Family concerns have left me without the time or inclination to come up with a theme this week. So here are five songs that have nothing in common.

Josh Joplin “Eye Of The Tiger” (Survivor)
Survivor was a Chicago band, so when Rocky came out this song was unavoidable on the local radio stations. It’s not a bad song but it’s not something you want to hear fourteen times a day either. This stripped down acoustic version is pretty listenable for me.

Helena Noguerra “I Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” (Kylie Minogue)
Summer’s gone but we can all still enjoy a languid bossa nova.

Joe Newman “Cracklin’ Rosie” (Neil Diamond)
Country and Western music, kazoos, and psychotic singing can all coexist peacefully in one song. Really.

Pete Shelley “Better Off Without A Wife” (Tom Waits)
The original version is a grand, weepy ballad from Mr. Waits’ boozy pianist period. The loser who’s singing is trying unsuccessfully to convince himself that he’s living the good life. This one is bouncy and pretty cheerful, a celebration of bachelorhood.

Waco Brothers “Wreck On The Highway” (Hank Williams)
He didn’t hear nobody pray, and he sounds like he’s gonna kick somebody’s ass because of it.