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Cuba’s classical and dance band maestro José Julián Jiménez (violin), with sons Manuel (piano), and Measio (cello) in Leipzig, Germany, c. late 19th century
It’s an activity popular as a breakthrough or learning tool, but can also be done with originality and style. Which songs are so good that they’ve crossed continents, languages or genres into something new because their melody holds a timeless appeal?
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Talking Heads - but what’s in the book?
Read all about it! Or in some cases, don’t believe a word. From books to letters to the media and more, guest of the week George Boyland picks out a classy selection from last week’s topic nominations. Browse and enjoy …
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Not lesser known, but definitely a revealing and true original …
This week it’s time to dig deep for those original songs overshadowed by hit or well-known covers. We can also include remixes and other reworkings, as well as lesser known songs so heavily sampled they make a prominent core more famous version
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British and German troops buck tradition, but also honour it, during the Christmas Day truce of 1914, to play football instead of war
Ancient religions to strange festivals, drinking rituals to counting sheep to chasing cheeses, small slices of history to long formed social behaviour, enjoy wonderful stories and playlists picked by guest Marco den Ouden from last week’s topic
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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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Two of the greats. Ray Charles, also a great arranger as well as performer, with composer and arranger Quincy Jones
From full orchestration to carefully stripped back, this week let's consider work where in originals or later versions, added instrumentals, vocal parts, melodic fills, changing tempo or keys, have made a great song even better
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Shadow play. Where? On the square
This week we enter the world of the topsy-turvy and the back-to-front, all reflected in song lyrics, literally or metaphorically, here with a perspective on other work, from reversed or mirror images to the distorted or refracted
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Kate Tempest – Europe is Lost?
From personal turmoil of the human brain to total tumult of the planet, Temptations to Kate Tempest, this week’s playlist writer ParaMhor turns last week’s whole world of fabulous nominations into a cri de crisis par excellence
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Stop me if you’ve heard that one before …
Is there an echo in here? Those with sharp ears will enjoy some remarkable and fun comparisons as this week’s playlister Olive Butler perfectly picks out some of the soundalikes from a double topic over the festive period
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James Boswell. The biographer and man of letters helps draft this week's list of canticles … Portrait: Sir Joshua Reynolds
It began with a letter. Schoolboys to murderers, fist-fighting ruffians to race horses, from last week's voluminous nominations, peruse these superbly compiled playlists by guest biographer Uncleben through the muse of James Boswell
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Where are they now? David Bowie and mates in Berlin
Britain to Berlin, Bangkok to Baghdad or Buenos Aires, our guest writer Marco den Ouden takes a truly global tour of Earth-spanning eclecticism inspired by last week's Song Bar topic
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