Blog
Song Discovery 5: 10.01.01
Written by Jimmy
Happy New Year from DC (look at today’s date — so binary). I spent part of my New Year’s Eve getting searched a bit too thoroughly by a nice older Indian man at Terminal Five. We’ve arranged to meet up later. Wanted to get on resolution up and running, by being a bit more timely on our weekly blogs. So here’s some songs about new beginnings for the New Year (dedicated to my old man):
1. Let’s start with a classic, Here Comes the Sun, but by Nina Simone. Seems like the perfect morning song. In his autobiography (one of the best rock autobiographies written), Eric Clapton describes how George wrote this one morning on the steps of Clapton’s manor house. Their partnership, by the way, was remarkable, for example, sharing Pattie Boyd . But, more importnatly, Harrison gave Clapton the lead on While My Guitar Gently Weeps (listen to Georges wail against Eric’s crying guitar from 3.33 onwards). And for the record, because of the current band obsession with Bee Cell , I’ll include the Sheryl Crow version for the Bee Movie, but not a big fan of either.
2. The sun has risen, so let’s go for Perfect Day, from Lou Read. I took the Pavarotti version. This leads to two side tracks. The first is all about crumpy old junkies doing beautiful little songs. You never are sure whether you’re supposed to be happy or listen a little more carefully. With Lou, I think we just take it as a good day. Well done. For the Kinks, clearly more is going on then meets the eye for Sunny Afternoon. For Paul Simon on 59th Street Bridge Song – I think they’re just happy. Well done boys. But for The The, This is the Day, you can really enjoy the chorus before you realise what is happening! Chorus: This is the day, you’re life will surely change. This is the day, when things fall into place.’ Thanks dude. Then the verses: you could have done anything if you wanted. and all your friends and family think that you’re lucky. but the side… they never see is when you’re left alone with your memories…’ Yikes. Great, great lyrics. Before leaving THE THE, please also discover Uncertain Smile. Gorgeous. All these are songs from the low voice lead singer-songwriter 80’s era of Lloyd Cole (Perfect Skin) and David & David (Welcome to Boomtown and Swimming in the Ocean (less the 1000 hits on You Tube — come on!– one album from these guys and every song a classic). Oh, but I digress. The second thing I wanted to raise is the continued theme of ironic covers — so Pavarotti is to Perfect Day what Paul Anka is to Smells Like Teen Spirit. Again, who says Americans can’t do irony? (If you want an amazing cover of Teen spirit go for Tori Amos – listen to her interview on Kurt Cobain and his own take on being a lyricist).
3. So off to Sunny Side Up by Paolo Nutini — you’ll sort out during Song Discovery that I worship this guy — the chorus is redemptive and worthy of a new year (I wish Candy fit here, but it doesn’t but so what – listen). Lots of songs about water and redemption: Down to the River to Pray by Alison Krauss (great video), Take me to the River (Al Green Version or Talking Heads). This all gets quite spiritual and bluesy, so worth putting forward Natural Blues — too bad it was overplayed becaues it is a classic lyrically and musically.
4. There is no day outside, there is no sun warmed beach, there is no way a frisbee can be thrown between two lovers that does not have Is this Love? as it’s soundtrack. So we’ll bring Marley in on the perfect New Year Day as well. I’ve always thought Bright Side of the Road has the same feel — you have to be outside, you have to throw a frisbee. Chose Shakira’s version that she did at Inaguaration Ball for Obama — seems redemptive moment and good for a new year. So now that we’re on theme of lovers and frisbee, seems a good day would involve a wedding; boy, I didn’t think I’d be included this one — must be New Year sentimentality, but I’m going to include Chris Brown’s Forever, because of the JK Wedding Entrance Dance. There are a flood of first wedding dances, including ‘surprise first dance and Jack Johnson-Michael Jackson (which leads to small point, but The Way you Make Me Feel is MJ’s most under-rated song and video – and watch him dance at live version)
5. So, day is done and happy new year. But we move into nightime — in London this will come around 1615 today! No better close out then Nighttime is the Righttime by Ray Charles (hard to find a good version so put in Elton/Mary J Bilge cover she blows the socks off this song) We could go anywhere with this one in terms of night time songs… so I’ll include After midnight (Eric and JJ Cale version you won’t find a cooler or more understated version of this song) and Midnight Rambler – not great version.
So, I hope you have a good New Year’s Day, filled with good music. We’ll close with two for the old man — Fever by Peggy Lee and Crazy by Patsy Cline. Dude has taste. [Listen to this cover of Crazy — Louise, please find this guy and sign him up – he also does Jambalaya. ]
To new beginnngs…
Jimmy
(This was written while I was visiting my father over New Year’s. I would go into the room to talk to him as he wanted to recount some ‘last stories’ and then I’d come back and think of another song about sun light. He died 2 days later)