The Radio Dept - deliverance, 2005

"Today was really dark and gloomy, which seems to have put me into the mood for The Radio Dept. Their music is quite befitting of this weather... it's shoegazey, melancholy, a bit subdued, but also lush and really well-layered between the vocals, guitar, keyboard, samples, and drum machine. The Radio Dept. comes from Sweden, and formed in 1995. Interestingly, I've never seen their name written as "The Radio Department", it's always abbreviated as "The Radio Dept." Anyway, they apparently took their name from a gas station/radio repair shop they saw called Radioavdelningen, or "the radio department" in Swedish. They've had many band members come and go, and now consist of Johan (original member), Martin, and Daniel. They've released several singles and E.P.s, and two full-length albums: Lesser Matters (2003) and Pet Grief (2006). If you've read my last post you might know how much I love a good B-side... so the song I'm featuring here is "Deliverance", a B-side from the "This Past Week" E.P. (2005)."

The Moody Blues - eyes of a child part one, 1969

"I really thought if you were out there what would you expect, what would you see if you were on the spaceship going out. And I suddenly realized if you went up there with all preconceived ideas and preprogrammed ideas in your mind you'd probably miss everything. And I realized then, that's how a child works."

Indochine - ladyboy, 2005

"Ladyboy" by Indochine delves into the complexities of human emotions, resilience in the face of loss, and the search for meaning and happiness in the midst of life's challenges."

Black Sabbath - laguna sunrise, 1972

"Raise your hand if, somewhere around age sixteen, you went through a metal phase. Come on, admit it…you grew your hair out, you bought a ring with a skull on it, maybe even went to a Megadeth concert. Well, no matter what the details of your metal phase were, it probably included the basic principle that Ozzy Osbourne was God, and Black Sabbath was the precursor to every band worth listening to."

Cage The Elephant - neon pill, 2024

"Cage The Elephant are one of those bands cursed with an anthem. You might argue that having a huge, timeless hit could never be a disadvantage, but the issue comes when a band is left desperately attempting to get out of their own shadow. How can they ever escape ‘Cigarette Daydream’, or free themselves from the shackles that come with soundtracking the distinct indie heyday of the 2010s?"

First Breath After Coma - salty eyes, 2020

"Let me guess... One of their biggest influences is Explosions in the Sky."

The Beatles - can't buy me love live, 1964

“The idea behind it was that all these material possessions are all very well, but they won’t buy me what I really want.” However, he was to comment later: “It should have been ‘Can Buy Me Love’ ” when reflecting on the perks that money and fame had brought him."

The Moody Blues - survival, 1978

"The sitar is very, very easy, as long as you tune it up right! 1 string. Once you tune up the other 18 strings right, it will resonate. But the time things that they play… we did a gig in London with a band called the Indo-Jazz Fusions with John McLaughlin and Ravi Shankar in the same band."

The Smashing Pumpkins - we only come out at night, 1995

"The songs on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness are intended to work together conceptually, with the two halves of the album representing day and night. Despite this, Corgan has rejected the term concept album to describe it, and it was at the time described as more "loose" and "vague" than were the band's previous records. He also said it is based on "the human condition of mortal sorrow". Corgan aimed the album's message at people between 14 and 24 years of age, hoping "to sum up all the things I felt as a youth but was never able to voice articulately. ... I'm waving goodbye to me in the rear view mirror, tying a knot around my youth and putting it under the bed."

Acid House Kings - wake up, 1997

"they released Advantage Acid House Kings in 1997 and the album proved to be a huge step forward to form their trademark sound of jangly, catchy guitar oriented indie-pop. The album featured Julia Lannerheim as guest vocalist on a couple of songs, who eventually joined the band officially as a full-time member in 2001. In 2002 they released their third album Mondays Are Like Tuesdays And Tuesdays Are Like Wednesdays."

Enya - oriel window, 1991

"Oriel Window" is a previously unreleased track and a piano instrumental song by Irish musician, songwriter and singer Enya. It was a B-Side track for the lead single from her third studio album, Shepherd Moons, "Caribbean Blue" at the first time, released on October 7, 1991 by WEA. In 2009, the song was contained in Japanese reissue and remastered edition of Shepherd Moons as a bonus fifteenth track of the album."

The Shadows - god only knows cover, 1975

"The song's musical sophistication is demonstrated by its three contrapuntal vocal parts and weak tonal center (competing between the keys of E and A)."

The Jesus And Mary Chain - between planets, 1989

"Automatic is the third studio album by Scottish alternative rock band the Jesus and Mary Chain, released on 9 October 1989 by Blanco y Negro Records. The group on this record consists of the core duo of brothers William and Jim Reid, with a drum machine providing percussion and synthesised bass."

