Hi, hello, and welcome back to our American Musical Tour, today stopping in one of my personal favorite places: Colorado. Also known as The Centennial State, Colorado was the 38th state admitted into the Union in August 1876. I lived in Colorado for a short time and still have family there, and every time I visit I fall a little more in love. Let's learn a little bit from fact dump:
-Capital City: Denver
-Area: 104,185 square miles (America's 8th largest state)
-Population: 5,877,610 estimated as of 2023 (America's 21st most populated state)
-Big 4 Major League Professional Sports Teams (Baseball, Football, Basketball, Hockey): 4/4 (Avalanche for hockey; Rockies for baseball; Broncos for football; Nuggets for basketball)
-Named College: University of Colorado (est. 1876, Boulder, CO)
-State Bird: Lark Bunting
-State Flower: Colorado Blue Columbine
-State Butterfly: Colorado Hairstreak
-State Tree: Blue Spruce
-State Gemstone: Aquamarine
-State Dog: All shelter dogs (15/10 on that, Colorado, well done)
-State Quarter: Released June 2006 (themed "Colorful Colorado," it features the Rocky Mountains and evergreen trees)
As in the past, we'll be looking at artists that were born and bands that were established in Colorado. This is obviously not all of them, but I think this is a fun list to check out, and a lot of these groups I genuinely didn't know got their start here. Let's dive in!
Handlebars by Flobots (written by A. Guerrero, J. Laurie, K. Ortiz, S. Brackett, J. Walker, M. Roberts)
Flobots are an alt hip hop/rap rock/alt rock/political hip hop/indie rock group that formed in Denver, Colorado in 2000. The group currently consists of Jamie "Jonny 5" Laurie (lead vocals), Stephen "Brer Rabbit" Brackett (lead vocals), Kenny "KennyO" Ortiz (drums), and Andy "Rok" Guerrero (guitar, vocals). Flobots have released four studio albums since 2007, with their signature song Handlebars originally featured on their 2007 debut album Fight with Tools. This song went crazy huge on mainstream radio when I was in high school, and my then-boyfriend-now-husband put it on a mix CD for me as if I hadn't already aged myself enough in this post. This was a fun throwback for me; I still think this song is an absolute banger, with lyrics that just keep proving to feel like they hit a little too close to home in just about any political climate.
I can ride my bike with no handlebars/No handlebars, no handlebars/I can ride my bike with no handlebars/No handlebars, no handlebars/Look at me, look at me, hands in the air like it's good to be/Alive, and I'm a famous rapper even when the paths are all crookedy/I can show you how to do-si-do, I can show you how to scratch a record/I can take apart the remote control, and I can almost put it back together/I can tie a knot in a cherry stem, I can tell you about Leif Ericson/I know all the words to De Colores and I'm proud to be an American/Me and my friend saw a platypus, me and my friend made a comic book/And guess how long it took, I can do anything that I want, 'cause, look
Rocky Mountain High by John Denver (written by H. Deutschendorf, M. Taylor)
Rocky Mountain High is one of the two official state songs for Colorado. Written by John Denver and Mike Taylor, it was originally featured on Denver's 1972 album of the same name. Since March 2007, it has held equal status with Colorado's other state song, Arthur John Flynn's Where the Columbines Grow. John Denver may not have been born in Colorado, but once he moved there in the '60s he, like so many others, absolutely fell in love and became a true blue Coloradan.
He was born in the summer of his 27th year/Coming home to a place he'd never been before/He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again/You might say he found a key for every door/When he first came to the mountains, his life was far away/On the road and hanging by a song/But the string's already broken and he doesn't really care/It keeps changing fast and it don't last for long/But the Colorado Rocky Mountain high/I’ve seen it rainin' fire in the sky/The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby/Rocky Mountain high, Colorado/Rocky Mountain high, high in Colorado
A Conversation with Death by Khemmis (written by Z. Coleman, P. Pendergast, B. Hutcherson)
Khemmis is a doom metal band that formed in Denver, Colorado back in 2012. The band currently consists of Zach Coleman (drums), Phil Pendergast (guitar, vocals), Ben Hutcheron (guitar, vocals), and David Small (bass guitar). The group is known for blending doom metal, traditional heavy metal, death metal, and black metal, which as you could probably guess creates a pretty intense, dramatic sound. Khemmis has released four studio albums since 2015, but their take on A Conversation with Death is featured on the 2020 mini-LP Doomed Heavy Metal. Also known as O Death, the group's metal spin on this eerie Appalachian folk song is really, really cool. You've heard it if you've played or watched the Dark Pictures Anthology video game series from Supermassive Games, and it's a permanent fixture on my Halloween playlist.
