Music Asks

It’s Sunday and time for more questions from Sunday Stealing .

This week it is all about music which is just my cup of tea.

Hopefully my answers to the following questions will introduce you to some new music that you may or may not have encountered before. The songs below are all part of my own rather large music collection.

A song you like with a colour in the title

Air – Redhead Girl

Air are a French electropop duo who have written some of the most deliciously mellow songs I have heard. I am a huge fan.

A song that needs to be played very loud

Motörhead – Bomber

I make no apologies for this classic piece of British Heavy Metal. Play it loud and enjoy.

A song that makes you want to dance

Goldfrapp – Strict Machine

Let’s get one thing straight – I can’t dance. I have been known to dance though and this is the kind of song that would entice me onto the dance floor. It is one of those rare songs that both me and Mrs PM both love.

A song to drive to

Joe Satriani – Summer Song

Joe Satriani is my favourite guitarist – a virtuoso who has actually taught some other workd famous guitarists. I can imagine myself driving on a long American road in a convertible when I hear this song.

A song with a number in the title

Blackfield – 1000 People

Time to slow things down again with a very beautiful (and sad song) from Steven Wilson’s side project Blackfield.

A song that makes you happy

The Gentle Storm – heart of Amsterdam

Anneke van Giersbergan is somebody you have probably never heard of. She is a very talented Dutch singer who fronted a musical project called The Gentle Storm which is a mixture of rock music and folk complete with electric guitars, violins,  pipes and more than a hint of joy.

A song that makes you sad

Richard Marx – Hazard

I’ve posted about this song before. It always brings a tear to my eye.

A song that reminds you of summer

Morcheeba – The Sea

Mrs PM introduced me to this beautiful song. It reminds me of walking on a beach as the sun goes down. A lovely song.

A song that you remember from your childhood

Electric Light Orchestra – Mr Blue Sky

As a child I was a huge fan of ELO and this song in particular.

A song that breaks your heart

Riverside – The Night Before

I can’t praise Riverside enough. They are a Polish progressive rock band who are my current favourite band. This song is from a concept album about an apocalypse and is sung from the point of view of a man comforting his child on the eve of the event. It is so sad because they do not know what will come.

A song that you never get tired of

Rush – Subdivisions

I have been a Rush fan for 40 years and this song is from a 1982 album called Signals, which I bought just before seeing them for the first time in the same year. A special song from a special band.

A song from your preteen year

David Bowie – Rebel Rebel

This would be 1974 and now you all know how old I am (I don’t keep it a secret really). I miss David Bowie.

A song that is a cover by another artist

Johnny Cash – Hurt

This is another very sad song, particularly because it is sung by a very old Johnny Cash, one of my dad’s favourite artists. It is a cover of a song by Nine Inch Nails which is very surprising considering Trent Reznor’s band is industrial rock/metal. I have to say that this version is very poignant and actually better than the original.

A song from the year you were born

The Tornados – Telstar

I can do better than that. This song was number one in the UK on the day I was born.

A song that makes you think about life

Devin Townsend - Genesis

This song has a bit of everything – choirs, classical music, gospel, pop, rock, heavy metal, dance and is a mixture of everything else. It is wonderful and brilliant and something that could only have come from the mind of Devin Townsend – an amazing artist. Stick with it to the end – you may like it. Progressive rock at it’s very best.

Your favourite song with a persons name in the title

Within Temptation – Sinéad

Within Temptation are a Dutch symphonic metal band fronted by the wonderful Sharon den Adel. This particular song is rock with a hint of dance. A great tune.

A song that you think everyone should listen to

All of the above? Actually – here is a good one you probably haven’t heard before.

Ten – The Elysian Fields

I have posted this before. It is a beautiful piece of melodic rock.

A song by a band you wish were still together

Pink Floyd – Money

I loved Pink Floyd. They were one of the pioneers of progressive rock. Money is one of my favourite songs by the band.

A song by an artist no longer living

David Bowie – I’m Afraid of Americans

I miss David Bowie and make no apologies for including him twice in this list. This particular song features Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and features him as a very disturbing stalker in the video.

A song by an artist with a voice you love

Delain – Masters of Destiny

I am not obsessed with female Dutch vocalists – honestly – but here is another one. Her name is Charlotte Wessels and she fronts Dutch symphonic metal band Delain. Her vocal range is amazing and this song is just a taste of what she can achieve.

And finally…

This is quite long for a Sunday Stealing post. I don’t apologise and I hope that you found something you liked and might investigate.