Doug’s Musical Forget-Me-Nots, Vol. 1

December 11th, 2009 · 12 Comments

Youllseemusicvideo

By DOUG STRASSLER

A funny thing happened to me while I was on the way home for Thanksgiving. Going through my iTunes, I started thinking about Madonna’s “You’ll See,” a single from her Something to Remember collection of ballads and a great song that, as far as I know, only I still listen to.

Released in 1996, “You’ll See” is a sequel song to “Take a Bow,” which had come out the year before. But it’s not a sequel in the same sloppy way Britney’s “Stronger” is a sequel to “…Baby One More time.” Whereas the singer in “Bow” is defeated by song’s end, “You’ll See” is a rally cry; she has recovered from hurt and declares that she may have been down but is in no way out. The video, too, is a sequel to “Bow,” using the same director and the same actor who played the bullfighter in the previous video (it was part of Madonna’s hard lobbying to get cast as Evita). The song was a modest hit at the time, reaching #6 on the charts, and yet no one ever talks about it now.

Imagine my shock, then, when I discovered the very next day that Susan Boyle has covered “You’ll See” on her I Dreamed a Dream album – you know, currently the best-selling album in the country. Boyle has reportedly sung this song at auditions, and used it as a personal mantra, for years. Whodathunkit?

“You’ll See” is just one example of what I’ve called a musical forget-me-nots: Songs from major artists that had their moment and then, for whatever reason, got lost in the folds of time instead of being added to the list of that singer’s cherished accomplishments. Below, I list several more songs by huge singers that have faded away:

* “Do You Remember,” Phil Collins

Do you remember “Do You Remember?” Granted, it wasn’t nearly as huge as Grammy-winner “Another Day in Paradise,” also from his …But Seriously album, but this is a song that has always stuck with me. It’s a sentimental breakup song, but I think of it as “the moving song,” due to its video, in which a pre-teen boy and girl who’ve grown up together have to say goodbye when her family moves. Oddly, until writing this, I always thought that this video came out the same summer my family moved from northern Jersey to northern Virginia when I was 10. It turns out “Remember” came out in 1990, a full year after my move. Funny the tricks memory plays sometimes. (Also, it’s easy to pick on Phil Collins, but I don’t care. In an interview he once called me “a very kind and clever lad.” Talk about something to remember.)

* “Forever,” Mariah Carey

Long before acts like Adele, Amy Winehouse and The Noisettes revived the 1950s soul sound, Mariah took a stab with this song, the fourth single off of her massive Daydream album. It never got the same domestic push that “Fantasy,” “One Sweet Day,” and “Always Be My Baby” received, which is a shame. This song, in which the protagonist laments losing her boyfriend but vows he’ll stay hers forever in her mind, could have come straight out of the Brill Building.

The good news? Country crooner Kristy Lee Cook brought “Forever” back two seasons ago when she sang it on American Idol during Mariah week.

The bad news? That’s the performance that sent her home.

(Interesting fact: “Forever” was never released as a physical single, so despite reaching number nine on Billboard’s Hot 100 airplay chart, it never charted on the official Hot 100. The lack of availability as a retail single kept a lot of songs off the chart, because the thinking was that people would be more likely to buy a full album if that was the only way to get a track they heard on the radio. Consequently, monster jams like No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak,” Will Smith’s “Men in Black,” and Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy” never charted. By the end of the decade, the rules were changed to allow airplay-only songs on the Hot 100. — Mark)

* “All About Soul,” Billy Joel

I imagine this may be the most forgotten gem on my list, since it peaked at #29, but it’s a testament to the excellence of Joel’s River of Dreams album, his last studio release. With traces of Paul Simon’s Graceland and Bruce Springsteen’s Tunnel of Love, the songs on this album weren’t merely pop; there was plenty of instrumental experimentation, with infusions of blues and soul, and there were thoughtful lyrical explorations of love, trust and betrayal, particularly on this one. Try listening to it once and you’ll be “Na na na na na na na na”-ing the whole rest of the day.

* “The One,” Elton John

I was hesitant to include this song by Joel’s frequent tour-mate on my mix, because I remember how big it was when it came out. But does anyone talk about it anymore? It’s a regret of mine that I’ve never gotten to see him play this in concert. It may not have made Mark’s wedding playlist, but you’ll definitely hear it at the wedding I’m in no danger of having anytime soon. I think what happens is when there are as many masterstrokes as there are in Elton’s oeuvre, it’s simply impossible for all the great ones to stay afloat. However, with lyrics like “For each man in his time is Cain/ Until he walks along the beach/ And sees his future in the water/ A long lost heart within his reach,” this song is haunting, inspiring, and intensely romantic. Drop whatever you’re doing and listen to it now. Here, I’ll even help:

Do any of these tunes ring a bell? And do you think any of these have a second life waiting in the wings? Most importantly, what are some of your musical forget-me-nots?

