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Diary of a nobody? Songs about anonymity

March 22, 2018 Peter Kimpton
A scene from anonymous hacker thriller series Mr Robot, starring Rami Malek as the complex central figure

A scene from anonymous hacker thriller series Mr Robot, starring Rami Malek as the complex central figure

Whether feeling like a nobody, or actually being anonymous, from hackers to the lonely and helpless, from fame to unknown heroism, let's explore this contradictory feeling as expressed in lyrics, from spotlight to the shadows

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In blues, country, dance, classical, electronica, folk, hip hop, indie, metal, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul, soundtracks Tags Songs, playlists, anonymity, women's rights, Virginia Wolf, Bjorn Ulvaus, Abba, Lenny Bruce, George Eliot, Prince, Stephen King, Richard Bachman, George Grosssmith, Chaka Khan, Carly Simon, Bessie Smith, Janis Joplin, Dory Previn, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Sam Shepard, Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Benjamin Clementine, NHS, Robert Louis Stevenson, Coen Brothers, Billy Bob Thornton, Mia Farrow, Catherine Deneuve, Jeff Daniels, Joe Klein, journalism, The Bible, National Security Agency, Prism, surveillance, spying, Chelsea Manning, WikiLeaks, Mikko Hyppönen, Anonymous, hacking, LulzSec, AntiSec, Bitcoin, Jeff Berwick, Cambridge Analytica, Donald Trump, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Mr. Robot, Sam Esmail, Rami Malek
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Every breath you take: songs featuring the harmonica

March 15, 2018 Peter Kimpton
The sublime Stevie Wonder

The sublime Stevie Wonder

It plays out like the voice, beautifully expresses emotion, can wail like a train and is popular across blues, rock, pop, jazz, classical and other genres. This week it's time to inhale deeply and get harmonious with the harmonica

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In blues, classical, country, folk, hip hop, indie, music, playlists, pop, punk, reggae, rock, soul, soundtracks Tags songs, Music, harmonica, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, George Harrison, John Lennon, Toots Thielemans, Abraham Lincoln, Steven Wright, Charlie Musselwhite, Larry Adler, James Cotton, Little Walter, Big Mama Thornton, Captain Beefheart, Sonny Williamson, Donovan, Beck, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Jesse Fuller, Kim Kwang Suk, Rory Macleod, Ian Gillan, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Alanis Morissette, Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin, Bobbejaan Schoepen, Johnny Cash, Roger Daltrey, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow, Van Morrison, Sonny Terry, John Barry, film soundtrack
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Playlists: songs influenced by reggae, ska and rocksteady

March 14, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Set the controls for 1972, but where next? It's the Mighty Two, Errol Thompson in Joe Gibbs' studio, and off on a musical journey from Kingston, Jamaica …

Set the controls for 1972, but where next? It's the Mighty Two, Errol Thompson in Joe Gibbs' studio, and off on a musical journey from Kingston, Jamaica …

Who are the Mighty Two, and why are they in a tardis? Inspired by last week's nominations, guest playlist writer Uncleben takes us on fantastically influential musically journey through space and time

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In rocksteady, ska, reggae, rock, songs, soul, playlists, music, indie, hip hop, electronica, folk, pop, postpunk, punk, dance, blues Tags Songs, playlists, reggae, ska, rocksteady, time travel, Jamaica, Joe Gibbs, Errol Thompson, The Mighty Two, The Professionals, Sly and Robbie, Dennis Brown, Elvis Costello, Yona, Orkesteri Liikkuvat Pilvet, Pere Ubu, Kode9, The Spaceape, Angelic Upstarts, Stevie Wonder, Les Negresses Vertes, Scritti Politti, John Martyn, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Steely Dan, Alpha Blondy, Van Der Graaf Generator, Finley Quaye, Hollie Cook, The Ska Flames, The Internet, B.T. Express, Massive Attack, Miles Davis, Somo Somo & Mose Se Sengo, Gilberto Gil, Ska-P, Madness, paul simon, Robert Wyatt, Randy Newman, Nina Simone, TootArd, Uncleben
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Serene syncopation: songs influenced by reggae, ska and rocksteady

March 8, 2018 Peter Kimpton
The Wailers that global star, Bob Marley

The Wailers that global star, Bob Marley

This week we're searching out the effect of these core styles of 1960s Jamaican music on other genres across the globe, from punk to pop and rock, African to dance, and how they evolved. It's a very sound system …

