Micheal Jackson ~ You Rock My World

Genre: R&B
Writers: Jackson, Daniels, Jerkins, Payne
Producer: Michael Jackson, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins
Album: Invincible (Michael Jackson)
Label: Epic Records
Year: 2001

Invincible was Michael Jackson's tenth album, his first after a six year break. "You Rock My World" peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2002, but lost out to James Taylor's "Let Me Be Lonely Tonight". Michael Jackson's unique style and an upbeat chorus makes this song frequent my playlist.

Note: If you do not want to watch the intro on the music video the song starts at 1:45.

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You Rock My World - Micheal Jackson lyrics

Ho-oh...
My life will never be the same.
'Cause girl you came and changed the way I walk, the way I talk.
I cannot explain the things I feel for you,
But girl you know it's true.
Stay with me - fulfill my dreams and I'll be all you'll need.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, ooh, it feels so right
(Girl.)
I've searched for the perfect love all my life
(All my life.)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ooh, it feels like I
(Like I...)
Have finally found her perfect love is mine
(See, I finally found... Come on, girl.)

You rocked my world, you know you did
And everything I'm gonna give.
(You rocked my world.)
The rarest love,
Who'd think I'd find someone like you to call mine.
(You rocked my world.)

You rocked my world, you know you did (Girl)
And everything I'm gonna give.
(I want you, girl.)
The rarest love,
Who'd think I'd find someone like you to call mine.

In time I knew that love would bring this happiness to me.
I tried to keep my sanity.
I waited patiently.
Girl, you know it seems my life is fully complete.
Our love is true because of you.
You're doin' what you do.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, who'd think that I
(Oh...)
Have finally found the perfect love I searched for
All my life.
(Searched for all my life.)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, who'd think I'd find
(Whoa...oh...oh...)
Such a perfect love that's awesomely so right.
(Whoa, girl.)

You rocked my world, you know you did
(Come on, come on, come on, come on.)
And everything I'm gonna give.
(You rocked my world.)
The rarest love,
Who'd think I'd find someone like you
(Girl.)
to call mine.
(You rocked my world.)

You rocked my world, you know you did
(You rocked my world.)
And everything I'm gonna give.
(Girl, girl, girl.)
The rarest love,
Who'd think I'd find someone like you to call mine.
(Girl.)

You rocked my world, you know you did
(Oh...)
And everything I'm gonna give.
(You rocked my world.)
The rarest love,
Who'd think I'd find someone like you to call mine.

You rocked my world,
(Oh...)
You know you did
And everything I'm gonna give.
(You rock my world.)
The rarest love,
Who'd think I'd find someone like you to call mine.

Girl, I know that this is love,
I felt the magic all in the air.
And girl, I'll never get enough
That's why I always have to have you here.

You rocked my world,
(You rocked my world.)
You know you did
And everything I'm gonna give.
(Look what you did to me, baby, yeah.)
The rarest love,
(Yeah, yeah.)
Who'd think I'd find someone like you to call mine.
(You, You, You, to rock my world.)

You rocked my world, you know you did
(I cannot explain.)
And everything I'm gonna give
('Cause you rocked my world.)
The rarest love,
Who'd think I'd find someone like you to call mine.
(You rocked my world.)

You rocked my world, you know you did
(You, you, you, you, you did.)
And everything I'm gonna give.
(See, it's you and me and you and me.)
The rarest love,
Who'd think I'd find someone like you to call mine.
(You rocked my world.)

You rocked my world, you know you did
(You know you did, baby.)
And everything I'm gonna give.
('Cause you rocked my world.)
The rarest love,
Who'd think I'd find someone like you to call mine.

