It’s hard to remember what day it is at this time of year, but Tuesday night seems to have come and gone without a ‘Spill Challenge, so here goes…
We have a gloriously diverse range of music here. The complete absence of cooler-than-thou bragging and slagging off other people’s tastes is one of the main reasons I love RR and The ‘Spill.
Nevertheless, let’s not pretend that everyone likes everything everyone else likes. Christ, some of you don’t even like The Beatles… So this week’s challenge is to find a song we all love.
I’m not looking for something we can all tolerate, or understand the attraction of even if we don’t share it, or admire the technical ability of. Let’s try to find some music that everybody here would genuinely want in their collection.
Please don’t be contrary for the sake of it, or rude – but do be honest. Precious ‘Spill points for the most popular tracks…
Here’s my pick. You love this. Surely…
Oh dear. I’m afraid I fall rather short of “love” for Waterloo Sunset.
Do I want it in my collection? Well, yes.
Do I “like” it? “Admire” it, even? Yes and yes again.
But love it? Sorry, barbryn.
Oddly enough, Waterloo Sunset was the first song that popped into my mind when I started to read the blurb, before I scrolled down enough to see it.
Even odder, I sent off an earworm a few weeks ago and included a phrase along the lines of “come on, you know you all love this one”. Bit of a hostage to fortune that was.
In case of any doubt – this means I do in fact love Waterloo Sunset. It would be one of my desert island discs.
Yes, I absolutely love this one
Coming out of hiding after Christmas/New Year to say hi, I am back, hello, everyone! I’ve missed you. Happy New Year. And hell yes, I love it!
How about this?
Surely no one could object to The Temptations at their peak?
That’s a huge dond from me, Carole.
Love this song. Always have, always will.
Yep, closer. A “definite maybe”, if you will.
Oops, sorry. Missed the negative in Carole‘s question.
To clarify, no, I wouldn’t object.
No objections here, either. It’s a good un.
I like the Temptations but, if pushed, would go for The Four Tops and Reach Out, I’ll Be There.
No complaints with either of those (though I think I’d go for “Walk Away Renee”…)
Walk Away Renee was my first thought! I’m so behind…
This is the track that sprang instantly to my mind. Donds.
Oh wow!!! This is a great track and actually one of dad favourite and I have lots of really nice memories of dancing and singing with my dad when I was little kid to temptations tracks ! ! !
I really really really love this track ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
yes, love it!
No “objection” as such, but definitely not for me! Sorry…
Is there anyone who doesn’t love Common People by Pulp? I’m sure there are, but if there’s anyone in the RR/Spill universe who doesn’t i’d be fascinated to hear why? Its not that i’m a massive fan of Pulp or the song itself (in fact, i sometimes think i prefer the brilliant William Shatner/Ben Folds/Joe Jackson version) – but i can’t think of many other songs that are so universally admired.
Ivor, I think I’m the same with Common People as DarceysDad is with Waterloo Sunset – definitely a ‘like’ and ‘admire’ case but not one with which I have ever had a huge personal association – but I wouldn’t argue with it as common currency.
At the risk of disappearing up my own backside, donds for May‘s feelings for Common People.
Have you ever heard this version – i don’t think its going to change your mind, but its worth a few minutes of your time listening to it.
@IvorEngine – that was rather fantastic. I was expecting novelty, but instead they nailed the song’s rage. I love this anyway.
Oh my goodness ! ! ! I really prefer the William Shatner/Ben Folds/Joe Jackson version.
It is the first time I really understood it ! ! ! !
I love Common People but it’s already been vetoed
Sorry, like yes, admire yes, certainly the lyrics are good, but it just never did anything for me as a song, same goes for all Pulp’s stuff really. Jarvis was goo value though and the Jacko stage invasion was a great moment in pop history.
I think I’m going to try a curveball:
Here’s one very few of us “loved” until it became a long-standing RR joke.
I reckon that over the years it has earned itself a degree of affection from us all that transcends any limitations of our normal tastes.
I give you … The Long Ryders
DsD, I have a “degree of affection” for the commute from Liverpool to Preston but if you asked to me to get in my car now and start driving, I couldn’t with the best will in the world say I’d immediately choose to make that trip.
Though I might if David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks and the boys were waiting at the other end.
Sorry, it’s OK but I don’t love it at all.
Nah, that’s OK, you two. It was, as I said, a bit of an odd suggestion.
No, me neither. Never understood its appeal. Soz.
Same here sorry, I remember it being played repeatedly by Janice Long bitd and it didn’t do anything for me…but I might give it a second listen, it’s a long time since I heard it.
Happy New Year, chaps. That’s a pretty tough resolution you’ve set for us to upkeep, barbryn. I can confirm that I do love Waterloo Sunset so you can chalk that up. This is my stab at universality:
Little Richard – Tutti Frutti
Now that undoubtedly owns a piece of my (and, fwiw, Darcey & Jess’) heart: deffodonds.
Deffo donds from me too!
Oh Yes ! ! ! I am sure we all love this one ! ! ! !
Oh yes indeedy.
Yes, love it
I love it too and always have done!
Sorry …. can’t argue against very easily, it’s just not the sort of thing that appeals to me…might have done if I was around a few years earlier I suppose…I’ll get my coat….
