Playlists: songs about umbrellas and parasols

By Tatanka Yotanka

Well, it was only a light shower in the end but some of us had just had our hair done so having a choice of brollies was handy all the same. As an art student at the end of the seventies I acquired a small parasol with a carved and coloured budgerigar handle which served me well for a year or so come rain or shine. I accidentally left it in the cab of a concrete mixer wagon when hitching back to The Midlands at some point. The driver dropped me of at the Northolt roundabout outside that pub that is now a McDonalds, I still think about every time I see those particular golden arches. I hope he got some use out of it when pouring foundations in hot sun.  

My next favourite charity shop umbrella had the Renoir painting on it and was stolen from me at a church in a village below Bredon Hill in Worcestershire. I’d left it in the umbrella stand in the porch and after the service there it was gone! I remain indignant to this day, maybe it was someone of The Landlord’s persuasion who sees them as communal assets, harrumph. Anyway, I suppose I’ve borrowed quite a few from this community to make up these lists, I hope they don’t turn inside out on you.

Not Just Any Old Umbrellas A-List Playlist:

1. Les Parapluies de Cherbourg – Monique Leyrac (Uncleben)

2. My Umbrella - Iraina Mancini (barbryn)

3. Little Umbrellas – Frank Zappa (Nicko)

4. Hiding Neath My Umbrella · God Help The Girl (vastariner)

5. Rosie – Joan Armatrading (severin)

6. Cinderella – Eric Donaldson (Nicko)

7. Loraine – Linton Kwesi Johnson (Nicko)

8. It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls (Vikingchild)

9. Parasol – Tori Amos (severin)

10. A Fiddler In The Rain – Robb Johnson (treefrogdemon)

11. Bus Stop – The Hollies (barbryn)

12. Ballet For A Rainy Day + 1000 Umbrellas – XTC (ShivSidecar)

Brolly Good B-List:

1. Umbrella – Manic Street Preachers (Shoegazer)

2. Monsters In The Parasol – Queens Of The Stone Age (happyclapper)

3. Umbrella Man – The Searchers (ShivSidecar)

4. All The Umbrellas In London – Magnetic Fields (barbryn)

5. Umbrella – The Baseballs (Marconius7)

6. Maracatu Atômico – Gilberto Gil (Nicko)

7. Little Umbrellas – Kristian Bush (Banazir Galbasi)

8. Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella – Lee Morse (Nicko)

9. Blue Umbrella – John Prine (Fred Erickson)

10. Manchester – The Beautiful South (DiscoMonster)

11. One Nation Under A Brolly – Trixie’s Big Red Motorbike (pejepeine)

12. Hotel Yorba – The White Stripes (ShivSidecar)

 Guru’s Wildcard Picks:

Jumbie Umbrella – Mad Professor 

Umbrella Symphony · Curren$y & LNDN DRGS

Isobella w/The White Umbrella - My Morning Jacket

These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations in response to last week's topic: Come rain or shine: songs about umbrellas and parasols. The next topic will launch on Thursday after 1pm UK time.

New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...

Fancy a turn behind the pumps at The Song Bar? Care to choose a playlist from songs nominated and write something about it? Then feel free to contact The Song Bar here, or try the usual email address. Also please follow us social media: Song Bar X, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.

Donate