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In blues, dance, electronica, hip hop, indie, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, reggae, rock, punk, songs, soul, soundtracks, ska, rocksteady Tags Songs, reggae, ska, rocksteady, Jamaica, Bob Marley, The Wailers, The Clash, Burning Spear, Michael Franti, Johnny Greenwood, Radiohead, Youssou N'Dour, syncopation, menta, calypso, Prince Buster, Clement Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid, The Skatalites, Alton Ellis, The Techniques, The Paragons, The Gaylads, Toots and the Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, The Congos, The Abyssians, Wailing Souls, U-Roy, BIg Youth, I-Roy, Dr Alimantado, Dennis Alcapone, Sly and Robbie, The Mighty Diamonds, 2 Tone, Barrington Levy, Frankie Paul, Sister Nancy, Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Ziggy Marley, Nas, Tory Lanez, Boy George, Ike Turner, Bruno Mars, Peter Hook, Lupe Fiasco, The Bug
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Playlists: songs about travelling in time

March 7, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Multiverse or multiple verse? Read on to travel and transcend musical dimensions …

Multiverse or multiple verse? Read on to travel and transcend musical dimensions …

Multiverse or multiple-verse? This week our playlists, from last week's topic, are presented a by time-travel scientist, who with skilful manipulation of reality from guest writer EnglishOutlaw, puts on a timeless playlist gig

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In blues, comedy, country, dance, electronica, folk, indie, metal, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, rock, songs, soul, soundtracks, musicals Tags Black Sabbath, Busted, MC Lars, AKB48, The Average White Band, David Childers, The Grateful Dead, Buzzcocks, Momus, Vernian Process, Secret Chiefs 3, Kevin Hearn, Thin Buckle, Eddie Money, Man, Peter Hammill, Tame Impala, Twenty One Pilots, Guster, The Steppes, Uriah Heep, The Yardbirds, Tony Bennett, Beggars Opera, Tim Minchin, musicals, Tyla J Pallas, EnglishOutlaw
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Second nature: songs about travelling in time

March 1, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Who, what, where shall we go this week?

Who, what, where shall we go this week?

This week it's time to set the musical controls - to suggest songs that about time travel in the sci-fi sense, but also those that might move to another period in past or future in metaphor, memory and the imagination

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In blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, electronica, folk, hip hop, indie, metal, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul, soundtracks Tags Songs, playlists, time, time travel, Douglas Adams, HG Wells, Stephen King, Film, Back to the Future, The Smiths, books, science, science fiction, The Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Brian Greene, Michio Kaku, Salman Rushdie, William Gibson, Margaret Atwood, Dan Simmons, Alexandra Adornetto, Hakan Nesser, Tom Waits, Jools Holland, Hannah Simone, Wu-Tang Clan, Bill Nye, Hawkwind, Monty Python, Time Bandits, Doctor Who, Terry Gilliam
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Playlists: personal theme and entrance songs

February 21, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Make your entrance here at the Bar. Strict door policy, obviously …

Make your entrance here at the Bar. Strict door policy, obviously …

There's a big 2nd anniversary gig going on at the bar, but who will perform after all the songs and bands put forward last week? The Landlord invites you to witness the whole variety show, and also stay for a second stage afterparty

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In blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, electronica, folk, hip hop, indie, metal, music, playlists, pop, punk, rock, songs, soul, postpunk, soundtracks Tags Songs, playlists, The Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Undertones, George Baker Selection, Jacques Brel, Mohammed Safi, Bollywood, Quentin Tarantino, film soundtrack, Dave Grusin, Henry Mancini, Etta James, Over The Rhine, Tom Petty, HM Coldstream Guards, Monty Python, Richard Wagner, Donald Trump, James Brown, The JBs, The Ronettes, Ronnie Spektor, Peggy Lee, Amy Irving, Jessica Rabbit, Echobelly, Norma Tanega, Betty Carter, Al Green, Barry White, Van McCoy, Ron Grainer, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, George Friederic Handel, Joel Grey, Roy Budd, Takeshi Terauchi and The Bunnys, The Stranglers, Ken Nordine, Mick Weaver, Shawn Phillips, Dudley Simpson Orchestra, TV themes, The Grateful Dead, CCS, The Rolling Stones, The Mother Hips, The Feelies, New Model Army, Klark Kent, The Dogs D'Amour, Adam and the Ants, Prince, Kendrick Lamar, Dizzee Rascal, Volbeat, David Rose & His Orchestra, Ethel Merman
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What's the next stage? Personal theme and entrance songs

