Tuesday 17 June 2008

What's in a meme?

No idea what a meme is.
Hell, I'm still circling Facebook like a suspicious mongoose.
But I've been summoned, so...

"List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they’re listening to."

Right you are then.


1. THE POLICE Synchronicity II
A thoroughly over-the-top piece of indulgence from the latter stages of the Police's career.
I saw there recent re-union tour at Twickenham and this song blew me away, all over again.
It was the eighties, and you were allowed to sing about "dark Scottish lakes"
Marvelous.


2. ADAM AND THE ANTS Digital Tenderness
Yes. you may sneer. but this late seventies piece of new wave/punk was a real kick in the head for me. It made me reach for the eye-liner and excruciatingly tight trousers, and my parents became very very worried.
From the seminal (hooray!) album Dirk Wears White Sox, this is a strange track that I will simply never ever tire of.

3. GORILLAZ Dare
Being a Gorillaz fan AND a Happy Mondays fan I very nearly wet myself when I first heard this.
It is like being hypnotized and is one of those tracks that you wish would just go on and on for hours.
The video was splendid too, despite the fact Shaun Ryder is quite literally 'off his head' (oh, please stop me now)


4. IRON MAIDEN Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
Preposterous track from the brilliant album POWERSLAVE.
Steve Harris is a child-faced genius with a bass guitar that could stop an army.
(I think I just became Tommy Vance)
This song helped me pass my English Literature exam, oddly.


5. BRITNEY SPEARS Toxic
Okay. Who laughed?
This about as perfect a slice of brilliantly produced pop as you are ever likely to hear.
Produced by those two Swedish kids and written by pop genius Cathy Dennis, this track is just fab. I love it, and anyone who disagrees with me needs medical help


6. HOT CHIP Ready for the Floor
I found this little UK-based outfit last year, rather belatedly. I don't like all their stuff, but this one and OVER AND OVER really make me smile very broadly and want to jump about like a loon.


7. GENE PITNEY The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
I loves me some Gene Pitney, that's true. but this track sums it all up for me. Brilliantly OTT and deliciously theatrical. It still sounds fantastic today and puts a spring in my step. Especially when that gun shot goes off. Makes me skip an extra skip.


I'll have a think about who to link to, and add a bit later.
This takes a bit of time doesn't it?


(I would have included The Last Shadow Puppets, but they are too new to count in this list I reckon)

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Man, you were all over the map on those choices! Can't fault any of them (well, maybe Britney, but "judge not.."). Love the Pitney! You just don't hear enough Gene Pitney these days. My fave is "I'm Gonna Be Strong" - yes, a bit of a downer, but man does it wail! Thanks.

Dan H.

Jon said...

That was very strange... I thought you hadn't posted since April... until I discovered you'd changed address. Blink these days and the whole world changes completely. But I've found you again. Like a stalker.

After years of associating Adam & The Ants with Prince Charming and being bemused that NIN's version of Physical did not sound like the work of a dandy highwayman I finally picked up a copy of Antics In The Forbidden Zone- what a revelation. Love Whip In My Valise. (Now keeping an eye out for a cheap Dirk Wears...)

I found Hot Chip even more belatedly (a couple of months back) via the medium of hunting down Soulwax mixes.