🎸 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 4 Songbook
The following twelve songs are included in the Pop Rock Favorites: Volume 4 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 I Want (Toad the Wet Sprocket)
- Bent (Matchbox 20)
- Blurry (Puddle of Mudd)
- Flagpole Sitta (Harvey Danger)
- I’ll Stand By You (Pretenders)
- Man on the Moon (R.E.M.)
- Meant to Live (Switchfoot)
- My Own Worst Enemy (Lit)
- Superman (It’s Not Easy) (Five for Fighting)
- Torn (Natalie Imbruglia)
- When I’m Gone (3 Doors Down)
- Zombie (The Cranberries)
🎹 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 4 songbook.
1. “All I Want” by Toad the Wet Sprocket (1992)
“All I Want” is a song by the American alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket. It was released as a single from their third studio album, “Fear,” in 1992. The song became one of the band’s most popular and enduring hits.
The song was a major hit for Toad the Wet Sprocket, reaching number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also performed well on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, where it peaked at number four.
“All I Want” is known for its catchy melody and memorable guitar riffs. The combination of acoustic and electric guitars creates a distinctive sound that became a trademark of Toad the Wet Sprocket’s music. The lyrics of “All I Want” touch on themes of longing and desire. The singer expresses a yearning for something more in life, feeling unsatisfied with the status quo.
🔎 Sheet music sneak peek:
2. “Blurry” by Puddle of Mudd (2001)
“Blurry” by American rock band Puddle of Mudd, released in 2001 as the second single from their debut album “Come Clean,” achieved remarkable success. The song topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock Tracks charts in 2002, making it the most successful rock song of that year in the United States. It also reached the top 20 in Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
The song’s creation and theme are rooted in the experience of lead singer Wes Scantlin, who felt lonely and disconnected when he was flown to Los Angeles to record with a new band lineup. Scantlin’s longing for his family and son inspired the emotional lyrics of “Blurry.”
“Blurry” was a commercial triumph for Puddle of Mudd, becoming their most successful single. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and Hot Modern Rock Tracks charts, and it climbed to number five on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song also won ASCAP Song of the Year and Pop Song of the Year awards and received two Billboard Awards in 2002. The music video, directed by Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit, features Scantlin playing with his son and poignant scenes of the band playing in a garage, enhancing the song’s emotional impact.
🔎 Sheet music sneak peek:
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3. “Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger (1998)
“Flagpole Sitta” is a song by American rock band Harvey Danger, featured on their 1997 debut album, “Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?“. Released as their debut single in April 1998, it garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success. The song peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, number three on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and number nine on the Canadian RPM Alternative 30.
The track was created during recording sessions in June 1996 and was conceived as a response to the 1990s Seattle music scene’s impact on mainstream culture. The song’s title was inspired by a line from the 1930 Marx Brothers film “Animal Crackers” about the 1920s pole sitting fad. The band creatively spelled “sitter” as “sitta” inspired by other music, including the Pavement song “Fame Throwa” and the N.W.A album “Straight Outta Compton.”
“Flagpole Sitta” gained popularity after being featured on Seattle radio station KNDD and was later promoted by London Records. It received further exposure when used in trailers and TV spots for the 1998 film “Disturbing Behavior.” The song’s genre has been described as power pop and post-grunge, and it is often lauded for its witty and hyper-literate lyrics that dissect modern society’s absurdities.
🔎 Sheet music sneak peek:
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4. “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders (1994)
“I’ll Stand by You” is a ballad recorded by the English-American rock band the Pretenders for their sixth studio album, “Last of the Independents” (1994). The song was written by Chrissie Hynde in collaboration with the songwriting team of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg. It expresses a pledge of love and unwavering support for a loved one during their times of personal darkness.
Released in April 1994, the song achieved commercial success, reaching number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 in the United Kingdom. The track’s music video, directed by Zanna, features Chrissie Hynde caring for an ailing man in an old wooden hut. The video complements the song’s theme of support and comfort during difficult times.
Critics generally praised the song for its emotional depth and Hynde’s heartfelt delivery, considering it one of the album’s standout tracks. It received positive reviews for its sincerity and emotional resonance, becoming one of the band’s notable ballads.
🔎 Sheet music sneak peek:
5. “Man on the Moon” by R.E.M. (1992)
“Man on the Moon” is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. released in November 1992 as the second single from their album “Automatic for the People” (1992). The song’s lyrics were written by lead singer Michael Stipe, while the music was composed by drummer Bill Berry and guitarist Peter Buck. It garnered critical acclaim and achieved commercial success, reaching number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 18 on the UK Singles Chart.
The song pays tribute to comedian Andy Kaufman and features numerous references to his career, including his Elvis impersonation, wrestling, and the film “My Breakfast with Blassie.” It also alludes to Moon landing conspiracy theories, indirectly connecting them to rumors that Kaufman’s death was faked. The song’s cryptic and eclectic lyrics touch on various cultural references, making it a thought-provoking piece.
The music video for “Man on the Moon” was directed by Peter Care and features Michael Stipe hitchhiking in a desert, interspersed with Moon-related imagery, including NASA Moon landings and footage of Andy Kaufman. The video is considered iconic and has been recognized as one of the top music videos by Rolling Stone magazine.
🔎 Sheet music sneak peek:
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6. “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia (1997)
In 1997, Australian singer and actress Natalie Imbruglia covered the song “Torn” for her debut studio album, “Left of the Middle.” Imbruglia’s version was produced in London and featured a team of musicians, including David Munday, Chuck Sabo, Henry Binns, Sam Hardaker (of Zero 7), and Katrina Leskanich providing background vocals. The song was mixed by Nigel Godrich and became a worldwide hit upon its release as a single.
Natalie Imbruglia’s rendition of “Torn” received critical acclaim for its acoustic-rock sound and her heartfelt delivery. The song earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The accompanying music video for “Torn” featured British actor Jeremy Sheffield.
The song’s chart performance was impressive, with it reaching the top of the charts in several countries, including the United Kingdom and Belgium. In the United States, it topped the Hot 100 Airplay chart for 11 consecutive weeks. The physical single of Imbruglia’s version sold more than 4 million copies worldwide, making it one of the UK’s biggest-selling singles of all time.
The music video for “Torn” is known for its unique concept, where Imbruglia and Sheffield engage in a conversation that gradually reveals itself as behind-the-scenes footage of a video shoot, breaking the fourth wall.
🔎 Sheet music sneak peek:
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