I always love it when you hear a song and then you remember that it was a song you’d heard before (and loved) but totally forgot about it and because of that you didn’t research it to find out what it was called and who sang it. This is what happened to me a couple of days ago with “Sweet Surrender“.

I wasn’t even searching for this song because I’d forgotten that it actually existed and that I loved it. As I was lying down on my bed relaxing, my iTunes was playing 90s songs in shuffle mode and one of the songs that came on was “Love Is All Around” by Wet Wet Wet. I knew that this was, by far, the band’s most famous song. But at the same time, I realised that it was the only song that I actually knew from the band.

So this set me off on a journey of discovering Wet Wet Wet’s music from their long career and I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had a number of hits (mainly in the UK) during the 80s and 90s. But the song that most grabbed my attention and stuck in my mind was “Sweet Surrender.”

Because I’d heard it before (and recall loving it), I instantly connected to its rhythm. And when I actually found out what the lyrics were about, it made me love the song even more.

The song deals with the moment that you fall in love with someone at first sight. The feeling that you get when you look at them and feel love overpower you is what the singer refers to as the “sweet surrender.” That moment feels like you’re surrendering yourself to them because you have been so consumed by love in that one moment.

Rhythmically, my favourite part of the song is the part just after the chorus where the lyrics begin with “I don’t know, I don’t care”, not just because it sounds good but because it’s the part that triggered my memory that I’d heard this song before.

I really hope that you also appreciate this song for what it is. I think it’s a song that has been largely forgotten by many compilations of 80s love songs. I’m also guilty of forgetting this song myself. Enjoy!

This is a song Australian and British audiences will fondly remember and it will evoke memories of ‘that wedding’ in 1987. Of course, it was a fictional wedding which took place on the Australian TV soap opera Neighbours but it captured the hearts and minds of people in both countries. In the UK alone, an estimated 20 million people tuned in to watch the episode where Scott and Charlene got married. The song “Suddenly” was chosen as the wedding theme and playing during the ceremony on the show.

The song was recorded by Australian singer Angry Anderson who, until 1987, had been the frontman and lead singer of one of Sydney’s leading rock bands, Rose Tattoo. “Suddenly” was a song that the group had recorded as part of the group’s final album before their disbanding in 1987. Kylie Minogue, who played Charlene in Neighbours, chose this song to play over at her fictional wedding ceremony. And as a result, the song was released as a single and reached number 1 in Australia and number 3 on the UK charts.

The song itself is a very good and memorable power ballad. It has a catchy and emotive chorus which is emphasised by Anderson’s strong rock voice. Singing a ballad was something that Angry Anderson had never done and it was seen to be a risk as it could have alienated his traditional rock audience. However, I think he pulls it off and there’s no wonder that this song is still his biggest hit.

I’ve chosen to feature this song today, not just because it is a wonderful power ballad, but because I want to show it to my American readers. I believe that Suddenly would have charted on the Billboard charts if it had had the same exposure back in the 1980s. I hope you all enjoy this timeless classic.

It’s hard to believe that this incredibly deep and meaningful song has been forgotten and brushed over by many over the years. Even when it was released, despite peaking at number 6 on the UK charts and number 1 on the Australian charts, it wasn’t a worldwide hit (and it should have been).

Saltwater highlights the importance of environmental conservation and eliminating world poverty in today’s modern world. It does this by juxtaposing the marvels and achievements of humanity with the destruction of the natural world as we know it. It exposes the irony that as we have become more advanced and sophisticated, we have actually taken another step towards our own destruction.

The lyrics shows this juxtaposition beautifully. And it makes you reflect upon the world we live in today and the many wrongs that exist. It always refers back to the idea of saltwater welling in one’s eyes because the tears are not just tears of sadness, they are also tears of guilt (and even anger). For example, in one verse of the song: “We’re so ingenious we can walk on the moon, but when I hear about how the forest have died, saltwater wells in my eyes.”

