Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Remember These Songs? - 3

It's been awhile since I churned one of these blogs out - so I figured I was well over due. It's a blog that takes a look at songs that were popular earlier in this decade and may have been forgotten about since. Hopefully this will help popularize these songs some - and actually new people might even rediscover them. It's actually pretty amazing how fast the music industry is in forgetting classic songs. That's just how the industry is - always changing and moving at an extremely quick pace. Today's blog features artists and groups with songs that were very popular earlier in this decade but have since been forgotten about. Let's remember the songs that made these particular individuals household names as we rediscover their songs all over again and see what they've been up to since.

Blessid Union of Souls - Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me for Me): This song was actually made famous in 1999, which surprises me it has been that long ago already. It was a song released from their third studio album titled "Walking Off the Buzz." Earlier in the '90's, they released the popular songs "I Believe" and "I Wanna Be There." But it was "Hey Leonardo" that Blessid Union of Souls are quite possibly most famous for releasing. I remember it being a song I listened to quite often while I worked my summer job at my old high school mowing their enormous lawn. It's a fun song, very upbeat, and something very fun dancing and jiving to. It was a song that received a tremendous amount of radio airplay despite never making it into the top ten of many radio charts. The message in the song is about an individual, a male, who has a few faults and is most certainly not perfect. And he might have more money than he can do with. However, his mate doesn't find any fault in him and isn't interested in him just for the fact he has money because as the song states, "she likes me for me." Doesn't get any more sweeter than that, now does it?

So what has Blessid Union of Souls been up to since their hit song in 1999? Between the years of 2001 and 2005, not much at all. In fact, they took a break from releasing new albums during that time except to release a greatest hits album that featured a few songs that hadn't previously been released. They still toured during those years, however. In 2005, their fifth studio album titled "Preception" was released. They continued to tour, although one part of the group became independent from another. Their sixth album, "Close to the Edge," was released earlier this month in 2008. However, eight of 12 songs already appeared on their fifth studio album, which disappointed some of their fans. Whatever the case, it still proves that the band is very much alive - although not nearly as prominent as they once were.

Vertical Horizon - Everything You Want: Here's another tune that was released in 1999 and made it all the way to the top of the charts. I wouldn't say it's quite as fun as "Hey Leonardo," but it still boasts a more up-tempo flavor to it. This was the song that help propel Vertical Horizon to major popularity, even if it was only for this one particular song. They went on to release other hit songs such as "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)" and "I'm Still Here," but they never were quite as popular as "Everything You Want." Even though Vertical Horizon had been around since 1990, it was in 1999 when they released their first major studio album with RCA Records. "Everything You Want" would definitely help them become more of a household name; even though it was basically the only song with major popularity. It went on to become one of the most played songs in 2000 and was also quite fun to sing along to. The message of this song is also related to how perfect a person is, except that in this tune; no matter how perfect the male individual in the song is, he's simply not perfect enough because "he means nothing to (her) and (she doesn't) know why." She sounds like a confused and complex person.

Vertical Horizon has released another album since 1999 but wasn't able to enjoy as much success like they did with Everything You Want. They even went on to re-release it and included a tune not previously released. There has also been a few personel changes within the band; but they are still very much alive as a group and are looking to release a new album later this year or early next year titled, "Burning the Days." In fact, a new song off the new album titled "All Been Said Before" was released in late June of this year. The new album will be released with the help of Hybrid Recordings who signed Vertical Horizon after they were released from RCA Records in 2004.

Tal Bachman - She's so High: Make that three straight songs in this blog from 1999. Tal Bachman also experienced increased popularity and fame with his big hit "She's so High" which reached the top ten on a few different charts in the United States. "She's so High" came from his self-titled album; his first major record. Bachman was relatively unknown in the music world except to those in Canada. It's another fun, upbeat sounding song; talking about a girl who's "as perfect as she can be." So yes, this is another song with the message of finding that perfect soul mate but this time around, the person singing doesn't seem to have the courage to ask her out. He says, "What could a guy like me ... Ever really offer?" He's basically putting himself down without actually even trying to ask the girl out. He likes her for everything that she is and she's perfect as she is. But will he ever "man up," if you will, and talk to her. Sounds like an issue that many men with low self-esteem go through all of the time. She's almost like the prom queen while he's a flute player in high school band; something along those lines. Obviously I'm talking silly, but that's a good comparison to the message being told in the song, right? Whatever the case; it's still a great song and one of the best from 1999-2000.

Tal Bachman is still very busy in the music industry, even though you probably have not heard another song from Tal since "She's so High." His second album titled "Staring Down the Sun" was released in Canada in 2004 and in the United States in 2006 with little fanfare. He has yet to release his third studio album, even though he is signed with Sony Music Entertainment Records. If that's the case, it probably won't be very long until a new album is released by him and he just might in fact be in the studio. Bachman was once a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and participated on a mission to Argentina. He has since given up his affiliation with that religion. He also enjoys giving his opinions of politics not only in Canada but in the United States, too; seeing that he holds a bachelor's degree in political science. Tal is the son of The Guess Who rocker Rancy Bachman.

That does it for this time around. Please be sure to join me once again very soon for another edition of "Remember These Songs?" We'll look back upon songs that had a big following for some time but might have slipped off the radar since. It's always fun to look back and I hope those following along to my blog enjoy it as well.

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