My PhD supervisor, friend and colleague Cath has been taking part in the Facebook 30day song challenge and I said I’d do mine. I’m not however going to do it on Facebook as I am far too lazy to commit to thinking about this for 30 days. I’d forget. It’s difficult enough participating in the #musicdiaryproject and this is only for a week. However as the two ideas dovetail completing the 30day song challenge has given me the opportuntity to dig out a few old favourites and turn them into today’s #musicdiaryproject listening.
day 01 – your favorite song
There was always going to be a Manics song in this. Me & the Manics go way back. First time I got to see them live though was 1997 and then saw them about 13 times subsequently.
I give you Archives of Pain filmed @ the last gig I ever went to at Liverpool Royal Court. It was an absolutely amazing send off to one of the better venues I have been to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzVe-n9DhwQ
day 02 – your least favorite song
This was a toss-up between two. I detest Brown Eyed Girl equally, but years ago when my friend’s band played this I used to have to leave the room. So the dubious honour of least favourite song goes to
Thin Lizzy- Whiskey in the Jar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TehFZ38kt6o
day 03 – a song that makes you happy
This never fails. If your heart doesn’t sing then you are dead inside I tell you.
Elbow – One Day Like This
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0wDYWyYRQo
One of the best gigs I ever went to was Elbow at Delamere Forest. I can be put right back there when I hear this track. Love Guy Garvey’s voice so much.
day 04 – a song that makes you sad
Embrace – Dry Kids
I have a recollection of being at the front at a Manchester Apollo gig and just crying my eyes out. Fucking love Embrace I do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wer8BWMQvc
day 05 – a song that reminds you of someone
My daughter and I spent many a happy time belting this out and dancing round the kitchen. Fyfe is funny as fuck in the video.
The Guillemots – Trains to Brazil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjrOVc8hYqU
day 06 – a song that reminds you of somewhere
Paris trip…the channels on the TV in the hotel room were really limited and the music channel was the only watchable one. The Ting Tings were pretty much on each time we turned the tellybox on plus the dancing on the video amuses me. You gotta love the BPM.
The Ting Tings – Great DJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH6wpO66J4k
day 07 – a song that reminds you of a certain event
Music is intrinsically linked with gig experiences. I’m struggling to separate the two. I can’t, so here I present Mew. It was a gig. Manchester academy, here was me in my late 30s with Colin, Mat, Rizwan and Luke all very young men. I can’t even remember if Mew played this track, but it was a good gig and afterwards all the boys were going to a bar…..while my parents came and picked me. I felt like a 12yr old.
Mew – Comforting Sounds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uniMcprmVhk
day 08 – a song that you know all the words to
Too many songs, but since I’ve already picked some Manics, Embrace and Elbow I am opting for a track that features Thom Yorke who is a member of my fourth favourite band.
Drugstore feat. Thom Yorke – El President
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Qyz3VnrZI
day 09 – a song that you can dance to
The Killers – Mr Brightside
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdGFtwCNBE
When I say dance, I of course mean wobble about to…..this is a great song to dance to when slightly inebriated and inhibitions are lower.
day 10 – a song that makes you fall asleep
Pretty.
Brian Eno – Music for Airports
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9kPIp4MtX0
day 11 – a song from your favorite band
Yowch…how can I choose one song by my favourite band when I have four?
Right. This is fresh in my mind because it’s new and they played it on Comic Relief and it was stunning.
Elbow – Open Arms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z093Q3r5zIQ
day 12 – a song from a band you hate
Sugababes – Freak Like Me
Sugababes aren’t really a band are they? Sugababes is a concept. I mean the line up changes more often than most people change their underwear. However the Numan aspect here wins out making for a class pop song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGSajAGg9h4
day 13 – a song that is a guilty pleasure
King – Love & Pride nearly made it as the “reminds me of somewhere” song. While it really reminds me of the Ice Rink in Kensington when it actually existed and kids were allowed to have fun exercise that wasn’t competitive sport, it is also a very guilty pleasure as it’s so damn cheesetastic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlXtrnh-Ejo
day 14 – a song that no one would expect you to love
I wouldn’t call myself a Zep fan by any stretch of anyone’s imagination and I don’t think many of my friends would associate this song with me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73dvrir5kig
day 15 – a song that describes you
Echobelly – Great Things
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aplgV-0tlbQ
Never wanted many things,
except the chance to learn from my mistakes.
