Have a line of music stuck in your head but can’t find the artist? Lyric Detective is dedicated to tracking down the songs behind those elusive hooks and half-remembered verses. We go beyond simple search results to identify the tracks you’re looking for, correcting common misconceptions and helping you reconnect with the music that’s been playing on repeat in your mind.
Song: Africa (1982) Artist: Toto Album: Toto IV (Columbia) The lyric “I bless the rains down in Africa” come from the band Toto’s greatest hit song, Africa, released on the album Toto IV in 1982. It is said to be misheard, sometimes, as “I left my brains down in Africa” but it is uncertain whether this particular … Read more
Song: Fame (1975) Artist: David Bowie Album: Young Americans Fame is one of the David Bowie Songs you will hear most often on the radio. Or, as hip music critics say, “it is an FM radio classic,” as if anyone actually listens to AM anymore. Yes, with FM there’s no static at all. You can stop saying … Read more
When you hear the song In a Big Country you might think the band Irish, but Big Country was actually a Scottish group. They rose to great heights at a time when music was dominated by “new wave,” like Duran Duran, The Human League, and Thomas Dolby. They were also contemporary with the pinnacle of the … Read more
Song: I Write Sins Not Tragedies (2005) Artist: Panic! At The Disco Album: A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out (Decaydance Records/ Fueled By Ramen/ADA) I Write Sins Not Tragedies appeared on the first album by Panic! at the Disco. The band is variously described as EMO, electropunk, baroque, or pop-rock. The album was released on September 27, … Read more
Song: We Can Work It Out (1965) Artist: The Beatles Album: Yesterday and Today (Capital) We Can Work It Out was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and appeared on the album Yesterday and Today. The song is just as well known, if not better-known, by Stevie Wonder’s 1970 cover version, from the album Signed, Sealed & Delivered. At the … Read more
It just so happens that I began writing this post a week before I wrote my post on my favorite song from Guardians of the Galaxy. I ended up posting the latter first. Upon writing the latter, I found out that this song was also slated to be in the soundtrack. The song is called Livin’ Thing and it … Read more
Song: Amie [not spelled Amy] (1972) Artist: Pure Prairie League (1972) Album: Bustin’ Out (RCA) Amy, what you wanna do, I think I could stay with you are the main lyrics to the 1972 song, Amie, which is one of those timeless songs that appeal to both rock and country fans. Most of us recognize … Read more