By takeitawayGuru
An “asafarae”? A colloquialism from The Marconium – that wonderful website where all of our chosen songs over the years are listed – for a song that fits most topics, sometimes perhaps with a suspiciously large shoehorn.
So this week we’ve been on a collective search for those oft nominated but never listed artists, and so, because they have been so regularly chosen, Springsteen nor a Stones tune on the A-list.
However, there were several surprise tunes that had me rushing to check – surely it couldn’t be correct that they hadn’t been listed before!
The dilemma then was how to corral a collection of disparate songs that seem to be universal in there aptness for any given topic.
Firstly, my gast was truly flabbered and my smack was truly gobbed that Deacon Blue’s Dignity hadn’t been listed for songs about ships surely for saving or refuse workers, but nope, it had not.
Next up – a jaunty, nay folksy even “toe-tapping” tune that could easily fit the topics of sailors, the Big Apple or prostitutes, though I don’t recall it when I guru’d that particular topic. It’s the now broken up Bellowhead and New York Girls.
From prostitution to drugs, though the next tune would easily suit topics such as crime, capital punishment, road trips (well sort of) and cafes; the tale of Sonny and Sherry from Robert Earle Keene’s The Road Goes on Forever.
The next tune is an outright lie as it seems to be raining most of the time – well it is autumn. Dogs D’Amour’s How Come It Never Rains is appropriate for nostalgia, coming of age, rain, falling in love, first love, futility and disappointment. Unfortunately reader EnglishOutlaw wasn’t around to nominate it for those topics at the time, but he is now, and so it can have a fitting place in this week’s A-list.
Initially the next was a surprise – the band name didn’t fit with the voice and then I noticed the (UK) suffix. Nirvana (UK)’s Tiny Goddess is probably best fit for unrequited love, or failing that, loneliness, but if all else fails how about asafarae-ness?
The opening vocal had the hint of the Man in Black, and he’s been listed countless times, but Tyla Pallas hasn’t and Hellraisers covers such broad topics from the ills in society through such broad themes as hypocrisy, corruption, deceit and oligarchy. More specifically it takes aim at (amongst others) the military-industrial complex; commercialisation; racial violence; privatisation of health-care; bankers and debt. Quite angry, but a fabulously captivating tune.
From anger against just about everything to ruminations on life with or without god, being spiritually lost, in prison to emotion and an artist that reader Bethnoir has been nominating like clockwork – Strangelove – Is There A Place?
This is a tune that possibly missed out on songs that build, perhaps it would be suitable for faith but nonetheless a complete surprise to me but what appears a highly regarded tune from Tears for Fears – Badman’s Song.
Handclaps? Instrumentals? Nah! Asafaraes! This great version of The ‘In’ Crowd from the Ramsey Lewis Trio really got me moving – well, OK, not really, as I have two left feet and am tone deaf.
Another instrumental now, but oh what an instrumental! This is electronic, spacey, brassy, crashy and it looks like Keith Chegwin’s younger brother is on bass. It’s Frankenstein by Edgar Winter Group, so called because the original was made up of sessions pieced together from many sections of recording tape using a razor blade and splicing tape.
Something like a monster? The Edgar Winter Group
In Consideration of the persistence of our beloved reader DarceysDad I’ll include his Reef nomination, part of a multiple last-minute desperate rush to get in as many songs as possible before the bell rang.
Now I don’t Scare Easy but I wouldn’t want to incur the wrath of one contributor and say anything against Tom Petty, but as he’s listed already I’ll take the opportunity to list Mudcrutch.
Finally, my tastes are varied but I’m not normally a pop person. However, when this tune came up from En Vogue it couldn’t help but smile and think to myself that’s perfect to have with my tea and biccies.
Universal Asafare List
Deacon Blue – Dignity
Bellowhead – New York Girls
Robert Earl Keene – The Road Goes on Forever
Dogs D’Amour – How Come It Never Rains
Nirvana (UK) – Tiny Goddess
Tyla Pallas – Hellraisers
Strangelove – Is There A Place
Tears for Fears – Badman’s Song
Ramsey Trio – The ‘In’ Crowd
Edgar Winters Group – Frankenstein
Reef – Consideration
Mudcrutch – Scare Easy
En Vogue – My Lovin’ (Never Gonna Get It)
It could have been so easy to play the guru this week, and whilst some of you did take that option I strongly felt that those songs would better be left for a more suitable topic to capture the essence of the tune. Secretly I’m holding out to appetisingly nominate Supper’s Ready for a future A-list for songs about mealtimes!
Now, my indulgent B-list is full of ‘classics’, but also one or two tunes that had its artists not previously been listed, they would have been surefire A-list material – sorry.
Legendary B-List:
Joan Armatrading – Love and Affection
Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
The Clash – London Calling
Creed – Faceless Man
The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary
Fleetwood Mac – Gold Dust Woman
Genesis – Supper’s Ready
Billy Joel – We Didn’t Start the Fire
Led Zeppelin – Black Dog
Moby – Wait For Me
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Refugee
Lou Reed – Walk on the Wild Side
Soundgarden – Birth Ritual
Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel of Love
Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run
The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
Guru’s Wildcard:
I’ve nominated this tune recently for renewal/rebirth/starting over but also commands /instructions, justice, murder and stiff upper lip.
I even popped over to give this a go for “Never” songs though reasonably expected that a certain DsD would likely to have got there first with a nom and he had: but it was still not listed.
Nickelback - Never Again
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Timelessly returning? Song that seem to fit every topic. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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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.