🎸 About the Pop Rock Favorites songbook series:
Pop rock is a genre of music that emerged in the late-20th century, combining elements of both pop and rock music styles. It is characterized by catchy melodies, straightforward song structures, and a focus on hooks that are easily accessible to a broad audience. Pop rock songs typically feature a strong emphasis on vocals and harmonies, often accompanied by electric guitars, drums, and other traditional rock instruments. This genre is known for its radio-friendly sound, making it a staple of mainstream music charts and appealing to a wide range of listeners.
These song selections are drawn primarily from the 1990s and 2000s and feature tracks played often on the PopRocks channel on SiriusXM (channel 12) and the arrangements are appropriate for intermediates and up.
🎶 Pop Rock Favorites: Volume 10 Songbook
The following twelve songs are included in the Pop Rock Favorites: Volume 10 songbook.
These are all available as separate singles, but you get the most value by purchasing the whole collection. All of these arrangements are appropriate for intermediates and up.
- All for You (Sister Hazel)
- Come Undone (Duran Duran)
- Here Is Gone (Goo Goo Dolls)
- Hey Jealousy (Gin Blossoms)
- How to Save a Life (The Fray)
- I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) (The Proclaimers)
- Inside Out (Eve 6)
- Kryptonite (3 Doors Down)
- Roll To Me (Del Amitri)
- Sweater Weather (The Neighbourhood)
- The Reason (Hoobastank)
- Wake Me Up When September Ends (Green Day)
🎹 Watch a performance of the entire volume:
⭐ Featured Favorites
Let’s dive deeper with some more details about a few of my personal favorites from Pop Rock Favorites: Volume 10 songbook.
1. “Come Undone” by Duran Duran (1993)
“Come Undone” is a song by the British band Duran Duran, released in March 1993 as the second single from their album “Duran Duran (The Wedding Album).” The single marked the band’s continued success in the adult contemporary radio format following the hit “Ordinary World.”
In the United States, “Come Undone” became the group’s second consecutive top-10 hit from the album, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It also performed well in other countries, reaching number one in Israel, number two in Canada, and achieving top-10 positions in Italy, Ireland, and the UK.
The song’s creation was influenced by guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, who developed the guitar hook while working on a re-interpretation of “First Impression” from their 1990 album “Liberty.” Originally, Cuccurullo and Nick Rhodes planned to use the song for a project outside of Duran Duran with Gavin Rossdale. However, Simon Le Bon showed interest in the music and improvised lyrics on the spot, making it a Duran Duran song.
The music video for “Come Undone” was directed by Julien Temple and features various unrelated clips of people in different situations. These include a little girl seeing her parents together, an older couple surviving a flood, a little girl with her white teddy bear, an alcoholic, a cross-dresser, and a woman struggling underwater to break free from chains. The video gained visibility when a portion of it was featured in an episode of the MTV show “Beavis and Butt-Head” in July 1993.
🔎 Sheet music sneak peek:
2. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers (1988/1993)
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” is a song by the Scottish duo the Proclaimers, first released as the lead single from their 1988 album “Sunshine on Leith.” Initially, it reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart and topped the charts in Australia, Iceland, and New Zealand.
In 1993, after being featured in the American film “Benny & Joon,” the song was released in North America. It achieved significant success, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and number four in Canada. It also charted at number eight on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 25 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” has become a signature song for the Proclaimers. The song’s inspiration came in 1988 when the duo was waiting to play a gig in Aberdeen and wrote it in an Edinburgh flat. Craig Reid, one half of the Proclaimers, has mentioned that the earnings from this song far exceed those from the rest of their catalog combined.
🔎 Sheet music sneak peek:
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3. “Inside Out” by Eve 6 (1998)
“Inside Out” is a song by the American rock band Eve 6. It was released in 1998 as the lead single from their self-titled debut album, “Eve 6.” The song was written by the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist Max Collins, and it became one of their most recognizable hits.
