5 MORE songs you've probably forgot about until you read this article

5 More Songs you’ve probably forgot about until you read this article

By: Brian Cotnoir

     Is there any more enjoyable feeling than riding in a car listening to a radio, when all of a sudden they start playing a song that you loved, but haven’t heard or thought about for 10-15 years?  I think not!  It’s amazing how quickly a certain song can bring back so many fond memories of a time not-so-long-ago.  Maybe it was a song you remember hearing for the first time at a school dance or was playing when you had your first kiss, or maybe you just have fond memories of riding in the car with your friends singing these song lyrics as loud as you can, for whatever reason, these songs often get shuffled into the bottom of the CD pile, but are easily remembered when heard for the first time in a long time, and I am here again to count down 5 more songs that you’ve probably forgotten about until now.

1.) Everywhere by Michelle Branch

Somewhere between Liz Phair & Alanis Morissette and Taylor Swift & Adele, there was Michelle Branch.  She was cute girl with an acoustic guitar before that became a genre of music.  In many ways you could consider her to be an Indie Artist, but she was much more than that.  Her debut single “Everywhere” off her album “The Spirit Room” launched her into the mainstream music scene. Michelle Branch had some moderate success in the early 2000’s.  She even won a Grammy in 2003 for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for her performance of “Game of Love” with Rock N Roll Legend Carlos Santana.  However, this was also a time when the most popular female recording artists were Pop stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. And unlike other similar artists—such as Avril Lavigne and Nelly Furtado— who jumped on the Pop Princess bandwagon, Michelle Branch stayed true to herself and unfortunately faded into obscurity.  

"Everywhere' Michelle Branch music video

2.) Back Here by BBMak

It should come as a surprise to no one who reads my music Top 5’s, but I am quite fond of Boy Bands.  I just think they’re really awesome.  I’m not sure if BBMak technically counts as a Boy Band, but for arguments sake, I’m going to say that they are one.  BBMak wasn’t like other Boy Bands at the time; there were only 3 of them instead of the usual 5, and they were British.  Their debut single “Back Here” made swarms of young girl’s hearts melt, and I think this is one of the most underappreciated songs released by a Boy Band.  I’m dead serious when I say this, Boy Bands are so old they’re retro now, and they’re making a comeback on radio, and I think it is solemn duty call our local radio stations and request that they play more BBMak, and hopefully that will lead to a much overdue BBMak reunion tour.  Maybe they can go on tour with 5ive? or Take That?  I’d pay money to see that show.

"Back Here" - BBMak music video

3.) Hero by Chad Kroeger ft. Josey Scott

It seems like each time I do one of these music reviews, I’m a little bit nicer to Chad Kroeger (but somehow get even more cruel to Avril Lavigne, but enough about her), and I think one of his few positive contributions to Popular Music is his song “Hero” which appeared on the “Spiderman” movie soundtrack.  “Spiderman” was released in theaters only a few months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and since the film was set in New York City, this film became a must see for many grieving American’s.  I don’t know whether or not “Hero” was planned to be included on the soundtrack before or after 9/11, but this song became an Anthem for many Americans (myself included).  “Hero” is not only a song for a superhero like Spiderman, but it also echoed true with America’s admiration for its real life superheroes, the members of the NYPD & FDNY. This song was the biggest deal when it was released and it’s ashamed it doesn’t receive as much attention as it deserves.

Chad Kroeger ft. Josey Scott "Hero" music video

4.) C’Mon N’ Ride it (The Train) by Quad City DJ’s

I’m not really a fan or Rap or Hip-Hop, but if I had to pick a favorite subgenre, I’d have to say it’s definitely Miami bass.  Bands like Tag Team, 2 Live Crew, and Quad City DJ’s have produced some of my favorite dance tracks.  Tracks, like “C’mon N’ Ride it (the Train)” by Florida’s Quad City DJ’s is one of those tracks.  This is a pure party song, and I can remember hearing it fondly being played down at my local roller rink, and everyone skating and having a good time.  We need more DJ’s to play this song not only on the radio, but at weddings, high school dances, house parties, and everywhere else.

Quad City DJ's "C'Mon N' Ride It (The Train)" music video

5.) It Happens Every Time (Dream Street) by Dream Street

The final nail in Boy Band Coffin of the late 90’s and early 2000’s has to Dream Street.  They were one of the last boy bands to have success radio stations began to shift away from this kind of music in favor of Rap and Hip-Hop Artists like Eminem, 50-Cent, Ludacris, Outkast, and many others.  Unlike, other boy bands at the time that featured grown men in the early to mid-20’s, Dream Street consisted of actual teenage boys, the most popular and famous of which was Jesse McCartney, who would later become Disney’s early 2000’s version of Zac Efron, before a company like Disney knew what to do with a Zac Efron.  Unlike other Boy Bands who broke up after they became famous, Dream Street broke up just before they became famous, because the parents claimed that the groups producers exposed them to things like booze and pornography. 

"It Happens Every Time"- Dream Street music video

5 Songs you've probably forgot about until you read this article (PART I)