Best Songs - Into the Groove - Madonna

By far the greatest pop single ever made. I'm not kidding about this. I love this song. I can't hear it on the radio without smiling. Madonna went through multiple stages in her career, but this is the peak of her early sound and it captures the vibe and the beat of that stuff perfectly.

Like many of the songs I've listed as bests, this song is perfect no matter what your mood. Oddly there is a bit of sadness to this song if you're in the mood for it. You got to love feeling sad, the song grabbing those feelings, but still making you want to dance.


Madonna - Into the Groove
Lyrics from Lyricsfreak.com

And you can dance
For inspiration
Come on
Im waiting

Chorus:
Get into the groove
Boy youve got to prove
Your love to me, yeah
Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy what will it be

Music can be such a revelation
Dancing around you feel the sweet sensation
We might be lovers if the rhythms right
I hope this feeling never ends tonight

Bridge:
Only when Im dancing can I feel this free
At night I lock the doors, where no one else can see
Im tired of dancing here all by myself
Tonight I wanna dance with someone else

(chorus)

Gonna get to know you in a special way
This doesnt happen to me every day
Dont try to hide it love wears no disguise
I see the fire burning in your eyes

(bridge)
(chorus)

Intermediate:
Live out your fantasy here with me
Just let the music set you free
Touch my body, and move in time
Now I now youre mine

Youve got to

(chorus lyrics)
(bridge)
(intermediate)

Now I know youre mine, now I know youre mine
Now I know youre mine, now I know youre mine
Youve got to

(chorus)
(chorus lyrics)
(repeat and fade)

Let's Run

It's been a while since I posted a run mix. But I'm trying to get back to exercising and I need some music to motivate me.

You can check out the play list on Rhapsody.

1. If I Was Your Girlfriend - Prince
2. Stand! - Sly & the Family Stone
3. Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton
4. It's Like That - Mariah Carey
5. That's The Way Love Goes - Janet Jackson
6. Music - Madonna
7. Sign Your Name - Terence Trent D'Arby
8. Waltzing Back - The Cranberries
9. Thank You - Dido
10. I Am Stretched Out On Your Grave - Sinead O'Connor
11. Help I'm Alive - Metric
12. Dirtywhirl - TV On The Radio
13. What Would Wolves Do? - Les Savy Fav
14. The City - The Dismemberment Plan
15. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore - The Smiths
16. The Killing Moon - Echo and the Bunnymen
17. Clocks - Coldplay
18. One Stringed Harp - Bell X1
19. Nothing In My Way - Keane

Best Albums - The Lexicon of Love - ABC

Well thinking of Mantrap in the last post, got me to thinking of the The Lexicon of Love album and just how good it is. It's a brilliant album from start to finish and a true one of a kind. ABC would never even attempt this sound again, as the band almost immediately began to fall apart, and no one else ever came close to matching the flood of hooks, fun lyrics, and drum and bass beats. Probably no album better represents the best of the new wave sound of the early 80's for me. Each song is almost overly orchestrated and yet it all tightly fits together around Martin Fry's singing. This album is worth hearing if nothing else for the drum and bass work.

Of course for me the status of the album is lifted even higher because of the goofy movie Mantrap that was made to promote the album. An odd choice it seems to me for a band's first album, but it definitely worked to highlight the distinctiveness of the band.

ABC - The Lexicon of Love (1982)
1. Show Me
2. Poison Arrow
3. Many Happy Returns
4. Tears Are Not Enough
5. Valentine's Day
6. The Look of Love, Pt. 1
7. Date Stamp
8. All of My Heart
9. 4 Ever 2 Gether
10. The Look of Love, Pt. 4


I picked this video because it's a song that most people wouldn't necessarily know and it has everything that is great about this album. The driving beat is fantastic so turn it up. On top of that you get the fun lyrics and wonderful singing of Martin Fry, with this overly orchestrated sound that adds a richness. This album has aged extremely well I believe because these guys were able to blend all of these things together so incredibly well.

Love Stuff Like This

One of my favorite things about early MTV was how it brought out the idea of music and videos being used to tell a story. There was the great ABC Mantrap movie that was put together to support the Lexicon of Love album. I own this movie and still love watching it. Sure it's goofy and silly, but it's so much fun. I've always felt that without MTV you don't get Purple Rain, another favorite of mine.

Two of my favorite videos tell a two part story. They are "Sweetest Taboo" and "Is It a Crime" by Sade. I like the fact that they made the two videos to tell one story. Not sure what the story is except the guy she was with was a jerk, but still it's fun that the two videos are connected.