# Name this tune **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239 "2007-01-24T14:38:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/1 "2007-01-24T14:38:55Z")
Here we go with another round of “name this tune”. I banged out what I believe to be a recognizable chunk of it in a MIDI editor (the tempo is slightly off in places): [NameThisTune](http://home.earthlink.net/~ahunter03/Stuff/NameThisTune.mid) It’s done in close harmony with a fairly standard backbeat behind it. Can’t get enough of the lyrics to google it but something, at some point, about “wanna change the world”, I think? Sufficiently popular to provoke some astonishment that I don’t “just know” the name of it. Pop music, standard fare. ---
**Author:** ![Illinois\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Illinois\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illinois_Boy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/2 "2007-01-24T16:32:59Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] Here we go with another round of “name this tune”. I banged out what I believe to be a recognizable chunk of it in a MIDI editor (the tempo is slightly off in places): [NameThisTune](http://home.earthlink.net/~ahunter03/Stuff/NameThisTune.mid) It’s done in close harmony with a fairly standard backbeat behind it. Can’t get enough of the lyrics to google it but something, at some point, about “wanna change the world”, I think? Sufficiently popular to provoke some astonishment that I don’t “just know” the name of it. Pop music, standard fare. [/QUOTE] That would be Waiting On the World to Change by John Mayer. As far as I know it’s the 1st single from his latest album (Continuum - a pretty good one) and ABC has been using in promos for Brothers and Sisters I think (the Sally Field ; Ally McBeal show on Sundays). Amazon has a sample, somewhere on this page ([World to Change](http://www.amazon.com/Continuum-John-Mayer/dp/B000H0MKGK/sr=8-1/qid=1169656292/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-6448332-2738835?ie=UTF8&s=music) ) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/3 "2007-01-24T21:53:59Z")
Nope, not it. The thing I’m talking about is more in the “smooth jazz” / “supermarket pop” genre, and the chords you hear in my MIDI rendition are sung in close harmony by male vocalists. And it’s been around for a few years although I couldn’t tell you how many. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/4 "2007-01-24T22:24:59Z")
It bears some vague resemblance to _Free Bird_. (Skynard) Could that be it? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/5 "2007-01-24T22:35:31Z")
I may be culturally deprived, but I’m not quite so culturally deprived that I don’t know _Free Bird_ when I hear it. And I wouldn’t describe _Free Bird_ as close harmony, all things considered. I’m talking harmony like you’d get from Crosby Stills and Nash (it ain’t them though). ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/6 "2007-01-25T03:14:26Z")
OK, I put a bit more effort into the MIDI. Please listen again. C’mon, folks. I’ve seen people post in here describing a tune as “you know, it starts off diddle deely da loo da loo” and get nailed on that basis. I’m sure someone ought to be able to give me some auditory recognition here. [Name this tune](http://home.earthlink.net/~ahunter03/Stuff/NameThisTune.mid) ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/7 "2007-01-25T03:30:52Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] I may be culturally deprived, but I’m not quite so culturally deprived that I don’t know _Free Bird_ when I hear it. And I wouldn’t describe _Free Bird_ as close harmony, all things considered. [/QUOTE] I have no idea, but you might get more people willing to guess if you’re not snarky to those who you think are guessing wrong. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/8 "2007-01-25T05:07:40Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] I have no idea, but you might get more people willing to guess if you’re not snarky to those who you think are guessing wrong. [/QUOTE] Oh, I suppose. Here’s [Free Bird](http://home.earthlink.net/~ahunter03/Stuff/FreeBird.mid). Here’s [the song I’m trying to get identified](http://home.earthlink.net/~ahunter03/Stuff/NameThisTune.mid). You hear any similarities? Hmm…oddly enough, now that I’m listening to them both, I’m thinking I do owe **Liberal** an apology. OK, there’s more resemblance than I’d originally thought. Actually a lot more. (oops). Sorry, **Liberal**. No, that ain’t it. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/9 "2007-01-25T05:17:53Z")
I got Free Bird too, but there’s something else vaguely familiar about this tune, too. Damned if I can place it. I hauled my daughter out here to listen (she being the pop music queen around here) and she said it didn’t sound familiar to her. Sorry. We tried. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/10 "2007-01-25T05:27:00Z")
I think I know it!!! “Just Another Day” by Jon Secada It’s track uno on [this album](http://www.amazon.com/Jon-Secada-Greatest-Hits/dp/B00000JMX2/sr=8-1/qid=1169702494/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-8921807-7984800?ie=UTF8&s=music), but it doesn’t play the chorus part. The link [here](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5x2tk60xekrf) doesn’t either. Neither does the [Barnes & Noble](http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?z=y&EAN=724352033621&itm=1) clip. Neither does the iTunes preview. Dammit! I’m still convinced this is the song though. Check the links and see if any of the parts that do play are recognizable, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/11 "2007-01-25T05:29:21Z")
And the lyrics can be found [here](http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=3530822107858501154), if the words can ring any bells. The chorus is the part that starts “I … I don’t want to say it/I don’t want to find another way/Make it through the day without you.” ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/12 "2007-01-25T05:31:28Z")
Thanks for trying. [Here’s](http://home.earthlink.net/~ahunter03/Stuff/ChangeTheWorld.mid) the portion of the MIDI that I _think_ had words “La la la la change the world”. “I don’t want to change the world” or something like that. Don’t forget: harmony. At least 3 dudes singing in harmony. Male singers. Not Crosby Stills and Nash but that kind of harmony. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/13 "2007-01-25T05:35:55Z")
[QUOTE=Lisa-go-Blind] I think I know it!!! “Just Another Day” by Jon Secada [/QUOTE] Yes!!! That’s it! Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/14 "2007-01-25T05:38:17Z")
Ha, I thought your previous comment was referring to my post. I was thinking, “Well, if it isn’t ‘Just Another Day,’ Jon Secada should totally sue.” Glad to be of help. I’ve never correctly guessed one of these before! ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/15 "2007-01-25T05:41:06Z")
Nevermind 🙂 (That wasn’t my guess anyway) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/16 "2007-01-25T05:45:26Z")
[QUOTE=Lisa-go-Blind] It’s track uno on [this album](http://www.amazon.com/Jon-Secada-Greatest-Hits/dp/B00000JMX2/sr=8-1/qid=1169702494/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-8921807-7984800?ie=UTF8&s=music), but it doesn’t play the chorus part. . [/QUOTE] Your first link (above-quoted), in the RealPlayer version _only_ (the Windows Media Player link is of a different selection), contained enough of the chorus to confirm it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/17 "2007-01-25T05:51:53Z")
And the “close harmony” is via background vocalists, not multiple primary vocalists. Well, dangit, it’s not like I had the damn CD to play and listen to at my leisure, just heard fragments in the damn grocery store. “Hey, what’s that song?” ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/18 "2007-01-25T05:58:05Z")
And by God, I get “perfect pitch” credits, dammit! I’m in the same freaking key as the actual song! (by pure accident of course, but still) ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/19 "2007-01-25T06:09:17Z")
Of course, if I had been thinking properly, I could have just posted a link to the [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yfu9egNOdA). ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239/20 "2007-01-25T06:20:31Z")
A quick excursion to the iTunes Music Store later and… [Applicable Fragment](http://home.earthlink.net/~ahunter03/Stuff/ApplicableFragment.mp3) [What I constructed](http://home.earthlink.net/~ahunter03/Stuff/NameThisTune.mid) in MIDI as a facsimile of what I remembered hearing. Many many appreciative kudos to **Lisa-go-Blind** for knowing what she knows when she hears it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-tune/389239.md?page=2)