SONG OF THE DAY

“Good As Gold” by Melissa McClelland (Stranded In Suburbia, Orange Records Label, 2004). Written by Melissa McClelland.

INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia)

– Stranded in Suburbia is the title of Melissa McClelland’s second album.

– Melissa McClelland (born c. 1979) is an American-born Canadian singer-songwriter who lived in Burlington, Ontario in her youth and now bases her career from Toronto.

– McClelland’s music is influenced by blues and americana.

– A writer on CMJ’s staff blog wrote that McClelland has “a persona reminiscent of a female Tom Waits.” (It must be references to Tom Waits week!)

– McClelland married Luke Doucet on June 24, 2006; the two have played together on numerous stages, including at the 2006 Calgary Folk Music Festival. He has produced three of her records, Stranded in Suburbia, Thumbelina’s One Night Stand and Victoria Day.

– In 2006 McClelland opened for Matthew Good’s solo acoustic tour across Canada. During the tour the two singers closed Matthew Good’s set with a duet performance of the Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt”.

– She also works with Sarah McLachlan, providing backing vocals at her live shows. McLachlan makes a guest appearance on the song “Go Down Matthew” from McClelland’s album Thumbelina’s One Night Stand.

– In 2007 McClelland opened a tour with Jesse Cook and sang on his recording of “It Ain’t Me Babe” (a Bob Dylan cover) which was released on his 2007 album Frontiers. “It Ain’t Me Babe” was released as a single from that album, which spent 3 weeks in the top position on Billboard’s world music charts.

– Also in 2007, McClelland’s “Passenger 24” won in The 6th Annual Independent Music Awards for Best Americana Song.

– Her latest album, Victoria Day, has a vintage 1950s sound, combining dixieland with “high lonesome twang”. “Seasoned Lovers”, and features vocals from Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith.

LYRICS

Who keeps track of things like that
Well, I do
You better keep me happy
Or I’ll be howling at the moon