NewYearsDayProject | a song a day blog

In 2005, The Fray scored their first hit with “ Over My Head ” (Cable Car). The song peaked at number 8 on Billboard’ s Hot 100 and topped several radio charts. While that song received critical acclaim from Billboard and Stylus Magazine , the piano-based pop-rock quartet band from Denver, Colorado, would be much less memorable today if it wasn’t for their second hit. After seeing the band live in Los Angeles, the music supervisor for the medical drama Grey’s Anatomy Alexandra Patsavas featured the song “ How to Save a Life ” in an episode in the massively popular ABC show. After the song’s feature in the episode, fans downloaded the ballad on iTunes.   I PRAY TO GOD HE HEARS YOU. The kickstart to the success of “How to Save a Life” has been credited to Grey’s Anatomy. But before the song was a single, it was the title track to The Fray’s debut album . How to Save a Life is peak mid-’00 piano pop rock. Every track is inoffensive and could be played in any coffee shop or grocery sto

In 1988,  Tracy Chapman 's first single " Fast Car " rose to Number 6 on Billboard 's Hot 100 . Her performance at Wembley Stadium in Nelson Mandela's 7oth birthday tribute helped to kick-start the singer's career. At the time Mandela was still serving time in prison, and the tribute concert gave a strong message to world against South African apartheid. Chapman produced a string of hits in the late '80s and early '90s, but she is best known for today's song, "Fast Car." Last year, “Fast Car” took another ride on Billboard’s Hot 100, this time all the way to number 2 . But this time, Luke Combs , a country singer with no previous pop crossover hits was the song’s driver. Combs’ cover of “Fast Car” was just one of the massive country songs of last year. In fact, it was another country hit, Morgan Wallen ’s “ Last Night ,” that kept “Fast Car” from sliding into the top spot. I GOT A JOB THAT PAYS ALL OUR BILLS. Last year, one of the albums

I took a week off from my countdown. I’ve been spending the week planning the direction of my blog for this year, and it always seems like a miracle when I get a chance to write! Today, I’m counting down songs 14 to 11 that were recorded and released in 2023. Not many of these songs were actual hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and all of them were released in 2023. For songs that just missed the top ten, I think that these songs have better lyrics than the top 20, but there is something dynamic missing from making the song a more impactful song on me. Of course, this is completely subjective, and time may prove differently. Still, as of writing this post, I’m going to say that these songs are in the right order.  14. “ Exist ” by Eric Nam . In 2019, Eric Nam began primarily writing songs in English after half a decade in K-pop. But it wasn’t until last year’s House on a Hill that the lyrics and music seemed to sync up. “Exist” is my favorite track from the album. It’s simple but beautif

  Mumford & Sons changed the direction of alternative music.  As Stephen Christian of Anberlin once lamented, the direction of the genre had been pushing heavier and heavier music until the year when Mumford came onto the scene, Alternative shifted to folk sounds. The band fronted by Marcus Mumford swept the scene when they re-leased Sigh No More in 2009, with a sound that crossed over to Billboard ’s Hot 100. The plucking sounds of banjos and mandolins may have sounded refreshing on the radio to late ‘00 ears, but when WatchMojo.com compiled a list of bands whose songs sound the same, Mumford earned an honorable mention. The band would eventually break with the formula, but Sigh No More showcases Mumford’s signature sound. AS THE WINTER WINDS LITTER LONDON… “ Winter Winds ” was Mumford and Sons’ second single. The song was overshadowed by the band’s first single, “ Little Lion Man .” On an album that sounds fairly the same, “Winter Winds” stood out most to me. Musically, the

In August 2010, Katy Perry released her seminal album Teenage Dream . While the former CCM singer had several big hits from her rebranded debut album, One of the Boys , it was Teenage Dream that solidified Perry in pop music history as the album tied with Michael Jackson ’s Bad for having the most number 1  Billboard’s Hot 100 . Teenage Dream wasn’t exactly a concept album, but many of the songs involved fantasy--romantic and sexual. But Teenage Dream wasn’t the only adolescent themed album of 2010. In April, Secret & Whisper released their sophomore record on Tooth & Nail , Teenage Fantasy . Unlike Katy Perry’s sophomore record, Secret & Whisper faded into obscurity after releasing their follow-up to  Great White Whale .   After one single, “ Warrior ” (Southern Arrowwood), was heard on Christian Rock radio, the band announced an indefinite hiatus in July 2011.  TONIGHT I TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM YOU, LADY OF NORTHERN STAR. Listening to Teenage Fantasy, listeners would be