Cliff Wade's avatar
Cliff Wade

Proud Husband. Cat Dad. Tech Enthusiast. Player of Video Games. Writer of Words. Listener of Music. Reader of News. Picture Taker. I've been playing video games since the early 70's and haven't run out of lives yet!

First 100
60 Tracks
My tracks...

July 10, 2025

Mandolin Rain artwork
Mandolin Rain
Bruce Hornsby & The Range
Open in Apple Music ↗ Listen elsewhere ↗

What's your favorite song to listen to in the rain?

While not necessarily a song I love to listen to when it's raining, it's a song that quickly comes to mind when I think about it raining. Mandolin Rain by Bruce Hornsby & The Range. Such an amazing, underrated band and such an amazing song.

[Verse 1]
The song came and went
Like the times that we spent
Hiding out from the rain under the carnival tent
I laughed and she'd smile
It would last for awhile
You don't know what you've got till you lose it all again

[Chorus]
Listen to the mandolin rain
Listen to the music on the lake
Ah, listen to my heart break every time she runs away
Oh, listen to the banjo wind
A sad song drifting low
Listen to the tears roll
Down my face as she turns to go

[Verse 2]
A cool evening dance
Listenin' to the bluegrass band takes the chill
From the air, until they play the last song
I'll do my time
Oh, keeping you off my mind, but there's moments
That I find, I'm not feelin' so strong

#CrucialTracks #Music #BruceHornsbyAndTheRange #MandolinRain #80sMusic #Rain #SongsAboutRain

July 9, 2025

Seventeen artwork
Seventeen
Winger
Open in Apple Music ↗ Listen elsewhere ↗

Share a song that captures the feeling of being seventeen.

Today's prompt is an easy one. We're just going to go with the song Seventeen by Winger. Pretty appropriate since I was indeed 17 when the song was first released. Just one of those great rock songs from the hairband generation that I love to listen to.

[Verse 1]
Yeah, I saw sparks fly from the corner of my eye
And when I turned, ooh, it was love at first sight
I said, "Please excuse me, I didn't catch your name
Oh, it'd be a shame not to see you again"

[Pre-Chorus]
And just when I thought she was comin' to my door
She whispered sweet, and brought me to the floor

[Chorus]
She said, "I'm only seventeen (Seventeen)
I'll show you love like you've never seen" (Oh!)
She's only seventeen (Seventeen)
Daddy says she's too young
But she's old enough for me

#CrucialTracks #Music #Winger #Seventeen #HairBands #80sMusic

July 8, 2025

Wind of Change artwork
Wind of Change
Scorpions
Open in Apple Music ↗ Listen elsewhere ↗

I've not posted here in a couple of days now, so it's time to change that. The song that just came on my playlist that I have always enjoyed is Wind Of Change by the Scorpions. Just one of those songs that had a lot of meaning about world events back in the 80's and is just an overall great tune.

[Intro]
(Whistling)

[Verse 1]
I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
An August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the wind of change
(Whistling)

[Verse 2]
The world is closing in
And did you ever think
That we could be so close, like brothers?
The future's in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change

[Chorus]
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away (Dream away)
In the wind of change
Mmm

#CrucialTracks #Music #Scorpions #WindsOfChange #80sMusic #WorldEvents

July 6, 2025

Christmas In Hollis artwork
Christmas In Hollis
Run-DMC
Open in Apple Music ↗ Listen elsewhere ↗

What's a song you associate with your favorite holiday?

Since I missed doing a post on July 6th, I'm trying to catch up a bit. While I don't really have a favorite holiday, my favorite holiday song is hands down Christmas In Hollis by Run DMC. This just a goofy, silly song, with an even goofier, sillier video to go with it.

