Stabbing Westward Wasn’t Trying to Save Anyone

MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

By June 6th of 1998…

Stabbing Westward was in heavy rotation on MTV

with one of their biggest songs:

“Save Yourself.”

(Music Cut #2)

The song came from something singer Christopher Hall kept running into after shows.

Because the band wrote about depression, trauma, and trying to survive the dark stuff…

Fans would come to him expecting answers.

Like he had somehow figured it all out.

(Music Cut #3)

But he didn’t.

And THAT became the heart of “Save Yourself.”

He wasn’t saying:

I can fix you.

He was saying:

I’m barely saving myself.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“I cannot save you
I can’t even save myself
So just save yourself.” – Stabbing Westward

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A Candy Company Tried to Stop This Band

MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

While Metallica was releasing Load in June of 1996…

a band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina

was releasing a 1930s-style jazz song

about eternal damnation.

(Music Cut #2)

Squirrel Nut Zippers with their song “Hell.”

Now, before it ever became a hit –

the band’s entire existence was threatened

by a candy company.

(Music Cut #3)

Turns out –

a vintage candy called a “Squirrel Nut Zipper”

already existed.

Instead of changing their name,

the band worked out a deal to help promote the candy.

Soon, they were tossing actual Squirrel Nut Zippers

into crowds during concerts –

which helped revive sales of the forgotten treat.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
Beauty, talent, fame, money
Refinement, job skill and brain
But all the things you try to hide
Will be revealed on the other side.” – by Squirrel Nut Zippers

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Metallica Released an Album. Fans Discussed Something Else.

MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

Back in 1996 on June 4th

Metallica released their sixth studio album:

Load

(Music Cut #2)

The album was huge –

14 songs which tallied up nearly 80 minutes of music

But – that’s not what fans were talking about.

(Music Cut #3)

Instead – everyone was talking about the haircuts.

The entire band had chopped off their signature long hair –

and suddenly looked more alt rock than metal.

For some fans, that was hard to accept.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“I’ll tear me open, make you gone
No more can you hurt anyone.” – Metallica – “Until It Sleeps”

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Days of the New Fooled Everybody

MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

Released on June 3rd back in 1997…

was the self-titled debut album from
Days of the New.

(Music Cut #2)

Led by 17-year-old Travis Meeks –

the band exploded with
“Touch, Peel and Stand.”

and was played alongside
heavier bands like Creed, Foo Fighters, and Tool.

But there was one major difference.

(Music Cut #3)

There isn’t a single electric guitar
anywhere on the entire album.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Yes, I’ve finally found a reason
I don’t need an excuse
I’ve got this time on my hands
You are the one to abuse.” – Days Of The New – “Touch, Peel and Stand”

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Why Howard Stern Couldn’t Stop Playing This Song

MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

By June 2nd of 1995

alt-rock radio had a shoegazey sounding song being played

That song came from Hum called “Stars”

(Music Cut #2)

One radio DJ in particular became obsessed with the song –

claiming it was “about stars or Mars or something.”

That DJ?

Howard Stern.

(Music Cut #3)

And Stern didn’t just play the track once.

Oh no – He blasted the fuzzed-out intro
over and over during his morning show –

eventually inviting the band into K-Rock
for a live studio performance.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“She thinks she missed the train to Mars
She’s out back counting stars.” – Hum

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Blink-182 Needed One More Song

MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1 – “Dumpweed”)

On June 1st of 1999…

Blink-182 released the album
Enema of the State

(Music Cut #2 – “What’s My Age Again?”)

It was the band’s first album featuring
Travis Barker on drums

He joined up with Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge
to create the trio that would turn Blink-182 into global superstars.

(Music Cut #3 – “All The Small Things” intro)

But the band’s biggest hit
almost didn’t make the album.

Tom DeLonge felt the record needed
something simpler and a little more radio friendly

so within minutes, he wrote
“All The Small Things”
as a love letter to his girlfriend.

(Music Cut #4 – “All The Small Things” hook)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Late night, come home
Work sucks, I know
She left me roses by the stairs
Surprises let me know she cares.” – Blink-182 – “All The Small Things”

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Before Soul Asylum – They Weren’t Soul Asylum

MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

Released in early 1993, by May 31st…
you could still hear this one all across alternative radio…
Soul Asylum with “Black Gold.”

(Music Cut #2)

But Soul Asylum didn’t start with acoustic guitars
or radio-friendly hooks.

When the band formed in Minneapolis in 1981 –

they were a punk band called
“Loud Fast Rules.”

(Music Cut #3)

And true to the name –

they played loud, chaotic shows at blistering speed.

Back then, Dave Pirner
was playing drums while yelling vocals
from behind the kit.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Fill up the tank let’s go for a ride
Sure like to feel some pride
But this place just makes me feel sad inside.” – Soul Asylum

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The Accidental Club Classic Outta Philly

MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

Released back in April of 1996 –

so by May 30th, this was pumping out loud in clubs everywhere.

“Let Me Clear My Throat” by DJ Kool.

(Music Cut #2)

Including Bahama Bay in Philadelphia –

because that’s where the song was recorded live.

Completely by accident.

(Music Cut #3)

The studio engineer left the multi-track recorder running
to capture audio for a promotional cassette.

Meanwhile, DJ Kool was just hyping up the crowd –

completely unaware
that the live Philly energy in the room
would become a multi-platinum hit.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“To the beat and ya don’t quit
It’s that ol’ skool rap with that new skool hit
Peter Piper picked a pepper but Kool rocked the rhyme.” – DJ Kool

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Metal, Country, and Queen All Hit #1 Together

MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

By May 29th of 1998…

this one already sounded like a blues classic.

“Blue on Black” from Kenny Wayne Shepherd

(Music Cut #2)

Then 22 years later –

the song pulled off something rather rare.

It went back to #1 on the rock charts
with a completely different version.

(Music Cut #3 – Five Finger Death Punch)

Five Finger Death Punch recorded a charity cover featuring:

Brantley Gilbert,
Brian May of Queen—

and Kenny Wayne Shepherd himself.

Blues, metal, country, and classic rock
all collided in the same song.

Some would call it a Megamix.

(Music Cut #4 – Five Finger Death Punch with Guitar Solo)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
Truth, lies, and in between
Wrong can’t be undone
Oh, slipped from the tip of your tongue.” – Kenny Wayne Shepherd

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Beck Didn’t Own Turntables

MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

Once released on May 28th back in 1996…

the hook
“two turntables and a microphone”
was contagious.

Beck with “Where It’s At.”

(Music Cut #2)

By the way –

when Beck wrote the song…

he didn’t actually own turntables.

And he didn’t know how to DJ.

(Music Cut #3)

But fans took the lyric seriously –

and started bringing actual turntables to shows as gifts.

Meanwhile, Beck was touring
with acoustic guitars…

and zero DJ gear.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Pulling out jives and jamboree handouts
Two turntables and a microphone
Bottles and cans, just clap your hands.” – Beck

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