MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

By May 21st of 1999

one of the biggest metal bands in the world…
got themselves a hit with an Irish folk song.

“Whiskey in the Jar” from Metallica

(Music Cut #2)

But Metallica wasn’t actually covering
the centuries-old folk version.

They were covering the 1972 rock arrangement by
Thin Lizzy.

(Music Cut #3)

You see, Metallica used to casually play the song backstage
during warm-ups in the mid-‘90s.

Producer Bob Rock heard it before a show and told them:

“Record it exactly like that. Don’t overthink it.”

They did –

and then it won a Grammy.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Musha ring um a do um a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There’s whiskey in the jar-o.” – Metallica

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1 – “Goody Two Shoes”)

By May 20th of 1990…

Adam Ant was all of a sudden back on pop radio—

with a brand-new Minneapolis Sound:

“Room at the Top.”

(Music Cut #2 – “Room at the Top”)

The architect behind the song was
André Cymone –

who co-wrote and produced the track.

He handled the keyboards, drum programming, sequencers—

and according to the liner notes:

“everything else.”

(Music Cut #3)

And if “Minneapolis Sound” seems familiar—

there’s a reason.

Cymone was Prince’s original bass player…

and childhood best friend.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“There is always room at the top
Don’t let them tell you that there is not.” – Adam Ant

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

On May 19th of 2003…

Fountains of Wayne released one of the most unforgettable hooks of the 2000s—

“Stacy’s Mom.”

(Music Cut #2)

That iconic guitar intro?

Wasn’t exactly an original.

The band intentionally modeled it after
“Just What I Needed” from The Cars.

(Music Cut #3 – “Just What I Needed”)

Instead of hiding it –

they actually contacted Ric Ocasek for permission.

He heard it, he loved it –

and he joked that he was happy his riffs still worked.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Stacy, do you remember when I mowed your lawn?
Your mom came out with just a towel on
I could tell she liked me from the way she stared
And the way she said, You missed a spot over there” – Fountains of Wayne

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

On May 18th of 1999…

Disney released the soundtrack for
Tarzan –

featuring music from future Rock & Roll Hall of Famer
Phil Collins.

(Music Cut #2)

And oddly enough…

one of today’s biggest modern soul singers
grew up obsessed with it.

(Music Cut #3)

Before fronting metalcore, alt-rock, and soul bands –

Teddy Swims used a Phil Collins song
to audition for school theater.

In fact, the very first song he ever sang in public was:

“You’ll Be in My Heart.”

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you,
but you’ve got to hold on.” – Phil Collins “You’ll Be In My Heart”

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

By May 17th of 1992…
this one was starting to spread beyond alternative radio…

Toad the Wet Sprocket with “All I Want.”

(Music Cut #2)

But – the band didn’t start in a parent’s garage,

or a some punk rock club.

Oh, No – It started during a high school theater production.

(Music Cut #3)

Several members of the band were part of the cast and crew –

and discovered backstage
that they all played instruments.

So technically…

“Toad the Wet Sprocket” started because of
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Yes, the school’s play was Amadeus.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Nothing’s so cold
As closing the heart when all we need
Is to free the soul.” – Toad The Wet Sprocket

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

Pretty Hate Machine was released in October of 1989…

and by May 16th of 1990 –

track one was shocking the hell out of people.

Nine Inch Nails – “Head Like a Hole.”

(Music Cut #2)

At Right Track Studios in Cleveland,

Trent Reznor
recorded the demo while working as a studio assistant –

and janitor –

(Music Cut #3)

He wasn’t allowed to use the studio during the day.

So after sweeping the floors at night…

he’d stay behind –

and flying solo recorded “Head Like a Hole”.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Head like a hole, black as your soul
I’d rather die than give you control.” – Nine Inch Nails

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

Released back in February of 1996,

by May 15th, people were singing about “Peaches”

from The Presidents of the United States of America

(Music Cut #2)

For decades…

fans have debated whether “Peaches”
was secretly about… you know… something else.

(Music Cut #3)

But singer/songwriter Chris Ballew
has stressed that the song is literally about peaches.

He was tired of ‘90s bands trying to sound dark and deep –

so he wrote a song about canned fruit instead.

Peaches.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“And if I had my little way
I’d eat peaches every day
Sun-soakin’ bulges in the shade.” – The Presidents of the United States of America

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NEW MUSIC THAT MATTERS

EAR-WORTHY MUSIC — EPISODE: “Album” by Band Name

(“Broke” Clip of “I’m working so hard, but I never seem to have any money to spend”)

I believe I’ve found my life’s theme song.

And honestly… this album is already one of my favorites of 2026.

(“New Music that Matters” Opener)

My fellow Welshmen –

Yes, Skindred is a band from Wales that somehow smash together heavy metal and reggae…

and make it work.

(“Give Thanks” Clip)

I kinda hear Sublime in that track…

but then they can completely shift gears and hit you with flashes of bands like Hot Action Cop, Public Enemy, or even Limp Bizkit on songs like “Do It Like This.”

(“Do It Like This” Clip)

BUT –

the ear-worthy track of the album for me
is track two:

“Can I Get A.”

(“Can I Get A” Clip)

This album – You Got This – dropped back in April…

and already, I’ve played it enough for it to probably show up in my Spotify Wrapped by the end of the year.

This is just a fun album.

Go spend some time with Skindred.

(Closing Still of “New Music that Matters”)

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

By May of 1991…
this power ballad was just about everywhere…

Scorpions with their song “Wind of Change.”

(Music Cut #2)

The song’s whistling intro
almost didn’t happen…

because some people thought
it sounded too soft
for a hard rock band.

Remember –

this was the same band
that made “Rock You Like a Hurricane.”

(Music Cut #3 – “Rock You Like A Hurricane” clip)

To help spread the song’s message
around the world…

the band even recorded
versions in other languages –

including Russian and Spanish.

I’m gonna stick with the version I know.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“The future’s in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change.” – Scorpions

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

Released on May 13th of 1991…

Siouxsie and the Banshees –
famous for dark post-punk music –

suddenly appeared with a bright dance-pop sound:

“Kiss Them for Me.”

(Music Cut #2)

But underneath the upbeat sound…

was a much darker story.

The song was inspired by the life and tragic death of
Jayne Mansfield.

(Music Cut #3)

Mansfield was one of Hollywood’s biggest sex symbols
of the ‘50s and early ‘60s.

And the title – “Kiss Them for Me” –

came from a 1957 film she starred in with
Cary Grant.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Nothing or no one
Will ever make me let you down.” – Siouxsie and the Banshees

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