[Verse 1: Run]
It was December 24th on Hollis Ave after dark
When I seen a man chilling with his dog in the park
I approached him very slowly with my heart full of fear
Looked at his dog, oh my God, an ill reindeer
But then I was illin' 'cause the man had a beard
And a bag full of goodies, 12 o'clock had neared
So I turned my head a second and the man was gone
But he must've dropped his wallet smack dead on the lawn
I picked the wallet up, but then I took a pause
Took out the license and it cold said, "Santa Claus"
A million dollars in it, cold hundreds of G's
Enough to buy a boat and matching car with ease
But I'd never steal from Santa 'cause that ain't right
So I was going home to mail it back to him that night
But when I got home, I bugged 'cause under the tree
Was a letter from Santa and the dough was for me

[Verse 2: D.M.C.]
It's Christmastime in Hollis, Queens
Mom's cookin' chicken and collard greens
Rice and stuffing, macaroni and cheese
And Santa put gifts under Christmas trees
Decorate the house with lights at night
Snow's on the ground, snow white so bright
In the fireplace is the yule log
Beneath the mistletoe as we drink eggnog
The rhymes that you hear are the rhymes of Darryl's
But each and every year, we bust Christmas carols

#CrucialTracks #Music #RunDMC #ChristmasInHollis #HolidaySongs

Crucial Connections

Others listening to this artist

July 5, 2025

Crazy Train artwork
Crazy Train
Ozzy Osbourne
Open in Apple Music ↗ Listen elsewhere ↗

I'm still a day behind, so the song I'm posting for July 5th is in honor of Ozzy and Black Sabbath doing their Back to the Beginning show, their final show ever. The song I've chosen is Crazy Train by Ozzy, as it's one of my favorites by him and such a great tribute to Randy Rhoads, who we lost way too early.

[Intro]
All aboard, hahahahahaha
Ayy

[Verse 1]
Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe it's not too late
To learn how to love and forget how to hate

[Pre-Chorus]
Mental wounds not healing
Life's a bitter shame

[Chorus]
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
(Let's go)

[Verse 2]
I've listened to preachers, I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts, who make their own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media sells it and you live the role

#CrucialTracks #Music #OzzyOsbourne #Ozzy #CrazyTrain #BlackSabbath #RandyRhoads #RockAndRoll #Rock

Crucial Connections

Others writing about this song

July 4, 2025

God Bless The U.S.A. artwork
God Bless The U.S.A.
Lee Greenwood
Open in Apple Music ↗ Listen elsewhere ↗

I was super busy yesterday so I missed posting this song. God Bless The USA by Lee Greenwood. Very patriotic song as we all know, but I feel with everything going on in this country today, most of us simply aren't happy with our country like we were at one point. Regardless, still a song that I enjoy hearing and maybe at some point in the future it'll be a song we'll be proud to play again.

[Verse 1]
If tomorrow all the things were gone
I'd worked for all my life
And I had to start again
With just my children and my wife
I'd thank my lucky stars
To be living here today
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
And they can't take that away

[Chorus]
And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up
Next to you and defend her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA

[Verse 2]
From the lakes of Minnesota
To the hills of Tennessee
Across the plains of Texas
From sea to shining sea
From Detroit down to Houston,
And New York to L.A
Well there's pride in every American heart
And its time we stand and say

#CrucialTracks #Music #LeeGreenwood #GobBlessTheUSA #CountryMusic

July 3, 2025

Bad Medicine artwork
Bad Medicine
Bon Jovi
Open in Apple Music ↗ Listen elsewhere ↗

What's your favorite song to listen to while doing chores?

I wouldn't say I have a favorite song to listen strictly while doing chores, but I love songs that are very upbeat and really make feel like doing things. The one that comes to mind right at first is Bad Medicine by Bon Jovi. This is a song that just gets me moving and grooving as they say. Throws me back to the long hair 80's days and makes me jam!

