Melissa Etheridge ~ I'm the Only One

Genre: Rock
Writer: Melissa Etheridge
Producer: Hugh Padgham, Melissa Etheridge
Album: Yes I Am (Melissa Etheridge)
Label: Island Records
Year: 1993

Lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge recieved national recognition with the release of her fourth albumYes I Am. Strong lyrics paired with Etheridge's powerful voice made "I'm the Only One" one of the musician's biggest hits charting at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult Contemporary charts.

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I'm the Only One - Melissa Etheridge lyrics

Please baby, can't you see
My mind's a burnin' hell.
I got razors a rippin' and tearin'
And strippin' my heart apart as well.
Tonight you told me that you ache for something new
And some other woman is lookin' like something
That might be good for you.

Go on and hold her till the screaming is gone.
Go on believe her when she tells you
Nothing's wrong,
But I'm the only one
Who'll walk across the fire for you.
And I'm the only one
Who'll drown in my desire for you.
It's only fear that makes you run,
The demons that you're hiding from.
When all your promises are gone,
I'm the only one.

Please baby can't you see I'm trying to explain.
I've been here before and I'm locking the door
And I'm not going back again.
Her eyes and arms and skin
Won't make it go away.
You'll wake up tomorrow and wrestle the sorrow
That holds you down today.

Go on and hold her till the screaming is gone.
Go on believe her when she tells you
Nothing's wrong,
But I'm the only one
Who'll walk across the fire for you.
And I'm the only one
Who'll drown in my desire for you.
It's only fear that makes you run,
The demons that you're hiding from.
When all your promises are gone,
I'm the only one.

Go on and hold her till the screaming is gone.
Go on believe her when she tells you
Nothing's wrong,
But I'm the only one
Who'll walk across the fire for you.
And I'm the only one
Who'll drown in my desire for you.
It's only fear that makes you run,
The demons that you're hiding from.
When all your promises are gone,
I'm the only one.
Yeah..

And I'm the only one
Who'll drown in my desire for you.
It's only fear that makes you run,
The demons that you're hiding from.
When all your promises are gone,
I'm the only one.

Del Shannon ~ Runaway

Genre: Oldies, Rock
Writers: Del Shannon, Max Crook
Producer: Harry Balk
Label: BigTop 45-3067 (USA)
Year: 1961

"Runaway" is one of my favorite oldies. Singer Charles Westover and Max Crook, who had invented his own electric keyboard, won a recording contract with Big Top Records in 1960. Westover's took the stage name "Del Shannon" and Crook became "Maximilian". Originally called "Little Runaway" the song was rewritten and rerecorded to feature Crook's solo. "Runaway" was an immediate hit after Del Shannon made an appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. The song peaked at number one and stayed there for four weeks.

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Runaway - Del Shannon lyrics

As I walk along I wonder a-what went wrong
With our love, a love that was so strong.
And as I still walk on
I think of the things we've done
Together, a-while our hearts were young.

I'm a-walkin' in the rain,
Tears are fallin' and I feel the pain.
Wishin' you were here by me
To end this misery.
And I wonder,
I wa-wa-wa-wa-wonder why.
Why, why, why, why, why she ran away.
and I wonder where she will stay,
My little runaway,
A Run, run, run, run, runaway.

I'm a-walkin' in the rain,
Tears are fallin' and I feel a pain.
Wishin' you were here by me
To end this misery.
And I wonder,
I wa-wa-wa-wa-wonder why.
Why, why, why, why, why she ran away.
And I wonder where she will stay,
My little runaway,
A run, run, run, run, runaway.
A run, run, run, run, runaway.
A run, run, run, run, runaway.
A run, run, run, run, runaway.

Crazy ~ Gnarls Barkley

Genre: R&B, Soul
Writer: Cee-Lo
Producer: Danger Mouse
Album: St. Elsewhere (Gnarls Barkley)
Label: Downtown Records, Warner Music
Year: 2006

Gnarls Barkley is a duo consisting of producer/instrumentalist Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) and vocalist Cee-Lo Green (Thomas Callaway). "Crazy" was Gnarls Barkley's first hit from their debut album St. Elsewhere. The song reached top ten status in several countries including the UK and US. "Crazy" won a Grammy in 2007 for Best Urban/Alternative Performance and was also nominated as Record of the Year, but lost to the Dixie Chicks. I think this song has a great beat and alot of soul, but maybe I'm crazy.

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Crazy - Gnarls Barkley lyrics

I remember when.. I remember,
I remember when I lost my mind.
There was something so pleasant about that place.
Even your emotions had an echo
In so much space.

And when you're out there without care,
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough.
I just knew too much.

Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly. (radio version)
Probably. (album version)

And I hope that you are having the time of your life,
But think twice.
That's my only advice.

Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you,
Who do you think you are?
Ha ha ha bless your soul.
You really think you're in control.

Well, I think you're crazy.
I think you're crazy.
I think you're crazy
Just like me.

