music

Click for the Mixx 96.1 Top 20 (our newest songs), the Top 96 Soft Rock Songs of the 20th Century, Top Summer Songs, Artist Ratings (by listeners), and the Top Christmas Songs.


Need to know an artist name or song title or where to find a song? Email our program director, John Foster, with the date and approximate time heard, any lyrics or other clues to identification, and whether it was sung by a man, woman, or any combination thereof, or, if it was an instrumental, which instrument was most dominant.


The Latest Hits/Top 20

New Songs! Clay Aiken of American Idol fame with "On My Way Here" from the new On My Way Here CD (RCA); Josh Groban with "Awake" from Awake (Reprise); and "British Idol" (or at least its equivalent) Leona Lewis with "Bleeding Love" from Spirit (J Records)

Mixx 96.1 Top 20:

  1. Jordin Sparks, the Arizona teen and 2007 American Idol winner, with "Tattoo" from Jordin Sparks (Jive)
  2. Sara Bareilles (barry/ellis) from Northern California with "Love Song" from Little Voice (Epic)
  3. Enrique Iglesias with "Somebody's Me" from Insomniac (Interscope)
  4. Taylor Swift, Pennsylvania teen, with "Teardrops on My Guitar" (Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records)
  5. Michael Bublé (boo/BLAY), the young Canadian singer, with "Lost" and "Everything" from Call Me Irresponsible and "Home" from It's Time CD (143/Reprise)
  6. Big & Rich, the country duo, with "Lost in this Moment" from Between Raising Hell & Amazing Grace (Warner Brothers)
  7. Celine Dion with "Taking Chances" from Taking Chances (Sony/BMG)
  8. Colbie Caillat (Cal/LAY), the SoCal singer-songwriter, with "Bubbly" from Coco
  9. Lifehouse with "First Time," from their fourth CD Who We Are (Geffen)
  10. Nianell (nee/uh/nell), the Namibian singer-songwriter, with "Hey You," "Never Been Loved Like This," "How Many Times," "Slowly Killing Me" and "We'll Find A Way" from her Angel Tongue CD (Fresh Music, South Africa), as well as "As One" and "Isn't It" from Who Painted the Moon? (Fresh/BMG Africa), available from www.gemm.com
  11. Plumb with "In My Arms" from Blink (Curb)
  12. Chris Daughtry, American Idol contestant, with "Over You" and "Home" from Daughtry (RCA)
  13. Elliott Yamin, yet another American Idoler, with "Wait for You" from Elliott Yamin (RED/Sony)
  14. Pink with "Who Knew" from I'm Not Dead
  15. Timbaland Producer Timbaland's with a remix of "Apologize" by Colorado rock quintet OneRepublic from the super-producer 's Shock Value CD (Blackground/Interscope/Mosley Music Group)
  16. Ingrid Michaelson from Staten Island with "The Way I Am" (Girls & Boys, Sony/BMG/Red)
  17. E.G. Daily, actress and voice artist (Tommy Pickles from Rugrats, etc.) with "Changing Faces" (Tearing Down the Walls, EGDP/Immortal Access)
  18. Eagles with "How Long" from Long Road Out of Eden (Eagles Recording Company)
  19. Plain White T's with "Hey There Delilah" from Every Second Counts
  20. Carrie Underwood, the American Idol winner, with "Before He Cheats" from Some Hearts (Arista)

 


Click here for the Top 96 Soft Rock Songs of all recorded time (through the 20th Century)

Click here for our Concert & Pro Sports Calendar


      Other Recent Mixx 96.1 Hits (alphabetical by artist):

        Christina Aguilera with "Hurt" from Back to Basics (RCA)

        Clay Aiken of American Idol fame with "A Thousand Days" from A Thousand Different Ways (RCA), "Invisible" and "I Will Carry You" from Measure of a Man (RCA), and the single "This is the Night.

        Backstreet Boys return with "Incomplete" from their Never Gone CD (Jive)

        Corinne Bailey Rae from England with "Put Your Records On" from her self-titled debut CD

        Daniel Bedingfield from England with "If You're Not the One" from his Gotta Get Thru This CD (Island)

        Natasha Bedingfield, from England (sister of Daniel Bedingfield) with "Unwritten" from her Unwritten CD (Sony Music)

        James Blunt, the English singer-songwriter with "You're Beautiful" (Back to Bedlam)

        Bon Jovi Bon Jovi with "(You Want to) Make a Memory" from Lost Highway (Island Records) and featuring Sugarland vocalist Jennifer Nettles with "Who Says You Can't Go Home" from Have A Nice Day (Island Records)

        Boyzone "Every Day I Love You," (single only, available at popular CD sites on web) and "No Matter What" (Notting Hill SDTK, Island) by the Irish band

        Jim Brickman featuring vocalist Hillary Scott with "Never Alone" (alternate version with Sara Evans on Escape, SLG Records) and featuring singer Geoff Byrd with "Hideaway (When It Snows)" from Escape (SLG); featuring vocalist Wayne Brady (from TV's The Wayne Brady Show and Whose Line Is It Anyway?) with "Beautiful" from Brickman's The Disney Songbook CD (Walt Disney Records); and featuring singer Roch Voisine with "My Love Is Here" and Mark Schultz with"'Til I See You Again" from Jim Brickman Greatest Hits (RCA/Windham Hill)

        Michael Bublé (boo/BLAY), the young Canadian singer, "Everything" from Call Me Irresponsible and"Home" from It's Time CD (143/Reprise)

        Ryan Cabrera, the 21-year old Dallas songwriter-guitarist, with "True" from Take It All Away (E.V.L.A./Atlantic)

        The Calling with "Wherever You Will Go" from Camino Palmero

        Mariah Carey with "We Belong Together" from The Emancipation of Mimi

        Vanessa Carlton, Pennsylvania songwriter-pianist, with "A Thousand Miles" from her debut album Be Not Nobody (A&M) and the Legally Blonde soundtrack

        Chicago with "Love Will Come Back" from Chicago XXX (Rhino)

        Kelly Clarkson with "Because of You," "Behind These Hazel Eyes," "Since U Been Gone," & "Breakaway" (Breakaway, RCA)

        Phil Collins with "Don't Let Him Steal Your Heart Away" from Love Songs (Atlantic/Rhino), "Look Through My Eyes" from the Brother Bear soundtrack (Disney), and "Can't Stop Loving You" (Testify, Atlantic)

        Counting Crows (featuring guest vocals by Vanessa Carlton) with Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" from Films About Ghosts

        Sheryl Crow with a remake of Rod Stewart's "The First Cut is the Deepest" from The Very Best of Sheryl Crow (A&M)

        Chris Daughtry, American Idol contestant, with "Home" from Daughtry (RCA)

        Howie Day, the 23-year old singer-songwriter from Maine with "Collide" from Stop All the World Now (Epic)

        D.H.T. featuring Edmée, a Belgian duo whose name stands for "Dance. House. Trance.," with a remake of Roxette's "Listen to Your Heart" from their new Listen to Your Heart CD (Robbins Entertainment)

        Diamond Rio "One More Day" from One More Day (Arista)

        Dido with "White Flag" from Life for Rent (Arista)

        Celine Dion with "You and I," a studio recording from A New Day ... Live in Las Vegas (Epic) and "Have You Ever Been in Love" and "Stand By Your Side" from One Heart (Epic)

        Eagles with "No More Cloudy Days (Farewell I DVD)

        Enya "Only Time" from her A Day Without Rain (Reprise) and the title song from Amarantine (Reprise) by the Irish chanteuse famous for "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)" and the Gaelic version of "Silent Night"

        Evanescence, the Christian goth-rock band from Arkansas, with "My Immortal" from Fallen (Wind-Up) as well as The Daredevil soundtrack

        Fergie, from the Black Eyed Peas, with "Big Girls Don't Cry" from The Dutchess (A&M)

        Five for Fighting (John Ondrasik, who named his "band" after a hockey penalty) with “The Riddle” from Two Lights (Columbia), “100 Years” from The Battle for Everything (Aware/Columbia) and "Superman (It’s Not Easy)" from his America Town CD (Columbia)

        The Fray, the Denver-based quartet, with "How to Save a Life" from their How to Save a Life CD (Epic) and the acoustic version of "Over My Head (Cable Car)" not found on their How to Save a Life CD

        Gnarls Barkley, the Baltimore-based duo, with "Crazy" from St. Elsewhere (Atlantic/Downtown Records).

        Goo Goo Dolls with "Better Days" from Let Love In and "Give A Little Bit," a studio-recorded remake of the Supertramp hit, which is ironically found on their Live in Buffalo, 4th of July, 2004 CD

        Josh Groban with "You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)" from Awake (Reprise) and "Remember When It Rained" and "You Raise Me Up" from his Closer CD (Reprise)

        Hall and Oates with "Ooh Child" & "I'll Be Around" from the Our Kind of Soul CD (U-Watch Records)

        Faith Hill with "One" and "Cry" from her Cry CD (Reprise) and "There You'll Be" from the Pearl Harbor soundtrack (Hollywood Records/Warner Brothers)

        Hoobastank, Southern California suburban rockers, with "The Reason" from The Reason CD (Island)

        Elton John "Answer in the Sky" (Peachtree Road CD)

        Norah Jones with "Don't Know Why" from Come Away With Me (Blue Note/Virgin)

        Nick Lachey, Jessica Simpson's ex, with "What's Left of Me" from What's Left of Me (Jive/Zomba Records)

        Huey Lewis and actress Gwyneth Paltrow with a remake of Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin'" from the Duets soundtrack (Hollywood Records)

        Lifehouse with “You and Me” from their third CD, Lifehouse (Geffen)

        Kimberley Locke, American Idol finalist, with "I Could" (One Love, Curb) and "8th World Wonder" (Curb)

        Lonestar "I'm Already There from I'm Already There (BNA)

        Los Lonely Boys, the three Garza brothers from West Texas with “Heaven” from their self-titled debut CD (Epic)

        Maroon 5 with "Makes Me Wonder" from It Won't Be Soon Before Long (A&M/Octone) and "Sunday Morning," "She Will Be Loved" and “This Love” from Songs About Jane (Octone/J Records)

        matchbox twenty with "Unwell" (More Than You Think You Are, Atlantic)

        John Mayer with "Waiting on the World to Change" from Continuum (Columbia) and "Daughters" from Heavier Things (Columbia)

        Martina McBride with "Anyway" from Waking Up Laughing (RCA) and "In My Daughter's Eyes" and "This One's for the Girls" from Martina (RCA)

        Jesse McCartney, teen soap star, with "Beautiful Soul" (Beautiful Soul CD, Hollywood Records)

        Michael McDonald from the Doobie Brothers with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Motown CD)

        Tim McGraw with "My Little Girl" from the Flicka soundtrack (Curb), "When the Stars Go Blue" from Hits Vol. 2 (Curb/Reprise) and "Live Like You Were Dying" from Live Like You Were Dying (Curb/Reprise)

        MercyMe with "Here With Me" from Undone (Curb Records)

        Anna Nalick, a 20-year old songwriter from southern California, with "Breathe (2 A.M.)" from Wreck of the Day (Columbia)

        Nianell (nee/uh/nell), the Namibian singer-songwriter, with "Hey You," "Never Been Loved Like This," "How Many Times," "Slowly Killing Me" and "We'll Find A Way" from her Angel Tongue CD (Fresh Music, South Africa), as well as "As One" and "Isn't It" from Who Painted the Moon? (Fresh/BMG Africa), available from www.gemm.com

        Nickelback from Canada, with "If Everyone Cared,"Far Away," and "Photograph" from their All the Right Reasons CD

        Daniel Powter from Australia with "Bad Day" from dp (Warner Brothers)

        Rascal Flatts with "My Wish" and "What Hurts the Most" from Me & My Gang (Lyric Street Records)

        Lionel Richie with "Long Long Way to Go"and "Just for You" (Just for You, Island)

        Chris Rice with "When Did You Fall (in Love with Me) from his Amusing CD (iNO/Columbia Records).