Tags: Doug Strassler · Music

12 responses so far ↓

1 Mark Blankenship // Dec 11, 2009 at 11:45 am

Doug, I love “You’ll See,” though you’re right that it’s not as well remembered as her other hits. But like you were saying about Elton John, Madonna’s had so many hits that it’s impossible for all of them to stay afloat.

Interestingly enough, when I saw the Drowned World tour in Atlanta, Madonna performed “You’ll See.” It was one of the few older songs she played in that show, and it was a welcome surprise.
2 Doug Strassler // Dec 11, 2009 at 12:16 pm

I read that she performed that, which was a big surprise. I never caught the tour (I’ve never seen her in concert, in fact!), but that would have been awesome.

I have to say, it’s nice when a more personal favorite gets rediscovered somehow. (This has happened when “Don’t Stop Believin’” exploded and when Cameron Crowe put “Secret Gardens” in Jerry Maguire.) It’s like the universe has been eavesdropping on me.
3 Cecily Canady // Dec 11, 2009 at 1:16 pm

Loved the read, definitely remember Mariah’s forever its zooms me right back to high school gym class where the Daydream album stayed on repeat the entire period.
4 Tricia // Dec 11, 2009 at 1:47 pm

First, this article is awesome. Second, you have made me completely nostalgic. I can remember sitting in the car with my brother listening to Phil and Billy and Elton. And All About Soul is a favorite of mine too. Oh, just all of them are fabulous. I’m very excited about this column. VERY.
5 Jennifer McKnight // Dec 11, 2009 at 1:54 pm

Thank you for bringing these songs back into my life, Strass. I’m now inspired to create a Phil Collins Pandora station with a little Mariah ‘variety’ peppered in there so that I can re-live some of these gems at my desk.
6 Doug Strassler // Dec 11, 2009 at 2:11 pm

Thanks guys! Glad to hear it. What’s so great is that if I’d never written this column, I would have never known that other people loved the same songs I thought I was alone in loving, and the point of music is that it’s supposed to be appreciated as a communal thing. So thanks again, and thanks to Mark for this opportunity to revisit the past. It made this guy’s whole Friday.
7 Meagan // Dec 11, 2009 at 4:58 pm

Great to read this, and I agree with all the greats. Another Madonna one I love but kind of flew by the wayside was “Don’t Tell Me.” The video and the lyrics are phenomenal. Also, while I was never a fan of Counting Crowes way back when, they had a song from the Cruel Intentions soundtrack called (I think) “Colorblind”, which is one of my all-time favorites, yet I never heard it on the radio. Also, because I think he’s so cute, one of Robbie William’s first songs out was “Millennium”, which still makes me want to run around my coffee table singing it at the top of my lungs and waving my hands in the air.
8 Andre Philander // Dec 12, 2009 at 5:23 am

Aaah man, The One, every time I’ve fallen in love that song starts playing at the back of my mind. Thought I was the only person still listening to that song. Other favourites of mine include No Doubt’s Simple Life, U2′s Hold me, Thrill me, Kiss me, Kill me and Sheryl Crow’s Hard to Make a Stand. All songs that I’ve never heard on the radio or nobody I know has heard.
9 Mark Blankenship // Dec 12, 2009 at 10:55 am

Andre! “Hard to Make a Stand” is my favorite Sheryl Crow song. Like you, I thought I was the only one who knew it. How great that we are not alone!
10 Dana // Dec 12, 2009 at 2:06 pm

I love all these songs, and they got me thinking about some other songs from these artists that I still love, but few people seem to remember. Billy Joel’s “This is the Time” springs to mind, what a great ballad! Also “I Wish It Would Rain Down” by Phil Collins and “Sacrifice” by Elton John. The latter two still get played on the radio once every now and then, but very rarely.

Thanks for the article, Doug, and for reminding about these songs!
11 Nathaniel Rogers // Dec 12, 2009 at 5:31 pm

You’ll See is actually among my top 20 favorite Madonna songs (yes, there’s a list. A list of ALL her songs. I’m insane)

it’s nice to see it mentioned somewhere but i don’t know these other songs, which only kind of proves your point.
12 Laura // Dec 13, 2009 at 11:12 am

I was very excited to see “All About Soul” on your list as it’s one of my favorite Billy Joel songs. Like Nathaniel Rogers, I’ve considered making a list, but I keep making things tie for number one, number two, etc, etc. And Elton John’s “The One” is wonderful as well.

Featured Reviews

Archives

Buzz

Admin