Songs of the decade?
Chris and I watched a program about the Songs That Defined The Decade or best songs of the decade or something like that last night. Anyway, I'll spare you the suspense and tell you that Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" was voted #1 Song of the Decade.
Yeah, that's what I said, too.
I thought I'd do my own, because, frankly, I'd never heard of half of the songs on there, and really, James Blunt's "You're Beautiful"? Really? I'm not in a Nick Hornby mood, so this will just have to be off the top of my head and in no particular order. Basically it's just a list of songs I like!
OURS "Sometimes" (2001)- Oh Jimmy Gencco. Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Gnecco. You sing like an angel on the rack, you sing like a seraph with your feet held to the flames. Plus you have tattoos and have no problem showing them off. I love how the dark, grimy despair of the track dissolves into the fragile joy of the middle eight: "Sometimes the sun shines".
Franz Ferdinand "Take Me Out" (2004)- I actually agreed with one on the program! I like Franz Ferdinand. They seem witty and intelligent. Plus, Alex Kapranos' explanation of the song made it so much cooler: Apparently he'd watched a film about two snipers hiding in a wasteland, standing completely still, waiting for the other to reveal his position, not wanting to reveal their own and get taken out. He thought that's how people are with their emotions, not wanting to give their position away, not wanting to reveal how they really feel to the person they want. "Sometimes you just want to give your position away. 'Come on, take me out! End this tension!'" Paraphrased, of course. Plus, they are extremely photogenic.
Beyonce feat. Jay-Z "Crazy In Love" (2003) OK, another one I agreed with. This song is just really good and was everywhere. Love love love the stabs of brass. Loved the beat. Good pop songwriting. Beyonce may well be a robot. But she's a robot who knows how to pick a winner, and she knows how to belt it out.
New Pornographers "Failsafe" (2007)- A.C. Newman's lyrics cuts to the quick of what it's like to be in a relationship, to balance that giving and recklessly gentle side of yourself with the selfish, secretive side. Plus, Neko Case can deliver a song like no one else. She makes you believe every word. "You and me both, kid."
Rufus Wainwright "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" (2001)- This isn't my favorite Rufus Wainwright song (that's probably "14th Street") or even my favorite song off of Poses (that would be, uh, "Poses"), but this is the song that introduced me to the brash, boozy, beautiful world of Rufus Wainwright, with his voice that moves from Cabaret accordion to a church organ with all its stops out, often in the same song. Plus, I don't think there's anyone who channels Noel Coward better, lyrics-wise, and still keeps his own point of view.
Last one, because I'm getting tired, and I'm sure you are, too:
Magnetic Fields "The Book of Love" (1999) Well look at that! I cheated! This is a song from the 90s! Too bad--I only heard it for the first time in 2002 or 2003. An amazing love song, equal parts arch and sincere, wistful and straightforward ("I love it when you give me things/ And you ought to give me wedding rings"). There are a million covers of this song, and not without reason.
OK, OK, if I'm going to play by the rules, I'd go with "I Don't Really Love You Any More" (2004), because, although it reminds me of my ex, who introduced me to the band, it was the song that really made me love them and Stephin Merritt's terrific songwriting.
And...I'm spent. I'm sure there are a dozen songs I've forgotten. The Decemberists and Joanna Newsome, The Jayhawks. Bjork, of course. Oh yes! OutKast's "Hey Ya" is another I agreed with. And so many others.
What are yours?
Yeah, that's what I said, too.
I thought I'd do my own, because, frankly, I'd never heard of half of the songs on there, and really, James Blunt's "You're Beautiful"? Really? I'm not in a Nick Hornby mood, so this will just have to be off the top of my head and in no particular order. Basically it's just a list of songs I like!
OURS "Sometimes" (2001)- Oh Jimmy Gencco. Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Gnecco. You sing like an angel on the rack, you sing like a seraph with your feet held to the flames. Plus you have tattoos and have no problem showing them off. I love how the dark, grimy despair of the track dissolves into the fragile joy of the middle eight: "Sometimes the sun shines".
Franz Ferdinand "Take Me Out" (2004)- I actually agreed with one on the program! I like Franz Ferdinand. They seem witty and intelligent. Plus, Alex Kapranos' explanation of the song made it so much cooler: Apparently he'd watched a film about two snipers hiding in a wasteland, standing completely still, waiting for the other to reveal his position, not wanting to reveal their own and get taken out. He thought that's how people are with their emotions, not wanting to give their position away, not wanting to reveal how they really feel to the person they want. "Sometimes you just want to give your position away. 'Come on, take me out! End this tension!'" Paraphrased, of course. Plus, they are extremely photogenic.
Beyonce feat. Jay-Z "Crazy In Love" (2003) OK, another one I agreed with. This song is just really good and was everywhere. Love love love the stabs of brass. Loved the beat. Good pop songwriting. Beyonce may well be a robot. But she's a robot who knows how to pick a winner, and she knows how to belt it out.
New Pornographers "Failsafe" (2007)- A.C. Newman's lyrics cuts to the quick of what it's like to be in a relationship, to balance that giving and recklessly gentle side of yourself with the selfish, secretive side. Plus, Neko Case can deliver a song like no one else. She makes you believe every word. "You and me both, kid."
Rufus Wainwright "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" (2001)- This isn't my favorite Rufus Wainwright song (that's probably "14th Street") or even my favorite song off of Poses (that would be, uh, "Poses"), but this is the song that introduced me to the brash, boozy, beautiful world of Rufus Wainwright, with his voice that moves from Cabaret accordion to a church organ with all its stops out, often in the same song. Plus, I don't think there's anyone who channels Noel Coward better, lyrics-wise, and still keeps his own point of view.
Last one, because I'm getting tired, and I'm sure you are, too:
Magnetic Fields "The Book of Love" (1999) Well look at that! I cheated! This is a song from the 90s! Too bad--I only heard it for the first time in 2002 or 2003. An amazing love song, equal parts arch and sincere, wistful and straightforward ("I love it when you give me things/ And you ought to give me wedding rings"). There are a million covers of this song, and not without reason.
OK, OK, if I'm going to play by the rules, I'd go with "I Don't Really Love You Any More" (2004), because, although it reminds me of my ex, who introduced me to the band, it was the song that really made me love them and Stephin Merritt's terrific songwriting.
And...I'm spent. I'm sure there are a dozen songs I've forgotten. The Decemberists and Joanna Newsome, The Jayhawks. Bjork, of course. Oh yes! OutKast's "Hey Ya" is another I agreed with. And so many others.
What are yours?