By Loud Atlas
Is your lumbar satisfactorily supported? Martha Graham, the great American dancer, once said, "The spine is the tree of life. Respect it". That's some solid, upstanding advice. The area of the spine, neck and back has become synonymous with fragility and strength in almost equal measure. Musically, it's also a trove of inspiration.
Let's begin in spine-tingling fashion with the distinctive jangling riff of (guess who?)...good guess: The Guess Who. Whether in the narrator's backbone, knee bone, or thigh, it's happening a lot - he's Shakin' All Over.
Having a spine, physically and emotionally, is something we perhaps take for granted. R.E.M. are in full political mode in their treatise of Vietnam in Orange Crush. During the war, soldiers were assured that Agent Orange (the herbicide chemical) would have no effect on them. On the soldiers' return home, as well as being ravaged with illnesses themselves, their offspring were susceptible to spinal problems too.
At the top of the spine, connecting it to the head is the neck (the highest neck bone is called the 'atlas' bone, fact fans). As a destination, the neck is as vulnerable as it is sensual. In the first of a trio of romantic neck songs, Faye Webster is caught in a sultry daydream yearning for a lover in the Right Side of My Neck.
When there aren't enough fingers to fit anymore rings, the next best place is the neck - it's open, easy to spot and just in the right place for people to notice some bling. Well, that's what Elvis Presley hopes. He's found his girl and wants everyone to know about it (by heck!) in Wear My Ring Around Your Neck.
In Kemet (the ancient Egyptian religion), the neck was the throne of the head and so an integral empowering part of the body. Erykah Badu wants her partner to be familiar with her body - particularly her neck - in Kiss Me On My Neck.
Like a sharp stabbing jolt in the back, The Vandals have some alarming news. They're off work after a nasty accident in My Neck, My Back. Be careful with those bricks.
Anatomically speaking, there's no better lesson of how the spine is an important part of the body structure than in the spiritual classic Dry Bones. In this version by The Delta Rhythm Boys, we'll learn how to put us together piece by piece.
Like a good bass line, the spine is the main element that keeps things all together from top to bottom. Shriekback are bass-heavy (and lyrically cryptic!) in My Spine (Is the Bassline).
The spine isn't just a construction of connected bones, but also a symbol of strength and solidity. Feminism and backbones unite in Rufus & Chaka Khan's I'm A Woman (I'm A Backbone). "Everybody needs one," she sings. Amen!
Now's the time to strut your stuff on the dancefloor to the next three tunes. Parliament have got some groovy movement advice: Ride On and shake your sacroiliac! But not too much - save some for Sam Cooke. He's another one who can't do anything but Shake.
Gyration in South America is part of the genetic makeup. Poor old Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters have been dragged in to dance the night away. In South America, Take It Away they engage in Latin dancing and endure the physical exertion of the samba, rumba and conga. Sounds exhausting!
Finally, a wind down song to help un-slip that disc: Jimi Tenor & The Riga Symphony Orchestra expect celestial and meteorological fireworks in Backbone of Night.
The VertebrAe List Playlist:
The Guess Who - Shakin' All Over (magicman)
R.E.M. - Orange Crush (ShiveSidecar)
Faye Webster - Right Side of My Neck (barbryn)
Elvis Presley - Wear My Ring Around Your Neck (TarquinSpodd)
Erykah Badu - Kiss Me On My Neck (Fred Erickson)
The Vandals - My Neck, My Back (Fred Erickson)
The Delta Rhythm Boys - Dry Bones (George Boyland)
Shriekback - My Spine (Is The Bassline) (MussoliniHeadkick)
Rufus & Chaka Khan - I'm A Woman (I'm A Backbone) (SongBarLandlord)
Parliament - Ride On (pejepeine)
Sam Cooke - Shake (ParaMhor)
Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters - South America, Take It Away (magicman)
Jimi Tenor & The Riga Symphony Orchestra - Backbone of Night (magicman)
Backbone B List Playlist:
Ashton, Gardner & Dyke - Resurrection Shuffle (severin)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll (Max Visconta Nuclerosea)
The Dickies - She's A Hunchback (Carpgate)
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Long Neck Bottles (George Boyland)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Come On Do The Jerk (magicman)
Echo & The Bunnymen - Back of Love (MussoliniHeadkick)
The Paragons - Take Your Hand From My Neck (TatankaYotanka)
The O'Jays - Backstabbers (pejepeine)
Willie Bobo - Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries (Nicko)
The Fiestas - So Fine (Fred Erickson)
Alpha Blondy - Apartheid Is Nazism (Uncleben)
Van Morrison - Cold Wind In August (Fred Erickson)
AC/DC - Up To My Neck In You (Fred Erickson)
Guru's Wildcard Bone Picks:
Lena Wilson - Chiropractor Blues
A golden oldie addressing the joys of rubbing, cavorting and tickling - very cheeky number.
Joe Duffy and Whatever's Clever - The Short Necked Giraffe
A song about what happens when a giraffe's neck doesn't grow to its full length. Delightfully absurd.
Thee Deadtime Philharmonic - Spine
An overtly political and direct tune, with powerful delivery and tremendous lyrics.
Chris Lujan & Electric Butter - My Back Hurts (From Picking Up The Pieces of My Broken Heart)
Modern soulful romance combined with back pain and heart break. Lots of bending!
Rathergood - Spine Song
Life as a maggot wouldn't be much fun - a celebratory song for all vertebrates.
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Spinal tap? Get back: songs about the vertebral column and neck. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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