

For as long as I’ve been on the radio, and definitely for as long as I’ve been writing a blog, I will occasionally make a reference to a song being “One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded!” (GSER)
I would usually follow that by saying that I would eventually start a category for it, but then never get around to it.
Well, now I’m getting around to it!
My radio show, “Theme Attic,” is on Wednesdays 12PM-4PM ET.
The show can be heard on WHFR 89.3 FM in the Dearborn-Detroit area of Michigan, or it can be streamed with this link: https://www.whfr.fm/streamer/!
The Greatest Songs will pretty much follow the pattern of The Most Awesomest Song of the Day.
I’ll select a song to celebrate and then give my thoughts about it. Nothing really brand new here that hasn’t been done before. But since I have a website, I can collect them and lay out what my own greatest songs are.
Here’s a link to have a look at “The Greatest Songs Ever Recorded”: https://philmaq.com/the-greatest-songs-ever-recorded/! Occasionally, an “awesome song” crosses over to become a “Greatest Song!”
Even though I always emphasize new music and artists, it’s always fun to take a short drive through the legendary artists, since they influenced those other artists!
But a song doesn’t have to be old or done by a legendary Theme Attic Hall of Fame member to be thus honored.
I can think of several songs that are only a few years old or less that I could identify as One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded.
This will be fun, and hopefully you will join me on my journey!
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
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Today’s song is by Karyn Oliver from her 2019 Philby Award winning album, “A List of Names.”
Not only can she write powerful, melodic songs, but she can sing them in a way that can transport you to a celestial world!
She was my pick for “Best Female Vocals of 2019!”
“Beautiful” closes “A List of Names,” and Karyn saves the best for last, on an album full of “bests!”
I would never claim to know what a woman thinks (or anybody else) but I do try to pay attention. I feel this song speaks to all women, telling each and every one of them to never settle for anything, unless it’s what they want–not what someone else wants.
And that they’re Beautiful!
She sings it over and over, because it’s true!
Although it’s directed to empower women and boost self esteem, there are enough universals in the lyrics for anyone to pick up on the image building aspects of the song!
The arrangement is “beautiful,” too, featuring Jon Shain and FJ Ventre (who both make great music as a separate duo!), Doug Hammer, Kaitlin Grady, Jim Roberts, and Tom Prasado-Rao.
And as great as the arrangement is, Karyn Oliver‘s incredible vocal takes the song to a level that I’ve rarely ever heard…and enjoyed!
There are a few amazing singers out there that can do astounding vocal acrobatics, but it’s not always enjoyable. I can appreciate the vocals, but I don’t always like them.
Karyn‘s vocals go directly to my soul!
Now I don’t know this as a fact, but I’m pretty sure all of those exotic songbird trills were never written down! They couldn’t be! That is what makes the vocal so unbelievable!
And just as the song appears to be settling into a pattern, Karyn finds another gear and kicks things up even higher!
I finally figured out the best way to describe her vocal: She’s what angels sing along to when they’re warming up to sing!
So, from her soul to yours, The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Beautiful” by Karyn Oliver!!!
Chills, Baby!
I have plenty of other musical areas to explore:
Here’s a link for my weekly list of Fave Songs:
https://philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-songs/
Here’s a link for my weekly Fave Album lists:
philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-albums
My somewhat unusual Hall of Fame can be explored here: https://philmaq.com/hall-of-fame/!
Lastly, but most importantly, is my Philby Awards link! A Philby is my annual award for outstanding musical achievement! https://philmaq.com/philbys/!
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
#KarynOliver #Beautiful #AListofNames #PhilMaq #OneoftheGreatestSongsEverRecorded #GSER


