Seether "Broken"

It took about 42 years for my first real broken bone. (Full disclosure: I'm certain I broke my little toe in 2014, but I never sought medical attention.) The incident followed a long weekend wedding in Indiana resulting in me returning to work that Monday in a fog. After a lunchtime trip (literally and figuratively) on the CTA Blue Line, I stumbled while running up an escalator. Somehow, my middle finger broke my fall and took the brunt of the trauma. In what can be termed a "typical male moment", I iced it and treated it for about 10 days using Dr. Google and Dr. Web M.D. before actually making an appointment with my real doctor.

A visit to a specialist resulted in the unfortunate news: a fractured bone. Six weeks of physical therapy ensued complete with four weeks of wearing a splint. It hasn't been fun, but I've received some great care from all my medical providers. Next appointment: August 9th.

Gin Blossums "Found Out About You"

I first remember hearing the Gin Blossums during Spring Break 1994. Their song, "Found Out About You", was all over the radio that week I spent in Florida. Never mind that the song was originally recorded five years prior for the group's debut album Dusted, the Gin Blossums also included it on their second album, New Miserable Experience. The song was the album's fifth single and went on to be a Top 10 hit on the Alternative, Mainstream Hot 100 and Rock Charts.

Night Ranger "Sister Christian"

A group of us boarded a Frontier Airlines flight to Denver to celebrate the waning days of my friend Doug's bachelorhood. Doug wanted to keep his bachelor party simple: instead of the usual bachelor party antics, he wanted to see the band Wilco during Labor Day weekend in 2007 (hence why we landed in Denver). Aside from seeing Wilco, the hotel staff suggested we check out Denver's annual Taste of Colorado festival which was happening just across the street. We happily obliged and spent the majority of our day sampling the Taste.

As morning turned to afternoon, the '80s rock group Night Ranger took the stage at Taste of Colorado and performed...much to the delight of my group. By the fourth song that we did not know, our group (which was slightly to mildly inebriated) grew restless and demanded Night Ranger sing their signature tune, "Sister Christian". We decided if they didn't play it, we would leave. Of course, the band didn't budge from their set list for five drunken rubes from Chicago, so we decided to escape the sunshine and heat of the September day and wound up at a nearby art museum (yes, I know...what kind of bachelor party includes a Night Ranger concert AND an art museum in the same day?!?). Once inside the air conditioned museum, our group quickly sobered up. At one point, I walked past one of Doug's friends (who I didn't know prior to this trip). He stood in front of some topless medieval art exhibit and said, I expected to see boobs on this bachelor party, but not these kind of boobs." The two of us immediately bonded.

Survivor "I Can't Hold Back"

"I can feel you tremble when we touch."

Billy Joel "A Matter of Trust"

"A Matter of Trust" is the Billy Joel song that opens with Billy singing "1-2-uh-1-2-3-4". The song is also notable as it features Joel on the electric guitar as compared to playing the piano (he is the Piano Man, after all). Not only did the song chart on the Adult Contemporary and Top 40 Charts in 1986, but also on the Rock Chart (peaking at #14). By my tally, that's one, two, uh, one, two, three charts.

Steely Dan "Hey Nineteen"

Benny Mardones sings longingly about a 16 year-old girl in "Into the Night" which begs the question: how old is Benny in the song? Hopefully he's just 17 or 18. The same question comes to mind in Steely Dan's 1980 hit "Hey Nineteen". The song speaks of his disappointment in a nineteen year-old love interest, buuuut we don't know how old the singer is...

Bruce Springsteen "Human Touch"

Bruce Springsteen found himself on rock, pop and Adult Contemporary radio in 1992 thanks to "Human Touch". The song is proof that American Idol judge Randy Jackson is famous for something other than calling contestants "dawg". Jackson plays bass guitar on the tune.

Eddie Rabbitt "Drivin' My Life Away"

People who tend to say they "like all music except for country" -- well, those folks should give Eddie Rabbitt's "Drivin' My Life Away" a listen. The catchy 1980 tune helped Rabbitt crossover from Country to Mainstream music. This move set him up for follow-up soft rock hits "I Love A Rainy Night" and the duet "You & I".

Tom Petty "Learning to Fly"

"The good ol' days may not return."

Dave Matthews Band "Crash into Me"

"Hike up your skirt a little more..."

Splender "I Think God Can Explain"

From the files of "Oh, Yeah...I Remember That Song" comes Splender with their summer 2000 hit "I Think God Can Explain".  After winning a Battle of the Bands competition, Spender went on to release two albums and score a trio of hits before breaking up in 2004.

R.E.M. "Man on the Moon"

If you believe they put a man on the moon, you'll likely question why Wikipedia classifies R.E.M.'s "Man on the Moon" as a country rock song.  The audio tribute to Andy Kaufman spent time on Top 40 as well as Rock and Alternative radio stations in the 90s, but I don't think any country radio stations touched it.

Tasmine Archer "Sleeping Satellite"

I'm sure you remember the song "Sleeping Satellite" from British singer Tasmine Archer, right?  No?  Really?  Well, I don't remember it either yet the song found a home on Top 40, Rock, and Adult Contemporary radio stations when it was released in 1992.

Simple Minds - "All The Things She Said"

The B-side to Simple Minds' "All The Things She Said" contained a live version of their signature tune "(Don't You) Forget About Me".

FireHouse - "I Live My Life for You"

FireHouse established themselves with the monster ballad "Love of a Lifetime" in 1991.  That song wasn't their only foray onto the Adult Contemporary Chart.  It happened again in 1995 when "I Live My Life for You" charted.

Christine McVie - "Got A Hold on Me"

Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie got some help from Steve Winwood (keyboards) and Lindsey Buckingham (guitar) for her solo effort "Got A Hold on Me".  The song managed to top both the Adult Contemporary Chart and Rock Chart in 1984.

Bon Jovi - "This Ain't A Love Song"

Q: What ain't a love song?
A: This.

Mr. Big - "To Be With You"

Girl constantly tells a boy about her failed relationships.  This boy develops a crush on said girl.  Boy convinces himself that girl would never date him.  Boy decides to stay quiet and writes a song about his feelings.  Ladies and gentlemen, the story behind Mr. Big's "To Be With You".

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "Mary Jane's Last Dance"

Bruce Hornsby had The Range, Huey Lewis had The News, and Tom Petty had The Heartbreakers.  Petty and company struck gold with "Mary Jane's Last Dance" in 1994 (the tune was actually released on Christmas Day 1993).  Not only would it be one of his staple tunes during live performances, but every Tom, Dick & Harry with a guitar learned to play the chords from the song in an attempt to woo the ladies.

Bruce Springsteen - "Cover Me"

Bruce Springsteen wrote "Cover Me" for Donna Summer, but ultimately decided to keep the song for himself.