So Mr. Merrick has ‘tagged’ me with a ‘meme’. I was wondering how to pronounce meme - does it rhyme with beam and team, or is it like French, as in ‘le meme histoire’, which has one of those pitched-roof accent thingies over the first ‘e’. Then I thought, ah, me me. A me me. Is it a me me?
The last time I heard ‘tag’ used a verb, it was said by one Wexford man to another, something like this “Well boss! Did you tagg’er?”
Anyway, I like picking songs, especially when there are constraints, so I’ll give this a whirl, partly because it might amuse me, and partly because I feel like a Thai elephant driver has passed me whatever it is he is smoking.
So firstly, here are the instructions:
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 [summer]. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they’re listening to.
This is not easy. I don’t want to use any song I’ve used in a recent muxtape, or one that I’ve mentioned on the blog recently. I’m also very limited in my listening lately, as my PC got electrocuted (the one with all the music on it), and my Zen committed shoeicide, leaving me with a 2gb ipod and no way of changing the songs currently on it. I’m going to try to include songs that I’ve not been skipping when it’s on shuffle, because I skip most of them. I reckon I must like the ones I don’t skip… So, here’s what I’ve come up with:
Radiohead - Down Is The New Up. This song just works in my head, it makes my spine straighten. That chord progression + that voice. It has that menace that’s so hard to capture in a song (or, at least if it’s easy, not many people seem to do it). Here’s the In Rainbows disk 2 version, complete with drums and strings, which I want played at my funeral. Unless, that is, Thom Yorke outlives me, in which case I want him to come in person, and play it like this.
Magneta Lane - Ugly Socialite. I came across this Toronto girl-band quite by accident a couple of years ago, and there’s nothing particularly remarkable about them, but for some reason I never skip this song. It’s just simple, melodic power-pop fuzz, but Lexi Valentine’s voice ticks a box for me somewhere. I suppose it’s a bit deadpan-Chrissie Hynde fronting.. er, The Bravery. Which should be awful. Can’t find a decent video of it either. I’ll put it (and the other six) in a muxtape when/if my PC can be resuscitated.
Jeff Wayne - War of the Worlds. I acquired this on vinyl lately. Check out the crazy video with full orchestra, someone’s dad conducting, floating-head man narrating, etc. Worth hanging around for the 6 minute mark, where the old dude comes on and sings. It’s fantastic, reminds me of the two best tunes of all time. The Ulysses 31 and The Mysterious Cities of Gold soundtracks. (I’m not joking either, I want them played at my funeral also).
Rory Gallagher - Tattoo’d Lady. I love this song. And this video is great - it’s got a few minutes at the start where he’s in some backstage dump tuning up and chatting with his band. The bit where he talks about his famous battered old Stratocaster is great. It’s the most obvious Gallagher song to pick, but there’s nothing wrong with that. This man has a corner named after him, not a street, a fucking corner. Dublin, doing things by halves since 140 AD.
The Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar. I don’t have a link to this either - I wasn’t crazy about any of the youtube videos, but I’m picking it anyway. It’s another song I rarely skip. It’s pretty much got everything you’d want from a Rolling Stones song - instantly recognisable intro, bluesy rock rhythm, those open-tuned chords that define many Stones classics, and a pretty dubious and controversial lyric on top. If you don’t like the Stones get off my blog.
Port O’Brien - I Woke Up Today. This tune is starting to get some mainstream radio play over here now, and deservedly so. They were enjoyable at Tripod a while back. It’s also a pretty apt song for me at the moment, as I’m having great difficulty getting up in the morning. Maybe I should make this my alarm. Fun, shouty, and a silly video.
And I’m supposed to tag seven other people. I generally hate forwards and chain emails and such shite, so I’m reluctant to do that. But I’ll tag Chanberry, and Indie Limerick, and Milkbox. And anyone else who wants to tag themselves - go right ahead.
It’s been a while since I bought any vinyl, but I couldn’t resist a twelve 7’s for a tenner deal from Borderline Records’ stall in Temple Bar today. It’s mostly stale cheese, but there are a couple of nice finds.