Oh, death/Oh, death/Won't you spare me over 'til another year/Well, what is this that I can't see/With icy hands getting hold of me/Well, I am death, none can excel/I open the door to Heaven and Hell
Where the Columbines Grow by Melanie (written by A. Flynn)
Where the Columbines Grow is one of the two official state songs for Colorado. With music & lyrics written by Dr. Arthur John Flynn in 1911, the song was adopted as the state anthem in May 1915. It now holds equal status with Colorado's other state song, John Denver's Rocky Mountain High. The lyrics for this song are beautifully written, painting a stunning picture of Colorado's natural landscape and so many of the things people flock to this part of the country to see. Where the snowy peaks gleam in the moonlight/Above the dark forests of pine/And the wild foaming waters dash onward/Toward lands where the tropic stars shine\/Where the scream of the bold mountain eagle/Responds to the notes of the dove/Is the purple robed West, the land that is best/The pioneer land that we love/'Tis the land where the columbines grow/Overlooking the plains far below/While the cool summer breeze in the evergreen trees/Softly sings where the columbines grow
I Ain't Worried by OneRepublic (written by R. Tedder, B. Kutzle, B. Yttling, J. Ericsson, P. Morén, T. Spry)
OneRepublic is a pop/pop rock/alt rock group that formed in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2002. The group currently consists of Ryan Tedder (lead vocals, keyboards, piano, rhythm guitar, percussion, lead guitar), Zach Filkins (lead guitar, viola, backing vocals), Drew Brown (rhythm guitar, lead guitar, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals, violin, cello), Eddie Fisher (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Brent Kutzle (bass guitar, cello, backing vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), and Brian Willett (keyboards, piano, percussion, violin, backing vocals). They've been nominated for 1 Grammy award, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 2009 for their hit song Apologize. The Lumineers have released six studio albums since 2007, and I Ain't Worried was originally featured on the soundtrack to the 2022 film Top Gun: Maverick. OneRepublic has a lot of good stuff out there, largely I think due to the super songwriting power Ryan Tedder seems to have; seriously, he's all over pop music if you look at songwriting credits. I will say my favorite OneRepublic song is probably Love Runs Out, but this song is good in its own right.
I don't know what you've been told/But time is running out, no need to take it slow/I’m stepping to you toe-to-toe/I should be scared, honey, maybe so/But I ain't worried 'bout it right now/Keeping dreams alive, 1999, heroes/I ain't worried 'bout it right now/Swimmin' in the floods, dancing on the clouds below/I ain't worried 'bout it/I ain't worried 'bout it/Hey
Easy Lover by Philip Bailey & Phil Collins (written by N. East, P. Collins, P. Bailey)
Philip Bailey was born in Denver, Colorado in May 1951. The Coloradan singer/songwriter/musician is best known as a founding member and lead singer of the iconic group Earth, Wind & Fire. A vocalist with a four octave range, Bailey is also gifted on the kalimba and other percussion instruments, and performs well in the genres of R&B, jazz, gospel, soul, pop, funk, and rock. He has received one Grammy award for his solo work, Best Gospel Performance, Male 1995 for his song Triumph. In his 54 year career, he's released 11 solo studio albums in addition to his work with Earth, Wind & Fire. Easy Lover, his popular duet with Phil Collins, was originally featured on his 1984 album Chinese Wall, peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #2, and is certified Gold by the RIAA. This is a pretty solid '80s song, and Bailey & Collins compliment each other vocally very well. It's a fun bop to listen to, especially for pop or '80s enthusiasts.
Easy lover, she'll get a hold on you, believe it/Like no other, before you know it you'll be on your knees/She's an easy lover, she'll take your heart but you won't feel it/She's like no other, and I'm just trying to make you see/She's the kind of girl you dream of, dream of keeping hold of/You'd better forget it, you'll never get it/She will play around and leave you, leave you and deceive you/Better forget it, oh, you'll regret it/No, you'll never change her, so leave it, leave it/Get out quick 'cause seeing is believing/It's the only way you'll ever know, oh
How to Save a Life by The Fray (written by I. Slade, J. King)
The Fray are a pop rock/alt rock/soft rock/Christian rock group that formed in Denver, Colorado in 2002. The group currently consists of Joe King (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals), Dave Welsh (lead guitar, bass guitar), and Ben Wysocki (drums, percussion, backing vocals, programming). They've been nominated for 4 Grammy awards, two in 2007 and two in 2010. The Fray have released four studio albums since 2005, and their signature song How to Save a Life was originally featured on their 2005 album of the same name. This song is still so, so good, even from someone who gave up on Grey's Anatomy years ago because come on, you know that's probably the first place you heard this song. It's not their only good song, of course, but it's definitely their best.
