We're paying tribute to history this week at Vinyl. Here are seven songs paired with seven happenings that helped changed the world.
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SONG OF THE monDAY
Please Mr. Postman is the debut single for the Marvelettes. Released in 1961 by Tamla, a subsidiary label of Motown, it's Motown's first No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100. It hit the top spot again when the Carpenters covered it in 1975. The Beatles also released a version for the 1963 album, With the Beatles.
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SONG OF THE tuesDAY
Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time) first appeared on Elton John’s album, Honky Château (1972). The song was inspired by Ray Bradbury’s 1951 short story “The Rocket Man” from The Illustrated Man and has the same theme as David Bowie’s 1969 song, Space Oddity.
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SONG OF THE wednesDAY
Written by M.I.A. and Diplo, Paper Planes is from M.I.A.’s second studio album, Kala (2007). It was nominated for a Grammy and ranks 59 for most downloaded song of the digital era. It hit the top ten on six US charts, peaking at No. 4 on Billboard Hot 100, and has been used in a ton of media.
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SONG OF THE thursDAY
April 19, 1995
A truck bomb explodes in front of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people.
The Change was recorded by Garth Brooks for his 1995 album, Fresh Horses. The song pays respects to the families of the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. The music video shows Brooks dressed in black on a stage with news footage and scenes from the tragedy playing behind him.
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SONG OF THE friDAY
In the Street was written by Chris Bell and Alex Chilton and performed by Big Star for the 1972 album, #1 Records. Cheap Trick recorded a cover, That 70's Song, for the theme to That '70s Show, which is included on Cheap Trick's albums, Silver and Authorized Greatest Hits.
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SONG OF THE saturDAY
Written by Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Marqueze Etheridge, and Organized Noize for TLC's 1994 album, CrazySexyCool, Waterfalls is the first hit song to reference HIV/AIDS. In 1995, the music video won MTV's Video of the Year, making TLC the first black artist or group ever to win that award.
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SONG OF THE sunDAY
Bicycle Race is from Queen's 1978 album, Jazz. It was written by Freddie Mercury and released as a double A-side single with Fat Bottomed Girls. The music video was banned in several countries because it shows nude models racing bikes around Wimbledon Stadium.
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