By Adam Waldman
Feel Good Friday is an ongoing feature on Hard Rock Daddy. We will be continue to add new songs to the “FEEL GOOD ROCK SONGS” playlist (see YouTube link below). You can go directly to the YouTube video for each song by clicking on link before the write-up.
JEFFERSON STARSHIP – “Jane” (1979)
My introduction to Jefferson Starship dates back to 1981 when “Find Your Way Back” was featured on MTV. I was instantly drawn to the incredible vocals of Mickey Thomas and the melodic sound of the band. It wasn’t until a few years later than I discovered “Jane” (off of the band’s 1979 release Freedom At Point Zero). Like “Find Your Way Back,” “Jane” blew me away the first time I heard it.
I can feel my mood lifting from the moment that I hear the distinct keyboard intro, which leads into power chords before Thomas’ soaring vocals kick in. This song has the perfect mixture of keyboards, a tight power chord driven rhythm, melodic vocals and bold, bright guitar leads. They don’t write songs like this feel-good gem anymore. Nearly four decades after its release, “Jane” remains one of the songs that I crank up every single time that it comes on the radio.
FIREHOUSE – “All She Wrote” (1990)
Firehouse’s self-titled debut album takes me back in time to the early days of my relationship with my wife. I still remember making a mixtape (remember those?) that featured the power ballad “Love Of A Lifetime.” The band’s entire debut album is one big feel-good moment, but some songs stand out more than others.
Although “Love Of A Lifetime” and “Don’t Treat Me Bad” were the songs that resonated most at the time, in recent years, “All She Wrote” has become my favorite track off of the album for nostalgic reasons, (but not one that you would expect).
This Bon Jovi-esque melodic, arena rock anthem lifts my spirits every time I hear it (even though it’s about a breakup). I guess even the bad times were more upbeat back in the day.
My daughter (who I used to lovingly refer to as “Little One”) is growing up much faster than I’d like to believe. She has her own taste in music now, no longer succumbing to the influence of her Hard Rock Daddy. Still, it wasn’t so long ago that she would sing this song in the back seat of the car. Even though Firehouse’s debut album takes me back in time, my nostalgia for the song is fairly recent. Regardless of the reason, it is one of my favorite feel-good songs of all-time.
Interested in sharing your favorite feel good songs to help build this playlist?
Go to the Hard Rock Daddy Facebook page and send us a message letting us know which songs you would like to write about.
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