Sunday, December 27, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 27th December '09 - Bay City Rollers - Shang-A-Lang

A little late this week but, heck, it's Christmas.

This week's song got planted in my head courtesy of some of the regulars at my friends new pub.

Sometimes the best bit about music is when you can sing along with people and enjoy the music and this song gave me one of those moments this week.

Bay City Rollers made some really catchy pop tunes in the 70s and had a huge following in the UK as well as being successful in the rest of the world including the US. However, success was fleeting and they were as quick to fall out of fashion as they were to rise to success in the first place.

'Shang-A-Lang' is a good track to sum up the fun of the band, however, and I hope you enjoy it!


Bay City Rollers - Shang-A-Lang

We Were Rippin' It Up
We Were Rockin' Up
Roll It Over And Lay It Down

We Were Shakin' It
We Were Breakin' Up
We Were Rockin' To The Shang-a-lang Sound Of The Music

Hey, Hey, Rockin' To The Music.
Hey, Hey, Rockin' To The Music
Rockin' Every Night And Day
Hey, Hey

We Sang Shang-a-lang
And We Ran With The Gang
Doin' Doo-op-dooby-doo-ay
We Were All In The News
With Our Blue Suede Shoes
And Our Dancin' The Night Away

Yeah, We Sang Shang-a-lang
And We Ran With The Gang
Doin' Doo-op-dooby-doo-i
With The Juke Box Playin'
And Everybody Sayin'
That Music Like Ours Couldn't Die

We Were Groovin'
We Were Movin'
Pussy Footin' And Bootin' It 'round

We Were Boppin' It
We Were Hoppin' It
Really Jumping To The Shang-a-lang Sound Of The Music

Hey, Hey, Rockin' To The Music.
Hey, Hey, Rockin' To The Music
Rockin' Every Night And Day
Hey, Hey

We Sang Shang-a-lang
And We Ran With The Gang
Doin' Doo-op-dooby-doo-ay
We Were All In The News
With Our Blue Suede Shoes
And Our Dancin' The Night Away

Yeah, We Sang Shang-a-lang
And We Ran With The Gang
Doin' Doo-op-dooby-doo-i
With The Juke Box Playin'
And Everybody Sayin'
That Music Like Ours Couldn't Die

Shang-a-lang
Shang-a-lang
Shang-a-lang
Shang-a-lang
Shang-a-lang
Shang-a-lang...

Yeah, We Sang Shang-a-lang
And We Ran With The Gang
Doin' Doo-op-dooby-doo-i
With The Juke Box Playin'
And Everybody Sayin'
That Music Like Ours Couldn't Die

Oh, We Sang Shang-a-lang
And We Ran With The Gang
Doin' Doo-op-dooby-doo-ay
We Were All In The News
With Our Blue Suede Shoes
And Our Dancin' The Night Away

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas Song Stuck In My Head This Year - East 17 - Stay Another Day

In the last decade or so there have been less and less Christmassy songs recorded by artists, however in the 90s the 'cool' bands of the day would still churn out great sentimental songs just in time for Christmas.

Though 'Babe' by Take That has to come a close second, East 17's 'Stay Another Day' has to come put on top for me.

The piano, the heart-wrenching lyrics, the slight hint of choral qualities, church bells...perfect.

It seems that I am not alone in thinking this either as I have talked to many people in the last week or so who were bringing it up as one of their favourites too.

So here it is for you all.

Enjoy and have a fabulous Christmas!

East 17 - Stay Another Day

Baby if you've got to go away
I don't think
I can take the pain
Won't you stay another day
Oh, don't leave me alone like this
Don't say it's the final kiss
Won't you stay another day

Don't you know
We've come too far now
Just to go
And try to throw it all away
Thought I heard you say
You love me
That your love was gonna be here to stay
I've only just begun
To know you
All I can say is
Won't you stay just one more day

Baby if you've got to go away
I don't think
I can take the pain
Won't you stay another day
Oh, don't leave me alone like this
Don't say it's the final kiss
Won't you stay another day

I touch your face while you are sleeping
And hold your hand
Don't understend what's going on
Good times we had return
To haunt me
Though it's for you
All that I do seem to be wrong

Baby if you've got to go away
I don't think
I can take the pain
Won't you stay another day
Oh, don't leave me alone like this
Don't say it's the final kiss
Won't you stay another day

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 19th December '09 - Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name

I was a 13-year-old when I first heard 'Killing In The Name'. It was a Sunday afternoon as I listened to the Radio 1 Chart Show. All of a sudden the words 'Fuck you I won't do what you tell me' were blasting out of my stereo. It felt like a moment of glory. A moment of understanding. A moment when my stereo was blasting how I felt about life right back at me. It was magic. Even though the lyrics were political, for a 13-year-old in full-on 'teen angst' mode, it was perfect.

Roll on to today, I'm edging ever closer to 30 (36 days to go!!) and the song is being used to protest against the dominance of the Christmas Number 1 spot by the X Factor.

Aside from the weirdness on the following levels:

(1) The prospect of a Christmas Number 1 with the word 'fuck' in it...a lot!

(2) The fact that a song that never reached any higher than 25 in the UK could suddenly be number 1.

(3) The prospect of hearing it announced as Christmas Number 1 on the radio

and finally

(4) Watching it on Christmas TOTP

it's just interesting to see how many people feel so passionately about how they dislike the X Factor.

I personally have no issue with Joe whateverhisnameis who won it and do, to a degree, feel sorry for him. Not only will he possibly not get his number one single that seems to come as standard with this competition, but equally he'll almost certainly be one of the ones who end up on the scrapheap. Over the last 7 years since the ball was started rolling with Pop Idol, very few people have had lasting careers let alone are even remembered. The sad truth is most will have their one hit that makes Simon Cowell etc have their quick shot in the arm of cash before they are discarded as those in charge look to the next series and the next person with the 'x' factor/victim (delete as applicable). It's rare in that game for someone to end up as successful as Leona Lewis, though the show will always give people applying the dream that they might be the next one.

