Popular Music
I have put this category of my song lists into several parts:
80’s Music: I play so much more of this now compared to when it first came out and am enjoying the recent revival of it and seeing younger audiences now very enthused by it. A lot of music from this era is full of great melody and passion and therefore it goes with my evolved philosophy of music. Plus, it is just plain fun to play these melodies!
1990’s / 2000’s: Following the 1980’s with new ideas was challenging. Those ideas came in various forms, but some of the best melodies are reflected in my song list for this era, which is evolving. I am looking to add many more songs to this part of my playlist in the coming months and years.
Music from the 1960’s 1970’s: All that great music I grew up hearing on the radio comes to fruition on my list here. Lots of great stuff. I believe the 1970s is a much-underappreciated decade of music. It had many styles of rock / pop music and should be recognized as a decade of variety, innovation, and melody.
The Music of ABBA: This music needed its own sub listing because I learned more of this group’s music than any other artist in pop / rock music, and for good reason. I was fascinated with the concept of beautiful melody combined with a rock band, and awesome multi-voice singing. This was the first rock / pop music I started playing. Their music has been one of the major influences on my own music. They composed in many more styles than people realize as the following songs testify to: Does Your Mother Know, Arrival, The Piper, Waterloo, Slippin’ Through My Fingers, Dum Dum Diddle, On and On and On, If It Wasn’t for The Nights.” These songs are extremely melodic and fun, and no two are alike! This is why I play their music!
80S – Pop / Rock
Take On Me – Aha
Don’t Forget About Me – Simple Minds
Hungry Eyes – Eric Carmen
Make Me Lose Control – Eric Carmen
Jump – Van Halen
Call Me – Blondie
Melt With You – Modern English
Kids In America – Kim Wilde
I Want To Know What Love Is – Foreigner
Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
You Give Love A Bad Name – Bon Jovi
Eternal Flame – The Bangles
Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
These Dreams – Heart
Alone – Heart
On The Western Skyline – Bruce Hornsby And The Range
The Way It Is – Bruce Hornsby And The Range
Mandolin Rain – Bruce Hornsby And The Range
Every Little Kiss – Bruce Hornsby And The Range
The River Runs Low Tonight – Bruce Hornsby And The Range
Venus – Banarama
La Isla Bonita – Madonna
Cherish – Madonna
Live To Tell - Madonna
I Just Called To Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder
Believe It Or Not – Joey Scarbury (“Greatest American Hero” Theme)
Self-Control – Laura Brannigan
The Power Of Love – Laura Brannigan
Gloria – Laura Brannigan (“Flashdance” – 1983)
What A Feeling – Irene Cara / G. Moroder (“Flashdance” – 1983)
Maniac – Michael Sembello (“Flashdance” – 1983)
Love Theme From “Flashdance” – G. Moroder
Imagination – Laura Brannigan (“Flashdance” – 1983)
Drive – The Cars
I’ll Be Here Where The Heart Is – Kim Carnes (“Flashdance” – 1983)
Tell Her About It – Billy Joel
Uptown Girl – Billy Joel
Allentown – Billy Joel
If This Is It – Huey Lewis And The News
The Heat Is On – Glen Fry (From “Beverly Hills Cop”)
Axel F Theme – From “Beverly Hills Cop”
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
Separate Ways – Journey
Any Way You Want It – Journey
I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston* And Others
Right Here Waiting – Richard Marx
Break My Stride – Matthew Wilder
Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen
Upside Down – Diana Ross
Arthur’s Theme – Christopher Cross
Let’s Go Crazy – Prince
The Authority Song – John Mellencamp
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go – Wham
Freedom - Wham
Hard To Say I’m Sorry – Peter Cetera / Chicago
You’re The Inspiration – Chicago
Cherish – Kool And The Gang
Nothing’s Going To Stop Us Now – Jefferson Starship
Woman – John Lennon
Down Under – Men At Work
I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight – Cutting Crew
Africa – Toto
Everywhere – Fleetwood Mac
Gypsy – Fleetwood Mac
Steppin’ Out – Joe Jackson
Holding Out For A Hero – Bonnie Tyler
Misunderstanding – Genesis
Invisible Touch – Genesis
It’s My Life – Talk Talk
Man In Motion – From “St. Elmo’s Fire” – John Parr
Love Theme From “St. Elmo’s Fire” – David Foster
Walk Of Life – Dire Straits
Together Forever – Rick Astley
Get Out Of My Dreams, Get Into My Car – Billy Ocean
Summer Of ’69 - Bryan Adams
Got A Hold On Me – Christie Mcvie
Just Like Heaven – The Cure
I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues – Elton John
Every Time You Go Away – Paul Young (“Planes, Trains & Automobiles”)
Power To Believe – Dream Academy (“Planes, Trains & Automobiles”)
Lost In Your Eyes – Modigliani (“Planes, Trains & Automobiles”)
Everybody Wants To Rule The World – Tears For Fears
The Living Years – Mike And The Mechanics
All I Need Is A Miracle – Mike And The Mechanics
Kyrie – Mr. Mister
Invincible – Pat Benatar
Shadows Of The Night – Pat Benatar
