By: Chuck Miller
General, Uncategorized

Ten songs to rev up your day!!!

Sometimes you just want a song to get you motivated.  To get you out of bed and ready to greet the morning.  Something that, if the song was stuck in your head, you wouldn’t mind at all.

So let’s start off the day with some great music, with tracks that are brighter than sunshine and more inspiring than a Vince Lombardi locker room speech!

MUSE
Uprising

There’s so much to like about this song – the pulsing beat, the Doctor Who riff, or that lyric “They will not force us / they will stop degrading us / they will not control us / we will be victorious!!” This performance was taken from a British television show.
ULTRAVOX
One Small Day (12″ remix)

The original album track for this hit was good enough, but the 12-inch remix for Ultravox’ “One Small Day” can really make you start pumping your fist in the air. Sample lyric: “How many times has it turned against you / How many times will they walk away / How many times have you let depression win the fight / Oh my sentimental friend / We’ll walk as one again!”
HUGH MASEKELA
Don’t Go Lose It Baby (1984 remix)

Oh God when I first heard this version of Hugh Masekela’s original 1960’s jam, I wanted a copy of the record for myself. This is the kind of song you put on your iPod for a workout, and it has a great affirmation at the end of the song: “Every winner’s name is in the Hall of Fame / And you’re a winner when you beat the game / you’re a winner when you beat the game.”
TAXI RIDE
Everywhere You Go

This Australian rock band’s 1999 hit still gets me revved up every time I hear it. Crank your speakers up and dance around the office!
SECRET WEAPON
Must Be the Music

One of the hottest jams of 1982, this is the extended 7:00 version with the lyrics, the refrain, the break beats and the rap in the middle. Awesome song. No doubt about it.
ELVIS PRESLEY v. JXL
A Little Less Conversation

This remix of a 90-second Elvis Presley throwaway track became one of the biggest hits of 2002. Remixer Junkie XL’s version appeared in everything from television commercials to the intro for the drama series Las Vegas (although, for the single release, he had to be branded as “JXL” rather than “Junkie XL”). Great stuff, I never knew the King of Rock and Roll could get DOWN like this!
ROGER WILCO AND THE RADIO WAVES
Dancing With a Girl

This was a local party band that played in clubs in New York’s Mohawk Valley, at around the time when I was in college. We played this song “Dancing With A Girl” on WHCL and it got lots of positive response. This video was culled from a local public access music show called “Musicuse.”
THE RANCH GIRLS AND THE RAGTIME WRANGLERS
Can You Hear It?

Okay, this might seem odd. This is a Swedish rockabilly group. That’s right, I said Swedish rockabilly. Fast-forward on this YouTube clip to the 3:00 minute mark, and just enjoy the sweet rockabilly sounds. These guys really know how to do it right.
SANTA ESMERELDA
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood

This 1970’s disco record is everything that disco isn’t supposed to be. It’s fun, it’s full of Latin influence and a powerful horn section – and it just sounds great. I mean, this is probably one of the most dour Eric Burdon and the Animals tracks, and Santa Esmerelda turned it into a floor-packing dance classic!
ROGER GLOVER
Love is All
This is probably the coolest and trippiest song Ronnie James Dio ever lent his vocals to. And the video is priceless. I remember seeing this video several times on the old USA Network show “Night Flight,” and only found out what it was – and who sang the song – a year or two ago.

Now don’t those songs make you feel better? In addition to the ten I’ve listed above, what songs help you get ready to deal with all the crises in your life? Drop a post in and let me know!