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Playlists: bossa nova songs and their influence

July 2, 2025 Peter Kimpton

João and Astrud Gilberto

Evolving from Brazilian samba and in parallel with jazz, it’s a sound of lifestyle and emotions, distilling sadness with hope, elegance with passion. Guest pejepeine brings all of this and more in exquisite playlists inspired by last week’s topic

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In bossa nova, blues, calypso, easy listening, exotica, experimental, folk, instrumentals, jazz, lounge, musicals, playlists, pop, samba, showtime, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags bossa nova, Brazil, jazz, songs, playlists, Elizeth Cardoso, João Gilberto, Stan Getz, Miucha, Astrud Gilberto, Vinicius, Baden Powell, Flora Purim, Everything But The Girl, Gallon Drunk, Beck, Karima Karie, Brent Cash, Nouvelle Vague, Todd Rundgren, Nina Miranda, Chris Franck, Laufey, Beabadoobee, Gabriel Da Rosa, Dudley Moore, Timmy Thomas, Sergio Mendes, Brasil '66, Horace Silver, Joe Henderson, Duke Pearson, João Donato, Serge Gainsbourg, Luiz Bonfa, Don Burrows, Paul Winter Sextet, Lisa Ono, Cannonball Adderley, Rosinha Da Valença, Gal Costa, Robert Wyatt, pejepeine
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Playlists: songs about tickets, passes and invitations

January 22, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Get your AAA passes here to a full musical experience ….

Tickets to travel, alluring invitations to important passes come in all forms, and inspired by last week’s topic nominators, guest inspector Loud Atlas brings you access to all areas of musical enjoyment

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, country, comedy, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, tickets, playlists, invitations, passes, Quincy Jones, The Marvelettes, The Beatles, Fanny, TootArd, Olivia Rodrigo, Gene Wilder, Film, film soundtrack, Della Reese, Half Man Half Biscuit, The Chats, paul simon, Aretha Franklin, Joe Cocker, Tyrone Davis, Silver Cooks & The Gondoliers, Wendy Waldman, The Magicians, Beck, The Kills, Passport, passports, Tracy Chapman, Big Star, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Cosmo Sheldrake, The Osmonds, Harry Nilsson, Gladys Knight, English Teacher, Loud Atlas
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Playlists: songs about thinking

January 7, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Descending deeper into the swirling vortex of our over-stimulated minds: Girls In Synthesis

Scratching your head? What makes the inner language and patterns of thought? Is there an art to thinking, of not thinking too much, or even dethinking? Guest writer Uncleben brings clarity and wonderfully crafted playlists inspired by last week’s topic

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In African, avant-garde, blues, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, showtime, ska, soul, songs, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, playlists, thinking, psychology, Lyn Collins, X, Seun Kuti, Fela Kuti, Fela's Egypt 80, John Moreland, Ralph Myerz, Jack Herren Band, Roky Erickson, Ron Moody, Lionel Bart, paul simon, Avett Brothers, Girls In Synthesis, Pere Ubu, Mclusky, Swans, The Beatles, The Charlatans, The Lemon Twigs, Londonbeat, UB40, The Smiths, Albert Collins, Parliament, Aretha Franklin, Robert Glasper, Talib Kweli, Beck, Kevin Ayers, Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Boards of Canada, Uncleben
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Which piece fits? Puzzling and mysterious songs

November 7, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Japanese gramophone puzzle

A two-fold topic: first we’re seeking songs that initially produce a mix of incomprehension, wonder, bafflement, bewilderment, mystification, and game-changer amazement, or those about puzzles themselves, jigsaws and other mental and physical solution-solving challenges

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, colours, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, soul, songs, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, playlists, puzzles, jigsaws, mysteries, Lewis Carroll, Beck, Richard Dawkins, Eric Davis, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Allen, Eric McCormack, Rabindranath Tagore, Ronnie Van Zant, Elizabeth Bowen, Francis Bacon, Theodore Zeldin, politics, US politics, society, relationships, love songs
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Playlists: songs about physical gestures

March 27, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Sound waves and beyond …

Pointing, clapping, nodding, waving, thumbs up, thumbs down, high fives and much more, there’s no end to the lyrical gesticulation on offer signalled from last week’s topic by guest playlister Loud Atlas, whose presentation and choices should attract a salute and long applause

