With all the All Star albums of 2007 out of the way, there's just one more piece of year-end business to take care of: my favorite song of the year. Like the top CD of the year, this one didn't require much agonizing. It's a song that puts me in a great mood every time I listen to it, and it has a great message to go with a great sound. That song is "Poor Man's Paradise" by the subdudes.
Before I delve into the song itself, allow me to explain the missing capitalization. You see, I've recently learned that the band refers to itself without those big letters, much like, say, "k.d. lang." I don't know for sure why they do, but it fits in nicely with the down-home, humble way they present their music.
Not surprisingly, the song of the year is that way, too.
"Poor Man's Paradise", which was written by the entire five piece band, quickly got me on it's bandwagon when reviewing the subdudes' outstanding 2007 release Street Symphony. It was actually released as a single ahead of the album earlier in the summer.
Back then when I reviewed Street Symphony, I said this about the song:
"Poor Man's Paradise" is the advance single from the CD and it's a real gem of a song. It's straightforward lyrics are character sketches into people who find refuge in the simple pleasures of life after their lives were torn part by Katrina. You'll be hard pressed to find a more uplifting song derived from that tragedy and it's sure to be a staple in the Subdudes' live rotations for many years to come.
(Tommy) Malone's sweetly soulful lead vocal supplemented by street corner harmonies. And then to top things off, they threw in a show stopping, hand-clapping chant guaranteed to get the crowd stoked:
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
"the band refers to itself without those big letters"
uh, have they seen that cover? I will try and find this song and give it a listen.
2 - Pico
OK, either all caps or no caps. Depending on their mood, I suppose ;&)