Since this is the ‘Spill I’m thinking we might keep away from the more obvious contenders…so how about the zedded (not by me)
Light Enough To Travel by the Be Good Tanyas, which has one of my favourite verses of all time:
I broke the window at the logging company
Just to get a little release
I had to throw down my accordion
To get away from the police
Not one that’s crossed my path, tfd, but yeah, I could imagine learning too love it.
‘to’, not ‘too’ – and, with that, I must now get back to marking students’ work and critiquing their ability to write in English – oh, the irony!
Well, I picked it on the grounds that at least one other RRer must like it – but now that I’ve bothered to look it up I find that it was Mainy, who’s no longer on RR and was never on the ‘Spill, who got it zedded. So I’m extra glad that you like it, May.
(PS: ha!)
Definitely in favour of less obvious suggestions – I’m hoping we’re going to get some universally appealing black metal from Japanther and hardcore Oi! from Wyngate…
Anyway, I like this a lot and could probably grow to love it.
Now that’s a challenge!
Liked that, but didn’t know it before (says he, frantically keying “Tanyas” into iTunes & MediaPlayer search … hmm two dozen songs … nope, not there). So can’t in good faith say I already love it.
With DsD on Waterloo Sunset i’m afraid – like and admire it, but don’t love it.
Here’s some more that i think most people who love music would find it difficult to argue against – but please try:
Gimme Shelter – Rolling Stones
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
A, B, C – The Jackson Five
White Man (In Hammersmith Palais) – The Clash
22, Going on 23 – The Butthole Surfers
PS – only joking about the Butthole Surfers
Well, let’s see…
November 18 2011 was a very fraught day for me – I was intending to move into my new house but when I arrived in MK my daughter (whose house it was) wouldn’t let me have a key because they hadn’t finished moving their stuff out and she was embarrassed about how dirty the house was. Finally, 3 hours later, I forced her partner, Stuart, to give me his key and got inside this grubby, rubbish-strewn house. Did I set the hoover going? Did I start collecting stuff in a dustbin bag? Nope – I ran upstairs to turn off Stuart’s ghetto-blaster, which was playing ABC by the Jackson 5. Phew, that was better.
(Oh, and I don’t like Superstition or White Man In Hammersmith Palais either. Do like Gimme Shelter, but wouldn’t say I loved it.)
There!
Can’t argue with that! I hope things are better in MK now.
Yes they are, thanks!
I’m with TFD on The Jackson Five.
Gimme Shelter – don’t feel the need to have it in my collection (other than the obligatory Sisters Of Mercy cover) but it is a great song. If it came on the radio and someone changed channel would I get annoyed? Probably
Superstition – doin’t know about loving it but it is good
ABC – hmm. ..no…I Want You Back is better
White Man In Hammersmith Palais – a classic!
22, Going On 23 – I’ll raise you Hamburger Lady
Lady in red ?
Or, an outside chance, perhaps.
The Crystals- Da doo ron ron
Spectortacular !
Ooh yes. (Not Lady In Red, of course)
They are just so beautiful and ultra cool ! ! ! I love this track ! ! !
No! Just annoying! I had a cover by a Norwegian oi band called the Fuck Ups which was much worse than the original – long since flogged it.
Sorry…..
Anyone for this?
The Shangri-Las – Leader of the Pack
Not one of my favourites I’m afraid. Girlgroup-wise, I’d suggest “Be My Baby” or this:
Yes!!!
(That Yes!!! was for Leader Of The Pack, but also applies to Will You Love Me Tomorrow in tfd world.)
Deffo! Love The Shangri-La’s and love LOTP
Acceptable but again not something I would choose to listen to .
Anyone remember this version?
Oh yes, I certainly do!
70′s soul – funk (Mayfield, Brown , Funkadelic ?)
60′s garage (sonics ?)
anything New Orleans… (prof Longhair ?)
Anything from punk onwards can bring consensus but not unanimity , methinks .
Crystals, Shangri-Las and Shirelles all trailing in Little Richard’s wake for me.
OK, I’m going to have another go… This was actually the song that got me thinking of this topic. Even constant repetition alongside Slade, Cliff Richard and Mariah Carey can’t taint the brilliance of Fairytale of New York… right?
FoNY is THE Christmas song, imo. Tying with Tutti Frutti for the DsD vote so far.
Oh Blimey … provided you mean Pogues’n'Kirsty, of course, not any of the godawful covers.
Sorry, another one I like but don’t love. Constant repetition over many Christmases hasn’t helped.
I really really can’t stand FONY! Sorry, I don’t know why, it’s become even a little cringeworthy……..Sorry!
I always thought that FToNY was the one Christmas song that couldn’t be tainted by over familiarity… definitely love for the Pogues + Kirsty in the Zalacamp.
Like sprouts – used to be such a treat. Now Christmas dinner is just another Sunday roast. With pull crackers.
Another case of can’t-deny-it’s-good-but-never-a-favourite. I also suspect seasonal ubiquity will kill it for many in the not too distant future though.
This one, I’ve always quite liked but I kind of went off it because it was over-praised rather than over-played. It is good but I’ve heard much better songs from both the Pogues and Kirsty McCall.
