Songs Lyrics and YT- Youtube Music Videos

Rage Against the Machine - Year Of Tha Boomerang

Rage Against the Machine - Year Of Tha Boomerang Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Evil Empire
Released: 1996

Year Of Tha Boomerang Lyrics

Year Of Tha Boomerang

Frantz Fanon coined the phrase "Year of the Boomerang" in a speech about the time when violent uprisings will come back and nail imperialists in the face.

Dachau, Germany was the site of the "Dachau Massacre" in 1945, where, following liberation of the Dachau concentration camp, American soldiers allegedly murdered 520 surrendering Waffen-SS soldiers.

French psychiatrist Frantz Fanon, while working in Algeria's Blida-Joinville in 1956, resigned from his position in the French government when he heard from his Algerian patients stories of torture by the French during the Algerian war, and, instead, worked openly with the Algerian Independence movement from then on. He was an ambassador to Ghana, as well as a military strategist. He was best known, however, for his writing, which established him as an influential figure of the anti-racist political movements of the time. He died in Washington D.C in 1961 under the name Ibrahim Fanon while battling Leukemia. He was 36 years old."

Mount Tai, or Mount Tai Shan, as it as known, is one of the "Five Sacred Mountains' of China, associated with sunrise, birth, and renewal.

This song appears on the soundtrack for the movie Higher Learning, and excerpts of the song are used throughout the film.

In the live version of this song performed at Cal State in 1994, Zack de La Rocha introduces the song by saying, "Some men dream of a patriarchal society," explaining that L7 (a female band), who took the stage previously, was their (pro-patriarchal society men's) "worst nightmare." This is a direct reference to the opening lines of the song, "Tha sistas are in, so check the front line," denouncing oppression of women's rights.

Rory Gallagher - Laundromat

Rory Gallagher - Laundromat Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Rory Gallagher
Released: 1971

Laundromat Lyrics

What do you think of that?
I'm sleeping down at the Laundromat,
If you should pass by,
Be sure to drop right in.
Well I don't have no clothes to clean,
To put inside the machine,
It was the craziest place,
I have ever been.

Come 'round and meet my friends,
They'll be there with me,
With me to the end,
With me to the end,
With me to the end.

They say I told you so,
Maybe bad times come and go,
If you don't know that right now,
But then you'll never know.

Well I don't have no clothes to clean,
To put inside the machine,
It's the craziest place,
I have ever been.

Come 'round and meet my friends
They'll be there with me,
With me to the end,
With me to the end,
With me to the end.

They say I told you so,
But baby bad times come and go,
If you don't know that right now,
But then you'll never know.

What do you think of that,
I'm on the street like an old stray cat,
If you should look for me,
You'd know exactly where to go.

Come 'round and meet my friends
They'll be there with me,
With me to the end,
With me to the end,
With me to the end.
Writer/s: RORY GALLAGHER
Publisher: BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Laundromat

This is the opening track from Gallagher's self-titled debut album. It became something of a fan favourite and a staple of his live shows, appearing on numerous live albums, including one of his most acclaimed records, Live In Europe (1972).

The song was written during the breakup of Gallagher's blues band Taste, and inspired by a public laundromat in an Earls Court bedsit where the group lived. According to Gallagher's brother and sound engineer Donal Gallagher, "Taste were in the charts, headlining major festivals, but not seeing the proceeds. Later, when I became Rory's manager, I insisted we go to court to get the royalties. Even then Rory was reluctant. He didn't like conflict." (Sunday Times, 2012)

Rory's legendary good-nature seems evident in the lyrics, which seem to detail his delight in "sleeping down at the Laundromat", having "no clothes to clean", but meeting friends who will be "with me to the end."

In a 1991 interview with All Music, Gallagher said: "I try to sit down and write a Rory Gallagher song, which generally happens to be quite bluesy. I try to find different issues, different themes and different topics that haven't been covered before...I've done songs in all the different styles...train blues, drinking blues, economic blues. But I try to find a slightly different angle on all these things. The music can be very traditional, but you can sort of creep into the future with the lyrics."

A tribute band, formed in 2000 in Holland, named themselves after this song.

Rush - Cygnus X-1 Book 2: Hemispheres

Rush - Cygnus X-1 Book 2: Hemispheres Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Hemispheres
Released: 1978

Cygnus X-1 Book 2: Hemispheres Lyrics

Cygnus X-1 Book 2: Hemispheres

This song continues the story from Cygnus X-1 on the album A Farewell to Kings. It uses the Greek mythology of Apollo, the god of reason, and Dionysus, the god of love.

The followers of Apollo believe straight logic can lead them while the followers of Dionysus believe that love will lead them. Civil war ensues until the adventurer from Cygnus X-1 comes across this world. Since traveling through Cygnus X-1, a black hole, his body has been destroyed but he can still see and think. He becomes upset with the war and cries out to the people, Apollo, and Dionysus. The people hear his cry, stop fighting, unite, and proclaim the hero Cygnus, the god of balance.

Kicking off the Rush album Hemispheres, this song runs 18:08 and is an exemplar of the band's progressive rock leanings at the time. For their next album, Permanent Waves, they took a different approach, with more compact, tuneful songs like "The Spirit Of Radio" and "Freewill." These radio-friendly songs earned Rush a much wider audience.

According to Rush lead singer Geddy Lee, recording vocals for this song and the others on the Hemispheres album was a miserable experience, since they recorded the music first without making sure he could properly sing over the tracks.

Ryan Star - Impossible

Ryan Star - Impossible Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Animals
Released: 2013

Impossible Lyrics

And you called me on the phone
To say there's nothing to talk about
Wish you stopped your crying long enough just to hear me out
Oh we are, we are, just what we are

In the pride of all the things
I've been putting you through
When I shot up at the sky,
I didn't know it'd fall down on you
Take it all back, take it all back

I didn't mean to make you suffer
I didn't mean to make you cry
I just wanna put us back together
This isn't Impossible
This isn't impossible
This isn't impossible
This isn't impossible
Yeah, yeah, oh, oh

I know this is getting under your skin
If we can make it through the winter,
We could fall in love again
Oh we are, we are, just what we are

And all these days
It's just too easy to be calling it quits
But a life without you
Would be too hard to find happiness
Take it all back, take it all back, take it all back

I didn't mean to make you suffer
I didn't mean to make you cry
I just wanna put us back together
This isn't impossible
This isn't impossible
This isn't impossible
This isn't impossible
Yeah, yeah, oh, oh

Well I'll just set us straight to breaking me up
Cause every corner is a memory
One day I'll write you back
You took my wings and left me
Here all alone
I'm sorry I'm a little deranged
And a little behind it all

I didn't mean to make you suffer
I didn't mean to make you cry
I just wanna put us back together
This isn't impossible
This isn't impossible

I didn't mean to make you suffer
I didn't mean to make you cry
I just wanna put us back together
This isn't impossible
This isn't impossible
This isn't impossible
This isn't impossible
Yeah, yeah, oh, oh

Writer/s: RYAN KULCHINSKY, IDO ZMISHLANY, HALLIE KULCHINSKY
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY, Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Impossible

This is the lead single from Ryan Star 's EP, Animals. The record was recorded by the singer-songwriter in Rhinebeck, New York with his touring band, which was a first for him. The song was recorded live in one take.

Star wrote this song around the same time as "Start a Fire" from his 2010 album 11:59, but he kept tweaking it and didn't record it until session for his 2013 Animals EP.

"Impossible" inspired the title of the EP. Star explained to Billboard magazine: "It stems from a quote I heard that humans are a hybrid between angels and animals. I feel this dichotomy every waking second and finally put it in this brutally honest song."

Ido Zmishlany produced the Animals EP. He thinks that he and Star work so well together because they come from a common ground. In his Songfacts interview , Zmishlany explained that both he and Star started out in bands from Long Island, so they understand each other's journeys of getting to the next phases of their careers. Zmishlany revealed how the tune was a telling of those experiences: "We had come from a similar place. I think that song was a reflection of it - a relationship that's stood the test of the trials and tribulations of doing what we do."

Robin Thicke - Ooo la La

Robin Thicke - Ooo la La Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Blurred Lines
Released: 2013

Ooo la La Lyrics

You gave me some that day
I fell in love that day
Can't get enough that day
I'm thinking of that day
You gave me some that day
I fell in love that day
Can't get enough that day
I'm thinking of that day

Picked me out a rose, stands by her man
She wants to party, she loves to dance
Won't raise me voice, won't raise my hand
Keep telling your story, I'll understand

You can have my body
You can have my money
You can have my soul if you want it too
You've become a problem
But I don't want to solve it
'Cause I can't get over you

You gave me some that day
I fell in love that day
Can't get enough that day
I'm thinking of that day
You gave me some that day
I fell in love that day
Can't get enough that day
I'm thinking of that day

Took a lot of time
See through my disguise
Reverse the current, electrified
Kick me to the curb, I keep hanging on
You make me weak, but you make me strong

You can have my body
You can have my money
You can have my soul if you want it too
You've become a problem
But I don't want to solve it
'Cause I can't get over you

Schnabel on the walls
G Clooney villas
Rose waterfalls
Days in Marbella
Nights Porto Banus
The world is mine as long as I’m with you

Ooh la la
Ooh la la
Ooh la la
Ooh la la

You gave me some that day
I fell in love that day
Can't get enough that day
I'm thinking of that day
You gave me some that day
I fell in love that day
Can't get enough that day
I'm thinking of that day

You can have my body
You can have my money
You can have my soul if you want it too
You've become a problem
But I don't want to solve it
'Cause I can't get over you

You can have my body
You can have my money
You can have my soul if you want it too
You've become a problem
But I don't want to solve it
'Cause I can't get over you

You gave me some that day
I fell in love that day
Can't get enough that day
I'm thinking of that day
You gave me some that day
I fell in love that day
Can't get enough that day
I'm thinking of that day

You gave me some that day
I fell in love that day
Can't get enough that day
I'm thinking of that day
You gave me some that day
I fell in love that day
Can't get enough that day
I'm thinking of that day

Ooh la la
Ooh la la
Ooh la la
Ooh la la

Writer/s: JOE M. AUGELLO, ROBIN THICKE
Publisher: Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, BEHEMOTH PUBLISHING
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Ooo la La

Thicke promises a woman on this '80s Disco-vibed track not only his money, but his very soul. The song was inspired by the romantic adventures that the singer has had with his wife, actress Paula Patton, in Paris.

Thicke revealed to Billboard magazine that the Blurred Lines album was a project aimed at giving listeners a way to ease their worries. "I think I just ended up making an escape album," he shared. "I never plan it, but I think I did my best to make my wife and I have a chance to escape every night, and I felt like that made for a great album."

