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Playlists: songs about getting older

October 22, 2025 Peter Kimpton

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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Tags songs, playlists, ageing, David Bowie, Sage Francis, Chuck Berry, The Long Blondes, Game Theory, Skyhooks, Hank Williams, Jill Sobule, Amy Rigby, Pulp, Paul Kelly, John Mayer, Lori McKenna, Lee Hazelwood, Matraca Berg, paul simon, The Ramones, Kenickie, Françoise Hardy, Bonny Light Horseman, Dar Williams, Avett Brothers, The Modern Lovers, Eels, Idlewild, Edwin Morgan, The Kinks, George Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Emily Breeze, Frida Hyvönen, Wolf Alice, Barbryn
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Playlists: songs about very specific or obscure numbers

October 15, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Doctor Steel and his robot band

How does it all add up? Is there any logic to it. There are thousands of songs that include numbers, but what about the very specific ones? Inspired by last week’s topic, see how it all took shape in this alternative Fibonacci sequence

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In avant-garde, African, blues, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, numbers, mathematics, Paul Erdős, Doctor Steel, Wire, John Berberian & The Rock East Ensemble, Five Thirty, Tom Waits, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Cure, Ansell Collins, The Rolling Stones, Chicago, paul simon, The Beatles, Toots and the Maytals, Geese, Brian Eno, The O'Jays, The Marvelettes, Wilson Pickett, Aphex Twin, Richard D James, Tropical Fuck Storm
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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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Playlists: songs featuring humming

August 27, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Prime humming: Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes

It’s a sound that draws you into the melody and can sometimes say more than words. Inspired by last week’s topic, guest ParaMhor picks a hum-dinger of a collection spanning many genres and eras. Hum along if you don’t know the words

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In African, avant-garde, blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, jazz, lounge, music, playlists, musicals, pop, postpunk, psychedelia, rock, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, humming, Johnny Cash, Rod Stewart, John Lee Hooker, ZZ Top, De La Soul, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Giacomo Puccini, Margo Guryan, Thurston Harris, Teenage Fanclub, Richard Hawley, Billie Eilish, Van Morrison, Simon & Garfunkel, paul simon, Skott, Roy Ayers, The Four Tops, Cream, Modern English, Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, Joe Strummer, The Folk Implosion, Wendy Waldman, Moby, James Last, Connie Boswell, Carla Bley, Dionne Warwick, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, ParaMhor
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Playlists: songs about indecision

March 8, 2023 Peter Kimpton

So, do you want this, or not? Well, let’s see …

Ever felt in two minds? Caught between two stools? Stuck between a rock, pop, and hardcore place? All the wobbles and vacillations about everything in life are expertly and entertainingly captured by guest Olive Butler, chosen from nominations for last week’s topic. But which list will it be?

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, reggae, rock, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks Tags indecision, playlists, songs, Talking Heads, The Who, Janis Joplin, Elvis Costello, French Kicks, Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, Marcel Zanini, Tame Impala, The Heptones, La Sonora Matancera, Dionne Warwick, Peter Hammill, Al Bowlly, Tony Bennett, Heatwave, Wet Leg, The Zombies, The Rolling Stones, The Lovin' Spoonful, Los Bravos, The Three Degrees, The Young Rascals, Simon & Garfunkel, paul simon, The Harptones, Sonny and Cher, The Clovers, Olive Butler
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Playlists: songs about using your imagination

March 1, 2023 Peter Kimpton

Aldous Harding: intense imagination … about her man

Childhood dreams to grownup fantasy, emotional flowering to practical, creative necessity, this week’s playlists, picked from last week’s topic by guest Shiv Sidecar, perfectly stimulating our brains and ears, cerebrally and musically

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In African, avant-garde, blues, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, hip hop, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, imagination, Superorganism, Sweet Baboo, Simon & Garfunkel, paul simon, Milton Nascimento, Lupe Fiasco, Jill Scott, Everly Brothers, The Everly Brothers, Aldous Harding, Talking Heads, Wednesday Campanella, Lou Reed, John Cale, Bob Dylan, Peter Blegvad, Everclear, Johnny Cash, Kaleidoscope (US), bread, Crosby Stills & Nash, Okkervil River, Lucinda Williams, Ty Segall, Will Powers, David Bowie, David Werner, Prince, Robert Glasper, H.E.R., Me'Shell NdegéOcello, The Cranberries, Foster The People, Leon Rosselson, The Salvation Army, The Green Pajamas, The Long Ryders, Argosy, The Teardrop Explodes, Swell Maps, Ian Dury, ShivSidecar
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Playlists: songs about everlasting love