You omitted the execrable Ronan Keating version which is stunningly appalling. You can breathe easy – I cannot bring myself to post a link for it.
Does this cover enough Spillbases? Most respected/loved artist with his most beautiful song, containing no freaking out: Jimi Hendrix – The Wind Cries Mary
Absolutely love this song, Chris. Best so far for me.
Hasn’t really got a tune, though, has it?
*runs and hides*
No arguments from me, Chris. Love it.
Impossible not to love it, surely?
Raises hand, ducks for cover.
I put it down to Hendrixophobia, a medical condition.
Highly admirable, but I don’t feel the love, I’m afraid.
My name is Wyngate Carpenter and I am also a Hendrixophobe. Might have given a catious thumbs up for Hey Joe.
Yes, a perfect song by a master musician
The Animals – We’ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place
Yes yes yes!
I love this track. It really captures an era and is a classic pop song. I am sure we all love this track ! ! !
Sorry. Same bracket as Waterloo Sunset, I’m afraid. I DO like it, a lot, but I wouldn’t slap on the expensive aftershave to go out to meet it!
DsD – I see your point..
I was trying to find something interesting yet – ‘not cliquey’ .. but this is the Impossible challenge.
To be loved by all it has to be known by all. That means a lot of sacred cows who have been in too many turntables too many times… There’s always gonna be one or more who’s just a bit meh about them.
Now, there has to be a song out there we’d all love if we only knew it exists…
A good song there’s no denying and I’ve got to admit the Animals original is much better than the Angelic Upstarts cover. Probably not one I’d actually buy though.
If it helps, put me down for a “love” here too. Maybe a contender, as it doesn’t seem to have any active dislikes?
Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
If only because its use as an unlikely American sport crowd anthem seems just about universal
Don’t American sports fans for Chumbawumba’s Tubthumpin’ too ?
A total mismatch.
For some reason I was asked to moderate this comment. So while I may like this, WordPress definitely doesn’t.
If we’re talking Neil Diamond songs: The Monkees – I’m A Believer???
Yes to I’m A Believer, no to Neil – Monkees it is then.
No surprises at another dond from me, and for The Monkees, but I recognise Neil is more in the Marmite category.
Some of the other suggestions are good songs but don’t capture my heart. This one makes me dive for the ‘off’ switch (or the machine gun, depending on which is closest to hand).
Sorry, sha.
Not my cup of tea, but then, neither are spectator sports – American or otherwise.
Oh Gosh ! ! ! A song we all love…….. even Pairubu ? ? ?
The song Sukiyaki was a big international hit and has really nice melody and a great simple production which really captures the early 1960 decade.
It is the only Japanese language song to have reached number one in the USA charts in 1963.
Of course Sukiyaki is a type of stew and nothing to do with the song. The original song is called Ue o Muite Arukō which means “I will walk looking up” and it is about a man who walks looking up so his tears will not fall….
It is irritating that a lovely song is renamed “Beef Stew” but calling the track Sukiyaki was really what made it possible for western people to remember the name and go and buy it, (maybe)
Sukiyaki—Kyu Sakamoto
I know this, but I can’t say it’s ever taken hold enough for me to grow to love it in the way I do with other pop songs of the era. But it is lovely.
Dond for Sukiyaki
A Taste Of Honey did a respectful slowed-down cover with new English-language lyrics that hit #3 Pop, #1 R&B, and #1 Adult Contemporary. And that version was covered by 4PM for a top 10 hit. There was also a country version by Clyde Beaver that became a hit (not on Youtube).
That’s the real mark of a great tune – transcending language, time, and genre.
I am so pleased you like it ! ! !
I really love the Taste of Honey version also ! ! !
had never heard (of) it until I came to Japan……and i’m afraid it ain’t one of my favourites……..sorry Sakura!
OK, I’m going to prove a cheap date for most of these suggestions:
Four Tops – not over The Tempts but absolutely yes in their own terms
Gimme Shelter – yes, provided You Can’t Always Get What You Want or Honky Tonk Women don’t garner a more complete consensus
ABC – tfd’s torpedoed it but yes – would I Want You Back be any more popular?
Superstition – fuck, yes
White Man – great call – yes
Da Do Ron Ron – yes
Leader Of The Pack – of course
Be My Baby – yes
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow – by the Shirelles or Carole King, absolutely – if we’re still lacking for universally loved girl group anthems, how about He’s A Rebel by The Crystals?
Mayfield – entirely
Brown – yes, totally – or nearly totally – Sex Machine puts me off because of its ubiquity, which is a problem with this challenge, I grant you
Funkadelic – oh yes, but I wouldn’t have expected them to suit all tastes
60s garage – no problem with this, and there’s enough Sonics I like enough to get my vote
Prof Longhair stuff – fine by me
Punk – wouldn’t want to venture a consensual choice (though see below)
Jimi – great choice, Chris
The Animals – most of the way towards love with this – very very fond of it
would I Want You Back be any more popular?
No
Nor here.
Forgot to deal with Fairytale of New York – perhaps I’m with mnemosene on this because it’s early January, but I’d probably dond it unreservedly in July, even though Ronan Keating would be clanking around like Jacob Marley.
And I’m naughtily sending out another suggestion, prompted by the girl-group choices and the possible common ground many of us share around punk:
works for me.
