My 100 Favorite Charted Pop Songs: Let the Day Begin

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Now, you may have arguments about Neil Sedaka or the Platters being “rock,” but this song doesn’t get an argument. It’ll also get a lot of shrugs, because it wasn’t a “big hit.” To me, this is THE most overlooked “college rock” band of the 80s. And now you, too, can overlook them on this list of my 100 favorites! Let the Day Begin - The Call So Elektra Records didn’t want to release this album, and they dropped The Call from the label after six years of “cult” success. Fine. MCA signed them, released this, and they had the biggest success of their career. That’ll show you! This actually topped the “modern rock” chart in Billboard, but that’s not “the” chart I used (I used the Hot 100 to make the list). Thanks to MTV, who did still play videos at the time, this was quite popular. Superficially a song about wishing everyone a good day with a toast (“Here’s to the teachers in the crowded rooms, here’s to the drivers at the wheel”), if you have a faith perspective you’ll see a much deeper meaning (especially with the final line, “Here’s to the closing of the age”…and if you have any doubt, look at lead singer/songwriter Michael Been’s face in the video during that line). The line about the Vietnam Memorial (“here’s to the soldiers of that bitter war, here’s to the Wall that bears their names”) always chokes me up. Michael Been died of a heart attack while on tour in Europe at the young age of 60. His son, who looks and sings a lot like him, takes the lead duties in reunions of The Call. Oh, what a band. So thankful I got to see them twice. Let the Day Begin Written by Michael Been Recorded by The Call From Let the Day Begin, 1989 Peak chart position: #51 Today’s country song: “I Never Go Around Mirrors” Here’s to the loved ones in their care: