February 23, 2007
Some time ago, I had sent out a list of my Top Ten favourite songs. By popular demand (OK, I know that nobody specifically asked for it, but writer's ego and all that....) here is the second part of my Top Ten list on my favorite songs (songs 11 through 20). The earlier list had ten songs. This one has ten songs also.
Here goes:
(11) Lola - The Kinks (1969): There are many candidates for "best barroom song in the world”, including the Stones "Honky Tonk Women", the Faces "Stay With Me" which was featured in my earlier list, and Dexy and the Midnight Runners "Come On, Eileen". All worthy candidates, all very catchy and funny sing-along songs. But my favourite is "Lola" by the Kinks. The Kinks were the P.G. Wodehouse of the 1960s and 1970s. Ray Davies skewered the 1960s Swinging London scene with songs like "Well-Respected Man" and "Dedicated Follower of Fashion". Lola is a song about an innocent country boy falling in love with a transvestite in a bar in Soho. Very funny stuff.
"I'm not dumb, but I can't understand
Why she walked like a woman and talked like a man,
Lola, Lola
Well, I'm not the world's most physical guy,
But when she squeezed me tight,
She nearly broke my spine,
Lola, Lola"
(12) Come On, Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners (1982): Another great barroom sing-along song by the original Irish folk-rock band. Before U2, there was Dexys Midnight Runners. They were fronted by an eccentric fellow named Kevin Rowland. Their attempts to combine rock and traditional Irish folk music met with mixed success. When it worked, the results were thrilling as in this song. The song is not complex or thought-provoking – just a a young man in a bar trying to persuade a lovely woman named Eileen to you know, uh, come on, if you get my drift.
Imagine a tired young man in Cork or Dublin - just an average joe, who has worked all day at a menial job - he may be a bricklayer or plumber. After a hard day at work, he pops into his local pub for a couple of quick ones on the way home. Imagine his astonishment as he sees the girl who lives down the road (Eileen) whom he has known and ignored for years, standing in a corner of the bar, looking very fetching indeed. After emboldening himself with a couple of cold ones at the bar, he sidles up to Eileen and starts making amorous advances.
“Ah come on let's, take off everything
pretty red dress,
Oh Eileen tell him yes
Ah come on let's,
Ah come on Eileen
At these moments,
You mean everything
With you in that dress,
Oh my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty”
The song does not tell you if our young hero was successful in his endeavours or not. But it is very funny and the tune is irresistibly hummable and will make you tap your feet. No wonder it got to No.1 on the Billboard Charts on both sides of the Atlantic in 1982 - back when the world was young.
(13) Walk On The Wild Side - Lou Reed - (1972): Lou Reed was a friend of Andy Warhol and the chronicler of all things decadent on the New York art scene in the 1970s. This song is an observation of all the freaks, transvestites, hangers-on and junkies that hung out in Andy Warhol's studio. The singer is part of the scene, but detached at the same time. And - the song has a great bass-line.
(14) Gloria - Patti Smith - (1975): This is the definitive punk cover version of the original Van Morrison song. Patti sings, hisses, chants and bellows her way through the song, while adding a few lyrics of her own.
"Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine"
(15) Bang A Gong (Get It On) - T.Rex (1972): This song is about the joys of uh, getting it on. No two ways about it. It is also one of the catchiest songs you will ever hear. Marc Bolan sings and breathes orgasmically throughout this song. The bass line is irresistible and infectious. Nothing coy here - just an open-hearted song about a guy who loves to make love to his beautiful girlfriend, whom he adores. Listening to it makes one want to, uh, you know what (I hope nobody is scandalised here)!!!!
(16) Who Knows Where The Time Goes - Fairport Convention - 1970: Sandy Denny's voice !! She could be singing the telephone directory - it doesn't matter. When you combine that voice with guitarist Richard Thompson’s chords and a wistfulness and nostalgia about past good times - it just doesn't get any better than this.
(17) Baba O'Riley - The Who – 1971: Great lyrics, pounding rhythms, arresting synthesizer work and that transcendental violin solo at the end that makes you feel like you are having an out-of-body experience. A song about love, devotion, individualism and trying to explore ways to live life to the fullest. I still believe in this song, after all these years.
"Out here in the fields,
I fought for my meals,
I get my back into my living,
I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right,
I don't need to be forgiven"
(18) It’s All Over Now – the Rolling Stones – 1964: This is before the Rolling Stones became famous. A very young Mick Jagger full of attitude, a very young Keith Richards playing a guitar solo and a great backbeat by drummer Charlie Watts transform this R&B staple composed by the late Sam Cooke. Jagger sounds spiteful, Richards’ guitar solo is simple and effective, and makes you want to shake your moneymaker.
(19) Into The Mystic - Van Morrison - 1970: Sublime. A song about a sailor coming home to his beloved after a long, arduous journey (shades of Ulysses returning to Penelope at the end of the Trojan War). Van Morrison's soulful voice, beautiful acoustic guitar and a lovely saxophone solo make this a classic. Anybody who has been away from home for extended periods of time and is finally returning, will know what this song is about. Like most Van Morrison songs, this one also creates an atmosphere - very few artists can do that.
"When that foghorn whistle blows,
You know I will be coming home,
You can hear it, I can feel it,
And I'm gonna rock your gypsy soul,
Just like way back in the days of old,
And together we will flow,
Into the Mystic"
I know I am one song short, but I love so many songs!! More will follow soon. Hope you enjoyed it.
No comments:
Post a Comment