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Playlist: songs about deadlines and ultimatums

November 11, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Buzzer time …

Deadlines are pressure points of human timing — social, romantic, political, existential. They define us, scare us, push us to move. With a clever crafted playlist picked from last week’s topic, guest Maki clocks what it all means

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In blues, comedy, disco, electronica, dub, dance, hip hop, indie, jazz, musicals, musical hall, playlists, music, pop, postpunk, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, ska, songs, soul, traditional, soundtracks Tags time, deadlines, ultimatums, RIchie Havens, The Everly Brothers, The Monkees, Everly Brothers, The Grateful Dead, Echo and the Bunnymen, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Gregory Isaacs, The Stranglers, Deadline, Splodgenessabounds, Buzzcocks, Blossom Dearie, Ruth Etting, Mull Historical Society, Maki
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Playlists: songs about formal agreements

September 6, 2022 Peter Kimpton

Gang of Four peer closely at the small print ….

Reggae to punk contracts and beyond, it’s time to sign on the dotted line, but only when you’ve read all the small print. With no obligation to express your reaction until you’ve heard it all, come and check out these fabulous playlists picked by guest Tatanka Yotanka from last week’s theme and nominations

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, jazz, musical hall, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, contracts, agreements, treaties, The Congos, Gang of Four, Kofi, The Clash, Max Romeo, Stiff Little Fingers, Peter Tosh, Sex Pistols, Gregory Isaacs, US Bombs, The Gladiators, Bad Religion, The Abyssinians, Love, Gene Latter, First Choice, The Trammps, Blossom Dearie, The Rugby's, The O'Jays, Primus, The Stooges, The Streets, 10cc, Aretha Franklin, Lindisfarne, Brides of Funkenstein, TatankaYotanka
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Playlists: songs about paradise

July 13, 2022 Peter Kimpton

Lost Horizon (1937), based on James Hilton’s 1933 novel

Heaven can wait, so they say, but there’s no longer a need, but a musical utopia is here in a fabulous collection of playlists picked by guest of the week Nicko, taking us to a better place and inspired by last week’s topic

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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, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, Shangri La, paradise, Utopia, B.W. Stevenson, The Flames, Sundae Times, Jesca Hoop, The 13th Floor Elevators, The O'Jays, Aldous Harding, Edwyn Collins, Ethel Waters, Buzzcocks, Gregory Isaacs, Sade, Billy Fury, Seaman Dan, Charlie Parker, Slapp Happy, Gene Austin, Shawn Phillips, Eden Ahbez, Lorraine Bowen, Frentel, The Eagles, Mischief Brew, Bob Dylan, Suzanne Vega, ELO, Missy Higgins, The Undertones, The Pretenders, Spinetta y Los Socios Del Desierto, Trio Matamoros, El Gran Combo, William Onyeabor, Rufus & Chaka Khan, Coolio, Icehouse, Fiction Factory, The Space Negros, Tony Bennett, Harry McClintock, Joni Mitchell, The Kinks, Amen Corner, The Last Shadow Puppets, The Staple Singers, Stevie Wonder, Chuck Berry, Talking Heads, Joe Smooth, Cocteau Twins, The Cure, Seal, OPM, Meatloaf, Gabriel Fauré, Judy Garland, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Manecas Costa, Eurogliders, war, Johnnie Taylor, Deep Sensation, Gwen Guthrie, Les Djibos, Konono No 1, Nicko
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Playlists: songs about outlaws and rebels

November 2, 2021 Peter Kimpton

Ned Kelly: tough Irish teenager to infamous Australian armour-plated outlaw – inspiration for many song nominations, but which survived?

From an infamous armour-plated Australian to a whole rogues’ gallery of bandits, buccaneers, and highwaymen, a huge response to last week’s topic brought forth musical guest gang leader Maki who made rich pickings with everything from folk to reggae and rock

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In African, blues, calypso, country, folk, gospel, indie, music, musicals, musical hall, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags The Grateful Dead, Paul Kelly, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Haze, José Mercé, The Cimarons, John Legend, Prefab Sprout, Justin Townes Earle, The Dogs D'Amour, Loreena McKennitt, Aswad, Gregory Isaacs, David Rovics, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Gene Clarke, Carla Olsen, Los Tigres del Norte, Scritti Politti, The Teardrop Explodes, Peter Frampton, Chumbawamba, Lila Downs, Maki
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Playlists: songs about body language and gestures

March 2, 2021 Peter Kimpton
It’s no illusion: Imagination becomes reality at this week’s Song Bar body politic

