MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

February 21st, 1998.

This song was getting played so much…

the band actually took out an ad in Rolling Stone
apologizing for the airtime.

Fastball.

“The Way.”

(Music Cut #2)

The band was obviously worried about the one-hit-wonder curse.

If the single was so overplayed,
they thought people might get sick of them
before hearing the rest of the album.

(Music Cut #3)

By the way, the song’s intro sound of someone scanning radio stations?

That’s real.

They literally put a microphone in front of a radio
and twisted the dial.

You’ll hear a couple random commercials

But listen closely, and you can catch a split second of Jewel’s
“Foolish Games”

(Music Cut #4 – of the intro with the radio collage)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“When the car broke down, they started walking,
where were they going without ever knowing the way?” — Fastball

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

This song was everywhere

February 20th, 1997

Third Eye Blind.

“Semi-Charmed Life.”

(Music Cut #2)

It sounded happy.
Big hook.
Windows-down, singalong kind of song.

But listen a little closer.

This was NOT about summer romance.

(Music Cut #3 – “Doin’ crystal meth will lift you up until you break”)

Most radio stations quietly cut that line out – it was a little too direct.

So yes —
millions of us were singing along
to a song about crystal meth
and addiction…

without even realizing it.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“I want something else
to get me through this.” — Third Eye Blind

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening guitar of “3AM”)

February 19, 1997.

Whatever time you turned on the radio, you heard this —

Matchbox Twenty.

“3AM.”

(Music Cut 2)

Back in the day – like 1997, I remember introducing this on the radio
and saying it was about a booty call.

Yeah.
I feel terrible about that now —
because it absolutely was NOT

(Music Cut 3)

Rob Thomas wrote it while his mother was battling cancer.
The “she” in the song isn’t a girlfriend —
it’s a mother struggling with her mortality.

(Final Song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“It’s all gonna end
and it might as well be my fault.” — Matchbox Twenty

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening synth of “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang”)

This sound
was taking over on

February 18, 1993.

Dr. Dre.

“Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang.”

(Music Cut 2 — groove settles in)

That melody?

Not original.

It’s built from Leon Haywood’s 1975 track
“I Want’a Do Something Freaky to You”

(Music Cut 3)

Dre slowed it down,
smoothed it out,
and helped define West Coast G-funk.

He’s talked about flipping through his mother’s vinyl collection growing up —

this is what crate digging can turn into.

(Music Cut 4)

The voice trading verses with Dre is, of course,
Snoop Doggy Dogg –
who was pretty much an unknown at that time.

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Now it’s time for me to make my impression felt,
so sit back, relax, and strap on your seat belt.” — Dr. Dre

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening groove of “All I Wanna Do”)

This song was everywhere on

February 17th, 1995

Sheryl Crow’s

“All I Wanna Do.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

But here’s what most people don’t realize.

Sheryl Crow almost left this song off the album.

She considered it a “throwaway” or a “filler” track.

(Music Cut 3)

It wasn’t until she played it for her brother –
and he told her it was the best thing she’d ever written –
she agreed to keep it.

“All I Wanna Do” went on to win three Grammys,
including Record of the Year.

(Final Cut 4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“All I wanna do is have some fun.” — Sheryl Crow

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening bass riff of “Give It Away”)

February 16, 1992.

Alternative radio
could not get enough of this bassline.

Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“Give It Away.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

Anthony Kiedis wrote the lyrics
after a woman told him
that the more you give away,
the more comes back to you.

(Music Cut 3)

But the song isn’t just about generosity.

Kiedis also references Bob Marley as well as
longtime friend River Phoenix —
who was part of the same creative circle
in early ’90s L.A.

(Music Cut 4)

Tragically, River passed away just two years after the song’s release.

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Reeling with the feeling, don’t stop, continue.” — Red Hot Chili Peppers

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening riff of “Heart-Shaped Box”)

The day after Valentine’s Day, 1994
this song was moving up the charts.

Nirvana and their

“Heart-Shaped Box.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

Kurt Cobain was exhausted
by how the media portrayed him —
as a grumpy, ungrateful rock star.

So originally,
he titled this song
“New Complaint.”

(Music Cut 3 – “Hey, wait – I have a new complaint.)

And in a haunting bit of history —

this became the last song
Nirvana ever performed live,
just weeks before Kurt Cobain’s death in April 1994.

(Final Song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Forever in debt to your priceless advice” — Nirvana

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — eerie opening of “#1 Crush”)

Valentine’s Day, 1997.

While people were buying roses and candy…

this song was climbing the charts.

Garbage.

“#1 Crush.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

Originally – this was not meant to be a hit.

It started as a B-side.

(Music Cut 3)

And then – it landed on the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack —
From there, Valentine’s Day got itself a stalker anthem.

(Music Cut 4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“You will believe in me
And I can never be ignored.” — Garbage

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening of “Beautiful Girl”)

February 13, 1993.

INXS released
“Beautiful Girl.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

Michael Hutchence was known for his seductive delivery —
but this song wasn’t written about romance.

(Music Cut 3)

Keyboardist Andrew Farriss wrote it
right after the birth of his daughter, Grace.

He called it a love song to parenthood.

(Music Cut 4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Anything could happen
right here tonight.” — INXS

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — iconic intro of “Don’t Speak”)

February 12, 1997.

One of the biggest songs in the world
wasn’t even available to buy.

No Doubt’s
“Don’t Speak.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

The band’s label chose not to release it
as a commercial single in the U.S.

And yet —
it was the most played song on American radio
for 16 weeks.

(Music Cut 3)

At the time,
Billboard required a physical retail single
for a song to chart on the Hot 100.

So “Don’t Speak” dominated radio —
but never officially hit No. 1.

(Music Cut 4 – Final Cut)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Don’t speak
I know just what you’re sayin'” — No Doubt

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