Phil Collins "We Said Hello...Goodbye"

On September 19, 2014, Growing Up Adult Contemporary joined the blogosphere. Together we've circled the world of Adult Contemporary music and uncovered numerous soft rock gems. Along the way, we've shared some memories of working in radio, of life, love, heartbreak and plenty of Peter Cetera stories. It's been a ride, but it's time to move on. Thank you for your support.

Seals & Crofts "Summer Breeze"

My 5th grade health class came directly from a magazine from Sea Breeze -- a company specializing in facial washes and astringents. In other words, our Catholic school clearly didn't mind our health class being sponsored by corporate America. Our teacher would have us read about how to properly care for our skin but encouraged us to skip over the parts about how Sea Breeze could clear up those pesky zits.

Terri Gibbs "Somebody's Knockin"

Plenty of Country music found its way onto the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1981. Juice Newton, Kenny Rogers, Eddie Rabbitt, Ronnie Milsap, and Rosanne Cash joined Terri Gibbs as successful crossover artists. "Somebody's Knockin" peaked at #3 that year. Later in the '80s, Gibbs turned to Christian music where she found additional success.

Kelly Clarkson "Already Gone"

Remember the great Feud of 2009? Of course you don't, but here's what you forgot didn't care about what happened during August 2009. Just before releasing "Already Gone", Kelly Clarkson wanted to shelve the ballad because she thought it sounded too similar to Beyonce's "Halo". Before joining Clarkson to co-write "Already Gone", Ryan Tedder worked with Beyonce on her I Am...Sasha Fierce album. One quick listen and you'd pick up notable similarities in "Halo" and "Already Gone": hand claps, mellow piano, and the drum rhythm. Clarkson didn't want to be accused of ripping off Miss Sasha Fierce and wanted to ditch the single. Her record company released it anyway and she blasted them and even ripped Tedder (who defended himself on Myspace -- remember that?). In the end, "Already Gone" went to #13 on the Hot 100 (#3 on Adult Contemporary) and finished #1 and #5 on the Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40, respectfully. Tedder, you may recall, also went on to fame with One Republic. I think everything worked out just fine.

Soraya "Suddenly"

The Columbian-Jersey girl named Soraya released "Suddenly" from her debut bilingual En Esta Noche / On Nights Like This album. Four years later, the 31 year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer. After fighting back and entering remission, Soraya became a breast cancer support advocate while maintaining her music career. By 2006, her cancer returned and ultimately took her life. Her departing words were:

"I know there are many questions without answers and that hope doesn't leave with me, and above all, that my mission does not end with my physical story."  

Smokey Robinson "Everything You Touch"

An out-of-work radio pal of mine just finished checking his voicemail, shook his head and told me he was sure someone was pranking him. "How so?" I asked.

"I got a message from some guy named Smokey Rivers," he explained.

"Smokey Rivers?" I asked?

"Yep," my friend said. "A guy told me a Program Director friend of his was looking for a new morning guy and that he'd be contacting me. There's no way his name is Smokey Rivers."

Having seen the name in the trades, I assured him Smokey Rivers was real.

The two eventually connected on the phone but Smokey didn't hire my friend. To this date, he still thinks he was punked.

Modern English "I Melt With You"

What the heck happened to The Dove? Since my last visit in March, the soft rock radio station that always sounds locked in a closet dated "1990" has clearly done a music test. Radio stations often "test" hooks of songs and then develop their playlist based on the results. While not an exact science, the methodology continues at most radio stations today.

Clearly The Dove's music test included some participants who were former Disco Queens as I heard more than my requisite fill of Donna Summer, KC & the Sunshine Band and Bee Gees during my stay in Bradenton Beach. Heck, The Dove even added some upbeat '80s tunes like "I Melt With You" from Modern English. All that aside, no part of me is upset that I missed "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" which seemed to play daily last March.

Sting "My Funny Friend and Me"

Disney's The Emperor's New Groove didn't exactly light up the box office, but it did make them plenty of cash. Its soundtrack also produced the Sting ballad "My Funny Friend and Me". Much like the movie itself, the song wasn't a huge hit (reaching #24 on the Adult Contemporary Chart).

Celine Dion "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"

Canadian music radio stations have to play at least 35% of Canadian-born artists between the hours of 6am and 6pm. It's true. It might also explain why certain Canadian crooners released songs that might be considered "deep cuts". In the case of Celine Dion, I'd include her 1995 take on Aretha Franklin's "A Natural Woman". Even though the song never matched the success of the the many predecessors who've belted out the R&B standard, Celine was merely warming up for 1997 when the Titanic Soundtrack would make her a household name -- plus it gave Canadian radio stations another song to hit their 35% quota.

