(no subject)
Ten years ago tomorrow singer Kirsty MacColl was killed in a boating incident in Mexico. I can remember just being so shocked. I was raised on Kirsty; my mum loved her. She was only 41 when she was killed by a boat being sailed in a swimmers part of the sea, but it was really controversial about how the boat owner was brought to justice. Read more at her Wikipedia page.
Anyway, I love Kirsty's music and I do think it's tragic that she's not still around making music. She is possibly best known for her cover of Billy Bragg's A New England or for singing with the Pogues on Fairytale of New York but she was a great songwriter in her own right, and her covers are just gorgeous too. So! Let's have a top five...
05. Miss Otis Regrets
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
Madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
She is sorry to be delayed
But last evening down on Lovers Lane she strayed
Madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
My dad used to sing this a lot, although, like every other song ever, he never knew the right words. This is a cover of a Cole Porter song, although tonnnns of people have also done it.
04. They Don't Know
No I don't listen to their wasted lines
Got my eyes wide open and I see the signs
But they don't know about us
And they've never heard of love
Written by Kirsty, this was her first hit, and was covered by Tracey Ullman.
03. A New England
I loved you then as I love you still
Though I put you on a pedestal you put me on the pill
I don't feel bad about letting you go
I just feel sad about letting you know
There are some changes between Billy Bragg's version and Kirsty's, mostly in the gendered lyrics, and he also wrote additional versions for her that apparently since her death he sings in homage to her, bless. I basically love this song in any shape or form. I think I have four versions of it, and Himself probably has more.
02. Don't Come the Cowboy with me Sonny Jim
Did somebody tell you I'm lonely as hell?
I didn't expect you to know me so well
If I learned a lesson it's how to bounce back again
Sometimes I bounce off the wall
And sometimes my head hits the floor
This is probably my mum's favourite by her.
01. There's A Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis
And now I'm lying here alone
'Cause you're out there on the phone
To some star in New York
I can hear you laughing now and
I can't help feeling that somehow
You don't mean anything you say at all
Kirsty is most definitely a country singer in this song. It is English country music and it is special and adorable and lovely, and it makes me want to dance.
Bonus! Since it's Christmas and all....
Fairytale of New York, with The Pogues
I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams
From me when I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can't make it all alone
I've built my dreams around you
Who doesn't love this song? If you don't you have no soul, basically. It's the story of two people just sick of each other but holding on anyway. It is wonderful.
Anyway, I love Kirsty's music and I do think it's tragic that she's not still around making music. She is possibly best known for her cover of Billy Bragg's A New England or for singing with the Pogues on Fairytale of New York but she was a great songwriter in her own right, and her covers are just gorgeous too. So! Let's have a top five...
05. Miss Otis Regrets
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
Madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
She is sorry to be delayed
But last evening down on Lovers Lane she strayed
Madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
My dad used to sing this a lot, although, like every other song ever, he never knew the right words. This is a cover of a Cole Porter song, although tonnnns of people have also done it.
04. They Don't Know
No I don't listen to their wasted lines
Got my eyes wide open and I see the signs
But they don't know about us
And they've never heard of love
Written by Kirsty, this was her first hit, and was covered by Tracey Ullman.
03. A New England
I loved you then as I love you still
Though I put you on a pedestal you put me on the pill
I don't feel bad about letting you go
I just feel sad about letting you know
There are some changes between Billy Bragg's version and Kirsty's, mostly in the gendered lyrics, and he also wrote additional versions for her that apparently since her death he sings in homage to her, bless. I basically love this song in any shape or form. I think I have four versions of it, and Himself probably has more.
02. Don't Come the Cowboy with me Sonny Jim
Did somebody tell you I'm lonely as hell?
I didn't expect you to know me so well
If I learned a lesson it's how to bounce back again
Sometimes I bounce off the wall
And sometimes my head hits the floor
This is probably my mum's favourite by her.
01. There's A Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis
And now I'm lying here alone
'Cause you're out there on the phone
To some star in New York
I can hear you laughing now and
I can't help feeling that somehow
You don't mean anything you say at all
Kirsty is most definitely a country singer in this song. It is English country music and it is special and adorable and lovely, and it makes me want to dance.
Bonus! Since it's Christmas and all....
Fairytale of New York, with The Pogues
I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams
From me when I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can't make it all alone
I've built my dreams around you
Who doesn't love this song? If you don't you have no soul, basically. It's the story of two people just sick of each other but holding on anyway. It is wonderful.