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Sidney Bechet
Across all the genres it's time for a tootle on the old liquorice stick. Versatile in sound, from a smooth, pure voice, to a dirty growl, a gradual glissando to a noisy blast of so-called blarinet, from resonant, lovely soloist to a voluminous harmonised group
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Not only guitar and bass …
Across pop, rock, jazz, electronica, African and beyond, the fingers of many musicians have continued to create the timeless catchy. Guest playlister ajostu really hooks us in with excellent picks from last week’s lick-filled topic
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It might start with the fingers, but your ears will tell you what makes a great riff
A term coined in the early the 20th century, often played on guitar but also on piano and other instruments, this core, repetitive musical phrase could be even more memorable and catchy than the sung melody. But what riffs have you humming from the last 25 years?
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Heated exchanges: Rita Moreno and Animal of the The Muppets
Silly ballads to battles of the sexes, parodies to social commentary, odd duets and witty wordplay and musical japery, guest jester Marco den Ouden picks a bundle of lyrical and other laughs inspired by last week’s comedic songs theme
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Vivian and the crew …
In words or notes, from dark parody to the plain old silly, it’s time to celebrate comedic songs, those written specifically to tickle, to amuse, to make you smile and laugh. If they do that, then they count
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Sign of the times: January can even turn a Red State snowy white …
Strange weather to personal life events, sudden death to delivery of good news, January can bring all sorts of surprises, stories, memories and emotions. Guest SweetHomeAlabama makes some top picks from last week’s topic
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The two-faced Roman god Janus, the inspiration for this month’s name
It’s a month of mixed feelings and perspectives, and can bring optimism as well as anguish. Songs about January, or set during it, so let’s see what settings, stories and emotions it inspires and produces …
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Poison pen? Luvcat has a thing for Dr John Cooper Clarke
Love is strange. It can manifest in many forms - from individual physical and behavioural obsessions, even to non-human attraction - robots and animals. Guest playlister ShivSidecar expertly explores these Agony Aunt questions, inspired by last week’s topic
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Edward Lear’s classic odd couple, The Owl and the Pussycat
This week we celebrate not the usual or generalised soft-focus cliches about beauty and romance, but songs which describe uniquely odd and different detail, appearance or behaviour that stirs an individual’s tastes, from alternative sex drives, emotions and attraction
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Dave began to wonder if it might be more than just forgetting to shave today …
New Year? It’s time for some big changes around here - that is with some profound physical shapeshifting or behavioural transformation, and even reincarnation itself, all in song from, provided with great expertise and taste by guest Uncleben from last week’s topic
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Monarch butterfly metamorphosis
It’s time for not temporary or partial, but radical change - here reflected in lyrics from lifestyle to career, to triggering experiences, love and relationships, fortune or tragedy, a sudden huge idea or even spiritual revelation, sudden or gradual
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Things go a little Gaga over Xmas …
Share your music and thoughts about the year. It’s a time of Christmas baubles but also bigger social patterns. While we can see our own reflection in them, are they so controlled by AI that we don't know what other bubbles exist?
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Reflections on candle music …
With metaphors for the fragility of life, relationships and more, and inspired by last week’s topic nominations, guest of the week Marco den Ouden lights a bright and beautifully illuminating selection on this festive and glowing theme
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An illuminated memorial concert to the late Ryuichi Sakamoto in 2023
They were our only source of light for thousand of years, and burn in the imaginations many meanings and emotions - mutability, time’s remorseless melt, a fragile beauty, time passing, life, hope and sharing. How are they used in song lyrics?
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Some blissful solitary listening …
Among the many joys of solitude is being able to do exactly what you like. Guest playlister DiscoMonster does exactly that, throwing a personal party in splendid isolation, inspired by last week’s topic nominations, which we can all enjoy on our own too
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Greta Garbo in Grand Hotel (1932)
The opposite to loneliness, this week songs are all about seeking, finding or enjoying being solitary in a happy, meditative, creative, or restorative state from the practical to blissful
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Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers with Lee Morgan on trumpet
From fanfares to fantastic technical feats and emotional melodies, the trumpet’s bold, bright but versatile sound is captured from classical to jazz, pop and beyond in perfect playlists picked by Loud Atlas from last week’s topic
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Miles Davis, 1973
Across the centuries and the genres, it’s been a loud, distinct and expressive instrument sounding events as well as many emotions. This week, from classical to jazz, pop and beyond, what does a great solo bring to song? Suggest your examples …
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Warming up, ready to pour …
We might find it with lyrics or feelings of love, or home, or in certain styles or sounds. Pouring out a lovely range and across the seasons, guest playlister Naguchi brings beautiful balm to the soul inspired by last week’s topic
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A purr-fect day for comfort songs …
After last week's blast of Antarctica, it’s time to come in from the cold, with a lyrical and musical mood theme, focusing on anything - objects, clothing, food, drink or stories - that expresses feelings associated with cosiness and comfort
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