It’s no illusion: Imagination becomes reality at this week’s Song Bar body politic

Affectionate punches to bootylicious body talk, blank expressions and other bodily connections, after waves of physical communication from Song Bar nominations, guest pejepeine’s big gesture is to pick perfect playlists

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In avant-garde, blues, disco, dub, experimental, funk, indie, jazz, music, pop, reggae, rock, rocksteady, ska, soul, songs, dance, playlists Tags songs, playlists, gestures, body language, psychology, Dionne Warwick, Hal David, Imagination, Destiny's Child, Françoise Hardy, The Associates, The Cure, The Temptations, Jens Lekman, Tim Buckley, Elastica, The Specials, John Holt, Gregory Isaacs, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Charles Mingus, Sarah Vaughan, Miles Davis, Brenton Wood, Solange Knowles, Barbara Lewis, Paramore, The Staple Singers, Patti Austin, Sault, Michael Kiwanuka, Andy Williams, Change, pejepeine
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Playlists: songs with self-deprecation

March 18, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Bashful kids: Edwyn Collins and Orange Juice back in the day …

Bashful kids: Edwyn Collins and Orange Juice back in the day …

Don’t listen to these playlists. They’re not really that good at all. Then again they might be. What do you reckon? Actually they could actually be brilliant, chosen by guest playlister megadom from a whole set of funny and moving suggestions …

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In avant-garde, blues, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, ska, songs, soul Tags songs, playlists, self-deprecation, Orange Juice, Edwyn Collins, Fujiya & Miyagi, Camera Obscura, Ezra Furman, Loudon Wainwright III, Gregory Isaacs, Courtney Barnett, Sun Kil Moon, The Monochrome Set, John Grant, Neil Innes, Ballboy, The Soft Machine, Skee-Lo, X-Ray Spex, Dan Auerbach, Sebadoh, Edwin Starr, Split Enz, The 6ths, Seasick Steve, The Smiths, The Guv'nors, King Creosote, Dana Bryant, Elvis Costello, Peter Blegvad, megadom
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Playlists: songs about substitutes

July 4, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Irreplaceable: The Modern Lovers

Irreplaceable: The Modern Lovers

Replacements for players, soldiers, husbands, lovers, even robot sex – it’s all going on this these superb playlists chosen by our guest lister Marco den Ouden, who also replaces some of his words with those by nominators

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In blues, country, dance, electronica, folk, gospel, hip hop, indie, jazz, music, metal, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, songs, soul, rock, reggae, prog Tags Songs, playlists, substitutes, football, Jorge Ben, Richard Thompson, Sloan, Millie Jackson, The Modern Lovers, Jonathan Richman, Beyonce, Dr John, Tom Odell, Melvin Bliss, Neil Young, Brad Paisley, Hatsune Miku, The Who, Clout, Gregory Isaacs, Strawberry Switchblade, Lenny Kravitz, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Everlast, Prince, Frank Sinatra, The Magic Numbers, Billie Jo Spears, FKA Twigs, Jacques Brel, Elvis Presley, Karla Bonoff, Jesse Fuller, Stevie Wonder, George Jones, Melba Montgomery, The Seekers, Estelle, Yes, Tarnation, Dee D. Jackson, The Beautiful South, Chumbawumba, Fountains of Wayne, Ry Cooder, Mark Lanegan, Isobel Campbell, Marco den Ouden, Marconius
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Playlists: songs about hanging - swung in all directions

January 24, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Foucault? Swing low, sweet pendulum

Foucault? Swing low, sweet pendulum

North, south, east, west, left to right, Ayers to Zeppelin, this week's guest writer nosuchzone took charge of the musical swingometer, and inspired by nominations, created marvellous playlists that really move

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In blues, country, folk, hip hop, indie, metal, music, playlists, pop, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul Tags Al Bowlly, Songs, playlists, Thaikkudam Bridge, Kevin Ayers, The Stranglers, Nick Drake, Jesus & Mary Chain, Ella Fitzgerald, Led Zeppelin, Nina Simone, Peter Blegvad, Solomon Burke, The McCoys, The Supremes, Chairmen of the Board, Salt, Joe Simon, Al Green, Chic, Sade, Loose Ends, Johnny Bristol, Richard Ace, Simple Simon, Gregory Isaacs, MF Doom, Tortoise, Robbie Robertson, nosuchzone, Billie Holiday, Blondie, The Smiths, Richard Thompson, Elvis Costello, Creedence Clearwater Revival, James & Bobby Purify
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Playlists: songs about innocence

October 18, 2017 Peter Kimpton
The Seekers … look no hands.

