It's Alright
March 27, 2015 10:00 PM   Subscribe

What is this song? Chorus: "iiiiiit's alllll-right"

This might be a long shot: I heard a song on the radio today that I can't track down. Here are the details I can figure out:

1. Guitar based, relatively simple song structure (almost like Dinosaur Jr. but lighter tone guitar?)
2. Chorus is "iiiiit's alllllright ([when?] [you?] something something something)." repeat. Sung by nasally-sounding dude.
3. It starts off kind of slow and slowly gains tempo in the same structure/chord progression.
4. One of the lyrics might be (and I really emphasize might be, because this might just be red herring) a variation on (something something) being me and you/you and me.

I'm thinking it's the last 3 decades or so, but from my really hazy memory of it (couldn't pick up any memorable, googleable lyrics) it seems late 80s or modern.
The station plays stuff from The Cure to today, as far as I can tell.

If anybody has any leads, I'm desperate. Thanks!
posted by stresstwig to Grab Bag (53 answers total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
possibly Jane's Addiction "Been Caught Stealing"
posted by softlord at 10:02 PM on March 27, 2015


Traveling Wilburys' song End of the Line?
posted by barchan at 10:09 PM on March 27, 2015 [14 favorites]


Is it The Traveling Wilburys The End of the Line?
posted by TwoStride at 10:09 PM on March 27, 2015 [5 favorites]


U2 - She Moves in Mysterious Ways?
posted by mosk at 10:12 PM on March 27, 2015 [2 favorites]


Styrofoam boots by Modest Mouse?
posted by frednorton at 10:16 PM on March 27, 2015


Saved By The Bell theme song?
posted by Sassyfras at 10:26 PM on March 27, 2015 [5 favorites]


Not I'm Alright by Kenny Loggins?

Check it out at 1:00.

Probably waaay off, but hey. Caddyshack.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:37 PM on March 27, 2015 [3 favorites]


You're not thinking of the Beatles, "Here Comes the Sun"?
posted by slateyness at 10:50 PM on March 27, 2015


My wife suggests It's Alright, by the Pet Shop Boys.
posted by Durhey at 10:50 PM on March 27, 2015 [1 favorite]


Seconding the Traveling Wilburys:
Well it's all right, even if you're old and gray
Well it's all right, you still got something to say
Well it's all right, remember to live and let live
Well it's all right, the best you can do is forgive

Well it's all right, riding around in the breeze
Well it's all right, if you live the life you please
Well it's all right, even if the sun don't shine
Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:05 PM on March 27, 2015 [6 favorites]


I know it's probably not actually the "Saved by the Bell" theme song, but that's definitely what this post put in my head.
posted by c'mon sea legs at 11:11 PM on March 27, 2015 [5 favorites]


I don't have a particular suggestion, but does the radio station have a history of the song they played on their website? You may have to dig for it a bit, but I've had success with that before. (But yeah I think of the U2 song too.)
posted by Crystalinne at 11:18 PM on March 27, 2015 [2 favorites]


The Rolling Stones, Jumpin' Jack Flash?
posted by irisclara at 11:46 PM on March 27, 2015 [4 favorites]


Doesn't fit the modern part, but It's Alright is sung several times in The Velvet Underground's Rock & Roll
posted by stachemaster at 12:11 AM on March 28, 2015


It's Alright by Matt and Kim
or
Alright by Kinnie Starr?
posted by jaksemas at 12:16 AM on March 28, 2015


Huey Lewis and the News "It's alright" does 2 & 4.
posted by b33j at 12:20 AM on March 28, 2015


Guns and Roses, it's alright? doesn't seem to fit.
posted by b33j at 12:23 AM on March 28, 2015


Original nasally sounding dude: Bob Dylan Don't think twice, it's alright.
posted by b33j at 12:26 AM on March 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


"It's Alright", theme song from UK TV series "New Tricks", by Marc Bolan, sung by Dennis Waterman?
posted by chen at 12:31 AM on March 28, 2015


Or "Alright" by Supergrass?
posted by lisa g at 12:43 AM on March 28, 2015 [2 favorites]




"I'm Alright" by Owsley?
posted by brookedel at 1:43 AM on March 28, 2015


Bowie?
Lady Stardust
posted by pompomtom at 2:14 AM on March 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Are you thinking of Joe Cocker's Feelin' All Right, maybe?
posted by HandfulOfDust at 2:28 AM on March 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Or Traffic's version of the same ^ song (the original!).
posted by HandfulOfDust at 2:42 AM on March 28, 2015


Long shot -
Fun Lovin' Criminals - Bump (Gay night - it's alright, don't be uptight.)

