We can try to understand/
The New York Times’ effect on man.

“Staying Alive” is a song about how a big city can suck the life out of you. You have no choice but to try to stay alive. That is what everybody is trying to do in the big city.

The song sounds so upbeat, but the message is a bit deep. Of course, this song is one of the most iconic ones of all time. How many songs define a music genre? This sound was so influential that it blew up the Disco scene. It is a dance sensation that gets a bad rap. Sure, some of the songs are silly, but it was the dance music of the 70s.

Listen to the heavy rhythm section. The bass is turned way up as is the drums. The guitar is turned down and the guitar is often played with “muted” strings rather than fretted strings. It creates a unique sound. And of course, you have the great vocal harmonies of the Bee Gees. And the falsetto! If you are new to The Bee Gees, disco was not really a big part of their career. Most of their hits were closer to soft rock. They are one of the best groups of all time at harmonizing.

Staying Alive Lyrics

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm, I’ve been kicked around
Since I was born
And now it’s alright, it’s okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man

Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive

Well now, I get low and I get high
And if I can’t get either, I really try
Got the wings of heaven on my shoes
I’m a dancin’ man and I just can’t lose
You know it’s alright, it’s okay
I’ll live to see another day
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man

Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive

Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm
I’ve been kicked around since I was born
And now it’s all right, it’s okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man

Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive

Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive

Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive

Songwriters: Maurice Ernest Gibb / Robin Hugh Gibb / Barry Alan Gibb

Closing time/
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.

Semisonic’s “Closing Time” is a 90s pop staple about the end of the night at a bar. Closing up the bar each night not only involves the routine maintenance of the bar, but the band notices the patrons follow a routine as well. And that is obviously a lot more interesting.

Last call is made, lights are turned on and people are told to grab their jackets and leave. There is a last-minute chance to hook up with whomever hasn’t left with someone else already. But sometimes “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” Occasionally there can be more in store for you for that evening.

“Closing Time” is popular because everyone has felt the shame and excitement of a night ending without anyone. Also it turns a usually shameful situation into a message of hope: this could be a new beginning! It is also a very sing-able song: great for karaoke.
The drummer of Semisonic wrote a good book about his experience as a “one-hit wonder” touring these small bars, called: So You Wanna Be A Rock Star. Check it out.

Closing Time Lyrics

Closing time
Time for you to go out go out into the world.
Closing time
Turn the lights up over every boy and every girl.
Closing time
One last call for alcohol so finish your whiskey or beer.
Closing time
You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here.

I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
Take me home

Closing time
Time for you to go back to the places you will be from.
Closing time
This room won’t be open ’til your brothers or you sisters come.
So gather up your jackets, and move it to the exits
I hope you have found a
Friend.

Closing time
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.

Yeah, I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
Take me home

Closing time
Time for you to go back to the places you will be from
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
Take me home

Closing time
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end

Songwriters: Dan Wilson

I need to get my story straight/
My friends are in the bathroom getting higher than the Empire State.

Fun’s “We Are Young” does a great job of capturing the party lifestyle of young twenty-somethings, where the ultimate thing you can do for a friend is help them get home when they are drunk or high. In this world, relationships might not be the best in an objective sense (He did give his girlfriend a scar, but nevermind), but it sounds fun in a certain light.

In “We are Young”, we progress through the author’s night from when everyone starts getting high– to the end, when everyone can barely walk home. In between, he party’s hard because all his friends are in town and because “we’re young so let’s set this world on fire.”

Fun’s “We are Young” hits on so many levels. First it is fun (lowercase ‘f’): It isn’t trying to be preachy; it is just a day in the life. Those songs are okay too. Great production: the tone of the song matches the lyrics really well, and the beautiful Janelle Monáe sings the part of “the girlfriend”. The song sounds like one big party- which is what the song is about. And like any good party song it has a great use of percussion: the drums in the intro verse and chorus are especially good.

We Are Young Lyrics

Give me a second I
I need to get my story straight,
My friends are in the bathroom getting higher than the Empire State.
My lover she’s waiting for me just across the bar,
My seat’s been taken by some sunglasses asking about a scar, and
I know I gave it to you months ago,
I know you’re trying to forget,
But between the drinks and subtle things
The holes in my apologies, you know
I’m trying hard to take it back.
So if by the time the bar closes
And you feel like falling down, I’ll carry you home-

Tonight, we are young.
So let’s set the world on fire,
We can burn brighter than the sun.

Tonight, we are young.
So let’s set the world on fire,
We can burn brighter than the sun.

Now I know that I’m not
All that you got. I guess that I, I just thought
Maybe we could find new ways to fall apart.
But our friends are back,
So let’s raise a tab,
‘Cause I found someone to carry me home.

Tonight, we are young.
So let’s set the world on fire,
We can burn brighter than the sun.

Tonight, we are young.
So let’s set the world on fire,
We can burn brighter than the sun.

Carry me home tonight (Na na na na na na),
Just carry me home tonight (Na na na na na na).
Carry me home tonight (Na na na na na na),
Just carry me home tonight (Na na na na na na).

The world is on my side,
I have no reason to run.
So will someone come and carry me home tonight.
The angels never arrived,
But I can hear the choir,
So will someone come and carry me home…

Tonight, we are young.
So let’s set the world on fire,
We can burn brighter than the sun.

Tonight, we are young.
So let’s set the world on fire,
We can burn brighter than the sun.
So if by the time the bar closes
And you feel like falling down,
I’ll carry you home tonight.

Songwriters: Jeff Bhasker / Andrew Dost / Jack Antonoff / Nate Ruess