Bee Gees - world, 1969

"'World' is one of those things we came up with in the studio, Everyone just having fun and saying, 'Let's just do something!' you know"

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - so in love, 1985

"How can you resist a song like 'So in Love'? A misty piece of McCluskey romance tinged with sadness before showing its true claws on the chorus."

Tame Impala - love paranoia, 2015

"Parker recorded the album on his own, only this time without Dave Fridmann's guiding hand and by mostly forsaking electric guitars in favor of a wealth of synthesizers, and with a much more relaxed, intimate approach. In addition to the soft rock of the '70s feel that permeates the sound, Parker adds elements of R&B and hip-hop to the mix, gets lyrically introspective in spots, and generally sounds like he's either on the verge of a long nap or just waking up from one."

The Radio Dept - lost and found, 2003

"Came here looking for Lost and Found"

Swallow - follow me down, 1992

"The song "Follow Me Down" by Swallow explores themes of love, devotion, and the fear of losing someone. The lyrics convey a strong desire for the listener to remain close and committed."

The Beatles - from us to you live, 1964

"The Beatles' song "From Us to You" is a lively and upbeat track that carries a message of love and support from the band to their fans. Although the song itself may seem simple and straightforward, it can take on deeper meanings when we delve into its lyrics and explore the underlying themes. Throughout the song, several standout lines help develop these imaginative themes, all of which ultimately tie back to the overarching message of love and connection."

James - heavens, 1992

"Heavens" by James explores themes of longing, loss, and seeking divine intervention or clarity in a confusing and uncertain world. The lyrics depict a sense of isolation and helplessness, with the singer feeling disconnected from those they love and searching for a higher power to guide them."

Bob Dylan - i threw it all away, 1969

"I Threw It All Away" was one of the first songs written for Nashville Skyline and one of only two new songs that were definitely written prior to the recording sessions ("Lay Lady Lay" being the other). Dylan played the song for George Harrison and his wife Pattie in November 1968, and Harrison was apparently impressed enough with the song to learn it himself."

Nada Surf - bizarre love triangle cover, 2012

"It actually may be safe to say that this version is more accessible than the original song, which opens with about a minute and thirty seconds of electronic music before any lyrics are added. Nada Surf jump right in, using only acoustic instruments and human beatboxing, making a really decent, very gentle version of the song."

The Housemartins - build, 1987

"Build" is a song released in November 1987 as the third single from the album The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death by British band The Housemartins. It follows the softer template of the group's later material and reached no. 15 in the UK Singles Chart. The song is notable amongst the Housemartins catalogue, as it features drummer Dave Hemingway on vocals during the choruses, whilst usual singer Paul Heaton sings the verses and bridge."

The Style Council - how she threw it all away, 1988

"As the brass bounces off the synth bass giving a lesson in how do late 80s production with elegance, the bitter Falklands winter of “But now I watch smoke leave my lips/And fill an empty room” is something Paul Weller may have considered to be a show of agency in the final hurrahs of The Jam, but with the cutting of that neurotic spectre he exorcised in a short burst of glory on The Style Council’s descent into schlock, he managed to set himself free from both the personal neuroticisms that plagued his laboured love ballads, and press in-jokes that presented him as the as the Ivan Lendl of pop/rock."

William Fitzsimmons - annie's song cover, 2022

"The first song I ever remember hearing is John Denver’s masterpiece ode to his wife, “Annie’s Song”. I can still picture the tattered double vinyl sitting on my parents record cabinet, John’s smiling face looking out while my mother would sing along with every word and I would sit on the living room floored, mesmerized and happy to just be still in these peaceful sensations. Years later, when I began teaching myself the guitar, I would fumble through the chords and sing the same song with my mother in the evening; the same feelings of peace and nostalgia filling the room many years later. If there was only one song I could play for the rest of my life, it’d be this."

Bee Gees - railroad, 1969

"another throwback to country-pop balladry"

Rose City Band - mariposa, 2023

"While Ripley and co. have long slowed down the air around cosmic country, embracing the humidity of languorous afternoons, “Mariposa” might capture this more than most in their catalog. The song saunters and sways, a ripple of those liquid strings underpinned by a slow crest of organ. The song stretches out, dips its hat over the eyes and lets the sun soak into every fiber of the listener."

Pink Floyd - lost for words, 1994

"Lost for Words" is a song recorded by English rock band Pink Floyd, focused on forgiveness, written by guitarist and lead singer David Gilmour and his spouse Polly Samson for the band's 14th studio album, The Division Bell. It appears as the penultimate track on the album. The lyrics, mostly penned by Samson, are a bitterly sarcastic reflection on Gilmour's then-strained relationship with former bandmate Roger Waters."