My issues with the whole thing are as follows.

Firstly, I'm bored of the whole lazy process. I wish they'd spend more time finding and nurturing real talent in all genres than just milking the public for as much money as they can for very little reward or substance at the end in the long term.

Secondly, I'm fed up of knowing that whoever it is that wins the thing the week before will be Christmas Number 1 the next week. Yes, Simon Cowell is right when he says that some seriously rubbish tunes have gotten to number 1 at Christmas. I mean, 'Mr Blobby' by Mr Blobby beating Take That's 'Babe'?!?!?! How the hell that happened I'll never know!! And, though it was a fantastic cover version, I never did work out how the suicidally miserable version of 'Mad World' by Gary Jules beat the insanely Christmassy 'Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)' by The Darkness, but at least you used to sit there excited right to the end wondering who was going to make it. It was part of the magic of Christmas for me, even if the charts didn't bother me much the rest of the year.

Last Christmas was more exciting for me simply on the grounds that I'm a HUGE Jeff Buckley fan and was really hoping his version of 'Hallelujah' might have nicked it from the X Factor version but it was not to be.

This Christmas I shall be sat listening to my radio with equal levels of anticipation but it shouldn't come to this in order to make it exciting.

Simon Cowell needs to realise that the problem isn't with the X Factor winner or even, to a degree, with him as a person per se. It's about the fact it makes the whole thing boring and inevitable and that it's actually pretty annoying because of it.

So tomorrow I'll be hoping that Rage Against The Machine make it and then maybe he might think about doing something fresh, new and nowhere near Christmas!!

If you want to join in then go to this link for information:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=box_3&ref=profile&id=557871323#/pages/RAGE-AGAINST-THE-MACHINE-FOR-CHRISTMAS-NO1/197877130755?ref=ts

and then don’t forget to download it or go to 7digital.com where you can ‘gift’ it to your friends....give a little Rage this Christmas!

And, just for the record, I have been humming this all week anyway.

Enjoy and look for a bonus edition of the blog on Thursday!


Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name

Killing in the name of!
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Huh!

Killing in the name of!
Killing in the name of

And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
But now you do what they told ya
Well now you do what they told ya

Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
You justify those that died by wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
You justify those that died by wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites

Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Uggh!

Killing in the name of!
Killing in the name of

And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control (7 times)
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control
And now you do what they told ya!

Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
You justify those that died by wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
You justify those that died by wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
Come on!

Yeah! Come on!

Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Motherfucker!
Uggh!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 12th December '09 - Marilyn Manson - Devour

This week I finally got to see Marilyn Manson live and it was a truly fabulous night. As well as getting to hear so many old favourites I also got to hear tracks from his new album 'The High End Of The Low'. It was one of the track from that new album that really got itself firmly lodged in my mind.

'Devour' is possibly the closest Marilyn Manson will get to a ballad and, while still carrying all the traits of traditional Marilyn Manson bleakness, it has a really romantic quality to it as well.

I have been of the opinion for quite some time that, because of the 'strange appearence' of Marilyn Manson, people are overlooking the fact that he writes some amazing songs and that he's an extremely intelligent and talented person. Maybe one day people will see beyond the make-up,

I hope you enjoy this weeks song!!

Marilyn Manson - Devour

I'll swallow up all of you
Like a big bottle of big, big pills
You're the one that I should never take
But I can't sleep until I devour you
I can't sleep until I devour you
You're a flower that's withering
I can't feel your thorns in my head

This is no impressionability
You're not crying, this is blood all over me
You're not crying, this is blood all over me
You're not crying, this is blood all over me
And I'll love you, if you let me
And I'll love you, if you won't make me starve

I used to hold your heart to neck
I know I'll miss you if I close my eyes
But this is loaded with an open film
I'll see you and I'll blow your heart to pieces
[ Marilyn Manson Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]
I will blow your heart to pieces
I will blow your heart to pieces
I will blow your heart to pieces
And I'll love you, if you let me
And I'll love you, if you won't make me starve
Oh oh oh oh... Oh oh oh oh... Oh oh oh oh... Oh oh oh oh...

My pain's not ashamed to repeat itself
Pain's not ashamed to repeat itself
Pain's not ashamed to repeat itself
Pain's not ashamed to repeat itself
I can't sleep until I devour you
I can't sleep until I devour you
I can't sleep until I devour you
I can't sleep until I devour you
I can't sleep until I devour you
And I'll love you, if you let me
And I'll love you, if you won't make me starve

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 05th December '09 - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Ohio

Last Sunday I was at the acoustic night I go to at a pub near me and one of my friends did a cover of 'Ohio'. I have loved this song for years but, with the amazing performance he did (aided by a couple of friends to provide the harmonies) it has been stuck in my head all week with ease.

'Ohio' was an anti-Vietnam protest song but, unlike other ones of that era talking about the fighting going on away from home, this song was written about the deaths of four students at the Kent State University in Ohio. They had been present on campus while a group of students were protesting against the war there. The Ohio National Guard came in to the campus to restore order and ended up shooting the four students dead as well as injuring nine others (one of whom suffered permanent paralysis as a result). Some of the students who were shot were actually taking part in the protest but others were merely observers.

The song, in many parts of society, brought home the horror of what had occurred - the youth of America being killed because of a war in Vietnam, but on US soil. I think it is as symbolic how wrong the war in Vietnam was as any of the other protest songs of the time.

This is, in my opinion, a brilliant song and I hope you enjoy it.


Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young - Ohio

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.