[Chorus]
Your love is like bad medicine
Bad medicine is what I need
Woah-oh-oh, shake it up, just like bad medicine
There ain't no doctor that can cure my disease
(Bad medicine)

[Verse 1]
I ain't got a fever, got a permanent disease
And it'll take more than a doctor to prescribe a remedy
I got lots of money, but it isn't what I need
Gonna take more than a shot to get this poison out of me
And I got all the symptoms, count 'em, one, two, three

[Pre-Chorus]
First, you need (That's what you get for fallin' in love)
Then you bleed (You get a little, and it's never enough)
And when you're on your knees (That's what you get for fallin' in love)
Now this boy's addicted 'cause your kiss is the drug

[Chorus]
Woah-oh-oh, your love is like bad medicine
Bad medicine is what I need
Woah-oh-oh, shake it up, just like bad medicine
There ain't no doctor that can cure my disease

#CrucialTracks #Music #BonJovi #BadMedicine #80sMusic #HairBands

July 2, 2025

The Reflex artwork
The Reflex
Duran Duran
Open in Apple Music ↗ Listen elsewhere ↗

Share a song that sounds like your favorite childhood memory.

I wouldn't this song sounds like my favorite childhood memory, but it's a song that brings back memories of my childhood in various ways. The Reflex by Duran Duran is a song I remember listening to a lot when I was always down at my best friends house swimming in his pool.

[Verse 1]
You've gone too far this time
But I'm dancing on the Valentine
I tell you somebody's fooling around
With my chances on the danger line

I'll cross that bridge when I find it
Another day to make my stand, oh woah
High time is no time for deciding
If I should find a helping hand, oh woah

[Refrain]
Oh, why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time, don't lose it
Oh, why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time, don't lose it

[Chorus]
The reflex is a lonely child who's waiting by the park
The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark
And watching over lucky clover, isn't that bizarre?
And every little thing the reflex does
Leaves you answered with a question mark

#CrucialTracks #Music #DuranDuran #TheReflex #80sMusic

July 1, 2025

That's What Friends Are For artwork
That's What Friends Are For
Dionne Warwick
Open in Apple Music ↗ Listen elsewhere ↗

What's a song you'd want your best friend to hear for the first time?

Using today's prompt is an easy one to come up with a song for. That's What Friends Are For by Dionne Warwick. What an amazing song this is with powerful lyrics and meaning. A song that I've always enjoyed from the moment I first heard back in the 80's.

[Verse 1: Dionne Warwick with Elton John]
And I never thought I'd feel this way
And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you
And if I should ever go away
Well, then, close your eyes and try
To feel the way we do today
And then if you can remember

[Chorus: Dionne Warwick with Elton John]
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowin' you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forevermore
That's what friends are for

[Verse 2: Stevie Wonder & Elton John]
Well, you came and opened me
And now, there's so much more I see
And so, by the way, I thank you
Oh, and then, for the times when we're apart
Well, then, close your eyes and know
These words are comin' from my heart
And then if you can remember, oh

[Chorus: Stevie Wonder]
Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times, in bad times
I'll be on your side forevermore
Oh, that's what friends are for, oh

[Chorus: Gladys Knight]
Oh, keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowin' you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forevermore
That's what friends are for

#CrucialTracks #Music #DionneWarwick #ThatsWhatFriendsAreFor #Friends #BestFriends

Crucial Connections

Others listening to this artist

June 30, 2025

Home artwork
Home
Daughtry
Open in Apple Music ↗ Listen elsewhere ↗

Share a song that captures the feeling of being homesick.

Using today's prompt, the song that quickly comes to mind is Home by Daughtry. One of my favorite bands over the last 15+ years and one of my favorite songs by them as well. A song that really talks about being on the road and being ready to get back home to your family.

[Verse 1]
I'm staring out into the night
Trying to hide the pain
I'm going to the place where love
And feeling good don't ever cost a thing
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain

[Chorus]
Well, I'm going home
To the place where I belong
And where your love has always been enough for me
I'm not running from
No, I think you've got me all wrong
I don't regret this life I chose for me
But these places and these faces are getting old
So, I'm going home
Well, I'm going home

[Verse 2]
The miles are getting longer, it seems
The closer I get to you
I've not always been the best man or friend for you
But your love remains true
And I don't know why
You always seem to give me another try

#CrucialTracks #Music #Daughtry #Home


Made with ❤️ on Crucial Tracks

Share the songs that made you. Create your own account today!

Explore the Crucial Tracks Community