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags gestures, psychology, human behaviour, AC/DC, Marvin Gaye, Little Simz, Obongjayar, Brenton Wood, Alanis Morissette, Jake Bugg, Sufjan Stevens, Loyle Carner, Stevie Smith, The Bevis Frond, Richard Thompson, The Meters, Alfred Apaka, The Chiffons, Little Eva, Neil Diamond, Henry Hall, BBC Concert Orchestra, Dan Donovan, Soft Cell, The Lowest Pair, Was (Not Was), Herbie Hancock, The Fairfield Four, Mama Cass Elliot, Vanity Fare, The Guess Who, Slobberbone, Beck, Don McLean, Wreckless Eric, The Ramones, United Bottles, Tom Lehrer, Kismet Original Broadway Cast, Alfred Drake, Dropkick Murphys, Ludovico Bource, The Black Crowes, Ben Platt, Loud Atlas
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Playlists: songs about heartbreak

May 25, 2022 Peter Kimpton

Otis Redding - cut down in his prime

Relationship breakdown, devastating loneliness to shocking bereavement, from a huge response to last week’s topic, it’s all here in a set of supremely powerful playlists picked by guest magicman, where despite all the sorrow, the music brings release

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In classical, blues, avant-garde, country, dance, folk, funk, gospel, indie, jazz, instrumentals, music, playlists, pop, rock, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, heartbreak, relationships, bereavement, Robert Johnson, Odyssey, Otis Redding, Harry Nilsson, Tammy Wynette, Reparata & The Delrons, Diana Ross, Angel Olsen, Sam Brown, Roy Orbison, Jimmy Ruffin, Skeeter Davis, Taylor Swift, The Bee Gees, Eric Carmen, Johnny Ray, Smokey Robinson, Hank Williams, Elliott Smith, John Mayer, Manic Street Preachers, The Shangri–Las, Earth Wind & Fire, Jun Togawa, The Rankin Family, Donny Hathaway, Janis Joplin, Franco & TPOK Jazz, Kenny Rogers, Daniel Johnston, Bruno Mars, Mozart, Andi Thakambau, Willie Nelson, John Holt, Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, Stelios Kazantzidis, Beck, Deafheaven, Richard Wagner, JS Bach, Johannes Brahms, Edward Elgar, Samuel Barber, Ketty Lester, Gram Parsons, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Nina Simone, Jeff Buckley, Amy Winehouse, The Fureys, Davey Arthur, Aretha Franklin, Wyona Judd
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Playlists: songs to start the morning

February 2, 2022 Peter Kimpton

Time to wake …

Songs to get your up and motivated, or songs that are also about the morning? Don’t be alarmed, it’s all covered in this special two-parter, picked by guest of the week DiscoMonster from a huge dawn chorus of nominations from the past week

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, reggae, punk, rock, rocksteady, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, morning, Dave Griffiths, Tim Renwick, The Stone Roses, The Boo Radleys, Spyro Gyra, The Monkees, Sheryl Crow, The Commodores, Saint Etienne, Mura Masa, slowthai, Block 16, Jon Lucien, Beck, Squeeze, Sandy Denny, Sparklehorse, Nina Persson, Lemon Sol, Gabriels, Marvin Gaye, war, Melanie, Franco & TPOK Jazz, Quincy Jones, Ras Michael, The Sons of Negus, Talk Talk, Holly Herndon, Journey, Nazz, Menace, Dr K Gyasi & His Noble Kings, DiscoMonster
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Playlists: songs about tigers

April 20, 2021 Peter Kimpton
Now they all come together …

Now they all come together …

They’re big, and fierce, and beautiful; unpredictable, wild and exhilarating. And that’s not just those big, stripy cats. We’re also talking about this amazing ambush of playlists, picked from a wild jungle of brilliant suggestions by guest Severin