The song was written and composed by none other than Julian Lennon, the son of the great and legendary singer John Lennon. Although his career was not as prolific and successful as that of his father, this song would have made his father proud. It is a song of extremely high quality and the similarity between Julian and John in terms of looks and voice is at times freaky. You could be forgiven for thinking that it was John that actually sang the song.

It surprises me that this song has not been used by environmental conservationists and socialists around the world to promote their movements. Perhaps Julian himself has not allowed this to happen. I’m not sure.

The most important thing now is to pass this song to current generations who have probably not heard it yet. Despite being written and composed almost 20 years ago, this message contained in Saltwater is as (if not more) important than when it was first released.

The following video is a beautiful collection of images shown throughout the song. It makes the song’s message powerful. Please pass this song on to your family and friends because it’s for the good of the world and our humanity.

I am currently going crazy over this song. Yes, you’ve guessed it! I’ve been blown away by another hidden gem. And funnily enough, it’s another song from the musical Chess. For some reason, I thought that “I Knew Him So Well” was the only big hit to come from that musical. Sadly, I was wrong and I had no idea until today.

As I was researching number 1 hits from the 80s on the Australian music charts, I came across the song “One Night In Bangkok” by Murray Head. The title of the song rang a bell but the singer did not. So I got access to the song and it’s absolutely AMAZING!

Stunning in fact. Very 80s and very European. Which is no surprise given that it was composed by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus who formed the male half and were the masterminds behind ABBA. The synthesisers are literally everywhere in this song and it’s more of a dance than a pop song. And even in 2010, this dance song would still fit in quite well.

There is really nothing that I don’t like about this song. It gets my body moving so easily, it’s extremely catchy and makes me want to go over to Bangkok and see if what the song says about it is indeed true.

If I could criticise this song in any way, it would be that it is way too short. Ok, it’s just over 4 minutes long which is standard, however, you get into the song so much that time flies and before you know it, it’s over and you want to keep on dancing to it. As a result, I hope that some great DJ out there makes an extended remix of this song (at least 8 minutes long) to play at nightclubs over the world. I can guarantee you, it will be a hit again, if it’s done right.

There’s nothing I can say about this song apart from going ahead and listening to it. Show it to your family and friends because this is seriously a song that has been forgotten about. In hindsight, it would have been nice to see Benny and Bjorn make an entire album with songs like this one. But then again, Modern Talking wouldn’t have been able to compete (just kidding!).

Enjoy One Night In Bangkok!

Given that the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup is only days away, I thought it would be appropriate to write about what I consider to be the best World Cup theme song of all time. Just in case you didn’t know, I’m also a massive football fan and when the World Cup comes along every 4 years, there’s nothing on my mind except following each team and watching each game. The Cup Of Life by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin was the theme song of the 1998 World Cup which took place in France and was won by the host nation.

That World Cup was particularly special for me because it was the first time I’d watched a significant amount of World Cup games and followed the tournament closely. I was 11 at the time and the 1 thing that always reminds me of that tournament is The Cup Of Life. It’s also such a catchy and fun song to sing and dance to. It captures the spirit of football perfectly. The game of football and its dynamics and drama is so much like life itself, which probably explains why it’s the most popular sport in the world. It also explains why the World Cup is the Cup of Life.

The song is so good that the theme songs from the 2002 and 2006 World Cups have failed to overcome The Cup Of Life in terms of quality and popularity. The theme song for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa is not too bad, however, when compared to Ricky Martin’s song, it pales in comparison.

There should be a worldwide petition launched to make The Cup Of Life the official theme song for every World Cup. It would certainly save songwriters and singers the embarrassment of not being able to live up to the standard of the 1998 theme song.

This is perhaps not a 90s classic song for many people out there, however, for football fans everywhere, this is a song that will stand the test of time. Even if you’re not a football fan, you should catch some of the upcoming World Cup, even if you just watch the final on July 11. It is the biggest sporting event in the world and it should not be missed.