The Durutti Column - the missing boy, 1981

"The song "The Missing Boy" is a tribute to songwriter Vini Reilly's friend and label-mate Ian Curtis of Joy Division, who committed suicide in the previous year."

Rádio Macau - o anzol, 1987

"The song "O Anzol" by Rádio Macau appears to address feelings of stagnation and a lack of novelty in the speaker's life. The first verse describes a failed attempt to be original by painting the sky a different color, only to realize that someone else had the same idea before. This could be seen as a metaphor for the difficulty of finding genuinely new experiences or ideas in an already saturated world. The chorus presents a choice between "fleeing" or "biting the hook," both of which could represent different approaches to tackling this problem - either running away from it or confronting it directly."

The Moody Blues - house of four doors part two, 1968

"House of Four Doors" by The Moody Blues is a song that explores themes of mystery, self-discovery, and the search for meaning in life. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a journey through four doors that symbolize different aspects of existence."

The Smiths - some girls are bigger than others, 1986

"the clipped, undulating frivolity of 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others', a hypnotic musical travelogue that verges on the transcendental [...] Again, the Morrissey muse and Marr's musical setting collide marvellously, the track illuminated by some lovely slide guitar from the latter. It would have made another classic Smiths single"

Jaguar Sun - i feel it, 2023

"Everyone in their twenties feels anxiety about the unstoppable passage of time, how it becomes a place you can’t return to. It’s easy to get caught up feeling homesick for an idealized past that may never have existed, or to be haunted by one that did."

Chumbawamba - scapegoat, 1997

"The only thing we really wanted to get across was feeling positive and having a good time. A lot of people wouldn’t call that political, but I would. One of the reasons behind that was, as anyone who knows us and knows our context knows, we were a “college radio band” with a small fanbase selling maybe 30,000 records if we were lucky. Everyone who knows our history sees us as a very somber, political band with lots of inadvertent comments and “important” things to say, so we wanted to make a record that was really positive."

Damien Jurado - qachina, 2016

"QACHINA" by Damien Jurado delves into themes of personal reflection, emotional turmoil, and introspection. The lyrics use symbolism, such as the colors yellow and blue, to represent different emotional states. The song's significance lies in the exploration of one's internal struggles, the desire for understanding, and the need for solace amidst confusion."

Genesis - fireside song, 1969

"The song "Fireside Song" by Genesis seems to reflect on the cyclical nature of life and the transformative power of hope. The lyrics depict a transition from a state of confusion, disappointment, fear, and disillusion to one of optimism and clarity."

The Radio Dept - the things that went wrong, 2004

“The thing with the extreme right populism is that they’re actually saying what they want to do and people still go for it. They don’t even have to lie. We had a moderate right wing government for about eight years until recently; and they kind of paved the way for this. When poor people get poorer and rich people get more rich, they tend to go for easy solutions.”

New Order - true faith, 1987

"As is the case for many New Order songs of this period, the words in the title do not appear anywhere in the lyrics. The original lyrics included a verse that read "Now that we've grown up together/They're all taking drugs with me". Hague convinced Bernard Sumner to change the latter line to "They're afraid of what they see" because he was worried that otherwise it would not get played on the radio."

Bee Gees - in the morning, 1970

"Morning of My Life" (originally known as "In the Morning") is a song written by Barry Gibb in 1965 whilst in the town of Wagga Wagga, Australia and later recorded by the Bee Gees and several other artists. It was recorded in 1966 during sessions for the album Spicks and Specks, and later was released as the opening track on the compilation Inception/Nostalgia in 1970. The first recording of the song to be released by any artist was by Ronnie Burns, first as a B-side to his Exit, Stage Right single in June 1967 and a month later on his Ronnie LP."

Such a great song!

Elton John - grey seal, 1970

"Taupin has said that it's one of the songs he wrote with lyrics he never really understood, but somehow work. As for Elton, the song is one of his favorites, as he loves the way the music matches up to the lyrics."

Suzanne Vega - gypsy, 1987

"This is one of Vega's loveliest songs altogether. It is a love song-- technically a break-up song, but not the acrimonious kind. The Japanese farewell, "sayonara," means "since it must be so," and that is the sighing, bittersweet sort of farewell this song evokes."

Sufjan Stevens - impossible soul, 2010

"Impossible Soul" is a complex song that explores the themes of love, self-discovery, fear, and the pursuit of happiness. The song is divided into five distinct parts that weave together a story of a protagonist who is trying to navigate his emotions and find meaning in his relationships."