Tony Orlando and the Dawn ~ Knock Three Times

Genre: Pop
Label: Bell, Elektra
Year: 1970

Tony Orlando recorded his first hit under the alias Dawn incase of a flop, and soon after its success his background vocals took on the name. "Knock Three Times" was the trio's second hit. The song was a remake of an italian original which I have yet to hear. "Knock Three Times" hit number one on the US and UK charts in 1971. The song's catchy chorus easily gets stuck in my head. In recent years Paul and Storm wrote a parody of the song about the Larry Graig scandal, but I'll let you discover that song on your own.

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Knock Three Times - Tony Orlando lyrics

Hey girl, whatcha doin' down there dancin' alone every night
While I live right above you?
I can hear your music playin'.
I can feel your body swayin'.
One floor below me - you don't even know me.
I love you.

Oh my darlin', knock three times on the ceilin'
If you want me.
Mmm, twice on the pipe if the answer is no.
Oh my sweetness...
Means you'll meet me in the hallway.
Whoa, twice on the pipe means you ain't gonna show.

If you look out your window tonight pullin' the string
With the note that's attached to my heart,
Read how many times I saw you, how in my silence I adore you
And only in my dreams did that wall between us come apart.

Oh my darlin', knock three times on the ceilin'
If you want me.
Mmm, twice on the pipe if the answer is no.
Oh my sweetness...
Means you'll meet me in the hallway.
Whoa, twice on the pipe means you ain't gonna show.

Whoa I can hear the music playin'.
I can feel your body swayin'.
One floor below me - you don't even know me.
I love you.

Oh my darlin', knock three times on the ceilin'
If you want me.
Whoa, twice on the pipe if the answer is no.
Oh my sweetness...
Means you'll meet me in the hallway.
Mmm, twice on the pipe means you ain't gonna show.

The Frames ~ Falling Slowly

Genre: Indie Rock
Writers: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová
Album: The Cost (The Frames)
Label: Plateau Records,ANTI-
Year: 2006

In March I watched Irish rockers The Frames perform the Grammy winning hit "Falling Slowly" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Weeks later, SYTYCD brought the song back to visit my ears paired with some emotional choreography. The Frames have been making music for nearly two decades. Their rock version of "Falling Slowly" is featured on the most recent The Frames albums The Cost. The writers of the song, Glen Hansard (lead singer of the Frames) and Markéta Irglová, featured their version on the album The Swell Sea, which peaked at number two on the Irish charts. Later, "Falling Slowly" appeared on the duo's 2007 independent film Once.

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Falling Slowly - The Frames lyrics

I don't know you, but I want you all the more for that.
Words fall through me and always fool me and I can't react
And games that never amount to more than they're meant
Will play themselves out.

Take this sinkin' boat and point it home.
We've still got time.
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice.
You've made it now.

Falling slowly, eyes that know me and I can't go back
And moods that take me and erase me and I'm painted black.
You have suffered enough and warred with yourself,
It's time that you won.

Take this sinkin' boat and point it home.
We've still got time.
Raise your hopeful voice you have the choice.
You've made it now.

Take this sinkin' boat and point it home.
We've still got time.
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice.
You've made it now.
Falling slowly, sing your melody I'll sing along.

CAKE ~ The Distance

Genre: Alternative Rock
Writer: Greg Brown
Producer: CAKE
Album: Fashion Nugget (CAKE)
Label: Capricorn
Year: 1996

"The Distance" was CAKE's biggest hit featured on their third album Fashion Nugget. The song's stand out guitar and head-bobbing beat makes it one of my favorite songs to "rock out" to. "The Distance" along with a cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" propelled Fashion Nugget into platinum status.

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The Distance - Cake lyrics

Reluctantly crouched at the starting line,
Engines pumping and thumping in time.
The green light flashes, the flags goes up.
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup.

They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank,
Fuel burning fast on an empty tank.
Reckless and wild they pour through the turns,
Their prow less is potent and secretly stern.

As they speed through the finish the flags go down.
The fans get up, and get out of town.
The arena is empty except for one man,
Still driving and striving as fast as he can.

The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
And long ago somebody left with the cup,
But he's driving and striving and hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns.

