If you’re not from here, 95.1 is the pop station in town — the place where you can expect to hear Kelly Clarkson, Ke$ha (did I spell that right?), and Lady Gaga.
In other words, a station that while it may be one of my buttons on the car radio, is not someplace I venture to with much frequency. Its appeal is limited for a 51 year old man raised on Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, and, of course, the Eagles.
Except on this day. What I heard was a revelation: a song called Carry On that featured so many music genres within one tune. It moves from folk to pop to glam to rock and back. All backed by some of the most glorious lead vocals and lushest harmonies I’ve heard in a long time.
Any time I like a song that much on first hearing . . . well, that means I’ll like it on second & third & fourth hearings as well.
Turns out the band’s name is fun. (I have heard of them; a little bit!) and its lead singer is Nate Ruess.
Here it is:
The song’s title, plus the harmonies, make me think of a Carry On from an earlier generation. As in the Woodstock generation. Here’s one of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s very best: