lot of days in my life, and I'm probably going to waste a few more before I'm done, but I would hope that once I do reach my end I can look back and say, with pride, yes, I was here!  Happy Birthday to me! Mwah!

I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time

Know there was something that, meant something that I left behind

When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets

Leave something to remember, so they won't forget

I was here

I lived, I loved

I was here

I did, I've done everything that I wanted

And it was more than I thought it would be

I will leave my mark so everyone will know

I was here

I wanna say I lived each day, until I die

And know that I meant something in somebody's life

The hearts I have touched will be the proof that I leave

That I made a difference, and this world will see

I was here

I lived, I loved

I was here

I did, I've done everything that I wanted

And it was more than I thought it would be

I will leave my mark so everyone will know

I was here

I lived, I loved

I was here

I did, I've done everything that I wanted

And it was more than I thought it would be

I will leave my mark so everyone will know

I was here

I just want them to know

That I gave my all, did my best

Brought someone some happiness

Left this world a little better just because

I was here

Song of the Day - Spirit Indestructible - Nelly Furtado

It's hard to believe it's been three years since Nelly Furtado has put anything out there.  It was September 2012 when her last album, The Spirit Indestructible, was released and since then...nothing. Well I certainly hope that changes soon, but in the meantime here's the title cut from that album, and uplifting and inspirational jam that's among my all time favorites.  Enjoy and Happy Sunday! 

Song of the Day - Hide Away - Daya

Here's a relatively new song from a Pittsburgian singer name Daya off of her debut, eponymous EP that just came out in September.  It's one of those songs you like the very first time you hear it...poppy, dancey, catchy.   Check it out and see what you think...

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - Right on Track - The Breakfast Club

Now here's a cool Flashback Friday post for you. I had completely forgotten about this tune until yesterday. After Thanksgiving dinner, we were all sitting around listening to snippets of old songs on mine and my sister's collections and I had passed through a Madonna song when my other sister mentioned that she was once in a group before she became famous, but she couldn't remember the name of the group.  Well, it's amazing how much information gets stored in your brain, because I immediately knew what she was talking about.  There was this group called The Breakfast Club, and they are really only known for these two thingss: one, that they had this one hit song (see below!) in 1987, and two, that Madonna played drums for them early on in her career.

Anyway, like I said, the brain can store so much information that when I found and played the song on YouTube, I remembered all of the lyrics like I had just heard it last week or something.  It was a great 80's-style dance tune and it was good enough that I'm on my way now to iTunes to download it. So if you were around in 87 and you think you may have heard this, you need to check it out...

Thanksgiving Song of the Day - Kind and Generous - Natalie Merchant

You've been so kind and generous

I don't know how you keep on giving

For your kindness I'm in, debt to you

For your selflessness, my admiration

For everything you've done, you know I'm bound

I'm bound to thank you for it....

Natalie Merchant's Kind and Generous, to me, is the perfect Thanksgiving song.  In fact, I was quite surprised not to see it on several Thanksgiving song lists I perused over the past couple of days.  I mean, even though the words thank you aren't in the title, the tune is all about appreciation, So for all of you out there who celebrate Thanksgiving, take the time to be grateful for what you've got, because no matter who you are, you've got a lot!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Song of the Day - Thank You For Being a Friend - Andrew Gold/Golden Girls

Thank you for being a friend...

Travel down the road and back again,

Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant.

And if you threw a party, invited everyone you knew,

You would see, the greatest gift would be from me...

...and the card attached would say, 

Thank you for being a friend!

Friends are one of the most precious commodities in life.  Friends are the family you've chosen, and you are part of the family they have chosen.  They're there through the good times and the bad, the happy and the sad.  Take some time to appreciate all of the people who make your life whole, not only during Thanksgiving time, but all the year round.

Song of the Day - Thank You - Dido

What ever happened to Dido?  She had such good songs over the years, starting with this one (which I had actually forgotten about until now) from her 1999 debut album No Angel.  I mean, there was Here With Me, White Flag, and...and...  Hmmm!?!?  Whatever, those were great songs and I'm sure she's done other stuff I'd probably like if I knew.  It turns out she's been making music all along, releasing her latest, Girl Who Got Away, around 2013, though she seems to be under everyone's radar (Note to self: check out some recent Dido!).  Anyway, here's a gem of hers that's certainly fitting of the season...

I want to thank you, for bringing me the best days of my life!