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, indie, instrumentals, jazz, hip hop, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, showtime, rocksteady, ska, songs, soul Tags songs, playlists, tigers, animals, animal behaviour, Mud, Villagers, Ricochets, The Beatles, Hollie Cook, The Chameleons, Louis Armstrong, Gordon Haskell, Hazelnut Chocolate, Aniceto Molina, NoName, Rufus Thomas Jr, Gal Costa, Jah Wobble, William Blake, Husky Rescue, Lulu, Linval Thompson, Ohia, Her Space Holiday, Jackie Mittoo, Survivor, Y&T, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Beck, Carlos Santana, Vainica Doble, Phyllis Hyman, The Boo Radleys, Peaking Lights, Fox, The Aggrovators, Jelly Roll Morton, Brian Eno, severin, Songs: Ohia, Severin
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Playlists: songs about denial

November 11, 2020 Peter Kimpton
The Go-Betweens

The Go-Betweens

There’s no denying it - this is a subject that is attached to every part of our lives, private and public, and from many nominations, guest playlister AmyLee picks amazing all-encompassing selections to uncover the musical truth

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In avant-garde, blues, calypso, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, denial, John Cooper Clarke, Little Ann, Barrington Levy, Michael Jackson, Todd Rundgren, The Mamas and Papas, The Who, Rod Stewart, John Waite, Pet Shop Boys, Kylie Minogue, I Break Horses, The Go-Betweens, The Smiths, Suede, The Bevis Frond, Mindy Smith, Buffalo Tom, Stereolab, The Stranglers, Dropkick Murphys, Jane's Addiction, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Shaggy, Robert Pete Williams, Ruby Turner, Sandy Denny, Bob Dylan, Paul Kelly, Steve Forbert, Jackie Leven, The Earlies, Juice WRLD, Split Enz, Shoes, Beautiful South, Ballboy, The Offspring, The Burning Hell, Teenage Fanclub, Sugar, Monster Magnet, My Bloody Valentine, Bob Marley, Jeff Beck, Divinyls, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Beck, AmyLee
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Playlists: songs with similes

December 4, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Leonard Cohen. Like no one else.

Leonard Cohen. Like no one else.

There’s noting quite like a simile playlist, and even more special is a pair. This week’s guest ParaMhor creates perfect examples for comparison, picked with impeccable taste out of a vast selection from last week’s topic

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In avant-garde, blues, classical, country, dance, disco, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, instrumentals, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, songs, rock, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, similes, language, Beck, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Definition of Sound, Smokey Robinson, The Miracles, Rita & The Tiaras, Stevie Wonder, This Mortal Coil, Leonard Cohen, Chet Baker, Van Morrison, Cheikh Lô, The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, Dolly Parton, Ike and Tina Turner, Boogie Down Productions, Lavern Baker, Dean Martin, Joaquin Sabina, Iceage, Placebo, Captain Beefheart, Sparklehorse, Bert Jansch, Abbey Lincoln, Gillian Welch, Stephen Crane, PG Wodehouse, Raymond Chandler, ParaMhor, Orange Juice, Benjamin Britten
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Out of this oeuvre? Songs and music that defy genre definition

April 18, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Genres? What are they?

Genres? What are they?

This week let’s push the envelope and dig out often lesser known artists and works that wriggle away from definition, those who or mix sub-genres and styles with such originality it’s hard to place them. But can you still define them?

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In avant-garde, blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, genres, fusion genres, Tom Waits, Kamasi Washington, Billie Eilish, Arctic Monkeys, Alex Turner, Albert Finney, Alan Sillitoe, David Bowie, Miles Davis, Gazelle Twin, The Residents, FKA Twigs, Avicii, David Byrne, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Damon Albarn, Gorillaz, Public Enemy, Chuck D, Henry Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Jessie J, Taylor Swift, Beck, Danny Boyle, Todd Haynes, Fever Ray, Jeanette Winterson, Italo Calvino, Anthony Newley, J Dilla
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Playlists: songs about the Devil, Satan, Lucifer …

October 31, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Hellishly good

Hellishly good

Drumming to drones, strange sounds are coming out the Song Bar stereo this week. Is in the Devil’s work? Not quite, but this week’s guest takeitawayGuru, inspired by your nominations, has got devilishly good lists

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In blues, country, dance, electronica, folk, metal, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, rock, songs, soul Tags Songs, playlists, Devil, Satan, Lucifer, Cozy Powell, Zeal & Ardor, Van Halen, INXS, Blues Pills, Band of Skulls, Florence and the Machine, Austin Lucas, Buddy Guy, Beck, Drive-By Truckers, Chris De Burgh, Deepset, Iron Maiden, The Civil Wars, Wayne Shorter, Charlie Daniels Band, Frank Zappa
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Playlists: songs about oddballs, outcasts and outsiders

August 29, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Bunny Wailer

Bunny Wailer

Bunny Wailer, Blind Melon, Beastie Boys, Blur … there all here, you know, and very different. And that’s just a few of the Bs. This week’s guest playlist writer amylee gives you a whole lot more than fantastic playlists inspired by last week’s topic.

