Song of the Day #12: You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon

 You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon

Song of the Day #12

Apple Music link: https://music.apple.com/us/album/you-can-call-me-al/581741456?i=581741462

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/track/0qxYx4F3vm1AOnfux6dDxP?si=08e7c49dcc9747ef

It warms my heart to know that this is the most popular song of his whole career. Sure, many fans would hesitate to put it among his best, but it's absolutely pivotal in Paul Simon's catalog, orienting the spiritual purpose of Graceland. Of course, any song that speaks of redemption through the glow of the human spirit will always score points with me. Yet, this song is even more beautiful to me because it is about Paul Simon's emerging through his personal crisis by an awakening of his soul. His declining commercial success, failing marriage, and waning creative energy all thrusted Paul Simon into one of his worst periods. As it goes with personal crises though, it forces you to re-evaluate your purpose in life, and, with time, a rebirth comes. 

The lyrics perfectly document the aimlessness he felt and the paranoia that music helped him overcome. He comes up with all kinds of fears and worst-case scenarios that all seemingly melt away by the grand elation he felt from appreciating the music of South Africa, almost revitalizing his will for life. Truly, this is probably the most upbeat and energetic he's ever been. Throughout his all career, we could only interact with Simon through his own personal world. For the first time, he has opened his heart to the world and is able to celebrate everything he finds wonderful about it. That triumphant riff and danceable bassline signal a whole new beginning for him. That's why this song is so damn uplifting: you are witnessing a man heal himself in musical form and telling you about what he found in the process.

And even if you ignore any of the depth of the song (which many people do, unfortunately), this song is still impossibly catchy. Unbeatable hooks (there are at least 3 great ones here!), perfectly produced, truly shattering bass runs, and a complex but accessible Afro-Caribbean polyrhythmic structure. In the synth-drench sterilized wasteland of 80s pop, an album like Graceland with its vital, powerful African influences and abundance of creativity was an oasis. Yet, the album wouldn't have half of the appeal without its soulful optimism and universalism, and this song shows you how he stumbled upon that spirit in the first place.

And if you haven't watched the music video with Chevy Chase, it's hilariously awesome. You gotta check it out.

Song of the Day #11: 59th Street Bridge Song - Simon & Garfunkel

59th Street Bridge Song - Simon & Garfunkel

Song of the Day #11

Apple Music link: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-59th-street-bridge-song-feelin-groovy/1467438660?i=1467438682

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/track/0dzbfio3qTYG9uk40SJNcr?si=146af135c7f14b76

This humble little tune truly deserves its popularity among fans and casual listeners. All of Simon & Garfunkel's best songs have solid hooks, but this is easily one of their most subtly infectious. You can't go wrong with their lovely harmonies, but with the song's smooth-flowing vocal melody and Simon's delicate picking, it becomes a perfect slice of pop music.

Of course, the genius of Paul Simon permeates everything he did in his prime, and this song strongly bears the seal of his personality. Even though the title indicates it's about "feeling groovy," it's interesting to see how introverted it is. The song is playful and bouncy, but they give it a very subdued sound, almost whispering out the melody around the quiet guitar trickles. This is not terribly surprising though. At the end of the day, this is still Paul "I Am A Rock" Simon: whether he is bursting with joy or silently weeping, he is unwilling (maybe even afraid) to come out of his personal cocoon. Yet, who's to say Paul Simon ain't occasionally enjoying his isolated state? He's got his books and poetry to protect him, and sometimes, that's enough. This all makes it the perfect "happy lonely" song, grooving alone to a beat in the comfort of your room. And no, that's not as much of a pathetic experience as it seems on paper. If you don't believe me, give the song a listen to change your mind. 

