August 2026 was a month filled with reality shows such as MasterChef: Global Gauntlet, Cake Wars, America’s Got Talent, The 1% Club, and Nation’s Dumbest. Yes, the latter is the actual name of the game show. I have no idea why, but I think the title is genius! This past month also took me down memory lane with Still 17, one of my favorite Korean dramas that initially aired in 2018, but the Korean channel brought it back for some reason, which I’m not complaining about. Of course, my trip down the Michael Jackson train is still going strong, but not as intense as previous months. Yeah right! The songs I’ve chosen for August 2026 reflect my experiences from this past month, so with all that said, let’s get on with the music!
10. “Rock & Roll Machine” by Triumph from Rock & Roll Machine (1977)
One of my biggest accomplishments I already achieved in 2026 was establishing a consistent workout routine that includes two to three days of strength training and one day of either kickboxing or a dance workout. For my strength training, I have a Spotify playlist that I affectionately titled, “No Pain, No Gain.” One of my favorite songs on the playlist that I feel is perfect for exercising is Triumph’s “Rock & Roll Machine.” The beat sends adrenaline all throughout my body and the instrumentation slaps! Rik Emmett’s guitar solo sounds like one of those guitar solos you hear when the rest of the band takes a break backstage to cool down. It’s just Emmett shredding up a storm, which adds to the liveliness of “Rock & Roll Machine.” Also, I’m surprised no other rock band came up with that song title sooner; it’s absolutely genius!
9. “When You Wish Upon a Star” performed by Cliff Edwards from Pinocchio (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1940)
Two weeks ago I finished a biography about Walt Disney titled, Walt Disney: An American Original (1976), by Bob Thomas. It was a wonderful experience reading the book because I learned so much about Walt’s life and his accomplishments such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Disneyland. What surprised me most was that Walt never lost his sense of optimism, despite being in debt for years. While reading An American Original, I kept hearing “When You Wish Upon a Star” in my head because it perfectly sums up who Walt Disney was. A man who dreamed big and did whatever it took to make his dreams come true. “When You Wish Upon a Star” never fails to remind me why I fell in love with Disney in the first place, which I need to hear from time to time.
8. “Remix (I Like The)” by New Kids on the Block from 10 (2013)
In my opinion, this is New Kids on the Block’s best song because the melodies sound modern and fresh, the chorus is insanely catchy, and it has a positive message everyone needs to hear! It’s about being comfortable in your own skin no matter what. I was lucky enough to see New Kids on the Block live in November 2025 and one of the songs they performed was “Remix (I Like The).” Though some of their fans were incredibly rude, I would see them again just to hear this song live because it’s a hell of a good time! It’s also refreshing to see older boybands put out killer tunes years after their prime because they can’t rely on their hits forever.
7. “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” performed by LeAnn Rimes from Coyote Ugly (2000)
I love “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” but it reappeared on my radar recently when my favorite fitness YouTuber, emkfit, posted a dance workout to the movie, Coyote Ugly (2000), two weeks ago. I was surprised to discover that LeAnn Rimes sang the song because I thought she was a country singer. “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” is a pop tune made for a strip club (sort of). In a previous blog post titled, “My Top 10 Favorite Songs of All Time with Female Vocalists,” I mentioned that I liked when Carmen Rasmusen sped up the song’s tempo on American Idol in season 2. While I still stand by that statement, I grew to appreciate the studio version over time because of how sultry and sexy it is. As for Coyote Ugly, I don’t think I’ve seen the film in its entirety, but I know that the music is a bop!
6. “Undefeated” by Def Leppard from Mirror Ball – Live & More (2011)
“Undefeated” is a Def Leppard song that’s relevant now more than ever because guitarist Vivian Campbell announced in late August 2026 that his cancer returned. After being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013 and engaging in over a decade-long battle with the cancer, he was declared in remission in 2025. That’s no longer the case, unfortunately, but I’m so grateful I was able to see Def Leppard live three times in February 2026 with Campbell before the tragic news occurred. Knowing what Def Leppard have been through and Campbell’s tough-skinned personality, I have no doubt that Campbell will do everything in his power to beat his cancer for good! Released in 2011, as part of the band’s Mirror Ball – Live & More album, “Undefeated” is a stadium banger with marvelous vocal harmonies, a killer pre-chorus, and a stomping beat. When will Def Leppard bring this banger back to their concert setlist? Fingers crossed it’ll be sooner rather than later.
