Original video located here. Accessed 30th April 2017
Song title: Temptation
Artist: Tea Party
Year: 1997
Why I like this song:
People might sneer at this band but it proved to be an important one during my college years as it a) proved to be a common interest with some people who became good friends and b) was the first live band i ever saw.
Never lets me down....
Original video located here. Accessed 26th April 2017
Song title: Cold Without You
Artist: Graace
Year: 2017
Why I like this song:
Simply stunning. Great use of synths and vocal delivery.
It's the kind of music that seduces and that's fine by me.
Original video located here. Accessed 18th April 2017
Song title: Richard III
Artist: Supergrass
Year: 1997
Why I like this song:
My time in high school ran from 1994 to 1997. That means I started High School when the Britpop movement was starting out and finished High School when Britpop collapsed in spectacular fashion.
During this time i was aware of both Blur and Oasis but I didn't swear allegiance to either of them. No, I was right behind these guys. And you know what? Twenty years on, the album that this is from, In It For the Money, still has plenty of bite
Original video located here. Accessed 15th May 2021
Song title: Kill the Poor
Artist: Dead Kennedys
Year: 1980
Why I like this song:
Recently I've been listening to the Dead Kennedys.
I thought my experience with punk music would make me ready for this but apparently not: Sure the music may resemble punk rock but the intensity is harder, the sarcasm is stronger and there are even traces of surf rock.
And it hasn't aged at all - which is both a good thing and a bad thing.
Original video located here. Accessed 15th June 2024
Song title: What do You Want From me?
Artist: Monaco
Year: 1997
Why I like this song:
It's the best New Order song New Order never wrote.
There is a lot going on here: That bass line that starts things off; the shared vocals between Peter Hook and David Potts; the snappy production and the ominous lyrics.
It was very much a stand out track to me in Grade 10 and I can imagine that i will be still enjoying it in the future
Original video located here. Accessed 10th April 2017
Song title: Burn Baby Burn
Artist: Ash
Year: 2001
Why I like this song:
Lately I've been rediscovering Ash.
This was a key band in my teens, largely through they ability to talk about things that would appeal to teenagers, whether it be girls, kung-fu movies, Star Wars or the confusion of adolescence.
Listening to their stuff now, it strikes me just immediate these songs are. Granted that is expected of the punk genre but they certainly hold up well and quality of song-writing is rock solid - which is more than can be said of some of other bands of the era.
Is it strange for a thirty-something to be hearing music for teens? Without a doubt but perhaps that's a testament for how good the songwriting is.
Original video located here. Accessed 11th July 2018
Song title: Groovy!
Artist: Kohmi Hirose
Year: 1998
Why I like this song:
No matter the passage of time, Card Captor Sakura will forever hold a place in my heart. And the producers of the anime couldn't have come up with a better closing.
It's snappy and very danceable - even if I will forever associate it with a super-deformed Kero-chan...
Original video located here. Accessed 6th April 2017
Song title: I Go Off
Artist: Diana AhNaid
Year: 1997
Why I like this song:
Twenty years on and this still cracks me up. After all, you can't deny this woman's conviction.
Original video located here. Accessed 5th April 2017
Song title: Speed Your Love to Me
Artist: Simple Minds
Year: 1984
Why I like this song:
Recently I decided to take a chance on exploring the material of Simple Minds.
I don't think time has been kind to this band: It seems they have had a long career with a substantial catalogue but all of this has been overshadowed by the huge hit (Don't You) Forget About Me. With a title like that, one would think they won't be easily forgotten but what of the rest of the catalogue?
I mean the above song would sound familiar to anyone who grew up on rage so is there anything more to this band?
Upon listening to Simple Minds, two things stand out to me: 1) they are a quintessentially early eighties band, with their dynamics and use of synthesizers. And 2) they strike me as the Scottish answer to U2, what with Jim Kerr's delivery being passionate and angry in equal amounts.
Still, they have had hits and the hits in question have struck gold.
Seems there is indeed a lot more than the one hit.