The lyric is from “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple, from the 1973 album Machine Head. Inspired by the fire at the Montreux Casino, the song became one of Deep Purple’s most recognized classics (and the bane of every guitar teacher). This particular lyric was chosen in July 2026, as Chicago and the entire…

If you’ve been to a wedding, you’ve danced to “Love Shack.” Or listened to the radio. Or been to a party. You get up, you dance. You knock a little louder. There’s an exclamation in the middle of the break (Bang, bang, bang, on the door baby). We all know what it sounds like. But…

“Express Yourself” from Madonna’s 1989 album “Like a Prayer.” Most remembered for the live performance from the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards, setting the stage for the transition into the larger-than-life version of Madonna we got in the 1990’s.

“Waterfalls” from TLC’s 1994 landmark album CrazySexyCool. It became TLC’s most successful single from the album, and along with “Creep” it ruled the airwaves and charts throughout 1995. Trust us kids, the song was everywhere. Youtube Link to the Official Music Video.

I wrote a much longer post the last time I pulled a lyric from “We Didn’t Start the Fire” which does a much better job of telling the story of why this song will forever be stuck with me. A fun thing I’ve noticed is that if you use the opening lyric of a song,…

“It’s Tricky” by Run D.M.C. from their 4th album, Raising Hell. A hip hop standard now, it cribbed a large amount of influence both musically and lyrically from “My Sharona” by the Knack. The Music Video features an excellent cameo by Penn and Teller.

“Night Train”, from Guns ‘N’ Roses debut album Appetite For Destruction. Still the best selling debut album of all time and always a top-10 candidate in Rock and Roll albums. I prefer the live versions of this song, which pick up the tempo ever so slightly from the album version. The song has this great…

The sign above is from “Come Sail Away”, off the 1977 “Grand Illusion” album. My mom passed away in early July, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. One of her favorite bands was Styx, a byproduct of growing up in Chicago in the early 70’s. She would claim her whole life she saw…

“Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar, from the 1979 album In the Heat of the Night. It has been wonderfully covered by quite a list of people. Even Dolly Parton. (yes, really).

“I’m Bad”, from LL Cool J’s breakthrough second album “Bigger and Deffer” (1987).