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In blues, colours, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, folk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, ska, songs, soul Tags Songs, playlists, outsiders, outcasts, eccentricity, oddballs, Monty Python, The Ramones, Le Tigre, The Lewis Sisters, Arcade Fire, The Cure, Bunny Wailer, Blind Melon, Beastie Boys, Barbara Manning, Blur, Chumbawumba, Jackie Leven, Julian Cope, David Bowie, The Charlatans, The Shins, Barenaked Ladies, Mitski, The Strawbs, Dexys Midnight Runners, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Betty Davis, Was (Not Was), Cameo, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, The Fall, Stratford Mercenaries, Okkervil River, Joni Mitchell, Todd Rundgren, Susan McKeown, Belle & Sebastian, Beck, Soundgarden, AmyLee
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Every breath you take: songs featuring the harmonica

March 15, 2018 Peter Kimpton
The sublime Stevie Wonder

The sublime Stevie Wonder

It plays out like the voice, beautifully expresses emotion, can wail like a train and is popular across blues, rock, pop, jazz, classical and other genres. This week it's time to inhale deeply and get harmonious with the harmonica

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In blues, classical, country, folk, hip hop, indie, music, playlists, pop, punk, reggae, rock, soul, soundtracks Tags songs, Music, harmonica, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, George Harrison, John Lennon, Toots Thielemans, Abraham Lincoln, Steven Wright, Charlie Musselwhite, Larry Adler, James Cotton, Little Walter, Big Mama Thornton, Captain Beefheart, Sonny Williamson, Donovan, Beck, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Jesse Fuller, Kim Kwang Suk, Rory Macleod, Ian Gillan, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Alanis Morissette, Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin, Bobbejaan Schoepen, Johnny Cash, Roger Daltrey, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow, Van Morrison, Sonny Terry, John Barry, film soundtrack
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Special offer! Going for a song – about sales, selling and bargains

January 11, 2018 Peter Kimpton
… made glorious summer by this song of York, canvassing for business …

… made glorious summer by this song of York, canvassing for business …

Step right up! This week we look into the psychology of selling and the heartbeat of bargains across our culture. Retail therapy to ripoff, suggest lyrics all about the intimacy and anonymity of commercial transaction

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Tags Songs, playlists, selling, sales, bargains, January sales, Zig Ziglar, Abraham Maslow, PJ O'Rourke, Adam Smith, Beck, Sir Matt Busby, door-to-door selling, shops, retail industry, loft insulation, Arthur Daley, George Cole, Minder, Oscar Wilde, Only Fools and Horses, Ikea, Cabbage Patch Dolls, Apple, iPhones, Alice Walker, Steve Jobs, U2, Bono, iTunes, Prince, Jeff Buckley, Frank Zappa, Rod Stewart, Moby, Gus Van Sant, Ogilvy, advertising, Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman, Dustin Hoffman, John Malvovich, Tony Wilson, Factory Records, Manchester, Richard Branson, Felix Dennis, Banksy, art, David Bowie, Andy Warhol, Jarvis Cocker, Juilette Binoche, Michael Nyman, Mike Leigh, Black Books, comedy, television, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, stockbrokers
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Playlists: songs about natural disasters and climate events

September 20, 2017 Peter Kimpton
This week's playlists are whipping up a storm

This week's playlists are whipping up a storm

Pompeii to pollution, plague, pestilence and pressure drop, volcanoes, falling rocks, Fiery Furnaces to forest fires, this week's playlists by guest writer ParaMhor, whipped up by last week's topic, will surely go down a storm