My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb.
And all I remember is thinking, I want to be like them.
Ever since I was little,
Ever since I was little it looked like fun
And it's no coincidence I've come
And I can die when I'm done.

Maybe I'm crazy.
Maybe you're crazy.
Maybe we're crazy.
Probably.

Helena Bonham Carter - By the Sea

Genre: Musical Soundtrack
Writer: Stephen Sondheim
Producer: Mike Higham
Album: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Year: 2007

The dark musical Sweeney Todd was redone by Tim Burton in 2007. The lead roles were Johnny Depp as the unforgiving Sweeney Todd and Helena Bonham Carter as the smitten Mrs. Lovett. Although the soundtrack sustained many changes, additions and deletions it stays up to par with the original. "By the Sea" is one of few upbeat songs on the album. I love Helena Bonham Carter's playfulness and Johnny Depps's unenthusiastic yet irresistible demeanor.

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By the Sea - Helena Bonham Carter lyrics

LOVETT:
Oh, Mr. Todd!
I'm so happy!
I could eat you up, I really could!
You know what I'd like to do, Mr. Todd
What I dream if the business stays as good?
Where I'd really like to go in a year or so?
Don't you want to know?

TODD:
Of course.
LOVETT:
Do you really want to know?
TODD:
Yes, I do.

By the sea, Mr. Todd, that's the life I covet.
By the sea, Mr. Todd, oh I know you'd love it!
You and me, Mr. T, we could be alone
In a house wot we'd almost own,
Down by the sea!

TODD:
Anything you say...
LOVETT:
Wouldn't that be smashing?

Think how snug it'll be underneath our flannel
When it's just you and me and the English Channel.
In our cozy retreat kept all neat and tidy
We'll have chums over every Friday
By the sea!
Don'tcha love the weather?
By the sea!
We'll grow old together
By the seaside.
Ho-oh!
By the beautiful sea!

It'll be so quiet that who'll come by it
Except a seagull.
Hoo, hoo!
We shouldn't try it until it's legal for two,
But a seaside wedding could be devised
Me rumpled bedding legitimized!
Me eyelids'll flutter.
I'll turn into butter
The moment I mutter I do!

Down by the sea,
Married nice and proper.
By the sea,
Bring along your chopper to the seaside.
Hoo, hoo!
By the beautiful sea!

Maria Mena ~ Where Were You

Genre: Contemporary,Pop
Writer: Maria Mena
Producer: Maria Mena, Martin Sjolie
Album: Cause and Effect (Maria Mena)
Label: Sony BMG
Year: 2008

I give alot of credit to So You Think You Can Dance for introducing me some of my most beloved musicians to date. Norwegian singer/songwriter Maria Mena is one of them. I recently got my hands on a copy of her fifth and most recent album Cause and Effect. "Where Were You" stood out from the rest right away. Mena's voice brings such great emotion to the song.

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Where Were You - Maria Mena lyrics

I was a backing track
Saving my green voice's back.
Disguising the obvious -
That I had no one to sing for.
I lived in a paper bin
Which I laid curled up and forgotten in
With an unfinished lovers hymn
Tattooed on my forehead.

Oh, oh, oh, where were you?
Had I known you then
The outcome would have been better.

I got used to the treadmill love -
Where no matter how fast you run
You're stuck at the starting point,
Only exhausted.
I was the anonymous author of
Songs I'd not dared to share
Lacking the audience of a lover's ear.

Oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, where were you?
Had I know you then
The outcome would have been better.

You could have prevented this.
You could have prevented this.
You could have prevented this.
You could have prevented this.

You could have prevented this.
You could have prevented this.
You could have prevented this.
You could have prevented..

Oh, oh, oh, where were you?
Had you known me then
The outcome would have been better.

Peter Gabriel ~ In Your Eyes

Genre: Rock
Writer: Peter Gabriel
Producer: Peter Gabriel, Bill Laswell, Daniel Lanois
Album: So (Peter Gabriel)
Label: Geffen Records
Year: 1986

I watched "Say Anything" for the first time the other day. The classic heart broken boyfriend holding a boombox above his head blaring Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" inspired me to post about the song. Gabriel wrote "In Your Eyes" after an attempted reconciliation with his one-time girlfriend, actress Rosanna Arquette, which ended in failure. In 1986 "In Your Eyes" hit number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and number twenty-six on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2005, the song reached over 500,000 copies sold and Gabriel recieved his first Gold single, certified in the U.S. by the RIAA.

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In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel lyrics

Love, I get so lost sometimes.
Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart.
When I want to run away I drive off in my car,
But whichever way I go I come back to the place you are.

All my instincts - they return.
The grand facade so soon will burn.
Without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside.

In your eyes
The light the heat.
In your eyes
I am complete.
In your eyes
I see the doorway
In your eyes
To a thousand churches
In your eyes
the resolution
In your eyes
of all my fruitless searches.
In your eyes
Oh, I see the light and the heat.
In your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete.
I want to touch the light,
The heat I see in your eyes.

Love, I don't like to see so much pain.
So much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away.
I get so tired working so hard for our survival.
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive.