The Seekers … look no hands.

Talking Heads tothe Tams, the Seekers to Stevie Wonder, childhood to cherished days, this week's guest playlister megadom captures a perfect and purer state of mind, inspired by last week's nominations

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In soul, songs, rock, music, hip hop, country, folk, reggae, playlists, indie Tags songs, playlists, innocence, Eartha Kitt, childhood, Talking Heads, The Tams, The Saw Doctors, Jonathan Richman, Loyle Carner, Jan Bradley, Stevie Wonder, John Martyn, Gregory Isaacs, France Gall, Pink Floyd, The Seekers, Jackie Leven, Peter Blegvad, Morrissey, Bobbie Gentry, Jane, Saint Etienne, Cat Stevens, The Kinks, The Incredible String Band, The Lightning Seeds, Junior Tucker, Blue Mink, Karine Polwart, Culture, AE Houseman, Vernon Elliot, megadom
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Sing out, act on CLIMATE CHANGE

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CONDEMN RACISM, EMBRACE EQUALITY


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DRINK OF THE WEEK

Constant comment tea


SNACK OF THE WEEK

black-eyed peas


New Albums …

Featured
Lucinda Williams - World's Gone Wrong.jpeg
Jan 28, 2026
Lucinda Williams: World's Gone Wrong
Jan 28, 2026

New album: The acclaimed veteran country, rock and Americana singer-songwriter and multi-Grammy winner’s latest LP has a title that speaks for itself, but is powerful, angry, defiant and uplifting, and, recorded in Nashville, features guest vocals from Norah Jones, Mavis Staples and Brittney Spencer

Jan 28, 2026
Clotheline From Hell.jpeg
Jan 27, 2026
Clothesline From Hell: Slather On The Honey
Jan 27, 2026

New album: His moniker mischievously named after a wrestling move, a highly impressive, independently-created experimental, psychedelic rock debut the the Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Adam LaFramboise

Jan 27, 2026
Dead Dads Club.jpeg
Jan 27, 2026
Dead Dads Club: Dead Dads Club
Jan 27, 2026

New album: Dynamic, passionate, heart-stirring indie rock in this project fronted by Chilli Jesson (formerly bassist of Palma Violets) with songs spurred by the trauma of losing his father 20 years ago, retelling a defiant and difficult aftermath, with sound boosted by producer Carlos O’Connell of Fontaines D.C.

Jan 27, 2026
The Paper Kites - IF YOU GO THERE, I HOPE YOU FIND IT.png
Jan 25, 2026
The Paper Kites: If You Go There, I Hope You Find It
Jan 25, 2026

New album: Warm, tender, gently-paced, calmly reflective, beautifully soothing, poetic, melancholic alternative folk and Americana by the band from Melbourne in their seventh LP in 15 years

Jan 25, 2026
PVA - No More Like This.jpeg
Jan 24, 2026
PVA: No More Like This
Jan 24, 2026

New album: Inventive, alluring, sensual, mysterious, minimalistic electronica, trip-hop and experimental pop by the London trio of Ella Harris, Joshua Baxter and Louis Satchell, in this second album following 2022’s Blush, boosted by the creativity of producer and instrumentalist Kwake Bass

Jan 24, 2026
Imarhan - Essam.jpeg
Jan 20, 2026
Imarhan: Essam
Jan 20, 2026

New album: A mesmeric fourth LP in a decade by the band from Tamanrasset, Algeria, whose name means ‘the ones I care about’, their Tuareg music mixing guitar riffs, pop melodies and African rhythms, but this time also evolves slightly away from the desert blues rocky, bluesy influence of contemporaries Tinariwen with electronic elements

Jan 20, 2026
Courtney Marie Andrews - Valentine.jpeg
Jan 20, 2026
Courtney Marie Andrews: Valentine
Jan 20, 2026

New album: Emotional, beautiful, stirring, Americana, folk and indie-pop by singer-songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona, in this latest studio LP in of soaring voice, strong melodies, love, vulnerability and heartbreak, longing and bravery

Jan 20, 2026
Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore - Tragic Magic.jpeg
Jan 18, 2026
Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore: Tragic Magic
Jan 18, 2026

New album: Delicate, beautiful, ethereal, meditative new work by the two American experimental composers in their first collaborative LP, with gentle understated vocals, classic synth sounds, and rare harps chosen from from the Paris Musée de la Musique Collection

