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Wednesday, 13 January 2010

Songs I Am Loving Right Now.

I get really obsessive about certain songs, at certain times. I love music as much as I love films really - but I have no talent for music. Sometimes, I'm going to talk a bit more about music round here. I find music and film very similar; films are about rhythm, good dialogue is liking dancing to great music, and of course - the use of music in film is half of the secret to great films. Likewise, the music I like is very cinematic, I mean -- listening to a Springsteen or Dylan song is like watching a short movie - it's impossible to listen to 'Simple Twist Of Fate' or 'Thunder Road' without beautiful imagery forming in your head.

Anyways, here are three songs I'm listening to right now.

U2 - Stuck In A Moment

I only vaguely recognized this song, like I do most U2 songs - I don't really love them, just the obvious songs that everyone loves like 'With Or Without You' and 'Where The Streets Have No Name.'

But I was lucky enough to see them live at Wembley Stadium last year, two nights in a row, and it was this song that really got me. And I think it's better live, in big stadiums, because it's really uplifting, it's really a communal thing. And I think this version gives some indication of how great it can be to see and hear it at a concert.


"I'm not afraid
Of anything in this world
There's nothing you can throw at me
That I haven't already heard
I'm just trying to find
A decent melody
A song that I can sing
In my own company"


Tracey Chapman - Fast Car

I feel like this should always have been my favourite song - but it wasn't. In fact, it's been a song I only kind of vaguely recognized for years and years. And then a few months ago I was in my Dad's car and it came on the radio, and I was like 'wow, who is this? what is this?' My Dad mentioned it was Tracey Chapman. I went home and listened to it again and again and again. There is something about Tracey Chapman, and specifically this song - something that can't be just put down to her voice, or the lyrics - it's that mysterious thing, somewhere between God and genius and luck and something spiritual--- it's just, ugh-- I can't even explain. But why would I want to explain when instead we could all just listen to it? Perfection. This is the best song I know about living.


"Any place is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we'll make something,
Me myself I got nothing to prove"


Fort Minor - Where'd You Go?

Just amazing, really.


"I want you to know it's a little fucked up,
That I'm stuck here waitin', no longer debatin',
Tired of sittin' and hatin' and makin' these excuses,
For why you're not around, and feeling so useless."

5 comments:

  1. I love Tracey. Didn't she come back on at Live Aid to do Fast Car with nothing but her guitar when someone else was late? I remember being really impressed that she did so well in front of the world, just her all by herself. Wonderful.

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  2. Fast Car was always kinda catchy. Like if you heard it that day, it'd stick in your head the remainder of the day.
    Ally@Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing

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  3. NICE! i love u2! and then there's fort minor with where'd you go! good song. no doubt.

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  4. Ally - why are you always pimping out your blog whenever you respond to posts? I don't understand.

    I do really love 'Fast Car'

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  5. I got knocked up when I was young, and used to sing 'Fast Car' to my tummy.

    Now when I sing it to my daughter, she doesn't listen.

    ...

    One of my favorite songs ever.

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