Help me find this song's title?

March 16, 2008 11:17 PM

Help me find this song's title, please.

This is so sad. Really. I have this pitiful vague glimpse of the song left in my head.

My husband is making me post this question. He is sure someone here will know. If someone here does know, I will bake the man a cake (sorry I cannot bake one for the person that may know the song!).

Here is all I have:
I think the song was a top 40 in like 2000, 2001, or maybe 2002.
I remember running while listening to the song and liking it, so it must have been upbeat. I believe it might have been something to do with overcoming some kind of racial barrier, or perhaps some kind of other social barrier. I like songs like that. This one talked about a building, or mentioned a building. Upstairs or something. Maybe. The person singing is, I think, talking about life or this other person in their life. Um. What else do people sing about, I know. Sorry this is so vague. It might have had stuff about opposites in the lyrics. That's what I remember most strongly. Something like black and white or up and down or inside and out or something. It might have been vaguely a love song, perhaps. By that I mean it was somewhat uplifting or upbeat and had some kind of happy ending. Or a happy thought in it somewhere.

Male singer. The song was current at the time. It was new. It was not a remake of an oldie (I can sing along with almost all the oldies, but do not think that is why I have such a vague memory of the song--I am under 35 and my memory is fine for most things!). It must have been very popular because I can remember hearing it on 3 or 4 of 5 runs per week. I can't remember if I was running in the mornings or evenings at that point.

Any help would be hugely appreciated. I will recognize it if I hear it or if I read the lyrics, I'm sure.

If you all can figure out this one, another one I am trying to find should be a piece of cake. ;)

posted by AllieTessKipp to media & arts (24 comments total)

The first thing that comes to mind is City High's "What Would You Do". Do you remember if it was rock? R&B? Rap?
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:26 PM on March 16

Hmmm, possibly Black Eyed Peas- Where is the Love?
posted by Wanderlust88 at 11:31 PM on March 16

Cumbersome by Seven Mary Three?

It reference a bunch of opposites in the lyrics, it's kind of about a person and another person in his life. It's got the black and white reference in the chorus:

Too heavy, too light, too black or too white
Too wrong or too right, today or tonight
Cumbersome
Too rich or too poor, she's wanting me less
And I'm wanting her more
The bitter taste is cumbersome

It got big radio play where I live in your suggested timeframe. Male Singer. No Barriers or buildings overtly referenced, however.

I hope your husband enjoys the cake our toil will earn him.
posted by chudmonkey at 11:33 PM on March 16

Assuming you're American, does this list help?
posted by b33j at 11:34 PM on March 16

Since you haven't had opportunity to chose a best answer yet, here's my suggestion: Restless Heart, Why Does It Have to Be Wrong or Right (2nd song):

We don't have to carry on.
But still I wonder:
Why does it have to be wrong or right?
Why does it have to be one way or the other?
Won't somebody please, please tell me.
Why does it have to be black or white?
Why do we have to hurt one to love another?
Oh, tell me why?
Why does it have to be?

Perhaps not, but a great song none-the-less.
posted by dawson at 11:52 PM on March 16

My first guess was Eve 6, "Think Twice" -- not particularly uplifting, but there is one part:

When I showed up and he was there
I tried my best to grin and bear
And took the stairs but didn't stop at the street
And as we speak I'm going down

Or possibly Yellowcard's "Empty Apartment," or maybe something by Jimmy Eat World?


Try checking out those NOW compilations?
http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/various_artists___series___now_thats_what_i_call_music____us

or these lists:
http://top40-charts.com/features/YearEnd/yearend2000.php
posted by samthemander at 1:46 AM on March 17

I think it's a bit earlier than you were looking for, but could it be Heartspark Dollarsign by Everclear?
posted by indienial at 2:33 AM on March 17

My first reaction was You Get What You Give by the New Radicals.

Upbeat, with a male singer. But further inspection reveals that it was popular in 98-99, with questionable opposite-y-ness.

The music video has puppies in it though; consider that my peace offering if it's the wrong song. And if it's the right song, I don't like cake, so you're off the hook.
posted by the littlest brussels sprout at 3:52 AM on March 17

I was also going to suggest You Get What You Give.
posted by kimdog at 5:37 AM on March 17

My suggestion is "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind - its a little earlier than what you're saying (1999), but it matches elsewhere.

"The angry boy, a bit too insane
Icing over a secret pain
You know you don't belong
You're the first to fight
You're way too loud
You're the flash of light
On a burial shroud
I know something's wrong
Well everyone I know has got a reason
To say
Put the past away

(Chorus)
I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend
You could cut ties with all the lies
That you've been living in
And if you do not want to see me again
I would understand "

Link to Youtube Clip of the song here.
posted by plaidrabbit at 6:12 AM on March 17

I just thought of another possible idea - Eve 6's "On the Roof Again"

Another YouTube clip - not official, and with crappy anime to it, but the music is there.
posted by plaidrabbit at 6:17 AM on March 17

A long shot, but Outkast's Rosa Parks?
posted by pised at 7:00 AM on March 17

It was some kind of pop/rock song, for sure. Not rap. I'd remember a rap song. I don't listen to much rap, so that would stick out.

