TwoInAMillion's Spotify Jukebox Song Reviews

[TwoInAMillion]

Inspired by other song review threads, I will post one random song from my spotify playlist and review it. Others are welcome to rate/review the songs as well.

You Raise Me Up

Written by Brendan Graham and Rolf Løvland
Originally recorded by Secret Garden

Cover by Josh Groban

Yes, it may be sappy, along the lines of Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler, but it has a beautiful melody and profound meaning. There are lots of people who inspire us, and this song is an ode to those people. The song was performed at Super Bowl 36 as a tribute to the victims of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. The piano chords are also reminicant of The Rose, another Bette Midler song. Still, Josh Groban has a deep, beautiful voice this is one of the better songs from the 2000s in my opinion.
Rating 9/10

[TwoInAMillion]

The Final Game
From "Rudy" - The Motion Picture Soundtrack

by Jerry Goldsmith

Jerry Goldsmith, who is best known for writing the theme from Star Trek and many of the spinoffs, writes an angelic film score that fully encompasses the magic and magestry of College Football. This soundtrack has been used in many movie trailers. Goldsmith died of colon cancer in 2004. Rating 10/10

[TwoInAMillion]

The Gambler

Written by Don Schiltz
Originally recorded by Bobby Bare
Cover by Kenny Rogers

The Gambler is an iconic american western country song about a young cowboy who boards a train, sits next to a legendary gambler in failing health, and is given advice at how to win at cards. The song was originally recorded by Bobby Bare but it is the cover by Kenny Rogers that made the song famous. The chorus "You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run." is one of the most famous chorus' in American song history. It spawned several tv movies called The Gambler which starred Kenny Rogers, as well as a spoof tv commercial by geico in which poker players are annoyed when Rogers sings the song throughout the game. Rating 9/10

[TwoInAMillion]

Baby One More Time

Written by Max Martin
Recorded by Britney Spears

Produced during the middle of the bubble gum pop phase of the late '90's and early 2000s, Baby One More Time is Brittney Spears' first and most famous song. Her career since then hasn't had the enduring lasting career of say, Madonna or Billy Joel, but Baby One More Time is still an enjoyable song to listen to, and Spears' youthful energy rocks through the song. There was some controversy over the music video featuring sexy young females in schoolgirl costumes. Rating: 7/10

[TwoInAMillion]

I Still Believe
From Miss Saigon

Music by Claude Michael Schonberg
Lyrics by Alan Boubil and Richard Maltby Jr.

Claude Michael Schonberg is best known for Les Miserables, Miss Saigon was the follow up to the megahit, and while not as well known, was still an excellent musical in its own right. The plot is an Americanized take on Madame Butterfly, and revolves around the Vietnam War. In this particular song, the protagonists ex lover, Kim(vietnamese), and his current wife, Ellen(American) comment on his struggles and tribulations. Kim is portrayed by Lea Solonga, who played Epionene in Les Miserables and sung the well known musical hit, On My Own. Rating: 8/10

[TwoInAMillion]

An Innocent Man

Written and performed by Billy Joel

This song, written and recorded by singer songwriter Billy Joel, is from his ninth studio album published in 1983. It is a slow ballad about taking risks in relationships and recovering from bad experiences, and Joel talks directly to the female listener but talks to men as well in a very subtle manner. The song features deep meaning, soulful melodies and features his songwriting expertise. He purposely showcases his voice and lyrics and piano playing rather than electric guitar and drums like some bands and singers have been known to do. Rating 8/10

[TwoInAMillion]

Mony, Mony

Written by Tommy James, Bo Gentry, Ritchie Cordell, and Bobby Bloom
Originally Recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells
Cover by Billy Idol

This is a song that doesn't have a lot of depth to it but is just a whole lot of fun. It features an excellent, catchy bass line and nonchalant sexual attitudes. No one is ever really sure what Mony means, but that's perfectly okay. The song is parodied by Wierd Al Yankovic in "Alimony". Rating 8/10.