It’s not in my top 5 Blondie songs (I’m not entirely sure what they are today, but this one never quite spoke to me as much as some of their other tracks), but I do love Blondie. In general.
Oops, didn’t see your comment about Ronan – it really is cack and he deserves a good slap for it.
Blondie are hit and miss for me but this is one that I like!
I love Blondie, but…..this is not my favourite by them.
Can I suggest this one instead?
Donds for Call me, great choice Sakura……..Blondie are definitely one of the all-time bands for just complete cool.
If I was Blondifying I’d probably go for-
That’s one of my favourite Blondie songs too. Definite love for that one. I think this is my number one though.
Donds! Probably my favourite Blondie record
With all the Tempations and Tops, shouldn’t this be up for consideration? The only song ever recorded that contains acceptable whistling: Otis Redding – Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay
I think we may have a winner…
Sorry…….this song has never done it for me…..although I do understand why everyone likes it…
I’ve always found it a bit *whispers* boring…
I can’t take credit for this idea because I read it once on RR or the Spill. It’s from the Dorian days I believe, and apparently it was decided (or suggested?) that if one of those Venn diagram thingees was done, the only band left that everyone could agree on was The Clash.
I’m guessing this would be the one hard-core and non-core fans would accept:
As always there will be one awkward old blighter who pops up to say “Actually I can’t stand the Clash”.
Wonder who it will be…..
I am that awkward old blighter. Apologies.
Another A.O.B. here as well…………..Sorry, but “Actually I can’t stand the Clash” either.
Sorry – I am also an AOB when it comes to the Clash…
I DO love it, but there are other Clash songs I like better………but that doesn’t nullify it, ‘cos I do love it!
Love the Clash, but for some reason, Lost in the Supermarket doesn’t get my love. Fits in well as an album track, but it may be Mick Jones’ voice (loving him as much as i do) that means i can’t go for this track 100% – i just never thought the song had enough oomph. I thought (as mentioned earlier) that White Man (in Hammersmith Palais) would be the one that non-Clash fans ‘may’ go for, but maybe not. Personally, i’d be pretty obvious and go for Complete Control – one of the best tracks of all time, but understand its not going to do it for everyone.
Clash never grabbed me either – bet B.A.D are genius..
…this isn’t going to work is it?
yup, I’m with Shane on this one
Like the Clash, like this song – don’t love it. Love the Levi’s ad song (“Should I Stay or Should I Go” – too predictable, though, sorry!), love “Bankrobber”, love “Straight to Hell” (which I think sounds like it ought to be trad).
Great song ,it wouldn’t be in my top 10 Clash songs but that doesn’t disqualify it for me. It divides opinion but I definitely rate it.
I’m afraid I think this may be doomed to fail, all thing is bearable maybe, all LOVE? Not at all convinced. I can’t even think of a song to suggest. Sorry for the pessimistic outlook.
Shows how the Un works, doesn’t it? All it takes is one vetyo.
A couple of other convo starters then:
(I coulda done separate posts, but I don’t want to end up a top 5 Spiller innext year’s stats. I maintain that I hardly go on the computer.
Yes to “Pale Blue Eyes”. Neither of the others float my boat – there are definitely more lovable Bowiesongs.
like? It was intended as a convo starter, not a nom.
Definite yes:
Four Tops
Blondie
Kinks
Jimi
Otis
Pogues
Definite No:
Pulp
Little Richard
Rolling Stones
Swayable
On practically everything else that I know
And then, this guy must be in with a shout?
Yes, I’ll go for Redemption Song, TY!
I was considering No Woman No Cry earlier, but couldn’t make my mind up which one of his many great tracks to choose – so i didn’t choose any.
Good call.
I was going to say Redemption Song! HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE IT?!?!!?
LOVE IT! (And dislike/am not fussed by almost every other Bob Marley song.)
Ah yes, that was on my (very) short list of songs I thought stood a chance. Dond.
I like reggae but I only ever quite like Bob Marley songs. I can see why this would move people but it just doesn’t have that effect on me.
I don’t like reggae oh no
I love it
Don’t you cramp me style
Don’t you queer on me pitch
No, I’m the awkward one here. I’m not Bob Marley’s biggest fan (or of reggae for that matter)
But but but… You don’t need to be Bob Marley’s biggest fan to love “Redemption Song”. No? No?
Incidentally, is anyone else with gmail getting adverts for “Professional Grade Spill Kits From The Leaders In Spill Control!”?
Deep sigh; I specifically went for the acoustic version to pare it back to the beautiful, deeply felt, subtly hooked song that it is. Can’t win em all . . . will be the epitaph of this challenge
I’ve been reflecting on the LOVE element of the challenge and began thinking of it in terms of song friends: Plenty you’re really happy to bump into and share a few moments with, lots who are great fun and sublime company at parties, a fair number of oldies who remind you of shared histories but in the scheme of thongs, a very few, ultimately, who lisp in your ear with an intensity to catch your breath and still your beating heart. Redemption Song is one that does that for me.
15,697,298 listens, anyway.
Tatanka – that’s beautifully put, if only I knew what the scheme of thongs was…
. . . you have to thay it with a lithsp; well the thongs part anyway.
