Alive 'N' Kickin'

Album: It's About Time (2003)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Kenny Loggins wrote this country-rock tune with Clint Black, who also provides backing vocals and plays electric guitar on the song. It tells the story of Loggins' climb to success, first as a member of the duo Loggins & Messina and as a solo artist. It's also a testament to the singer's staying power after he nearly gave up when his longtime label, Columbia Records, gave him the boot. Instead of retiring, he formed his own label, All The Best, and released the album himself.

    He credited his young son with helping him persevere. "When Luke said to me, 'If Daddy stops singing, he'll die,' I began to realize that this is about my well-being, this is about who I am in my life," he explained to Honolulu's Star-Bulletin. "I have to do this because it makes me feel good, and when I feel good then I'm a better husband and better father, and I feel better as a person. ... I have to go to the gym, I have to eat good food and I have to keep creative. If I let the creativity atrophy, it's like a betrayal to myself."
  • The "new best friend" is Jim Messina (with whom Loggins reunited with a year later), and Loggins mentions "Sittin' In," "Full Sail" and "Mother Lode," which are names of Loggins & Messina albums. He also mentions "the cover of the Rolling Stone," which the duo appeared on.
  • The line, "Just appearing in my living room," means Loggins is a family man. He has written many songs for his kids and done three albums of children's songs. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Sara - Silver Spring, MD, for all above
  • The album peaked at #10 on the Independent Albums chart.
  • In 2005, this was revealed as one of the tracks on President George W. Bush's iPod playlist.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.