5. “We Are the World” performed by USA for Africa from We Are the World (1985)
“We Are the World” is technically a Michael Jackson song, but not really if that makes sense? Not going to lie, I only know about this song because Justin Bieber sang in the 2010 remake to raise money for the people in Haiti, which suffered from an earthquake earlier that year. It’s not as bad as fans of the 1985 version say it is, but I’ll admit that Wyclef Jean’s vocals sound like frogs hopped into his throat and died. Of course, it is painful listening to the 2010 version knowing Michael died less than eight months before the remake was recorded. The 1985 version also had its fair share of stinkers in the lineup (I’m looking at you, Huey Lewis and Cyndi Lauper), but I love the old school flair of it. “We Are the World” is a beautifully written song that people will still be listening to long after we’re gone.
4. “Just Stay” by Hyolyn from Still 17 OST (2018)
As mentioned earlier, Still 17 is one of my favorite Korean dramas. Not only is it funny as heck, but unlike the daily Korean dramas that mom still watches for some reason, there’s no backstabbing nor are there people being accused of crimes they didn’t commit. “Just Stay” is the most beautifully written song I’ve ever heard in a Korean drama, which is a lot coming from me because 90% of the time, I hate the songs in Korean dramas. Since most of the lyrics are in Korean, the melodies are the highlight of this song. I love the piano instrumentation with the acoustic guitars, as they transport me to a state of tranquility. Hyolyn’s English pronunciation is also really good and I love the vocal melodies she utilizes for certain lines in “Just Stay.”
3. “Petal” by Ariana Grande from Petal (2026)
It seems that people can’t stop talking about Ariana Grande ever since her new album, Petal, came out this past July. Unfortunately, most of those conversations aren’t about the music. But you know what, I think Petal is a solid album; it’s basically Grande’s angry album because she fights back against the media’s expectations of her. The title track has a creepy and unsettling melody, all while Grande sings about not playing the victim in her own freaking story. I love the crashing sound during the first “oooh” of the chorus and how unfiltered the lyrics are, specifically the part where it goes, “Trying different boys on for size / If this is my curse, I’ll let it ride.” The horror elements in the “Petal” music video were a pleasant surprise and if you watch the behind the scenes clips, you’ll see that Grande had a lot of fun shooting the scene where she kills the casting executives with a chainsaw.
2. “Black Cat” by Janet Jackson from Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)
I discovered this song while watching Janet Jackson’s The Velvet Rope Tour: Live in Concert (1999) on YouTube three weeks ago. Who knew that both Micheal and Janet could rock? What’s impressive about “Black Cat” is it was the first song Janet strictly wrote by herself. Props to her because the guitar riff is fantastic! The title plays on the folklore superstitions of cats having nine lives and black cats foreshadowing misfortune. “Black Cat” is an arena rock banger that draws influences from bands such as Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, and Mötley Crüe.
1. “Blood on the Dance Floor” by Michael Jackson from Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997)
To put it lightly, “Blood on the Dance Floor” is about a woman named, Susie, who seduces Michael on the dance floor and stabs him in the back when he least expects it. The song was initially composed for the Dangerous (1991) album, but it didn’t make the final cut. Co-produced by Teddy Riley, “Blood on the Dance Floor” has a similar vibe to the Dangerous tracks that Riley worked on with the danceable beat and compressed drum sound. It is featured on the Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix remix album. It’s a new jack swing song with a Latin feel, hence the salsa dancing in the accompanying music video. My only gripe with “Blood on the Dance Floor” is that the vocals for the verses are too soft, making it hard to understand the lyrics.
There you have it, people! Those are my favorite songs from August 2026. It’s been 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit in Hawaii lately, so I’m looking forward to the fall season in September. I can’t wait for another month filled with good music, good books, and good food (through the cooking shows I’ve been watching). I also found out this past month that the sequel to Michael (2026) is estimated to begin production in late 2026 or early 2027 with a release date of late 2027 or somewhere in the first half of 2028. That’s obviously a long time away, but it’s never too early to get excited!
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Lana
Lana Teramae | Me, Myself and Time 
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