February 15, 2023 Peter Kimpton

A whole lotta love: the great Barry White

Feel the huge embrace: following last week’s Song Bar seventh Birthday celebration that brought a huge heap of thematic nominations, guest of the week magicman plucks out an excellent, all-loving array of songs that capture those everlasting feelings

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In African, calypso, classical, country, dance, disco, electronica, dub, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, love songs, eternity, Barry White, Jockstrap, Johnny Ace, Joy Crookes, Barbara Lewis, Eddi Reader, Randy Newman, Stromae, Cabilla Cabello, Earth Wind & Fire, Suede, The Love Affair, Adele, Heatwave, Choir of Trinity College, The Bangles, Jon Lucien, Whitney Houston, Sault, Elbow, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Randy Travis, Shirley Bassey, Captain & Tenille, Hozier, Los Chunguitos, Al Green, Nina Simone, Barbra Streisand, Wynonna Judd, Ray Charles, Van Morrison, John Legend, Aaron Neville, paul simon, magicman
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Playlists: songs about higher education and graduation

May 11, 2022 Peter Kimpton

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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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, reggae, punk, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, further education, university, college, education, The Rover Boys, Suzy Bogguss, Rudy Vallee, Smoking Popes, Jefferson Starship, Jimmy Rushing, The Isley Brothers, Timbuk 3, David Bazen, Vampire Weekend, Pat Green, Griot B & School Yard Rap, Chris Webby, Madi Wolf, Speedy Ortiz, The Bolshoi, Clifford T Ward, Belle & Sebastian, Tom Lehrer, Asher Roth, The Verve Pipe, Townes Van Zandt, Albert Hammond, Indigo Girls, Franz Ferdinand, Derailers, The Specials, Anita O'Day, Luke Haines, Sam Adams, Dub Syndicate, Andy Fairly, Prince Buster, Terence Boylan, The Beach Boys, paul simon, Elvis Presley, Phil Ochs, Malvina Reynolds, Rhiannon Giddens, Waring's Pennsylvanians, Harry Reser and His Six Jumping Jacks, The Kinks, Van Morrison, Chris Isaak, David Roth, Vitamin C, Weird Al Jankovic, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs about cetaceans

April 19, 2022 Peter Kimpton

Tails of the unexpected: whale dive

Tales of tragedy and adversity, death, survival and joy, from folk, rock, experimental and beyond, this week’s guest captain George Boyland steers us on a fabulous music journey, a deep dive to follow tales of whales and dolphins

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In avant-garde, blues, classical, country, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, psychedelia, prog, rock, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags whales, dolphins, porpoises, cetaceans, marine biology, Sting, Lou Reed, Jim Capaldi, Tulku, J.B. Lenoir, Tom Waits, Eddi Reader, Dennis Wilson, Connan Mockasin, Massive Attack, Bronski Beat, Seth Lakeman, The Byrds, Jeff Beal, paul simon, Elton John, Leon Russell, Crosby Stills & Nash, Gordon Lightfoot, Adrian Belew, Louis Armstrong, Billy Bragg, Country Joe McDonald, The Pogues, Nic Jones, George Boyland
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Picture, practice and pitch: songs about perfection

February 17, 2022 Peter Kimpton

Evolution’s purest clickbait: kitten in field

Nothing’s ideal, no one’s impeccable, nothing’s completely pure, but this week it’s time to search for the beautifully formed, the perfectly pitched, the adorably flawless and more as the lyrical focus. Or that’s the plan …

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, songs, ska, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags perfection, songs, playlists, Immanuel Kant, David Berman, Silver Jews, Leonard Cohen, Aristotle, Margaret Atwood, Anais Nin, Oscar Wilde, Stradivarius, Bechstein, Les Paul, Martin Guitars, Blüthner, Bösendorfer, Leonardo Da Vinci, George Best, Ronnie O'Sullivan, football, snooker, sport, Bob Marley, Leo Tolstoy, Jeannette Walls, Shakespeare, William Shakespeare, Salvador Dali, Voltaire, Taylor Swift, Ada Lovelace, Audrey Hepburn, Sylvia Plath, paul simon, Simon & Garfunkel
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Playlists: songs about eternity

January 18, 2022 Peter Kimpton

Round and round: a timeless track coming up from Signs of Life by Penguin Cafe Orchestra …

Space, time, the rhythms of life, expressions of the divine, love? Eternity in its many permutations is to be found in these captivating playlists picked by guest ajostu, inspired by the near-endless nominations from last week’s topic

