Sade performs at Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia on Oct. 30, 2011. Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/WireImage.

You know what I like? Unnecessary saxophones in songs.

It’s been a long week and I’m tired, so I’ve been opting for music that cheers me up. I didn’t have to go nuclear with it, but I still needed something to give me some energy and put me in a better mood. And for that we have saxophones. So here are some of my choice selections.

By the way, “Careless Whisper” is implied. I know you’re all expecting it, I’m also expecting it, but I’ve used it in too many columns. So you’ll just have to listen to it on your own time.

Gerry Rafferty — “Baker Street”

But I am going with the second-most obvious choice, because this song doesn’t get enough respect.

I mean, it’s around. It was on the soundtrack of one of the “Grand Theft Auto” games, maybe four or five. Slash ripped it off was inspired by it for the guitar solo on “Sweet Child of Mine.” Most notably, Lisa Simpson played it at the end of the episode that explained how she got her first saxophone.

It’s a cultural phenomenon, and yet it’s still not respected enough. So listen to it. Embrace it. Love it.

Bob Seger — “Turn the Page”

I obviously like Metallica’s cover of “Turn the Page” more on account of it being a Metallica song (that improves everything) but one thing the original has going for it is a periodic saxophone.

The thing about the “Turn the Page” sax is that it doesn’t seem to have any pattern to it. It just shows up sometimes to set the mood and then fades away for the rest of the song. Honestly, I respect that. If I ever become a musician—a very unlikely scenario since I can’t play any instruments and I’m an even worse singer—I’m adding saxophones in the songs at random.

Aerosmith — “Same Old Song and Dance”

The sax solo isn’t the riff or the hook in this one, so it’s not as clear a choice as the others. But that just makes the sax solo even more out of place when it shows up at around 1:48. It comes after a guitar solo and, unless you listen closely enough to hear the sax in the background earlier, comes entirely out of left field.

Unlike “Turn the Page,” however, it’s not as confusing. Aerosmith just replaced a guitar solo with a sax solo. The instrument is a bit unexpected but the placement flows with the song. You’d think that would be a good thing, but when it comes to saxophones in non-jazz songs, I don’t want it anywhere near songwriting conventions.

Sade — “Smooth Operator”

I know what I just said at the end of the previous entry and I stand by it. I know this doesn’t follow that logic. The vibe of “Smooth Operator” by Sade makes a lot more sense with a sax. It’s got a very sexy vibe. So the sax interludes interspersed in the song don’t feel especially out of place.

So why is it on this list? Because sometimes I just want this sort of song. I have a similar relationship with Enya’s “Orinoco Flow.” I’m not claiming it makes any sense, just that it’s true.

Duran Duran — “Rio”

Let’s close out with some saxophone trivia. It’s named after its inventor, Adolphe Sax. The first one was made in 1840, which is surprisingly recently, at least to me. He also invented saxhorns, a whole family of instruments that includes the flugelhorn, which is the funniest-named instrument surpassing even the hurdy gurdy. After starting hot, he kept trying to invent even more new instruments but the saxotromba and the saxtuba never caught on. While it definitely sounds like a fake word, I am not making the saxtuba up.

Anyway, “Rio” isn’t as good as “Hungry Like the Wolf,” but it has more saxophone, so it’s the one you’re getting.

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