A Music Meme

It’s been a while since I have had a go at a meme, so here is one about something close to my heart: music. If you are interested in hearing the songs I mention below, just follow the links.

Note – regular readers will know that I am a fan of rock music – but not all of the songs featured below are rock songs.

I may just surprise you.

(1) Name a favourite political track.

I tend to switch off when it comes to politics, or political messages in songs. That said, I do have in my collections quite a few songs of a political persuasion - like this one:

American Idiot - Green Day 

(2) Name one of those tracks that will make you dance on the dance floor no matter what.

There have been a few songs over the years that have made me dance but these days I don’t tend to go to places where I am inclined to strut my funky stuff. Having said that, if we end up at a wedding or party with a dance floor, Mrs PM will almost certainly drag me up to the dance floor for one of her favourite songs, which I invariably will hate. My revenge is usually to drag her up when the token rock song comes on. Sadly, it is usually a token rock song that I am utterly sick of, which results in both of us dancing away to something we're not too keen on.

However, I will give you a pop song from my past that usually enticed me onto the floor, when it was played – and I would probably dance to it now:

Ant Music –  Adam and the Ants 

(3) Name the song you’d use to tell someone you love them.

The difference between my musical taste and that of Mrs PM would make this extremely difficult. I would go for the middle ground and select a song that we both like that positively oozed romance. This is such a song and Mrs PM and I both love it. See - there is some romance in my blood:

You Make It Easy – Air 

By the way, in case you were wondering, Beth Hirsch is the singer – and she has an absolutely wonderful voice.

(4) A song you know would sell lots of VWs (or ipods, or whatever) if they paid for it. (One that hasn’t already been used).

I’m not sure whether this song has been used but it would fit perfectly:

Redshift Riders – Joe Satriani 

(5) A song that forced you to sit down and analyze its lyrics.

I love songs that have meaningful lyrics. To me, the lyrics can be as important as the melody. Consequently, there are simply too many such songs in my collection to list here. I will select one from my favourite band, Rush. The drummer, Neil Peart, is the lyricist and a fine job he does too:

Territories – Rush

(6) A song you like that a 2 year old would like too.

There are none – unless it is the theme to a kids show. How about the theme to the 60’s puppet show, Stingray? I loved that as a child:

Theme From Stingray - Barry Gray

(7) A song that makes you drive too fast.

I’ve read somewhere that certain songs do make people put their foot down a little too much. I’m not a bad driver, though I have been known to exceed the speed limit on occasion (though not by too much).  Actually, I can think of one song that definitely makes me go for it (in it my own small way):

All My Life – Foo Fighters 

(8) A song that makes you feel like kicking someone’s arse.

I’m not normally inclined to kick anybody’s bottom and I doubt that any song in my collection would turn me into a violent human being. However, there are certain songs that I use to dispel any anger that has built up within, songs that are angry songs and allow me to rant the anger out of me. Songs like this one:

Whiplash – Metallica 

(9) A song that both you and your grandparents (would probably) like.

My grandparents and I had absolutely nothing in common musically – even my parents hated my music. I would have to delve into my collection of classical music to find something that they might actually like. How about:

Bolero – Ravel 

(10) A song you would send to somebody you hated.

I don’t hate anybody – so if somebody annoyed me I would send them a song that let them know in no uncertain terms that they had seriously pissed me off – a song like this one:

Kick In The Teeth – Papa Roach 

(11) A sad instrumental song that would be in the soundtrack to a movie about your life.

One of my favourite albums is Shepherd Moons by Enya and most of the songs on that album would feature on the soundtrack of my life. I particularly like this beautiful tune which may or may not be sad:

Lothlórien – Enya 

(12) The peppy song that would start the opening credits in the soundtrack to a movie about your life.

That’s difficult but it would be hard not to choose a song by the Electric Light Orchestra, a band I loved as a kid. How about:

Mr Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra 

(13) An a cappella song.

My favourite a capella song is this one - a great little tune.

Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin

(14) A good song from a genre of music that no one could guess that you liked.

