I know I’ve been away for a few issues, but it feels like I was talking about the end of the summer season just a little while ago. Forget the end of the season; in a few more weeks, we’ll be raising our glasses of champagne in anticipation of the New Year! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, for we must uphold the great American tradition every fourth Thursday in November of gathering around our family and appreciating everything we have by stuffing our faces with as much food as possible. The last time I wrote a column about Thanksgiving, I shared with you some of my favorite songs with similar themes of the holiday. But for this year, here are my six favorite songs that specifically give thanks in their title.
“Thank You for Loving Me”
By: Bon Jovi
Off the album: Crush (2000)
Nobody does love ballads like Bon Jovi, and even though this song came out a little after many of the band’s hits, it’s safe to say that this song is a classic (it also helps that the tune reached #57 on the Billboard Hot 100). The band went above and beyond with the romantic theme of this song by going all the way to Rome, Italy, for the filming of its music video. Frontman Jon Bon Jovi has stated that the title of this song was inspired by the character Brad Pitt portrays in the film “Meet Joe Black.”
“Thank You”
By: Dido
Off the album: No Angel (1999)
Featured on Dido’s debut album, this song was the English singer-songwriter’s first and biggest hit, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Thank you” was written for Dido’s then-boyfriend, entertainment lawyer Bob Page. If anyone followed Dido’s love life through her albums, they would have been sad to hear a song called “White Flag” on her next album, which was about the couple’s breakup. The first verse of this song is sampled in Eminem’s hit “Stan,” and the rapper thanked Dido for its inclusion by featuring her in his song’s music video.
“Thank You for Being a Friend”
By: Andrew Gold
Off the album: All This and Heaven Too (1978)
I know what you’re thinking… you can sing the song in your head, but wasn’t this sung by a girl instead of some dude named Andrew? Your head isn’t messing with you; this song was re-recorded years later by singer Cynthia Fee as the now-famous theme song of television sitcom “The Golden Girls.” This tune was a hit for original writer Andrew Gold, reaching #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Gold had a couple of other hits, including 1978’s “Never Let Her Slip Away” and Top 10 song “Lonely Boy.”
“Thank U”
By: Alanis Morissette
Off the album: Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998)
After the worldwide success of Alanis Morissette’s previous album, Jagged Little Pill, fans were eagerly awaiting her follow up. This record performed very well, topping the charts worldwide once again, and this song was its biggest hit. Until the success of Jagged Little Pill, Morissette pretty much worked non-stop. This song was written while the singer-songwriter was finally able to take a break and appreciate the success she had achieved so far. Morissette actually set the U.S. Billboard record at the time for most first-week sales of a female artist with more than 450,000 copies. Her record stood for two years until Britney Spears’ Oops!... I Did It Again sold 1.3 million copies in its first week.
“I Thank You”
By: Sam & Dave
Off the album: “I Thank You” single (1968)
The last time I focused on this song, I wrote about ZZ Top’s cover, but this time, I would like to focus on the Sam & Dave original. Written by acclaimed R&B songwriters Isaac Hayes and David Porter, this song was never released on a studio album by Sam & Dave; rather the song was only available as a single. Still, the song was a huge hit for the group, and many acts other than ZZ Top have famously covered the soul classic such as Bonnie Raitt, Bon Jovi and Paul Rodgers.
“Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”
By: Sly and the Family Stone
Off the album: Greatest Hits (1970)
Don’t worry everyone, I didn’t suffer a stroke while typing that song title. It is actually an intentional mondegreen, meaning a misinterpretation of a phrase to give it new meaning. Featuring co-vocals from Sly, Freddie and Rose Stone and Larry Graham, this track’s lyrics contain references to several of the group’s previous hits, such as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” “Sing a Simple Song” and “You Can Make It If You Try.” Originally written to be on an album with “Star” and “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” the record was scrapped and the three songs were officially released on the band’s Greatest Hits album.
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