R. Kelly - My Story

R. Kelly - My Story Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Black Panties
Released: 2013

My Story Lyrics

(Yea) This is My Story, yeah, I'm from that Chi-town dirt
I went from being broke to sleeping in Versace shirts
(Yea) This is my story, money, cars, bad hoes
This is my story eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)

Came from humble beginnings now I'm c***y with my spending
They say "life is just a game" and I thank God that I'm winning
Models roll my indo, I beat the p****, Django
Them n****s talking money, I got more digits in my gate code
She make a pole disappear like hocus pocus (Hocus pocus, pocus)
You're ain't never gon' find another n**** this focused (Focused)
I got every block, every street corners sold up (Up)
Whatever club represent my city, throw it up (Up)
I own the game, coach slash player sho 'nough
Okay, haters throw fitted never showed up, yup

This is my story, yeah, I'm from that Chi-town dirt
I went from being broke to sleeping in Versace shirts
This is my story, money, cars, bad hoes
This is my story eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
(Yea) And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
(2 Chainz) And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it

Velcro, I'm sticking to it, hatin', I've been a victim to it
Your conversation is sanitation, ain't no hesitation when I finna do it
I stick it in (Uh) switch it up and try to hit a friend (Uh)
Live it up and count my dividends, roll, like cinnamon
Whoa, big face Benjamin's
And she looked at me like you ain't nothin' but a star
I looked at her like this ain't nothin' but a car
if you ride with them you ain't going that far
But if you ride with me (Me)
Crib so big we can play hide-and-seek (Play hide-and-seek)
You can confide to me, ride me like I ride the beat
Pilot seat, I need a co-pilot (Tell 'em), kiss a a** in both mouths (Tru)
Yeah I'm talking both lips, what you know 'bout boat trips?
Drop her a** at the Chocolate Factory (Chocolate Factory)
(Yeah) We did them 12 Play's
(Yeah) And you know who you is girl,
We been f***in' since the 12th grade, goddamn (Goddamn)

This is my story, yeah I'm from that Chi-town dirt
I went from being broke to sleeping in Versace shirts
This is my story, money, cars, bad hoes
This is my story eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it

Pull up to the club at about three (Uh huh)
I'm killin' it, guilty no plea (Uh huh)
I'm leaving out at 6 with a dime piece
By 9 o'clock, we on round three
I speak of rain they say I'm crazy like they didn't know
See I'm not crazy but my talent, man, got bipolar
Say she's a church girl but man she's blowing holy smokes
Showed her the Jesus piece now she got the Holy Ghost
They asked 'em in a interview, "Why do he love these girls?"
The only thing he had to say was, "Motherf*** the world!"

This is my story, yeah I'm from that Chi-town dirt
I went from being broke to sleeping in Versace shirts
This is my story, money, cars, bad hoes
This is my story eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it (Uh huh)
And I'm, stickin', to it

Writer/s: PAUL JEFFERIES, TAHEED EPPS, ROBERT KELLY
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

My Story

The lead single for R Kelly's Black Panties album finds him singing about his less-than-fortunate beginnings and his rags-to-riches rise. Robert Sylvester Kelly was raised on the South Side of Chicago in a single parent home and the R&B singer details here how he went from being broke to sleeping in Versace shirts:

"20 years
What's that like five careers?
I'm just nappy-headed nigga from the Chi
I ain't even supposed to be here"

"This is #MyStory.. and I'm sticking to it," said Kelly when announcing the single release.

Rapper 2 Chainz contributes a few profane off-topic bars as well as a reference to boat trips. (B.O.A.T.S. is an acronym used to refer to 2 Chainz's debut album, Based on a T.R.U. Story.)

Robin Thicke - Feel Good

Robin Thicke - Feel Good Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Blurred Lines
Released: 2013

Feel Good Lyrics

Does it Feel Good
Does it feel good
Does it feel real good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good

If it told that I love
Would you run away or would you run to me
I need to know it baby
If gave you all my loving would you give it back
What would you do with that
I asked a lot of that
And if gave you all my time when its the summer time
I know my down time, girl that's a lot of time
If I'm falling over you, then what you gonna do
I wanna come with you, I wanna run with you
I'd give you all my loving to you
I'd give you all my loving to you

Does it feel good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good
Does it feel real good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good

If I partied till the morning
Would you stay with me
Girl would you play with me
Or would you hate on me
If I ran all out of money
Would you pay for me or would you stray from me
I need to know it baby
If there's something that I could do
To make you see the light
Girl that I treat you right
I'd do it every night
Every second that I'm with you is a special world
Like I'm your only man, and you're my only girl

I'd give you all my loving to you
I'd give you all my loving to you

Does it feel good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good
Does it feel real good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good

Does it feel good
Oh babe oh darling
Does it feel good
Does it feel good

I'd give you all my loving to you
I'd give you all my loving to you

Does it feel good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good
Does it feel real good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good
Does it feel good

Writer/s: WILL ADAMS, KEITH HARRIS, ROBIN THICKE
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, NORTH HUDSON MUSIC, BEHEMOTH PUBLISHING, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Feel Good

This EDM-tinged track was co-written and produced by will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas. It finds Thicke interrogating his lover asking her if she'd still love him whatever he does:

"If I partied till the morning would you stay with me
Girl would you play with me, or would you hate on me
If I ran all out of money, would you pay for me or would you stray from me
I need to know it baby."