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In playlists, rock, songs, music Tags Songs, playlists, storms, weather, meteorology, Nova Mob, Julian Cope, Big Dipper, Tony Clarke, Beck, Monsoon, Mos Def, The Fiery Furnaces, Toots and the Maytals, John and Beverley Martyn, Robert Fripp, Peter Gabriel, Kathryn Kluge, Kim Allen Kluge, The Doors, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Captain Beefheart, Eric Bibb, Randy Newman, Diana Jones, Tom Russell Band, SRC, Villagers, Honolulu Mountain Daffodils, The Horrors, Imagine Dragons, Chris T-T & The Hoodrats, The Grateful Dead, Massive Attack, ParaMhor
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Playlists: songs with arresting opening lines

August 2, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Joan's not in love, but …

Joan's not in love, but …

Madness to metaphor, the sacred to the profane, there are many ways to start a song. Inspired by last week's many nominations, guest writer severin creates two cleverly crafted playlists of examples

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Tags songs, opening lines, Dave and Ansell Collins, Priests, Pulp, Carmen McRae, Joan Armatrading, Bob Dylan, The Supremes, Lindisfarne, Bleach, Happy Mondays, The Grateful Dead, Shaan & Saurav Moni, The Teardrop Explodes, David Bowie, Tom Waits, The Beatles, Etta James, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Captain Beefheart, The Smiths, Jacques Brel, Frank Sinatra, Beck, Scott Walker, Katzenjammer, Severin
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Take a deep breath: songs with arresting opening lines

July 27, 2017 Peter Kimpton
The art of the opening

The art of the opening

Profound statements to emotional exclamations, sexual provocation to oddball situation, suggest your favourite and outstanding starter lyrics as we examine a host of musical and literary examples at the bar

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Tags songs, lyrics, opening lines, books, Dodie Smith, Chuck Palahniuk, Neil Gaiman, James Joyce, Charles Dickens, Rose Macaulay, George Orwell, Stephen Crane, LP Hartley, Iain Banks, The Carpenters, Chuck D, Public Enemy, Nina Simone, Leonard Cohen, Suede, Brett Anderson, Roy Orbison, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Silver Jews, LL Cool J, Beck, Julian Cope, The Teardrop Explodes, The Fall, Mark E Smith, Bob Dylan, The Bee Gees, Barry Gibb, The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, Elvis Costello, Morrissey, The Smiths, Paul Simon, St Vincent, Arctic Monkeys, Alex Turner, Shaun Ryder, The Happy Mondays, Mucclusky, Prince, Queen, Freddie Mercury, Jacques Brel, Scott Walker, The Pogues, David Bowie, Patti Smith, Nick Cave, The Doors
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Playlists: Easter egg songs – hidden or ghost album tracks

April 19, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Hidden lines … Nick Drake

Hidden lines … Nick Drake

Digging out treasures of all shapes and sizes from last week's topic, guest playlister Maki cracks open songs ranging from Gorillaz to The Jam, REM to Nick Drake

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In playlists, music, songs Tags Easter egg songs, songs, playlists, The Saints, Gorillaz, Damon Albarn, UB40, Turin Brakes, The Jam, The Clash, The Cowboy Junkes, REM, Alanis Morissette, Nick Drake, Pink, Jarvis Cocker, David Bowie, Beck, The Coral, Nirvana, Ronny Elliott, Dexys Midnight Runners, Tedesci Trucks Band, Supernaut, Los Fresones Rebeldes, Maki
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Crisis? What mid-life crisis? Songs about renewal, rebirth and starting over

September 15, 2016 Peter Kimpton
Mr Benn. Artful master of weekly self-renewal or bored man in a constant crisis?

Mr Benn. Artful master of weekly self-renewal or bored man in a constant crisis?

What links Mr Benn, Reginald Perrin, John Lennon, Beck, Jill Scott, Siobhan Fahey, Stephen King and Franz Kafka? From philosophy to religion, giving up drugs to leaving prison, visit Song Bar to find out more and suggest songs on this topic ...