I listened to/looked at all the songs/lyrics above, sadly it was none of those. Some good music there, though. I like that Everclear song but that is not the one I'm looking for.

I didn't think to say if I am American. I live in the US, in the PNW.

I wish I could remember more of the song!! I know it had some kind of chorus part, and that probably had the opposites or the building or the black & white or all three in it.

I looked at the lists, but that does not help--partly because I can't tell gender from the artist's name in most cases (and I am just not big into music so I have not absorbed what you all probably have as second nature now :) and the titles do not help because I don't think I ever knew the song title.

I really appreciate everyone's help. :) Please keep trying if you have the time to spare.
posted by AllieTessKipp at 9:21 AM on March 17

Could you maybe help by letting us know what style of music it was? Rock? Rap? Jazz?

That could at least narrow out some of the potential choices.
posted by plaidrabbit at 9:31 AM on March 17

It was some kind of pop rock top 40 song. Not rap, not jazz, not hard rock, not industrial. I'm sorry I forgot to include that in my original post.
posted by AllieTessKipp at 9:43 AM on March 17

It's a little older than you're looking for (1995), but could it be Collective Soul's The World I Know?
posted by Metroid Baby at 10:46 AM on March 17

Babylon by David Gray?
posted by the littlest brussels sprout at 11:01 AM on March 17

:( Sorry. It was neither of those.

I am thinking that because of where I was running, it had to be light out in the evenings. So probably It was between April-September. I'll go check those lists (above) again and see if I can find lyrics to the songs that were popular during those months.

I wish I could find it! I really liked that song.
posted by AllieTessKipp at 12:37 PM on March 17

I have another Eve 6 suggestion - maybe Inside Out? It's late 90s but may have still been in heavy rotation a few years later.
posted by sascha at 2:28 AM on March 18

That was not it. Thank you everyone, for trying to help me. I do appreciate it. At least I have narrowed it down a bit. I did figure out that it was only really playing for about 3-4 weeks on the radio that year and I don't believe I have heard it since, so I don't think it made it to any top whatever lists for whatever year it was. Maybe it will come to me in a dream or something. I tried listening to some compilations of popular songs from 2000 and 2001 on Youtube but did not hear it there.
posted by AllieTessKipp at 3:45 PM on March 18

This came to mind..."I believe"- Blessed Union Of Souls Try the remix version...its more upbeat. Hope you find your song : )
posted by babyluvschrome at 5:47 PM on May 11

OMG AllieTessKipp....I think I found it for you....I really thought Blessed Union Of Souls-"I Believe" was the song you were looking for...But nowwww I am almost certain I have your song...try this: Craig David- "Fill Me In" I hope you check this post! If/when you do,Youtube or itune this song and let me know if it's the one. Its a male singer,it came out in 2001,it's upbeat (easy to run to)...and it mentions black and white. ; )
posted by babyluvschrome at 7:15 PM on May 11

CRAIG DAVID LYRICS

"Fill Me In"

(All right)
(Come on)
(Can you fill me in)

I was checking this girl next door
When her parents went out
She phoned said hey boy, come on right around
So I knock at the door
You was standing with a bottle of red wine
Ready to pour
Dressed in long black Satin and Lace to the floor

So I went in
Then we sat down start kissing
Caressing
Told me about Jacuzzi
Sounded interesting
So we jumped right in
All calls diverted to answer phone
Please leave a message after the tone

You know me and her
Her Parents were kinda cool
But they ran a fine line between me and you
We were just doing things young people in love do
Parents trying to find out what we were up to

Saying why were you creeping round late last night
Why did I see two shadows moving in your bedroom light
Now you're dressed in black
When I left you were dressed in white
Can you fill me in
Calls diverted to answer phone
Red wine bottle half the contents gone
Midnight return Jacuzzi turned on
Can you fill me in

Whenever the coast was clear and she'd ask me to come out
I'd say hey girl, come on right around
So she knocked at the door
I was standing with the keys in my hand to the 4x4
Jumped in my ride
Checkin' in where nobody saw

The club we went in
We got down bounced bounced to the rhythm
Saw it was early morning
Thought we'd better be leaving
So I gave you my jacket for you to hold
Told you to wear it cause you felt cold

I mean me and her
Didn't mean to break the rules
I weren't trying to play your Mum and Dad for fools
We were just doing things young people in love do
Parents trying to find out what we were up to

Saying why can't you keep your promises no more
Say you'll be home by 12 come strolling in at 4
Out went the girls but leaving with the boy next door
Can you fill me in
Wearing a jacket who's property
Said you'd been queuing for a Taxi
But you left all your money on the TV
Can you fill me in

(Can you fill me in)

All they seem to do
Is be checking up on you
Baby

(Craig David)

Watching our every move
Think some day they might approve
Baby

Why were you creeping round late last night
Why did I see two shadows moving in your bedroom light
Now you're dressed in black
When I left you were dressed in white
Can you fill me in

(Can you fill me in)

Calls diverted to answer phone
Red wine bottle half the contents gone
Midnight return Jacuzzi turned on
Can you fill me in

(Can you fill me in)...
posted by babyluvschrome at 7:25 PM on May 11

THANK YOU!! :)
posted by AllieTessKipp at 9:18 PM on May 22