New Year Resolutions are easy!
I mean, all you have to do is write something down on a piece of paper or type it on a computer and you’re good to go.
Right?
Right?
Ha, ha!
Well, it might be easy to state one, but certainly much more difficult to follow through.
And following through is the most important part.
In my personal life, the family gets together and lays out our own individual and group goals at a dinner. We do this to publicly state what we want to accomplish in the next year. We also have follow up dinners to track our progress.
There’s nothing new or innovative about this process. However, life is so complicated and stressful that it often seems like nothing is being accomplished. The goal discussions brings everyone’s attention back to the positive aspects of accomplishments–even those that are incremental and don’t seem very obvious.
And I am a firm believer to make goals attainable without being ridiculous–like work goals often are.
It makes absolutely no sense to have a goal that can never be reached unless you can warp to another dimension.
Sometimes I even make silly goals. There was one year when I felt I would change things up by setting a weight goal that was larger than what I weighed because it gets frustrating focusing on a goal that seems impossible. Thankfully, I never did attain that goal of three hundred pounds, but we had a good laugh every time it was brought up! And I ended up losing weight that year! Hey! The pressure was off!
Concerning my music goals, since I have selected an annual goal of playing or debuting two new artists per show, it has been an automatically renewed goal.
I limit the goal to two because sometimes my show only has enough for two new artists: an opening number and a finale; all of the other space is accounted for and there really is no extra room.
Now I could make it an average number per show which can average out over time. However, I don’t want to be tempted to NOT play artist debuts on a show.
But I also feel a need to add another meaningful goal…but what?
So, I’ve decided to focus on what I consider to be a weak spot in my musical obsession–SINGLES!
Although I do listen to singles (one track songs or files), I pretty much do it as an afterthought when I don’t have much time or I’m tired of listening to albums and I want to “take a break” yet still listen to something without committing to a lengthy listen.
I came up with this idea after talking with several independent artists who aren’t always sure how to promote their music.
They feel very strongly about single releases.
I don’t.
But after looking at this year’s as yet uncompleted Philby Hot 100 Songs of 2021, I found nine official single releases.
That surprised me because I would have thought the number would have been smaller.
In other words, whether I want to admit it or not, singles had crept into my listening and reporting habits.
Therefore, I will seriously focus some of my attention on singles by listening to at least one per day.
I will allow this goal to be averaged over the year in case I go out of town or something.
I intend to do a follow up or two to track my progress and give some thought to what I’ve learned.
Just for the record, I began this goal at the beginning of the year.
59 days into it, I have listened to 100 songs!
I seem to have adjusted tp the goal.
So that’s it!
I now have two music resolutions and I am excited about them!
Also, I liked this picture and didn’t want to delete it!

I’m Phil Maq and I normally do a weekly College radio show, “Theme Attic” which can be heard every Wednesday from 1PM-4PM ET.
Here’s a link to stream it: https://www.whfr.fm/streamer/!
I’m on the lookout for new music and artists!
Actually, I’m looking for any and all “good music” all of the time!
If you read this and want to send me your music, please send mp3s to phil@philmaq.com!
I have plenty of other musical areas to explore:
Here’s a link for my weekly list of Fave Songs:
https://philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-songs/
Here’s a link for my weekly Fave Album lists:
philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-albums
Another list that you might find interesting is my list for “The Most Awesomest Songs of the Day”:https://philmaq.com/most-awesomest-songs/!
If you’d like to know what I think are even better than awesome songs, have a look at “The Greatest Songs Ever Recorded”:https://philmaq.com/the-greatest-songs-ever-recorded/! Occasionally, an “awesome song” crosses over to become a “Greatest Song!”
My somewhat unusual Hall of Fame can be explored here: https://philmaq.com/hall-of-fame/!
Lastly, but most importantly, is my Philby Awards link! A Philby is my annual award for outstanding musical achievement! https://philmaq.com/philbys/!
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!


I have a feature to recognize a slice of good music: The Most Awesomest Song of the Day!
Here’s a link to the complete list: https://philmaq.com/most-awesomest-songs/
I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my weekly “Theme Attic” show, Wednesdays, from 12PM-4PM ET!
The show can be heard on WHFR 89.3 FM in the Dearborn-Detroit area of Michigan, or it can be streamed with this link: https://www.whfr.fm/streamer/!
If you’d like to know what I think are even better than the awesome songs, have a look at “The Greatest Songs Ever Recorded”:https://philmaq.com/the-greatest-songs-ever-recorded/! Occasionally, an “awesome song” crosses over to become a “Greatest Song!”
But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.
Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.
Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!
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Singer/Songwriter Mark Jewett is very clever with his craft.
Over two albums and an EP, he has been able to straddle a fine line between serious and whimsical.
Ranging from abusive relationships to double entendres about refrigerators and food, Jewett has shown he can deliver on a large palette of musical landscapes.
Only truly gifted artists can master the breadth of all of the contained emotions.
Many of his best humorous leaning songs are ones that both an everyman or everywoman can relate to!
On “Michigan Snow Shoveling Blues,” Mark provides an all too familiar scenario that anyone living in a snowbelt city or town can identify with!
The song appears on Mark’s “The Lucky One” album.
Here he is delivering an acoustic version.
A listener can enjoy it from one of two perspectives: “Man, I sure know what that feels like!” or “Whew! I’m glad I don’t have to deal with that!
Either side of the line you’re on, “Michigan Snow Shoveling Blues” is a fun experience!
The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Michigan Snow Shoveling Blues” by Mark Jewett!!!
I have plenty of other musical areas to explore:
Here’s a link for my weekly list of Fave Songs:
https://philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-songs/
Here’s a link for my weekly Fave Album lists:
philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-albums
My somewhat unusual Hall of Fame can be explored here: https://philmaq.com/hall-of-fame/!
Lastly, but most importantly, is my Philby Awards link! A Philby is my annual award for outstanding musical achievement! https://philmaq.com/philbys/!
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
#MichiganSnowShovelingBlues #MarkJewett #TheLuckyOne #PhilMaq #themostawesomestsongoftheday