Thicke told VH1: "I actually got to sneak in some of my problems on this one. It talks about if I party too much, or if I'm not perfect, or if I'm depressed, will you still stand by me, will you help me get through those times or will you leave me?"

In the Sophie Muller-directed video, Thicke, along with a group of dancers, performs this against a cloudy backdrop.

Robin Thicke - Top Of The World

Robin Thicke - Top Of The World Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Blurred Lines
Released: 2013

Top Of The World Lyrics

Yeah, Robin Thicke
You know how it goes

Come on come on
Now you feeling like a pimp,
You got everything you want, no wonder
Come on come on
'Cause you never gave up,
Now you singing that song all summer
I'm on Top Of The World, on top of the world
I'm on top of the world, on top of the world
I'm on top of the world, on top of the world
I'm on top of the world, top of the world

She was a little girl picked on in school
Yeah she had funny teeth
All the kids called her tooth head
Years later when her moms got sick,
She did everything she could, but mama wasn't rich
She didn't stop, worked ten different jobs yeah
That put her through community college
Waitress, retail, hot dog on a stick
Telling herself that it won't end like this
Now she the boss, she the boss, she the boss
You see her riding up, yeah you know what it cost
Now she the one with the smile on her face
'Cause no one gave it to her, she earned that feeling

Come on come on
Now you feeling like a pimp,
You got everything you want, no wonder
Come on come on
'Cause you never gave up,
Now you singing that song all summer
I'm on top of the world, on top of the world
I'm on top of the world, on top of the world
I'm on top of the world, on top of the world
I'm on top of the world, top of the world

Now she wanna find love, and she can
Somebody who can hold umbrellas in the rain
But she's a little hardcore with the pros,
Could be goodbye goodbye before it's hello hello
Before you say a word, better have a breathe
Sitting with mine, if you have it ooh
I'm a sometime, but she's a lifestyle
I got a big hammer, but baby's a hard rock

Come on come on
Now you feeling like a pimp,
You got everything you want, no wonder
Come on come on
'Cause you never gave up,
Now you singing that song all summer
I'm on top of the world, on top of the world
I'm on top of the world, on top of the world
I'm on top of the world, on top of the world
I'm on top of the world, top of the world

(Baby) on top of it, (Baby) on top of it,
(Baby) she's on top of it, (Baby) on top of it

Yeah sometimes that's just how it goes
Now she well paid first class top grade
Go to sleep by herself only with the front page
Dreaming of the one thing she ain't got yet
That's somebody to hold when the sun sets
She start taking them pills just to feel good,
It's hard enough to be what she once was, keep it real
But she remembers how tough it was to get her
She can't be so hard on herself, yeah

You need a good time baby girl let it go
You need a good time baby girl let it go
You still so young, good times, let it go
You still so young, good times, let it go

Come on come on
Now you feeling like a pimp,
You got everything you want, no wonder
Come on come on
'Cause you never gave up,
Now you singing that song all summer
I'm on top of the world, on top of the world
I'm on top of the world, on top of the world
I'm on top of the world, on top of the world
I'm on top of the world, top of the world

Writer/s: JAMES D. GASS, ROBIN A. THICKE
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group, BEHEMOTH PUBLISHING
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Top Of The World

Thicke tells the rags-to-riches story on this song of a woman who despite achieving power and wealth is still lonely. He told VH1: "It's similar to 'Ain't No Hat 4 That,' about a professional woman who has been a little hardened. She's having a tough time finding the right man to love. That song is about being on top of the world, but needing that one more thing to be happy."

Rick James - Super Freak

Rick James - Super Freak Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Street Songs
Released: 1981

Super Freak Lyrics

She's a very kinky girl,
The kind you don't take home to mother;
She will never let your spirits down,
Once you get her off the street.

She likes the boys in the band,
She says that I'm her all time fav'rite;
When I make my move to her room,
It's the right time; she's never hard to please.

That girl is pretty wild now;
The girl's a Super Freak;
The kind of girl you read about
In the new wave magazines.
That girl is pretty kinky;
The girl's a super freak;
I'd really like to taste her
Ev'ry time we meet.
She's all right; she's all right;
That girl's all right with me yeah.
She's a super freak, super freak,
She's super freaky; super freak, super freak.

She's a very special girl,
From her head down to her toenails;
Yet she'll wait for me at backstage with her girlfriends,
In a limousine.

Three's not a crowd to her, she said;
"Room 714, I'll be waiting."
When I get there she's got incense, wine and candles;
It's such a freaky scene.

That girl is pretty wild now;
The girl's a super freak;
The kind of girl you read about
In the new wave magazines.
That girl is pretty kinky;
The girl's a super freak;
I'd really like to taste her
Ev'ry time we meet.
She's all right; she's all right;
That girl's all right with me yeah.
She's a super freak, super freak,
She's super freaky; super freak, super freak.
Temptations sing; oh, super freak,
Super freak, the girl's a super freak; oh.

She's a very kinky girl,
The kind you don't take home to mother;
She will never let your spirits down,
Once you get her off the street.

Writer/s: ALONZO MILLER, RICK JAMES
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Super Freak

This song is about a girl who is very adventurous sexually, especially with members of a band. A "Freak" is slang for someone willing to try various fetishes, thus a "Super Freak" will try just about anything. James was famous for his penchant toward "freakish" behavior, which got him in trouble with the law when he and his girlfriend were arrested for kidnapping another girl for sex.

