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Monday, Nov 9 2020, 7AM
From Springsteen's 2002 return; it was his first album in seven years, and first with the E Street Band in 18. This track was inspired by the response of firefighters to the Twin Towers during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Some amazing live performances of this track include an amazing tribute to Springsteen during the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors, by Sting: youtu.be
From the fourth album by the Manchester band -- their first to be self-produced, mixed, and recorded without any outside help. Tracks from it were used in video games, numerous dramas and films -- and won the Mercury Music Prize in 2008.
Owen Murphy interviewed Elbow in 2019 about staying hopeful -- something we can all use: tinyurl.com
From the band's debut album, released in July 2009. This anthemic track has sold millions and millions of copies online, proving to be a tremendous fan favorite live as well -- including this outdoor performance at Oxegen Festival in 2010: youtu.be
Apparently this gorgeous track from the 2013 Ben Stiller film wasn't eligible for an Academy Award because it played too late in the credits to count -- songs must be used either in the body or as the first music cue in the end credits: tinyurl.com
By request!
This song which calls on the youth of the world to rise up and fight for a better future has been covered many times -- including Rage Against the Machine's first live show, The Strokes, The National, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
More sad news this morning -- Midnight Oil bassist Bones Hillman -- remembered by the band as "our brilliant musical comrade" -- has died in Milwaukee at 62 following a battle with cancer: tinyurl.com
From The The's sixth album, featuring guitar and harmonica work from Smiths legend Johnny Marr -- the album "leaves behind the infected dance beats that served as the framework for many of his previous albums and replaces them with steamy acoustic-based rhythms that shimmer with red-orange warmth" tinyurl.com
The best-selling 12" single of all time came in a die-cut sleeve that resembled a floppy disc -- a sleeve so fancy Factory Records lost money on each copy
The later 1988 and 1995 versions were packaged in conventional sleeves to help balance the books...
Jen in Lexington, KY writes: 'That was a beautiful, bittersweet start to your show. Thank you. I would love to hear The Call's "Let the Day Begin", because it truly feels like a new day. And I am here for it. Thank you for all you do, especially reminding us that we are not alone. That has sustained me more than I could ever articulate.'
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Scott adds: and with just one song (Let the Day Begin) I am once more reminded why keXp matters, and feel how music helps me every day. could not have gotten this far in to the Century of 2020 with out y'all - thanks. thank a million!
Never released as a single in the US, this track still made it to #1 on both the Mainstream and Modern Rock charts
This anti-war song refers to the chemical defoliant Agent Orange used in the Vietnam War; the chemical contained pollutants including dioxin, making millions of people sick and damaging the environment throughout Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia
Good morning to Todd in Spokane and Bruno in Lyon, France!
The late Toots Hibbert covered this Bob Marley classic in the album released just before his death, "Got To Be Tough." This cover featured Ziggy Marley and percussion from Ringo Starr. Watch the animated video: tinyurl.com
From the 2019 concert film documenting Beyoncé's 2019 performance at the Coachella Arts and Music Festival; check out another live performance of this track from the 2011 Billboard Music Awards: youtu.be
8:12 AM
189th spin
Janelle Monae said of "Turntables," “I’m simply watching, examining, and wanting to highlight all of the people who are on the frontlines fighting for our democracy... this song is to keep us motivated. This song is to uplift us and keep us galvanized when we’re fatigued. And this song is really for the people.” Watch the invigorating and inspiring video for Turntables here: youtu.be
During KEXP's "Six Degrees of Prince", artist and illustrator Drew Wicklund and five other Seattle artists performed 12 hours of live drawing based on the flow of the day's Prince-related programming. Check out the video of their creation here: www.kexp.org
Eleanor, a hero teacher in North Seattle writes: It feels like a lighter day...for the first time in a long, long time. I knew the morning show would match my mood! Thank you John & team. Sn: saw a meme, "you thought a dogs year was equivalent to 7 human years...not the case. Turns out the only thing equivalent to 7 years is 2020."