Edit: Another FLC track with 'Alright':
Love Unlimited (Barry White)
posted by quinndexter at 3:22 AM on March 28, 2015


Another long shot - "Alright", by Darius Rucker ?
posted by walkinginsunshine at 4:43 AM on March 28, 2015


What about The Rake's Song, by the Decemberists?
posted by statsgirl at 5:04 AM on March 28, 2015


Or maybe "Little Dawn" by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists?
posted by statsgirl at 5:18 AM on March 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Doesn't meet any of the criteria except for nasally-sounding dude, and structure but Alright by Pilot Speed (formally Pilate)? If nothing else, a good reason to increase the visibility of a great song (and album)!
posted by apcmwh at 5:37 AM on March 28, 2015


Nobody's mentioned Supergrass yet?
posted by tinkletown at 6:21 AM on March 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


I'd be shocked if this weren't "End of the Line" by The Traveling Wilburys.
posted by holborne at 7:12 AM on March 28, 2015


Also think it's End of the Line but for future seekers, and since I'll never get to answer this to anything else; might it have been Aslan - It's Alright?
posted by Iteki at 7:46 AM on March 28, 2015


Two more ideas: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Breakdown ("It's alright if you love me. It's alright if you don't) and Buddy Holly singing "Well Alright" which has too many lines starting that way to quote and very simple guitar structure.
posted by carmicha at 8:19 AM on March 28, 2015


I'm Only Shooting Love by the Time Bandits?
posted by hawthorne at 8:21 AM on March 28, 2015


From your description (nasally {white?} dude) it's probably not J.J.Jackson's But Its Alright and yet, that track must appear among these answers.
posted by Rash at 9:00 AM on March 28, 2015


Eurythmics?
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 9:04 AM on March 28, 2015


It's Alright by East 17?
posted by Kris10_b at 9:10 AM on March 28, 2015


Another longshot - "It's OK" by Dead Moon - or, if it was on an "alternative" radio station, Pearl Jam doing their cover of the song.
posted by zombiedance at 9:37 AM on March 28, 2015


C'mon people: It's All Right Now, Free /obv.
posted by Bron at 9:43 AM on March 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Could it be David Bowie?
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 12:17 PM on March 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Came in to also suggest Young Americans by David Bowie, except it's "All night"
posted by vitabellosi at 1:13 PM on March 28, 2015


Next time, have the Shazam app on your phone.
posted by AppleTurnover at 2:29 PM on March 28, 2015


Response by poster: Thanks for all the guesses, but as much as I wish it was The Traveling Willburys, it's not. This was something played on the local (Clearchannel-owned) station that does "indie" and "alternative" (as much as CC can) and fit very much into that (admittedly vague) type. From the suggestions, Supergrass came the closest in terms of sound/structure, but still not the one that's been stuck in my head and is slowly fading.

The station does post a log of what they played but for some reason it only goes back about the 10 most recent songs, which was pretty useless by the time I remembered to try and look it up. I sent them a note on Twitter, but I'm not super hopeful about getting a response.
posted by stresstwig at 2:31 PM on March 28, 2015


Response by poster: Yeah, and I couldn't Shazam it because I was both driving and there's a hands-free law.
posted by stresstwig at 2:32 PM on March 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Another possibility that fits with "might be played by a Clear Channel commercial alt-rock station in 2015" and "nasally sounding dude" = "Da Vinci" by Weezer, released last year, with "Everything will be alright" in the chorus. (Though if you didn't know the song title you'd probably guess it was called "Loss for Words.")
posted by lisa g at 3:09 PM on March 28, 2015


Longshot, but it's not Aerosmith is it? The song F.I.N.E. might be it?
posted by notsnot at 6:16 PM on March 28, 2015


The station does post a log of what they played

OH. Logs.

Did a little campus radio back in the day, and I remember having to make sure play list logs were updated for CRTC purposes -Canada, obviously.

Since you're saying Clear Channel, assuming you're stateside.

Similarly, under FCC rules, there's a requirement to log certain things. This guy gives a run-through of log requirements.

Even though "there is no longer any requirement to keep program logs or records of material that is broadcast," he says "many licensees maintain one anyway as a convenient and reliable record of spots and other material that has been broadcast. Such program logs can be used for internal and business purposes, as, for example, to document for advertisers, agencies or reps that a spot was actually broadcast (and when)."

So, faint hope clause here: maybe you can contact the station directly and ask them if they have play list logs? They might. If you've got a rough idea of date/time, e.g. between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm on March 27, you might have a shot at it.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:19 PM on March 28, 2015


I know! Let's ask this guy!
posted by carmicha at 8:44 PM on March 28, 2015


Are you absolutely certain it isn't the Big Head Todd song? It fits all your criteria.


Now that you're doing alright,
You're pretty much outta sight.
I don't see you knockin' 'round my door anymore.
I'm glad to hear you're doing well,
But I know that time will tell.
Only when you're broken down, is that what friends are for?

It's alright if you just wanna go home.
It's alright if you just wanna be alone.
It's alright if you just wanna go home.
I understand
.
posted by ladybird at 1:32 AM on March 29, 2015


Response by poster: Yup, I'm sure! What I've got stuck in my head is much faster and pop-catchier. I sent out some feelers to the station. Thanks for the guesses, y'all. If I ever figure it out I'll update (or try and remember to update and then post an ask about what I'm forgetting).
posted by stresstwig at 2:03 PM on March 29, 2015


Could it be this?
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds "You Know We Can't Go Back" SLYT
posted by drinkmaildave at 1:20 PM on April 2, 2015


Response by poster: Welp, I'm pretty sorry about this whole thing--I think my memory of the song was too awful in order to give anybody any really productive leads. In any case, it was Built to Spill's new single, Living Zoo.
posted by stresstwig at 10:16 AM on April 12, 2015


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