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ordinary pop songs and why they're great.
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Saturday, November 29, 2003
Oh oh oh ...... this one has to be done right now. And this is a proper blog entry cos it's to do with now, a moment in time and specifically a sliver of lyric whose song has maddeningly eluded me all week. "..But don't you feel it, Don't even think it". It was going to be pure luck if I ever placed this one. But here I am, free as a bird with my records for the first time in aaaaages and the third one I play is...
.....and Stones by The Blue Aeroplanes
Now this, as a song, is a worthy inclusion and no mistake. That whole guitar thing is just inspired, there's not another song that sounds like it. And it's a bit melancholy, edgy. Lots of half delivered suggestions of what life's about that are so spot on. And then all of a sudden there it is, my maddening lyric. Yes yes yesssss. Serendipity. And that line is but nothing to the closing lyric "...throw your head back ... close your eyes ... throw your arms around .... whatever you think it is". Ain't that about the truth?! On my eternal wish list must be a conversation with whoever wrote this marvellous thing. Genius man genius!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlbQrGZ4Kgc
posted by jessaka at Saturday, November 29, 2003
Sunday, November 23, 2003
That song (Wonderful Tonight) is now annoying me by its very presence here!!!
The Love Cats by The Cure
just for "Hand in hand is the only way to land, always the right way round"
but getting back to songs I actually paid good money for better add
A Forest by The Cure
This was my very favourite thing once upon a time. The most perfect soundtrack for driving ever. Correction... for being driven - long distance through a rainy night in a strange place feelong over-tired and disorientated. I hope to synchronise song with scenario one day. Back when it was my very favourite thing I thought the last verse said "The GOAL was never there, it's always the same, you run into a nothing....." all very deep 6th form army coat stuff. Then I realised it was "the GIRL was never there" and boy was I disappointed!
posted by jessaka at Sunday, November 23, 2003
Thursday, November 20, 2003
Am reluctant to add any further negative entries, having dispensed with Baker Street and Chain Reaction earlier. However, given that they've had their due pasting I cannot believe I've overlooked my all time worst most hated song! I was reminded of it tonight as it played, in muzak form, in a curry house. And that loathsome song is...
Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
I dislike everything this song says and stands for. That whole era of entirely unsatisfactory male/female relating. It is just so pathetic to think that any female would be flattered for one second by this song, let alone the poor long suffering cow that it was written for. "Oooh you look just like all the decades of oppression have told you you should, just for me, great. Now we're off to a party and I can rest easy knowing you look like that, then I'll get pissed and .. hey! result! you can double up as my mum (albeit a mum I'd like to fuck if I was sober), and take me home and put me to bed and tell me I'm wonderful" Good old Eric eh? What a little charmer. Gets a new "old lady" in his life and he cranks out a little number for her that reveals every reason why she should call time on the old dinosaur and his ilk.
Says something for the song that it arouses such passionate ire in me!
posted by jessaka at Thursday, November 20, 2003
Sunday, November 16, 2003
Alfie
Oh my god how can this have not yet made an appearance?!! I suppose it doesn't fit the brief because it's not a crap song redeemed by one good bit or anything like that but it's "an important song" so it's in!
And it's in as a song, regardless of who by. Let's be honest it's a song by Bacharach & David but rendition wise the only one I have reference to is, for better or for worse, by our Cilla. And she doesn't make a bad fist of it but then the arrangement is just soooo good. That little piano run, the barely there drum as it builds after the opening. The sung melody, especially once we get to "as sure as I believe.."etc. And then we have the lyrics! They knock you over with their truth and then put you on your feet. How many times has the mere singing of this song (out loud, start to finish) righted my little Scalextric car of a soul when it's come off the tracks?
There really should be a room somewhere full of people who are given to wonder "What's it all about?", which is certainly up there with the big boys as questions go. Never mind "Sit Down" by James or (aaaaagh) "Life" by Des'ree, "Alfie" shall be playing in that room and maybe, just maybe we'd all be smiling by the end.
posted by jessaka at Sunday, November 16, 2003
Saturday, November 15, 2003
This is a short step from "Song2" really. The encapsulation of all that is musically inspirational into those magical 3 minutes to create the perfect pop (hmmm pop isn't the right word, there isn't a right word) song. I'm sure there are more than these three....
This Charming Man by The Smiths.
You can't fault Andy Marr for this stuff, writing songs that you believe already existed. There are better Smiths songs imho but this one IS so beautifully short into the bargain.
You & Me Song by The Wannadies
Whatever happened to this lot, or was it just two - Par bloke and girl with placcy mouth organ. They shone brief and bright with this for my money. Perfect power pop chorus with those little verse homages to a sweet life most ordinary.
Desire by U2
Okay it's maddeningly struttingly self-conscious. This one knows it's a good song and knows all it's references. But it works and that's the main thing. I think I was nearly fooled by this era U2 so I remember it fondly.
posted by jessaka at Saturday, November 15, 2003
Friday, November 07, 2003
Going off the theme tonight somewhat, but I think I'm allowed to be self-indulgent what with it being MY weblog an' all. So, frankly, I am turning to ... anything at all by Lush.
Simply because every time I listen to their stuff I have to have a little word heavenwards to Chris Acland, Lush's wildly unrecognised and underrated drummer and one of the saddest of the rock 'n roll suicide hall of fame. No matter how crap the song (and there were plenty of crap ones I concede) I'll bet you you can't fault the drumming. Solid, and understated, driving everything along with these perfectly placed inspired little fills and runs. World hang your head that this man's talent passed you by. He turned 30 and threw in his lot. Chris Acland R.I.P.
posted by jessaka at Friday, November 07, 2003
Monday, November 03, 2003
Am becoming almost prolific of late, it comes of a lot of driving with music. So tonight's little bit of inspiration comes courtesy of...
Song 2 by Blur
I know somebody who doesn't like this song and I mean really doesn't like it. Seriously - what's not to like? It's inspired. The best dirtiest bass line ever that follows both of the choruses. Both, yes just two, and it all comes in at under two minutes. The 2 thing is all over it in fact! And the whole thing's taken right up there by that second insistent guitar note that's added as it plays out. "Oh yeah" indeedy!
posted by jessaka at Monday, November 03, 2003
Saturday, November 01, 2003
Can You Feel The Force by The Real Thing
So far the only entry I've been listening to as I write bcos I've just downloaded it. Not in my singles collection but a veritable must in that there's a reason it's good AND it proves that music = life. It has single handedly turned me happy from sad in the space of listening to it. How did they do that eh? Eddie & Chris Amoo I believe. Did they write their stuff? Think they did.
Anyway (ooh two paragraphs on a Real Thing song - I worry myself!) from the top... a pretty credible if a trifle over-long "aliens out there" opening (it was from that little spate of StarWars-lite chart stuff) into the joy-inducing exhilarating "whoo hoo hoo ooh". That's the happy bit. The icing on the cake, the reason it stands up to be counted, is the two "You can feel the pressure lifting off your head..." / "You can see a change in people's attitude..." bits. Not sure what they are musically, bridges I guess, but they're bloody good, well constructed I'm sure, if I knew what I was talking about.
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