This album was produced by William Orbit
Sean writes: "Good morning John! This Monday does feel a lot better than the last 4-years of Mondays. Still a lot of hard work to do, but feel a bit more optimistic today. Have a great day my friend!"
Jason Isbell will perform at the virtual SMooCH festival this year! Tune in to KEXP all week for more announcements about the December 5th benefit for Seattle Children's Hospital
"Perfect song. It does feel so good feeling good again. Thanks for getting me through the last four years. I will be forever grateful. Xoxoxo" -- Jeanne in Madison Park
Alex from Seattle writes: 'Good morning! It's my great love Ara's (Ar like a pirate would say it) birthday today. I'd like to request Tom Petty's Wildflowers for her.'
This home recording was included on the recent "Wildflowers & All The Rest" 3 LP version of Tom Petty's seminal album 'Wildflowers" -- released by Petty's estate in October
Erika in Tacoma writes: "Thanks for the Zombies!!!" Thanks for listening, Erika!
“This Will Be Our Year” revels in open-hearted positivity, with Argent’s sprightly piano serving as the driving musical force. But that positivity means more because of how the song hints at darker times without dwelling on them for very long. It feels like the couple at the heart of the song have earned this happiness.": tinyurl.com
GD Preston in the UK writes: 'Great start to the show ... although took me a while to get why you were playing Blue Monday! If you could fit THAT Mountain Goats song in at some point that would be great - it's starting to feel like we actually might make it through this year!'
Satirical website The Hard Times says, "Experts warned today that listening to the hit Mountain Goats song “This Year” is no longer enough to motivate Americans to get through 2020 if it kills them." - tinyurl.com
Back in May, Pitchfork's David Glickman reviewed Nation of Language's latest -- ' 10 pristine pieces of synth pop that eschew dramatics for concision.' : tinyurl.com
www.nationoflanguage.com or nationoflanguage.bandcamp.com to check out albums from the Brooklyn-based synthpop band
Depeche Mode were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday night!
"I realized what else I loved about their music: They celebrate the outsider. Their music brings people together from all diff walks of life and makes them feel like it’s OK to be different" -- Check out Charlize Theron's induction speech: tinyurl.com
Mere months after releasing the critically-acclaimed "Untitled (Black Is)," UK collective SAULT returned with their second album of 2020, entitled ,"Untitled (Rise)." This new record imparts a more exuberant sound through upbeat disco, funk and even house elements, but the topics remain just as poignant—exploring race, resilience, and rebellion.
You can purchase this second great album of 2020 by SAULT here: bit.ly
"I know that you have a lot of requests but I thought I'd try one. You and I and many other people have had a person in our life for four years. Now he is gone. I'd like to dedicate a song to him. Nah Nah Hey Hey by Steam" -- K.O.
"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" is a song written and recorded by Paul Leka, Gary DeCarlo and Dale Frashuer, attributed to a then-fictitious band they named "Steam". It was released under the Mercury subsidiary label Fontana and became a number one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1969, and remained on the charts in early 1970.
Hey y’all, hope everyone had a joyful weekend and was able to relax a little bit.
I heard that there’s a guy on a golf course in DC that needs to hear Cheap Trick’s Surrender. I’d love to blast it too if it fits in. Thanks! Spencer"
"Surrender" was the first Cheap Trick single to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 62. Rolling Stone deemed it "the ultimate Seventies teen anthem" and ranked it #471 on its list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
Melissa from Port Townsend writes: "Crying happy tears, you guys are so good at being the soundtrack of life!"
"Ten, ten, ten, ten for everything, everything, everything..."
Remember that time the Violent Femmes came and played a show for us in the Gathering Space: youtu.be
By request from Junu Kim -- a card-carrying 500 Club member from Chicago! -- who writes: "RIP to a cultural touchstone"
Thanks for writing in and for your support!
