2000s songs, family problems

#446 Because of You- Kelly Clarkson

Because of you/
I never stray too far from the sidewalk.

In “Because of You” Kelly Clarkson writes about how parent’s mistakes and bad parenting can filter down to their kids. Her parents had fears and now she has those same irrational fears—and she can’t help them. This is why psychotherapy is multibillion-dollar business. This is a great song for all new and potential parents to listen to: look how much you can mess up your child. And this is screw-up is rather mild.

“Because of You” is at its best when Clarkson is singing softly. If you have ever watched her or similar judges during The Voice one thing they constantly advise the contestants to do is to “have at least one moment”. What they are saying is that you must have one of those crazy vocal runs or the silly audience won’t be able to understand that you are singing with feeling.

Nonsense. Listen to Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Roberta Flack, Dusty Springfield…or singers who do use the occasional vocal run, but use it sparingly: Sara Bareilles, Adele, Stevie Nicks.

That being said, this is still a nice song with a good melody, interesting story and above average vocals.

Because of You Lyrics

I will not make
The same mistakes that you did
I will not let myself
Cause my heart so much misery
I will not break
The way you did, you fell so hard
I’ve learned the hard way
To never let it get that far

Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you
I am afraid

I lose my way
And it’s not too long before you point it out
I cannot cry
Because I know that’s weakness in your eyes
I’m forced to fake
A smile, a laugh everyday of my life
My heart can’t possibly break
When it wasn’t even whole to start with

I watched you die
I heard you cry every night in your sleep
I was so young
You should have known
Better than to lean on me
You never thought of anyone else
You just saw your pain
And now I cry in the middle of the night
For the same damn thing

Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt
Because of you
I try my hardest just to forget everything
Because of you
I don’t know how to let anyone else in
Because of you
I’m ashamed of my life
Because it’s empty
Because of you
I am afraid

Because of you
Because of you

Songwriters: Kelly Brianne Clarkson / Ben Moody / David Hall Hodges

1950s songs, looking for love

#445 Mr Sandman- The Chordettes

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Please turn on your magic beam/
Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream.

The Chordettes’ “Mr. Sandman” is from 1954 and has aged remarkably well. You can hear the rich harmonies and vocal variety that would become much more established in the 60s pop and rock. This song was 10 years ahead of its time. It is almost sung acapella for most of the song. There are only the bells and clapping?? accompanying the voices, but the song sounds as full as a symphony.

The women’s voices blend beautifully. I would love to hear more of this in today’s music. I think the closest thing we have gotten in the last 30 years is probably Boys II Men. The Beach Boys were the pinnacle.

The lyrics are typical of their time: upbeat and optimistic about finding love. We find this through 1962 in Rock and it would be the late 60s in pop before we began to explore other themes. One of the differences between this list and Rolling Stones top 500 songs list is that I felt that there are too many 50s songs on that list; many have not aged well. This is one song that deserves to stay.

Mr. Sandman Lyrics

Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Make him the cutest that I’ve ever seen (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Give him two lips like roses and clover (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Then tell him that his lonesome nights are over
Sandman, I’m so alone (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Don’t have nobody to call my own (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Please turn on your magic beam
Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream

Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream
Make him the cutest that I’ve ever seen
Give him the word that I’m not a rover
Then tell him that his lonesome nights are over
Sandman, I’m so alone
Don’t have nobody to call my own
Please turn on your magic beam
Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream

Mr. Sandman (yes) bring us a dream
Give him a pair of eyes with a “come-hither” gleam
Give him a lonely heart like Pagliacci
And lots of wavy hair like Liberace
Mr Sandman, someone to hold (someone to hold)
Would be so peachy before we’re too old
So please turn on your magic beam
Mr Sandman, bring us, please, please, please
Mr Sandman, bring us a dream

Songwriters: Pat Ballard

2010s songs, authenticity

#444 Beneath Your Beautiful- Labrinth/ Emile Sande

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Take it off now girl, take it off now girl/
I wanna see inside.
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight.

“Beneath Your Beautiful” is a classic guy/girl duet sung by Labrinth and Emilie Sande. He sees her as beautiful. He sees her reject all the guys probably because it makes her feel good to do it. But that won’t scare him away. He is going to get to know her…underneath her beautiful.

She sees him constantly dropping girls and she doubts he’d even know how to quit if he wanted to, but she too sees something within him and “wants to see beneath you beautiful.”

“See Beneath Your Beautiful” is about two people who want to see the real insides of each other, not just the public personae that is available that we present to the world. For some people who have crafted their public image or look so perfectly that beauty is difficult to see past. The contrast in the voices adds to the song. Sande is an up and comer (if she’s not already there) and her voice blends well with Labrinth’s.

Lyrics Beneath Your Beautiful

You tell all the boys no
Makes you feel good, yeah.
I know you’re out of my league,
But that won’t scare me away oh no.
You’ve carried on so long,
You couldn’t stop if you tried it.
You’ve built your wall so high,
That no one could climb it.
But I’m gonna try.

Would you let me see beneath your beautiful?
Would you let me see beneath your perfect?
Take it off now girl, take it off now girl,
I wanna see inside.
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight?

You let all the girls go,
Makes you feel good, don’t it?
Behind your Broadway show,
I heard a voice say please don’t hurt me.
You’ve carried on so long,
You couldn’t stop if you tried it.
You’ve built your wall so high,
That no one could climb it.
But I’m gonna try.

Would you let me see beneath your beautiful?
Would you let me see beneath your perfect?
Take it off now boy, take it off now boy,
I wanna see inside.
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight?
Oh, tonight.

See beneath, see beneath,
I Tonight I

I’m gonna climb on top your ivory tower,
I’ll hold your hand and then we’ll jump right out.
We’ll be falling, falling
But that’s okay.
Cause I’ll be right here
I just wanna know.

Would you let me see beneath your beautiful?
Would you let me see beneath your perfect?
Take it off now girl, take it off now girl,
Cause I wanna see you say:
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight?
Tonight, see beneath your beautiful.
Oh tonight, we ain’t perfect, we ain’t perfect.
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight?

Songwriters: Emeli Sande / Mike Posner / Timothy Mckenzie

Top 500 Greatest Rock Songs of All-time