our lips must always be sealed....

Earworms of the Week

“Total Eclipse of the Heart” – Bonnie Tyler

Look, I don't know where this came from either, and I can't say it's really the song you want to be caught humming under your breath at work either.  At least I wasn't actually singing it out loud.  Well, I wasn't singing it out loud until I was caught, and then when the game was truly up, I just went for it.  It's an enduring record, isn't it?  Turn around....

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana

Voted the second best album cover of all time in a poll this week, apparently.  "Dark Side of the Moon" is iconic, I suppose, but is it better?  I'm not sure I agree.  I'm not saying that the Nirvana cover is the best, just that I'm not convinced that the Pink Floyd is better.  Nice to see Iron Maiden and Rage Against the Machine in the top ten though.  My favourite?  Off the top of my head, how about "Horses" by Patti Smith?  Love that picture.  This is such a powerful record.  The baby on the cover?  He's 20....

“Bad Moon Rising” – CCR

Another song I was caught singing in the office.  Well, not so much singing as approximating the guitar intro.  Spotted, impressively to my mind, by the older gentleman sitting almost opposite me at work, who has never previously shown the slightest inclination in getting involved in our musical discussions.  As I always say when thinking about this song, impressively used to soundtrack the first transformation scene in "An American Werewolf in London".  Great record.

“Piano Man” – Billy Joel

Billy Joel is never all that far away from my subconscious.  I don't listen to him as much as I used to, but I retain a soft-spot a mile wide for the man.  Still one of the best gigs I've ever been to.  This isn't my favourite of his songs by some distance, but it's a classic, innit?

“Feel Good Inc.” – Gorrillaz

Prompted by our Director of Stores addressing the whole of our office building and constantly using the phrase as he spoke: either in the context of a mission statement "to champion everyone's right to feel good" (whatever that means. how do you measure it?) or when remarking how the company's annual results had made him "feel good" and should make us "feel good".  Were we "feeling good"? etc.  He must have said those two words about ten times in a two minute talk.  Is it any wonder I ended up earworming this?  They should have just played it and kept him in his box for another time.

“Suzanne” - Leonard Cohen

It's the lyrics. They're amazing.

And Jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said "All men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.

Best ever?  Maybe they're not even the best Leonard Cohen lyrics.

“Dr Baker” - The Beta Band

Rob Gordon: I will now sell five copies of "The Three EPs" by The Beta Band.
Dick: Go for it.
[Rob plays the record]
Customer: Who is this?
Rob Gordon: The Beta Band.
Customer: It's good.
Rob Gordon: I know.

“50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” - Paul Simon
“Keep On Loving You” – REO Speedwagon

Both played in Nana's bontempi organ round at the quiz this week.  The Paul Simon in particular took some getting, starting as it does with that brushed drum work.  The Speedwagon, of course, was pretty much obvious right from the start, and it's one of those ones where the pub just spontaneously started singing as the chorus kicked in.  Great records both.  I'll be seeing Paul Simon at Glastonbury this year, but I saw the Speedwagon, of course, on the date of my first wedding anniversary....

“Give a Little Love” – Noah and the Whale

I think I've been a bit unfair on their debut album, to be honest.  I've been calling it twee, and although it's probably not as good as the material they've released on either of their subsequent two records, it's actually still a pretty good record.  There are a lot more songs worth listening on here than just "5 Years Time".  This song was a real standout for me at the gig the other night.  It's one of those gigs that's got better in my memory as time has passed.  Not as good as they were at the Bowery Ballroom in March, for sure, but I'm remembering less about the tossers in the crowd and more about the band, which can only be a good thing, right?

“Resistance” - Muse

Crazy, silly band, but a remark by Steve Nixon on twitter the other day had me reaching for the band's last album.  Steve was busy recommending that I check out the new album by Danger Mouse, and I will, but we ended up talking about running music: agreeing on Iron Maiden and Muse, but with me pointing him in the direction of Metallica.  You'll have to let me know how that works out for you, Steve..... I have very fond memories of being about halfway through a 12 miler on the run up to the 2009 Robin Hood half marathon when "Knights of Cydonia" popped up on shuffle.  I was absolutely knackered and still had a good 6 miles to run. but the guitar solo had grinning like a fool and picking my knees up all over again... and as it was playing, I saw a man out walking a ferret.  They were awesome at Glastonbury last year too, and when I listened to the album again last week, it was even better than I remembered it being.  Awesome.  Thanks for inspiring me to dig them out again, Steve!

That's it.  Have a good weekend y'all.  Big sporting weekend for my teams: Northampton are playing Leinster in the European Cup Final tomorrow, and Wolves are looking to hang onto their place in the Premier League in a game against Blackburn on Sunday.  Squeaky bum time.....