got nothing in my brain....

Earworms of the Week

I won’t lie to you, this week’s selection has largely come from my attempts to create a playlist for a seven year old. I’d done a first draft, but listening to it through as I worked my way through a 10 mile run last Sunday revealed to me that the second half was in dire need of something more up-tempo…. So I put my thinking cap on, and my internal jukebox went haywire.

“The Macarena” – Los Del Rio

OK, so this one isn’t going anywhere near the playlist (in case you were wondering)…. But that idiot piece of attention seeking by Matt Dawson around the “Hakarena” has managed to plant the original firmly in my head. New Zealand take the haka far, far too seriously and seem to get offended when anyone “disrespects” it. Apparently, opposing sides should just stand there and let them get a psychological advantage. That said, what the hell was Dawson thinking? If the English should do anything in response to the haka, it should be morris dancing. Now that would be freaky.

“Kiss From A Rose” – Seal

Also not on the playlist, but my colleague Jack was serenading us with this at our desks the other day… and it sure is catchy.

“The World in Union” – Kiri Te Kanawa

Rugby World cup starts tonight, innit. And this was in our choir repertoire for last season, and will be available on our forthcoming CD….

“Everywhere” - Fleetwood Mac

Ah, so now we’re into possibly playlist options. The idea is to find something upbeat, but credible. I’m supposed to be providing some kind of musical guidance, but sometimes it’s a difficult balancing act. I’ve put stuff like Belle & Sebastian, Fleet Foxes & Flaming Lips on the back half of the shortlist, but it’s just too much. I need to be more upbeat without dropping quality. I reckon Fleetwood Mac might fit the bill, but my feeling is it’s probably still a little bit too dreamy for what I’m looking for.

“Johnny B Goode” - Chuck Berry

Mmm. A great song, without doubt and has the massive advantages of being both catchy and up-beat, but I have a feeling that I need to go a little bit heavier on the production values.

“Baby One More Time” – Britney Spears

Oh, now we’re talking. Is this too much for a seven year old? Should I go with “Ooops I did it again” instead? I’ve already ruled out Gaga, after careful consideration of “Bad Romance”

“Waterloo” - Abba

Of course, I could just go back to source and put on what might just well be the perfect pop song. I have taken a long time to come to terms with Abba, and in fact, I used to loathe them… but now I’m older and wiser, I can see the craft in the songs and the image of drunken morons at university bellowing along to “Dancing Queen” has faded somewhat.

“Cannonball” – The Breeders

Or if I wanted something that’s catchy but a lot edgier? Something like this or “Here Comes my Man” by the Pixies? I put “Golden Brown” onto the playlist for her fifth birthday, and that’s about heroin, right?

“Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)” - Spiller

SEB at her finest. Catchy, sophisticated…. Or maybe I’ll just go for “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer? Dammit, this is hard.

“Shake it Off” – Taylor Swift

Speaking of the perfect pop song (although I’m not 100% sure about the talky bit, to be honest). Haters gonna hate, potatoes gonna potate.

Have a good weekend and enjoy the rugby, y’all.