February 15, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Bette Midler making a low-key appearance …

Bette Midler making a low-key appearance …

Song Bar 2nd Birthday Special: Suggest music that could emphasise or illuminate an individual's character in any setting, not merely in theatres, films or sports halls, but in a fantasy world of work, pub, home or street

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In blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, electronica, folk, hip hop, indie, metal, music, playlists, pop, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul Tags Songs, playlists, Bette Midler, theatre, Film, musicals, childrens' TV, Bod, Derek Griffiths, Maggie Henderson, Sergei Prokofiev, David Bowie, Malcolm Arnold, George Cole, Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell, Ealing comedy, standup comedy, DMX, Mike Tyson, Chris Eubank, boxing, Arturo Gatti, Muhammad Ali, AC/DC, Tina Turner, Star Wars, cricket, Jack Russell, Janelle Monae, Prince, James Brown, Jack White, Max Wall
Comment

Playlists: songs featuring honorific titles

February 14, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Sir Jake Thackray (honorary knight of the Song Bar, posthumously given)

Sir Jake Thackray (honorary knight of the Song Bar, posthumously given)

King, Queen or Lord, Big Chief to Brigadier, Corporal and more, from a list of titles nominated as long as history itself, this week's playlist writer, Sir Severin, serves up superb lists that would honour any ears

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In classical, country, dance, electronica, folk, hip hop, indie, music, playlists, pop, reggae, punk, rock, songs, soul Tags Ty Segall, Slapp Happy, The Shadows, Jake Thackray, Professor Longhair, Katzenjammer, Pink Floyd, Pentangle, The Techniques, Bill Evans Trio, The Clash, Colleen Hewitt, Rich Kids, Jacques Brel, John Lee Hooker, Billie Holiday, The Wankys, Veda Hille, Paul McCartney, Gene Chandler, Gillian Welch, Edith Piaf, The Fall, The Unthanks, Kass Kass, Olivia Chaney, Offa Rex, Severin
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Doctor, doctor! Bang goes the knighthood: songs featuring honorific titles

February 8, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Arise Sir Rod? Mr Stewart gets the the nod, but here Prince William does the honours, not the Queen

Arise Sir Rod? Mr Stewart gets the the nod, but here Prince William does the honours, not the Queen

Earls to Dukes, Your Honour to Your Excellency, Knights to Dames and Mr and Mrs, privilege or deserving, let's explore the meaning, use and tone of honorific titles in song lyrics and why society bestows them

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In blues, classical, country, dance, electronica, folk, hip hop, indie, metal, music, playlists, pop, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul Tags Songs, playlists, honorific titles, politics, House of Commons, charity, Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Duke Ellington, Lord Kitchener, religion, society, David Cameron, Elton John, Ray Davies, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, David Bowie, John Lydon, LS Lowry, Roald Dahl, Vanessa Redgrave, John Lennon, John Cleese, Paul Weller, Bradley Wiggins, Aldous Huxley, Alan Bennett, Jim Broadbent, Rabindranath Tagore, The Queen, royalty
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Playlists: songs with provocative, strange or humorous titles

February 7, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Mac users: Amon Düül II

Mac users: Amon Düül II

Psychological perspectives to sexual proclivities, social commentary to downright silliness, our guest playlist writer attwilightlarks covers a large articulate range of the human psyche in the wordy titles from last week's topic

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In blues, classical, country, comedy, dance, electronica, folk, hip hop, indie, music, playlists, pop, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul Tags Songs, playlists, titles, sex, philosophy, Carl Jung, Martin Heidegger, Amon Düül II, A Sunny Day In Glasgow, The Deep Freeze Mice, Garfunkel And Oates, They Might Be Giants, Los Campesinos, Joan Armatrading, The Soft Machine, The Turtles, Jackie Leven, Felt, Indians In Moscow, The Movement, Billie Holiday, The Gourds, The Ramones, The Faces, Tony Joe White, Sam The Sham And The Pharoahs, Mental As Anything, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Ricky Warwick, Desmond Dekker, attwilightlarks
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Titular spectacular: songs with provocative, strange, or humorous titles

February 1, 2018 Peter Kimpton
A famously eye-catching Small Faces album, but there are many tasty song titles are out there …