And all my instincts - they return.
And the grand facade so soon will burn.
Without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside.

In your eyes
The light the heat.
In your eyes
I am complete.
In your eyes
I see the doorway
To a thousand churches
In your eyes
the resolution
In your eyes
of all my fruitless searches.
Oh, I see the light and the heat.
In your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete.
I want to touch the light,
The heat I see in your eyes.
In your eyes..
In your eyes..
In your eyes..

The Isley Brothers ft R. Kelly ~ Contagious

Genre: R&B
Writer/Producer: R. Kelly
Album: Eternal (The Isley Brothers)
Label: DreamWorks Records
Year: 2001

The Isley Brothers have been making hit music together for over six decades. Though the group has had up to six members at times The Isley Brothers is currently a duo consisting of Ronald and Ernie Isley. "Contagious" made The Isleys the first band to to have a hit in six consecutive decades on Billboard's Hot 100. The song also won them a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo in 2002. "Contagious" is an entertaining R&B soap opera narrorated by Ron Isley telling the story of him coming home to find R. Kelly and Chante Moore in a compromising situation.

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Contagious - The Isley Brothers ft R. Kelly lyrics

R. KELLY:
Here is a story about a man coming in
And found his woman in bed with.. well, listen.

RON ISLEY:
Its 2AM just gettin' in about to check my message.
No one has called but my homies and some bill collectors.
Say your love brings somebody wants to borrow money.
I two way her - she don't hit me back something is funny.
So I called her mother's house and asked her had she seen my baby.
(Oh, I) Rolled my 6 around lookin' for that missin' lady.
Got back in turned the TV on and caught the news.
Then I put my hand on my head cause I'm so confused.
And then I turned the TV down (TV down)
Cause I thought I heard a squeaky sound.
Mmm something's goin on upstairs yeah,
Cause I know nobody else lives here.

(bum bum bum)
As I get closer to the stairways all I hear
And then I hear my baby's voice in my ear screamin' out..

You're contagious.
Touch me baby - give me what you got.
Then a man says:
Sexy lady, drive me crazy.
Drive me wild.
All I heard was my baby's voice screamin'..
You're contagious.
Touch me baby - give me what you got.
Sexy lady,
(Then I heard another man, yeah.)
drive me crazy.
Drive me wild.
And I just can't believe this sh..

I ran downstairs looked in the closet lookin for that hoo.
Said a prayer cause only god knows what I'm gonna do.
What I saw was enough to drive a preacher wild.
I'm in the hall contemplating not in my own damn house.
Who woulda thought she was creepin' with another man?
(Oh, I) The downlow had happenin' to me all over again.
And then I turned the TV down, (TV down)
Cause I know I heard a squeaky sound.
Somethin' goin' on up there upstairs
Cause I know it - no one else lives here.

(bum bum bum)
As I get closer to the stairways all I hear
And then I hear my baby's voice in my ear screamin'..

You're contagious.
Touch me baby - give me what you got.
Then a man says:
Sexy lady, drive me crazy.
Drive me wild.
(All I can do is hear them say)
You're contagious.
Touch me baby - give me what you got.
Sexy lady, drive me crazy.
Drive me wild.
Oh, I can't believe this sh..

RON ISLEY:
What the hell is goin on between the sheets in my home?
CHANTE MOORE:
Baby wait, let me explain before you start to point your cane.
RON ISLEY:
Girl I'm 'bout to have a fit.
R. KELLY:
Oh its about to be some shit.
How did I get into this?
Shoulda never came home with this bitch.
RON ISLEY:
You low down dirty woman back to where you come from!
CHANTE MOORE:
But baby wait..
RON ISLEY:
But wait my ass - hit the streets your ass is grass.
R. KELLY:
Now Mr. Biggs before your done..
RON ISLEY:
Wait, how you know my name son?
CHANTE MOORE:
Honey wait, I was gonna tell you.
RON ISLEY:
Oo this cat looks real familiar.
Hm now don't I know you from somewhere from a long time ago?
R. KELLY:
No no, I don't think so.
RON ISLEY:
Yeah yeah, I feel I know you brother very well.
R. KELLY:
No no, you mistaken me for somebody else.
CHANTE MOORE:
Frank!
RON ISLEY:
Shut up! Can't you see two men are talkin'?
CHANTE MOORE:
But..
RON ISLEY:
Thought I told your ass to get a walkin.
Now I think ya'll better leave this place,
Cause I'm about to catch a case..

You're contagious.
Touch me baby - give me what you got.
(Oh that's what she said)
Sexy lady, drive me crazy.
Drive me wild.
(And then he replied)
You're contagious.
Touch me baby - give me what you got.
Sexy lady, drive me crazy.
Drive me wild.
You're contagious. Touch me baby -
(I should've known from the shopping spree..)
Give me what you got.
(that's the only time you smiled at me.)
Sexy lady, drive me crazy.
(And makin' love girl it wasn't the same..)
Drive me wild.
(I can tell how you said my name.)