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Tags Songs, renewal, rebirth, song, songs, starting over, mid-life crisis, Mr Benn, self-help books, Jean-Paul Sartre, Stephen King, Bananarama, Siobhan Fahey, Shakespeare's Sister, John Lennon, religion, Karen Salmansohn, reincarnation, Hinduism, William Blake, RK Narayan, Yann Martel, books, Franz Kafka, The Wire, drugs, addiction, prison, crime, Frank Gehry, architecture, Beethoven, Paul Weller, Beck, Ray Charles, Jill Scott, television, Comedy, Alan Partridge, Ricky Gervais, Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin, Leonard Rossiter, The Good Life, Richard Briars
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New Albums …

Featured
Devotion & The Black Divine by anaiis.jpeg
Dec 2, 2025
anaiis: Devotion & The Black Divine
Dec 2, 2025

New album: Following a summer Song of the Day - Deus Deus, a review of the autumn release and third LP by the London-based French-Senegalese singer-songwriter of resonantly beautiful, dynamic, sensual soul, gospel, R&B and experimental and chamber pop, with themes of new motherhood, uncertainty, religion, self-love and acceptance

Dec 2, 2025
De La Soul - Cabin In The Sky.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
De La Soul: Cabin In The Sky
Nov 26, 2025

New album: The hip-hop veterans return with their first without, yet including the voice of, and a tribute to, founding member Trugoy the Dove, AKA Dave Jolicoeur who passed away in 2023, alongside many hip-hop luminary guests, with trademark playful skits, and all themed around the afterlife

Nov 26, 2025
The Mountain Goats- Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
The Mountain Goats: Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan
Nov 26, 2025

New album: An evocative musical journey of a concept album by the indie-folk band from Claremont, California, fronted by singer-songwriter John Darnielle, based on a dream of his in 2023 about a voyage to a fictional island by the titular captain, charting adventure, wonder and tragedy

Nov 26, 2025
Allie X - Happiness Is Going To Get You.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
Allie X: Happiness Is Going To Get You
Nov 26, 2025

New album: A hugely entertaining, witty, droll, inventive, chamber and synth-pop fourth LP with a goth twist by the charismatic and theatrical Canadian artist Alexandra Hughes, who brings paradox and dark themes through sounds that include string quartet, harpsichord, classical and pure pop piano with killer lyrics

Nov 26, 2025
Tortoise - Touch.jpeg
Nov 25, 2025
Tortoise: Touch
Nov 25, 2025

New album: A welcome return with a cinematic and mesmeric groove-filled first studio LP in nine years, and the eighth over all by the eclectic Chicago post-rock/jazz/krautrock multi-instrumentalists Dan Bitney, John Herndon, Douglas McCombs, John McEntire and Jeff Parker

Nov 25, 2025
What of Our Nature by Haley Heynderickx, Max García Conover.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Haley Heynderickx and Max García Conover: What of Our Nature
Nov 24, 2025

New album: Beautiful, precise, poignant and poetic new folk numbers inspired by the life and music style of Woody Guthrie as the Portland, Oregon and New Yorker, now Portland, Maine-based singer-songwriters bring a delicious duet album, alternating and sharing songs covering a variety of forever topical social issues

Nov 24, 2025
Tranquilizer by Oneohtrix Point Never.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Oneohtrix Point Never: Tranquilizer
Nov 24, 2025

New album: Ambient, otherworldly, cinematic, mesmeric, and at times very odd, the Brooklyn-based electronic artist and producer Daniel Lopatin returns with a new nostalgia-based concept – constructing tracks from lost-then-refound Y2K CDs of 1990s and early 2000s royalty-free sample electronic sounds

Nov 24, 2025
Iona Zajac - Bang.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Iona Zajac: Bang
Nov 24, 2025

New album: A powerful, stirring, passionate and mature debut LP by the 29-year-old Glasgow-based Scottish singer with Polish and Ukrainian heritage who has toured as the new Pogues singer, and whose alternative folk songs capture raw emotions and the experience of modern womanhood, with echoes of PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, Aldous Harding and Lankum

Nov 24, 2025
Austra - Chin Up Buttercup.jpeg
Nov 19, 2025
Austra: Chin Up Buttercup
Nov 19, 2025

New album: This fifth studio LP as Austra by the Canadian classically trained vocalist and composer Katie Stelmanis brings beautiful electronica-pop and dance music, and has a bittersweet ironic title – a caustically witty reference to societal pressure to keep smiling despite a devastating breakup

Nov 19, 2025
Mavis Staples - Sad and Beautiful World.jpeg
Nov 18, 2025
Mavis Staples: Sad and Beautiful World
Nov 18, 2025

