John Richards

Good morning Wednesday, it's time for The Morning Show! - Here's a video of Jimi's iconic performance of the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock in 1969: www.youtube.com

The Resistance Revival Chorus is a collective of more than 70 women and non-binary singers. Founded in the wake of the 2017 Women's March, Resistance Revival Chorus strives to center women in music and address how historically marginalized women have been in the music industry. resistancerevivalchorus.bandcamp.com

"You'll Never Walk Alone" is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. In some areas of the UK and Europe, "You'll Never Walk Alone" became the anthem of support for medical staff, first responders, and those in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. -bit.ly

The lyric to "America The Beautiful" was written by a Wellesley College English professor named Katharine Lee Bates, who wrote it as a poem that was first published in 1895. At the time, the term "America" was rarely used in reference to the United States. Many artists have recorded this, including Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, but Charles' version is the most famous. - bit.ly

Please play Nina Simone Feeling Good. Laura in the Hudson Valley --- Amazing start to the set this morning. Thank you so much! I would love to hear Nina Simone's feeling good -it's running through my mind all morning. -Darla

Good morning John! Your playlist today is fantastic for this historic occasion! Listening online from Spokane after living in Seattle and enjoying KEXP for many years. I would love to hear Oh Happy Day by the Edwin Hawkins Singers. Keep up the good work you wonderful human! Edward

The Lumineers covering Leonard Cohen! Here's Denver-based band The Lumineers performing live on The Morning Show in 2012: www.youtube.com

"Don't Dream It's Over" is a song by the Australian rock band Crowded House, recorded for their 1986 self-titled debut studio album. The song was written by band frontman Neil Finn, who considers this a song of unity. - bit.ly

New Radicals Reuniting After 22 Years to Perform at Biden Inauguration Event! The band will return for one day to perform “You Get What You Give” after Biden and Harris are sworn in. - bit.ly

Second single released from the Manchester band's fourth album. "Well, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day / Throw those curtains wide!"

Bob writes: ... thank you for the great, inspirational music. It is indeed a beautiful day! ======== The lyrics were inspired by Bono's experience with Jubilee 2000, a benefit urging politicians to drop the Third World Debt. Bono describes the song as about "a man who has lost everything, but finds joy in what he still has." - bit.ly

Good morning John! I'm so happy to be listening to your show today. I finally feel hopeful after what seemed an eternity. I'm sending good thoughts to everyone listening today. Hell, good vibes to EVERYONE! Here in DC, we're on edge today, but remaining hopeful. I'd love to hear The Five Stairsteps "Ooh Child" if you could. -- Valerie

"The empowerment of women is at the heart of this particular anthem..." - www.npr.org

What a great to have a birthday! My husband is unable to spend it with me because he’s DC MPD. This is been a tough year for us as I am ER Nurse as well. We wouldn’t have made it through this year without all the love and support of our friends and family, who proved to be the true heroes in our lives Thank you for always being there KEXP. Any chance you would play Groove Is In The Heart for me? Victoria

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performed "Can't Hold Us" live in the KEXP studio in 2011. Here is the full performance: www.youtube.com

The lead singer of Kool & The Gang, J.T. Taylor, said his mother predicted enduring popularity for this celebratory anthem. Taylor told Billboard: "My mother told me when she heard it, 'You're gonna play this song for the rest of your life - so get ready!" - bit.ly

Hey John – on this magnificent day, can you play Movin’ on Up by Primal Scream? Seems very apt for today. A request for a Scottish band from a Scottish person living in Chicago. Thanks ! James =============== Primal Scream is playing AS Dr. Biden and President-elect Biden are walking out - the sync/timing here is PERFECTION! You're killing it this week. #youarenotalone -Devon in Indiana

Today I truly mean it when I say GOOD MORNING. Can you please play Bill Whithers' "Lovely Day"? Thank you, Dave

Sly Stone wrote this about how everyone is essentially the same, regardless of race or background. Sly & the Family Stone was a mash-up of musical styles, with band members of different genders and ethnic backgrounds. - bit.ly

Sister Sledge is four sisters whose last names really are Sledge. They were a backup band for various artists before releasing this album, which was their first. This was their biggest hit. - bit.ly

By request!