Death Cab For Cutie – what sarah said, 2005

"What Sarah Said" chronicles the "nervous paces" of visiting an ill loved one in the hospital ("I'm thinking of what Sarah said / that love is watching someone die")

The Beatles - the night before, 1965

"Recorded in February 1965, "The Night Before" was the first Beatles song to feature electric piano, played by John Lennon. Its film sequence was shot the following May, showing the band miming to the track on Salisbury Plain. The Beatles only played the song live once, during their final BBC Radio performance. In contemporary interviews, McCartney said that it was one of his favorite songs from the Help! film and one of the Beatles' best recordings up to that point."

Bright Eyes - gold mine gutted, 2005

"Digital Ash in a Digital Urn is the seventh studio album by American band Bright Eyes, released on January 25, 2005 by Saddle Creek Records, the same day as their sixth album I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning. It peaked at number 15 in the US and 43 in the UK. In US it has sold 268,000 units. In 2007 it was awarded a gold certification from the Independent Music Companies Association, which indicated sales of at least 100,000 copies throughout Europe. In contrast to the acoustic nature of I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn is more electronic."

Pet Shop Boys - memory of the future new single mix, 2012

"Memory of the Future" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their eleventh studio album, Elysium (2012). It was released on 31 December 2012 as the album's third and final single. The track reached number 68 in Germany and number 111 in the United Kingdom. The single version, remixed by Stuart Price, differs notably from the album version. Apart from the differences in the arrangements, the single version is approximately a minute shorter than the album version and has a slightly faster tempo."

The Radio Dept - we got game henning fürst remix, 2017

"I discovered The Radio Dept when I just arrived in Canada. I was watching a youtube video about the Vietnam War and there was a moment where you could see one Guy smoking in a gun barrel. Yeah you guessed it, it became the cover of the album " clinging to a scheme". A guy mentionned the album in the comment section so I was curious about it."

The Moody Blues - peak hour bbc easybeat session, 1967

"Days Of Future Past was one of the first concept albums, depicting an archetypical "day" from morning to night. However, it didn't start out that way. Justin Hayward explained to Beat Instrumental in a June 1971 interview: "Days Of Future Past was really a concept for a stage presentation we'd worked out to take up a whole hour set. It turned out that it took the form of a day because I'd written a song 'Nights in White Satin.'"

Tame Impala - be above it, 2012

"Opening track "Be Above It" also feature ambient sounds of a person walking which was recorded on the dictaphone by Parker sticking his recorder out of a window at a hotel he was staying at. Parker recorded this because "The street had a weird shape to it and it had a cool reverb whenever someone walked by. You see that run through the album."

Swallow - mensurral, 1992

"Swallow were a British-based duo of Mike Mason and Louise Trehy. Signed to 4AD, they only released one studio album and one remix collection before leaving the label. They moved on to Rough Trade Records for a further EP before disbanding."

The Beatles - i want to hold your hand, 1963

"We wrote a lot of stuff together, one on one, eyeball to eyeball. Like in 'I Want to Hold Your Hand,' I remember when we got the chord that made the song. We were in Jane Asher's house, downstairs in the cellar playing on the piano at the same time. And we had, 'Oh you-u-u/ got that something ...' And Paul hits this chord and I turn to him and say, 'That's it!' I said, 'Do that again!' In those days, we really used to absolutely write like that—both playing into each other's noses."

Club 8 - my pessimistic heart, 2010

"An emotional turning point of the album stands around its halfway point. “My Pessimistic Heart” is a song in support for anyone who’s experiencing tough times. When things are tough, who best to turn to than someone who believes that things are always tough? An eternal pessimist has already held any fear, considered any apocalyptic notion. That may seem counterintuitive somehow, but when delivered by Club 8, over such a great melody, it feels like a defining moment. A band whose music is eternally melancholy has found a way to turn that into something hopeful. Can a song be both hopeful and pessimistic at the same time? That’s the essence of The People’s Record."

The Radio Dept - slottet, 2004

"The Radio Dept. has always been a very politically charged band and several singles and EPs with sharp political commentary have emerged throughout the years. “Freddie and the Trojan Horse” came out in 2008 and was aimed at the Swedish prime minister at the time, Fredrik Reinfeldt, and his right wing party Moderaterna, for posing as a workers party in order to trick workers into voting for them."

Indochine - black page, 2005

"You are my life, the rest of my life, so be it. You taught me how to save my life"

Pet Shop Boys - before, 1996

"There's a story of a man who loved too much…" – As noted above, Neil has asserted that these words refer to U.S. former football star and actor O.J. Simpson, who—on account of being on trial for the murder of his wife—was very much in the news at the time the Boys were writing this song. They also echo the tragic hero's own epitaph for himself in Shakepeare's Othello, when he described himself as having "loved not wisely but too well."

