Thursday, February 28, 2008

Music and Lyrics

I can think of a lot of great songs with unremarkable lyrics, and I can think of a few songs with really great lyrics, but not a particularly good tune, and I am not sure a song has to have both to be good or even great, but what are your candidates for a perfect match of both? One that comes to mind is “Into My Arms” by Nick Cave, but my underdog candidate is a golden oldie:
Billy Bragg - A New England

12 comments:

Dave said...

Oliver's Army would be my Elvis choice. Great lyrics and a tune to die for.

Mike said...

The under appreciated Satellite is my EC nominee. Swordfishtrombone by Tom Waits, The Future by Leonard Cohen, Killer Queen, Our House (Madness), and dare I say it? Hank's I Can't Help it if I'm still in Love with You!

Mike said...

Nice choice on the Billy Bragg, too.

Joe said...

"Windfall" by Son Volt..."Brown Sugar"..."Racin' in the STreet". Bruuuuuce

What's the Billie Bragg song that goes "it's things like this that remind me of how I felt the very first time you came back for coffee/ The way you took it amazed me?" That one's great.

Jay said...

Without the benefit of coffee, the first song that comes to mind is the Replacements' "Valentine."

"If you were a pill, I'd take a handful at my will
And I'd knock you back with something sweet as wine
Yesterday was theirs to say, this is their world and their time
Well if tonight belongs to you, tomorrow's mine"

Joe said...

I'm with ya' on that one, Jay.

Jay said...

Fork me! Who's got some Billy Bragg they'd like to File To Perfection?

Andrew said...

Great choices chaps. I'll take care of furthering the pleasure of Mr. Bragg over the weekend. On a related note, I recently received a goodly shipment of CDs from the Louisiana Music factory, about which I shall advise over the coming weeks.

Dave said...

Thousands are Sailing by the Pogues has got to be in there. Great lyrics and a tune that expresses fear, longing, joy, and hope simultaneously.

Andrew said...

Done and done. And I mean done. Back to Basics is the CD issue of the first two albums -- Life's a Riot with Spy vs. Spy (the first 7 tracks), and Brewing Up With Billy Bragg -- and and the Between the Wars EP (the last 3 tracks). Talking With The Taxman is the third album, after which things started to go downhill.

Andrew said...

I also just saw that he has a new album out. I shall investigate.

Jay said...

Yahoo! Thanks-a-plenty, Mr. Andy, sir.