Song of the Day 3/28: Taylor Hawkins, “Holy Man”
The headlines said Taylor Hawkins, who died at age 50 Friday in Colombia, was the drummer for the Foo Fighters, but that only captured a portion of his talent. He…
Song of the Day 3/25: 10,000 Maniacs, “Peace Train”
How could a song that advocates peace become controversial? Well, how about if the guy who wrote it later supported the assassination of an author for blasphemy? Even when it…
Song of the Day 3/24: U2, “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of”
As the Ukraine War grinds into its second month, this seems like a fitting commentary on Vladimir Putin's predicament. Bono wrote the song, which appeared on the band's 2000 LP…
Song of the Day 3/23: Dead Kennedys, “Police Truck”
There's a reason police act above the law: They are. The so-called "police bill of rights" is a list of special privileges that place them outside the laws that govern…
Song of the Day 3/22: Bobby Bloom, “Montego Bay”
Before Bob Marley, Caribbean music in the U.S. mostly had a Latin flavor and beats that favored ballroom-style dancing. But every once in a while a bit of calypso and…
Song of the Day 3/21: Бетон (Beton), “Kyiv Calling”
You know how musicians can avoid being sued for copyright infringement? Ask the copyright holders for permission. That's what Ukrainian punk band Бетон, transliterated as Beton ("concrete" in Ukrainian), did…
Song of the Day 3/18: Gillian Welch, “Winter’s Come and Gone”
Yeah, it's a few more days until it's official, but it's starting to feel like winter's come and gone. This sounds like it came from the depths of the Depression…
Song of the Day 3/16: Dolly Parton, “Jolene”
Millions of people think the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should stick to honoring musicians who actually play rock music instead of inducting rappers and dance-pop superstars, but it…
It’s Not a Memory Hole, It’s a Cone of Silence
The idea that issues fall, through some accident or fault of their own, into a "memory hole" is a blatant lie. It's a false frame, a construction the media uses…
Song of the Day 3/15: The Wailin’ Jennys, “One Voice”
One voice, the adage goes, makes more noise than 1,000 voices that remain silent. Marina Ovsyannikova, an editor of Russian state TV's Channel One, staged a one-woman protest by interrupting…
Song of the Day 3/14: Hot Butter, “Popcorn”
EARWORM ALERT One of the first compositions written expressly for the synthesizer is also one of the best-selling instrumentals of all time -- but not in its original version. "Pop…
Song of the Day 3/13: Sonny Dae and His Knights, “Rock Around the Clock”
American exceptionalism at work: Daylight Savings Time started today in the USA. It doesn't begin until March 27 in Europe. In 1955 Bill Haley's recording of this song topped all…
Song of the Day 3/11: The Staves, “I’m on Fire”
One of Bruce Springsteen's simplest compositions is also his most frequently covered -- well over 100 versions are out there. The Staves -- the stage name of the Staveley-Taylor sisters…