Song of the Day - Thank You - Alanis Morissette

It's Thanksgiving Week!  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and although I'm not exactly in the spirit, I'm gonna try and get into it through, what else?  Music!  Even though we've all got problems...that's just life...we've all got a lot to be thankful for, no?  Here's a classic by Alanis to get us started...

Song of the Day - Hold My Hand - Jess Glynne

Standing in a crowded room and I can't see your face

Put your arms around me, tell me everything's okay

In my mind,, I'm running round a cold and empty space

Just put your arms around me, tell me everything's okay

Darling hold my hand

Oh, won't you hold my hand?

Cause I don't wanna walk on my own anymore

Won't you understand?

Cause I don't wanna walk alone

I'm ready for this, there's no denying

I'm ready for this, you stop me falling

I'm ready for this, I need you all in

I'm ready for this, so darling hold my hand 

Many of you may not know Jess Glynne by name, but hopefully that'll change soon.  The best way to tell you just who this red-headed singer with the big voice is would be to tell you that she's the girl who sang on Clean Bandit's smash hit, Rather Be.  Well, Jess Glynne is an English recording artist who just recently released her debut solo album, I Cry When I Laugh.  Hold My Hand is the third single off the record, following Home and Right Here, and it's one of my favorites off the album, along with Gave Me Something.  The song is sweet and uplifting and almost as likable as the awesomely wonderful Rather Be.  Check it out...

Song of the Day - When We Were Young - Adele

It's here! After what seemed like a four year eternity, Adele's third full studio album, 25, is finally out there for the world to take in and enjoy.  The release of Hello weeks ago gave us a wonderful glimpse of what was to come and proved that this oh so talented young lady is indeed something special. Here's a live performance of When We Were Young, yet another powerful ballad in the style of Miss Adele.  Check it out and enjoy...

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - I'll Fly With You - Gigi D'Agostino

Here's a hot one from 2001 and Italian deejay/producer Gigi D'Agostino.  The song's original title was L'amour Toujours and it enjoyed several mixes that could be heard all over the radio way back then, of which my favorite I cannot seem to find.  Anyway, click play and relive a great tune!

Song of the Day - November Skies - DJ Carnage, feat. Tomas Barfod and Nina Kinert

Here's a song I caught on Sirius' BPM station the other day, and I liked it the first time I heard it. Though the version I'm posting here today is a bit faster and more dance oriented than the chillier version I heard on the radio, I'm still digging it.  It's got a nice feel to it, vocals, music and all, and it's a perfect for this very time...

Song of the Day - Till the World Ends - Britney Spears

Been listening to a lot of Britney Spears lately and here's one I've had on repeat...one of my favorites from Femme Fatale and a great song for Hump Day.  

Song of the Day - Do You Miss Me - Jocelyn Enriquez

The radio plays our favorite song

And that's what keeps me holding on

Baby do you miss me

Now that I'm gone

Here's an oldie, but a goodie!  This one came out during a brief revival of 80's style freestyle music in the mid-1990's.  Miss Enriquez was at the head of that short comeback in 1996 with this one and A Little Bit of Ecstasy from her eponymous second album.  Great song!  Classic freestyle! 

Song of the Day - Show Me Love - Robin Schulz

In case you haven't noticed, I love Robin Schulz!  I've already posted a few songs from his awesome new record, Sugar, and believe me there'll be more to come.  Here's his latest single, a nice, relaxing jam that would sound great on the radio...

Song of the Day - So Good To Me - Chris Malinchak

You've been so good to me

Give you anything

You've been so good to me

Your love inside of me

Today's song is not the kind of song that you should sit here and watch.  Simply click play and listen as you do whatever else you're doing.  Yes, it's another one of those chill-lounge tunes that I love so much.  If you were around in the late 80's/early 90's you might recognize the soothing ooh's so perfectly accompanying the rhythmic islandish music.  They're sampled from the acapella version of Soul II Soul's classic Back to Life, and they add a nice touch to this most relaxing of songs for your Sunday.  Anyway, click play and listen...

Song of the Day - Automatic - Zhu X Aluna George

Here's a song I've Shazamed and forgot about no less than three times and I think it's about time I both downloaded it and shared it.  It's by electronic artist Zhu and it's actually been around since 2014.  The tune is just the type of song I like, a little chill, a little dance, and some smooth vocals by singer Aluna George.  Check out Automatic...