Morrissey - the last of the famous international playboys, 1990

"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" is a song by British solo artist Morrissey. Co-written by Morrissey and former Smiths producer Stephen Street, the song was Morrissey's third release after the Smiths break-up. Morrissey was inspired lyrically by the East End gangster brothers the Kray Twins, whom he believed to be an example of the media glamourizing violent criminals. Street took influence from the Fall for the song's music, with the intro resembling that of "The Man Who Sold the World" by David Bowie. The single was the first Morrissey solo single to feature his former Smiths bandmates Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce, and Craig Gannon."

The Radio Dept - bad reputation, 2002

"The guitars sound like they are plugged straight into a recording device – the effect is lo-fi, a bit like listening to a practise amp, but the sound is distinctly theirs – it’s the same sound as on Lesser Matters in 2003, and it’s nice to hear a band evolve gently, sticking to their guns."

Pink Floyd - mother, 1979

"the song "Mother", part of Pink's sense of alienation comes from being raised by an overprotective single mother, who lost her husband, Pink's father, in World War II. The song narrates a conversation by Pink (voiced by Waters) and his mother (voiced by Gilmour). The listener learns of the overprotectiveness of Pink's mother, who is helping Pink build his wall to try to protect him from the outside world, evidenced by the line "Of course Momma's gonna help build the wall", spoken by Pink's mother. She insists that Pink stay by her side even after he grows up, and cannot stand it when Pink eventually grows older and falls in love."

Suzanne Vega - penitent, 2001

"It seems the sin she is repenting is one of arrogance; she tried, she tells God, "to stare You down."

Neil Young - harvest, 1972

"Young biographer Jimmy McDonough interprets lyrics such as "Did she wake you up to tell you that/It was only a change of plan" as referring to his then mother-in-law's previous suicide attempts. Inglis also interprets the line "Did I see you down in a young girl's town/With your mother in so much pain" as referring to this situation. Young biographer David Downing feels that the song works like a dream, being "so full of recognition, yet so short on sense."

Pet Shop Boys - always on my mind cover extended dance version, 1988

"Always On My Mind (extended dance mix) also known as (dance version), (ext. dance version), (12 inch dance mix)"

The Radio Dept - annie laurie, 2002

"John Steinbeck wrote about this song (Maxwellton's brae are bonnie) in his novel "To a God Unknown" (chapter VIII)."

Sufjan Stevens - mercury, 2017

"Mercury" feels like an elegy to lost love but may be more of an ode to the Roman god of thievery. "All that I felt within my arms," Sufjan sings, "and I am weightless. You ran off with it all."

7ebra - daybreak, 2024

"Beautiful but punk, minimalist but epic, the duo had previously made their mark on the Swedish music scene, with support slots for Future Islands, Bob Hund and The Dandy Warhols already under their belts. They also played shows at End of the Road, Bluedot and SXSW festivals last year, as well as for an extensive UK tour with Teleman."

The Mary Onettes - lost, 2016

"I know you can't fix me but I'm completely broken. The weight on my back is life, I can't get through, the past IS ALL I HAVE. I define myself by that. Why have I not lived my life one Mary Onettes song lyric at a time? I'm thinking if any of us want to live just an ok life, we'll listen, contemplate, interpret, and go forward. I'm lost. We're lost. Listen, go forward."

The Style Council - have you ever had it blue, 1986

"The Style Council's contribution to Julien Temple's 1986 musical version of Colin MacInnes' novel Absolute Beginners (earlier the inspiration for a classic Jam single) was their last truly interesting single, and even it has undeniable echoes of a few songs from the previous year's Internationalists, particularly "With Everything To Lose" and "All Gone Away." A horn arrangement by Gil Evans opens the song with an authentically cool jazz nod to the novel's time period, but the song itself has more of a bossa nova feel, with its subtle Latin percussion and Dee C. Lee's Astrud Gilberto-like wordless backing vocals. Still, it's a richly melodic tune, and the end of Paul Weller's continental jazz-pop persona. From here it was the miserable genre-exploitation of the last few Style Council records and a diminishing-returns solo career."

The Beatles - you're going to lose that girl, 1965

"it's easy to picture Paul and George shimmying and wagging their fingers if only they hadn't instruments to contend with."

Laurent Voulzy - derniers baisers cover, 2006

"Sealed with a Kiss" is a song written and composed by Peter Udell and Gary Geld. The original recording of "Sealed with a Kiss" was by the Four Voices which was released as a single in May 1960 without becoming a hit. It first became a hit in 1962 for Brian Hyland. Jason Donovan later had an international number one hit with the song in 1989."

