All killer, no filler, Cats.
One of the many things I love about music is its effortless ability to transfer you back to a particular time and place, emphatically triggering memories.
But what exactly are the constituent parts of that rare beast, a favourite song?
To me, the most important aspect (obviously) is the music, rather than the lyrics. “Musical Hooks” are important but ultimately a truly great song will blend both music and vocals into a memorable whole. Vocals can also be an additional instrument instead of just telling a story, see the mighty Liz Fraser, for example.
Song structure remains key as well. A potentially favourite song can be let down by poor structure, especially discordant or unnecessary musical or vocal sections.
A favourite song’s lyrics may be key if they seem to essay a particular situation in the listener’s experience – hence the goodness knows how many songs on attraction, love and heartbreak.
I won’t post my three favourite songs in this thread, as many Cats would already know what they are. This Radio Show is about celebrating and rediscovering our favourites, especially songs we may not have heard for many moons.
This thread’s first song, for example, was alluded to the other evening, as I hadn’t heard it for decades. It is as magical as I remembered – with a remastered audio highlighting the magnificent intro.
The second song is all about infatuation and here’s a movie scene that sheds some additional light on its subject matter (I’ll post the audio version later in the evening).
So, feel free to post your favourite tunes in the comments, Cats and don’t be hesitant about engaging in some trawling through your archives over the evening.
You just know you want to.
Beck – Debra
The scene…1974, Palm Beach, the waves softly lapping the shore, two young souls holding hands. A first, very tentative kiss. And this was playing.
I can’t get it out of my head.
Who said it wouldn’t last? 😀
Nick Cave singing Cohen’s ‘Suzanne’…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwIZdh6MqIo
I’ve always loved Ship of Fools by World Party, which Rage would play sometimes. Excellent track. Hadn’t heard All Come True before, so thanks Rabz. Another ripper!
World Party – Ship Of Fools (1987)
Interesting All Come True has a bluesy feel and Ship of Fools some excellent funk. I like both kinds of music!
The beautiful Annie Lennox singing ‘There Must Be An Angel’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlGXDy5xFlw
“Someone to Watch Over Me” – Ella
Nina Simone singing…..”Just Like a Woman”…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlnlrtsHC6s
Video tribute to Elvis.
Dire Straits – Calling Elvis
That is a perfect intro to one of my own music likings. I have to do a news article first though, since I saw it this morning…
Paul McCartney celebrates 50th anniversary of his James Bond theme song Live and Let Die (2 Jun)
Hooks in abundance from Mr McCartney, not to mention the very radiant Ms Seymour! Still one of my favourite Bond fillums.
Live and Let Die – Paul McCartney and Wings (1973)
Eddles – you stop the downdicking, or you’re out.
For good. No more warnings.
I love Elvis….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxOBOhRECoo
I recommend Baz’s film, it’s good, brought a tear to my eye. Such magnificent talent.
R.E.M….Losing My Religion…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwtdhWltSIg
Beach Boys, Rabz. Melody & lyrics.
https://youtu.be/09dQmeB_NgU
Alvin Lee: “I’m going home via helicopter” … it certainly wasn’t going to be via car. Respect also to Leo Lyons on bass.
Live at Woodstock.
Ten years after – I`m going home
Here’s a favourite from ‘66. With an excellent video to go with it that captures the times.
Well, the time of the season to be exact.
Also, this one.
Mark Knoffler & James Taylor.
https://youtu.be/JY_xDc1fO10
Gotta be Ed… The Way I Made You Feel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzIwfa67oSY&pp=ygUiZWQga3VlcHBlciB0aGUgd2F5IGkgbWFkZSB5b3UgZmVlbA%3D%3D
Another one from the 70’s. I love Genesis, but this is my favourite Peter Gabriel.
And this Annie Lennox.
https://youtu.be/HvF31-2bVNE
Windowlicker
by Aphex Twin
It’s memorable, alright. Note, apart from being a sonic blast, it’s a ten-minute long parody of contemporary American gangsta hip-hop music videos, you need to sign in to watch. More hookers than hooks. lol.
Calli,
Great selection!