If you want a comprehensive preview of all the teams and groups, then you should watch my World Cup Preview which I made with a good friend of mine.

In the meantime, enjoy the beauty of The Cup Of Life.

Unless you’re a massive James Bond fan, then you have probably haven’t heard of this song. Licence To Kill is theme song of the Bond film of the same name, which was released in 1989. Up until recently, this was one of the Bond films I hadn’t seen and given that I’d heard bad reviews of the film, I didn’t expect much. Surprisingly, the movie was quite good and one of the things I liked about it was this theme song by Gladys Knight.

Now I’m obsessed with it a bit. It’s just so good on so many levels. It’s very catchy and not easily forgettable. If you haven’t heard it, please listen it by clicking on the video at the bottom.

Naturally, this got me interested in Gladys Knight and whose career I hadn’t really explored. I find it incredible that despite my knowledge and interest in Motown, that she hadn’t crossed by radar up until now. The career she’s had is quite amazing.

For a large part of her career, she was the main singer of RnB/soul vocal group Gladys Knight & The Pips. Over 3 decades, the group had a number of hits which included 21 songs which charted in the Top 20 of either the US or UK chart. One of their biggest hits was “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” which they released before Marvin Gaye’s more famous version. It became a hit on its own, but it was toppled by Gaye’s version and has since become his signature song. The longevity and greatness of this group was recognised when they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

The group disbanded in 1989, and in that same year, Gladys Knight was chosen to record the theme song of the newest James Bond movie of the same name starring Timothy Dalton. It reached number 6 on the UK chart but it didn’t chart in the US (which was because the movie was not a box-office success in the US).

There have been so many great Bond theme songs over the years, but this one, is up there with the very best. To feel and sense the raw power and beauty of this song, put the volume up and enjoy the song Licence To Kill.

For me, this is the ultimate reunion song. Reunited is all about 2 former lovers who decide to reconcile and reunite after realizing that they are made to be with each other.

It is beautiful. It is majestic. It is just perfect.

There’s no wonder this song was a US number 1 hit in 1979 where it remained for 3 straight weeks.

The lyrics are what stands out the most for me and what makes the song the beautiful song it really is. They illustrate the heartbreak and loneliness that separated lovers feel really well. All of which makes the chorus have a happy and blissful feel to it.

The combination of Herb Fame‘s and Linda Greene’s voices is wonderful and one can sense that they are indeed overjoyed to be reunited and back together again.

Just in case you weren’t aware, “Peaches” has been played by 6 different women ever since the beginning of the group back in the 1960s. Herb Fame’s partnership with Linda Greene was the most successful one of the group’s history.

The group is arguably more well known for its other major hit song “Shake Your Groove Thing” which has been played countless times in TV shows and movies. Yet it was never as successful as Reunited.

I really wish I’d discovered this song much earlier because I would have added it to my list of the The 30 Greatest Love Songs of all time. I could go back and alter the list but for the time being, I will keep it as it is.

I personally think that the feeling of reuniting with your lover and starting afresh is something to behold. I’ve never experienced it personally but I can totally imagine that it must be an incredible feeling.

So if you have reconciled or reunited with a former lover and started once again, Reunited is your theme song.

The other day I came across this song as I was listening to an old CD compilation of duets titled “Duets.” It’s a great feeling to find awesome songs which you had either forgotten or never had investigated further in terms of the name of the song and the artists. I Know Him So Well was the final song on this compilation and from the first note, I was hooked and could not get the song out of my head for the rest of the day.

Upon further investigation, I found out that this song was part of a concept album and the subsequent musical Chess. I’m not a fan of musical at all but for some reason I was immediately able to picture this song as part of a musical. In order to understand how it all fits into a musical, the song is sung by 2 women, one of which is the estranged wife of a Russian chess champion while the other is his mistress. With this knowledge, you can probably understand why the song is titled I Know Him So Well.