This was the biggest hit for James. He had just modest success on the Hot 100 (where he never scored a Top 10 hit) but had four #1 R&B hits and was a prolific producer and innovator of Funk. Explaining how he came up with this song, he told Musician magazine in 1983: "I wanted to write a silly song. I was in the studio and everything else for the album (Street Songs) was done. I just put 'Super Freak' together really quickly. I wanted a silly song that had a bit of new wave texture to it. So I just came up with this silly little lick and expounded on it. I came up with the bass part first. Then I put a guitar on it and keyboards, doing the 'ehh ehh,' silly keyboard part. Then I found a tuning on my Oberheim OB-Xa that I'd been wanting to use for a long time – it sounds like ghosts. And I put a very operatic vocal structure on it 'cause I'm really into opera and classical music. You probably hear a lot of that in my music. So I put (sings in a deep voice) 'She's all right'; very operatic, sort of funny, stuff."

The famous bass line in this song was sampled by MC Hammer for his biggest hit, "U Can't Touch This." James filed suit against Hammer, which ended in an out-of-court settlement giving James a songwriting credit on the track. This resulted in James' only Grammy Award when "U Can't Touch This" won in 1991 for Best R&B Song.

This was released on Motown Records, and featured backup vocals by The Temptations, something James points out in the song when he screams: "Tempations sing." One of their members, Melvin Franklin, was Rick James' uncle.

"Super Freak" was released about five months after MTV went on the air, and Rick James made a slick video for the song hoping it would get some spins on the network. At the time, however, MTV refused to play videos by black artists, and they rejected this clip, continuing to feed America a steady stream of Rock and EuroPop. This refusal to play black music was a holdover from radio station programming, where conventional wisdom was that you would lose your white listeners if you played black music. The first black artist to make MTV with a new song was Musical Youth, who despite adapting a song about smoking marijuana, was a lot less scary to network executives than the glitter-vested James singing about kinky sex. This color barrier was shattered by Michael Jackson, who brought a new sound and sophistication to the network with the videos for his Thriller album.

Even though the network didn't play this video, Rick James eventually made peace with MTV and put their co-founder, Les Garland, in the video for Eddie Murphy's song "Party All the Time," which James produced. As for exactly why MTV passed on "Super Freak," their director of acquisitions, Carolyn Baker, explained in the book I Want My MTV: "It wasn't MTV that turned down 'Super Freak.' It was me. I tuned it down. You know why? Because there were half-naked women in it, and it was a piece of crap. As a black woman, I did not want that representing my people as the first black video on MTV."

Over the years, the word "Freak" became very popular and Hip Hop and R&B lyrics. It's a versatile word that can be used as both a verb ("Freak Me") and a noun ("The Freaks Come Out At Night"). Use of the word peaked in the mid-'90s with the phrase, "Get your freak on."

The Dutch dance duo The Beatfreakz covered this in 2006. Their version reached #7 in the UK, the first time this song charted in Britain as Rick James original version wasn't a hit there.

In the movie Little Miss Sunshine, the little girl Olive does a wonderfully inappropriate dance to this song in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant.

When James implores, "Blow, Danny!," he's talking to his sax player Daniel LeMelle just before his solo.

A Los Angeles DJ named Alonzo Miller is credited as a writer on this track along with James. Miller worked on the lyrics with James, helping tone them down so the song had a better chance of getting airplay and crossing over to a white audience. Miller was able to get the song played at the station where he worked, KACE.

Ryan Star - World I Used To Know

Ryan Star - World I Used To Know Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Animals
Released: 2013

World I Used To Know Lyrics

World I Used To Know

Ryan Star told Artist Direct the story of this song: "I had this idea," he said. "You're driving home for thanksgiving break from college, and you're back in that town you grew up in. Movies have been made of it. Everything seems different. It brings back those memories for you. There's a nostalgic sound to the song. There's an eighties thing going on in the music. There's that idea of 'The last time I was here, I was thinking this way.'"

Star added: "It's not such a sad song, but the line, 'We wished for lots of things when we were seventeen and we're waiting for it now'—to me, that's the song. It's the honest song I can say. In the years of Facebook and Twitter, everybody's bragging about everything going on. The truth is I think we're all really discontent [Laughs]. We're looking at everyone else like, 'Am I really the only one who's not where I want to be?' It's not saying, 'I failed. I'm bitter. You fu--ing lied to me!' [Laughs] It's more like, 'I'm fu--ing ready, man. Where are you? I'm doing everything right.' I might know enough people out there who are working hard and waiting for that sign."

The song features guest vocals by Naya Rivera, who is best known for her portrayal of Santana Lopez on the Fox television series Glee.

Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers - Counterclockwise

Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers - Counterclockwise Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Americano!
Released: 2004

Counterclockwise Lyrics

Counterclockwise

In a November 17, 2005 Boulder Dirt article, Clyne explained that this song was about free thinking and expressing yourself, but is up to the listener to interpret. Said Clyne: "What we have is pieces of art. We assign them some degree of message and humble meaning - at least in our own hearts - and we put it out there to the people. And if they respond, then they pay for it with a dollar bill. And if so, we're lucky; we're not only artists, but we also get to make a living."