The Fleshtones are one of the last remaining original CBGB bands, forty years into their career -- they’ve played on Andy Warhol’s short-lived MTV show while Sir Ian McKellen read Shakespeare over their jamming, and were the last band to publicly perform at the World Trade Center’s Windows on the World
Kes in Seattle: 'The transition between Alex Trebek and Beastie Boys' Sabotage gave me chills. Incredible. Here's to a hopeful ending to 2020. Keep on crushing it.'
24 years after the release of this one, the Beastie Boys admitted in their new book that it's about a sound engineer: “We were totally indecisive about what, when, why and how to complete songs. Mario [Caldato Jr.] was getting frustrated. That’s a really calm way of saying that he would blow a fuse and get pissed off at us and scream that we just needed to finish something, anything, a song."
Good morning to Courtney in Ballard, to Jane in Seattle, to TJ in Amsterdam (formerly of Seattle), and to Steve from Hell's Kitchen, NYC!
Chuck D's open black nationalist politics made their debut album controversial, but it was one of the fastest-selling hop-hop records ever, and one of the most influential in the genre
In 2020 we've lost Alex Trebek and Chadwick Boseman -- both to cancer (pancreatic and colon cancel, respectively) -- even more sadness in a tough year
Yesterday was SZA's birthday! (born in 1990)
This track was nominated for Best Original Song at the Golden Globes and Oscars, as well as multiple Grammy nominations; its amazing video won Best Visual Effects at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards: youtu.be
Chris Walter listening in Traverse City, MI writes: 'Good Morning John,
Would Rare Earth's - I Just Want to Celebrate fit in with your show this morning?' It sure does
This album came out in 1971, but wasn't released on compact disc until June 2015; this track reached #7 on the pop charts
'Hey John; So today it's my turn to have a birthday in the age of COVID! The election results over the weekend were definitely a very nice early birthday gift and I'm starting to feel a little bit hope for the first time in a long time. If you could fit in "Getting Better" by the Beatles it would be appreciated. As always, thanks for the music.' -- Paul in Danbury, CT
'Greetings from Amsterdam! If you have time, it would be great if you could play “Rebuild a Nation” today by Damon Locks and the Black Monument Ensemble. They are on the American Anthem label out of Chicago. It is such a powerful and beautiful song and very fitting for this moment.
Thanks! TJ Living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands'
Recorded Live at Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago on November 15th, 2018. intlanthem.bandcamp.com
The Resistance Revival Chorus (RRC) is a collective of more than 60 women, and non-binary singers, who join together to breathe joy and song into the resistance, and to uplift and center women’s voices.
The music video for this song is very joyful! youtu.be
Choir! Choir! Choir! teamed up with David Byrne and a TON of singers in the Ford Foundation lobby of the Public Theater during the 'Under the Radar Festival' to sing 'Heroes' written by David Bowie and Brian Eno: youtu.be
Hi there to Allie from Seattle, Brian in Oakland, Truman on the big island of Hawaii, Eric in Kenmore, Kes in Seattle, and Dimitri in Vancouver, BC!
About this song, David Byrne writes: "Byrne says, That's a love song made up almost completely of non sequiturs, phrases that may have a strong emotional resonance but don't have any narrative qualities. It's a real honest kind of love song. I don't think I've ever done a real love song before. Mine always had a sort of reservation, or a twist. I tried to write one that wasn't corny, that didn't sound stupid or lame the way many do. I think I succeeded; I was pretty happy with that."
9:56 AM
24th spin
From Stevie Wonder's first album in 15 years -- due out this week!
"Can’t Put it in the Hands of Fate" features rappers Busta Rhymes, Rapsody, Cordae & Chika. Stevie Wonder said "'Can't Put It In the Hands of Fate' is a response to "systemic racism … every young person is saying this stuff here is unacceptable. We can’t be a united people of the world and have this craziness ... Change is right now – we can’t put it in the hands of fate."
tinyurl.com