A famously eye-catching Small Faces album, but there are many tasty song titles are out there …

Tantalising, striking, quirky, perhaps violent or sexually strange, offbeat,  bizarre combinations of words, numbers or symbols and more, awful, wonderful, suggest songs that cry out to be heard and live up to their title

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In blues, comedy, country, dance, electronica, folk, hip hop, indie, metal, music, playlists, pop, punk, reggae, rock, soul Tags Songs, titles, The Flaming Lips, Wayne Coyne, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, The Small Faces, Sammy Cahn, Blur, Damon Albarn, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Ruttles, Neil Innes, Panic! At The Disco, Brendon Urie, Beyonce, Charlotte Church, Franz Zappa, Final Fantasy, Loretta Lynn, Guns 'n' Roses, The Police, Bon Iver, Noise Gunk Murder Castle, Of Montreal, Tom Waits, Sparklehorse, Stereolab, The Beatles, System of a Down, Soulwax, Fiona Apple, Chumbawumba, Butthole Surfers, Omar Rodríguez-López, Elvis Costello, System Of A Down, George Clinton, This is Spinal Tap, Gary Glitter, William Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, film, books
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We're on the fiddle: songs and music featuring the violin

January 25, 2018 Peter Kimpton
The Cipriani Potter Stradivarius. Other models are available (if you've got a few quid)

The Cipriani Potter Stradivarius. Other models are available (if you've got a few quid)

Classical, folk, pop, rock, traditional or contemporary, Irish to Romanian, Hungarian to American to the far east, suggest music about or featuring this beautiful stringed instrument in a prominent role

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In blues, country, dance, folk, indie, metal, music, pop, punk, playlists, reggae, rock, songs, soul, classical Tags Songs, music, violin, classical, folk, world music, rock, pop, Yehudi Menuhin, Albert Einstein, Samuel Butler, 12 Years A Slave, Solomon Northrop, slavery, Joshua Bell, Robert Schumann, gypsy music, Alison Krauss, Tommy Jarrell, Joseph Szalai, Taraf De Haïdouks, Niccolò Paganini, Alexander Markov, Vanessa Mae, Nigel Kennedy, Itzhak Perlman, Sirena Huang, Amati, Guameri, Gagliano, Vaughan Williams, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Guarneri, Stradivarius
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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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Going once, going twice … playlists: songs about sales, selling and bargains

January 17, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Gone!

Gone!

Sold! Paddle at the ready, and waiting for the gavel to drop, this week's excellent guest playlister EnglishOutlaw takes on a musical journey through the auction house, watching other punters and bidding for with some fabulous songs

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In folk, hip hop, indie, music, playlists, metal, pop, punk, rock, songs, soul, country, blues Tags Songs, playlists, selling, bargains, auctions, Fugazi, Tom Waits, Bobby Bare, The Who, Junior Wells, The Velvet Underground, Conflict, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Public Enemy, Alan Jackson, Jake Thackray, John McCutcheon, Memphis Minne, Ronnie Spektor, Lambchop, The Mississippi Sheiks, The Streets, Loudon Wainwright III, The Saints, Antidote, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Manic Street Preachers, Sammy Davis Jr, Weird Al Jankovic, Mischief Brew, EnglishOutlaw
Comment

Playlists: great tracks to begin albums, mixtapes or radio shows

January 10, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Blast off: many bright openings illuminate this week's playlists …

Blast off: many bright openings illuminate this week's playlists …

Is it best to set light slowly or start with a big bang? In what turned out to be topic of epic proportions and suggestions, this week's guest ParaMhor creates a superb selection of illuminating playlist openings 

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In soul, songs, rock, reggae, punk, pop, playlists, music, metal, indie, folk, electronica, dance, classical, blues Tags Songs, Music, playlists, opening tracks, Fairport Convention, Iggy Pop, Little Richard, The Temptations, Britney Spears, The Monkees, The Sweet, Meatloaf, Tom Petty, Bryan Ferry, Miles Davis, Massive Attack, Horace Andy, Richard Strauss, Thin Lizzy, Ty Segall, The Jacksons, Charles Mingus, The Gourds, Stevie Wonder, Echo and the Bunnymen, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Allman Brothers Band, Nick Drake, The Emotions, Intl Illimani, Inti-Illimani, John Barry, The Triffids, ParaMhor
Comment

Sing out for unsung heroes: songs with great backing vocals

December 28, 2017 Peter Kimpton
The Andantes: backing vocal mainstays of Motown – Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow and Louvain Demps. Who didn't they sing for?

