2000s songs, insecurity

#352 Beautiful- Christina Aguilera

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We are beautiful no matter what they say/
Words won’t bring us down.

Since this is a celebration of the top 500 songs of all-time, I don’t spend much time at all critiquing the songs. I like to celebrate the strengths of the songs. Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” has a couple weaknesses that makes it difficult to ignore. One is the over-exposure. That is no fault of the song. I feel I have heard it too many times. This is minor.

Beautiful greatest alltime song Meaning
aguilera

The main thing is Aguilera’s vocal. She has a great voice but her runs are SO over the top that they are distracting. If you have ever watched a singing competition on TV this is one of the worst aspects. They seem to equate “singing with emotion” with “doing a bunch of vocal runs”. This is one of the songs that inspired that trend.

Let’s talk about the good aspects of this song. Linda Perry wrote a song with a beautiful message and an even better melody. You might remember her from 4 Non-Blondes. That gives her two songs on this list. The piano is simple yet somehow is able to anchor the song.

The topic the song describes in the first verse is basically a panic attack. The narrator is feeling fine and then all of the sudden she can’t breathe—she feels ashamed and insecure. The remedy to this is to remember that she is beautiful. Awesome. I would love to hear a cover of this song.

Beautiful Lyrics

Don’t look at me…
Everyday is so wonderful,
Then suddenly,
It’s hard to breathe.
Now and then I get insecure,
From all the pain
I’m so ashamed.

I am beautiful.
No matter what they say,
Words can’t bring me down.
I am beautiful.
In every single way,
Yes words can’t bring me down.
Oh no,
So don’t you bring me down today.

To all your friends you’re delirious,
So consumed,
In all your doom, ooh.
Trying hard to fill the emptiness,
The pieces gone,
Left the puzzle undone.
Ain’t that the way it is…

You are beautiful.
No matter what they say,
Words can’t bring you down.
Oh no
You are beautiful
In every single way.
Yes words can’t bring you down
Oh no
So don’t you bring me down today.

No matter what we do (no matter what we do).
No matter what we say (no matter what we say).
We’re the song inside the tune (yeah, oh yeah).
Full of beautiful mistakes.

And everywhere we go (and everywhere we go),
The sun will always shine (the sun will always, always, shine).
And tomorrow we might awake,
On the other side.

‘Cause we are beautiful
No matter what they say,
Yes words won’t bring us down.
Oh no
We are beautiful
In every single way.
Yes words can’t bring us down.
Oh no,
So don’t you bring me down today.

Oh, oh oh
Don’t you bring me down today, yeah.
Don’t you bring me down, ooh
Today.

Songwriters: Linda Perry

1980s songs, looking for love

#351 Come Here- Kath Bloom

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There’s wind that blows in from the north/
And it says that loving takes this course/
Come here.

Kath Bloom’s “Come Here” is such a delicate song. A lot of that has to do with Bloom’s delivery. She sings so softly yet somehow assuredly, knowing that she and her love are meant to be together. She speaks of feeling the wind coming in from the North making them cold and perhaps needing to find warmth in each other. It doesn’t sound like a cheesy line. Somehow, she sounds like a sage.

Come Here Meaning
Kath Bloom

Bloom subtly hints at their relationship without giving away too many details. They have probably been off-and-on for awhile and he is “timid” yet prideful around her. She comforts him by saying this time it is going to be fine. It doesn’t sound like a generic love song, but one from her specific experience. That makes the song all the more interesting.

One unique aspect of this song is the use of harmonica. Folk music has used the harmonica long before Dylan. However, often times it is used as a lead guitarist would use their guitar: during breaks from singing they would play the harmonica.

In “Come Here” the harmonica is an accompanying instrument more prominent than any other instrument, even the guitar. It solos along in the background while the lead vocals are occurring. It creates a unique sound.

Come Here Lyrics

There’s wind that blows in from the north
And it says that loving takes this course
Come here
Come here

No I’m not impossible to touch
I have never wanted you so much
Come here
Come here

Have I never laid down by your side
Baby, let’s forget about this pride
Come here
Come here

Well I’m in no hurry
You don’t have to run away this time
I know you’re timid
But it’s gonna be all right this time

There’s wind that blows in from the north
And it says that loving takes this course
Come here
Come here
Please, hey, hey
Hey, hey

written by: Katherine Bloom-bronski

1960s songs, love is gone

#349 Where Did Our Love Go? The Supremes

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I’ve got this burning, burning, yearning feelin’ inside me/
Ooh, deep inside me, and it hurts so bad.

In the mid to late 60s The Supremes were a juggernaut. “Where Did Our Love Go” is one of their first hits. Ross sang lead. The song is a great production. There are so many unique elements that would not appear in a lesser version. Note the footstomping. It works and adds a ton to this song. The sax solo is another nice touch. Sometimes a sax solo can ruin a song, but sometimes it can help make it. Choosing the instrument for the solo is what makes a song go from an A- to an A.

Where Did Our Love Go meaning
The Supremes

As with all Supremes songs, the interplay between the lead vocal and the background vocal is their signature sound. The song is about a girl asking her man what happened to their love. The background singers are like that great friend who are backing you up singing “why are you such a loser?” to the guy.

Where Did Our Love Go? Lyrics

Baby, baby, baby don’t leave me
Ooh, please don’t leave me all by myself
I’ve got this burning, burning, yearning feelin’ inside me
Ooh, deep inside me and it hurts so bad

You came into my heart (baby, baby) so tenderly
With a burning love (baby, baby)
That stings like a bee (baby, baby)
Now that I surrender (baby, baby) so helplessly
You now want to leave (baby, baby)
Ooh, you wanna leave me (baby, baby)
Ooh (baby, baby)

Baby, baby, where did our love go?
Ooh, don’t you want me?
Don’t you want me no more (baby, baby)?
Ooh, baby

Baby, baby, where did our love go?
And all your promises of a love forevermore!
I’ve got this burning, burning, yearning feelin’ inside me
Ooh, deep inside me, and it hurts so bad

Before you won my heart (baby, baby)
You were a perfect guy
But now that you got me
You wanna leave me behind (baby, baby)
Ooh, baby

Baby, baby, baby don’t leave me
Ooh, please don’t leave me all by myself (baby, baby)
Ooh baby, baby, baby

Songwriters: Edward Jr. Holland / Lamont Dozier / Brian Holland