“X” Marks The Spot For Music – Some OBSCURE Music At That!
I am willing to admit that, as opposed to most other letters of the alphabet, “X” isn’t as obvious – but it turns out I have some incredible songs from some of music’s biggest stars, like this!
“xanny” by Billie Eilish
Well, the lyrics make it pretty clear what this song is about:
What is it about them?
I must be missing something
They just keep doing nothing
Too intoxicated to be scared
Better off without them
They’re nothing but unstable
Bring ashtrays to the table
And that’s about the only thing they share
I’m in their secondhand smoke
Still just drinking canned Coke
I don’t need a Xanny to feel better…
It’s from the 2019 album “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”
Enjoy!
The best selling duo of the 80’s is next – oh, with a bit of a cheat!
“X-Static” by Daryl Hall and John Oates
“X-Static” is the eighth studio album by Daryl Hall & John Oates, and it was released in 1979. It wasn’t a big hit for the duo, but it did include “Wait for Me”, which reached #18 on the Billboard charts.
While there is no song on the album called “X-Static”, here is the video for the title track “Portable Radio”, which includes the lines:
“C’mon and listen to the
(Radio)
Turn up the power
(Radio)
Rock it for hours and hours and hours
(Radio)
Now turn it soft and low
(Portable Radio)
V-v-viva la
(Portable Radio)
Crank up the power
(Portable Radio)
Turn up the power all night
It’s X-Static!”
So there you go! Take a listen – this song was clearly disco-inspired, but still a very catchy song:
As I said, the album included the classic song “Wait For Me”, and I wanted to make sure it got some love as well!
Here is the official music video for “Wait For Me:”
Some of H&O’s best songs weren’t singles – here is a look at five of their greatest album cuts:
Next up is a Beyonce song that appears on a John Mayer album!
“XO” by Beyonce
This 2013 song is from her fifth album, simply titled “Beyonce.”
In the darkest night
I’ll search through the crowd,
Your face is all that I see
I’ll give you everything
Baby, love me lights out
Baby, love me lights out
You can turn my lights out
I love you like XO
You love me like XO
You kill me, girl, XO
You love me like XO
All that I see
Give you everything
Baby, love me lights out
Baby, love me lights out
You can turn my lights out
Here is the video:
Beyonce is one of the world’s biggest stars, and her most recent album “Cowboy Carter” was a massive critical and commercial success.
It’s always a tragedy when an Artist dies, but that doesn’t mean they stop releasing new music:
“Xscape” by Michael Jackson
This posthumous album was released in 2014, and one song was a huge hit, the Justin Timberlake-enhanced “Love Never Felt So Good.” But here is the title track, with a great fan music video by Jaimy Kempkes, using vintage Michael Jackson material over the new track:
Bravo for that effort…next up, a band with a name that hits this category dead center!
“X Marks The Spot” by Coldplay
This is from the band’s 2015 album “A Head Full Of Dreams”..I’ve loved Coldplay ever since I discovered them in London…
Not a classic Coldplay hit single, just a great album track from a band that never stops stretching their creative boundaries:
Finally, my last choice was written by Jeff Lynne of The Electric Light Orchestra – for one of the most reviled films of all time!
“Xanadu” by Olivia Newton-John
Yes, this musical from 1980 starred Olivia Newton-John and the legendary Gene Kelly – but boy was it a bomb!
That said, I own it on DVD because it’s a bit of a camp classic now, and here is the scene in the film when the song is performed:
Well, then. As I said, Jeff Lynne wrote the song and has released his version as well – and it’s pure ELO ear candy – the band was recently acknowledged by The Grammy Awards fo this long career, and you can read about it here:
If you enjoy my music series, let me know – and if you missed any, here’s one to get your started on catching up!
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Let me know if “X” marked the spot for you!
Categories: 70's Music, Art, Classic Rock, Cult Movies, Music, Obscure Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
X is a tricky one, but you found a good selection. Many I had never heard before.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes indeed Pete…some didn’t like a few of my choices but what can you do?
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Going to see Darryl Hall in October. I remembered that Hall and Oates were two of your favorites.
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I lost all interest in what is called “pop”…..they all sound so much alike. chuq
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Billie Eilish has to be the most overrated, overhyped act in recent years!
You missed one, but you probably didn’t know it anyway 🤣
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I try to include some modern Artists who resonate with with music fans…I dont mind her but dont listen much…for me Taylor is the one that I just don’t get – thanks for the link – I didn’t know this song!
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I only play what I like, so she is highly unlikely ever to appear on my blog. But I’m a big Taylor fan, so she does.
That was a big hit here but I doubt it did anything over there 🤣
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