The Andantes: backing vocal mainstays of Motown – Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow and Louvain Demps. Who didn't they sing for?

They're the brilliant singers who blend beautiful and really make the music. From Motown and soul to to church and gospel, barbershop to pop or even punk, suggest songs made backed brillliantly by the unknown or famous

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In classical, folk, indie, music, playlists, pop, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul Tags songs, backing vocals, singers, The Primettes, The Supremes, Diana Ross, Elvis Presley, Las Vegas, church music, choirs, gospel, Jordanaires, Foggy River Boys, The Sweet Sensations, Emily 'Cissy' Houston, Dee Dee Warwick, Dionne Warwick, The Drinkard Singers, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Wilson Pickett, Lisa Harrigan, Solomon Burke, The Andantes, The Andrews Sisters, Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, Louvain Demps, Martha Reeves, The Vandellas, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Jimmy Ruffin, Edwin Starr, The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers, Gino Washington, John Lee Hooker, James Velvet, Eddie Holland, Motown, Holland-Dozier-Holland, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, The Pips, George Harrison, Phil Collins, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, Ava Cherry, Robin Clark, Luther Vandross, The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Carly Simon, The Neville Brothers, The Mamas and Papas, Prince, New Power Generation, The Revolution, Fleet Foxes, Kings of Leon, The Unthanks, Everything Everythng, The Seekers, The Bachelors, The Drifters, Burt Bacharach, The Kingsmen, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Everything Everything, Franz Ferdinand, Vampire Weekend, Take That, Sugababes, Le Mystere des voix Bulgares, The Ramones, The Mahotella Queens, Mahlathini, Simon & Garfunkel, Freddie Mercury, barbershop, Sly & The Family Stone, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Whitney Houston, Gwen Stefani, Pink
Comment

Playlists: songs about snow and ice

December 20, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Chill out and listen to this week's playlists …

Chill out and listen to this week's playlists …

Clearlake to Cocteau Twins, Tchaikovsky to Jethro Tull, last week's topic included an avalanche of nominations, from which this week's guest takeitawayGuru has sculptured two of fine flakes and frozen shapes 

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In playlists, music, rock, songs, classical, country, electronica, indie, pop, punk Tags songs, playlists, snow, ice, weather, winter, Tchaikovsky, Isao Tomita, Clearlake, Led Zeppelin, Nick Cave, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Cocteau Twins, Idina Menzel, Songs: Ohia, Dylan Parker, Jethro Tull, Kate Bush, Slade, Fishbaugh, Fishbaugh Fishbaugh and Zorn, Rod Stewart, Offenbach, Galaxie 500, Bat For Lashes, Genesis, Fred Eaglesmith, Spin Doctors, Richard Thompson, Judy Henske & Jerry Yester, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Simon & Garfunkel, Status Quo, Frightened Rabbit, Biffy Clyro, takeitawayGuru
Comment

Playlists: songs with lyrical or musical onomatopoeia

December 13, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Which music got the readers buzzing and landed on this week's lists?

Which music got the readers buzzing and landed on this week's lists?

Bees buzzing to cement mixers churning, Bowie's garden to Mingus hogging to Cramps' chickens clucking, enjoy two noisily evocative playlists picked by guest Severin from last week's nominations

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In classical, electronica, folk, hip hop, indie, pop, punk, reggae, music, playlists Tags songs, playlists, onomatopoeia, animals, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, The Hives, Freschard, Slim Gaillard Trio, David Bowie, Charles Mingus, Jun Togawa, Caetano Veloso, Shocking Blue, Miriam Makeba, The Cramps, Gioachino Rossini, The Jamaicans, Portishead, Don Woody, Louis Jordan, XTC, Richard Thompson, George Kranz, The El Dorados, The Kokessies, Lethal Bizzle, Mead Luz Lewis, Rebecca Pan, Skyliners, Katzenjammer, Severin
Comment

Playlists: songs about mythical beasts and creatures

November 15, 2017 Peter Kimpton
If you go down to the woods tonight …

If you go down to the woods tonight …

If you go down to the woods today … then listen carefully. You will hear intriguing tales by guest playlister Suzi, and marvellous songs inspired last week's topic. Find out where the path might lead …