"Counterclockwise," says singer/songwriter Roger Clyne in a podcast on DailyCamera.com, "was meant to endorse free thinking. I tried to use images, like lightening my load in some way. For example, 'I bought a pancho and sandals, threw away my shoes' - I'm unclad, and trying to stand on the terra firma of the truth. 'Brought a toothbrush and a razor I probably won't use,' those things are something that we use before we gather ourselves, and prim and proper ourselves up for social interaction. 'Hit the track, turned my back on the headline news' - well, that's a liberating thing. Like, go on some grand adventure and turn your back on whatever huge societal expectations may be levied on you. And then 'I'm on my way to meet to the moon on the bay where she's rising big and full and blue'; the moon is a wonderful symbol of awakening in the night, of glowing in the dark, so to speak. So there, there's my first verse of 'Counterclockwise.' And it was meant to be something that would endorse individuals becoming unbound and unwound, such that they can express themselves freely, and hopefully with dignity, tolerance, and passion that won't advocate a predatory lifestyle. That's what that one's meant to do." (Get more in our Roger Clyne interview. His website is azpeacemakers.com .)

Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story

Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Every Picture Tells A Story
Released: 1971

Every Picture Tells A Story Lyrics

Spent time feelin' inferior standing' in front of my mirror
Combed my hair in a thousand ways, but I came out lookin' just the same
Daddy said, son, you better see the world
I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to leave
But remember one thing, don't lose your head to a woman that'll spend your bread
So I got out

Paris was a place you could hide away, if you felt you didn't fit in
French police wouldn't give me no peace, they claimed I was a nasty person
Down along the left bank, minding my own
Was knocked down by a human stampede
Got arrested for inciting a peaceful riot, when all I wanted was a cup of tea
I was accused

I moved on
Down in rome I wasn't getting enough
Of the things that keep a young man alive
My body stunk, but I kept my funk at a time when I was right out of luck
Getting desperate, indeed I was looking like a tourist attraction
Oh, my dear, I better get out of here for the vatican don't give no sanction
I wasn't ready for that, no, no

I moved right out east, yeah
On the peking ferry I was feeling merry, sailing on my way back here
I fell in love with a slant-eyed lady by the light of an eastern moon
Shanghai lil never used the pill, she claimed that it just ain't natural
She took me up on deck and bit my neck
Oh, people, I was glad I found her
Oh, yeah, I was glad I found here

I firmly believed that I didn't need anyone but me
I sincerely thought I was so complete
Look how wrong you can be
The women I've known I wouldn't let tie my shoe
They wouldn't give you the time of day
But the slant-eyed lady knocked me off my feet
God, I was glad I found her

And if they had the words I could tell to you
To help you on your way down the road
I couldn't quote you no dickens, shelley or keats
'Cause it's all been said before
Make the best out of the bad, just laugh it off
You didn't have to come here anyway, so remember

Every Picture Tells A Story don't it?
Every picture tells a story don't it?
Every picture tells a story don't it?
Every picture tells a story don't it?
Every picture tells a story don't it?
Every picture tells a story don't it?

Writer/s: RONALD DAVID WOOD, STEVE HARLEY
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Every Picture Tells A Story

This song recounts a series of misadventures endured by Stewart's globetrotting protagonist, culminating with his torrid romance with a "slit-eyed lady." (Political correctness has never exactly been Rod Stewart's calling card).

In the May 1995 issue of Mojo, Stewart said of the song: "I can remember the build up. You know what the song's about - your early teenage life when you're leaving home and you're exploring the world for yourself. Ronnie (Wood) and I rehearsed round my house at Muswell Hill and recorded it the next day. That whole album was done in 10 days, two weeks, about as long as it takes to get a drum sound right nowadays."

The song's title doesn't appear in the lyrics until the end... where it is repeated 24 times! ("Every picture tells a story, don't it?")

Ray Foxx - Boom Boom (Heartbeat)

Ray Foxx - Boom Boom (Heartbeat) Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Single Release Only
Released: 2013

Boom Boom (Heartbeat) Lyrics

Another night another day
I'm moving love in every beat that's played
Suddenly I'm out of place
Distracted by an unfamiliar face
You say come on over
Let me take control
Of you and of what we do
Confused I make every word you say
Confused you got a ride inside my head

I've been poisoned by your eyes tonight
My pulse on overload I've gotta try
I can speak or think I want you as mine
You made my heart beat in and out of time

Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom

Surrounding our hand on my face
I like your subtle touch and your slow pace
Sound of you with sound of me
This perfect loss is happening naturally

You say let me hold you
Let me take control
Of you and of what we do
I can feel your energy inside of me
Electricity explodes from out bodies

I've been poisoned by your eyes tonight
My pulse on overload I've gotta try
I can speak or think I want you as mine
You made my heart beat in and out of time

Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom

I've been poisoned by your eyes tonight
My pulse on overload I've gotta try
I can speak or think I want you as mine
You made my heart beat in and out of time
You made my heart beat in and out of time
You made my heart beat in and out of time
I've been poisoned by your eyes tonight
My pulse on overload I've gotta try
I can speak or think I want you as mine
You made my heart beat in and out of time

Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom

You made my heart beat
You made my heart beat
You made my heart beat
You made my heart beat in and out of time
Boom boom boom boom

Writer/s: Rachel K Collier, Ray Foxx
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Boom Boom (Heartbeat)

Ray Foxx is a London-based DJ and producer who had a minor hit in with "La Musica (the Trumpeter)," which peaked at #65 in the UK singles chart in 2011. This song finds him linking up with vocalist Rachel K Collier. The Welsh singer was first noticed when her debut solo single, a cover of Jimmy Cliff's "Hard Road to Travel," peaked at #79 on the UK Singles Chart and was used by QualitySolicitors for their 'For Whatever Life Brings' television advert.

