Songs With An “R” Are Dramatic! Raucous And Full Of Love – Courtney That Is!
I had a great time looking at songs “with an R” because they cover a wide range of musical genres, but all have the infectious energy that the best music does – so let’s get going with ten songs that begin with the letter “R”!
10 – “Redbone” by Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino was the musical side project of “Atlanta” Actor Donald Glover, and this song got nominated for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year when released in 2017…and for good reason – Glover is a creative force right now!
This is a funky slice of classic soul with a raspy “Macy Gray” swagger to it – here is the music video:
Next up, I’ve got one of the biggest bands in the world in the 1990’s – but these two brothers just couldn’t get along!
9 – “Roll With It” by Oasis
Noel and Liam Gallagher made some of the most energetic rock music of that decade, with classic songs like “Supersonic”, “What’s The Story (Morning Glory?)”, “Live Forever” and many many more, but this one begins with an “R” and is a great example of how good they were!
When they weren’t fighting! And remember, Noel will also be known for his lyrics:
“Tomorrow never knows what it doesn’t know too soon…”
Chew on that!
Here’s the music video for “Roll With It!”
The brothers announced a reunion tour for 2025 and promptly crashed the internet as the demand for tickets was massive…and here are ten songs that help explain why Oasis still rule!
Next up is a slice of pure “radio rock”!
8 – “Raised On Radio” by Journey
The classic rock band Journey has one of rock’s most iconic songs, “Don’t Stop Believin'”, but I also love this ode to radio!
“The hits keep rocking station to station
In the Midnight Hour in the Sea of Love
My Turtle Dove
When I Found my Thrill, On Blue Berry Hill
We wrote Love Letters in the Sand
Be Bop a Lu La
She Loved Me Tender
Jungle Lion Sleeps Tonight
[Outro]
(Radio, radio)
We’re all raised on (radio, radio)
I want my radio”
Yes, all the lyrics are an homage to classic songs from their formative years…check the band performing the song live:
I shared a story where all the songs had one thing in common: the song “radio!” Check it out here:
Next up, a classic rock song from a classic musical Artist:
7 – “Rock’n Me” by Steve Miller
If you go shopping almost anywhere, one of Steve Miller’s song will be on the store’s mix: whether “The Joker” or “Take The Money And Run” or even “Jet Airliner”, this Artist had a great run of songs int he 70’s:
His story is fascinating to me: he released two massively popular albums back to back: first “Sly Like An Eagle” and then “Book Of Dreams”:
But he recorded them at the same time, then realized there was enough great music for two separate albums!
That includes the punchy rocker “Rock’n Me”:
“I went from Phoenix, Arizona
All the way to Tacoma
Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A.
Northern California
Where the girls are warm
So I could be with my sweet baby, yeah
Keep on rock’n me, baby
Keep on rock’n me, baby
Keep on rock’n me, baby
Keep on rock’n me, baby”
Here is The Steve Miller Band performing the song live in 1976:
Here’s a great fun fact about Steve Miller: for his iconic song “The Joker” he sings of “the pompatous of love”…and guess what? He made that word up and now it’s in the dictionary!
See more of this talented Artist here:
Next up is a beautiful, soulful song covered by a terrific Artist:
6 – “Rainy Night In Georgia” by Bob Skaggs
Boz Skaggs released a number of big hits int he 70’s and 80’s, including “Lido Shuffle”, “We’re All Alone” and “Jojo”, but his cover version of the classic blues ballad is a great one:
“Find my place in the boxcar
So I take my guitar, to pass some time
Late at night when it’s hard to rest
I hold your picture to my chest, and I feel fine
On this rainy night in Georgia
Rainy night in Georgia
Seems like its raining all over the world
Feel like its raining all over the world…”
Here’s a beautiful live version of a “Rainy Night In Georgia…”
I watch a lot of music videos on YouTube, and this next one might as well be on “auto replay” for me:
5 – “Radio Ga Ga” by Queen
Watch Freddie Mercury lead 80,000 Live Aid concert fans in a clap along to this song and see a wizard in action:
Simply one of the greatest live performers of our generation…enjoy Queen with one of their signature songs:
Next up is one of my favorite Artists with a catchy pop song that also reveals his inner struggles as an Artist:
4 – “Real Man” by Todd Rundgren
From his most iconic song “Hello It’s Me” to such great songs like “Can We Still Be Friends?”, “I Saw The Light” and his infectious gem “Bang On The Drum”…you know the one: “I don’t wanna work, I just want to band on the drum all day!”