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In folk, classical, indie, metal, music, playlists, punk, rock, songs, soul Tags playlists, songs, mythology, animals, Kate Bush, Mr Fox, UK Decay, The Incredible String Band, Van Der Graaf Generator, Miles Davis, Richard Dawson, Katzenjammer, Joanna Newsom, Dave Edmunds, Steeleye Span, Sigur Rós, Tony Joe White, Led Zeppelin, Roy Harper, The Impressions, Babymetal, Damn the Bard, Trees, Blue Oyster Cult, The Grateful Dead, Bryan Ferry, Cadaver Club, Judee Sill, Lou Reed, The Waterboys, Suzi, Kathryn Roberts, Sean Lakeman
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DRINK OF THE WEEK

Duelling banjos cocktail (bourbon + orange twist)


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New Albums …

Featured
Flea - Honora.jpeg
Apr 14, 2026
Flea: Honora
Apr 14, 2026

New album: The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist turns his skills to another passion – trumpet – and the result is an absorbing, eclectic, fusion of experimental jazz, electronica, spoken word of six originals and four covers, with collaborators including Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Tortoise’s Jeff Parker, and Nick Cave

Apr 14, 2026
Maybe Not Tonight by Lime Garden.jpeg
Apr 12, 2026
Lime Garden: Maybe Not Tonight
Apr 12, 2026

New album: Zesty, fresh, infectiously catchy, smash-and-grab synthy indie-pop-rock by the Brighton quartet, packed with fabulous riffs and melodies and droll, tongue-in-cheek lyrics that engagingly chart the highs and lows, the joys and insecurities of a big night out

Apr 12, 2026
My New Band Believe album.jpeg
Apr 11, 2026
My New Band Believe: My New Band Believe
Apr 11, 2026

New album: A superb, rapturous swirl of energy, invention, passionate emotions and originality, this debut album by Cameron Picton, the bassist of the acclaimed British experimentalists Black Midi, features shapeshifting structures with a host of acoustic instruments, all originating from a hotel room fever dream of weird imagery and scrambled text

Apr 11, 2026
Wendy Eisenberg by Wendy Eisenberg.jpeg
Apr 9, 2026
Wendy Eisenberg: Wendy Eisenberg
Apr 9, 2026

New album: An absolutely gorgeous, delicate, subtle, brilliantly inventive LP of folk-rock-country-pop by the Brooklyn-based guitarist, improviser, composer and singer-songwriter, themed around the artist’s newfound queerness and love, all coloured by a sense of personal awe and reinvention

Apr 9, 2026
LuxJury - Giving Up.jpeg
Apr 8, 2026
LuxJury: Giving Up
Apr 8, 2026

New album: Catchy, funky, witty, insightful and candid soulful indie-pop debut by the London trio fronted by Nicole ‘Lux’ Fermie, with songs inspired by a formative first queer relationship and subsequent exploration of identity

Apr 8, 2026
Snail Mail - Ricochet.jpeg
Apr 7, 2026
Snail Mail: Ricochet
Apr 7, 2026

New album: American indie singer-songwriter Lindsey Jordan returns with a third LP, awash with natural tendency for shoegaze-y melancholy, but also with a warm embrace of jangly and acoustic guitars in this introspective release about time, fading friendships, mortality, the afterlife, and the quiet terror of watching the things you love slip away

Apr 7, 2026
Dark Sky Reservation by LYR.jpeg
Apr 6, 2026
LYR: Dark Sky Reservation
Apr 6, 2026

New album: Filled with beautiful stillness and vivid, intricate images, gentle wit, lilting profundity and contemplative moments, this gorgeously illuminating third experimental LP by the trio of UK poet laureate Simon Armitage and musicians Richard Walters and Patrick J Pearson begins on the constellatory contradiction that the furthest points of light in our skies can only be seen in the dark

Apr 6, 2026
Birding by deary.jpeg
Apr 5, 2026
deary: Birding
Apr 5, 2026

New album: A shimmering, sparkling, ethereal dream-pop and shoegaze debut by the London trio with an ornithological theme in the context of human impact, and significant echoes in flight of their key influences Cocteau Twins, Lush, My Bloody Valentine, and Slowdive

Apr 5, 2026
Vol.II by Angine de Poitrine.jpeg
Apr 4, 2026
Angine de Poitrine: Vol. II
Apr 4, 2026