Song of the Day #10: My Love Will Never Die - Otis Rush

 My Love Will Never Die - Otis Rush

Song of the Day #10

Apple Music link: https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-love-will-never-die/1565862930?i=1565863819

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/track/3Ng8SjHebBRprzCm2x78uD?si=11160f0367ad4f33

Yes, I know, ANOTHER Otis Rush song review. But I can't help it with genius of this caliber. Each and every song he wrote/performed for Cobra is a precious, shining jewel that should be cherished for generations. These are simply some of the most bleeding, heartfelt, and powerful recordings in the history of popular music. All 16 of his songs have heartbreaking vocal performances, scorching guitar work, seriously great songwriting at the hand of two geniuses (the other being Willie Dixon), and constantly innovative approaches to a formulaic genre. Even the goddamn shitty recording quality becomes an asset in this context. Instead, he is almost entirely forgotten by the public, where he STILL has less than 300k listeners on Spotify and is mostly remembered through covers of his songs. If this is not an injustice of the highest order, I have no idea what the hell is.

If all of this praise sounds like exaggerations, go ahead and say it while hearing the first 30 seconds of this absolute masterpiece. Never will there be an intro that can convey more raw pain and anguish, those horns almost screaming out in distress. It has a solemn, funeral-like march, which Otis uses it to make his performance overflowing with desperation. Just hear the way he stretches each verse (especially when he does it on "my love will neeeeeeeeeeeeever dieeeeeeee"), where he really sounds like the mere thought of his lost love makes his whole body tremble. This song is not an expression of inner turmoil: this is an internal thunderstorm, almost morphing into hysteria. Those subtle guitar flourishes add the necessary sonic depth, but it's really all about Otis laying his emotions bare for you. This recording is the most suicidal the blues have ever sounded, where he performs it like his body will lay to waste after this last fiery swan song. 

It is truly an emotionally crushing experience that few pieces of art can compare with, nothing I say will begin to convey what he expresses here. I don't even know if I can recommend it to everyone because it might be too intense for some audiences (no wonder he didn't sell as much as some of his equally talented peers). But when you find yourself in a state of black depression over losing a loved one, this is the song to hear. Otis Rush has been widely imitated and covered, but there is no way anyone can recapture the power of his blood-soaked recordings in the late 50s. Some genius is simply impossible to match.

Song of the Day #9: Kathy's Song - Simon & Garfunkel

 Kathy's Song - Simon & Garfunkel

Song of the Day #9

Apple Music link: https://music.apple.com/us/album/kathys-song/192480256?i=192480401

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/track/4Acofe9hICRvyBTP5hFNk0?si=c4dd0e6b4ffe428a

I've been listening to so much Simon & Garfunkel recently that almost any of their major songs could have been picked. Yet, somehow among the harrowing "Sounds of Silence," the playful "Leaves That Are Green," and the bittersweet lonerism of "I Am A Rock," this gorgeous gem happened to make the biggest impact on me from Sounds of Silence. It might be slightly harder to crack than "I Am A Rock" or "April Come She Will," but it is just as emotionally striking as either of those. 

Unlike so many folk artists in the 50s-60s, Paul Simon treats folk as an introspective tool rather than some academic exercise. Many hardcore folkies would call this approach "selling out," but who wants to hear a scholarly approach to emotional art? This type of music needs authentic expression to have any meaningful purpose, and it took Dylan, Paul Simon, Jackson C. Frank, and many others to shatter the rigidity of the folk revival in the 60s and set the stage for the singer-songwriter movement.

This bleeding emotional power of Paul Simon's folk songs comes out beautifully in "Kathy's Song," a song written about his then-girlfriend Kathy Chitty. It's probably not an original melody (as it goes with folk music), but the performance and lyrics are what make this song so incredibly treasurable. Supported by the soft trickle of his acoustic guitar, Paul gives one of his most tender and vulnerable performances. If you ever felt Paul Simon to be a bit pedantic (which is understandable), this is the song to dispel the notion: even if the lyrics are literate, Paul sings the song with little pretense. Its gorgeous lyrics feel like honest expressions of his state of mind, a mix of quiet sadness with hints of both hope and anguish about the future (how can someone not feel something from lyrics like this "and from the shelter of my mind / Through the window of my eyes / I gaze beyond the rain-drenched streets / To England, where my heart lies" and this "And as I watch the drops of rain / Weave their weary paths and die"). It's a very rich and complex song, showing how much raw talent of his could have been overlooked if not for the late success of "Sounds of Silence." It's absolutely required listening for a rainy day, where you stare out the window and try to make sense of it all. Since the weather is slowly becoming more gloomy, it's a perfect time as any to listen to this melancholic gem.