Step one, you say we need to talk/He walks, you say, "Sit down, it's just a talk"/He smiles politely back at you/You stare politely right on through/Some sort of window to your right/As he goes left and you stay right/Between the lines of fear and blame/You begin to wonder why you came/Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend/Somewhere along in the bitterness and/I would have stayed up with you all night/Had I known how to save a life
Ophelia by The Lumineers (written by J. Fraites, W. Schultz)
The Lumineers are an indie folk/folk rock/Americana group that formed in Denver, Colorado in 2005. The group currently consists of Wesley Schultz (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Jeremy Fraites (drums, percussion, keyboards, guitar, mandolin, samples, backing vocals), and they tour with other instrumentalists as well. They've been nominated for 2 Grammy awards: Best New Artist in 2013 and Best Americana album in 2014. The Lumineers have released four studio albums since 2012, with Ophelia originally featured on their 2016 album Cleopatra. This song is an absolute bop, from the catchy chorus to the fun piano line and everything in between. It's fun to listen to, sing along with, and play (even if it's a little bit of a challenge in the piano department).
I, I, when I was younger/I, I, should have known better/And I can't feel no remorse/And you don't feel nothing back/I, I, got a new girlfriend/She feels like he's on top/And I don't feel no remorse/And you can't see past my blinders/Oh, Ophelia/You've been on my mind girl since the flood/Oh, Ophelia/Heaven help a fool who falls in love
Common Ground by The Sweet Lillies (written by B. Bisque, J. Gussaroff, D. Rohleder)
The Sweet Lillies are an Americana/bluegrass group that formed in Boulder, Colorado in 2014. The group currently consists of Becca Bisque (violin, vocals), Julie Gussaroff (vocals, double bass), and Dustin Rohleder (guitar). Bisque and Gussaroff met and came up with the idea for a band in 2013 at a bluegrass jam in Golden, Colorado, and Rohleder joined the group five years later. The Sweet Lillies have released four studio albums since 2016, with Common Ground originally featured on their 2021 album of the same name. I love finding groups like this, and the older I get the more I appreciate Americana music. This is a fun song performed with love by some clearly talented musicians.
It’s all in how you frame it, this picture isn’t one that I will hang/You were ready to leave, I was trying to stay/We caught a ride on the sidewalk, shuffle past an ordinary scene/That look on your face could mean anything/And we go our rounds/Missing the truth in the sound/With our hearts so proud/Losing our footing on common ground
Don't Trust Me by 3OH!3 (written by S. Foreman, N. Motte, B. Levin)
3OH!3 (pronounced Three Oh Three) is an electropop/hip hop/synth pop/pop rap/trap/alt rock/electronic rock/crunkcore group that formed in Boulder, Colorado back in 2004. The group has consisted since the beginning of rappers Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte, and they have a band of touring musicians as well. The group was prominent in the late '00s for multiple popular radio singles, many of which peaked pretty high on Billboard lists. 3OH!3 has released six studio albums since 2007, with their signature song Don't Trust Me originally featured on the 2008 album Want. I was absolutely obsessed with this song my junior year of high school and am proud to report I still know every word like it was yesterday. This was a really fun nostalgia trip for me, so hopefully it will be for other millennials as well.
Black dress with the tights underneath/I got the breath of the last cigarette on my teeth/And she's an actress, but she ain't got no need/She's got money from her parents in a trust fund back east/T-t-t-tongues always pressed to your cheeks/While my tongue is on the inside of some other girls teeth/T-tell your boyfriend if he says he's got beef/That I'm a vegetarian and I ain't fucking scared of him/She wants to touch me, whoa, she wants to love me, whoa, she'll never leave me, whoa, whoa, oh, oh/Don't trust a hoe, never trust a hoe, won't trust a hoe 'cause the hoe won't trust me/She wants to touch me, whoa, she wants to love me, whoa, she'll never leave me, whoa, whoa, oh, oh/Don't trust a hoe, never trust a hoe, won't trust a hoe ‘cause the hoe won't trust me
I hope you found some great music from this post, as well as an urge to learn more about or visit this beautiful section of our country. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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