I wasn’t too surprised to also discover that the composers of the song (and the entire concept album) were in fact Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, better known as the musicians of the mega Swedish pop group ABBA. The song certainly does have an ABBA-esque sound and at the moments during the song you can hear touches of Agnetha and Anni-Frida. In hindsight, I think this song would have sounded better and would have been a bigger hit if the ABBA girls had sung.

That’s not saying that Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson don’t do a good job, because they do. But it’s so ABBA-esque that you might as well get the whole to reunite and sing it as if it was old times.

The song was a worldwide hit, and spent 4 weeks at the top of the UK charts and continues to be the highest-selling song in the UK by a duo.

If you were looking for a song where an estranged (and cheated) wife and the mistress get together and plan revenge on the man, then you cannot go further than I Know Him So Well. Enjoy this classic 80s ballad.

This is one of those songs that many people can relate with. You have just separated from your partner and you are finding it hard to get over your previous relationship. In fact, you are disappointed that the relationship has ended and think that everyone that has happened is just some bad dream. You long for the day that your partner will be back in your arms.

This is what Who’s Holding Donna Now is about. It was DeBarge’s second biggest hit overall in the 1980s and part of their most successful album Rhythm Of The Night.

In this song, the lead singer sings about a girl he once was with called Donna. For some reason, she decided to leave the relationship, much to his surprise and disappointment, and now cannot help but think about which guy is now holding Donna.

I only discovered this group and this song recently, and I have to say that Who’s Holding Donna Now remains one of the most unknown great ballads from the 80s. Or maybe it was just me who took so long to discover it. I personally have never found it on greatest 80s ballads compilation. I would love to know if you have.

The other thing which I find surprising is a lack of a music video. The only video I have been able to find is one where DeBarge is performing the song. Or maybe there was a music video but it has yet to be upload to one of the popular video sharing websites out there.

This is certainly one of those songs for which I would personally love to create a music video. I have created it in my mind and all I need now is some equipment and some funds to create it. Who’s knows when or if it will happen? Watch this space.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy Who’s Holding Donna Now, another classic song from the 80s.

The other day, as I was heading back home from a dental checkup, a song started playing on the radio which caught my attention and left me completely mesmerized. As a result, as soon as I got back home I did my research and found out the song to be called Baker Street from Scottish singer Gerry Rafferty.

For the whole day I could not get the song out of my head. It’s so addictive and wonderful to listen to. It’s one of those songs you can listen as you walk along a deserted street in the early morning after a big night out. In fact, upon checking up on the lyrics, that’s pretty much what the song is about.

The only difference is that the song is about someone who is down and out and close to giving up on life. And all this is taking place on a London street called Baker Street. In the first part, it talks about how the person thought life would be so easy and yet they now find themselves in a helpless situation where he’s “drinking the night away.” The person seems to find some consolidation that in a year’s time, they will be happy again, but for the time being, they are crying.

The second part of the song talks about they are now planning to move away from the big city and settle down in a quiet little town to “forget about everything” and start afresh. However, he realizes that it won’t be last long and before they know it, they will be on the move again because that’s how life is.

For me personally, this song is representative of the anxiety and isolation people can feel living in a big city. And it’s ironic because in a big city you are surrounded by many people. However, given the busyness of the city, there can unfortunately be very little communication between people.

The highlight of the song is the alternative rhythm. The song starts off with a beautiful saxophone solo and then moves on to a soft rock rhythm. It is then followed by another sax solo and then back to the soft rock rhythm. Finally, the sax solo is joined by a guitar solo which rounds out the song.

The funniest thing about that day when I couldn’t get Baker Street out of my head is that on that very night, I heard a busker playing the exact same song in a tunnel. I couldn’t believe that out of a million songs out there, the busker was playing the one song that I couldn’t get out of my head. Was it a coincidence or something more than that? I’ll never know.

It’s not surprising that Baker Street became Gerry Rafferty’s biggest hit when it peaked at number 2 on the US Charts in 1978. The corresponding album even knocked off the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack from the number 1 position which is no mean feat. Enjoy this classic song from the year 1978.