Song of the Day #8: I'm Ready - Muddy Waters

I'm Ready - Muddy Waters

Song of the Day #8

Apple Music link: https://music.apple.com/us/album/im-ready-single-version/1434913280?i=1434913606

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/track/2NQ8X3rlxQqmGx6oofdQcn?si=c60b33e1f7184e68

Since I've been listening to a lot of 50s Chicago blues recently, this was bound to get a song of the day review, being one of my absolute favorite Muddy songs. In my eyes, only "Hoochie Coochie Man"/"Manish Boy" can truly compete with the sheer cockiness of this tune. I mean, in its main chorus, Muddy literally declares, "I'm ready for you / I hope you're ready for me." He doesn't even give you a goddamn option in this matter: you either like what he's gonna do or you're gonna have to learn to like it. How can anyone be more alpha than that?

Though, if all that was intriguing about the song was Muddy's sexual dominance, I wouldn't hold it in such high regard. Part of the power of the recording is the dark, almost creepy undercurrent to that swagger. The song is so ferocious in spirit that it straddles the line between aggressive sexuality and being downright terrifying. At this point, he doesn't need to play guitar: his voice is so overflowing with charisma that his singing provides the brutal effect required. Every time you hear Muddy suddenly modulate his voice (especially the sharp one on "I'm READY"), you can feel him channeling some deeply sinister energy. The song seems to be about performing something sexually, but in the way he delivers it, he might as well be attempting to murder his lover. Even the cocky verses are enigmatically menacing. "I gotta ax handle pistol on a graveyard frame / That shoots tombstone bullets wearing balls and chain." Doesn't this sound like a weapon the devil would use against his sinners rather than what a mortal macho man would use to scare off his foes? One thing's for sure: when he belts out "I'm been drinking gin like never before," you ought to be scared as shit if he takes another drink.

As with all great Chicago blues recording though, it isn't just about the lead singer. Otis Spann's booming piano riff and the thick bottom sound by the rhythm section make the song unbelievably heavy, making each verse Muddy drops bone-crushing. However, the award of the second-most important instrument goes to Little Walter's harmonica. His fluid performance not only carries the main hook but also gives the song a very hazy feel, almost as if the murderer is approaching but you can't make out where he's coming from. From the rattlesnake-like vibrato on the main chorus to the alarm wail solos, he adds greatly to the tension that Muddy already brings.

Indeed, this song could not hope to be as popular as "Manish Boy." "I'm Ready" is much harder to decipher with its cryptic imagery and its lack of an arch-cocky, catchy riff. Yet, this is no excuse for it not being held as one of Muddy's greatest achievements. Let its aggressive mystique get to you, and once it does, it will kick your ass and creep under your skin like no other. Please, give this masterpiece the many listens it deserves.

Song of the Day #7: This Land Is Your Land - Woody Guthrie

 This Land Is Your Land - Woody Guthrie

Song of the Day #7

Apple Music link: https://music.apple.com/us/album/this-land-is-your-land/125968823?i=125968828

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/track/3ZjrfGcb3A2PMGA1vRNgSk?si=ae123865a99e44b0

I know, it looks pathetic to even attempt to write about this song. It's been covered, quoted, parodied, and celebrated for almost 8 decades now, and even a lot of Americans who don't know anything about the history of Western popular music probably know this one. It's been canonized on the level of the American national anthem at this point. What more is there to be said?