        LeAnn Rimes "Can't Fight the Moonlight" and "I Need You" from I Need You (Curb) and"Probably Wouldn't Be This Way" from This Woman (Curb)

        Santana on guitar featuring vocalist Michelle Branch with "I'm Feeling You" from his All That I Am (Arista); and with vocalist Alex Band from the Calling with "Why Don't You & I" and "Game of Love" (with Michelle Branch) from his Shaman CD (Arista)

        Seal, the British singer-songwriter, with "Love's Divine" from Seal IV (Warner Brothers)

        Kerri Sherwood with "Slow Dance" from As Sure As the Sun, available through www.kerrisherwood.com, by calling 1-800-651-7478, or at Rainy Day Records in West Olympia and CD Connection in Lacey

        Simply Red with "Sunrise" (simplyred.com)

        Snow Patrol, the quintet from the UK, with "Chasing Cars" from Eyes Open

        Nicol Sponberg, daughter of missionaries who grew up in the Congo, with "Crazy in Love" from Resurrection (Curb)

        Gwen Stefani and Akon with "The Sweet Escape" from Stefani's The Sweet Escape (Interscope)

        Rob Thomas, matchbox 20 lead singer, with "Little Wonders" from Little Wonders (Atlantic) and "Streetcorner Symphony," "Ever the Same," "Lonely No More," and "This is How a Heart Breaks" from his …something to be CD (Atlantic)

        3 Doors Down with "Here Without You" from Away From the Sun (Universal) and "Here By Me" from Seventeen Days (Universal)

        Jim Thorburn with the piano instrumental "Jamie's Song" from Coconuts (Chunky & Brownie Music), available from his web site (click on his name to get there)

        Train with "Get to Me," "When I Look to the Sky," and "Calling All Angels" from My Private Nation (Columbia)

        KT Tunstall, Scottish songwriter, with "Suddenly I See" and "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree" from Eye to the Telescope (Virgin)

        Shania Twain with "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing,""Forever & For Always," and "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!" from Up! (Mercury)

        Uncle Kracker with a remake of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away" from No Stranger to Shame (Lava Records) and "Follow Me" from the Detroit DJ's Double Wide (Lava/Atlantic)

        Carrie Underwood, the American Idol winner, with the title track from Some Hearts (Arista)

        Keith Urban, the Australian country superstar, with "Tonight I Wanna Cry" and "Making Memories of Us" from Be Here and "You'll Think of Me" from Golden Road (Capitol)

        Luther Vandross with "Buy Me A Rose" and "Dance With My Father," the 2004 Grammy Song-of-the-Year, from Dance With My Father (J Records)

        Lee Ann Womack with the widely-acclaimed "I Hope You Dance" from I Hope You Dance (MCA)


        Top Christmas Songs "White Christmas" is the runaway winner in Mixx 96.1's poll of favorite Christmas songs. The rankings were determined by Mixx 96.1 listeners asked to list their top three. Over 100 songs were mentioned. Listings are followed by number of votes received.

        1. "White Christmas" (88)
        2. "Silent Night" (69)
        3. "O Holy Night" (44)
        4. "Little Drummer Boy" (40)
        5. "Jingle Bells" (35)
        6. "Christmas in the Northwest" (28)
        7. "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting…)" (27)
        8. "Silver Bells" (25)
        9. "Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer" & "Winter Wonderland" (24)
        10. "Jingle Bell Rock" & "I'll be Home for Christmas" (23)
        11. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (17)
        12. "Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24" (14)
        13. "Blue Christmas" & "Santa Baby" (13)
        14. "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (12)
        15. "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" (11)
        16. "Merry Christmas Darlin'" & "Mary, Did You Know" (10)