1981: Jefferson Starship –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwxCqrpucR0
A very “open” arrangement, allowing the “featured” bits space to do their thing, Then there is the guitar work.
Speaking of such, this one is a bit of a twist: Probably the birth of the “Power Ballad”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YarvI9eCa8Q
Tony Peluso going for it on the guitar.
Hmmm.
This requires careful thought.
Being a mighty Reds supporter like your good self Rabz, any rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone is magnifique.
The quick pluck of the strings to commence Gypsy is the hook to musical bliss, but my favourite would have to be Back In Black
Heh, Bruce. And before the starship…
I love this song, and the grainy old Bandstand video. What a voice!
Favourite song, that’s hard. Really hard.
I’m thinking about it. Neat the toppiest would be Tori Amos – Yes Anastasia, P J Harvey – The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore, Veruca Salt – Earth Crossing, Morcheeba – Big Calm, and Dire Straits – Telegraph Road. But, cheesy and cliched as it is, every time I heard this one on the radio I’d go into a total swoon for ten minutes with the stereo on 11, so Led Zeppelin wins.
Kashmir (1974)
This song has great meaning for me apart from being musically beautiful.
The Air That I Breathe
Flute and Guitar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhp5QyABgl8
I just love Johnny Cash….Folsom Prison Blues, Live at San Quentin in 1969
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG0fS4DoGUc
Loved this one when I was at school
https://youtu.be/c_BcivBprM0
Les Them, Gloria
It is indeed awesome, BoN, in all its blundering ponderousness.
Incidentally, I posted the Zepparella version as one of the two intro songs in the thread on Rock Chicks.
Gretchen Menn possessing as she does, the most mighty superstructure in Rock ‘n’ Roll …
The immaculate Navy Bleu Gibbo Les Paul is also a nice touch. 🙂
RIP Cynthis Weil
We gotta get out of this place
I haven’t heard this song in ages yet it has great meaning.
You’re My World
This is a perfect song for a great movie.
To Sir With Love
The cover band rivals the original.
Street Player (Chicago cover) – Leonid & Friends feat. Arturo Sandoval
BoN,
If it’s James Bond themes then there’s really only this one.
https://youtu.be/c_BcivBprM0
I just love this song and I’m glad that it was included in the The Dish soundtrack.
The Real Thing
Hammett 60, the Great Danish percussionist 59. And release this masterpiece in 1986.
Okay…got a heartbeat?
Here’s
Claire Torry and her vocal cords.
Pink Floyd – The Great Gig In The Sky | 2001: A Space Odyssey
0 upticks here calli also. What be the cause of such evil?
When I feel a bit low I put on this piece of music in the car, full blast and by the time it has played out I’m in a much better frame of mind.
Peter Gunn Theme
More movies. This awesome Jefferson Airplane track fitted perfectly for this movie:
The Matrix Resurrections Trailer – ft Jefferson Airplane (2021 & 1966)
And inevitably that leads to the Elfman:
Alice in Wonderland – Alice’s Theme (2010)
Red pill, blue pill, eat me, drink me…
Calli, one of their best.
The Brunette Ten at the end – sacré bleu, she’s the very epitome of an English Rose … 🙂
The song itself is just magnifique. Guaranteed to lift your mood.
The Animals – House Of The Rising Sun . . . simply magnificent !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4bFqW_eu2I
Great song, terrific voice … and so many bittersweet memories
We’ve got tonight
Love the pure emotion poured into this song. Going back a way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByqYEzugleE
It’s one of the best songs ever. 50 years ago, which is before my time. Just beautiful.
Allison …
Jeff St John had such a powerful voice.
Big Time Operator
Stand by me …
Here’s a melodic change of pace from Chicago.
Epic.
Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G-YQA_bsOU
There’s been numerous versions of this song but I always go back to the original version . . . Art Garfunkel is simply angelic.
Fleetwood Mac….Songbird..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTi19MPOvDw
RIP Christine McVie
Great clip, good ride and fantastic remix.
Jean Michel Jarre – Oxygene Pt. 4 (Moreno J Remix)
Loved the emotion in this song, always gets to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByqYEzugleE
My fave song is Blackbird (Paul McCartney) and I love a lot of the Shadows too.
Calli, here is a more unsettling Chicago song.
25 or 6 to 4
Arlo Guthrie’s City of New Orleans…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvMS_ykiLiQ
To a lot of people the protest music says 60s, to me the 60s are a treasure trove of lovely music.
Love Is Blue
Steve – That’s an epic movie and an epic track, and they fit perfectly. Never seen that before nor even thought it could be done, but…wow. Space Odyssey (1968) and Dark Side of the Moon (1972), what a match that is!
Stylo … 🙂
Another blast from the past. Love the hairstyle, it looks so simple but probably took hours to make it look like that.
Those Were The Days
RIP Judith Durham, one of my faves…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4ZipKdI1sY
That Danish series The Rain looks pretty interesting too. Hadn’t heard of it before.
Oxygene Pt. 2 caused our Mel a lot of angst!
I bought the original LP in a 2nd hand shop because of the glorious cover art. One of the best few bucks I ever spent.
BoN – try that Polish series 1983
Whenever I hear Heartbeat by Buddy Holly I think of the Yorkshire cop series so here is the version of the song that was used as the theme.
Heartbeat
When I was a teen this series and the theme music were so cool.
Lost In Space
Oaf, the kranky ol’ Kraut has been one of my favourite artistes for decades. Honey Steel’s Gold is both an epic song and album.
He remains one of the True Titans of Oz Rock. 🙂
Bruce of Newcastlesays:
June 3, 2023 at 8:56 pm
Attaching visuals to sound is always subjective.
She’s knocked out albansleazey so many times he no longer knows who or what he was fighting for (or against) … 😕
Sounds pretty gloomy Rabz, and perhaps a bit too prophetic.
1983 (TV series)
Ticklers – any connection to the mighty Miss Hope?
And you still don’t appear to have nominated a favourite song, Squire.
Apologies to Dover.
My comment is in moderation, but I’m not sure why.
It’s either a link, or my opinion that U2 is one of the most overrated bands on the planet.
I had a flatmate who was going out with a an actual french pastrychef, we would croon away to embarrass her. Great song though.
Speaking of visuals with sound. Make the connection to current events. ( :
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Two Tribes (Moreno J Remix)
BoN – it was riveting. The brunette anti-hero*, Effy, is just gorgeous.
Alternative history tales are always fascinating.
*I thought she was the heroine, as she is neither a collectivist nor a fan of totalitarianism.
My favourite film clip from the mod era, featuring my favourite tune and some tastee mod chickee baybees – OK, yeah well, not little miss 13 year old – who should never have been allowed to sneak in, given the savile may have been lurking large nearby, no doubt 🙁
If that makes me an (allegedlee) ‘orrible ol’ sexist, I don’t give a rodent’s, Cats! 🙂
Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz – The Girl From Ipanema (1964) LIVE
Steve – It works awesomely for anything by Two Steps From Hell…
And another thing. ’77/78 was the summer of the liberated Telecom phone box. You superglue a twenty-cent piece edge on and drop it in the slot. If you timed it right it gummed up the works and you’d hear this repetitive clunking sound as the machine tries to grab the coin…. You could tell which phone boxes had been liberated by the line of people waiting to call interstate. I’d spent the summer in Tasmania and BMW girl was in Adelaide. Anyway. I liberate a phone in North Hobart and we arrange to meet outside the Bega post office at 11am in six weeks’ time. I arrive about two minutes late and ask BMW girl how long she’s been waiting. A couple of minutes. We spend a few days riding through the Snowys and ride down George St. the day after the Hilton bombing. The rest of the motorcycles roll into Sydney over the next few days. We know nothing about the Sydney music scene, but I knew of Wendy Saddington from GTK, so we go and listen to her at a venue the size of shoe box down near the Basement in Circular Quay. We make up about half the crowd. Wendy is the worse for wear and supporting a cabaret type act called Jimmy and the Boy’s. The lead singer thinks we’ve come to see them!
