30 Songs Behind The Taylor Swift Phenomenom. Continues: tomorrow.  

Caffè Lattè looks back on:

30 KEY SONGS BEHIND THE

TAYLOR SWIFT

PHENOMENOM

VI
January 2010

TODAY WAS A FAIRYTALE

Taylor Swift missed out on the Best New Artist Grammy Award (losing to Amy Winehouse) in 2007. The following year, she was vindicated, collecting 4 Grammys, including Album Of The Year for ‘Fearless’. Around this time, Swift branched out into movies.

The singer was cast in the hit film ‘Valentine’s Day’ which premiered in 2010. Its soundtrack included “Today Was A Fairytale”. Swift penned the song which peaked at #2 in America. It was also a Top 3 single in Canada and Australia.  

 

 

GRAMMY WTF?  MARVIN GAYE. More: tomorrow.

The Grammy Awards are one of music’s most prestigious trophies. Since the inaugural ceremony in 1959, winners have spanned a vast array of musical styles and winners as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Eminem and Lizzo. There have, however, been some instances where one can’t comprehend the outcomes and omissions. Caffè Lattè looks back on some of the most baffling moments and unsuccessful -yet influential- acts…

GRAMMY WTF?

MARVIN GAYE

The Prince of Motown released a solid collection of R&B staples as a soloist and on duets with the likes of Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell and Diana Ross. Marvin Gaye is acknowledged as one of the most influential soul vocalists. 

“I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, “How Sweet It is (To Be Loved By You)”, “Can I Get A Witness”, “It Takes Two”, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “What’s Going On”, “Let’s Get It On” and “Got To Give It Up”- are just some of the gems released by Marvin Gaye.

Despite delivering such a rich canon, the singer / songwriter inexplicably had to wait until 1982 for his first ever Grammy win. His album 'What's Going On' was a pivotal shift; dealing with social issues on tracks that are still pertinent today: "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)".

Gaye finally triumphed with his timeless hit single “Sexual Healing”. That evening, he collected his only two career Grammy Awards, both in the R&B categories. Such an influential artist should have been honoured years before and deserved more trophies.

 

 

 

<<<THE T⏳ME CAPSULE<<<

5-7-0-5

City Boy

1978

U.K. - #8; U.S.A. - #27

Trivia:

"5-7-0-5" was a hit single for English group City Boy. The song was written by grouo members Lol Mason and Steve Broughton. This was the band's biggest hit. It was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange.

Check out all the songs that have been featured in this daily segment on Spotify, including today’s retro track.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0?si=BYCiWGK3QRim_FaIIkAIdg

spotify:playlist:1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0

MORE RETRO TOMORROW.

 30 Songs Behind The Taylor Swift Phenomenom. Continues: tomorrow.  

Caffè Lattè looks back on:

30 KEY SONGS BEHIND THE

TAYLOR SWIFT

PHENOMENOM

V
April 2009

YOU BELONG WITH ME

“You Belong With Me” was written by Taylor Swift and Liz Rose. The latter’s real name is Elisabeth Wagner. The track was included on Swift’s second studio album ‘Fearless’. This became her first US #1. The project was also her first as co-producer (with Nathan Chapman). The album peaked in the Top 5 in Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

In the US, Swift scored her highest charting single with the third track lifted off ‘Fearless’. “You Belong With Me” peaked at #2. As “Love Story” had also done, this song topped the Country and Adult Contemporary charts in America.

Worldwide, the single was well received, reaching the Top 10 in Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In the UK, the song peaked at #30. Two more singles were lifted off ‘Fearless’: “Fifteen” and the title track. Both made the US Top 40. The latter peaked at #9.

 

 

GRAMMY WTF?  THE ROLLING STONES. More: tomorrow.

The Grammy Awards are one of music’s most prestigious trophies. Since the inaugural ceremony in 1959, winners have spanned a vast array of musical styles and winners as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Eminem and Lizzo. There have, however, been some instances where one can’t comprehend the outcomes and omissions. Caffè Lattè looks back on some of the most baffling moments and unsuccessful -yet influential- acts…

GRAMMY WTF?

THE ROLLING STONES

The Rolling Stones has outlived most of the bands that emerged at around the same time and successfully remained relevant and popular. 

The Rolling Stones formed in 1962. Throughout the 1960s, they were one of the leading acts that thrived during the British Invasion and were often pitted against The Beatles. Unlike the latter, the Stones has survived, releasing a studio album of new tracks in 2023.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have created a body of work that includes among its highlights: “Sympathy For The Devil”, “Wild Horses”, “Angie”, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Paint It, Black”. The band has served a series of genre-defining rock riffs in hits such as “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Brown Sugar”.

In America, no less than nine Stones albums had reached the top by 1981. Furthermore, the group had accumulated eight number one singles in the United States by 1978. One would think that this level of success would have resulted in a bevy of Grammy Awards, but not so.