Jan 18, 2026
Sleaford Mods- The Demise of Planet X.jpeg
Jan 16, 2026
Sleaford Mods: The Demise of Planet X
Jan 16, 2026

New album: The caustic wit of Nottingham’s Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn return with a 13th LP of brilliantly abrasive, dark humoured hip-hop and catchy beats, addressing the rubbish state of the world, as well as local, personal and social irritations through slick nostalgic cultural reference, some expanded sounds, and an eclectic set of guests

Jan 16, 2026
Sault - Chapter 1.jpeg
Jan 14, 2026
SAULT: Chapter 1
Jan 14, 2026

New album: As ever, released suddenly without fanfare or any publicity, the prolific experimental soul, jazz, gospel, funk, psychedelia and disco collective of Cleo Sol, Info (aka Dean Josiah Cover) and co return with a stylish, mysterious LP

Jan 14, 2026
The Cribs - Selling A Vibe.jpeg
Jan 14, 2026
The Cribs: Selling A Vibe
Jan 14, 2026

New album: A first LP in five years by the likeable and solid guitar indie-rock Jarman brothers trio from Wakefield, now with their ninth - a catchy, but at times with rueful, bittersweet perspectives on their times in the music business

Jan 14, 2026
Dry Cleaning - Secret Love.jpeg
Jan 9, 2026
Dry Cleaning: Secret Love
Jan 9, 2026

New album: This third LP by the London experimental post-punk quartet with the distinctive, spoken, droll delivery of Florence Shaw, is packed with striking, vivid, often non seqitur lyrics capturing life’s surreal mundanities and neuroses with a sound coloured and polished by Cate Le Bon as producer

Jan 9, 2026
Various - Icelock Continuum.jpeg
Dec 31, 2025
Various Artists: ICELOCK CONTINUUM
Dec 31, 2025

New album: An inspiring, evocative, sensual and sonically tactile experimental compilation from the fabulously named underground French label Camembert Électrique, with range of international electronic artists capturing cold winter weather’s many textures - cracking, delicate crunchy ice, snow, electric fog, and frost in many fierce and fragile forms across 98 adventurous tracks

Dec 31, 2025
Favourite Albums of 2025 - Part 3.jpeg
Dec 18, 2025
Favourite albums of 2025 - Part Three
Dec 18, 2025

Welcome to the third and final part of Song Bar favourite albums of 2025. There is also Part One, and Part Two. There is no countdown nor describing these necessarily as “best” albums of the year, but they are chosen by their quality, originality and reader popularity

Dec 18, 2025

new songs …

Featured
Nathan Fake.jpeg
Jan 28, 2026
Song of the Day: Nathan Fake - Slow Yamaha
Jan 28, 2026

Song of the Day: Hypnotic electronica with woozy layers of smooth resonance and a lattice of shifting analogue patterns by the British artist from Norfolk, taken from his forthcoming album, Evaporator, out on InFiné Music

Jan 28, 2026
Charlotte Day Wilson - Lean.jpeg
Jan 27, 2026
Song of the Day: Charlotte Day Wilson - Lean (featuring Saya Gray)
Jan 27, 2026

Song of the Day: Stylish, striking, sensual experimental electro-pop and R&B in this fabulous collaboration between the two Canadian singer/ multi-instrumentalist from Toronto, out on Stone Woman Music/ XL Recordings

Jan 27, 2026
Lime Garden - 23.jpeg
Jan 26, 2026
Song of the Day: Lime Garden - 23
Jan 26, 2026

Song of the Day: Wonderfully catchy, witty, quirky indie pop about age and adjustment by the Brighton-formed quartet fronted by Chloe Howard, heralding their upcoming album Maybe Not Tonight, out on So Young Records on 10 April

Jan 26, 2026
Madra Salach - It's A Hell Of An Age - EP.jpeg
Jan 25, 2026
Song of the Day: Madra Salach - The Man Who Seeks Pleasure
Jan 25, 2026

Song of the Day: A powerful, slow-simmering and gradually intensifying, drone-based original folk number about the the flipsides of love and hedonism by the young Irish traditional and alternative folk band, with comparisons to Lankum, from the recently released EP It's a Hell of an Age, out on Canvas Music

Jan 25, 2026
Adult DVD band.jpeg
Jan 24, 2026
Song of the Day: Adult DVD - Real Tree Lee
Jan 24, 2026