He's going the distance.
He's going for speed.
She's all alone,
(all alone)
All alone in her time of need.

Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course.
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse.
He's going the distance.

No trophy, no flowers, no flash bulbs, no wine.
He's haunted by something he cannot define.
Bowel shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse
Assail him, impale him with monster truck force.

In his mind he's still driving, still making the grade.
She's hoping time that her memories will fade.
'Cause he's racing and pacing and plotting the course.
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse.

The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
And long ago somebody left with the cup,
But he's driving and striving and hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns.

'Cause he's going the distance.
He's going for speed.
She's all alone,
(all alone)
All alone in her time of need.

Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course.
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse.
He's racing and pacing and plotting the course.
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse.

He's going the distance.
He's going for speed.
He's going the distance.

Eminem ~ Beautiful

Genre: Hip Hop
Writers: M. Mathers, L. Resto, J. Bass, D. Black, A. Hill
Producer: Eminem
Album: Relapse (Eminem)
Label: Aftermath, Interscope, Shady
Year: 2009

After a five year break rapper Eminem recently released his sixth album Relapse. "Beautiful" is a ballad and stands out to me amidst all of the rest. It was the only song to appear on the album that was recorded while Eminem was dealing with depression and serious addiction. "Beautiful" starts with a powerful sample of Paul Rodgers from Rock Therapy singing "Reaching Out".


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Beautiful - Eminem lyrics

PAUL RODGERS:
Lately I've been hard to reach,
I've been too long on my own.
Everybody has a private world where they can be alone.
Are you calling me, are you trying to get through?
Are you reaching out for me like I'm reaching out for you?

EMINEM:
I'm just so fuckin' depressed.
I just can seem to get out this slump.
If I could just get over this hump,
But I need something to pull me out this dump.
I took my bruises, took my lumps.
Fell down and I got right back up,
But I need that spark to get psyched back up
In order for me to pick that mic back up.

I don't know how or why or when
I ended up in this position I'm in.
I'm starting to feel distant again.
So I decided just to pick this pen
Up and tried to make an attempt to vent
But I just can't admit or come to grips
With the fact that I may be done with rap.
I need a new outlet.

I know some shit's so hard to swallow,
But I just can't sit back and wallow in my own sorrow,
But I know one fact - I'll be one tough act to follow,
One tough act to follow.
I'll be one tough act to follow.
Here today, gone tomorrow,

But you'd have to walk a thousand miles in my shoes,
Just to see what it's like to be me.
I'll be you.
Let's trade shoes,
Just to see what it'd be like to feel your pain.
You feel mine.
Go inside each other's mind,
Just to see what we find.
Look at shit through each other's eyes,

But don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful.
(Oh) They can all get fucked,
Just stay true to you. (So)
Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful.
(Oh) They can all get fucked,
Just stay true to you. (So)

I think I'm starting to lose my sense of humor.
Everything is so tense and gloom.
I almost feel like I gotta check the temperature of the room.
Just as soon as I walk in it's like all eyes on me.
So I try to avoid any eye contact
'Cause if I do that then it opens a door for conversation,
Like I want that.

I'm not looking for extra attention.
I just wanna be just like you,
Blend in with the rest of the room.
Maybe just point me to the closest restroom.
I don't need no fucking man servin'
Tryin' to follow me around and wipe my ass.

Laugh at every single joke I crack,
And half of 'em ain't even funny like
Ahh Marshall, you're so funny man!
You should be a comedian, god damn!
Unfortunately I am,
I just hide behind the tears of a clown.
So why don't you all sit down,
Listen to the tale I'm about to tell.
Hell, we don't gotta trade our shoes
And you ain't gotta walk no thousand miles

In my shoes just to see what it's like to be me.
I'll be you.
Let's trade shoes,
Just to see what it'd be like to feel your pain.
You feel mine.
Go inside each other's mind,
Just to see what we find.
Look at shit through each other's eyes,

But don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful.
(Oh) They can all get fucked,
Just stay true to you. (So)
Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful.
(Oh) They can all get fucked,
Just stay true to you. (So)

Nobody asked for life to deal us
With these bullshit hands we're dealt.
We gotta take these cards ourselves and flip 'em,
Don't expect no help.
Now I could have either
Just sat on my ass and pissed and moaned,
But take this situation in which I'm placed in
And get up and get my own.

