Mandaris"Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers
A song from the 1970s that you like or means something to you.
I like this song because my wife likes it when I sing it to her.
She deserves every love song and more.
Crucial Track
Crucial Track for October 9, 2025
"Limbo Rock" by Chubby Checker
A song from the 1960s that you like or means something to you.
This is the song that my local skating rink would play when it was time to do limbo. Everyone who wanted to participate would get into a line to have a turn to try and skate under the limbo bar.
I keep remembering lines like Don't move that Limbo Bar
and How low can you go?
I never won, but it was always fun to try new styles to get under the bar.
It wasn't until years later that I learned that other people limbo without skates.
Crucial Track for October 8, 2025
"Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets
A song from the 1950s that you like or means something to you.
This song means a lot to me because it was used repeatedly when I was learning how to swing dance. I had no rhythm so I had to learn the anticipate the beats in the music. For someone learning, having a regular beat is very, very important.
Even now, I do not actually hear the words when this song plays. I hear 1 and 2, 3 and 4
.
Crucial Track for October 7, 2025
"Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe It or Not)" by Joey Scarbury
A song from a TV show that you like.
I think this song has outlived the tv show and I think it's wonderful in how it expresses joy.
Believe it or not, I'm walking on air I never thought I could feel so free Flying away on a wing and a prayer Who could it be? Believe it or not, it's just me
I should set a reminder to listen to this song on a regular basis so that I can think about the things that I'm grateful for.
Crucial Track for August 30, 2025
"Boogie Wonderland (with The Emotions)" by Earth, Wind & Fire
Share a song that makes you want to dance every time.
I don't think I'm the only one who gets the feeling of toe tapping when I hear this song. The very first verse of the song is literally telling you to dance!
Dance, boogie wonderland, hah, hah Dance, boogie wonderland
The hah is the sound of your heart filling with joy as it gets ready to do it's thing.
Crucial Track for October 6, 2025
"Hotline Bling" by Drake
What is a song by an artist you don't usually like?
I'm not saying I didn't like Drake before we all knew that he was not like us. I am saying that there was just something about the music that he was associated with that didn't appeal to me.
Still, there is something about this song. Maybe it's the story of how a Good Guy
perceives not ending up with the girl or how people can get caught up in living the fast life.
Crucial Track for October 5, 2025
"Pizza Power" by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
A song from the first gig you went to.
When I was a kid, Pizza Hut had a tie in with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I believe that if you bought a certain amount of pizza you could get a discount on the Coming Out of Their Shells soundtrack.
I don't know what better or worse, this or a McDonald's Happy Meal.
Crucial Track for October 4, 2025
"Killing In the Name" by Rage Against the Machine
What's your favorite protest song?
Kind of hard to beat a song that repeatedly says
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Crucial Track for October 3, 2025
"Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley
A song you didn't realize was a cover?
I guess a lot of people thought that this was his song.
Crucial Track for October 2, 2025
"...Baby One More Time" by Bowling for Soup
A song you'd like to hear covered by someone else. Which artist?
At first, I thought that was a weird and borderline rude question to say that you would be listening to a song and think I wish someone else was singing it.
But, those are some of the best covers.
I picked this song because I've heard a couple covers of it and I think having someone like Barry White sing it might be an interesting twist.
Crucial Track for October 1, 2025
"La Isla Bonita" by Madonna
A song from the last gig you went to.
The last gig
that I went to was for an up and coming singer named Madonna.
Unfortunately it wasn't that great because the energy just wasn't there. The first couple of rows were filled with people just sitting there with their arms folded.
COME ON PEOPLE!!! THIS IS MADONNA!!!
I miss the other local stadium that was torn down.
Crucial Track for September 30, 2025
"I'm Still Standing" by Taron Egerton
A song that you discovered on a film soundtrack.
This is my favorite song on the album. At this point, I knew of Elton John but only knew of Candle in the Wind
and Can you feel the love tonight
.
I missed one!
Crucial Track for September 29, 2025
"Caribbean Queen (No More Love On the Run)" by Billy Ocean
A song you'd do at karaoke?
I do not consider myself as having a deep voice but this is the song that calls to me to sing. My family probably would have thought that I would do something from Michael Jackson. Maybe it's because I'm such a fan of Michael Jackson that I don't want to do one of his songs.
This one has very simple lyrics and a chance to breath before you belt out the next verse.
Crucial Track for September 28, 2025
"Heartburn" by Alicia Keys
A song you've seen performed live, or would really like to see performed live?
