Blues Traveler "Run-Around"

BYE FELICIA

"Run-Around" details the feelings Blues Traveler's lead singer John Popper had for the band's original bassist (named Felicia). Popper thought Felicia was somethin' special and had a crush on her, but knew that the two couldn't be anything more than band mates. We all know "Runaround" as the upbeat pop song we've heard on the radio, but Popper wanted the tone and tempo of the song to be much slower and depressing.

Dave Matthews Band - "What Would You Say"

The year 1995 was a pivotal one for the Adult Contemporary format.  While format stalwarts like Gloria Estefan, Elton John, and Bryan Adams still provided plenty of radio-friendly ballads, bands such as Hootie & The Blowfish, Blues Traveler and Dave Matthews Band also entered the musical landscape.  Suddenly, the format faced music decisions that would mean bringing a new sound to the office-friendly Adult Contemporary format.  AC Program Directors rarely added an unfamilar song to their rotation as they tended to play proven and "safe" songs.  A year later, stations grappled over whether or not to add music from Alanis Morissette's edgy Jagged Little Pill album.  Soon stations would branch off into "Bright AC' and "Soft AC" sub-formats causing Bright AC stations to adopt the "no light, sleepy music" positioning statement.  In the case of Dave Matthews Band's "What Would You Say" only managed to chart at #30 on the Adult Contemporary Chart, but the tune helped usher in a more upbeat sound that would soon become commonplace.

Breathe - "Don't Tell Me Lies"

"Don't Tell Me Lies" showed the more upbeat side from British pop group Breathe.  Originally recorded in 1985, the band re-released the ditty in 1989 after finding success with Hands to Heaven and How Can I Fall.

Billy Ocean - "Loverboy"

My "RUN" playlist on my iPhone is for (you guessed it!) running!  This playlist has some cliche songs (such as "Eye of the Tiger"), but it mostly is a collection of songs that I imagine no other human being has ever listened to while running.  One such example is Billy Ocean's "Loverboy"--a gem from 1985 that always kicks my ass up a gear.  I can't explain it nor will I ever try...I just accept it.