Excellent selection of picks thus far, but what – no Chic?!!
Sorry, macca pacca, but I’d've run upstairs to turn that one off too.
Ouch! Thought that one was unlikely to divide opinion. BTW was almost down your previous way recently – Minishant/Maybole.
Well, that’s no bleedin’ good – you need to come to MK!
As most of the suggestions are older and have had a few years for us to think about them and grow to love them, i thought i’d throw in something a little more recent (although not hugely).
Can anyone not love this?
i’m typing this on a kindle and can’t see or post vids. have we had ode to billy jo yet?
Hi Severin
no Ode to Billy Jo so far – difficult to argue with that suggestion.
Fairy nuff – this has been nominated so many times, it almost seems like cheating (still, at least, it wasn’t Toto’s “Africa”)
Sorry, I’m the bearer of bad news in regard to Ode To Billy Joe’s chances.
Me too, i’m with DsD.
yes Yes YES to Billie Joe!
Good choice! I’ll go for that one.
Great subject and lots of lovely tracks mentioned allready. Strange that they all seem to be the older songs and artists, nothing closer than the 80′s. (Is that saying something about the age of ‘Spillers or the lack of quality in recent music ?)
And no surprise then that I would suggest the following…………
Buddy Holly……….”Peggy Sue”
The Shadows……..”Apache”
Hendrix…………….”All Along the Watchtower”
Up to date a bit
Elvis Costello……..”Shipbuilding”
Al Stewart ………..”Year of the Cat”.
There must be loads more……………….Back laters……………
A bit of both i think – age & quality of recent music, although reading between the lines of all the posts, its true that it takes a good few years of living with a song to truly love it and get a concensus across the board.
Definitely agree with Shipbuilding – probably the Robert Wyatt version though.
What about Ace of Spades by the mighty Motorhead?????
I could be caught two-timing Shipbuilding & Ace Of Spades!
Perhaps it’s more that older songs have stood the test of time. If you still like something after 40 years or more then it’s pretty certain it’s a goody.
I might have thought Bo Diddley would be in with a shout too or the Everly Brothers.
I think the quality of popular music has undoubtedly declined since the 60s. I’m struggling to think of many chart hits that my generation could unite around. Though I’m not sure how anyone could fail to love this if they’re anywhere within the vicinity of a dance floor:
There is, of course, plenty of tremendous music around today – but precisely because of that, it’s unlikely we’ll find something everyone knows and loves.
I would take issue with any statement about decline in quality of popular music. Even if I didn’t like much of the currently charted stuff. I think there are a couple of problems with that type of stance: first, that there is probably a greater quantity these days, of hugely variable “quality”; second, that “quality”, when applied to popular music, is highly subjective anyhow; and third, that the majority of people who remember the 60s are likely to have forgotten at least some of the songs they didn’t like very much at the time (and the majority of people who are too young to remember the 60s only get to hear the higher “qusilty” stuff from that era).
Rant over.
Oops. “Quslity”? The quality of my typing is lacking!
BP – shedloads of quality new music, but for this post you’d need a bloody great big marmite jar!
Hmmm. Don’t like The Beatles, Stones, Who, Queen, Lennon, Small Faces or Bowie. Who’s left? Ah – my late wife’s favourite (erroneously titled on YouTube)
Them – “Here Comes The Night”
This was in my head as I was reading down, Mitch, so a definite dond
Erm, sorry Mitch (& Di), ace twangy riff, great chorus, but I’ve always found that choppy, staccato verse structure incredibly irritating.
Oops, forgot – a dond for Van and his pals from me.
Well, I know this song has a lot of RR love – but will it be enough?
The Imagined Village – Spacegirl
<3
Stared at that for almost a minute before the penny dropped, Zala!
Why didn’t you just do this: ♥ ?
Anyway, I love that Space Girl too.
A tune that everybody would like/love & want in their collection? Can you herd cats? This is in mine and I would like to give a copy (7″ single of course) to all of you :
Hmm…doesn’t really go anywhere, though, does it? What’s wrong with Green Onions?
What a lot of responses. I’ll read them all later… but yes, I do love “Waterloo Sunset”.
Here’s Stanley.
Shoey, I’m ashamed to say I have never knowingly heard that, but what a stunner. I’m staring across the bar towards the figure by the jukebox, and I’ve dropped my drink on my toes!
It’s in the all time top 10.
One down 47 to go.
Me too, Shoey.
How have I never heard that before?! Extraordinary. Love it.
OK, not seen this one so far, but really HOW could you not love it? Jackie Wilson: I Get The Sweetest Feeling
Good challenge – but I would say impossible! Anyway starting with Waterloo Sunset – “tolerate” – yes; “understand the attraction of” yes; “admire the technical ability of” – yes, certainly beat The Disrupters on that score. “genuinely want in their collection.” – no, sorry!
ok, perhaps we can walk down the Spill aisle with something old, something new, something borrowed (covered), something Blue originally…
But why?
why what?
choose that over the original?
A song I love and a nice conceit Mr Man, Sir . . . gotta say that the aroma of Joni is what I anticipate, a touch too decaff there.
Also, something from Blue was what I was weighing up against Redemption Song and I think you narrowed it down to the one, so queue Doh! for that.
ty Mr TY. Just trying out my mediation skills.
