High Heels, Sneakers, and Stilettos, Best songs about Shoes: Elvis Presley, Run DMC, The Eagles, Kelly Picker

"MY ADIDAS"  RUN D.M.C.

Old school rap at its finest.  You better be singing along here!  Run DMC made Adidas the go-to sneakers of the mid 80's until Michael Jordan's Spike Lee commercials.  Come on, who doesn't love this rap "they're black and white, white with black stripe, the ones I like to wear when I rock the mic."  My first concert that I paid money to see was a young LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, and the headliners, Run D.M.C.  Of course during My Adidas, people in the crowd were waving their shoes over their head.   Even though I'm partial to retro Nike and Jordan brand shoes, this song always described my sneaker obsession.   Run sings about having 50 pairs of Adidas, I'm not far off.  

DAILY MUSIC TRIVIA:   Run DMC recorded a CD with multiple guest stars called Crown Royal.   What song did they sing with Kid Rock?   Yesterday:  Todd Rundgren


"BLUE SUEDE SHOES"    ELVIS PRESLEY

"Well, it's one for the money, Two for the show, Three to get ready, Now go, go, go!" The epitome of cool, Elvis in '68, black leather outfit, ultimate swagger, his signature hip shakes, and he's even playing guitar on "Blue Suede Shoes".   Elvis was in comeback mode on these live shows and he re-established his role as The King with electric performances that worked the crowds into a frenzy.   These TV special performances preceded MTV's Unplugged and opened up bands performing intimate shows with their fans.    One question though for the ladies, would you really be impressed by a guy who not only wears blue suede shoes but he's so obsessively worried about getting them scuffed up?

"RED HIGH HEELS"      KELLY PICKLER

Oh Kelly, she is 100% a love her or hate her kind of artist.  Yes, I can see how her voice can be annoying.   Her innocent, dumb blonde routine on American Idol either made you laugh and love her or you couldn't wait to see her kicked off the show.  I didn't think her talent was incredible but her chemistry with Simon Cowell and her sex kitten style had me totally rooting for Kelly.  Her first big hit, Red High Heels, is a great kiss-off breakup song.   Love the line, "I put up a barbed wire fence around my heart, Baby, just to keep you out.  Well, you thought I'd wait around forever But, baby, get real I just kicked you to the curb in my red high heels." 

"THOSE SHOES"    THE EAGLES

Stripper anthem:  "You get whatever you choose, oh no, you can't do that, once you started wearing those shoes."  From their 1980 CD, The Long Run, Don Henley and Glenn Frey trades lines about the singles scene.  Guys being like sharks trying to pick up and prey on the sexy women in the high heels "with the little ankle straps".  And women wielding their power over men, standing up for themselves, and not taking any more crap.   It's easily the sexiest song in The Eagles catalog especially with Don Felder using the talkbox that Joe Walsh used superbly on Rocky Mountain Way.   

Fast Times At Ridgemont High: Don Henley The Who, and Saosin

"WHO ARE YOU"   THE WHO

Most people nowadays think of this as the theme song for CSI.  The Who are rock royalty.  If you were creating an all-star supergroup, choosing Roger Daltrey as your lead singer or Pete Townshend for lead guitar, or the rhythm section of Entwistle and Keith Moon, you'd be praised for great selections.  This video captures the Who at their best, technical wizards, playful (watch Keith and not smile!), and true rock stars.   It's from the movie "The Kids Are Alright" so a certain word is missing from the chorus.

"LOVE RULES"     DON HENLEY

Imagine if you could back to high school knowing what you know now?   "Love Rules" is a hidden gem from the soundtrack of 80's teen classic, Fast Times At Ridgemont High.   "Love Rules" perfectly describes awkward teenage emotions and indecision over a high school crush.   Don Henley was the most successful of the Eagles going solo and this was recorded during the time of his debut CD.

"YOU'RE NOT ALONE"   SAOSIN

Saosin, "caution" in Chinese, released their debut CD in 2003.   Hailing from California, they've been on the '06 Warped Tour and I discovered them in '07 on Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution.  I recently heard about someone near to a friend of mine who was recently contemplating suicide.  Thankfully, he made the right decision and doing much better.  "You're Not Alone" is a reminder that we all have SOMEONE who will help.   As the saying goes, "angels are among us", we are not alone.