      50 All-Time Best Summer Songs 50 All-Time Best Summer Songs (as voted on by Mixx 96.1 listeners 8/07)

      1. Kokomo - Beach Boys
      2. Summer in the City -The Lovin' Spoonful
      3. Summertime - Billy Stewart
      4. Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett
      5. Summer Of '69 - Bryan Adams
      6. Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer - Nat King Cole
      7. Wipe Out - Surfaris
      8. Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
      9. See You in September - Happenings (1966)
      10. Sailing - Christopher Cross
      11. California Girls - Beach Boys
      12. Theme From 'A Summer Place' - Percy Faith
      13. In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry
      14. Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf
      15. Soak up the Sun - Sheryl Crow
      16. Sunny Afternoon-The Kinks
      17. Summer Lovin' - Grease
      18. Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band
      19. Sunshine on my Shoulders - John Denver
      20. Surf City - Jan & Dean
      21. Brown-Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
      22. Barbara Ann - Beach Boys
      23. Summertime Summertime - The Jamies
      24. Reminiscing - Little River Band
      25. School's Out - Alice Cooper
      26. Seasons in the Sun -Terry Jacks
      27. Hotel California - Eagles
      28. Under the Boardwalk - Drifters
      29. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
      30. Breathe - Faith Hill (2000)
      31. Dancing in the Streets - Martha & the Vandellas
      32. Miss You - Rolling Stones (1978)
      33. Summer Breeze - Seals & Croft
      34. Hot Fun in the Summertime - Sly & the Family Stone (1969)
      35. The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin Groovy) - Simon & Garfunkel
      36. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr. (1984)
      37. Surfin' USA - Beach Boys
      38. My Sharona - The Knack (1979)
      39. Rock the Boat - Hues Corporation (1974)
      40. Boys of Summer - Don Henley
      41. Surfer Girl - beach boys (1963)
      42. (Everything I Do) I Do It for You - Bryan Adams (1991)
      43. Low Rider - War
      44. Flashdance … What A Feeling - Irene Cara (1983)
      45. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley (2006)
      46. Saturday (in the Park) - Chicago
      47. I Swear - All-4-One (1994)
      48. Night Moves - Bob Seger
      49. Brother Louie - Stories (1973)
      50. Master Blaster - Stevie Wonder


      Artist Poll Results (2/07)

      There were 107 usable surveys from a mailing to about 3,500 Loyal Listeners. About 10 others didn’t understand the directions.

      The favorite old song was “Brown-Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison (5 votes) followed by the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody” (4), “Hotel California” by the Eagles (3), and “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys (2).

      New favorites receiving multiple mentions included “Far Away” by Nickleback (5), “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley (4), “You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)” by Josh Groban (3), “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt (3), “A Thousand Days” by Clay Aiken (3), “Jesus Take the Wheel” (only heard as 5 o’clock song) by Carrie Underwood (2), Chris Rice’s “When Did You Fall in Love with Me?” (2), Jim Brickman’s “When It Snows (Hideaway)” (2), “What Hurts the Most” by Rascal Flatts (2), “Who Says You Can’t Go Home Again” by Bon Jovi & Jennifer Nettles (2), “Suddenly I See” (which we also don’t have) by KT Tunstall (2), “Black Horse & the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall (2), “In My Daughter’s Eyes” by Martina McBride (2), and “Waiting on the World to Change” by John Mayer (2).

      The “Mixx 96.1 song you wish you’d never hear again" was “Black Horse & the Cherry Tree” with three votes. Ironically, KT Tunstall’s other hit song, “Suddenly I See,” which we weren't playing yet, was the only other song with multiple votes (2). (There was no list of songs; repondents had to recall songs from memory.)

      70 other artists besides those listed in the poll were mentioned (positively), Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, and Michael Bublé three times and the Bee Gees, Alicia Keyes, Norah Jones, Evanescence, the Moody Blues, and Uncle Kracker twice. One group I didn’t ask about, but wish I had, was the Dixie Chicks, who were mentioned positively once and negatively once (poll was taken before 2007 Grammy Awards).