R.E.M. - Final Straw

R.E.M. - Final Straw Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Around The Sun
Released: 2004

Final Straw Lyrics

"As I raise my head to broadcast my objection
As your latest triumph draws the Final Straw
Who died and lifted you up to perfection?
And what silenced me is written into law.

I can't believe where circumstance has thrown me
And I turn my head away
If I look I'm not sure that I could face you.
Not again, not today, not today.

If hatred makes a play on me tomorrow
And forgiveness takes a back seat to revenge
There's a hurt down deep that has not been corrected
There's a voice in me that says you will not win.

And if I ignore the voice inside,
Raise a half glass to my home.
But it's there that I am most afraid,
And forgetting doesn't hold.

It doesn't hold.
Now I don't believe and I never did
That two wrongs make a right.
If the world were filled with the likes of you
Then I'm putting up a fight.
Putting up a fight.
Putting up a fight.
Make it right.
Make it right.

Now love cannot be called into question.
Forgiveness is the only hope I hold.
And love, love will be my strongest weapon.
I do believe that I am not alone.

For this fear will not destroy me.
And the tears that have been shed
It's knowing now where I am weakest
And the voice in my head.
In my head.

Then I raise my voice up higher
And I look you in the eye
And I offer love with one condition.
With conviction, tell me why.
Tell me why.
Tell me why.
Look me in the eye.
Tell me why."

Writer/s: PETER BUCK, MICHAEL MILLS, MICHAEL STIPE
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Final Straw

This song is about peace and deals with the war with Iraq. This album came out around the time of the 2004 US presidential election, when R.E.M. was strongly encouraging voters to choose John Kerry over George Bush. Around The Sun has a lot of songs dealing with politics.

Rufus Wainwright - Greek Song

Rufus Wainwright - Greek Song Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Poses
Released: 2001

Greek Song Lyrics

Greek Song

This is a song about a guy Rufus met in Greece. The story goes that Rufus met him and they talked, but when Rufus tried to make out with him, the Greek got freaked out. "Save your poison for a lover who is on your side" is an example of Rufus telling him, if you're going to talk about loving men, act like it or save your poison for women.

Razorlight - Before I Fall To Pieces

Razorlight - Before I Fall To Pieces Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Razorlight
Released: 2006

Before I Fall To Pieces Lyrics

Oh, one more drink and then I'll go
But there's one more thing I've got to know
Does he take you places that I don't?
And what happened to the story that we wrote?

You just say you don't know, you don't know
Oh no, you don't know, you don't know, woo!

Oh, let's just get this whole thing straight
I don't wanna kidnap the truth and negotiate
Or miss the point that they met you
Just wanna hear you say something that you believe to be true

But you say you don't know, you don't know
You just say you don't know, you don't know
What it feels like, what it feels like

And so I'll go Before I Fall To Pieces
Yes, I'll go before I fall to pieces

Now I'm just waiting for something that might never come
If it's a million to one shot, I'll make sure I'm one
Seems that nothing is safe except the truth turns to lies
Never figured it out, I found out why

So I'll go, yes I'll go
Yes I'll go, yes I'll go
Oh baby I'll go, oh yes I'll go
Yes I'll go, oh yes I'll go

Before I fall to pieces
Before I fall to pieces
Yes I'll go before I fall to pieces
Yes I'll go before I fall to pieces

Writer/s: ANDY BURROWS, JOHNNY BORRELL
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Before I Fall To Pieces

The song's music video features Scorpio (aka Nikki Diamond) from TV's Gladiators and the Australian actor Guy Pearce (L.A. Confidential, Iron Man 3) as the blue superhero. Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell recalled to NME of the latter: "He's such a good actor that he just pulled it off – we got Guy Pearce in the video and nobody recognised him! He's this old Superman and he looks too convincing with his rotten teeth. No one knew it was Guy Pearce."

Roachford - Cuddly Toy (Feel For Me)

Roachford - Cuddly Toy (Feel For Me) Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Roachford
Released: 1989

Cuddly Toy (Feel For Me) Lyrics

I know you've heard so many people say
I've got a different girl in every town
But there must be somebody telling lies
And spreading rumours, spreading rumours all around
Because my only joy, is a cuddly toy
Waiting for me when I get home
And what I need is a girl like you
To call my very own
(chorus)
So you've got to feel for me baby
So you've got to feel for me baby
So you've got to feel for me baby
And give me some love
Well I don't pour out my heart like this, to everyone
And anyone that I meet
And I know it ain't the wine 'cause I feel just fine,
Can't you see baby, I'm still on my feet
(bridge)
A cuddly toy is my only joy
Waiting for me when I get home
And what I need is a girl like you
To call my very own
(repeat chorus, bridge and chorus)

Writer/s: HARRY NILSSON
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Cuddly Toy (Feel For Me)

This was the first hit single released by Roachford, who are a British band fronted by Andrew Roachford. The song was first released in June 1988, with the title of "Cuddly Toy," peaking at #61 on the UK singles chart. It was re-issued nine months later, this time peaking at #4. Released in the US under the title of "Cuddly Toy (Feel for Me)," the tune peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1989.

The film Alan Partridge Alpha Papa starts off with Alan, played by Steve Coogan, miming the song in his car. Coogan explained to NME why they chose this track. "It's one of those songs that's slightly forgotten but still kind of catchy. We don't use bad music for Alan, we just use music that's slightly obscure."