Years ago, I saw Alicia Keys perform in Reno. John Legend was the opening act promoting his first album which got me so excited that I purchased it later that year.
The concert was Marti Gras themed and I wasn't really feeling it until this song came on.
Lots of bass and funk to really get your heart pumping.
It was my favorite song of the night.
Crucial Track for September 27, 2025
"Beat It" by Senor Coconut
A song that you discovered in an unusual way.
I had to think about this one for a while. What is an unusual
place to find music? There are only so many places that don't have music or muzak. Music is found in so many places that people congregate that I couldn't think of a place or instance right away.
Finally, I thought about a podcast that I used to listen to regularly. The podcast is Coverville and at one point, I remember loading it up hours of audio onto my iPod and making sure that new episodes didn't get removed when new ones were released.
My favorite episode was a Cover story
- an episode focused on one artist - on Michael Jackson where I got to hear Senor Coconut for the first time.
Crucial Track for September 26, 2025
"Larger Than Life" by Backstreet Boys
A song that reminds you of a particular friend.
This reminds me of a friend I had in high school who would always sing in class. He was not a great singer but I don't think he cared. He would sing this and other songs with the confidence of a rock star. He didn't care if there were 2 or 200 people around him.
And the coolest part is that no one gave him any grief about it. We all just rolled with it.
Crucial Track for September 25, 2025
"Kokomo" by The Beach Boys
A song that reminds you of one of your favorite places.
I don't know if it's "Kokomo" or "The Kokomo", but I do know that I've never been there.
For me, it represents a place that I can just sit back and relax; not worry about the stress of the world.
Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take you to Bermuda, Bahama, come on, pretty mama Key Largo, Montego, baby, why don't we go? Ooh, I wanna take you down to Kokomo We'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow That's where we wanna go, way down in Kokomo
Maybe I'll be able to go down there one day.
Crucial Track for September 24, 2025
"Vacation" by The Go-Go's
A song that reminds you of your last vacation or holiday.
This is the first song that came to mind when I thought about vacation. When I hear the song I think about a commercial for a vacation more than the vacation itself. Either that or a comedy about vacations.
It's weird to me that vacations cause so much stress that I sometimes feel I need an extra day after just to rest and recover.
Crucial Track for September 23, 2025
"Djobi Djoba" by Gipsy Kings
A song in a language that you don't know.
This is my favorite Gipsy Kings song. It's fast and seems fun and I have know idea what they are saying.
Crucial Track for September 22, 2025
"Skid Row (Downtown)" by Michelle Weeks, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, Ellen Greene & Rick Moranis
If today were a genre, what would it be? Pick a matching song.
I'm just being cheeky this morning.
Crucial Track for September 21, 2025
"Tainted Love" by Soft Cell
What’s a remix or cover you like more than the original?
This is one of those songs that you see in a compilations of Songs you didn't know were covers
. This one is special to me because it was the first time that I knew of it happening. Before I knew about Motown or any of the music I was popular in the 90s that was associated with Puff Daddy.
Crucial Track for September 20, 2025
"N.T. (feat. Busta Rhymes)" by Q-Tip
What’s a hidden gem or underrated song you love?
Q-Tip had a great album and I really enjoy the piano on this track. I've got a playlist I'm creating on songs that I haven't heard in a while and this one is going on it.
I also really enjoy Busta Rhymes crashing out
on the track.
Crucial Track for September 19, 2025
"This Is the Song That Never Ends" by ABC Kids
What’s a song that grew on you over time?
It's a very catchy song. It's got energy and lyrics that are easy to pick up.
It will outlive us all.
Crucial Track for September 18, 2025
"Controversy" by Prince
What’s your favorite deep cut from an album?
I'm not good at identifying deep cuts
, but the first song that comes to mind is Prince's Controversy. I first heard it on a compilation of B-Sides from Prince. You could argue that Prince's B-sides are better than some other artist A-sides... and that's not a diss in any since of the word.
Crucial Track for September 17, 2025
"My Humps" by Black Eyed Peas
Share a song you feel was ahead of its time.
I'm only considering this ahead of its time because I heard it on the album before it was on all the top 40 radio stations. I remember putting it in my cd player and then calling my wife - then girlfriend- on the portable phone about this new song.
She didn't like it at first, as she heard the line:
She's got me spending! Spending all his money on me And all his time on me
Still, the hook and beat are now very recognizable for people my age.