"Remember When It Rained" by Josh Groban from Closer

"Oooo… Remember when it rained…"

Uh, okay. I happen to like rain, particularly when it's not frigid.

I think the biggest issue for me the song's too calming for me, so I struggle to get the emotional context. The song does lament someone's passing… and stays there…

Okay, so you're upset and wallowing in mud as you intentionally lose yourself in memories of someone you miss. I don't exactly have much sympathy.

Josh Groban does have a pleasing voice that well matches the likewise better-than-average music. "Remember When It Rained" is based on piano and vocals with a bit of what I think is a string instrument. A few other instruments come in, but it's all tasteful. Nothing "feels" out of place, even if it doesn't "feel" surprisingly good. I think this song would qualify as "easy listening."

I can hear why some people like him so much, and I'd willingly look into more songs by him, but I prefer lyrics with a bit more meat, thanks.

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Lyrics: 3/5
Music: 4/5
Vocal(s): 4/5
Overall: 7/10

"One Song Glory" by Adam Pascal from Rent

One thing that isn't a problem with this song is the mixing—the male singer's voice is easily audible. Something about this song strikes me as unusual, but I think it might be due to it evidently being from a Broadway production. ("Rent" blurs the borders between rock opera and musicals.)

The song would undeniably make more sense in light of the plot for the production "Rent." In itself, the narrator apparently knows he's dying and wants to leave one great song behind "before the virus takes hold" despite all he's wasted in life. He wants only "one blaze of glory".

It's a clean song expressing one person's longing to do something important, to make an impact on the world. (Don't so many of us feel that desire?) The song's narrator believes a superb song will "redeem this empty life". But only Christ can redeem a life.

The music is pretty simple and average. The singer, though, actually sounds like he knows how to sing. And he uses emotion. (Yes, I'm still sniping at Avril Lavigne for that horror she accomplished in "Keep Holding On".)

It's an average song, and I don't care for the style much, but at least it's singing and a coherent point that isn't crass.

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Lyrics: 4/5
Music: 3/5
Vocal(s): 4/5
Overall: 7/10