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 Tunes! The Script, from Dublin, with "Breakeven" from The Script (Sony)

Mixx 96.1 Top 20:

  1. Lady Antebellum with "Need You Now" from the trio's second CD (Need You Now, Capitol)
  2. Train with "Hey, Soul Sister" from Save Me, San Francisco (Columbia)
  3. Daughtry, American Idol contestant, with "Life After You" and “No Surprise” from Leave This Town (RCA/RLG) and "What About Now," "Looks Like Tonight," "Over You," and "Home" from Daughtry (Sony/BMG)
  4. Colbie Caillat (cal/LAY) with "I Never Told You" and "Fallin' for You" from her Breakthrough CD (Universal Republic)
  5. Uncle Kracker with "Smile" from Happy Hour (Atlantic)
  6. John Mayer "Half of My Heart" (Battle Studies, Columbia)
  7. Nianell (nee/uh/nell) with the title track from Life's Gift (Fresh Music, South African import)
  8. Charice, the Filipino teen phenom with “Note to God,” the song she performed on Oprah, from her Charice CD (Reprise)
  9. Adam Lambert, from American Idol, performing at the Puyallup Fair September 21, with “Whataya Want from Me” from For Your Entertainment (RCA)
  10. Kelly Clarkson with "Already Gone" from All I've Ever Wanted and "Because of You," "Behind These Hazel Eyes," "Since U Been Gone," & "Breakaway" (Breakaway, RCA)
  11. Rob Thomas with "Someday" and "Her Diamonds" from Cradlesong (Emblem/Atlantic Records)
  12. Sara Bareilles "King of Anything" from her forthcoming Kaleidoscope Heart release (Epic)
  13. Foreigner "When It Comes to Love" from Can't Slow Down (Rhino)
  14. Keith Urban, the Australian superstar, with "Kiss A Girl" from Defying Gravity (Capitol)
  15. Michael Bublé (boo/BLAY), the young Canadian singer, with "Haven't Met You Yet" from his Crazy Love CD (143/Reprise)
  16. David Cook, 2008 American Idol, with “Come Back to Me” & "Light On" from his David Cook CD (19/RCA) and his "The Time of My Life" single
  17. Five for Fighting with "Chances" from Slice (Columbia)
  18. Owl City, AKA Adam Young, the one-man band from rural Minnesota, with "Fireflies" from his Ocean Eyes CD (Universal Republic Records)
  19. Taylor Swift, Pennsylvania teen, with "You Belong with Me" from Fearless and "Love Story" and "Teardrops on My Guitar" from Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records)
  20. Jason Mraz with "I'm Yours" from We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things (Atlantic)

 

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):

    Clay Aiken of American Idol fame with "On My Way Here" from his On My Way Here CD (RCA); "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.

    Kris Allen, 2009 American Idol, with "No Boundaries"

    Ameerah, Arab-Belgian singer-songwriter with her “The Sound Of Missing You” single (Robbins Entertainment)

    David Archuleta, the teen American Idol contestant from Utah, with his single "Crush"

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

    Sara Bareilles from Northern California with "Love Song" from Little Voice (Epic)

    Natasha Bedingfield, the British singer-songwriter, with "Pocketful of Sunshine" from Pocketful of Sunshine (Sony Music) and "Unwritten" from her Unwritten CD (Sony Music)

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

    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)

    Susan Boyle, the British phenom, with "I Dreamed A Dream" from her first CD, Dreamed A Dream (Sony/Syco)

    Jim Brickman, featuring vocalist Adam Crossley with "Beautiful World" from Beautiful (Reflections Records), featuring vocalist Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum 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 Rush of Fools on vocals, with "Never Far Away" from Ultimate Love Songs (Time Life Records); 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, with "Lost" and "Everything" from Call Me Irresponsible and "Home" from It's Time CD (143/Reprise)

    Colbie Caillat (Cal/LAY), the SoCal singer-songwriter, with "Bubbly" from Coco

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

    Steven Curtis Chapman with "Cinderella" from This Moment: Cinderella Edition (Sparrow). Note: This version of the This Moment CD was released after the death of Chapman's 5-year-old daughter Maria.

    Coldplay with "Viva la Vida" from the British rockers' Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

    Miley Cyrus, Disney's Hannah Montana, with "The Climb" from Breakout

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

    Celine Dion with "My Love" from My Love: Essential Collection (Columbia), "Taking Chances" from Taking Chances (Sony/BMG), "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)

    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 "You Found Me" from The Fray (Epic), "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

    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"Awake" and "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)

    Missy Higgins from Australia with "Where I Stood" from On a Clear Night (Warner Brothers)

    Journey with "After All These Years" from Revelation (Legacy/RCA)

    Leona Lewis with "Better in Time" and "Bleeding Love" from Spirit (J Records)

    Lifehouse with "Whatever It Takes" and "First Time," from their fourth CD Who We Are (Geffen) and 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)

    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)

    John Mayer with "Say," and "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 "Leavin'" from Departure (Hollywood) and "Beautiful Soul" from Beautiful Soul (Hollywood Records)

    Matt Nathanson with "Come On, Get Higher" from Some Mad Hope (Acrobat Records)

    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

    Brad Paisley with "Then" from American Saturday Night (Arista)

    P!nk with “Please Don't Leave Me” from Funhouse (LaFace/Zomba) and"Who Knew" from I'm Not Dead

    Plain White T's with "Hey There Delilah" and "1, 2, 3, 4" from Every Second Counts

    Plumb with "In My Arms" from Blink (Curb)

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

    Lionel Richie with "Just Go" from his Just Go CD and with "Long Long Way to Go"and "Just for You" from his Just for You CD (Island)

    LeAnn Rimes with “What I Cannot Change” from Family (Curb), "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)

    Rita, Israel's answer to Celine Dion and Nianell, with "Love Has Begun" from the Love Has Begun various artists compilation (Let Freedom Ring Records)

    Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani's husband and former Bush vocalist, with "Love Remains the Same" from Wanderlust (Interscope)

    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

    Jordin Sparks, the Arizona teen and 2007 American Idol winner, with "Battlefield" from Battlefield (Jive) and "One Step at a Time," "No Air, " and "Tattoo" from Jordin Sparks (Jive)

    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)

    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)

    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)

    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)

    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)

    Elliott Yamin, yet another American Idoler, with "Wait for You" from Elliott Yamin (RED/Sony)

    Nikki Yanofsky, 16-year old Canadian singer, with "Believe," theme to the 2010 Winter Olympics

    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)