This is an entirely different song to the Monkees 1969 cut, "Cuddly Toy."

Rizzle Kicks - Skip To The Good Bit

Rizzle Kicks - Skip To The Good Bit Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Roaring 20s
Released: 2013

Skip To The Good Bit Lyrics

Yo, yeah
Check the rhyme and rhythm
It’s nice and different
Plus is bright and brilliant

Kinda how I like my women
And that’s the right opinion
Although at night I’m slipping
Win her never, ring her, now she thinks I’m a villian

See, I’m not festive, but I quite like presents
Don’t wanna die, but I quite like heaven
Wanna good place, but I don’t like waiting
Wanna go crazy, but I’m not patient

Wanna be smart, but I don’t like learning
I wanna be rich, but it takes time earning
Wanna be fit, but I don’t like running
Then I see you and I wish I done something

I like your style
Been watching you for a while
I said
Oh yeah
Let’s dance and then
Let’s Skip To The Good Bit. Oh!
Let’s skip to the good bit. Oh!

So, been here two days long
Still not stepped that stone
Still not moving on, on
Now, let us go

I will take control
No more moving slow
In this situation
Hell yeah!

I like your style
Been watching you for a while
I said
Oh yeah
Let’s dance and then

Let’s skip to the good bit. Oh!
Let’s skip to the good bit. Oh!
Let’s skip to the good bit. Oh!

Yeah, we got that real vibe
We don’t know what we’re doing but it feels right
Yeah, listen up, yo
Feeling alive is a good way to kill time.

Check and we’re bubbling up
We came here with nothing but love, we stay easy
Yeah, and if trouble’s a must
You gotta stay till they pack up the club just to please me.

I say,
Let’s skip to the good bit
I say,
Let’s skip to the good bit
I say,
Let’s skip to the good bit
Let’s skip to the good bit. Oh!
Let’s skip to the good bit
Let’s skip to the good bit
Let’s skip to the good bit
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Let’s skip to the good bit

Writer/s: EMILY PHILLIPS, ANTHONY WHITING, JORDAN STEPHENS, HARLEY ALEXANDER-SULE, IAN ALEC HARVEY DENCH, JAMES SAUL ATKIN, JAMES FOLEY, MARK SIMON DECLOEDT, DERRAN GENE BROWNSON
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Skip To The Good Bit

This song borrows the riff from EMF's 1991 hit "Unbelievable." Jordan "Rizzle" Stephens told The Sun: "It's a riff that's always been in both of our heads. We wanted to have one of those songs where you could just step on stage and be ready to go. I'm surprised no one has used that riff before."

The song was used in the launch trailer to promote the eleventh series of the BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing.

The music video finds the Rizzle Kicks duo going back to school. It co-stars the We're The Millers actor Will Poulter and also features Irish TV presenter Laura Whitmore as a party guest.

Stephens explained the song's meaning to Q magazine: "It's about being in a club and wanting to skip the whole dancing and small talk, and just have sex with the girl. To be fair, though, the girl actually says the lines."

Rizzle Kicks - Put Your Two's Up

Rizzle Kicks - Put Your Two's Up Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Roaring 20s
Released: 2013

Put Your Two's Up Lyrics

Put Your Two's Up

This track features The Wire actor Dominic West rapping about attracting people to the dance floor, steadily getting more drunk as the song continues. Jordan "Rizzle" Stephens told The Sun: "Having Dom in the studio was awesome. Not only did we have a proper laugh making the song, we were able to have some drinks, which was a good opportunity to get to know him and ask him a bucketload of questions."

West also appears on another Roaring 20s track, "That's Classic."

The song was co-produced and co-written by Rizzle Kicks' fellow Brighton resident Fatboy Slim (aka Norman Cook). The DJ previously produced their hit single "Mama Do The Hump."

"We're always happy to work with Norman, Stephens' Rizzle Kicks partner, Harley "Sylvester" Alexander-Sule told The Sun. "I think at first he took to us because we were Brighton boys, then I think he was just happy to be in the pop world again."

"It's a while since he put out an album but he has never lost his touch," Sylvester added. "He said, 'Why on earth do you want to work with me?' But growing up in Brighton, he was THE person who put that sound in our heads. His music was always there."

Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers - God Gave Me A Gun

Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers - God Gave Me A Gun Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Americano!
Released: 2004

God Gave Me A Gun Lyrics

God Gave Me A Gun

Clyne: "I was very conflicted. The time that this record was written was in the shadow of a war and then during a war. I know how I feel about war and how a lot of people feel about war, and it was hard to say if it was either just or unjust. As an artist, I had to report. These are tough times to make a call. If anybody wants to say I'm vacillating, they're welcome to, but these are times when black and white often collide and coalesce and right and wrong are not easy to pick apart. I think you can hear a lot of confusion in the record."

At the insistence of his manager, the band recorded and released the song in March 2003 as the United States prepared for war. "I had the song, but I wasn't planning on putting it out," Clyne says. "Our manager, Peter Lubin, said, "If you have any backbone as an artist, you'll put it out now and take a stand with the way you feel. God bless him for making me do that and we did. We recorded it and put it out the day after as a free download on the Web site. We pressed singles for radio, but the climate in America was so volatile and so polarized about the war that no radio station would touch it. It got shunned all the way around." (From Thomas Bond, Get Out, January 16, 2004. Get more in our Roger Clyne interview. His website is azpeacemakers.com .)