New album: A timelessly classy release by the veteran soul, blues and gospel singer and social activist from the Staples Singers, in a release of wonderfully moving and poignant cover versions, beautifully interpreting works by artists including Tom Waits, Curtis Mayfield, Leonard Cohen, and Gillian Welch

Nov 18, 2025
Stella Donnelly - Love and Fortune 2.jpeg
Nov 18, 2025
Stella Donnelly: Love and Fortune
Nov 18, 2025

New album: Finely crafted, stripped back musical simplicity combined with complex melancholic emotions mark out this beautiful, poetic, and deeply personal third folk-pop LP by the Australian singer-songwriter reflecting on the past and present

Nov 18, 2025
picture-parlour-the-parlour-album.jpeg
Nov 17, 2025
Picture Parlour: The Parlour
Nov 17, 2025

New album: Following last year’s EP Face in the Picture, a fabulously stylish, smart, swaggering glam-rock-pop debut LP by the Manchester-formed, London-based band fronted by the impressively raspy, gritty, vibratro delivery of Liverpudlian vocalist and guitarist Katherine Parlour and distinctive riffs from North Yorkshire-born guitar Ella Risi

Nov 17, 2025
FKA twigs - Eusexua Afterglow.jpeg
Nov 16, 2025
FKA twigs: EUSEXUA Afterglow
Nov 16, 2025

New album: Springing from her much lauded third LP Eusexua, out in January this year, and following a hugely successful and spectacular tour, the innovative British experimental pop artist, dancer and producer extends her palette of ethereal, otherworldly and sensual creations in this new, more carnal, harder, beat-filled parallel release

Nov 16, 2025
Celeste - Woman of Faces.jpg
Nov 15, 2025
Celeste: Woman of Faces
Nov 15, 2025

New album: The outstanding British singer returns, a long four years after her acclaimed debut Not Your Muse, with a classy, passionate set of nine, simmering, smoky, rippling dramatic, timeless numbers in which her vocal prowess is magnificently on show on songs playing on the theme of self and identity

Nov 15, 2025

new songs …

Featured
The Lemon Twigs - I've Got A Broken Heart.jpeg
Dec 4, 2025
Song of the Day: The Lemon Twigs - I've Got A Broken Heart
Dec 4, 2025

Song of the Day: Despite the title, this new double-A single (with Friday I’m Gonna Love You) has a wonderfully uplifting guitar-jangling beauty, with echoes of The Byrds and Stone Roses, but is of course the brilliant 60s and 70s retro sound of the Long Island brothers Brian and Michael D'Addario, out on Captured Tracks

Dec 4, 2025
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Dec 3, 2025
Song of the Day: Alewya - Night Drive (featuring Dagmawit Ameha)
Dec 3, 2025

Song of the Day: A sensual, stylish, dreamy electro-pop single by the striking British singer-songwriter, producer, multidisciplinary artist and model Alewya Demmisse, musically influenced by her rich Ethiopian-Egyptian heritage and early childhood upbringings in Saudi Arabia and Sudan

Dec 3, 2025
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Dec 2, 2025
Song of the Day: Radio Free Alice - Rule 31
Dec 2, 2025

Song of the Day: Stirring, passionate indie postpunk by the band based in Melbourne, Australia, with echoes of The Cure’s core sound, new wave, and 90s indie-rock influences, and out on Double Drummer

Dec 2, 2025
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Dec 1, 2025
Song of the Day: Sailor Honeymoon - Armchair
Dec 1, 2025

Song of the Day: Catchy, punchy, fuzz-guitar indie rock with a droll lyrical delivery and some echoes of Wet Leg come in this new single by the trio from Seoul, South Korea, out on Good Good Records

Dec 1, 2025
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Nov 30, 2025
Song of the Day: Ellie O'Neill - Bohemia
Nov 30, 2025

Song of the Day: A beautiful, poetic finger-picking debut folk single with a mystical, distantly stormy twist by the Dublin-based Irish singer-songwriter from County Meath, out now on St Itch Records

Nov 30, 2025
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Nov 29, 2025
Song of the Day: Danalogue - Sonic Hypnosis
Nov 29, 2025

Song of the Day: A full flavour of future-past with mesmeric, euphoric retro acid house and electronica in this new single by Daniel Leavers, producer and the founding member of The Comet Is Coming and Soccer96, out now on Castles In Space