(They do say I am conceited, but I don’t consider the bastards’ views worth considering)
Adopts annoying Harry Enfield character voice:
“Oi! Tincanman! NNOOOOO!!!
Eeecch, Tinny, that’s horrid.
Somewhere out there, there’s a Joni concert version the BBC showed in around 1982 which is just stunning … and absolutely peerless. Believe me, I’ve spent over twenty years trying to find that show again, to replace the very VERY early video tape that unsurprisingly died on me before the end of the decade.
Yes!?!?
No. Not even DBT’s cover of it.
Like it! Which probably surprises me as much as it surprises you.
Evening all, and HNY.
I don’t know anybody – not even Mrs S, who dislikes 98% of everything I do rate – who doesn’t go for “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”. Marvin, not Gladys, of course.
No link cos you all know what it sounds like. Be seeing you.
That’ll be a YES from me.
And me. Can’t argue with that one.
Ooookayyy…
Son Of A Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield
Love this.
Can’t go wrong with a bit of Dusty. Love her voice. Love this song.
My name is debby(m) and I’m a ‘Spillaholic. Yes, I do LOVE (!) many of the songs suggested above, including Waterloo Sunset, The Wind Cries Mary and Son of a Preacher Man.
I’ve just enjoyed a rare half-hour where I was actually able to listen to MY choice of music, which this evening turned out to be the Undertones, and I thought “Is there anyone in the whole wide world doesn’t love ‘Teenage Kicks’?” Well, is there?
Works for me.
If it’s good enough for John Peel…
*puts up hand tentatively* I don’t. Sorry.
Damn. I was about to concur with tfd. Still remember Peel playing it as soon as the final whistle went after LFC beat Crystal Palace 9-0 (sorry to remind you SatanKidneyPie) in Sept ’89. At the time I worked a late shift, finishing at 9pm, so turned the car’s radio on as soon as I left work, to catch up on the end of that midweek evening game.
Well what can I say? A punk classic, Peel’s favourite record etc, etc, I liked it once but it sort of wore off a long time ago. I prefer My Perfect Cousin and It’s Going To Happen…..sorry…….
Wow, what a challenge. I suspect we will never agree but of the ones mentioned so far, Main Contenders for me are:
Kinks
Pulp
Little Richard
Pogues & Kirsty M
Otis Redding
Bob Marley
Definite Nos
David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Dusty Springfield, Jimi Hendrix (sorry)
Struggling to think of something different but how about MAssive Attack and Teardrop:
DONDS!
Dittodonds – might be on safer ground with Unfinished Symphony possibly but I love all their works.
Or in similar vein, Jose Gonzalez and ‘Heartbeats’ – wake up at the back there, Wyngate!!
Banking off of the North East Wind
Sailing on a Summer breeze
This may just be for me and Bish
YES!!!
Oooh, oooh, how about Joe Cocker:
Nope. I love about 95% of the songs mentioned so far, but dislike this quite strongly. Sorry.
Lots of the clips aren’t loading properly for me so apologies if this has already been suggested:
Donds again.
And from me.
Or finally:
That’s it, I could go on …
That’s a big ‘yes’ from me …
Sorry, can’t stand James Taylor. Mucho apoligetico.
I think I’d rather Fire and Rain. Or California in my Mind – was that him?!
Wrong state there, bish.
Carolina! That’s what I meant. Must not post from my bed…
Even before I spotted the Pogues collaboration upstream, I was considering Kirsty MacColl‘s ouevre. Maybe she hadn’t got the prettiest voice, maybe she wasn’t the most sophisticated musician (although I reckon she was pretty nifty with a choon) – but she could do catchy, and she certainly did witty, and I’m really, really sorry that I had to go back and edit the past tense into all of that.
But which track?
I keep coming back to “There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis”. But I’d also go with “Don’t Come The Cowboy With Me Sonny Jim”. Or “In These Shoes?”
I’m not going to put a YouTube up. This thread loads badly enough as it is.
Howz about …
O.K. So what’s wrong with a bit of Fats? (Lee Allen on sax & Earl Palmer on drums)
Nothing at all…Then there’s this other version. (Sorry, I did try, but I am weak and couldn’t resist.)
Glad that Fats didn’t find himself swimmin’, after all, after Katrina struck. I’m going to New Orleans in April so I’ll give him a wave!
I’ll give him a wave…Not the wet kind.
Such a tricky one to get consensus when we’re all such a bunch of contrarians!! Common denominators are usually lowest, by definition. (Erm… musically speaking… I’ve got less than no idea about Maths!!) (There are those that might suggest I know less than even that about music!)
I do love Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (usually the Lykke Li version or, perhaps, Dusty Springfield’s take on it) and Soft Metal classic The Wind Cries Mary. And Fairytale Of New York. Several others mentioned, I like. But not love.
Nice to see you here Chinhealer, but you’ve just made things a whole lot harder. So that’s a no to everything except Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, The Wind Cries Mary and FoNY (which both have several vetoes).
Right: hands up anyone who doesn’t love Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
Sorry for being so awkward, barbryn! (And it’s nice to see you all on here!! Although slightly discombobulating! It’s like seeing a whole bunch of one’s friends, which one usually only interacts with in London, in Birmingham instead!)