Funny how you never learn,
but know them when they come around again
day 16 – a song that you used to love but now hate
I’m struggling with this one. I am going to revisit this maybe in comments when I think of one.
day 17 – a song that you hear often on the radio
I rarely listen to the radio but every time I get a taxi, if Talk Sport is not the journey soundtrack then I seem to hear ….
Katy Perry – Firework
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw
day 18 – a song that you wish you heard on the radio
Embrace – Feels Like Glue
This was going to be a “song by your favourite band”, but as it is a B Side and I was struggling with this choice I swapped it about.
Sadly I don’t think there’s a good YouTube of this song as it’s a B side rarely performed live, but it’s up there as one of my favourite songs ever. I saw Embrace play this live in Bristol Colston Hall I do believe it was. Me and Debs were at the front as per usual, we got lost on the way back to Debbie’s….or rather the smartnav couldn’t find us near the biggest landmark in Bristol……
(what I was going to say about it for fave band was this…. I’ve four favourite bands. The reason I’ve chosen Embrace as my favourite in this instance is that this band have given me so many brilliant friends along with some amazing gigs in the mix too.)
day 19 – a song from your favorite album
Manic Street Preachers – Faster from The Holy Bible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z75uaReMIQ
day 20 – a song that you listen to when you’re angry
I used to listen to the whole of The Holy Bible –Manic Street Preachers and I’d spend some time getting more & more worked up, and then somehow work out being angry with more anger. Or something. These days I am much more likely to put on something to put a stop to me being angry, as being angry isn’t a nice feeling. It causes knots in the stomach and tension headaches…..so instead we will go with something that will make me move about and get some endorphins going in a good way.
Hadouken – Turn The Lights Out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRhuaTFNBUQ
day 21 – a song that you listen to when you’re happy
Polyphonic Spree – Light and Day
I’mnot actually sure I need to say anything about this but I am going to. The second time I saw the Spree was in Liverpool Academy and I was alone, no other bugger wanted to go with me so I rocked up on my tod and was on the barrier. It was the single most energetic performance I have ever seen and I was elated to the nth degree for about ten days after. I believe that the Spree is better than Prozac and having experienced both I can be confident in my opinion 
Check them out doing Nirvana’s Lithium also.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAcjW2O9F88
day 22 – a song that you listen to when you’re sad
Lately this has been my stop-me-being-sad-song
The Phenomenal Handclap Band – You’ll disappear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU09pf2Re3s
day 23 – a song that you want to play at your wedding
Jeez, not a clue. I’m 40 and a bit, can’t see marriage being in my future, and it certainly hasn’t been in my past.
I think I’d be perverse and choose something like …
The Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen in Love (with someone you shouldn’t have)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bif2q_Zo3-4
day 24 – a song that you want to play at your funeral
There’s an instrumental remix of the Stealth Sonic Orchestra doing A Design For Life. Everything about it is right. It has to be LOUD as well. Libraries gave us power.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znhXDksnrjU
day 25 – a song that makes you laugh
You dress yourself up to the top of your knickers…. it’s not a funny song but I enjoy Kathryn Williams phrasing throughout the track.
Kathryn Williams – No-one takes you home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGtlSvcpHv8
day 26 – a song that you can play on an instrument
This one is easy. I can’t play any instruments. At a push I can do the chorus of this on the recorder. My repertoire consists of two songs…this and London’s Burning. I’m really talented.
Tight Fit – The Lion Sleeps Tonight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cD9cBEaNBc
day 27 – a song that you wish you could play
Being able to play music doesn’t occur to me, I like listening to, hearing and singing along terribly to music, but am not inclined to want to play it. So I am going to choose a song I love to sing LOUD and wish I had some kind of singing ability so as I didn’t sound like a cat being murdered.
McAlmont and Butler – Yes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJSaRw1vjxM
day 28 – a song that makes you feel guilty
I can’t think of anything. I’d be sad if I associated a song with guilt.
day 29 – a song from your childhood
You know you are not obliged to click these links don’t you? 1976.
Brotherhood of Man – Save All Your Kisses For Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szavq0lrFtg
day 30 – your favorite song at this time last year
I think it was around a year ago that Shazpot linked to this on Facebook and I really liked it a lot. I bought some of their stuff off iTunes. Quirky, and amusing.
Pomplamoose – If You Think You Need Some Lovin
