On the Record: Jeep tune? Name it!
By Mark Bailey on Dec. 27, 2007
By Bradford Brady and John Maron
Q: Can you identify the song used in the commercial in which the Jeep is in the sandbox?
A: The song is “You Remind Me” by Steve Poltz. The Canada-born but California-raised singer-songwriter started his musical career as a member of a band called the Rugburns. While in the band, he met Jewel and began writing songs with her. One of their collaborations, “You Were Meant For Me,” became a huge hit for Jewel in 1996. After the success of this song, record companies became interested in Poltz and he was signed to a solo recording contract. His first solo album, “One Left Shoe,” was released in 1998. “Chinese Vacation,” his second album, was released in 2003 and includes “You Remind Me.”
Q: I’ve heard that U2’s Bono lost the lyrics to the songs that were ultimately planned for their second album, “October.” What’s the real story?
A: Arguably one of the world’s biggest and most influential bands – if only for the attention its frontman, Bono, brings to such issues as African debt relief and human rights – U2’s climb to fame started out very humbly. Determined to succeed on their own terms, the band embarked on a tour of the U.S. in 1981 following the release of their debut album, “Boy.” By their own admission, they were rather naïve about – and largely uninterested in — the whole “rock ‘n’ roll” lifestyle that included fast women and abundant drugs. In fact, three-fourths of the band’s members, Bono, the Edge (whose real names are Paul Hewson and Dave Evans, respectively) and drummer Larry Mullens Jr., would occasionally hold prayer sessions while traveling. According to Mullens, the band has long had a strict policy against taking advantage of women who sought backstage access, stating that violation of that policy is a “fireable” offense. The incident to which you referred occurred in 1981 while the band was playing in Portland, Ore. Two young women came backstage to meet the band. After they had left, Bono discovered that the briefcase he kept his writings in had disappeared, along with $300 he kept in it as well. At the time, he was devastated because the case contained the lyrics for the songs that he was writing for their second album, which was to be recorded once the U.S. tour ended. As a result, the lyrics had to be reconstructed and the songs written hurriedly. Bono has since admitted that he made more of the incident at the time than he should have because, in actuality, there was not much substance to the writings that he lost. In 2004, 23 years later, Cindy Harris – who had not been involved in the original theft – presented the lost briefcase to Bono. She said she found it in 1981 in the attic of a rental house in Tacoma, Wash., but had not realized they had been stolen until years later.
Q: I am interested in finding other versions of the song “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban. I want to hear how other artists have arranged the song. Can you give me some suggestions?
A: “You Raise Me Up” was written by Rolf Lovland and Brendan Graham. Lovland is one-half of the Norwegian duo Secret Garden, and Graham is an Irish novelist and songwriter. The song was originally released on Secret Garden’s 2001 album titled “Once in a Red Moon.” The vocal duties were handled by Irish singer Brian Kennedy. It became a moderate hit in Ireland and Norway. In 2003, Irish crooner Daniel O’Donnell also had a European hit with the song. In 2004, American producer David Foster heard “You Raise Me Up” and recorded it with Josh Groban. It became a huge hit in the U.S. spending six weeks at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary charts. Up next, the Irish group Westlife had a No. 1 UK hit in 2005 with their version of the song. So far, the song has been recorded over 100 times.
—What’s the name of that song? Where are they now? What does that lyric mean? Send your questions about songs, albums and musicians to or visit http://www.musicontherecord.com. Brady and Maron are freelance music writers based in Raleigh, N.C.
COMMENTS