Friday, April 15, 2022

Music History Today: April 16, 2022

April 16, 2001: Five for Fighting released the single "Superman (It's Not Easy)" from the album America Town.

In April of 2001, songwriter, John Ondrasik (aka Five for Fighting), released the now-U.S. Gold-certified song, “Superman (It’s Not Easy).”

Five for Fighting album cover America Town
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The song, which peaked at No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, saw regular rotation on pop radio stations and MTV, alike. But the track had a second life after the tragic 9/11 attacks when it became an anthem of healing throughout the nation’s recovery. 
Read more: American Songwriter

April 16, 1961: The Willie Nelson penned tune, "Hello Walls,' entered Billboards Hot 100 chart for Faron Young. 

Willie Nelson was trying to make a living out of writing. He was a starving artist, struggling to sell the songs he wrote. He was so desperate that he tried to sell his song “Hello Walls” to Faron Young.

Faron Young
Faron Young

 It turns out that Young already recorded Nelson’s song by that time. Therefore, instead of buying the rights of the song Young lend Nelson $500 and told him to keep the song in his name. After two months, Nelson received a royalty payment from Young’s recording of “Hello Walls.” 

Read more: Country Thang Daily

 

April 16, 1977: The Marshall Tucker Band moved into the American Top 40 with "Heard It in a Love Song."

"Heard It In A Love Song" is the Marshall Tucker Band's biggest hit on the Pop charts, and remains their best-remembered song. In spite of its up tempo, it's rather sad. Written by Toy Caldwell, the song is about a man who has lived on the road from town to town and affair to affair. Here, he's been with a woman who's been good to him and who he actually loves, but he can't stay with her because the call of the road is too strong. 
Read more: Songfacts

April 16, 1983: "Affair of the Heart" by Rick Springfield entered the Billboard Hot 100 at Number 53.

"Affair of the Heart" by Rick Springfield peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the summer of 1983.

Rick Springfield 1982
Rick Springfield

It was the fourth of Springfield's five Top 10 hits to date. Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1984, it lost to "Beat It" by Michael Jackson. 
Read more: Wikipedia

April 16, 2005: Audioslave had an American Top 40  hit when "Be Yourself" vaulted from Number 84 to 39 on Billboard's chart.

According to Audioslave’s lead vocalist Chris Cornell, who is recognized as the primary writer of this song, its theme is premised on mistakes he has made in the past.

Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell

But honestly the lyrics aren’t necessarily introspective. Rather they are primarily focused on the idea of different people having different dispositions and personalities.  
Read more: Song Meanings and Facts  

Superman (It's Not Easy)
Five for Fighting

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