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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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Opening of Lightning Crashes)

On January 24, 1996,
Live took “Lightning Crashes”
to No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

To get that haunting, distant vocal tone at the start of this song,
producer Jerry Harrison — formerly of Talking Heads —
had lead singer Ed Kowalczyk record his vocals
inside a bathroom.

(Music Cut 3 — brief vocal lead-in)

So yes — a multi-million-selling vocal performance…
recorded in a space usually reserved for brushing your teeth,
showering,
and other duties.

(Final Song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Forces pullin’ from the center of the earth again —
I can feel it.” — Live

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Opening of Today)

One of the most upbeat-sounding songs of the ’90s
hit No. 1 on January 23, 1996.

“Today” from the Smashing Pumpkins

(Music Cut 2 — verse settles in)

The iconic music video —
with Billy Corgan driving an ice-cream truck through the desert —
was inspired by a childhood memory.

(Music Cut 3 — shot of the ice-cream truck)

An ice-cream man who decided to quit his job
drove through the neighborhood one last time,
giving away everything he had —
free — to all the kids.

(Final Song clip)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Can’t wait for tomorrow —
I might not have that long.” — Smashing Pumpkins

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