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In African, avant-garde, classical, colours, calypso, comedy, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, eternity, The Rheingans Sisters, These New Puritans, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Bill Fay, George Friederic Handel, Handel, The Divine Comedy, Jim Croce, Wilco, Bjork, Emily Hall, Yes, Roy Wood, paul simon, Moloko, Half Japanese, Linda Lewis, New Order, Shoukichi Kina, The Mystic Revealers, Sergio Mendes, India Arie, The Black Keys, Pom Pom Squad, Super Furry Animals, Massive Attack, Anne Dudley, Jaz Coleman, Elyssa Samsel, Sakamoto Maaya, cosmo@bouso-P., ajostu
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Playlists: songs about fun

May 5, 2021 Peter Kimpton
Koko Taylor: fun at work …

Koko Taylor: fun at work …

From various locations – in the bar, on the beach, down the street, and many forms – reggae to soul, rock to new wave. From a huge wave of fun nominations guest picker Olive Butler has a blast with brilliant set of playlists

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In African, blues, calypso, comedy, dance, country, disco, dub, experimental, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, fun, Iggy Pop, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Willie Dixon, The Monkees, Kevin Coyne, Belle & Sebastian, Prince, The New Power Generation, Betty Davis, Koko Taylor, Floetry, Shirley and Lee, Billie Holiday, Elton John, Yul Ogura, First Class, Prince Buster, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Fred Lane, Modern Jazz Quartet, Jimmy Giuffre, paul simon, Fleetwood Mac, Terry Jacks, Shirley Bassey, Peggy Lee, The Photos, Sparks, Julie London, Olive Butler
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Playlists: songs about surprise encounters

March 9, 2021 Peter Kimpton
You never know who will turn up … Paul Robeson meets a fan or two in Moscow in 1958

You never know who will turn up … Paul Robeson meets a fan or two in Moscow in 1958

You never know who you might encounter on these playlists - lovers, angels, snake oil salesmen, spaceships, ghosts, brigands, the supernatural, the suicidal and the ecstatic - all artfully picked by guest Suzi from a week of nominations

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In blues, calypso, country, comedy, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, gospel, funk, indie, jazz, music, playlists, musicals, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, encounters, meetings, Paul Robeson, The Pretenders, Paulinho da Viola, Nancy Wilson, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Parliament, Sparks, Bert Jansch, The Sugarcubes, The Louvin Brothers, Victor Wooten, The Book of Mormon, Andrew Rannells, Sonic Youth, Marshall Chapman, Half Man Half Biscuit, Rush, The Jolly Boys, Billy Bragg, Wilco, The Burning Hell, Mulatu Astatke, paul simon, The Boyoyo Boys, Ella Fitzgerald, The Dogs D'Amour, The Pogues, Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting, Nancy Kerr
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Dynamic duos: songs with just two performers

November 12, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Fragile, insecure synchronicity. Simon & Garfunkel.

Fragile, insecure synchronicity. Simon & Garfunkel.

What makes for a great duo and how does is that dynamic expressed? Perfect balance of sound? Unspoken understanding and harmony? Symbiosis of roles? Contrast in character? Fragility, insecurity and tension? It’s time for two’s company …

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, musicals, playlists, pop, prog, punk, reggae, rock, songs, ska, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, duos, duets, Simon & Garfunkel, paul simon, Art Garfunkel, Carl Jung, Dolly Parton, film soundtrack, Film, John Boorman, Eric Weissberg, Steve Mandell, Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith, Everly Brothers, The White Stripes, Jack White, Sleaford Mods, Pet Shop Boys, Daft Punk, Eric B & Rakim, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson, The Black Keys, Suicide, Sparks, First Aid Kit
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Playlists: songs about the evening

September 9, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Twilight delight with The Platters

Twilight delight with The Platters

It begins gently, through twilight’s transition, but then, slipping into darkness, anything can happen. From serene solitary scenes to excitement, dancing and sex, the evening is brought in brilliantly with playlists by this week’s guest philipphilip99

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In avant-garde, blues, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, rock, songs, showtime, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, evening, Esborn Svensson Trio, The Ink Spots, The Platters, Young Marble Giants, The Weakerthans, Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians, Feist, paul simon, Donna Summer, Petula Clark, Jack Jackson & His Orchestra, John Zorn, Enya, Eels, Led Zeppelin, Django Reinhardt, REM, Julie London, Roy Rogers, Seth Lakeman, Shirley Collins, The Albion Band, The Zombies, David Sylvian, Geoffrey Orvema, Sandie Shaw, Richard Hawley, The XX, Roy Harper, Jimmy Witherspoon, Ezio Pinza, philipphilip99
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Let's get cracking: songs about eggs

August 13, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Egg-centric playing style?