New album: A weirdly wonky hot sensation on social media, the mysterious Quebec duo are instantly recognisable by their oddball, masked polka dot disguises, but this second release of mostly instrumental prog-rock bendy loops and riffs between guitar and drums remain just as mesmeric in their musical skill and complexity

Apr 4, 2026
Thundercat - Distracted.jpeg
Apr 4, 2026
Thundercat: Distracted
Apr 4, 2026

New album: Rich, deep, squelchy grooves and high falsetto in the distinctively funky-jazz-soul-afrofuturistic-cosmic-rock return of the outstanding Los Angeles bass player with his first LP for six years, and an impressive array of collaborators, including Mac Miller, Tame Impala, Flying Lotus, A$AP Rocky, and The Lemon Twigs

Apr 4, 2026
Memorials - All Clouds Bring Not Rain.jpeg
Apr 1, 2026
MEMORIALS: All Clouds Bring Not Rain
Apr 1, 2026

New album: Innovative, eclectic fusion of psychedelia, folk, dub, krautrock, 60s soul, garage rock, prog, pop, electronica and 70s spiritual jazz by the Canterbury experimental duo of Verity Susman and Matthew Simms

Apr 1, 2026
 Against the Dying of the Light by José González  2.jpeg
Apr 1, 2026
José González: Against The Dying Of The Light
Apr 1, 2026

New album: A gentle, reflective, meditative, but quietly defiant fifth LP by the Swedish-Argentine indie-folk guitarist and singer-songwriter, following his last, Local Valley, broadening his perspective in an urgent call to preserve the light of humanity as technology advances in ironically darkening world

Apr 1, 2026
Raye - This Music May Contain Hope.jpg
Apr 1, 2026
RAYE: This Music May Contain Hope
Apr 1, 2026

New album: A highly entertaining, exuberantly stylish, cross-genre 17-track, 73-minute odyssey by the London popstar, with a huge musical show of a second LP, spanning swing-era jazz to soul, R&B, house music, pop, dance, gospel, classical and the full kitchen sink, with orchestral band, family members, Hans Zimmer, and even Al Green

Apr 1, 2026
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Mar 30, 2026
Pitou: P2
Mar 30, 2026

New album: Brilliantly quirky, original second LP of experimental folk pop by the Amsterdam artist, who has the free spirited musical adventurousness reminiscent of Tune-Yards’ Merrill Garbus and Fiona Apple in this clever, playful, stop-start work with oodles of vocal loops and layering, electronica and unusual field recordings across themes of freedom and restlessness

Mar 30, 2026

new songs …

Featured
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Apr 14, 2026
Song of the Day: Getdown Services - The Radiator
Apr 14, 2026

Song of the Day: Weirdly wonderful and oddly mesmeric, catchy, surreal and silly groove electro-pop by the Bristol duo of Josh Law and Ben Sadler, best known for the single Dog Dribble and their joyous, comedic, frenzied live shows, out on Breakfast Records

Apr 14, 2026
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Apr 13, 2026
Song of the Day: Tamikrest - Imanin
Apr 13, 2026

Song of the Day: A stirring, evocative song of defiance and resistance to the repression of northern Mali people by the acclaimed Saharan rock band, from their upcoming sixth album, Assikel, out on 15 May via Glitterbeat Records

Apr 13, 2026
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Apr 12, 2026
Song of the Day: Royel Otis - Sweet Hallelujah
Apr 12, 2026

Song of the Day: Soaring, strident, anthemic rock about a bittersweet farewell and enriched with stirring orchestral backing in this latest single by the Sydney, Australia duo of Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic, out on Ourness/Capitol Records/UMG

Apr 12, 2026
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Apr 11, 2026
Song of the Day: Kelela - Idea 1
Apr 11, 2026

Song of the Day: Sensual, smoky, stripped back soul, R&B dream-pop and electronica about facing an uncertain world by the acclaimed American singer-songwriter of Ethiopian ancestry with first new music since her second album Raven (2023), out on Warp Records

Apr 11, 2026
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Apr 10, 2026
Song of the Day: Lambrini Girls - Cult of Celebrity
Apr 10, 2026

Song of the Day: Taking a punchy shot at the sinister, dark underbelly of global elites and backdoor dealings of notorious super-wealthy inner circles who prey on the young and innocent, a fabulously feisty new single by the Brighton British punk duo of Phoebe Lunny and Selin Macieira, out on City Slang

