Rediscovering '90s music with Ed Kowalczyk

Non-rockers out here were first introduced to Ed Kowalczyk and the sound of the band Live through the TV talent show American Idol. This was during the fifth season when contestant Chris Daughtry sang a dramatic, pared down version of the Johnny Cash classic I Walk The Line. The number was a showstopper and later made the news. I suppose it also earned a lot of points with voters for the talented Daughtry.

But then, it was later revealed that the arrangement was not really Daughtry’s idea. It was lifted note for note from a recording made by the band Live with Ed Kowalczyk singing the solo vocals. Daughtry soon owned up that his I Walk The Line was indeed Live’s. He even added that Live was one of his favorite bands. If I remember right, I think Daughtry even performed with Live in some TV show. He and Ed did have a close resemblance, not just vocally but also in looks.

I do not know if the incident cost Daughtry his bid for the AI title as he was soon booted out of the show. No matter, he has since then done very well for himself and his own band. But the incident did make people interested in Kowalczyk, Live’s lead singer and songwriter.

Live was from Pennsylvania and rose to prominence during the post-grunge era of the late ’90s. Among its best-known hits were Lightning Crashes, All Over You, The Dolphin’s Cry, Heaven, Iris, I Alone, Turn My Head and Selling The Drama. Kowalczyk had a bitter parting from his bandmates in 2008 and he has since then embarked on a solo career.

He is doing very well. As before it is his distinctive vocals, powerful but lyrical that is giving him the edge in his recordings and concerts. He has released a well-received solo album, Alive with cuts like Soul Whispers, The Great Beyond, Fire In The Mountain, Eat Your Love, A New World, Drive and others. He will perform these plus his big hits with Live at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on April 28.

Joining Kowalczyk at the Big Dome is Vertical Horizon, another popular band from the late ’90s. Founding member Matthew Scannell on lead vocals and guitar, has pretty much kept the Vert’s original sound intact, which I must say was really quite popular with Pinoys for many years. He will be arriving with new members Ron Lavella on drums; Jason Onme on rhythm guitar and backing vocals; and Cedric Le Moyne on bass guitar and backing vocals.

I am sure that Scannell and company will go a great job with those Vertical Horizon hits like Everything You Want, We Are, You’re A God, Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning), When You Cry, Save Me From Myself, I’m Still Here and others. Add Kowalczyk’s Live songs to this line-up and you will really get a true rock fest.

Tickets to the Live’s Ed Kowalczyk Back To Back With Vertical Horizon show are now available at Ticketnet outlets located at SM Department Stores and at the Araneta Coliseum box office. For details, call 911-5555.

Speaking of the ’90s, I came across this list of Worst Song Entries of the Decade in an old issue of Rolling Stone. The list was the result of a poll conducted among its readers by the American magazine last August 2011. I do not think that these songs are the worst of the period.

I am sure there were others much worse. The difference is that these songs were really big hits. That means, they cannot be all that bad. But it is all relative really as in one man’s treasure is another man’s trash. But you know lists, they are so much fun. So here goes:

No. 1 is the controversial Barbie Girl by the Danish electropop dance group Aqua which talked about a girl who liked to be treated like a Barbie doll. Mattel, which owns the rights to the Barbie doll, was not pleased about the song and sued Aqua. Mattel later relented and eventually used Barbie Girl in an ad campaign.

Now brace yourselves for the other songs that surprisingly made the Rolling Stones worst list: Macarena by Los Del Rio; Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus; Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice; Tubthumping by Chumbawamba; MMMBop by Hanson; My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion; Who Let The Dogs Out by Baha Men; I’m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred; and What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes.