Your Custom Text Here
Allons enfants! It’s time for those anthems, but with a deeper look, as the Paris Olympics opens and celebrates its centenary
As the 2024 Paris Olympics opens, we examine the strange nature of the national anthem, for better or worse, not merely in versions thereof, but also songs and works which feature clips or renditions, or lyrically reference or talk about the concept itself even in more general terms
Read more
Gil Scott-Heron: Detroit disaster just averted …
From the almost did to only just happened, close encounters of all kinds – from romantic situations, haircuts, or averting nuclear meltdown, inspired by last week’s nominations, guest playlister Loud Atlas just makes it happen in the best possible lyrical way
Read more
Crosstown traffic: he’s luckier even than Donald Trump …
This week it’s the almosts, the nearly happenings, the white-knuckle moments, the narrow escapes, for better or worse, however, and whatever way you look at them, the tiny marginal could-have-gone-either-way events that make you think, gasp, feel relieved, grateful, sorry, or change your perspective
Read more
Doubly happy: Stevie Wonder jokes around with a wax double of himself at London Piccadilly’s Rock Circus in 1989
It’s an emotional state that comes in many forms and has attracted waves of joyful nominations. Guest playlister of the week MussoliniHeadkick picks a selection that will give a spring to your step and a leap to your heart with a personal expression of love
Read more
It’s a goal we can all aim for …
It’s elusive, often temporary, sometimes found in solitude, or in the company of others, and is open to wide spectrum and interpretation, from calm, inner, tranquility and bliss, to electric, excited collective ecstasy. But how is it captured in song?
Read more
Live and Letta Mbulu
From politics to personal life, sexuality and personal liberation to broader social issues, on the back of recent elections and a topic covering freedom of speech, guest playlister Maki spans geography, genre and time to give the subject a full hearing
Read more
Don’t bin your vote … satirical parliamentary candidate Count Binface outside Westminster, today standing against the PM
In the light of today's UK and other forthcoming elections, let's sing out about freedom of expression through lyrics, whether political, personal, serious or silly – at least it's a right we still have left
Read more
Take a seat, sip a drink, and soak up the easy sounds …
From the becalming, serene and romantic – bars to hotel lifts, airports and shops with mood-affecting orchestral pieces of the 1950s and 60s, all the way to retro nostalgia in the 1990s and contemporary sounds, guest playlister pejepeine perfectly captures this broad genre topic from a huge wave of nominations
Read more
Sit back, suggest and fill the lounge …
Lounge to exotica, Les Baxter to James Last, tiki bars to the space age, it’s a broad genre that extends into jazz, Latin and electronica and pop, across hotel bars, lifts and film sounds, so this week let’s relax with a cocktail, a soft chair and see what makes us get into the mood …
Read more
The fabulous Nicholas Brothers
Foot stomping and clogging to the click of fingers, flamenco and castanets, these playlists, picked by guest Marco den Ouden from last week’s topic, take a tour of the world from Canada to Mexico, Spain to Japan, with music that’s right on tap
Read more
Elvis snaps to it
Got that rhythm? This week, songs on which we hear prominently the body percussion rhythms of dexterous human extremities – of fingers, hands, feet and toes, snapping, tapping, and stamping, though not the more common hand-clapping which has been a separate topic
Read more
Trumpet solo …
Trumpet solos, roar power to the sound of mew-sic, after a melodious menagerie of nominations from last week’s topic, nature-loving playlister Uncleben cleverly tracks down creatural participants for their own perspective on fabulous avine, bovine, elephantine, feline, galline, leonine, lupine, phocaenine and porcine contributions to the genre
Read more
Three-part harmony …
It’s a vast sonic language, mostly beyond our understanding, but with a more subconscious appreciation, has been incorporated in different genres of music, from field recordings and samples, or even those mimicked by the human voice or by instruments
Read more
Reflection on Omaha beach in the aftermath of D-Day battles on 6 June 1944
Following the 80th anniversary of one of the most significant events of the 20th century, guest playlister Maki picks poignant and powerful selections abuot that event as well as other do-or-die metaphors inspired by last week’s D-Day topic
Read more
To mark 80 years since that key day, this song topic is not only about those events – the landings, the battles, the individuals, the big stories, but also in a wider sense about the very idea of D-Day, of those moments where it's really do or die, or in some cases do and die, where necessity means you must be decisive and take action
Read more
Singularly different: The Undisputed Truth
Sometimes they were an inspiration improvement, sometimes an editing and style aberration. Picking out the differences from last week’s singular topic, guest playlister ParaMhor cleverly chooses the contrasts for better or worse
Read more
Handsome George in his busking glory
A tribute to longtime Song Bar contributor George Boyland, also known as webcore, Liverpudlan storyteller, musician, Albert Docks busker and big family man. Regulars offer their favourite anecdotes, George posts and songs. Rest in Peace, George
Read more
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
Read more
Poetry in motion: Edson Arantes do Nascimento, aka the great Pelé, 1968
Goals, glories, disasters, fanfare and failure, from the great players to local heroes, and all the ups and downs of the sport, after a superb game of nominations, guest manager Loud Atlas picks and pitches perfect formations with playlists inspired by last week’s topic, but who is on the teamsheet? Check it out …
Read more
Long player: A young Diego Maradona enjoying one of his other hobbies, 1980
At the zenith of the season, with tournaments ending and beginning, let’s pass our attention to the beautiful game, skill, artistry, eccentricity, but also history, culture, with metaphors, and hopefully avoiding the bad songs, the goal is dig deep into music from around the world …
Read more