John Richards

Berlin-based duo Lea Porcelain is producer Julien Bracht and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Markus Nikolaus. -- They say, "The song describes a time in everybody’s life that make you lose faith in yourself, in someone else, or in life itself and you just need to hear from someone that one day everything will be OK again. That no matter what, with time and patience we all will be OK.” Read more from our interview with Lea Porcelain about this song here: www.kexp.org

Sharon Van Etten said in an interview in 2012, "I wrote the song about a friend talking me through a panic attack. Moving to New York City and doing what I do, social anxiety is a really ridiculous kind of curse to have. But I met people along the way who deal with it — performers as well — and they are learning to deal with it daily and deal with it in different ways. "We Are Fine" is a duet with Beirut's Zach Condon, who has social anxiety, too.": n.pr

In the video for this song, frontman Tunde Adebimpe encourages and consoles strangers he meets on the street. “I just happen to like looking at people and wondering what’s up,” Adebimpe said of the clip’s inspiration. “We got some people together, some of whom we ran into on the street while we were shooting, and did that. We asked if they could quietly (or not) go to brighter or darker places inside themselves [and] let us be there with them for a little while. Everyone’s sifting through something, right?”: www.youtube.com

When Robert Earl Keen was inducted into The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the World’s Largest Honky-Tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, Texas, he told the story behind this wonderful song. He said, "Kathleen, the love interest in the story coming down the stairs, is my wife because occasionally she would wake up and figure, oh he’s not here, he must be at Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar Saloon. And she would come down and see me and we would all sit and drink. And sometimes Arkey would lock the door and we would keep going after hours and go as long as we wanted to.”: bit.ly

BFF's Mick Jagger and Keith Richards go for a walk, run into Ronnie Wood at a bar, drink, and then (naturally) start singing together ... www.youtube.com

KEXP premiered the video for this infectious song from Baby Dayliner (real name: Ethan Marunas): www.kexp.org

My boss introduced me to KEXP last year right when we started working from home. Though these past 365 days have brought so much sadness and despair, this station, its music and its charismatic, beautiful people, have given me so much joy. So whether I am crying, laughing, or dancing on my own - I am glad its with KEXP. Thank you for powering on! ---Rachel -- Want to read a lovely tribute to this now-36 -year-old album?: americanahighways.org

Melbourne-by-way-of-Tasmania band Quivers is the project of Sam J. Nicholson, who started it to keep singing after losing a brother in a free-diving accident. John selected "You're Not Always On My Mind" as a KEXP Song of the Day. See the video, read more about the song, and download it for free here: www.kexp.org

Explaining this song, lead singer Michael Stipe said: "The words come from everywhere. I'm extremely aware of everything around me, whether I am in a sleeping state, awake, dream-state or just in day to day life. There's a part in 'It's The End Of The World As We Know It' that came from a dream where I was at Lester Bangs' birthday party and I was the only person there whose initials weren't L.B. So there was Lenny Bruce, Leonid Brezhnev, Leonard Bernstein... So that ended up in the song along with a lot of stuff I'd seen when I was flipping TV channels. It's a collection of streams of consciousness."

This was written by Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro. Navarro is the cousin of guitarist Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction. He said, "I was kind of lamenting an old relationship, and I kind of wanted to get the point across: 'It doesn't matter if you agree, or disagree, if you're here or gone. There are things that are bigger than both of us, and we belong together. I started with that final line and built everything almost backwards. Then I thought, 'Wouldn't it be fun for us to belong to all of this stuff: the light, the thunder ...' So it came from there." --- Here's the official video: www.youtube.com

Because deep down, we know that what matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What really matters is helping others win, too. Even if it means slowing down and changing our course now and then. --Mr. Rogers : bit.ly --- An untrained children's choir accompanies the Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman on this song from the soundtrack that she composed for the 2009 film.: www.youtube.com

This title translates from French as "Tell Me A Story," but here at KEXP we all know it as "The Frog Song": --- "As adults hardened by the years of experience, it is hard to envision the world detailed in the lyrics, but through the sincerity of her voice – yes, just her voice alone – but also the sincerity in how she recites the narrative, with such genuine BELIEF in this narrative, it is truly a moving thing to behold. And by the power of empathy and the connection with this girl, through her voice and vocals, you can now transport to her openness, to her imagination, and believe the narrative as well. And thus, you shall become a frog." : bit.ly

Here's a special video performance for the lovers, the dreamers,...and you: www.youtube.com

Ahhh...the Friday song. If you've waited with bated breath for this song on Fridays, support John (and Henry!) by donating: www.kexp.org -- "I listen and amplify KEXP for the community and the love this station and its glorious humans bring to the Pacific Northwest and the whole world, day in and day out. I listen because this is where people care, we are not alone, and the music matters. And, of course, THE FRIDAY SONG!" -- John in Kenmore

"In lesser hands, it might be confusing. When Robyn does it, it's human. Contrary emotions wrapped up in one package, happiness and sadness living together in a groove: Everything about this song is a juxtaposition. That's what makes it an anthem." In this much-loved song, people find community in a song all about being solo.: n.pr

This song by David Bowie and Brian Eno was inspired by the sight of Bowie's producer-engineer Tony Visconti embracing his lover by the Berlin Wall. Bowie's performance of "'Heroes'" on June 6th 1987, at the German Reichstag in West Berlin has been considered a catalyst to the later fall of the Berlin Wall. Following his death in January 2016, the German government thanked Bowie for "helping to bring down the Wall", adding "you are now among Heroes".

"Arcade Fire in concert is probably the closest to a religious experience as I have ever had.": 25yearslatersite.com --- Arcade Fire played "Wake Up" in the dark at Coachella in 2011: www.youtube.com

"Beethoven wrote the Symphony in 1811-12, completing it in April. It was premiered at one of his most successful concerts, given in Vienna on December 8, 1813, to benefit soldiers wounded in the battle of Hanau a few months earlier.... The enjoyment of the event was hardly surprising given what most members of the Viennese audience had been through during the preceding decade.....After so much conflict and misery, impending victory could be honored and celebrated." -- Here' NPR's story of this wonderful music: www.npr.org

"Outro" is the final song on M83's sixth album, "Hurry Up. We're Dreaming." "Facing tempests of dust, I'll fight until the end / Creatures of my dreams, raise up and dance with me..." ilovem83.com

Black Francis said, "The song is about a high-school trip to the Bahamas. I was swimming in clear water and there was a small fish – about four inches, not dangerous at all – that was aggressively following me and poking me. It kept doing it – it freaked me out. I was like: “I have to get away from this f**king crazy fish.” Learn how Pixies made "Where Is My Mind?": www.theguardian.com

Bawling listening to Brandon Summers’ song You Are Not Alone. This is why we support KEXP. The greatness you all put out in the world ALWAYS overcomes the bad. You’ve been a lifeline to me and many more through some very dark times. Thank you. Music heals. You heal. We are all better because of the work you do. In gratitude, Allison on the Eastside -- Brandon Summers of The Helio Sequence performed live in the KEXP studio on October 26, 2018.: www.youtube.com

"This is the day, your life will surely change / This is the day, when things fall into place..." - www.thethe.com Watch The The perform "This is the Day" live from 1983: youtu.be --- This is the day to show your support and donate to KEXP! www.kexp.org

Thanks so much for listening to The Morning Show and for your wonderful donations! It's not too late!: www.kexp.org

If KEXP makes you want to dance why don't you head on over to www.kexp.org and make a gift now! Check out SAULT's albums here: https://saultglobal.bandcamp.com/music --- https://kexp.org/donate/