Song Spotlights

Mood: Romantic Themes: Country Music, Songwriters Tempo: Slow, Ballad-style Genre/Style: Country, R&B, Soul One great thing about love songs is that they can be relevant at any time of the year. They can support the feelings of new love or long lasting love, and they can express the challenges that can happen while experiencing love.…

Mood: Optimistic Themes: Advice, Motown Tempo: Upbeat Genre/Style: Soul/R&B The Supremes formed as a group in 1959, with the original name of The Primettes. They were one of the most commercially successful Motown groups and were America’s most successful vocal group, with a total of twelve number one singles. They reached the peak of their…

“Penny Lane” is an iconic song by The Beatles about a real place, known by the band members who grew up in Liverpool. Paul McCartney wrote a majority of this song, setting it around an area that he lived in when he was growing up. McCartney noted that his writing was primarily around shared experiences…

Mood: Light hearted Themes: Jazz, Movie Themes Tempo: Moderate  Genre/Style: Jazz, Soul, Funk Television and film soundtracks are incredibly important to set the mood of the finished product, and in some cases, they can become a key part of pop culture. “Soul Bossa Nova” is a song that was written and produced by Quincy Jones…

Mood: Self Assured, Reflective  Themes: Relationships, Days of the Week Tempo: Moderate   Genre/Style: Soul, R&B, Pop “Easy” is a song that was written by Lionel Richie during his time as the lead singer for the group Commodores. It captures the sound of “going with the flow” and being assured that one has made the right…

Mood: Determined Themes: Songs about the railroad, folk songs Tempo: Moderate with an accelerando through the song Genre/Style: Traditional circa 1870 Folk songs have traditionally been passed down from generation to generation through singing. Only more recently have collectors recorded and written down these songs. They often feature melodies that can easily be sung along…

Mood: Sentimental, Nostalgic, Reflective  Themes: Friendship, Country, Companionship Tempo: Moderate   Genre/Style: Country, Country Ballad  “You Can’t Make Old Friends” is a touching duet by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton released as part of Kenny Rogers’s 2013 album of the same name. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton are two country musicians who shared a lasting friendship…

Mood: Comforting, Supportive Themes: Friends, Friendships, Emotions  Tempo: Slow & Relaxed Genre/Style: Folk-rock, Soft Rock “You’ve Got A Friend” is a song written by Carole King for her 1971 album Tapestry.  The song’s comforting melody and heartfelt lyrics have made it an enduring anthem of friendship and support. In a world filled with uncertainties and…

Mood: Lively, Lighthearted  Themes: South African folk, Song about bugs and insects Tempo: Upbeat  Genre/Style: Folk, South African folk-pop  “Qongqothwane” is a South African folk song, specifically a song of the Xhosa people. This song is often known as “The Click Song” in the western world as its Xhosa title with click consonants is difficult…

Mood: Optimistic, Lighthearted  Themes: Jamaican folk  Tempo: Upbeat  Genre/Style: Folk, Calypso In 1956, Jamaican-American singer Harry Belafonte released his single “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” that became one of his signature songs.  The Banana Boat Song is a Jamaican folk song that likely originated around the beginning of the 20th century. The song was sung…