Wendy Saddington and Jeff St. John
Out of time …
One of my favourite Ladino songs, Adio Kerida, a song from the vanished Jewish city of Salonika.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdcusOXh_f8
Not a favourite, but one I found quite recently which isn’t too bad. Persist through the first act and maybe you’ll like the solo.
SEMBLANT – Purified
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJslTie3Nc8
Bonnie Tyler –
for that total eclipse of the heart.
Still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Sinéad O’Connor, Troy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oTiAsFNI9o
Okay, fine then, zero-upticker-terrorist.
This is one of my favourites, and I know that because I’ve been playing it so much in the last 3 months that it is definitely in my current Top 10.
Laura Branigan – Self Control (Official Music Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP0_8J7uxhs
and Bobby Dylan,
Knocking on Heaven’s Door
Hello, Bette.
Bette Davis Eyes
So, so good
This isn’t just a song, it’s a movie waiting to be made.
Like Thornton Wilder’s tale of ‘The Bridge at San Luis Rey’
It’s a song of vanities.
Ecclesiastes, 9:11
‘Up on the white verandah, she wears a necktie and a panama hat.
Her passport shows a face, from another time and place,
She looks nothing like that’.
Bob Dylan, Black Diamond Bay.
Such a great song, it plays well in bars, clubs and elsewhere it can be heard loud.
Emotional counting
oh Superman 8 mins
Fark spell check.
Emotional blunting ( not counting)
Memories keep popping in. I was at a BBQ many many years back ( high school years ) and everyone was glued to the screen watching this. I was playing computer games in the corner of the lounge room listening to this at the time.
Original The Lost Boys Cry Little Sister by G Tom Mac
Favourite song is very hard to pick as it varies over mood & time.
So here are my top 3 and apologies 2 of them are more than just a song.
– Glenn Gould – Goldberg Variations (Bach)
– Van Morrison & a few others – Astral Weeks
– Velvet Underground – Venus in Furs
Velvet Underground – Sweet Jane
“Standin’ on a corner,
Suitcase in my hand … “
Rabz> don’t know why but that song has a huge optimistic vibe, even though it’s probably just about Lou reed moving from the suburbs to downtown NYC as part of his journey from college literature student to “rock ‘n roll animal”. Always cheers me up …
Great selection peeps. Loved ACDC and Metallic in the middle of those melodies. But for me its all about control…Total Control.
The Kate – White Dress Version …
The Kate – Red Dress Version …
OK, my stab at top 3
Marquee Moon
Visions of Johanna
Famous Blue Raincoat
Thanks Mr DJ, ‘night all.
Velvet Underground – Rock and Roll
“Jeannie started shaking to that fine, fine music
You know, her life was changed by Rock ‘n’ Roll … ”
I just love Rock and Roll, Cats. 🙂
An epic. Straight out of CBGB, circa ’77.
Well chosen, The Hinton.
Pa – this one for drama and intensity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT2LGv-s3xQ&pp=ygUZcnVuIGpvZXkgcnVuIGRhdmlkIGdlZGRlcw%3D%3D
I hope this works
A Mann Weil classic as performed by the Damned.
Naz Nomad and the Nightmares: Kicks 🙂
https://youtu.be/_lFzQUdkS_Q
Real emotional pain – Creation – I still weep
Real pain – oh how I wail
https://youtu.be/is97RmHhmVg?t=10
Rabz
Previous blog on Brunas Springsteenas – he’s not Italyon maaake, he’s a northerner with his sythanies.
Try side 2 the wild the innocent and the Hindley street shuffle
https://youtu.be/_lFzQUdkS_Q
Gee I hope this works
Brunas captures the suppressed emotions of the urban existentialist proletariat
Gawd, as Alamak wrote up thread, favourite songs are subjective to time, age, emotion etc.
Too many favourites to list or link. Anything by Talking Heads.
Bittersweet Symphony
And I’d like my son to have this as his ring tone. 😉
Bad link on the second song. Try this.
Just got home from Rolling Thunder Vietnam at the State theatre.