The Flaming Lips - race for the prize remix, 1999

"The Japanese edition of Race for the Prize includes two different mixes of that song, and single-disc stereo mixes of three songs from Zaireeka — “Riding to Work in the Year 2025,” “Thirty-Five Thousand Feet of Despair” and “The Big Ol’ Bug Is the New Baby Now.” The first two of those songs appear, still in separated mixes, in the two-disc UK edition of that EP…thus reducing the commitment involved in listening to them from four stereos to “just” two. The American Waitin’ for a Superman EP includes that song’s radio edit, two remixes and stereo mixes of “Riding to Work” and “Thirty-Five Thousand Feet.” The British 2-CD version of that EP, like its predecessor, repeats the separated-mix offering of those same two songs."

New Order - bizarre love triangle extended dance mix, 1994

"Back in the late 80's I was a DJ in a very cool club in a college town and we played the shit out of this song. The club was in a - don't laugh - Holiday Inn, and because of the corporate money available we had some pretty amazing equipment up in the DJ booth."

Saturday Looks Good To Me - we can't work it out, 2002

"The success of Every Night, much like All Your Summer Songs before it, is entirely dependent on its contemporary relevance in the guise of almost fetishistic devotion to 60s pop nostalgia. "Since You Stole My Heart", a mono-friendly girl-group love letter that smacks of the sickly sweetest trip down a boardwalk you've never been on, represents the far extreme of SLGTM's direct emulative powers. But gradually, a darker world of thrift stores, cheap cigarettes, and rum & Cokes pierces through the band's façade of straight-faced homage, hinting at something more compelling and contemporary beneath."

The Jesus And Mary Chain - happy place, 1987

"This is escapist pop at it's best. The theory is that you have this happy memory to conjour up and revert back to when you are feeling emotionally stressed."

Death Cab For Cutie - someday you will be loved, 2005

"It’s a mean song. I don’t like writing songs from a dishonest place—when I’m trying to put on an air to express a certain emotion that I’m not wrapped in currently. It feels like I’m lying a bit. I just feel that song, musically, we really had to try in the studio to make that an interesting song when it’s not a very interesting song. And, lyrically, I think it’s kind of weak."

The Cranberries - linger, 1993

"Linger" is a song by Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries from their debut studio album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993). Composed by band members Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan, and produced by Stephen Street, "Linger" was first released as the second and final single from the album on 15 February 1993 by Island Records. It was later re-released on 31 January 1994. "Linger", which has an acoustic arrangement featuring a string section, became the band's first major hit, peaking at number three in their native Ireland, number eight in the United States, and number 14 in the United Kingdom. The single remained on the US Billboard Hot 100 for 24 weeks and also peaked at number eleven on the Cash Box Top 100. Additionally, "Linger" was voted by Australian Triple J listeners as number three on the Triple J Hottest 100, 1993 chart."

Electronic - idiot country, 1991

"First example of new Sumner writing style as Bernard confronts the violence of Manchester's drug wars. Marr's jagged guitar is fairly pronounced before the song lopes into a typical soft New Order refrain. Hummable and danceable"

Bee Gees - saw a new morning, 1973

"This song contains melodic ideas that the group would revisit on the later track "Edge of the Universe". Written in 1972 and recorded around September the same year. On the song, Maurice Gibb played the bass part through electric piano with Jim Keltner's drums providing a thump. While backing guitarist Alan Kendall plays guitar with Barry and Maurice Gibb."

The Beatles - you've got to hide your love away, 1965

"That's me in my Dylan period again. I am like a chameleon, influenced by whatever is going on. If Elvis can do it, I can do it. If the Everly Brothers can do it, me and Paul can. Same with Dylan."

Tame Impala - yes i'm changing, 2015

"In 2013, Kevin Parker was alone. Seclusion was never a foreign feeling to the Australian singer and multi-instrumentalist: he’s a naturally introverted figure who works best free from the commitments of collaboration or the pressure of personal connection. He even made an entire album, Lonerism, based around the themes of separation and isolation. Of all the dense layers of instrumentation and sounds, Lonerism featured only two other musical performers and a number of production individuals that you could count on a single hand. Even these relatively sparse proceedings would be too much. In the spirit of Parker’s own newly found isolation, Currents is a solo album in the truest sense: completely written and recorded, mixed and produced, conceptualised and realised by himself, holed away in a house where his creative impulses would be undisturbed."

Marillion - kayleigh alternate mix, 1985

"Some names just didn't exist a generation ago, but have taken off in popularity. The most famous of these is Kayleigh, which came into existence thanks to the neo-prog rock band Marillion, who had a number two hit with a single of this name in 1985. It was almost unheard of before the song. But since then it has taken hold, especially with parents who grew up with a love of long-haired bouffant power ballads. A few years ago, the name made it to the 30th most popular girl's name in Britain, and it remains popular: 267 children were named it last year. Curiously, though, it has spawned a bewildering sub-sect of names, nearly all of which are unrelentingly bizarre. There were 101 Demi-Leighs last year, seven Chelsea-Leighs and four called Lilleigh, which sounds like a sanitary product."