I have often stated that country music is a style that leaves me stone cold. My dad liked many genres and sadly country music was one of them. I had to endure artists like Johnny Cash – who only performed a good song not long before he died, with a cover of a song by Nine Inch Nails.

However, I am not going to use that one.

There is a country song that I have always liked and I have it on my iPod. I openly admit that I like it – it is a great song and beautiful song. I present to you a song that nobody who knows me would predict that I like. Mock me if you like - I don't care:

Witchita Lineman – Glenn Campbell

(15) A song you think should have been playing when you were born.

My name is Dave - so it has to be:

Davy’s On The Road Again – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band 

(16) A favourite artist duo collaboration.

I’m a huge fan of Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) and early David Bowie. This collaboration is therefore an absolute favourite:

I’m Afraid Of Americans – David Bowie (featuring Nine Inch Nails) 

(17) A favourite song you completely disagree with (politically, morally, commonsensically, religiously, etc).

Are you asking somebody who loves rock music about controversy and lyrical depravity? There are so many songs to choose from, so I will pick a song about drugs (because I have never taken any – apart from alcohol). The lyrics are purely drug related – just the names of the drugs:

Feel Good Hit Of The Summer – Queens Of The Stone Age

(18) The song that you love despite the fact that your IQ level drops several points every time you listen to it.

Here’s a great example of a dumb rock song that is just brilliant. I have loved it for years and it is a great song to play when you just feel like shouting. In fact – most songs by the band are the same.

Bomber -  Motörhead

(19) Your smooth song, for relaxing.

I’m going to give you two. The first is a beautiful song by Air:

Mayfair Song – Air

The second is a mellow masterpiece from Steven Wilson, the man behind Porcupine Tree. This is a solo effort and a really beautiful piece:

Significant Other – Steven Wilson 

(20) A song that you like but would play loud to annoy the neighbours.

That’s easy – I have thousands to choose from. Ah – but which one to choose? I think a loud bombastic eardrum splitter:

Links 2-3-4 – Rammstein 

(21) A favourite song that’s about a sport or sports.

Sport songs are generally dreadful but there is one that I genuinely like. It was the unofficial anthem of the European National Football Tournament in England in 1996 (Euro 1996). The crowd at the England games adopted the song and the words rang out on the terraces – until the bloody Germans beat us on penalties in the semi-final!:

Three Lions – Frank Skinner, David Baddiel and The Lightning Seeds

(22) A favourite track from an outfit considered a “super group”.

What is a super group? It is a group made up of artists who are famous in their own right.
And my current favourite are Black Country Communion comprising:

Glenn Hughes - ex Deep Purple bassist and vocalist
Joe Bonamassa – legendary solo blues guitarist
Derek Sherinian – ex Dream Theater keyboard player
Jason Bonham – legendary drummer and son of the even more legendary John Bonham of Led Zeppelin.

They have a new album just out – their third – and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

Here is a superb blues number – it is simply beautiful:

Song of Yesterday – Black Country Communion

(23) The song that makes you want to drink more beer.

Many songs make me want to drink more beer. How about this one?

Whole Lotta Rosie – AC/DC 

(24) One of the songs you want played at your funeral.

I thought about this and I could be corny and suggest Stairway To Heaven but I think I will opt for a song that is not exactly what people would expect me to choose – a lovely little tune by Depeche Mode. It’s a bit sad – but it has a beautiful chorus:

Home – Depeche Mode 

(25) Favourite Dylan track.

I’m not a huge fan of Bob Dylan, but there is one song of his, covered by Scottish rockers, Nazareth, that I quite like. It is a pretty depressing song but made even more so by Dan McCafferty’s screeching vocals. Here is the original version:

Ballad of Hollis Brown – Bob Dylan

Here is Nazareth’s much better version:

Ballad of Hollis Brown – Nazareth 

FINALLY ...

Please feel free to steal the meme. The one proviso is that you let me know your answers. I am always on the look out for new music.

I hope you like my choices.