Air – All I need
This is perfect, mellow Sunday night listening. It is taken from the spectacular Moon Safari album by French chill out pioneers Air. Apologies for the slightly strange video, it was the best I could find.
RjK
Tag Archive for 1990’s
Paul Simon – The cool, cool river
This is taken from The Rhythm of the Saints, probably the album that influenced my musical taste most in 2011. It opened my eyes to world music which was quite a revelatory awakening.
I really like the contrast in the song between the hushed, almost dreamlike opening and the dramatic, exhorting finish that the song builds to.
And these streets, quiet as a sleeping army, send their battered dreams to heaven, to heaven, for the mother’s resless son…
RjK
Aside
R.Kelly* – Bump n’ grind
As I mentioned yesterday my intention is to make Thursdays about bands that are new to the blog. On Fridays I will be posting some guilty pleasures. Now that I have spent a year meticulously gaining credibility by steadfastly posting esoteric bands I feel that I can afford to lighten up a little. The songs will be party tunes that I decided not to post last year because they are too naff, profane or shameful but that I actually quite like.
Bump n’ Grind, much to my surprise, turned out to be something of an anthem during a year I spent in California. I mostly heard and enjoyed it ironically, but not wholly. R.Kelly by all accounts is a douche bag but he knows how to put together a pop song. Also, this may have the most hilarious intro ever!
My mind’s tellin’ me nnnooo but my body, my body’s telling me yeeahusss. Baby. I don’t want to hurt nobody, but there is something that I must confess………..
RjK
*Artist #367
Aside
Phats and Small – Turn Around
Just about to head out to an rugby match/school reunion. I imagine it will be taxing both on the pitch and in the bar afterwards. I thought it was appropriate to post something from my school days and this came to mind. 1990’s-tastic. Enjoy.
Hey! What’s wrong with you? You’re looking kind of down to me….
RjK
Aside
Dario G – Sunchyme
After a few days of fairly esoteric choices I wanted to post something a little more recognisable. I imagine this will be very familiar, certainly for people of my vintage anyway. It is a classic, upbeat dancer. A pretty bizzare video here too.
RjK
Aside
Edwyn Collins – A girl like you
This guy came up in conversation last night when I was at a buddy’s house for dinner. What an interesting (and prolific) life he has lead. I didn’t know he was the lead singer of 80’s favourites Orange Juice or that he had recovered from a stroke in 2005 and managed returned to performing.
More than anything though, this is a fantastic song. I first heard right about the time I was becoming conscious of music and it sounded like nothing I had ever heard before. It is dark and brooding and has a great retro sound. Also, what KILLER guitar?
You’ve made me acknowledge the devil in me. I hope to God I’m talkin’ metaphorically…
RjK
Aside
The Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy
I can’t post Tupac without posting Biggie as well. It is a little bit of a cliche, nerdy white guys liking gangster rap but this is irresistible.
RjK
Aside
Soul II Soul – Back to life (However do you want me)
I heard this over the weekend and it has been stuck in my head since. What a great tune. It still sounds fresh even though it is more than 20 years old. Pretty fun video here too, some pretty special style on display.
/RjK
Aside
Arrested Development – People Everyday
This is simply joyous and one of my all time favourite hip hop tunes and certainly one of the sunniest I have encountered. It is taken from the spectacular 3 years, 5 months and 2 days in the life of… which features several highlights but this is probably my favourite. It borrows heavily from Sly and the Family Stone but I think turning it into something even better.
They are also a great live act. I saw them about 10 years ago (how can it have been that long?) in Dublin and they blew me away. It would still be one of the top 3 or 4 gigs I have been to. I found this pretty funny video while doing some research for this post. Check out the two stiffs in the middle of the studio. Unfortunately I don’t believe they are permanent members of the band!
RjK
18th November
Crowded House – Weather with you
This is another one of the earliest songs I can remember hearing. I loved it before I had any real idea of music as a wider concept, before I began to intellectualise it, idolise it, before I became pretentious.
I am not sure why but it came into my head this week for the first time in years. So I have been listening to it over and over and feeling like I am 11 years old again. I really enjoy feeling a connection with my younger, more naive self. Sometimes it feels as though he never existed.
The lyrics are still an inscrutable mystery to me, but I like to think they are profound and there are some subtle but excellent guitar riffs and vocal harmonies to listen out for.
There’s a small boat made of china going nowhere on the mantelpiece. Do I lie like a lounge room lizard or do I sing like a bird released?
Sorry about the gash video, it was the best I could find.
RjK