The 10 Best Grace Potter Songs of All-Time
Grace Potter is an American singer-songwriter. Some people will know her because of her time in Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. However, they parted ways in 2015, meaning she is now a solo artist.
Here is our opinion on the ten best Grace Potter songs ever:
10. “Paris (Ooh La La)”
Paris is one of the most famous cities in the world. It is so well-known that some tourists experience culture shock when reality fails to meet their expectations, which is inevitable because the latter has become so exaggerated in their imaginations. Fortunately, the name “Paris (Ooh La La)” conjures a specific set of images that Potter more than lived up to in the song.
9. “Cortez the Killer”
This is a cover of a Neil Young song. For those unfamiliar, “Cortez” refers to Hernan Cortes, the conquistador who toppled the Aztec Triple Alliance while bringing much of what would become modern Mexico under Spanish rule. He is one of the most memorable figures in the Spanish colonization of the Americas, which remains a subject of much discussion nowadays.
This song points out that Cortes’s actions caused enormous suffering. A position that would have been much more controversial when it came out in the mid-1970s than it is now. However, it also goes a bit too far in the other direction when it tries to depict the Aztecs as never knowing war, which is somewhat ridiculous when they were consummate empire-builders.
The Mesoamericans were sophisticated peoples, meaning depicting them as Edenic innocents is no more accurate than depicting them as brutal savages. In any case, Potter handled the cover with superb skill.
8. “I’d Rather Go Blind”
Speaking of which, “I’d Rather Go Blind” is another cover. Specifically, the original version was performed by Etta James, who made it a true classic. Interested individuals can interpret it as a straightforward statement of grief at the end of a relationship, though some have been known to offer more metaphorical takes on the matter. Potter’s version can’t compete with the original version. Still, hers is enjoyable in its own right.
7. “Alive Tonight”
“Alive Tonight” is a release from 2015. It emphasizes the now rather than the future. That is because the first is certain, whereas the second remains in question. Of course, people can take this message too far. Even so, it is worth emphasizing.
6. “Never Go Back”
Positive emotions can make for beautiful music. However, spite can be just as powerful. For proof, look no further than “Never Go Back,” an excellent example of the post-breakup songs in which the narrators stress there is no returning to what once was.
We know this is what Potter had in mind. Funny enough, her songwriting partner convinced her to broaden its potential meaning, thus allowing for more interpretations than otherwise possible. Supposedly, at least one person saw the song as a metaphor for overcoming drug and alcohol addiction.
5. “Runaway”
“Runaway” touches upon some of the same subjects as “Never Go Back.” That said, it has a different approach. After all, the narrator seems to assign the blame to herself, which suggests she isn’t as angry about the other party as her counterpart in the other song. To an extent, “Runaway” is Potter’s musing on her life as a touring musician, which does seem like the kind of thing that could strain a romantic relationship.
4. “Love Is Love”
Generally speaking, we see love as a positive force. For example, people describe it as something that uplifts them. Similarly, others give it credit for keeping them going through the toughest moments. “Love Is Love” is a good reminder that it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. Here, it is an overwhelming power that has seized control of the narrator, who decides to do what she wants rather than what she believes she should.
It isn’t hard to see how that might lead to negative consequences for her and the people around her, particularly since she is already in a relationship. Indeed, much of the song sounds like she is trying to justify her faults and failings, which Potter sells convincingly.
3. “Something That I Want”
“Something That I Want” didn’t come from one of Potter’s releases. Instead, it is a song that she performed for Tangled, which is Disney’s take on the fairy tale of Rapunzel. This song isn’t as well-known as some of its counterparts because it played during the credits rather than the movie. That is unfortunate because it is well-written and well-performed, meaning interested individuals should give it a listen sooner rather than later.
2. “Wild Child”
“Wild Child” is a duet between Potter and Kenny Chesney. It isn’t the first such song. Before “Wild Child,” the duo had already collaborated on “You and Tequila” and “El Cerrito Place.” As such, it benefited from that hard-earned experience. The consumers seemed to have been won over because “Wild Child” went to the number-one position on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and the number-nine position on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It is no exaggeration to say that it was one of the more popular songs of 2015.
1. “Stars”
“Stars” is an expression of grief. The lyrics make it clear that someone important to the narrator has gone away forever. As a result, she has a hard time looking at the stars because that is something they used to do together. Interested individuals might not connect with this specific response. Still, the emotion behind it can be all too relatable.
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