"I won't be afraid Just as long as you stand, stand by me..."

I don't have a request, but I had to tell you this...My husband called me from the car this morning and told me I had to turn on KEXP, that it's a big, joyful stream of music. I didn't realize how much I needed this music right now, I'm crying so many happy tears listening to your playlist this morning as I watch the inauguration. There is some hope again. Thank you so much John Richards, you have made my day!! -Jess ======== The Rising album was partially inspired by a stranger who told Springsteen in the wake of 9/11, "We need you now." - bit.ly

Morning John. Would love to hear David Bowie's Heroes this morning. It's been a tough four years, but many good people stepped up during that time to help out others, and that includes you and the messages you've spread. Still not sure how quickly things will change, but there is at least blue sky on the horizon. Mason in Madison

Beyoncé's first single from her fourth solo album was this track, which samples the martial drum beat from dancehall duo Major Lazer's 2009 track, "Pon de Floor." - bit.ly

Hey John (and Owen)! Hooray! We made it! I'm sure you've already got this on your list for today...but feeling like This Is the Day by The The would be great to hear... Thanks for getting us through these crazy times. Best, Wendy ======= Oh John! Owen! We made it! Today is the day! We got through the last 4 years together, as a community! So grateful that these dark days are over and that in less than 2 hours Voldemort moves out of the White House. Could you please play This is The Day by The The? PS: love the gospel set you started out with 💛🖤💛🖤💛 -Jenny

"It was just sunny and it was all just the release of that tension that had been building up on me," Harrison said in a 1969 BBC Radio interview. "It was just a really nice sunny day, and I picked up the guitar, which was the first time I'd played the guitar for a couple of weeks because I'd been so busy. And the first thing that came out was that song. It just came. And I finished it later when I was on holiday in Sardinia." - bit.ly

"Carry on love is coming, Love is coming to us all..." Carry On is the opening track for the album Déjà Vu.

Chapman said about the inspiration for this song, "they didn’t think that people’s lives who…, people who didn’t have money or who were working class, their lives weren’t very significant and they also somehow couldn’t make a change. But I feel that’s where change comes from, that’s where people are in most need” - bit.ly

Not one, but two, cow bells on this one, because what we need is always more cowbell.

"And each time I feel like this inside There's one thing I wanna know What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?..."

As Husker Du put it, it's a New Day Rising! -Rodknee in Austin

This was written by Australian singer-songwriter Geoff Mack, and recorded in 1962 by the Australian singer Leslie Morrison, who used the stage name Lucky Starr. The original version was a list of Australian destinations. Later, Mack re-wrote the lyrics with places in America (using a map to determine place names). - bit.ly

The first single off A Tribe Called Quest's third album, 'Midnight Marauders' atribecalledquest.com

Listener Ryan writes in requesting Ice Cube Good Day From the Atlantic: January 20, 1992 Was Ice Cube's Actual Good Day - The Atlantic Thanks to some close reading of the lyrics in Ice Cube's "It Was a Good Day," we now know that when the rapper rapped about his perfect day, he was rapping about January 20, 1992. - bit.ly

Good Morning, John & Crew! It happens to be our daughter Zoie's TENTH BIRTHDAY (rhymes with “Bowie”) today and she is so proud to share this day with Joe & Kamala (and really all of the world-let's be real here). Can you please play Sault's "I just want to dance" as she gets ready to celebrate? Thanks!! Jeni & Justin

"Dearly beloved We are gathered here today To get through this thing called 'life'..." www.prince.com

"Today is the greatest day I've ever known..." Corgan said that the plot of the video for "Today" was inspired by a memory he had of an ice cream truck driver who, upon quitting his job, gave out his remaining stock of ice cream to the neighborhood children. - www.youtube.com

Can you play Turntables by Janelle Monae in honor of Inauguration Day please? Sherida in Seattle

Gaynor sees this song as just a simple song about survival, regardless of what you have to overcome. She said: "I love the empowering effect, I love the encouraging effect. It's a timeless lyric that addresses a timeless concern." - bit.ly

This anti-prejudice song by American female group En Vogue became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. www.envoguemusic.com

Queen Latifah takes a stand in this song and encourages women to respect and stand up for themselves. - queenlatifah.com

By request!