“Inside Out” is an alternative rock song characterized by catchy melodies and emotionally charged lyrics. The song’s lyrics touch on themes of self-discovery, introspection, and personal growth. It revolves around a sense of frustration and confusion but also carries a message of finding one’s identity and inner strength.
The song’s chorus, which includes the lyrics “I would swallow my pride, I would choke on the rinds, but the lack thereof would leave me empty inside,” is particularly memorable and has become an iconic part of the song.
“Inside Out” received significant radio airplay and MTV exposure, propelling Eve 6 to mainstream success in the late 1990s. It reached the top of the Modern Rock Tracks chart in the United States and achieved commercial success in several other countries.
The song’s popularity has endured over the years, making it a staple of 1990s rock music and a nostalgic favorite for many listeners. It remains one of Eve 6’s signature songs and a classic of the alternative rock genre.
🔎 Sheet music sneak peek:
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4. “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood (2012)
“Sweater Weather” is a song by the American alternative band the Neighbourhood. It was written by band members Jesse Rutherford, Zach Abels, and Jeremy Freedman and produced by Justyn Pilbrow. The song serves as the lead single from their debut studio album, “I Love You” (2013).
Released in 2013, “Sweater Weather” achieved significant success and recognition. It reached the number one position on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in June 2013 and spent eleven non-consecutive weeks at the top. The song gained further popularity when it was covered by Pentatonix for their 2018 album “Christmas Is Here!” and later covered by Kurt Hugo Schneider, Alyson Stoner, and Max S in 2014.
In 2020, the song experienced a resurgence in popularity, thanks to its use on the social media platform TikTok. This resurgence led to a significant increase in streaming, with over 5 million on-demand streams on Spotify in November 2020. As of January 2022, “Sweater Weather” still ranks in the top 100 of the most streamed songs on Spotify.
The song’s creation began casually when Zach Abels was playing the guitar, and Jesse Rutherford liked the melody and asked to record it. Rutherford mentioned that “Sweater Weather” might have been the best song they had ever written at the time.
🔎 Sheet music sneak peek:
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5. “Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down (2000)
“Kryptonite” is the debut single by American rock band 3 Doors Down. Originally released as a demo for local play in Biloxi, Mississippi, it gained popularity when it was picked up by various radio stations in late 1999 and officially serviced to radio on January 18, 2000. The song achieved significant success, topping various Billboard charts, including the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, the Modern Rock Tracks chart, and the Mainstream Top 40 chart.
The song was written by the band’s vocalist and drummer, Brad Arnold, when he was fifteen years old. It poses a unique question, asking if someone will be there not only when the singer is down but also when they are doing well, emphasizing the importance of genuine support and not being jealous of success.
The band’s demo tape of “Kryptonite” was initially given to local Mississippi radio station WCPR-FM, where it became the most requested song for over 15 weeks. This local success led to the band gaining wider attention and eventually signing a record deal.
The music video for “Kryptonite,” directed by Dean Karr, features an old man who used to be a 1950s action hero on TV. The video intercuts between the band playing in a club and the old man donning his superhero suit to chase a man harassing a woman. The video humorously portrays the old hero’s attempts to protect others and himself, including a showdown with goths and a ride on a mechanical bull with other elderly people dressed as comic villains. In the end, the old man successfully completes his mission, signifying that heroism has no age limit.
🔎 Sheet music sneak peek:
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6. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day (2005)
“Wake Me Up When September Ends” is a song by American rock band Green Day, released in 2005 as the fourth single from their album “American Idiot.” Written by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, the song reflects his personal experience with the loss of his father when he was 10 years old.
The song achieved commercial success, peaking at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and receiving platinum certification from the RIAA. It was also a top-10 hit in the UK, Canada, and other countries. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the song became symbolic and was dedicated to the victims of the disaster, as well as those affected by the September 11 attacks in 2001.
The music video, directed by Samuel Bayer, portrays a couple’s love story disrupted by the Iraq War. It emphasizes themes of loss and the impact of war on relationships. Despite criticism, the video’s message aimed to challenge conventional music video norms.
🔎 Sheet music sneak peek:
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