Swallow - tastes like honey, 1992

"Although they were probably joking when they said it, the British duo of Mike Mason and Louise Trehy pretty much nailed it when, in an interview, they dubbed themselves the “Cockatoo Twins.” The music on Blow fits rather stereotypically into the 4AD stable of cosmic, guitar-based angel rock — so much so it’s almost (almost) possible to overlook the fact that, while beautiful, it is also stunningly derivative. Mason’s churning, phasing-heavy guitar lines, supple melodies and store-bought drum patterns provide Trehy with quite a pedestal for her whispery, cherubic come-on of a voice. Though blissfully enjoyable, tracks like “Sugar Your Mind,” “Cherry Stars Collide” and “Tastes Like Honey” are by-the-book 4AD."

Bee Gees - how deep is your love, 1977

"How Deep Is Your Love" is a pop ballad written and recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977 and released as a single in September of that year. It was ultimately used as part of the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever. It was a number-three hit in the United Kingdom and Australia. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 on 25 December 1977 and stayed in the Top 10 for 17 weeks. It spent six weeks atop the US adult contemporary chart. It is listed at No. 27 on Billboard's All Time Top 100. Alongside "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever", it is one of the group's three tracks on the list. The song was covered by Take That for their 1996 Greatest Hits album, reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks."

Rufus Du Sol - you were right, 2015

"You Were Right" is a song by Australian alternative dance group Rüfüs Du Sol. The song was released on 26 June 2015 as the lead single from the group's second studio album, Bloom (2016). The song peaked at number 22 on the ARIA Chart, becoming the group's first top 40 single. The song was certified 2× platinum in Australia in 2017. At the 2015 Australian Independent Record Labels Association Awards, the song was nominated for Best Independent Dance/Electronica or Club Single."

Texas - say what you want, 1997

"Say What You Want" is a song by Scottish rock band Texas, written by band members Johnny McElhone and Sharleen Spiteri. It was the first single to be released from the group's fourth studio album, White on Blonde (1997), and released via the bands record label Mercury Records."

New Order - crystal, 2001

"Crystal" is a song by English rock band New Order. The song was released on 11 July 2001 as the first single from their seventh studio album, Get Ready (2001). "Crystal" entered the UK Singles Chart at number eight, attracting considerable attention and critical praise as the band's comeback single, their first original since 1993. The song also found success internationally, peaking at number three in Canada, number seven in Finland, and reaching the top 50 in Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Sweden. "Crystal" appears as the first track on the album in a version different from the single release, with an extended intro and coda."

Mike Oldfield - man in the rain, 1998

"Man in the Rain" is similar in style to Oldfield's 1983 hit, "Moonlight Shadow", from which "Man in the Rain" borrows sampled drums. An early version of "Man in the Rain" was also written shortly after "Moonlight Shadow". Another early demo version of "Man in the Rain" was recorded for Oldfield's Islands album, with vocals by Barry Palmer; this version later turned into the song "Heaven's Open". "Man in the Rain" was also the working title for the album Heaven's Open."

Moby - feeling so real, 1994

"Feeling So Real" is a song by American electronica musician Moby, released on October 1994 by Mute and Elektra, as the second single from the musician's third studio album, Everything Is Wrong (1995). The song, both written and produced by Moby, features the phrases "sound system rocking my....." (the full sample saying "sound system rocking my sieve") and "set it up DJ!" spoken by Kochie Banton, who also appears in Moby's following single, "Everytime You Touch Me". The guest vocalist for the song is Rozz Morehead."

The Animals - the house of the rising sun, 1964

"The House of the Rising Sun" is a traditional folk song, sometimes called "Rising Sun Blues". It tells of a person's life gone wrong in the city of New Orleans. Many versions also urge a sibling or parents and children to avoid the same fate. The most successful commercial version, recorded in 1964 by the British rock band the Animals, was a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart and in the US and Canada. As a traditional folk song recorded by an electric rock band, it has been described as the "first folk rock hit".

Brady Only - ought, 2022

"Wave function collapse, left in the dark What was meant Versus what was said What was heard against what's happened since."

James - many faces, 2018

"To celebrate International Peace Day"

The New Division - synthetique, 2024

"Synthetique by The New Division offers a captivating blend of dark allure and undeniable intrigue. Its brooding melodies and pulsating beats create an immersive experience that resonates with listeners seeking depth and emotion."

The Radio Dept - bus, 2003

"this song is absolutely amazing....one of many favorites from them."