Apr 10, 2026
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Apr 9, 2026
Song of the Day: Surfbort - Hot Dog
Apr 9, 2026

Song of the Day: Tasty, catchy, satirical fun, suggestively themed around the popular fast-food snack, with an even more entertaining video filled with colourful characters by the Brooklyn punk band, taken from their recent third album Reality Star, out on TODO

Apr 9, 2026
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Apr 8, 2026
Song of the Day: Beth Orton - The Ground Above
Apr 8, 2026

Song of the Day: The British singer-songwriter returns with a profound and beautiful new 8-minute eclectic folk-rock number about how humans are “all vulnerable beings living out invincible lives”, suffused with piano and trumpet, and out on Partisan Records

Apr 8, 2026
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Apr 7, 2026
Song of the Day: Liz Lawrence - Black Ulysses
Apr 7, 2026

Song of the Day: A beautifully moving, melodic and poignant acoustic indie-pop single by the acclaimed British singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, from the upcoming album fifth album Vespers, out on 5 June via Chrysalis Records

Apr 7, 2026
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Apr 6, 2026
Song of the Day: Angelo De Augustine - Empty Shell
Apr 6, 2026

Song of the Day: Beautiful, delicate, tender, elegiac indie folk with chamber strings, by the California singer-songwriter, and friend and associate of Sufjan Stevens, who is an inspiration, heralding his upcoming fifth album Angel in Plainclothes, out on 24 April via Asthmatic Kitty Records

Apr 6, 2026
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Apr 5, 2026
Song of the Day: U2 - Easter Parade
Apr 5, 2026

Song of the Day: After February’s politically themed protest EP Days of Ash, another surprise single and EP, Easter Lily, by the veteran Irish rock band, seasonally themed and reflecting the band’s beliefs, with a classic sound harking back to the past, guitar and synths, and a number described as a devotional song, a celebration of new life, rebirth and resurrection

Apr 5, 2026
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Apr 4, 2026
Song of the Day: Bedouine - Long Way To Fall
Apr 4, 2026

Song of the Day: A beautiful, tender, poignant return by the Syrian-American singer-songwriter Azniv Korkejian, with a strings and piano-based indie-folk number heralding her fourth album Neon Summer Skin, out on 5 June via Bedouine Music/ Thirty Tigers

Apr 4, 2026
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Apr 3, 2026
Song of the Day: Jack White - G.O.D. AND THE BROKEN RIBS / Derecho Demonico
Apr 3, 2026

Song of the Day: The acclaimed rock guitarist-singer-songwriter of White Stripes fame returns with this punchy, scorching catchy organ-backed, biblical-modern-fable-apocalypse-themed number alongside another, the Led Zeppelin-esque Derecho Demonico, out on his label Third Man Records

Apr 3, 2026

Word of the week

Featured
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Apr 9, 2026
Word of the week: undine
Apr 9, 2026

Word of the week: It might sound like the act of abstaining from food, but this noun from derived from undina (Latin unda) meaning wave, refers to mythical, elemental beings associated with water, such as mermaids, and stemming from the alchemical writings of the 16th-century Swiss physician, alchemist and philosopher Paracelsus

Apr 9, 2026
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Mar 27, 2026
Word of the week: veena
Mar 27, 2026

Word of the week: This ornate, curvaceous, south Indian classical instrument, the saraswati veena, is a special bowl lute with a rich, resonant tone, has 24 copper frets with four playing strings and three drone strings, and is used for Carnatic music

Mar 27, 2026
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Mar 12, 2026
Word of the week: wallfish
Mar 12, 2026

Word of the week: It sounds like the singing finned picture ornament Big Mouth Billy Bass that became popular in the late 1990s, but this is a much older noun, derived in Somerset, England, pertains to the climbing gastropod that can slowly climb up any surface

Mar 12, 2026
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Feb 25, 2026
Word of the week: xiphias
Feb 25, 2026

Word of the week: Get the point? This is the scientific name for the swordfish, in full Xiphias gladius (from the Greek and Latin for sword), that extraordinary sea creature with the long, pointy bill. But what of it in song?

Feb 25, 2026
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Feb 12, 2026
Word of the week: yanggeum
Feb 12, 2026

Word of the week: A form or hammered dulcimer, this traditional Korean instrument, with a flat and trapezoidal shape, has seven sets of four metal strings hit by thin bamboo stick

Feb 12, 2026

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