Egg-centric playing style?

Please add your song egg-samples to this rich and delicate topic, whether in the context of eating, idioms, metaphor or the full cycles of life. Once the all the song suggestions are unscrambled the results will no doubt be egg-cellent

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, instrumentals, indie, jazz, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, eggs, birds, reptiles, biology, JRR Tolkien, Denis Diderot, Zora Neale Hurston, Samuel Butler, Bernard Meltzer, language, Hermann Hesse, George du Maurier, Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, PG Wodehouse, paul simon, Christopher Paolini, Pamela Hansford Johnson, Jodi Picoult, Coco Chanel, Alex Honnold, Easter Island, Film, The Great Egg Race, documentary, Cool Hand Luke, Devandra Banhart
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Playlists: songs about the brain

April 8, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Einstein’s brain and music. Always connected.

Einstein’s brain and music. Always connected.

Albert Einstein to neuroplasticity, this week’s topic mixes the clever, complex cerebellum with music. Taking in last week’s many nominations, guest Marco den Ouden created a trio of mind-blowing playlists to educate and entertain

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In African, blues, avant-garde, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, metal, music, jazz, instrumentals, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, rock, reggae, soul, songs, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, the brain, psychology, Albert Einstein, René Descartes, Gilbert Ryle, Norman Doidge, Edward Taub, psychiatry, Bessel Van Der Kolk, Weird Al Jankovic, Young MC, African Head Charge, Imogen Heap, Blue Oyster Cult, Ezra Furman, Robyn Hitchcock, Richard Thompson, Joe Diffle, Rihanna, Bill Withers, Madness, Marco den Ouden, The Amboy Dukes, The Waifs, Katie Lee, Willie Nelson, Gabby Young and Other Animals, paul simon, Admiral Freebee, Philip Jeays, Willie Dixon, Enigma, deLillos, Eminem, Laurie Anderson, Matthew Trevino, Elvis Costello, Markley, a Group, Oasis, Tizzy Bac, Banks, Weezer, Starcrawler, Vangelis, Burning Spear, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Sun Ra, Leo Kottke, Mogwai, Stanley Clarke Trio, Shakti, Renegade Soundwave, Henry Cow, Chick Corea, Alphonse Mouzon, George Duke, David Alexrod, Nine Inch Nails
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Playlists: songs about footwear

October 16, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Betty Davis has got the boots

Betty Davis has got the boots

Sweet sole music! This week’s lists are talking the talk and walking the walk with beautiful steps brilliantly picked by this week’s guest DJ Bear, using as a platform the huge pile of footwear songs piled up from last week’s nominations

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In avant-garde, blues, country, comedy, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, indie, hip hop, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, prog, rock, ska, songs, soul Tags playlists, footwear, Eric Bibb, Gladys Knight, Willie Bobo, Betty Davis, Mere Dead Men, Rhythms Del Mundo, Arctic Monkeys, The Cramps, Joe Jackson, Eric Donaldson, James Taylor, Kellie Pickler, Lucinda Belle Orchestra, !Action Pact!, Cleo Brown, Gretschen Hofner, paul simon, Franz Ferdinand, Amy Winehouse, Drive-By Truckers, The Auteurs, Kirsty MacColl, Leon Rosselson, Manolo Garcia, Run DMC, Kiss AMC, Paolo Nutini, Sandra Boynton, Carl Perkins, Mark Knopfler, Jane Siberry, The Black Sparrows, Blur, The Nipple Erectors, Paul Kelly, Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Reina Republicana, Bronski Beat, Eartha Kitt, Whitney Rose, The Black Sorrows
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Playlists: songs with notable key changes

October 9, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Enter the key of … The Fifth Dimension

Enter the key of … The Fifth Dimension

Through twists and turns of love, from cleverly hidden changes to sudden stepped surprises, drawing from last week’s topic, guest philipphilip99 moves us through the emotional keys with two perfect playlists that illustrate this songwriting skill

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In avant-garde, blues, country, dance, disco, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, instrumentals, indie, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, rock, songs, soul Tags songs, playlists, key changes, songwriting, REM, Elton John, Mina, Beyonce, The Beatles, paul simon, Ella Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, Linda Lewis, The Fifth Dimension, Jimmy Webb, Tommy Roe, The Ventures, Talking Heads, Petula Clark, Berlin (band), Coldplay, Super Furry Animals, Portishead, Booker T and the MGs, Boston, Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Belinda Carlisle, Bros, philipphilip99
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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