Such a great song!

Guillemots - who left the lights off baby, 2005

"The imagery of a dog chasing a bone represents the endless pursuit of something that may not truly satisfy us, while the mention of honey that has lost its sweetness could symbolize the realization that appearances can be deceiving. It's a reminder to seek out the essence of what brings joy rather than just the outward trappings of success."

The National - weird goodbyes, 2022

“Weird Goodbyes” was one of the first new songs we made. I was misusing drum machines, as usual, and stumbled onto this beat that got stuck in my head—it felt like something only [drummer] Bryan [Devendorf] could naturally play. We built the song around the beat. Matt's melody and words felt so elegant and moving from the beginning—mourning a loss of innocence and motivation, holding onto memories and feelings that inevitably slip away and the grief we all suffer in weird goodbyes."

Tahiti 80 - the train, 2002

"Tahiti 80’s adventure began in the French cities of Rouen and Paris in the mid ‘90s. Taking their name from a souvenir T-shirt , Tahiti 80 has released 9 acclaimed albums and a number of solo ventures as well! Number 10 album is on its way!"

Bee Gees - secret love, 1991

"Secret Love" is a song by musical group the Bee Gees. It was released as the lead single from their 19th studio album, High Civilization (1991), on 18 February 1991 by Warner Bros. Records. It is an up-tempo song with a Supremes style similar to the 1986 Diana Ross hit "Chain Reaction", which was also written by the Bee Gees. The single reached the top 10 in several European countries, but was not released as a single in the United States."

The Beatles - ob-la-di ob-la-da, 1968

"Paul McCartney began writing "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" during the Beatles' stay in Rishikesh, India, in early 1968. Prudence Farrow, one of their fellow Transcendental Meditation students there, recalled McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison playing it to her in an attempt to lure her out of her room, where she had become immersed in intense meditation. McCartney wrote the song when reggae was becoming popular in Britain; author Ian MacDonald describes it as "McCartney's rather approximate tribute to the Jamaican ska idiom". The character of Desmond in the lyrics, from the opening line "Desmond has a barrow in the market-place", was a reference to reggae singer Desmond Dekker, who had recently toured the UK. The tag line "Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah" was an expression used by Nigerian conga player Jimmy Scott-Emuakpor, an acquaintance of McCartney. According to Scott's widow, as part of his stage act with his band Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Scott would call out "Ob la di", to which the audience would respond "Ob la da", and he would then conclude: "Life goes on."

Johnny Marr - day in day out, 2018

"Manchester is a bit like the British Amsterdam. The people, they’re kinda friendly, but they are sort of mellow. They leave you to your own thing, I find the Dutch to be very much the same. In Liverpool people are really friendly, in Glasgow people are very edgy, but in Manchester, they just let you be who you are."

Pet Shop Boys - a new life, 1987

"the lyrics of "A New Life" easily lend themselves to an alternative interpretation involving Chinese history. In 1930s the Chinese Nationalist government led by Chiang Kai-shek instituted "The New Life Movement," which sought to unite China and overcome foreign cultural infuences (including European colonialism, Japanese militarism, and Marxism) through a Chinese tradition-oriented, highly moralistic "neo-Confucianism." Unfortunately, its zealous and often brutal enforcement was oppressive and even fascistic in nature. As a result, it proved extremely unpopular with most of the Chinese citizenry. My site visitor believes that more than just the song's title points toward a possible connection, citing the following lines from the lyrics: 'Stars collect overhead They look down over China and I might as well be dead' Could it be the song specifically mentions China because its narrator lives there during the 1930s and longs to escape from its oppression? In this way, the references to "a new life" might be rather ironic in nature as the narrator wants to escape to a better new life away from "The New Life Movement." Further, the line "It's time to make a move though you don't sympathise" may suggest the narrator's wish to leave behind an ideology with which he or she disagrees."

Fun - we are young, 2012

"We Are Young" is a song recorded by American pop rock band Fun, featuring American singer Janelle Monáe. It is the third track on the group's second studio album, Some Nights (2012). The song was released on September 20, 2011 as the lead single from the album. The song quickly received acclaim from music critics, with many noting the song as a breakthrough for the indie genre and praising the song's catchiness. "We Are Young" attained commercial success worldwide, reaching number one in several countries."

Det Vackra Livet - viljan, 2011

"Inspired by his grandmother's memories and Finland Swedish poet Claes Andersson, Philip Ekström wrote fifteen songs which would become material for the band during a creative outburst in late 2010. The group's first single "Viljan" was released digitally on Labrador Records in January 2011. The group released a ten-track self-titled debut album in May 2011. Det Vackra Livet translates to The Beautiful Life in English."