03/26/2007
Mix Disc Monday Home / Music Home / Bullz-Eye Home
Songs that were written on a piano are just different than those written on a guitar. And in some instances, artists that are piano playing songwriters have a different feel to their music and get their message across in a unique way. By reading a TakeLessons Review, you can find a local instructor in your area to help you play these songs. The following list showcases some of the great piano songs that you may or may not know.
"Will It Go Round in Circles," Billy Preston
(Music Is My Life)
Sadly, Billy recently
passed away, but in his heyday he wrote some of the catchiest
R&B-flavored
music on the pop charts. This song might prompt
guys to get up and move, even those guys who usually
sit at weddings while their wives cut up the dance
floor with other wives.
"Jainy," Five for Fighting (America
Town)
Five for Fighting is the band name for John Ondrasik,
and you would likely expect loud, boisterous music
from someone who names their band after a hockey
term. But FFF’s music is more melodic and introspective
than anything, and this is a beautiful ballad about,
of all things, a hooker.
"Raining in Baltimore," Counting Crows
(August and Everything After)
Some songs evoke moods, and some actually do so
to the point that you feel like you’re actually
IN the song. This one does that, because when Adam
Duritz sings you can feel the rain coming down
outside your window, whether you’re in Baltimore
or in Southern California.
"I Don’t Like Mondays," The Boomtown Rats
(The Fine Art of Surfacing)
This
is a terribly sad song that is the true story
about a 13-year-old girl who shot 11 people. Everyone
knows Bob Geldof as a pioneer who put together
festivals such as Live Aid, but nobody talks about
what a powerful songwriter he is.
"Saturday in the Park," Chicago (Chicago
V)
When you think Chicago, you think horns. But this
upbeat, ridiculously melodic song begins with one
of the most memorable piano hooks in history.
"Tiny Dancer," Elton John (Madman
Across the Water)
When I hear this timeless classic, I think of
Kate Hudson in "Almost Famous." Don’t you?
"Rescued," Jack’s Mannequin (Everything
in Transit)
Andrew McMahon is another piano playing singer/songwriter
that uses a band name as a moniker. He is also
the front man for rock act Something Corporate,
but McMahon really shines on his solo stuff.
"Vienna," The Fray (How to Save a
Life)
A lot of you are so sick of this band’s breakout
single, "Over My Head (Cable Car)." But their major
label debut is as deep as Barry Zito’s pockets
and this stunning song is proof.
"Still," Macy Gray (On How Life Is)
Macy has a distinctively raspy voice, and this
hit from her major label debut still stands out
as one of her best.
"Last Night’s Dream," The Push Stars (Opening
Time)
Chris Trapper is not known as a piano man, but
this song will make you wonder why he doesn’t make
more use of the instrument.
"Trouble," Coldplay (Parachutes)
"Yellow" was Coldplay’s first breakout single,
but this track is so utterly sad and moving at
the same time.
"Still Fighting It," Ben Folds (Rockin’
the Suburbs)
Leaving Ben off this list would be like leaving
Pamela Anderson off a list of big breasted blondes.
"The Pretender," Jackson Browne (The
Pretender)
The title track to Browne’s classic 1976 album
could be the theme song to a generation’s working
class. I mean, who doesn’t long for love and struggle
for legal tender?
"Surrounded," Chantal Kreviazuk (Under
These Rocks and Stones)
This is for all you Gen-X’ers, or Gen Y’ers, or
whatever that generation is that loves the ‘90s.
Seriously, though, Chantal is a Canadian cutie
that was one of the more underrated Lilith Fair
types.
"Crying Like a Church on Monday," The
New Radicals (Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed
Too)
This is one of the greatest pop albums of the
last ten years, and if you are only familiar with
the Radical’s big hit, "You Get What You Give,"
do yourself a favor and find this album. This track
is a perfect closing number on the record and for
this mix.