Nov 29, 2025
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Nov 28, 2025
Song of the Day: Cardinals - Barbed Wire
Nov 28, 2025

Song of the Day: Another striking, passionate, punchy, catchy single by the Irish postpunk/indie-folk-rock band from Cork, heralding their upcoming debut album, Masquerade, out on 13 February via So Young Records

Nov 28, 2025
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Nov 27, 2025
Song of the Day: Frank Popp Ensemble (with Paul Weller) - Right Before My Eyes
Nov 27, 2025

Song of the Day: A strong, soaring, emotive, soulful release by the German artist co-written by British singer and former Jam frontman who here sings and plays guitar, the lyrics about witnessing the increasing injustices and demise of the world, out on Unique Records / Schubert Music Europe

Nov 27, 2025
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Nov 26, 2025
Song of the Day: Tessa Rose Jackson - Fear Bangs The Drum
Nov 26, 2025

Song of the Day: Using a musical metaphor, beautiful, crisply rhythmical, soaring piano and atmospheric indie-pop-folk about facing your fears by the Dutch/British singer-songwriter, heralding her forthcoming new album The Lighthouse, out on 23 January 2026 on Tiny Tiger Records

Nov 26, 2025
Melanie Baker - Sad Clown.jpeg
Nov 25, 2025
Song of the Day: Melanie Baker - Sad Clown
Nov 25, 2025

Song of the Day: Catchy, candid, cathartic indie-grunge-pop by the British singer-songwriter from Cumbria in a melancholy but oddly uplifting emotional work-through of depression, love and exhaustion, out now on TAMBOURHINOCEROS

Nov 25, 2025
Holly Humberstone - Die Happy.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Song of the Day: Holly Humberstone - Die Happy
Nov 24, 2025

Song of the Day: Luxuriant, breathy, femme-fatale dream pop with a dark, southern gothic, Lana del Rey-inspired, live-fast-die-young theme, and stylish video by the 25-year-old British singer-songwriter from Grantham, out on Polydor/Universal

Nov 24, 2025
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Nov 23, 2025
Song of the Day: These New Puritans - The Other Side
Nov 23, 2025

Song of the Day: A delicate, tender, and unusually minimalist single, their first since this year’s acclaimed album Crooked Wing, by the Southend-on-Sea-born Barnett twins, here with Jack on improvised piano and George on drums and a soprano register wordless vocal, out on Domino Records

Nov 23, 2025

Word of the week

Featured
Hangover.jpeg
Dec 4, 2025
Word of the week: crapulence
Dec 4, 2025

Word of the week: A term that may apply regularly during Xmas party season, from the from the Latin crapula, in turn from the Greek kraipálē meaning "drunkenness" or "headache" pertains to sickness symptoms caused by excess in eating or drinking, or general intemperance and overindulgence

Dec 4, 2025
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Nov 20, 2025
Word of the week: discalceate
Nov 20, 2025

Word of the week: A rarely used, but often practised verb, especially when arriving home, it means to take off your shoes, but is also a slightly more common adjective meaning barefoot or unshod, particularly for certain religious orders that wear sandals instead of shoes. But in what context does this come up in song?

Nov 20, 2025
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Nov 6, 2025
Word of the week: erythrophyll
Nov 6, 2025

Word of the week: A seasonally topical word relating to the the red pigment of tree leaves, fruits and flowers, that appears particularly when changing in autumn, as opposed to the green effect of chlorophyll, from the Greek erythros for red, and phyll for leaves. But what of songs about this?

Nov 6, 2025
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Oct 22, 2025
Word of the week: fennec
Oct 22, 2025

Word of the week: It’s a small pale-fawn nocturnal fox with unusually large, highly sensitive ears, that inhabits from African and Arab deserts areas from Western Sahara and Mauritania to the Sinai Peninsula. But has it ever been seen in a song?

Oct 22, 2025
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Oct 9, 2025
Word of the week: gongoozler
Oct 9, 2025

Word of the week: A fabulous old English slang term for someone who tends to stand or sit for long periods staring at the passing of boats on canals, sometimes with a derogatory or at least ironic use for someone who is useless or lazy. But what of songs about this activity and culture?

Oct 9, 2025

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