Song of the Day - Something Better - Audien, featuring Lady Antebellum

I've been hearing, and liking, this one a lot lately on one of my favorite Sirius channels, BPM.  It's such a nice blend of Lady Antebellum pop-country mixed in with some dancey beats.  Great tune!

A Veteran's Day Song of the Day - American Pie - Don McLean

Today, as many of us enjoy a mid-week day off, we should take the time to honor and appreciate all of the veteran's out there who have protected and served us throughout our history and even today. It takes a brave person to do what they do and many have sacrificed their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have in this great country of ours.  Here's a timeless lil patriotic ditty that we all know and love, so click play, enjoy and Happy Veteran's Day...

Song of the Day - Break Yourself - Hook n Sling

Here's a funkdified house jam for your Tuesday. Enjoy!

Song of the Day - On My Mind - Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding is back!  Though never quite holding the title of a superstar, Ellie has managed to maintain a presence in the music industry.  Between hit singles both solo and on collaborations, she's hit the charts on a number of occasions, though you rarely ever hear, aw, when is Ellie Goulding going to put out new music.  Well, that may change after this very promising lead single to her new Delirium set.  This is the kind of tune you can enjoy the very first time you hear it, so if you haven't yet, check it out...

Song of the Day - Yeah 3X - Chris Brown

I went into the city last night with my pal Manny and his friend Nelson, and along the way we were listening to an old playlist of mine called Current Faves.  These are songs that used to exist in my Current folder, but once they were no longer current I put them in this new folder just for the purpose of reminiscing.  That's just what we did last night, not remembering the really old times, but reliving some jams from just a few years back.  Many of them reminded me of going to Splash and all the good memories I had there.  And here's a great dance tune from that time...

Song of the Day - For a Better Day - Avicii

It seems like Avicii has been putting music out slowly and steadily and in dribs and drabs in the months since his monumental True album, but now he's got a brand new set of thirteen tunes that pick up where the last one left off.  Here is the second single off of his current Stories album and it just happens to be my favorite, with piano riffs, crescendos and nice vocals by singer Alex Ebert.  Check it out...

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - Can't Hold Us Down - Christina Aguilera, featuring Lil Kim

I've been revisiting the catalog of Christina Aguilera the past couple of days and especially loving the Stripped album all over again, and I even blogged about the song Cruz last night over at John's World.  Oh man, that album is classic X-Tina and I'm remembering all over again why I played this one out back in the day.  With so many great songs like the two I mentioned above and Fighter and Infatuation and Walk Away and Beautiful and, and...so click play, relive a memory or two, and go out and have a great Friday...

Song of the Day - Thinking About You - Calvin Harris, featuring Ayah Marar

It's weird to say, but this song was the eighth and final single to Calvin Harris' 18 Months album. The jam features Jordanian singer Ayah Marar on vocals and it's a pleasing four-plus minutes of easy breezy dance music from a highly successful, albeit not-as-good-as Harris' previous work, Ready For the Weekend.  More of a summer jam than a fall club hit, but well worth a listen...

Song of the Day - Sorry - Justin Bieber

The Biebs is back and hot this week with the all-new Sorry, a mid to high tempo track with a light-hearted, dancey tone.  Not as good as What Do You Mean?, but not too shabby either.  Check it out...

Song of the Day - Expensive - Tori Kelly

No no, money don't buy love!

Here's a big song from newcomer Tori Kelly, with a little help from rapper Daye Jack.  Kind of reminds me of something, but I just can't put my finger on it.

Song of the Day - Headlights - Robin Shulz, featuring Ilsey

Oh, I know why you chasing all the headlights

Oh, 'cause you always tryna get ahead of light

Baby, when you go

You know I'll be waiting on the other side

And I know it's cold 

But if you stay then I could keep you warm at night

I am so digging Robin Shulz's newest project, Sugar.  I posted the eponymous single a couple of weeks ago and there are so many more from this one that I want to post, but we'll do that a little at a time.  I tested the first few songs in the car over the weekend with my pals Eric and Gary and they were like, who is this?...they both liked what they heard.  Here is the opener to the record, a beautiful and tender tune that is typical of Robin's chill sound.  Check out Headlights below...I am sure you're gonna like it!

Song of the Day - Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players

I just got back from a long Halloween Weekend riding roller coasters at Dorney and Hershey Parks in Pennsylvania and I figured I'd post a quickie Song of the Day to mark how I'm feelin'....