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Jump, they say. But where next? David Bowie
Rock band does reggae? Punk band goes country? Rapper does jazz? This week we explore genre-switching or surprise moments in artists’ careers that confounded fans’ expectations
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More cake?
Inspired by a flood of celebratory nominations from last week's birthday topic, our guest writer treefrogdemon adds one to another to create singularly superb playlists
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Tuck into some Song Bar 1st Birthday cake ...
One-horse towns to the one you love, singularity to being single, this week we celebrate the bar’s first birthday with a topic that may be a one-off but may also see many things distilled into one
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Syrian refugees in Greece
From Ireland and Cornwall, from Syria and Africa to America and elsewhere, it's hard not to be moved by stirring, and emotional playlists picked by this week's guest writer Marco den Ouden from last week's topic
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Land of hope? The Big Apple beckons
Bollocks to the ban. This week at the bar let's fly in the face of immigration policy ignorance and welcome everyone in – with musical tales of bravery against cruelty, and human spirit seeking its way to a better life
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The first, the last, or has Grace Jones simply done it again?
A classroom kiss to a strange encounter, leaving town to a final continental farewell, guest writer takeitawayGuru creates playlists from last week's topic that move and entertain from first to last
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Once in a lifetime? Felix Baumgartner takes one giant leap in 2012
There's nothing quite like the emotions or physical impact of first, formative experiences. From first sex to seeing New York to new sounds, revisit your innocence in song, and also any that try to say 'never again'
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Four of the Alexandrov Red Army Ensemble's finest
Prokofiev to Prince to Pussy Riot, Mussorgsky to Marc Almond, east meets west in a perfect political and personal parade encoded by this week's secret agent, EnglishOutlaw, from last week's topic
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Vladimir, in a gesture of true hospitality, is taking his friend Donald for a ride
Language need be no barrier. Let’s reveal, explore, inaugurate, even celebrate, from classical, film to pop, from inside and out, the rich musical heritage inspired by this vast, contradictory country
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Dolphins. Having a good time. All the time.
Diving dolphins to scavenging sharks, biting punk to soft seal lullabies, guest writer severin makes a beautiful oceanic journey from New Orleans to India to Cornish shores inspired by last week's topic
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Let's face it, there's definitely something in the water this week ...
Fish, dolphin, whale, shark, octopus, seal and more? This week it's time to dive deep into those music collections for catchy items about creatures of the water and their human connections
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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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Sign of the times? Bird is the word? Tweet that.
From sarcasm to situation, dramatic twist to tragic consequence or perspective, let's take a wry look at songs that say one thing, but then reveal another
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How do you know it's really gonna happen? Because it's the Undertones
Got a ticket to ride? This week's guest writer TatankaYotanka takes us on a lyrical, journey inspired by last week's topic. The bus is filled with hope for 2017. Where does it go? Hop in and find out
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Some of the fallen of 2016. Picture credit: @christhebarker
Muhammad Ali to Mose Allison, David Bowie to Prince, George MIchael to Victoria Wood, enjoy our list of the greats who left us in 2016 , all with a musical twist. We shall remember them
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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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How sweet thou art: the majestic voice and personality of Marion Williams
Gospel, soul, blues, Hindu, reggae, jazz, country, folk to old church, our guest writer magicman creates some divine and sublime lists spanning the centuries and the globe from last week's yuletide topic
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A place to reflect …
You don't have to be religious to enjoy the glory of gospel, soul, carols or any other music that expresses divinity, spirituality or the sacred. This week we delve into its culture, to find musical tranquility
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Flying fish to dance to this week's lists. It was never going a sensible picture, was it?
The joint is jumping, and with Christmas silly season in full swing at the bar, our guest writer Flatfrog causes more than tapping feet and belly laughs with fabulous choices from last week's topic
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Monty Python's the Ministry of Silly Walks
Sometimes the most sensible way to deal with a serious world is to get silly with it. From Spike Milligan to Jacques Tati, this week we look at music's most inventive, surreal and strange wonders of whimsy
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