Looking For The Right “C” Note?

I am looking at songs and musical Artists one letter at a time, and these ten “Songs With A C” have broken hearts and chains for fools…let’s get started with a band that ushered in the “grunge era”:

10- “Come As You Are”

Nirvana was at the forefront of the 90’s grunge sound, which dominated music in the beginning of that decade…along with “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” this song also captured the angst well…here is the video:

“Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an known enemy…”

Kurt Cobain shared every aspect of his “angst” with listeners, and sadly took his own life…he left behind an amazing collection of music in a short period of time.

Nirvana blazed a short trail across the music sky, as did a band from “across the pond” around the same time:

9 – “Champagne Supernova”

This “C” song starts quietly but then build with all of that “wall of sound” that Oasis was known for in the 90’s…

“Someday you will find me
Caught beneath the landslide
In a champagne supernova in the sky
Someday you will find me
Caught beneath the landslide
In a champagne supernova
A champagne supernova in the sky”

Here is the music video:

Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher created some great music in the 90’s – timeless classics like “Supersonic”, “Live Forever” and “What’s The Story? (Morning Glory)”, but their spectacular implosion a few years later seemed to ensure that these two brothers would never perform together again – and to date they haven’t!

Next on my “C” list is a classic Beatles song – or in this case, a Beatles song that Paul McCartney wrote and gave to another band to record!

8 – “Come And Get It!”

When Apple Records signed the band Badfinger, Paul gave them a hit song – and when the Beatles Anthology was released, we got to hear that Paul recorded it exactly the way he wanted them to record it…he still performs it today – here is a great live version from 2011:

It was the theme song to a movie starring his bandmate Ringo Starr and the legendary Peter Sellers – a very funny comedy that also included members of Monty Python!

Did I mention this is the film where Raquel Welch plays a Dominatrix? Click here to see the trailer and more – check out the madness of “The Magic Christian” here:

Next up, a song inspired by one of the greatest anti-war films ever!

7 – “Charlie Don’t Surf”

The Clash is one of my favorite bands, and while there are so many songs to choose from, such as “I’m So Bored With The USA”, “Train In Vain Stand By Me)”, “Rock The Casbah” and “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?”, I will go with a terrific “C” song off of their sprawling, messy three-record masterpiece known as “Sandinista!”

In a nod to one of my favorite films of all time, “Apocalypse Now”, The Clash delivered a smooth, sultry take on Robert Duvall’s classic line from the film:

The Clash “Charlie Don’t Surf!”

“Charlie don’t surf and we think he should
Charlie don’t surf and you know that it ain’t no good
Charlie don’t surf for his hamburger Momma
Charlie’s gonna be a napalm star”

Here is the band performing the song live in 1982:

I got the chance to see the band live – and now you can too!

This movie “Rude Boy” is available on DVD, and it is the fictional story of a “roadie” for the “real” Clash, so you get lots of real live performance material of some of their greatest early songs like “I’m So Bored (With The USA)”!

You can see the trailer for the film here:

Sadly, the Singer behind this next song died recently, but Parrotheads will always remember that Jimmy Buffett wrote one of the greatest songs ever about food!

6 – “Cheeseburger In Paradise“

A song that celebrates America’s greatest hand-held food!

Cheeseburger in paradise
Medium rare with mustard’d be nice
Heaven on Earth with an onion slice
I’m just a cheeseburger in paradise.

I like mine with lettuce and tomato
Heinz 57 and French fried potatoes
Big kosher pickle and a cold draught beer
Well, good god almighty, which way do I steer…

Jimmy Buffett created a huge business out of his Margaritaville restaurants, because his songs are fun, upbeat and a good time – let’s remember him with a classic live performance of “Cheeseburger In Paradise”:

There you go, now I’m hungry!

Next up is a song that told the world about the place everyone young was headed:

5 – California Dreamin’

This foursome only recorded music together for 3 years, but they left us with gorgeous songs like this one, which told the world to head to California:

“All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I’ve been for a walk (I’ve been for a walk)
On a winter’s day (on a winter’s day)
I’d be safe and warm (I’d be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)

California dreamin’ (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day…”

John and Michelle Phillips wrote the song and it was a beautiful ode to the golden state.

Here they are performing the song on 60’s TV:

Next up is the last song on Elton John’s autobiographical album:

4 – “Curtains“

“Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy” was another hit album from the superstar.

Elton John and Bernie Taupin released this classic album in 1975 that told the story of their early years in music together!

Wikipedia says the album was written, according to lyricist Bernie Taupin, in chronological order!

“Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy” is a concept album that gives an autobiographical glimpse at the struggles John (Captain Fantastic) and Taupin (the Brown Dirt Cowboy) had in the early years of their musical careers in London (from 1967 to 1969).

The big hit single was “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” but I love the closing song, with what is to me a hauntingly beautiful final line…

“Cultivate the freshest flower
This garden ever grew
Beneath these branches
I once wrote
Such childish words for you
But that’s okay
There’s treasure children always seek to find
And just like us
You must have had
A once upon a time…”

This video from “MetalGuruMessiah” on YouTube is incredible! Check it out!

For those thinking my “C” song from Elton would be “Candle In The Wind” that is beautiful as well, in fact his life story is incredible and you can read about it by clicking here!

Next up is one of music’s greatest singers of all time, with an all-time classic:

3 – “Chain Of Fools”

Aretha Franklin had so many classic songs, all taking advantage of the power of her voice – what an icon!

The words, the chorus…perfection:

“For five long years
I thought you were my man
But I found out
I’m just a link in your chain
Oh, you got me where you want me
I ain’t nothin’ but your fool
You treated me mean
Oh, you treated me cruel

Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain of fools”

Here she is performing it:

There’s was shocking news recently about a legal battle between Daryl Hall and John Oates, which suggests they will never sing together again:

2 – “Camellia”

In 1976, the duo released this upbeat slice of pop, from their LP called simply “the Silver Album”:

Yes, that is the cover!

Well, that said, the song is about someone who longs for a woman he met at a show…

“Opening night, nothing new Atlanta
Into the spotlight, one more time
Just in time to play
To one man and an empty table
He was drinking down the pain
All he could say was this lady’s name
And I heard him call

Oh, Camellia, won’t you take me away?
Oh, Camellia, won’t you take me away?”

Here they are performing the song live:

Sadly, while they were the best-selling duo of the 80’s, they will probably never sing together again…here is that story:

Finally, one of my favorite Artists had the perfect song to end this list:

1 – “Can We Still Be Friends?”

This brilliant Singer / Songwriter also produced a Hall & Oates album, but he was best known for hits like this one, plus “Hello It’s Me”, “A Dream Goes On Forever” and the goody classic “Bang The Drum All Day!”

He has always walked a unique musical path, but this song captures the longing and loss of a relationship gone wrong:

“We can’t play this game anymore, but
Can we still be friends?
Things just can’t go on like before, but
Can we still be friends?”

Here he is performing it on TV:

The entire album is a masterpiece and you can see it all here:

There you go – 10 songs that begin with the letter “C” – I have many more letters to go, but don’t forget to read them all, so you can remember this guy from the 80’s – and the “A” list!

Yes, “Antmusic” is just one great song from the letter “A” – here are more, including two different Elvises:

And if you love to surf, then you’ll love the music from the “B” list:

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Categories: 70's Music, Art, Classic Rock, Cult Movies, Music, Obscure Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities, The Beatles, Todd Rundgren

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