Stevie Wonder "That Girl"

A Greatest Hits album isn't complete without a couple new tracks, right? In the case of Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I, the 11 greatest hits came with four newcomers including "That Girl".

Jeffrey Osborne "Stay With Me Tonight"

Clapping made its way into a handful of popular '80s songs. Think: "Centerfield" from John Fogarty and  "Private Eyes" from Hall & Oates. Let's not forget about Jeffrey Osborne's steamy "Stay With Me Tonight". Aside from the fireworks between the sheets, there's multiple opportunities for a double hand-clap before the refrain in his 1983 R&B/pop hit.

Jessica Simpson "Take My Breath Away"

You've finally seen it. Last week, the movie trailer for Top Gun: Maverick debuted even though the movie isn't scheduled to hit theaters until 2020. While the trailor featured some of the familiar faces and sounds as the original, it did not contain Kenny Loggins' "Highway to the Danger Zone" or Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" -- both songs were prominent in the original 1986 film. Did you forget Jessica Simpson also covered the ballad? She did so as an ode to her then-husband Nick Lachey in 2004.

Matt Nathanson "Come on Get Higher"

Author of one of my favorite inappropriate jokes, Matt Nathanson established himself as a musical fixture at grocery stores and Walgreens with his 2008 ballad "Come on Get Higher". The catchy song found itself a hit on Adult Contemporary, Top 40 and even Alternative radio.

(the joke, btw, is "what's the difference between jam and jelly? I can't jelly my c0ck up your @ss!")

Lifehouse "You and Me"

We already covered American Idol's influence on Adult Contemporary music and to further illustrate that point, let's take a look at the AC Top 20 this week in 2006. Three of the Top 20 songs came from Idol alum (Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Hicks and Bo Bice). Coincidentally, Daniel Powter's "Bad Day" topped the chart and, while he wasn't an Idol contestant, the show used the song to play off the week's losing contestant. Another ballad, "You and Me" from Lifehouse, also remained in the Top 5 despite having been released a year earlier.

Dave Grusin "Theme from St. Elsewhere"

Imagine picking up the telephone and dialing your favorite soft rock radio station to place a request for the "Theme from St. Elsewhere". This likely happened in 1984 when the NBC medical drama's theme song turned up on the Adult Contemporary Chart. The instrumental was composed by 10-time Grammy Award Winner Dave Grusin.

Neil Diamond "Be Mine Tonight"

On this date in 1982, the Adult Contemporary Chart featured Ronnie Milsap sitting in the #1 spot with "Any Day Now". The song sat atop the AC Chart for three weeks, but right on Milsap's tail was the ageless Neil Diamond with "Be Mine Tonight". My how music has changed!

Toni Braxton "How Could An Angel Break My Heart?"

The dynamic duo of Kenny G and Babyface made appearances in two hit songs from 1997: Toni Braxton's somber "How Could An Angel Break My Heart?" featured Kenny's saxophone and Babyface's soothing voice while and Babyface's "Every Time I Close My Eyes" also included the saxy sounds of Kenny G (accompanied by Mariah Carey).

Madonna "Holiday"

My friend's parents stocked up on canned peaches in fear of the year 2000. Y2K scared many folks into believing the world would end because our computer systems were ill-prepared to handle the transition from a year beginning with "19" to the year 2000. While working at soft rock Windy 100 in Chicago on New Year's Day 2000, I arrived nearly two hours early and nervously stared at the computer as the clock flipped from 1999 to 2000 with Madonna's "Holiday" playing. Somewhere in my basement, I still have the memo from my boss detailing what to do in case Armageddon happened.

New Kids on the Block "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind)"

The New Kids did indeed cover The Delfonics' "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)". NKOTB originally recorded the soulful ballad in 1986, but their record company re-released it in 1989 when the boy band ruled radio, Tiger Beat Magazine and the hearts of every young American girl...

Ricky Martin "Livin' La Vida Loca"

Credited with sparking the "Latin Explosion", Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca" even pushed its way onto Adult Contemporary radio stations -- which was quite the crazy feat considering soft rock radio stations rarely embraced uptempo songs at the time. Martin's brassy and sweaty dance song peaked at #18 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.