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It might start with the fingers, but your ears will tell you what makes a great riff
A term coined in the early the 20th century, often played on guitar but also on piano and other instruments, this core, repetitive musical phrase could be even more memorable and catchy than the sung melody. But what riffs have you humming from the last 25 years?
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Paul Kelly: a perennial Song Bar favourite storyteller
Time waits for no one, but many songs are ageless. With perspectives looking back and forward, and many great stories, guest of the week Barbryn picks a fabulous selection inspired by last week’s topic
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The following songs will teach us a few things about popularity, but this film has nothing to do with any of them …
Nominations came, and votes were cast. It’s something dreamed about in school, but can also bite back at you. Love, being in a band, to local or global fame, and its paradoxes, here are the results in playlist form …
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Venezuala’s Hugo Chávez, whose story is a colourfully flawed tale of popularity and popularism …
It’s something we might crave when young, but then find it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. But some pursue it all their lives. With stories packed with plots and emotion, it’s time to suggest, but also vote for others’ suggested songs to see what come out as the most popular …
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Players enter. But where’s the Wurlitzer …?
Strange goings on and off occur this week as the curtain opens for a theatrical absurdity featuring cast of random characters including this week’s guest guru, Loud Atlas, inspired by last week’s topic and Samuel Beckett. Fish. Wurlitzer. Balloon.
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Go!: The Go! Team
It’s positive, infectious, subjective yet strangely magical in effect. Spread across the genres and inspired by last week’s topic, ParaMhor brings his superb selection of music that will brighten your day and put a spring in your step
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Stack of 7-inches
Brutally, or mercifully truncated, radio-edited in musical mix or lyrical content, decorously tarted up with orchestra or other instruments, added or deleted solos, made dancier or more ethereal, it’s time to dig up some the contrasting versions that have surprised, delighted or frustrated you
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A shade better …
Jazz bop the hep hipsters, slick sunglasses to sharp dressed men, expressed in lyrics and sound, this week’s smooth operator is guest Loud Atlas, who picks some sublime and prime examples from last week’s coolness topic
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Promising everything: Them featuring the young Van Morrison
Is everything awesome or is it awful, or the full works in between? There’s a whole spectrum of ideas and feelings about ‘everything’ expressed in song, and from last week’s topic guest playlister Noodsy very neatly picks great numbers to capture the big picture
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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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What time will love flower? The Foundations 1968
Something changed around the Enlightenment, with the advent of universal timepieces, but how did that affect human relationships? Inspired by last week’s nominations, Marco den Ouden clocks in with perfectly timely playlists
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Results are in the air tonight
Applications have been made, papers marked, but from last week’s many entries, which made the grade and will reach graduation to make the playlists? Examiner Marco den Ouden reveals the full results …
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A Ruckers Flemish harpsichord
From the mathematical perfection of Bach into the advent of electronica, its grand, courtly sound inspired psych rock and Baroque pop. From a huge set of nominations, guest pejepeine picks an inspired set of playlists that proves the harpsichord’s dynamic stylistic range
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La Foule: Edith Piaf sings to an enraptured gathering in 1951
Forming an orderly queue or going mob-handed in an unruly bunch, it’s time to join the throng in enjoying these fabulous selections by guest Loud Atlas, picked from an even bigger crowd of numbers from last week’s topic
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Class reflections: Mighty Mo Rodgers
It’s a life of ups and downs, hopes and dreams. From financial ambition to border immigration, breaking the rules to criticising status quo fools, this week’s playlists, picked from a big crowd of nominations by guest Suzi, are truly classy
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There’s no dictating to Pauline Murray from Penetration …
An impressive collection of tough cookies feature in this week’s lineup of artists ready to take no nonsense from anybody, covering the full spectrum obstinacy, from soul to punk and beyond, picked by discerning ear of guest Maki
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Michael Jackson had more than his fair share of changes. In one instance he takes a breath before sharpening his G
No technical knowledge required. Michael Jackson to the Beatles, they've all done it. From a single step up to lift or alter the mood, to more complex modulations, if you can feel or hear a significant change in the song, it could be a key one
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Cabinet meeting? Alice, Hatter, Dormouse, but who is that guy with the floppy ears? Read to find out more …
The table is set for tea, except not all is quite as it seems … guest playlister EnglishOutlaw explores the topsy-turvy, inside out and upside through a fictional Lewis Carroll universe, in lyrics and music, inspired by last week’s topic
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Woolly thinking? Alpacas are in on the act, of course.
From cows to horses, sheep, pigs, ox, goats, donkeys, alpacas, llamas and more, this week let’s look into songs about the farming and husbandry of quadrupeds, our relationship with them and also what they say about us
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Hound of love? Indirect delivery
Through a third party, on scribbled letters left, sent or hidden, on answering machines or other means, even via prayer, this week let's look at songs about communication to an individual sent via a roundabout route
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