[TwoInAMillion]

Shape of You

Performed by Ed Sheeran
Written by Ed Sheeran, Steve Mac, Johnny McDavid, Kandy Burress, Tameka Cottle, and Kevin Briggs

Ed Sheeran brings his edgy, 21st century take on love and romance in a recent hit single, "Shape of You." Focusing on the surface emotions of lust and romance, Sheeran nontheless has an honesty and vulnerability to him that is rare in male vocalists. His singing is top notch and the music video shows there is more to the songs meaning than maybe the lyrics initially show. Rating: 9/10

[Quick]

Do this one:



And this one:

[TwoInAMillion]

Bulletproof

Performed by Godsmack
Written by Sully Erna and Erik Ron

Bulletproof, from Godsmack's most recent album, When Legends Rise, combinds the bands trademark mixture of alternative and hard rock influences to form something more pop rock in nature. The lyrics of the song talk about the paradox of the feeling of power that comes from being in a relationship and compare it to the vulnerability that also comes with love. It's an alright track but probably not something that will leave a lasting impression. Rating 5.5/10.

[Quick]

I might drop down a Project 86 song after you do Get the Lead Out.

[TwoInAMillion]

Don'Cha

Performed by The Pussycat Dolls feat. Buster Rhymes
Written by Anthony Ray, Thomas Calloway, and Trevor Smith

Pretty much the definition of a guilty pleasure song, it offers pretty much nothing of substantial value, but is a great song to sing and dance to. Daring fans to "look but not touch", Don'Cha tries to demean the listeners girlfriend, but in a playful way. Take that back, the song does say that you shouldn't actually cheat on your lover for short term benefit in the lyrics, "Fight the feeling, leave it alone, cause if ain't love it just ain't enough to leave a happy home." The song ranks #30 on Billboard's Top 100 girl group songs of all time. Busta Rhymes provides a pretty good rap bridge as well to offset the girl heavy track. Rating: 7/10

[TwoInAMillion]

The One That Got Away

Performed by Katy Perry
Written by Katy Perry, Lukasz Gottwald, and Max Martin

Katy Perry isn't typically known for deepness or meaningful songs, but this one is an exception as Perry, in the music video at least, is an elderly woman trapped in a loveless marraige, lamenting on a man she met as a young woman that she didn't express her feelings for. Told in storytelling format, with a touching piano backdrop, we get a rarity, a look into the soul of someone who has already been touched by fame. Perry has moved away from this sort of honesty as an American Idol judge, preferring to be more of a marketing image than a relatable person. Rating: 7/10

[TwoInAMillion]

Color of the Night

Performed by Lauren Christy
Written by Lauren Christy, Jud Friedman, and Dominic Frontiere

Not so much a love balad as a lust ballad, Color of the Night is from the movie Color of Night from 1994 starring Bruce Willis and Jane March. Still it is an unknown and underappreciated song, featuring stirring piano and heartwrenching vocals from Christy. The movie was a box office failure but the song is still very listenable. Christy has made more waves as a songwriter than a signer, writing many singles for current pop stars such as Enrique Inglesias, Kelly Clarkson, and Ricky Martin. Rating: 6/10

[TwoInAMillion]

Theme from "Jurassic Park"

Composed and conducted by John Williams

Not one of John Williams most famous themes, but still fairly iconic, especially with the more recent Jurassic World reboot. Steven Spielberg and John Williams were longtime collaborators, from Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET, and Schindlers List, so choosing Williams for Jurrasic Park was a no brainer for Spielberg here. Williams' sweeping and majestic score perfectly captures the awe inspiring dinosaurs that are the star of the show. Surpisingly, Williams was not nominated for an oscar for this score, but he was nominated(and won) for Schindler's List the same year. Personally I think Jurassic Park is the better score(not the better movie). Rating: 9/10

[TwoInAMillion]

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

from "Les Miserables"

Music by Claude Michael Schonberg
Lyrics by Alan Boubil, Jean Marc Netal, Herbert Kretzmer and James Fenton

Les Miserables has dozens of famous songs, and again, this is not the most well known, but it is probably my personal favorite. Dealing with deep, emotional themes of grieving and death, and showcasing the impressive range of it's secondary male lead, Michael Ball as Marius. This is one of those songs that deserves your attention and respect. Rating: 10/10

[TwoInAMillion]

Smooth Criminal

Written and performed by Michael Jackson

One of the best known Michael Jackson songs not on the Thriller album, Smooth Criminal came on the Thriller follow up album, Bad, in 1988. Also one of the final songs Jackson produced before the sexual abuse allegations started to develop, so it is not as anti-social as some of his later songs such as "They Don't Care About Us." This song features a catchy bass rift and is written by Jackson, who had developed his songwriting abilities by then unlike many songs from Thriller. The lyrics "Annie are you okay?" reportedly refer to Jackson having taken CPR classes shortly before writing the song. Rating: 8/10