My Top Twenty: "Stay (I Missed You)" - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories

Song: "Stay (I Missed You)"
Artist: Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
Album: Reality Bites Original Motion Picture Soundtrack/Tails
Year: 1994
Label: RCA
Highest Billboard Hot 100 Chart Position: #1
Players: Lisa Loeb - singer, songwriter, acoustic guitarist; Tim Bright - electric guitarist; Jonathan Feinberg - drummer; Joe Quigley - bassist; Daniel Littleton - electric guitarist; Elizabeth Mitchell - harmony vocalist; Juan Patino - producer, harmony vocalist; Ben Stiller - soundtrack co-producer, Reality Bites director; Ethan Hawke - neighbor, Reality Bites star

In 1994 a chart feat was achieved for the first and only time. An unsigned artist topped Billboard's Hot 100 chart. That artist was Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories.

Lisa was performing in coffee houses in New York City when her neighbor and friend, actor Ethan Hawke, was filming Reality Bites, directed by Ben Stiller. Ethan suggested that Ben use "Stay" in the film, and Ben agreed. The soundtrack went on to sell over a million copies, pushing the single to number one.

After the release of Tails, which failed to produce a hit near as massive as "Stay" Lisa Loeb never released another album as part of Nine Stories. Three years later, her second biggest hit, "I Do," off her album Firecracker, was her last major chart appearance and she has since done a cooking show with then-boyfriend Dweezil Zappa and a reality show on E! Channel.

But it's "Stay (I Missed You)" that will be her legacy, even beyond being a historic chart anomaly. From the delightful acoustic guitar that opens the track, to the impassioned lyrics that are so full of regret and confusion, to Lisa's clear sweet vocals and cat-eye glasses, everything about this song is classic, clean, American guitar pop.

Five Songs On Shuffle, Vol. 4

It's late, I know, but here is the fourth installment of my weekly blog entry series "5 Songs On Shuffle." I’ll put my iTunes on shuffle and blog about the first five songs that play.

"New Shoes" - Paulo Nutini These Streets
A minor hit for the Scottish pop-rocker. I loved it, not just because of my natural affinity for footwear, but because it's catchy as hell. And so true! "Hey, I put some new shoes on and suddenly every thing's right" is the way I always feel. There is no better feeling then putting on some hot new Chucks in a funky design, or a pair of sweet black sport fusion casuals with a contrasting white stripe. Well, maybe there is, but it still ranks pretty high.

"Like A Prayer" - Madonna The Immaculate Collection
The original album mix is far superior to this one from Madonna's greatest hits collection. The choir has a weird breakdown at about the 4:23 mark, the guitars are not as strong. However, it still remains one of my favorite songs of all time.

"Strange Fruit (Tricky Remix)" - Billie Holiday Necessary Beats: The Mix Tape
"Strange Fruit" makes me angry. It boils my blood to know the inconceivable evil man can visit on his fellow man. (I also have the original version as well as a version by Nina Simone on my iPod.) This remix is bizarre, spare and haunting with harp-like guitar plucking and a strange horn and random electric guitar for the beat, it doesn't have the same emotional impact, but it's not a club banger either. But when I do my updated Top Twenty Songs Of All Time, this song will be on it. No other song stirs such emotions: bitter sadness, vengeful anger, a hopeful optimism that one day we will just all get along. Racism is the ugliest thing, we must never forget just how ugly it can get.

"Stay (I Missed You)" - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories Stay (I Missed You) [CD Single]
I love this song, I think it my also end up in my top twenty. The simplicity of the arrangement, the emotional vocal, the heartbreaking lyrics, all combine to make a perfect indie-pop single. Heartbreak is a painful thing, but also a inspiration.

"Laura" - Scissor Sisters Scissor Sisters
I must love the Scissor Sisters, this is the second time one of their songs have popped up on my five songs on shuffle series. This isn't one of my favorites of their songs (that would be "Tits On The Radio" and "Take Your Mama Out") but I do love the kiss off line "This'll be the last time I ever do your hair" Oh, snap!