Great music but the lyrics of all those ’60s and 70s “anthems of a generation” were vital at the time and resonate today.
better run through the jungle can’t think of any good songs written about recent conflicts in middle east, but this CCR one sure tells the story of being stuck in a scary place fighting for something not quite clear …
Great post Rabz – helped keep me awake last night watching all those clips before the FA Cup Final started.
Only a true music fan would even have realised that, BB. I dips me lid.
Another favourite from ELO. Everything sounds better with a mariachi band. Always puts a smile on my face.
I love songs about trains too.
The Buckingham – Trouble extended … 🙂
nah, sorry. This is the definitive version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa9nN3G2CSg
Makes me think of warmer days..
Don Henley – The Boys Of Summer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RUIeX6UCT8
There has not been any Bowie on this thread.
An inexcusable omission that will now be corrected … 🙂
The Jean Genie – prominently featuring the Ronson, a Rock ‘n’ Legend taken way before his time, Cats … 🙁
Someone say Mariachi?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3u4gOc72BE
No Bowie!
China girl
River deep, mountain high …
Featuring two dodgy dinobores, Ike and the Spector.
Of course it would have been nothin’ without Tina, a true force of nature. 🙂
More Bowie. In Australia.
Let’s Dance!
Don’t mind if I do.
Was always enamoured by this Tina Turner tune. Maybe it was the Mad Max theme?
We Don’t Need Another Hero
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcm-tOGiva0
.. and she was still rocking it live at the age of 70 with that incredible voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuO_8VlYAfk
(don’t be distracted by the leather codpieces)
Bobby Womack:
Across 110th Street • Theme Song • Bobby Womack
David Bowie:
0:00 Intro
0:17 Français
3:33 Deutsch
6:57 English
David Bowie sings Heroes in 3 languages (Wowie Bowie extended Mix) Héros – Helden
best bowie song imho
and a great live version also
trickler> snap!
can never have too many music heroes …
Another discovery.
I haven’t seen this clip before. I was at my Uncle’s wake at the local and a stunning female came around collecting all the glasses. I made the point that she looked like Sade. She had absolutely no idea who I was talking about … true story. I figured if the memory stuck in her mind and she found out, she would be happy with the compliment.
Audio check = good!
Sade – Smooth Operator (Official Video), Full HD (Digitally Remastered and Upscaled)
A song I came to appreciate when I actually stopped and listened to the lyrics in full. The song describes a very wild night.
Barry Manilow – Copacabana (At The Copa) (Extended Disco Version)
Love it, but here’s my favourite Verve Urban Hymn:
“Oh, come on”
All six and a half minutes of it … 🙂
Chris Rea:
Chris Rea – Road to Hell (Ultimate live version – 2006) [HD]
Steve Vai and Ry Cooder battles it against … Steve Vai. Both blokes provided the sounds.
Vai having to play against himself and f*ck up was fun.
Guitar Battle Scene from “Crossroads” (1986) | Steve Vai
Cream:
Recorded live at Fillmore Auditorium & Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco (California) el 10 de Marzo 1968
CREAM Crossroads 1968
The opening ten seconds says it all about this song; drugs and addiction. Once you know about it, the song takes on a whole new meaning.
Martika – Toy Soldiers | Gia
Check out the absolutely heaving crowd, live at Donington.
A true head banger.
ACDC, Thunderstruck
Not sure it’s my favourite, but well worthy of a look for DH fans:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID0AzfA8ehw
This comes with a moving photo montage from the depression era.
The Boxer Simon And Garfunkel
Classic.
2nd track from “Sleeper Catcher” (1978). Love, love, love this song about a couple reminiscing about the past, with certain music—like Glenn Miller and Cole Porter tunes—reminding them of certain memories.
Reminiscing” is a 1978 song written by Graeham Goble and performed by Australian rock music group Little River Band. It remains their greatest success in the United States, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Little River Band – Reminiscing
Buffalo Springfield – For what its Worth | The Vietnam War
Test.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUmXscq9p_s
Piano, sax, trumpet, drums, do wop chicks and a substance enhanced Joe Cocker. It doesn’t get any better.
2 weeks and counting in moderation. FFS.