MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening synth / hush of “Nothing Compares 2 U”)

On February 3, 1990,
Sinéad O’Connor was holding steady at No. 1
with “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

The most iconic moment in the video,
that single tear rolling down Sinéad’s cheek,
wasn’t planned.

She later said she was thinking about her mother,
who had died five years earlier —
and the grief simply hit her.

(Music Cut 3)

The song was written by Prince,
and Sinéad took it to No. 1.

But my favorite version?
The one Chris Cornell recorded years later.

(Music Cut 4 – Chris Cornell)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling.” — Sinéad O’Connor

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — crackle / opening sample of “Sour Times”)

February 2, 1994. Everyone was enjoying the sound of
Portishead’s “Sour Times.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

Producer Geoff Barrow was obsessed with making new recordings feel old.

So he recorded parts of the song onto vinyl…
took the records out to the parking lot…
rubbed them on the pavement…
kicked them around…

Then sampled those damaged records
back into the song.

(Music Cut 3 — brief vocal lead-in)

That dusty, worn-out feeling heard on the song?
That was the point.

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Who am I, what and why?
’Cause all I have left
is my memories of yesterday.” — Portishead

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — iconic string opening of “Bitter Sweet Symphony”)

February 1, 1998.

A defining song in rock music
was climbing the charts.

The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

This song became a legal nightmare –
built on a Rolling Stones sample
that cost the band all publishing rights
for more than two decades.

(Music Cut 3 — instrumental swell)

But then in 2019,
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
signed their share of the rights back to
Richard Ashcroft —
aka the Verve guy.

After 22 years,
there was finally a happy ending.
He owned his own song.

(Music Cut 4 — final chorus lift)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“I’m a million different people
from one day to the next.” — The Verve

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening guitar of Last Goodbye)

January 31, 1995.
Climbing the charts was
Jeff Buckley’s “Last Goodbye.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

The original demo from 1990
was louder,
more aggressive,
and closer to straight rock.

Buckley pulled it back like he did with the title —
Which was initially called “Unforgiven.”

(Music Cut 3 — brief vocal lead-in)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“You gave me more to live for,
more than you’ll ever know.” — Jeff Buckley

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening strings of Linger)

January 30, 1994.
A quiet song about miscommunication
ended up at No. 1.

The Cranberries —
“Linger.”

(Music Cut 2 — “Linger” lyric)

During the video shoot for Linger,
Michael Stipe from R.E.M. showed up
just to watch.

He became such a fan that he immediately invited the band on tour —
a move that helped break The Cranberries in the United States.

(Music Cut 3 — verse settles in)

(Final Song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Trying not to lie —
things wouldn’t be so confused.” — The Cranberries

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — quiet intro of Song 2)

On January 29, 1997,
a song that wasn’t supposed to work
went to No. 1.

It’s Blur with “Song 2.”

(Music Cut 2 — “Woo-hoo!”)

This song started as a joke.

Blur wrote it as a parody
of loud American alternative rock.

(Music Cut 3 — nonsensical line)

And somehow — accidentally —
it became one of the biggest rock songs
of the entire 90s decade

(Music Cut 4 — final chorus hit)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Woo-hoo!” — Blur

By the way — that “woo-hoo” was just a placeholder.
The band thought they’d replace it with real lyrics later.

They never did.

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening beat of Closer)

January 28, 1995.
Nine Inch Nails took
“Closer”
to No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

(Music Cut 2 — groove locks in)

The recording location for this song wasn’t chosen for the ghosts —
but singer Trent Reznor later admitted
the oppressive atmosphere absolutely leaked into the music.

(Music Cut 3 — brief vocal lead-in)

The entire album, The Downward Spiral,
was recorded in the house
where the Manson Family murders took place.

(Music Cut 4 — “Help Me” vocal from the song)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“The only thing that works for me –
help me get away from myself.” — Nine Inch Nails

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening of Teardrop)

Climbing the charts on January 27, 1998,
was the English trip-hop band Massive Attack
with their song “Teardrop.”

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

The vocal you hear wasn’t written or rehearsed.

It was improvised in the studio by
Elizabeth Fraser
from Cocteau Twins.

(Music Cut 3 — brief vocal lead-in)

That day, Fraser had just learned that her close friend
and former partner, Jeff Buckley, had died.

She later said the words came from a feeling
that he was still there.

(Final song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Teardrop on the fire —
fearless on my breath.” — Massive Attack

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut 1 — opening of You Oughta Know)

January 26, 1996.
That’s when Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know”
hit No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

One detail many people didn’t know back then —
the rhythm section on this song features
members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Flea on bass…
and Dave Navarro on guitar.

(Music Cut 3 — brief vocal lead-in)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“I want you to know that I’m happy for you.” — Alanis Morissette

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Opening hook of “Every Morning”)

On January 25, 1999,
Sugar Ray released their single
“Every Morning.”

(Music Cut 2 — groove settles in)

That acoustic hook you hear throughout the song
is NOT an original Sugar Ray creation.

It’s a direct “borrowing”
from Abracadabra
by The Steve Miller Band

(Music Cut 3 — brief vocal lead-in)

Lead singer – Mark McGrath has joked that they basically “stole” the vibe —
but Steve Miller was cool with it.

Probably helped that a songwriting credit came with it…
along with a really nice royalty check.

(Final Song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Somethin’ so deceivin’, when you stop believin’ —
turn me around again.” — Sugar Ray

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