      Summary: The artists with the highest average ratings were the Eagles (7.6, second most perfect 10’s with 26), Journey (7.2), and Kelly Clarkson (7.0). Josh Groban had the most tens with 28. Proving that fondness grows with familiarity, our least-known artist, South African vocalist Nianell, with no American CDs, had the lowest overall average with a 4.0 and fully 60 respondents putting a “?” by her name (by the way, she’s also the artist I get the most calls and emails about asking where to get her CDs). American Idol Ruben Studdard, whose songs we haven’t played yet, was next lowest-rated (4.2), with the most ones (24). Other artists with lots of detractors included Clay Aiken with 17 ones (5.2 overall average), Kenny Rogers (16 ones, 5.2 overall), Celine Dion (15 ones, 6.5 overall), and the Beatles (14 ones, 6.5 overall average).

      In 1990, top artist was Neil Diamond. In (about) 1995, top artist was Michael Bolton.

      Ratings of the artists we asked about (in no particular order):
      5.7 (average) Jim Brickman (12 tens, 4 ones, 22 couldn’t identify his music)
      6.5 Celine Dion (10, 15, 0)
      6.7 Josh Groban (28, 10, 2)
      4.0 NiaNell (0, 4, 60)
      5.9 Rob Thomas (6, 4, 25)
      6.3 John Mellencamp (10 tens, 4 ones, 0 don’t know artist)
      6.3 Billy Joel (18, 5, 0)
      6.3 Lionel Richie (16, 2, 1)
      7.6 Eagles (26, 6, 0)
      6.6 Faith Hill (12, 1, 0)
      5.2 Clay Aiken (15, 17, 0)
      6.7 Elton John (18, 9, 0)
      6.2 Shania Twain (17, 4, 0)
      5.5 Barry Manilow (8, 13, 0)
      6.4 Phil Collins (17, 6, 0)
      6.5 Rod Stewart (20, 11, 0)
      6.5 Beatles (22, 14, 0)
      6.0 Santana (13, 8, 0)
      5.5 Cher (14, 15, 0)
      5.5 Tina Turner (14, 15, 0)
      6.8 John Mayer (16, 4, 18)
      6.0 Kenny G (12, 2, 2)
      6.0 Keith Urban (13, 7, 2)
      5.3 Gloria Estefan (4, 4, 0)
      6.2 Tim McGraw (20, 7, 4)
      6.2 Luther Vandross (19, 4, 4)
      5.2 Kenny Rogers (8, 16, 0)
      5.7 Beach Boys (14, 10, 0)
      5.9 Barbra Streisand (8, 6, 0)
      5.5 Avril Lavigne (8, 7, 10)
      6.4 Neil Diamond (16, 8, 0)
      6.0 Madonna (19, 8, 0)
      7.2 Journey (19, 1, 6)
      6.7 Ruben Studdard (6, 24, 8)
      6.7 Carrie Underwood (18, 6, 2)
      5.1 Taylor Hicks (4, 12, 8)
      7.0 Kelly Clarkson (18, 3, 0)
      5.5 KT Tunstall (5, 12, 31)
      5.1 Michael Bolton (14, 10, 2)
      6.8 Chicago (22, 8, 0)
      6.3 Carpenters (13, 7, 0)
      5.8 Olivia Newton-John (8, 8, 0)
      6.9 Bon Jovi (12, 1, 0)
      6.4 Huey Lewis (16, 3, 2)
      5.5 Jackson Browne (8,10, 8)
      5.8 Peter Cetera (10, 6, 9)
      6.1 Amy Grant (12, 10, 2)
      5.4 LeeAnn Womack (4, 12, 7)
      6.1 Leann Rimes (14, 9, 2)
      6.2 Mariah Carey (8, 8, 3)
      4.6 Kerri Sherwood (0, 6, 52)
      6.5 Nickelback (15, 4, 16)
      6.5 Sarah McLachlan (15, 2, 2)
      5.2 Backstreet Boys (4, 7, 2)
      5.1 N*Sync (3, 6, 2)
      6.2 Enya (18, 8, 4)
      5.5 Kimberley Locke (3, 1, 24)
      6.0 Martina McBride (16, 10, 2)
      6.3 Sheryl Crow (8, 4, 0)
      5.8 James Taylor (16, 12, 3)
      5.9 Christina Aguilera (15, 11, 2)
      5.5 Whitney Houston (6, 15, 0)
      6.5 Rascal Flatts (20, 5, 10)