Song of the Day: Catchy, witty, energised acid-dance-punk with echoes of Underworld and Snapped Ankles by the dynamic, innovative band from Leeds in a new number about a dodgy character of toxic masculinity and online ignorance, and their first release on signing to Fat Possum

Jan 24, 2026
Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night - War Child - HELP 2.jpeg
Jan 23, 2026
Song of the Day: Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night (for War Child HELP 2 charity album)
Jan 23, 2026

Song of the Day: A simmering, potent, contemplative new track by acclaimed Sheffield band, their first song since 2022’s album The Car, with proceeds benefiting the charity War Child, heralding the upcoming HELP (2) compilation out on 6 March with various contributors

Jan 23, 2026
White Denim - Lock and Key.jpg
Jan 22, 2026
Song of the Day: White Denim - (God Created) Lock and Key
Jan 22, 2026

Song of the Day: The Austin, Texas-formed LA-based rockers return with an infectiously catchy groove fusing rock, funk, dub, soul, and down-dirty blues with some playful self-mythologising and darker themes, heralding 13th album, 13, out on 24 April via Bella Union

Jan 22, 2026
Holy Fuck band.jpeg
Jan 21, 2026
Song of the Day: Holy Fuck - Evie
Jan 21, 2026

Song of the Day: The Canadian experimental indie rock and electronica quartet from Toronto return with a pulsating new track of thrumming bass and shimmering keyboards, heralding their forthcoming new album Event Beat, out on 27 March via Satellite Services

Jan 21, 2026
KAVARI.jpeg
Jan 20, 2026
Song of the Day: KAVARI - IRON VEINS
Jan 20, 2026

Song of the Day: Exciting, cutting-edge electronica and hardcore dance music by innovative the Birkenhead-born, Glasgow-based artist Cameron Winters (she), with a stylish, striking video, heralding the forthcoming EP, PLAGUE MUSIC, out digitally and on 12-inch vinyl on 6 February via XL Recordings

Jan 20, 2026
Asap Rocky - Punk Rocky.png
Jan 19, 2026
Song of the Day: A$AP Rocky - Punk Rocky
Jan 19, 2026

Song of the Day: The standout catchy hip-pop/soul/pop track from the New York rapper aka Rakim Athelston Mayers’ (also the husband of Rihanna) recently released album, Don’t Be Dumb, featuring also the voice of Cristoforo Donadi, and out on A$AP Rocky Recordings

Jan 19, 2026
Buck Meek - The Mirror.jpeg
Jan 18, 2026
Song of the Day: Buck Meek - Gasoline
Jan 18, 2026

Song of the Day: The Texas-born Big Thief guitarist returns with an beautifully stirring, evocative, poetic love-enthralled indie-folk single of free association made-up words and quantum leap feelings, rolling drums and strums, heralding his upcoming fourth solo album, The Mirror, out on 27 February via 4AD

Jan 18, 2026
Alexis Taylor - Paris In The Spring.jpeg
Jan 17, 2026
Song of the Day: Alexis Taylor - Out Of Phase (featuring Lola Kirke)
Jan 17, 2026

Song of the Day: A crisp, catchy fusion of synth-pop, cosmic country and some NYC-garage odyssey with references to two films by David Lynch from the Hot Chip frontman, heralding his upcoming sixth solo album, Paris In The Spring, out on 13 March via Night Time Stories

Jan 17, 2026

Word of the week

Featured
Zumbador dorado - mango bumblebee Puerto Rico.jpeg
Jan 22, 2026
Word of the week: zumbador
Jan 22, 2026

Word of the week: A wonderfully evocative noun from the Spanish for word buzz, and meaning both a South American hummingbird, a door buzzer, and symbolic of resurrection of the soul in ancient Mexican culture, while also serving as the logo for a tequila brand

Jan 22, 2026
Hamlet ad - Gregor Fisher.jpg
Jan 8, 2026
Word of the week: aspectabund
Jan 8, 2026

Word of the week: This rare adjective describes a highly expressive face or countenance, where emotions and reactions are readily shown through the eyes or mouth

Jan 8, 2026
Kaufmann Trumpeter 1950.jpeg
Dec 24, 2025
Word of the week: bellonion (or belloneon)
Dec 24, 2025

Word of the week: It sounds like a bulbous, multi-layered peeling vegetable, but this obscure mechanical musical instrument invented in 1812 in Dresden consisted of 24 trumpets and two kettle drums and, designed to mimic the sound of a marching band, might also make your eyes water

Dec 24, 2025
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
Running shoes and barefoot.jpeg
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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