Mother's Day 2024 - Mom's Top 5

By Jessica Klausing

Happy Mother’s Day! Whether you’re a mother, stepmother, fur mom, or a motherly figure in someone’s life - we believe ALL mothers are rockstars that deserve praise! 

In honor of this special occasion, I have asked my mom to share her top five favorite songs. She’s asked me to inform the readers that this list is in no particular order. So, without further ado, here are my mom’s song picks:

The Spinners - “I’ll Be Around

When you think of that classic smooth R&B sound, The Spinners are one of the first iconic acts that comes to mind. “I’ll Be Around” was originally released as the B-side of the single “How Could I Let You Get Away.” However, radio DJs favored “I’ll Be Around,” with the song became an unexpected hit, spending five weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart. It’s one of my mom’s favorites for its gorgeous musical production.

Prince and The Revolution - “Purple Rain”

Prince’s iconic power ballad, “Purple Rain,” ranked number two on the Hot 100 chart in 1984. It was also the title track of the album and the name of the film that Prince starred, loosely based on his life as a young artist trying to make it within the cutthroat music industry. Additionally, it also holds a very special place in my mom’s heart, as it was the first song my parents danced to when they met. 

Sammy Hagar - “I Can’t Drive 55”

My mom and I share a love for classic rock! Van Halen was one of the bands we listened to a lot in my youth. Although I tend to prefer the David Lee Roth songs, my mom is a devoted Sammy Hagar fan. There’s a reason this song made it on VH1’s 100 Greatest Rock Songs list – it’s such a fun, high-energy banger! Warning: Be wary of police cars when joyriding to this song.

Loverboy - “Lovin’ Every Minute Of It”

I’ve asked my mom to tell me her favorite concert of all time. She’s unable to provide me with a number one, but Loverboy is a top choice! “Lovin’ Every Minute Of It” has that quintessential 80’s Hard Rock ‘feel-good, head-banging’ bravado. 

Journey - “Girl Can’t Help It”

If my mom had to pick a favorite rock band, Journey would be it. “Girl Can’t Help It” was released as the third single from their 1986 album, Raised on Radio. This song tends to get overshadowed by the band’s mega-hit, “Don’t Stop Believin,” but music fans can still appreciate Steve Perry’s flawless, powerful vocals.

THROWBACK: M2M - Top 5 Songs

Written by Jessica Klausing

M2M (from left: Marit Larsen and Marion Raven).

M2M defined the bubblegum pop genre in the Y2K era. These young ladies wooed music audiences with their angelic airy vocals and sugary sweet innocent lyrics about teen love and heartbreak. 

The Norwegian pop duo comprised of childhood friends Marion Raven and Marit Larsen. Their debut album, Shades of Purple (2000) sold over 1.5 million units worldwide with the single, “Don’t Say You Love Me,” receiving critical and commercial success. Raven and Larsen wrote the lyrics and played instruments on their songs which set them apart from most pop artists.

Unfortunately, their commercial success and squeaky clean imagery were unable to compete with the likes of pop superstars, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. In 2002 M2M released their second album, The Big Room, which comprised of soft rock ballads and a less pop-oriented sound. Despite topping the Australia and Norway music charts, the second album only sold close to 100,000 units in the US. The duo disbanded the year of its release, with each pursuing a solo career.

Below is a top 5 list of the best M2M songs.

1.        “Don’t Say You Love Me” from Shades of Purple (2000)

“Don’t Say You Love Me” was M2M’s biggest hit in the US. The song first appeared on Radio Disney before its official release in October 1999. It was released on the Pokemon: The First Movie soundtrack and appears in the film’s closing credits. Lyrically, the song tells of a girl wanting to take things slow rather than rush into a relationship with, “We’re sitting there, you start kissing me, what’s that about?” There is a slight lyric difference in the Pokemon version, having changed the ‘kissing’ lyric to, “You said you love me, what’s that about?" for the younger audiences.

2.       “Everything You Do” from Shades of Purple (2000)

“Everything You Do” is an infectious pop earworm.  The pitch perfect harmonies interlaced with the hooks make it such a ridiculously good, catchy tune. With the success of “Don’t Say You Love Me” and “Mirror, Mirror,” this song was an underrated track on Shades of Purple. While the lyrics are simple, sound wise it compares to early Britney Spears and B*Witched.

3.       “Everything” from The Big Room (2001)

“Everything” was the first single for the second and final album, The Big Room. The song is aimed at Zac Hanson, who Marion Raven dated briefly while M2M was on tour with Hanson. According to Raven, once the tour ended he never contacted her, effectively ending the relationship. The Big Room aimed to show off a more mature, less bubblegum pop-oriented cutesy side of M2M. M2M dubbed their new style as “organic pop,” as the album featured all real instruments as opposed to using computerized sounds.

4.       “Mirror, Mirror” from Shades of Purple (2000)

“Mirror, Mirror” was M2M’s second biggest hit in the US. It was the second single off Shades of Purple, reaching 62 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is about sadness following a lost love, and a young girl’s despair after “saying the wrong thing to the right guy.” The song became a hit after airing on Nickelodeon's SNICK House and on an episode of Disney Channel in Concert.

5.       “Wait For Me” from The Day You Went Away: The Best of M2M (2003)

M2M did not disband without leaving a wonderful gift behind for their devastated fans: The Day You Went Away: The Best of M2M. The compilation album features all of their singles from their two studio albums, Shades of Purple and The Big Room, some acoustic versions of the songs, enhanced re-releases, and a few new songs. The real treat was the new song “Wait For Me.” The song itself is vastly different from anything on the previous albums. The guitar intro has a bossa nova feel before taking it into a country territory.