I was never the type of kid to wait by the door
And pack his bags and sat on the porch and hoped
And prayed for a dad to show up who never did.
I just wanted to fit in every single place,
Every school I went.
I dreamed of being that cool kid
Even if it meant acting stupid.

Aunt Edna always told me,
Keep making that face 'til it gets stuck like that.
Meanwhile I'm just standing there
Holding my tongue up trying to talk like this.
'Til I stuck my tongue on that frozen stop sign poll
At 8 years old I learned my lesson then
'Cause I wasn't tryin' to impress my friends no more,

But I already told you my whole life story
Not just based on my description.
'Cause where you see it from where you're sitting
It's probably 110% different.
I guess we would have to walk a mile
In each other's shoes, at least.
What size you wear?
I wear tens,
Let's see if you can fit your feet

In my shoes just to see what it's like to be me.
I'll be you.
Let's trade shoes,
Just to see what it'd be like to feel your pain.
You feel mine.
Go inside each other's mind,
Just to see what we find.
Look at shit through each other's eyes,

But don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful.
(Oh) They can all get fucked,
Just stay true to you. (So)
Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful.
(Oh) They can all get fucked,
Just stay true to you. (So)

PAUL RODGERS:
Lately I've been hard to reach,
I've been too long on my own.
(Oh) Everybody has a private world where they can be alone.
(So) Are you calling me, are you trying to get through?
(Oh) Are you reaching out for me like I'm reaching out for you? (So)

EMINEM:
Yeah, to my babies, stay strong.
Daddy will be home soon
And to the rest of the world,
God gave you the shoes that fit you,
So put 'em on and wear 'em
And be yourself man, be proud of who you are.
Even if it sounds corny, don't ever let no one tell you,
You ain't beautiful.

Fiona Apple ~ Love Ridden

Genre: alternative rock
Writer: Fiona Apple
Producer: Jon Brion
Album: When the Pawn... (Fiona Apple)
Label: Work/Epic Records
Year: 1999

When the pawn hits the conflicts he thinks like a king
What he knows throws the blows when he goes to the fight
And he'll win the whole thing before he enters the ring
There's no body to batter when your mind is your might
So when you go solo, you hold your own hand
And remember that depth is the greatest of heights
And if you know where you stand, then you know where to land
And if you fall it won't matter, cuz you'll know that you're right

Written above is the full title of Fiona Apple's second album When the Pawn.... It held the world record for longest album title for six years.
The album did not get as much commercial attention as her first, but sold over one million copies and was certified platinum. "Love Ridden" is one of my favorite ballads from the album, but it was a tough choice. I love this album as much as Tidal.

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Love Ridden - Fiona Apple lyrics

Love ridden, I've looked at you
With the focus I gave to my birthday candles.
I've wished on the lidded blue flames under your brow
And baby, I wished for you.

Nobody sees when you are lying in your bed
And I wanna crawl in with you,
But I cry instead.
I want your warm,
But it will only make me colder when it's over.
So I can't tonight, baby.

No not "baby" anymore,
If I need you I'll just use your simple name.
Only kisses on the cheek from now on
And in a little while we'll only have to wave.

My hand won't hold you down no more
The path is clear to follow through.
I stood too long in the way of the door
And now I'm giving up on you.

No not "baby" anymore,
If I need you I'll just use your simple name.
Only kisses on the cheek from now on
And in a little while we'll only have to wave.

No not "baby" anymore,
If I need you I'll just use your simple name.
Only kisses on the cheek from now on
And in a little while we'll only have to wave.