Choon of the Month: Stay This Way

Original video located here. Accessed 29th July 2013

Song title: Stay This Way

Artist: Evan and the Brave

Year: 2013

Why I like this song:

Very much a summer vibe in this one. Makes me forget it's winter outside...

Nineties Revisited: Ordinary World

Original video located here. Accessed 26th July 2021

Song title: Ordinary World

Artist: Duran Duran

Year: 1993

Why I like this song:

I remember this song being a big deal back in the day and as such, it clearly has left a sizable impression on eleven-year old me.

On paper this seems like an oddity: A band who once defined the eighties, who recently descended into joke status (indeed that's how i came to know them in the late eighties) having a big comeback hit? And in the middle of the grunge era when Duran Duran and their ilk should've been swept aside completely? Who would've thunk it?

But yes, as stated above, this song did leave an impression on me. And in the years since, It has been a handy song to have around when things were looking grim. I will admit I am sucker for a motivational song (put a pin in that) but this isn't one of them - more like a 'dust yourself off and keep going' song. And that's plenty enough for me.

Back to the Eighties: Rent

Original video located here. Accessed 10th June 2023

Song title: Rent

Artist: Pet Shop Boys

Year: 1987

Why I like this song:

I will admit: I have no control over my tastes in music. As such I tend to go in very strange and unexpected directions. But sometimes, the unusual path can lead to something I wouldn't have otherwise thought of.

That being said, I have been recently looking into the music of the Pet Shop Boys.

For me, and no doubt many others, the Pet Shop Boys are the quintessential eighties act. They had multiple hits and exemplified the bombastic synths that proliferated throughout the decade. Think eighties pop and you'd think of Neil and Chris' material. Or at least that's the clique: For in the years since, I have discovered that eighties music isn't as narrow as one would like to believe. So having dabbled in metal, college rock, early house, Australian rock and more, where do I stand with the pop that 'made' the decade? Was there something I originally missed?

Turns out a lot: I got a hold of the Actually album and found it chock full of some stellar song-writing. Get past the synths and you find some well constructed songs (from Chris) as well as some superb wordcraft (from Neil). And no better example of this comes from the above song. A moody piece accompanying a picture of a rather unhappy situation. 
And they say these guys' brand of pop lacks depth....

Nineties Revisited: All Apologies

Original video located here. Accessed 6th July 2020

Song title: All Apologies

Artist: Nirvana

Year: 1993

Why I like this song:

I was never into Nirvana when i was a kid. I would have been 9/10 when they hit it big of the strength of Smells Like Teen Spirit. At the time i was like: "Yeah Whatever" but I could not, for the life of me, understand why people were losing their minds over it. And I would fail to do so in the years to come.

But of course, i turned out on the wrong side of history: Nirvana completely changed the course of popular music, their success gave new credibility to the alternative rock I came to relish and Kurt Cobain would be canonized (even though I doubt he would have appreciated it). A revolution happened and i slept through the whole thing.

But despite being baffled by Nirvana, I do have a soft spot for this song. I can imagine this song inspires different reactions to different people - which I imagine what Kurt may have been going for - but I like this song for a) the sense of resignation b) the distortion-filled climax and the post climax where the drums keep going and the refrain that brings the song to the end.

The Asian Connection: Tomorrow

Original video located here. Accessed 5th July 2019

Song title: Tomorrow

Artist: Mikuni Shimokawa

Year: 2002

Why I like this song:

The openings for the Full Metal Panic anime are all pretty good but the first one is the best one. 
Much like a lot of anime openings, I have no idea what is being sung (language barriers amirite?) but in a way I don't need to. It is still enjoyable regardless and its certainly difficult to refuse something so effervescent.