This smoky room filled with turntables and amps was AI-generated: I asked it to give me an image of “music beginning with the letter ‘M'” and it did – because my “Songs A- Z” has ten great tuns that have an “M”!

These are in no order: just ten songs that I like, and all begin with the letter “M” – let’s get started with a young Artist who continues to impress me as her songwriting gets better as she gets older:

10 -“Malibu” by Miley Cyrus

I wanted to start with a modern hit for two reasons: first, so you would know that I DO listen to modern music and two, it’s a terrific song!

The song was her confessional about her life, marriage and divorce from Actor Liam Hemsworth – they had a home together in Malibu.

“I never came to the beach or stood by the ocean
I never sat by the shore under the sun with my feet in the sand
But you brought me here and I’m happy that you did
‘Cause now I’m as free as birds catching the wind

I always thought I would sink, so I never swam
I never went boatin’, don’t get how they are floatin’
And sometimes I get so scared of what I can’t understand

But here I am
Next to you
The sky is more blue
In Malibu
Next to you
In Malibu
Next to you…”

Check out the music video here:

I got clever here as the second song I’m showcasing is ALSO named “Malibu!”

9 – “Malibu” by Hole

Courtney Love was known more for being Nirvana Singer/Songwriter Kurt Cobain’s wife. There were many stories about their explosive relationship, but she also fronted her own band, Hole.

She’s a mesmerizing performer and this is a terrific song:

“Crash and burn
All the stars explode tonight
How’d you get so desperate?
How’d you stay alive?

Help me, please
Burn the sorrow from your eyes
Oh, come on be alive again
Don’t lay down and die!

Hey, hey
You know what to do
Oh, baby, drive away from Malibu…”

Check out the terrific video here:

I shared a story about the band’s debut album – and a mis-named song that is one of their best!

See that wild story here!

Next up is a hauntingly beautiful ballad by the most unlikely of Authors:

8 – “Make You Feel My Love” by Bob Dylan

Yes, Bob Dylan! While most know Adele’s hauntingly beautiful rendition, I am sharing his version. He has written many beautiful, poetic songs and this is among his best – the first two lyrics are stunning:

“The storms are raging on the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain’t seen nothing like me yet

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn’t do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love

To make you feel my love”

Here he is performing it:

I share a lot of classic rock due to my older brother exposing me to it, but also because these terrific songs are timeless:

7 – “Maggie Mae” by Rod Stewart

He had a huge run of hits int he 70’s and 80’s and still going strong today.

Here’s a live TV performance by Rod…what a classic!

Next up is a wonderful song written for an animated TV project in the 70’s:

6 – “Me And My Arrow” by Harry Nilsson

ABC TV aired this magical animated film, and this was the hit song from the movie!

Here are scenes from the animated film “The Point” and the classic song “Me And My Arrow”:

Nilsson had some incredible songs, and he was equally known for his shenanigans with John Lennon in what would be known as Lennon’s “lost weekend: – see it here:

Speaking of former Beatles, here’s a song from that legendary band:

5 – “Magical Mystery Tour” by The Beatles

One of the more unique albums by the band, consisting of new songs, soundtrack music and of course, two songs originally recorded for “Sgt. Pepper!”

This is one of Paul McCartney’s catchiest songs, which he came up with while rising San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury district! Let’s not waste any more time, here is the video the band released for the song, which was a mini-movie as well:

What a psychedelic pop classic! And here is a shot of Paul on a trip that inspired him to write it:

If you want to know about how Paul conceived “Magical Mystery Tour”, click on my story about his “hippie trip” of 1967:

Next up: a band who created some of the catchiest songs of all times – and a wacky name!

4 – “Mamma Mia” by ABBA

Time to celebrate ABBA!

ABBA is a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

So What’s That Name All About?

Easy! The group’s name is an acronym of the first letters of their first names arranged as a palindrome!

With songs like “Dancing Queen”, “Waterloo” and this one, the band’s songs are part of our lives to be sure…here you go:

Did you know they released an album recently that was nominated for Album Of The Year?

See the music videos for this great comeback here:

Next, one of music’s most influential bands, with massive hits like “Saturday In The Park”, “25 Or 6 To 4”, “Color My World” and this classic:

3 – “Make Me Smile” by Chicago

They were formed during the Vietnam War protests, and they mixed highly political songs with longford suites of music with trumpets and horns a big part of their sound.

“Make Me Smile” is actually part of their 1970 suite “Ballad For A Girl From Buchanan”, featured on “Chicago II”.

Here is “Make Me Smile” live, with elements of the rest of the suite included!

As I said they were a very political band in their early years and the song “Dialogue Part 1 & 2” is an incredible back and forth between two members discussing the state of the world…it still resonate today – see it here!

Next up: a beautiful song about a unpredictable Comedian:

2 – “Man On The Moon: by R.E.M.

“Man on the Moon” is a tribute to comedian Andy Kaufman, with numerous references to his career including his Elvis impersonation, wrestling, and unique was of seeing the world. As wikipedia states:

“The song’s title and chorus refer to Moon landing conspiracy theories, as an oblique allusion to rumors that the moon landing was faked.”

Kaufman’s controversial life was turned into a terrific film, and R.E.M. wrote the theme song for the movie:

“Moses went walking with the staff of wood yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Newton got beaned by the apple good yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Egypt was troubled by the horrible asp yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Mister Charles Darwin had the gall to ask yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Now, Andy did you hear about this one?
Tell me, are you locked in the punch?
Andy are you goofing on Elvis? Hey, baby
Are you having fun?

If you believed they put a man on the moon
Man on the moon
If you believe there’s nothing up his sleeve
Then nothing is cool”

Jim Carrey is incredible as the late Comedian – a film really worth finding again. Here is the terrific music video by R.E.M.:

My last song is a sad one – because it’s from a duo who recently broke up acrimoniously after leaving us with decades of classic songs:

1 – “Method Of Modern Love” by Daryl Hall & John Oates

Their album “Big Bam Boom” contained the smash hit “Out Of Touch” and this song, which is so much fun because they “sing -spell out” some of the words in the title!

“M-E-T-H-O-D-O-F-L-O-V-E
M-E-T-H-O-D-O-F-L-O-V-E

In the moonlight
Under starlight
Songs old as the night are what I’ve been dreaming of
Everybody’s hard as iron
Locked in a modern world
Dreams are made of a different stuff

I believe love will always be the same (Love)
The ways and means are the parts subject to change

M-E-T-H-O-D-O-F-L-O-V-E
It’s the method of modern love
M-E-T-H-O-D-O-F-L-O-V-E
It’s the method of modern love!”

Here’s the terrific music video…this song will get caught in your head so be warned!

As I said, the music world was shocked with Daryl Hall sued John Oates to keep him from selling his share of their music empire – even though they had both done so together a few years earlier…a sad end to the team behind “She’s Gone”, “Rich Girl”, “Sara Smile” and so more…here’s that story:

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

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