Working For The Weekend – Loverboy
Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
1990’s – 2020’s – Pop / Rock
Someone To You – Banners
Shut Up And Dance With Me – Walk The Moon
Bad Day – Daniel Powter
Smile – Uncle Kracker
Hot And Cold – Katy Perry
No More Protecting My Heart – Jamie O’neal
A New Day Has Come – Celine Dion
So What – Pink
Try – Pink
Just Give Me A Reason – Pink
Clocks – Coldplay
Viva La Vida – Coldplay
A Sky Full Of Stars – Coldplay
Speed Of Sound – Coldplay
The Middle – Johnny Eat World
Strong Enough – Jonas Brothers
The Feels – Twice
Lift Me Up – Rihanna
100 Years – Five For Fighting
This Dance – Five For Fighting
It’s Not Easy To Be Me – Five For Fighting (Superman)
In The Shallow – Lady Gaga (“A Star Is Born”)
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams – Green Day
King Of Anything – Sara Bareilles
A Thousand Miles – Vanessa Carlton
Bed Of Roses – Bon Jovi
Fields Of Gold – Sting
Everything I Do – Bryan Adams
The World Ain’t Slowin’ Down – Ellis Paul
My Heart Will Go On (“Titanic”) – Celine Dion / James Horner
Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
Friday, I’m In Love – The Cure
I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys
Larger Than Life – Backstreet Boys
She’s So High – Taj Backman
All The Small Things – Blink 182
Basket Case – Green Day
1960’S / 1970’s - Pop / Rock
Lonely Boy – Andrew Gold
Philadelphia Freedom – Elton John
Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart – Elton John
Laughter In The Rain – Neil Sedaka
I’d Really Like To See You Tonight – England Dan
Right Back Where We Started From – Maxine Nightingale
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
Oh, What A Night – Frankie Valli
You’re So Vain – Carly Simon
The Hustle – Van Mccoy
Sky High – Jigsaw
Let It Be – The Beatles
Hey Jude – The Beatles
Your Song – Elton John
Heart Of Glass – Blondie
My Baby Loves Lovin’ – White Plains
I’ve Got You On My Mind – White Plains
Taffeta Rose – White Plains
Julie, Do You Love Me – White Plains
Piano Man – Billy Joel
My Life – Billy Joel
Just The Way You Are – Billy Joel
Have You Never Been Mellow – Olivia Newton-John
Sam – Olivia Newton- John
Please Mr. Please – Olivia Newton-John
I Got A Name – Jim Croce
Arizona – Mark Lindsay
Bridge Over Troubled Waters – Simon & Garfunkel
My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
Joy To The World – 3 Dog Night
Love Grows Where My Rosemary Grows – Edison Lighthouse
Don’t Pull Your Love Out On Me – Hamilton, Joe, Frank, And Reynolds
Wedding Bell Blues – 5th Dimension
Love Will Keep Us Together – Captain And Tenille
Love’s Theme – Barry White / Love Unlimited Orchestra
You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker
Disco Inferno – Tramp
Theme From “Tommy”
Dance The Night Away – Van Halen
Feels So Good – Chuck Mangione
Thank You For Being A Friend – Andrew Gold (Theme For “Golden Girls”)
All You Get From Love Is A Love Song – The Carpenters
On Top Of The World – The Carpenters
Yesterday Once More – The Carpenters
Time Passages – Al Stewart
How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees
Sometimes When We Touch – Dan Hill
Never Gonna Fall In Love Again – Eric Carmen
All By Myself – Eric Carmen
Doctors’ Orders – Carole Douglas
Nobody Does It Better – Carly Simon/ Marvia Hamlish (From “The Spy Who Love Me”)
Cracklin’ Rose – Neil Diamond
I Am, I Said – Neil Diamond
Song Sung Blue – Neil Diamond
Forever In Blue Jeans – Neil Diamond
Play Me – Neil Diamond
Longfellow Serenade– Neil Diamond
Knock Three Times – Tony Orlando And Dawn
Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
Color My World – Chicago
Mountain Of Love – Johnny Rivers
Tears Of A Clown – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Holly Holy – Neil Diamond
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
Shiloh – Neil Diamond
Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Cupid – Sam Cooke
Sweet Pea – Tommy Roe
I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You – Elvis Presley
My Girl – The Temptations
Lovin’ You – Minnie Riperton
House Of The Rising Sun – The Animals
Heatwave – The Vandellas
Unchained Melody – Alex North / Hy Zoret / Righteous Brothers
Yesterme, Yesteryou, Yesterday – Stevie Wonder
What A Wonderful Life
Bad Moon Risin” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Desperado – The Eagles
Take It Easy – The Eagles
The Music of Abba
Waterloo
Dancing Queen
Move On
Andante, Andante
The Piper
Kisses Of Fire
Chiquitita
I Have A Dream
I’ve Been Waiting For You.
When I Kissed The Teacher
Mamma Mia
Money, Money, Money
On And On And On
Does Your Mother Know
Lay All Your Love On Me
I Wonder
The Name Of The Game
Our Last Summer
Slipping Through My Fingers
Sos
Take A Chance On Me
The Way Old Friends Do
The Winner Takes It All
When All Is Said And Done
Honey, Honey
Arrival
Fernando
Eagle
Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie
Happy New Year
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
Thank You For The Music
Why Did It Have To Be Me
The Tiger
Dum Dum Diddle
Honey, Honey
Another Town, Another Train
Ring, Ring
One Man, One Woman
If It Wasn’t For The Nights
