SFTD: "Will the Sun Rise?" by Stratovarius

My first foray into Stratovarius (after listening to "Black Diamond" on my friend's Walkman - remember those? - in high school) was when I bought their album Episode (1996). And what a revelation it was...

This song is the most recognizable of the songs on the album and it is pure Stratogenius: lightning-fast-and-loud drums; Malmsteen-esque shredding; a classical interlude followed by guitar and keyboards duelling; and, of course, that voice. Timo Kotipelto's voice soar to uncharted heights as you find yourself on your feet, jumping up and down and alerting your mother, so that she comes up to your room to see if you're OK ... well, maybe not.

It is a fantastic song from a once brilliant band. Better things came along with Visions (1997) and the terrific live album, Visions of Europe! (1997), but the band imploded soon after with subsequent mediocre releases. Shame.

SFTD: "Superman" by R.E.M.

R.E.M.'s best album isn't Automatic for the People (1992). It is 1986's sublime Lifes Rich Pageant (sic). This little song has all the things that make R.E.M. such a quality act: melody, old-school r'n'r mentality, and a college pretension. It is reminiscent of the best of Beach Boys and foresees Weezer by a decade. It is also one of the few select songs where Mike Mills shares the vocal duties with Michael Stipe.

I am, I am, I am Superman / And I can do anything.

They certainly can.

SFTD: "Little Dreamer" by Van Halen

The better of the two mid-tempo songs on Van Halen's much-celebrated debut (the other is the vastly overrated "Running with the Devil" - perhaps the most boring song on their repertoire), this little gem has that funk/soul thing, which feels surprisingly honest here. It also has an eeire melancholy to it. Eddie Van Halen comes up with a basic but very effective riff and one of his most emotional solos - the man is known for incredible shredding ability, so his solos tend to be one-dimensional after a while.

I'm not a huge Van Halen fan, but if I had to make a Top 5 VH songs, "Little Dreamer" might just sneak into the list.