I like it. The only version i can say that i maybe love is Bryan Ferry’s cover.
could be – maybe………
I know there are very many songs I love that many of you would find difficulty in even tolerating. So I’m steering clear of anything too hard or fast or heavy or obscure. (Or that I know from the blog that at least one of you can’t stand!) But I know there are also many songs which many of you are likely to love too. But even the following – which seem obvious and even cliched choices to me – are bound to have their detractors:
George Harrison – My Sweet Lord
Chris Isaak – Wicked Game
Joanna Newsom – This Side of the Blue
Tori Amos – Winter
Judas Priest – Breaking the Law
Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights
Portishead – Glory Box
Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody
Regina Spektor – Samson
Tears For Fears – Shout
Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
Gary Numan – Cars
Simon and Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
The Bangles – Manic Monday
All About Eve – Martha’s Harbour
Jerusalem (not restricting it to any particular artist. Which may count in its favour. But its theisticness might be a turn-off for some Zeusophobes among you!!)
One or two there that I definitely don’t like but a thumbs up for Cars and Wuthering Heights.
Notice that I haven’t even attempted a suggestion yet.
Not surprised by your love of Cars, wynnie. But I am a little by your love of Kate! (Or have I not been paying attention on the blog?) Although, I suppose she must have been a formative influence during your delicate years…?
For the Tears for Fears pick i’d go for Head Over Heels. How can anyone not love that song.
i dislike Tears for Fears with a truck load of passion (and that’s a monster truck not even a normal sized one) – sorry.
Ummmm…. I think it’s quite easy not to love a song, but merely like it. (Which is the case with me and Head Over Heels.) Shout (and the inevitable Mad World and Everybody…) just gets me goosepimply!
And while I love some of their songs with a passion, I can fully understand why you, shane, might hate the band overall. Lemme guess, is it anything to do with the uber-nasal singing and devastatingly 80s aura?! (Both of which I love!)
No No -I love 80′s trash and interesting ‘singing’ styles.
But TfF’s have the least passion and musical charisma of a large proportion of the 80′s duo’s.
Take ‘head over heals’ (please do please do) it’s sung in a dead pan way that needs something spectacularly interesting in the lyrics to get away with – there’s not. TfF bore you into going: what? we are half way through – get on with it – a change of pace or some excitement please.
And musically it’s plinking – I like 80′s sounds – synths and drum machines were used with fun and devastating effects.. they have gone” oh that’ll do”, sounds competent.. plink plonk – dull singing, dull music, but mostly the sound of cold, passionless professionalism.. in my book a crime against pop.
Sorry about that.
Aww, i love HoH. I like Shout ok, and it’s probably better song, but I got heartily tired of it back in the day as it was so overplayed. Mad World i like almost any cover better than the original. Everybody i never really liked much in the first place.
What?! No HIGA 1987?
A bit like the US on the UN Security Council, I knew you – and most other Grandad Rockers on here – would have an automatic veto and would use it self-interestedly! So it would have been pointless mentioning it! Happy New Year to you!
Eh? I’m nobody’s grandad – yet. Happy New Year to you too!
Chris Isaak, Kate Bush, Portishead, The Bangles and, of course, All About Eve* are all fondly embedded in my musical heart. Of the rest, there are seceral that I like but do not love, and one or two that I have no strong opinion of.
* I haven’t nommed any AAE for this topic because I love very nearly each and every one of their songs and I know that I am horrendously biased. That Woman’s Boatyard isn’t quite my favourite of theirs, but I do still love it, naturally. It is a very loveable track.
Heehee… no surprises there, Zala! And if I didn’t think that too many on here would consider them twee and teenie-bopperish and unremarkable pretty-boys (erroneously, of course!) I woulda stuck in one of several A-ha hits that would have tickled your fancy!
Wicked Game, Wuthering Heights and The Bangles are great shouts!
Thank you! I do enjoy my noms being temporarily popular and populist!! No doubt back I’ll be back to my niche-interest noms tonight! Oh, and I thought ‘Shout’ by TfF was a great shout too!
I’ll dond all of those. I’m not a Kate Bush fan, but i do love that one. Has no one donded your S&G yet? I will, but must nix Bonnie tyler.
I’ll go with Wicked Game (even though I first heard it in a car advert) and BOTW, chinhealer – but for the Righteous Brothers I prefer You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling:
Oof, that video’s horribly out of synch – could your elves relpace it with this one, please, barbryn?
Heehee… thanks for the Wicked Game dondage, tfd. Not sure it matters where one is when one first encounters a song. If it weren’t for the cinema ad at the time – for Orange, wasn’t it? – I wouldn’t know Joanna Newsom at all, probably. (At least, in my pre-RR days.)
I disapprove of songs being used on adverts, chinhealer, and normally it would spoil a song for me if that happened; but Wicked Game snuck up on me somehow. And I’ll also make an exception for All Right Now – not only was it used on a car advert, but I bought the car!
Wow you’ve been a busy lot today. There are so many great ones here it would be hard to pick a winner but I’ll go with Them’s Here Comes the Night ’cause it still gives me goose bumps. Great call Mitch.
As for my pick it’s a song I’ve used on here before but I feel it meets all of Barbryn’s requirements & it makes your body groove every time. Gotta be Hugh Masekela’s cowbell classic.
Way late to the party here. Is there really not a Dylan song yet, or did i miss it? Now there’s no way i’m going to get everyone from Mitch to Pairubu to Wyngate under one umbrella, so I’ll go this one and try for an average -
Dylan would never work for this, amy, because so many people dislike him.
Lotta donds, lotta no donds. But aside from the obvious Gimme Shelter, i’m going to have to go with Walk Away Renee (Four Tops please, but i still love the Left Banke too) for my dond of the week.
And how could anyone not love this song.
try again.
Oh Amylee – I am so sorry but I really hate this track
The words in the song:
She wasn’t too bright
But I could tell when she kissed me
She knew how to get her kicks
really really really irritate me…..
I think the theme of this song, first love, making love in the thunder storm, looking back at first love, is all done so much better and much earlier also by Bob Seger in Night Moves.
Ah, now i really dislike Night Moves! I can’t actually think of a Bob Seeger song that i like! The Prince song always makes me smile though.
One more -
YES ! ! ! I love this track ! ! ! !
How about True Love Will Find You In The End, the object of this challenge (probably our best yet) and the creation of a true contrarian, Daniel Johnson?
If not, we might have to agree with Joy Division that Love Will Tear Us Apart
Just an observation here, and personal taste. But of all the great songs mentioned, none of them (with the exception of Gimme Shelter and Renee) are my favorite songs by the artist mentioned.
I think the point i was after there is that the songs picked, maybe in order to appeal to the most people, are some of their most popular and maybe overplayed.
Witchita Lineman anyone?
Yes!
Yes from me too!
That’s good for me.
I assume that I’m lumped in with the “Grandad Rockers” that Chinhealer refers to, but I have the temerity to have been born earlier than him.
Just to say thanks to Exodus & Fintan for Them support. Oddly, one of the other pieces we played at Di’s funeral was “Waterloo Sunset”, which she also loved and as its almost 2 years to the day when she passed away, this Challenge has set my mind back a bit.
I would just say that as a “Grandad Rocker”, I do possess modern stuff, having in my collection things by Amy MacDonald, Amy Winehouse, The Libertines and many other post 2000 releases.
Dear Mitch I do hope you are not too sad these days…..
Anyway you are not a granddad rocker ! ! ! ! You are an super cool rocker ! ! !
What we need in this situation is someone we can depend on.
Right son?
There’s always Neil Young’s version of Four Strong Winds.
Or:
I think I’ve got one.
We can all, I suspect, agree with the sentiment here….
Well, clearly nobody was particularly fussed by Jackie Wilson after all! But is it possible not to love Tina and Ike?
Oh yes!
Me too … also, Nutbush City Limits – never fails to get me moving when i hear it.
This may be by last contribution, as this post now freezes my whole computer for about 15 minutes every time I reload.
I didn’t mention this one earlier as I have a feeling there are a few Beach Boys agnostics around, but, really, how could you not love “God Only Knows”?
Thanks everyone for an absolutely marvellous thread (which I’m sure isn’t over yet) – I genuinely love a good nine-tenths of the records mentioned here, which I guess just goes to show that some of us more enthusiastic/less discerning than others. If anyone can be bothered to compile a list of the most popular choices, it would be fascinating. I’m still waiting for a dissenting voice on “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”…
What, you’re not going to announce the winner? Pshaw!
(Kidding.)
Now everybody, please come over to my quiz where there are only 3 TP songs left to guess – and you don’t need to know anything about TP songs to do it either. Plus it loads really quickly.
Maybe we could follow-up with a knockout tourney for any contendenderers still standing?
Was following strict ‘Spill challenge rules of 1 nom per game, but am quite surprised by the omissions: James Brown, Eddie Cochran, Nina Simone, Fats Domino, Gene Vincent, Ian Dury……
Fats Domino is in, Shoey – nominated by Mitch.
Only if it’s Blueberry Hill.
Yoiks! Everybody – respond to this quickly even if you hate it……….
Yes! (I mean no – I don’t hate it…)
Like but not love
Ditto. Love the lyrics, not so keen on tune/delivery.
As others have said, loading this page is killing my PC, so I’m going to lump the last of my replies all together.
I’m the curmudgeon that’s nixing the chances of:
Any Dusty Springfield, and also
Leader Of The Pack *feels heat of glares in his direction*
However, DsD donds for:
Fats’ I’m Walkin’, Wichita Lineman, and particularly
Walk Away Renee. Although my choice would be Rickie Lee Jones’ version, there are so far no dissenters about the SONG. So maybe we might have a winner, no?
Right, fingers crossed this comment posts . . .
Is there any way to display the page with placeholders instead of the youtube links?
Sorry I’m nixing Wichita Lineman. Although the original isn’t as bad as the Hussey-Regan cover.
I just tried disabling Flash. It seems to work. There are also special extensions that you can download, eg for Firefox: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/internet/firefox/stop-youtube-videos-from-automatically-playing-in-firefox/.
I’m late to this one – what was the verdict then?
Was it PP Arnold?
or Evie Sands?
or The Archies?
I don’t like Walk Away Renee…sorry