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Can boredom and banality become such an art form that they become exciting, or snorefest into the stimulating? Picking from last week’s topic, guest playlister Olive Butler presents a magnificent selection of mundanity
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Honey badger: ‘Yeah? And? So what?’
As independent and tough as the honey badger, these playlists rise above any concerns. They don’t care what anyone else thinks. How come? They are brilliantly compiled by guest AmyLee, picked from hundreds of nominations
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Brief Encounter …
Songs that capture that moment of a surprise encounter, wherever it is, doorstep or elsewhere, and wherever it might lead – to romance, tragedy, comedy, death, or more, perhaps profoundly life-changing, or brief, and fleeting
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Frank Zappa and the body beautiful
Men, women, babies, society, people of statue, stardom or otherwise, this week no one escapes this week’s scattergun of superbly insulting songs inspired by last week’s topic, chosen with expert evil hilarity by guest Olive Butler
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Joseph Stalin: hero turned villain. Statue torn down in 1956 in Budapest during Hungary's October Revolution
Whether it’s figures of public renown in music, film, politics or history, or private – mentors, relatives and even lovers, this week we look into songs about how the once admired and revered can seriously disappoint and fall from grace
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The divine Miss Grace Jones
Let’s accessorise ourselves with songs about hats, gloves, scarves, sunglasses and the like, from a key lyrical moment to song as whole, with items that variously signify fashion, function, status, class, profession, character or era
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Koko and friend
Soothing words, a light touch; holding baby, stroking an animal; lifting a fragile glass a measured, restrained response to tense moments, rage or violence; the soft caress of a light breeze across the eyelids, let’s gently let it out in song
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Did Dusty get a message. How?
Rumour has it that there are a couple of great playlists around that totally nail the topic all about indirect communication, sometimes via a third party. Following last week’s topic, let’s just say that this week’s guest Olive Butler might be behind it …
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It’s just a stage I’m going through: Bregenz Music Festival in Austria
Bars, basements, intimate, sweaty or large or legendary, forests, festivals, stratospheric stadia, snug pubs to prisons, caves to operatic amphitheatres, let's musically celebrate venues and spaces mentioned by, or associated with songs
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Scott Walker. Wave goodbye to any Manhattan meaning
Not a single song has anything to do with what it says on the tin. But after many wonderful wrongfooting nominations, brilliant guest playlister Olive Butler puts them in an entertaining form of order
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Perhaps these steps will lead you to the right key …
Steep, sweeping, stone, wood or metal? This week we're exploring how music give us a certain kind of lift – through lyrics that describe all ways to up or down, on foot or via mechanical means, actual or metaphorical
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Altogether now ....
The lyrics are about dark matters, but they are played with extremely contrasting upbeat music. This week let’s explore songs that, through stark contrast, can unlock humour, tragedy, comedy and empathy
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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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Lamb. Obviously.
Innocence lost or regained, from childhood to animals, in fact or fantasy, lyrics or style, this week we enter less cynical world, one of wide-eyed wonderment and promise, all in the form of songs and more
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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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Spongebob Squarepants. Getting it done, or just swamped?
From juggling duties and spinning plates for family, social life, relationships, work or other chores, name songs that talk about that struggle to keep concentration when there's a long list of distracting tasks
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The Jam. Now that really is entertainment …
Verbal, drama and perspective, Jam to Johnnie Taylor, Morrissey to Elvis Costello, this week's guest writer attwilightlarks picks a sharp, satirical and punchy playlist inspired by last week's ironic topic
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Eric and Ernie
It's a challenging year ahead, so to wish you a happy one and help prepare, come to the Song Bar NY party to charge ourselves up with songs, in style or lyrics, that bring a positive perspective
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What does it mean and how does it feel to be clever, smart, savvy, canny, brainy, or have clout? Or the opposite? What is emotional and musical intelligence? It's time to play out these ideas in song
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Frazier, Foreman and Ali. All friendly like.
Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Liston, and Louis? You can bet this week's round of themed song selections by guest writer Ravi Raman packs a punch – and check out even more music moves with kung fu and karate …
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