Regular readers (both of you) know that emaycee has a soft spot for a) female vocalists, and b) smartly done pop tunes, even if they're syrupy sweet. This week's tune checks both boxes, and when you throw in the fact that it still makes me smile every time I hear it...well, you've got yourself another addition to the pantheon that is Friday Night Jukebox....
Sixpence None the Richer formed in New Braunfels (not a name you see every day for a city where a band got its start), Texas in 1992 as a Christian rock band, and while they're still considered such, you'll note that the vast bulk of their commercial success has come from the "rock" part of their identity. They released a couple of albums without much fanfare before signing with a new agency in 1997, and over the next seven years had a couple of hits and were nominated for two Grammy Awards before disbanding in 2004. And just to give the story a happy ending, the band reunited in 2007 and has been recording and touring ever since (oh, the joys of having a hit single). For their career, Sixpence has released six studio albums and fourteen singles, with their last studio effort having been released in 2012.
Fun Fact: Sixpence None the Richer's name comes from a story C.S. Lewis tells in his book Mere Christianity wherein a son asks his father for sixpence to buy said father a gift, and after receiving the gift, though he is happy with it, the father realizes he's not any richer for what he has gotten. There's some Christian mumbo jumbo that further explains it, but I'll leave that for people who actually believe there's a wizard in the sky that does magic tricks.
"Kiss Me" was released as a single in 1998 from the band's third album, the ever cleverly titled Sixpence None the Richer. The song would reach #2 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album would hit #89 on the Billboard 200. Both are the highest charting positions the band has received for any of its albums or singles.
"Kiss Me" opens with jangly guitars (an emaycee fave) before lead vocalist Leigh Nash slides in with her happy and innocent take on new love with a performance that's just this side of heaven. She weaves her tale with whimsical lyrics that captures not only the joy and the excitement of a blossoming relationship but also the abandon and the wonder. The band complements her wonderfully, amplifying both the catchy stanzas and the even catchier chorus. I've noted it before, but every now and again a band has a moment where it all comes together exquisitely and they make a brilliant piece of pop music, and Sixpence None the Richer has done that with "Kiss Me" to the utmost.
Lyric Sheet: "Lift your open hand/Strike up the band/And make the fireflies dance/Silver moon's sparkling/So kiss me..."
Enjoy:
Republican = Racist
Peace,
emaycee
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