The Stones have only received 3 trophies from the Academy. Its first nomination did not transpire until 1978 when ‘Some Girls’ was a contender for Album of the Year. The LP lost. In 1994, the group finally received its first career Grammy.

<<<THE T⏳ME CAPSULE<<<

THE ROAD TO HELL (Part II)

Chris Rea

1989

U.K. - #10

 

Trivia:

While stuck in traffic on the M4 motorway in the UK, Chris Rea was inspired to write this song. It became the title track on his 1989 album.

Check out all the songs that have been featured in this daily segment on Spotify, including today’s retro track.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0?si=BYCiWGK3QRim_FaIIkAIdg

spotify:playlist:1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0

MORE RETRO TOMORROW.

30 Songs Behind The Taylor Swift Phenomenom. Continues: tomorrow.  

Caffè Lattè looks back on:

30 KEY SONGS BEHIND THE

TAYLOR SWIFT

PHENOMENOM

IV
September 2008

LOVE STORY

Penned by Taylor, “Love Story” was the single that saw the young singer / songwriter make her mark internationally. She co-produced the song with Nathan Chapman. 

The single became Swift’s first US Top 10., reaching #4 It was her first Top 40 entry in Britain where it peaked at #2. It topped the Australian chart, the first country where she achieved this feat. The song also made the Top 10 in Canada, Europe, Japan and New Zealand.

“Love Story” served as the lead single from Swift’s sophomore studio album. ‘Fearless’was released in November. The single was followed by the song “White Horse” which charted well and preceded her next major US hit, lifted in 2009.

 

GRAMMY WTF?  LED ZEPPELIN. More: tomorrow.

The Grammy Awards are one of music’s most prestigious trophies. Since the inaugural ceremony in 1959, winners have spanned a vast array of musical styles and winners as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Eminem and Lizzo. There have, however, been some instances where one can’t comprehend the outcomes and omissions. Caffè Lattè looks back on some of the most baffling moments and unsuccessful -yet influential- acts…

GRAMMY WTF?

LED ZEPPELIN

Led Zeppelin’s catalogue bears witness to the group’s significant influence on hard rock. Its sound helped usher in heavy metal.

For some reason, the lauded albums by Led Zeppelin found no favour with the Academy. The British band was first nominated in 1970 in the Best New Artist category; losing to the trio Crosby, Stills & Nash. That was it for Led Zep... until 2013! Despite delivering finely crafted albums throughout the 1970s, the group received no nominations.

Finally, in 2013 the oversight was corrected. The band received two new nominations. Album track “Kashmir” (originally from the 1975 album ‘Physical Graffiti’) was up for Best Rock Performance. It lost. Parent album ‘Celebration Day’ was a live recording. This disc finally gave Led Zeppelin its first and only Grammy Award.

 

NEVER WON A GRAMMY AWARD*:

*(excludes life achievement categories)

 

ROXETTE

Like compatriots ABBA before them, Swedish duo Roxette never won a Grammy. On the US chart, Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle achieved four number one singles: “The Look”, “Listen To Your Heart”, “It Must Have Been Love” and “Joyride”. The duo dominated charts around the world with these smash hits and others that reached the Top 10.

How the Academy could have ignored such a successful and innovative act is baffling. Even more bewildering than the lack of any wins, is the incomprehensible fact that Roxette never received a single nomination.

<<<THE T⏳ME CAPSULE<<<

MILKSHAKE

Kelis

2003

U.K. - #2; U.S.A. - #3

Trivia:

"Milkshakle" was written by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo (The Neptunes). The single was also a Top 3 hit in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Check out all the songs that have been featured in this daily segment on Spotify, including today’s retro track.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0?si=BYCiWGK3QRim_FaIIkAIdg

spotify:playlist:1fw40hqEA0Fgh4cq4yoXD0

MORE RETRO TOMORROW.

 Caffé Latté

H🔥TTEST S🔥NGS

this week

1. HONEY

Troye Sivan      2 4

2. LAST ONE ON MY MIND Moto Blanco Remix

Beverly Knight      3 4

3. CAN’T GET ENOUGH

Jennifer Lopez      6 3

4. LOVE TRAIN

Kylie Minogue      7 2

5. I BELONG TO YOU

Autumn’s Child      9 2

6. STILL GOT IT

Troye Sivan      4 10

7. AFTERPARTY

Isak Danielson      -> NEW      

8. IMMORTAL

Lufthaus ftg. Sophie Ellis-Bextor       -> NEW      

9. BLACK FRIDAY

Tom Odell      -> NEW      

10.     AS YOU ARE

Violet Days    1 5

 

 

Hear the Top 10 (plus additional new songs) on the Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3oRYS3HHlrsvIxmVhDRRGb?si=qitqnrk4SDO7HuZT4TQ7uw

spotify:playlist:3oRYS3HHlrsvIxmVhDRRGb