Todd Rundgren is still making music and touring around the world…but with this song, Todd looked inward at himself:
“When I was a child
I thought as a child
I spoke as a child
I didn’t know better
But now I’m a man
I look like a man
I’m old as a man
And I should know better
Got my head in the sky
And my mind knows what it wants
But my body just drags me down
And my world is something you can’t see
But it’s still very real to me
You can find it in the hole where I keep my soul
There it is – way down inside me
There’s a real man
Forget about my body and be a real man…”
Here’s a live version Todd performed on the BBC:
His music is so terrific and wildly overlooked…here’s a look at an album that been called one of the best 200 of all time!
The next song in my “Music With An R” is the title track of Bruce Springsteen’s album that was nominated for all of the major awards of 2002, which is fitting as it dealt with the tragedy of 9/11…
3 – “The Rising” by Bruce Springsteen
In the aftermath of 9/11, Bruce Springsteen wrote songs of a nation mourning, angry and finally, rising up…
“Sky of blackness and sorrow (a dream of life)
Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life) (ooh ooh ooh)
Sky of glory and sadness (a dream of life)
Sky of mercy, sky of fear (a dream of life) (ooh ooh ooh)
Sky of memory and shadow (a dream of life)
Your burning wind fills my arms tonight (ooh ooh ooh)
Sky of longing and emptiness (a dream of life)
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life
Come on up for the rising
Come on up lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight”
Here is the brilliant title track:
“The Rising” won best rock album, and it’s as powerful today as when it was released – a masterpiece from The Boss…read more about it here:
Next up is a short-lived but explosive band, fronted by Country Love –
AND THE “R” SONG THAT WASN’T!
2 – “Rock Star” – AKA “Olympia” by Hole
It’s the story of a song with two titles…you see, when Hole released their debut album, they decided to replace the last song “Rock Star” with the song “Olympia” – but never changed the wording on the record’s label – so the song “Olympia” is known now for all time as it was printed on that label: “Rock Star!”
The band Hole only had a few albums, but they were filled with angry anthems of growing up isolated and marginalized, like this classic song – check out the lyrics:
“Well I went to school in Olympia
Everyone’s the same
And so are you, in Olympia
Everyone’s the same
We look the same
We talk the same
We even fuck the same”
Hard to argue with those lyrics…here is an audio only clip – I want you to hear the mistake at the start, followed by a giggle:
Why “Rock Star” is actually “Olympia”!
Now, more backstory: as I said, the song is actually called “Olympia”, which is the capital of the state of Washington, about 60 minutes south of Seattle. However, the original song “Rock Star” was supposed to be on this album, but was switched out AFTER the album sleeves were printed – so “Olympia” became known as “Rock Star”!
The entire album is terrific, and on my list of “songs with an H”, I included another classic song called “Doll Parts” – you can see the video here:
Finally, lets end with some rock’n’roll anarchy, courtesy of The Ramones!
1 – “Rock’n’Roll High School” by The Ramones
More anarchy related to school, thanks to this classic punk band from the 70’s, legendary for no long lasting more than 3 minutes!
“Well I don’t care about history
Rock, rock, rock ‘n’ roll high school
Cause that’s not where I want to be
Rock, rock, rock ‘n’ roll high school
I just want to have some kicks
I just want to get some chicks
Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock ‘n’ roll high school”
Here is the official music video for the song:
This is a great film – you can see the movie trailer and lots of trivia here:
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Hope you enjoyed this “R” music!
Categories: 70's Music, Art, Classic Rock, Music, Obscure Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities, Todd Rundgren
johnrieber 
Terrific line-up, very enjoyable.
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I love the Boz Skaggs version of Rainy Night in Georgia. A great line up here.
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My Bronson buddy introduced me to the Ramones over the last few years. I have a very limited knowledge of the music industry, so I really enjoy and appreciate these posts, John. Most of these songs are new to me.
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Quite a varied selection, John, and many songs I had never even heard of.
Best wishes, Pete.
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so many good ‘r’s here!
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Well done, John. I always enjoy your musical posts. You generally pick some of my favorite artists. Journey, Boz Scaggs, Rundgren, and Springsteen get prime billing from me today.
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