Well, how many people have actually heard it from the source? The original recording garners only around 13 million listeners on Spotify, which sounds like a lot, but it's really not when you consider how famous it is. And of those listeners, how many of them listen to it for its own merits rather than kowtowing to its cultural significance? Even less I reckon. As far as I know, the only serious discourse around this song is by music critics, everyone else not regarding this as more than a piece of history.

This is a great shame because I think the original recording is stunning. Forget that the melody was partially ripped from "When the World's on Fire." Folk music, and roots genres in general, is much more about personality and performing than compositional talent. Indeed, the reason this song hits so much harder than any other American anthem is that the song doesn't try to be an anthem. At its core, it's just a personal declaration of love for America's natural beauty. The song isn't much more than Woody telling you about his experience with nature and how it made him feel. It's not even a patriotic song: it could have described a personal relationship with any natural landscape. There's a reason that Woody almost called it "God Blessed America for Me," and it's not just because it was written as a response to "God Bless America."

What gets to me the most is the imagery. I mean just read the lyrics of this song. These images are not only descriptions of the American landscape but also encapsulations of the awe and reverence towards the natural world. The personalized emotional lens is what gives the lyrics their magical property: "ribbon of highways," "sparkling sands," and "endless skyway" are all exaggerated descriptions, but when we are head-over-heels in love, those big emotions effectively become our reality. The song may not have the most intricate lyricism, but in this intimate setting, it takes on a very personal context, describing the innate spiritual bond all people feel towards where they come from. I'm sure that's the real reason for its timeless value: it's merely not relevant to an American in the 1940s but to everyone who loves the world in all of its natural glory. Don't merely enjoy this great song as an artifact of the past. Go take a road trip late at night through the highway in the desert and put this song on: I'm sure you'll get what he's talking about.

Song of the Day #6: Mellow - Elton John

 Mellow - Elton John

Song of the Day #6

Apple Music link: https://music.apple.com/us/album/mellow/1440910513?i=1440910677

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/track/51Y1WwassIhqZYBwwaAjzr?si=6daee46803dc48ea

I feel a lot of music snobs sometimes feel a bit nervous rating Elton John as a major artistic giant of the 70s because of how easily Elton John could emotionally manipulate his audience to reach his goals. A lot of the time, Elton tries to appeal to the most primitive parts of your senses and intelligence, and when he became more serious, his ambitions elevated to such sky-high levels that you would think the nonchalant piano man would surely fail. On paper, Elton John is the kind of artist who should have been truly awful, which causes many to not even give him a chance. Those people are missing out: his musical genius is such that he is able to use that magical combination of excellent melody-writing, classy musicianship, brute expressiveness, and Taupin's intelligent lyrics to make his music succeed on all accounts. 

Take this song for example. Yes, he's forcing this song to be a big universalist McCartneyesque anthem. Yes, he uses every cliche in the book, from the serious piano intro to the introspective verses to the bombastic chorus. Yes, the song uses repetition to get its point across. And you know what? It really, really works. Every time I hear it, I get swept off my feet by its epic feel, its melody being absolutely gorgeous. I don't know whether this song is sincere at all, but Elton's piano playing and singing are more emotionally affecting than dozens of "bleeding" singer-songwriters. It has the exact same effect as ballads like "Maybe I'm Amazed" or "Hey Jude:" it's hard to tell why those choruses have their soul-nourishing greatness, but boy, do they have a lot of it.

I'm honestly shocked that it wasn't released as a single seeing how much potential it had. Even when discussing Honky Chateau, I never see it brought up as a big highlight. Well, I'm here to say it's every bit as good as anything Elton put out in his golden period, so you got to go right away and hear it: Elton John's career from 1970-1975 is one of those rare, shining cases where artistic genius coincided with commercial success. This song is an example of why Elton's good fortune was absolutely deserved.