1,001 songs to listen to before you die...

[METALMAN]

I really quite a lot of that Tex Mex music, and I like that Flaco Jimenez song. However, I don't necessarily know it well enough to notice distinct differences in the songs, so even though I think I've heard it before I can't be 100% sure.

So does this mean we've had two songs by Nick Drake after he died? And nothing by Hall & Oates. Weird. It's a decent enough song. I like Nick Drake. But he's not as good as Hall & Oates.

Oh The Triffids. An Australian entry that I've actually heard of. S'alright. Not as good as Hall & Oates either.

Even when I really liked the Smiths I wasn't quite there on TIALAINGO. I wouldn't say I disliked it, but it was never one of my favourites. The Queen is Dead alone has about 7 songs I'd rather listen to. Still good, though not as good as Hall & Oates.

[Liam]

656.      

‘Some Candy Talking’, The Jesus and Mary Chain (1986)

Influenced by: I’m Waiting for the Man • The Velvet Underground (1967)   

Influence on: Teen Age Riot • Sonic Youth (1988)   

Covered by: Richard Hawley (2006) • The Caulfield Sisters (2006)   

Other key track: Never Understand (1985)

Here are a band I always felt I should check out, if only for their name, yet never did. To be fair, it wasn’t just because of the name – the style of music that was attributed to them largely sounded like something I would enjoy as well, and this is borne out by the song ‘Some Candy Talking’. I’m always a huge fan of noise coupled with a sense of melody, which is the crux of this song. Waves of feedback burst out of the speakers, but it is accompanied with a pretty conventional ‘pop’ sensibility. A worthwhile song for the list and one for me to listen to.

657.      

‘No Sleep Till Brooklyn’, The Beastie Boys (1986)

I’ve liked the ‘big’ Beastie Boys songs, but have never really dallied with them beyond that. Naturally, ‘No Sleep Till Brooklyn’ fits into that category and is a fun slice of what they were offering: white guy rappers with a rockier edge. I’m not a music historian but I think they came along at the right time if this list was anything to go by – that style of rock/rap crossover had become a more common thing as the 80s rolled on and they manged to incorporate the two better than most. It isn’t my favourite song by them, yet it was one of the most notable songs on the first American Chart topping rap album, so deserves its place here.

658.      

‘Raining Blood’, Slayer (1986)

The second Kerry King song in a row (he did guitar duties on ‘No Sleep…’), ‘Raining Blood’ is easily one of the best metal songs in my opinion. This is primarily due to my general aversion to Slayer; I wouldn’t say I don’t like them, I’ve just never really wanted to delve much deeper into their catalogue based on what I have heard. However, ‘Raining Blood’ rises above my general apathy for the band and firmly slaps me in the face every time I hear it. The atmospheric opening, the galloping drums, the shredding guitars: it manages to be both ‘extreme’ sounding and interesting, which says a lot I think. Alongside all of this, the guitar riffs make it so damn catchy. Top work.

659.      

‘First We Take Manhattan’, Jennifer Warnes (1986)

Influenced by: Masters of War • Bob Dylan (1963)   

Influence on: Democracy • Leonard Cohen (1992)   

Covered by: R.E.M. (1991) • Warren Zevon (1991) • Joe Cocker (2000) • Tyskarna från Lund (2003) • Sirenia (2004) • Maxx Klaxon (2005) • Boris Grebenshchikov (2005)

Knowing Jennifer Warnes only from her soundtrack work, I was looking forward to hearing what else she had to offer. This was written by Leonard Cohen on an album by Warnes that covered several other Cohen songs. The book spends a lot of time talking about Cohen’s lyrics which cover ideas about fascism and narcissism amongst other things, but what interests me is that Warnes’ voice sounds somewhat at odds with such a politically interesting song yet it still works. Her warmth is very much a soundtrack-style of vocal for the most part. However, it is this warmth that makes things work as it turns the lyrics – some that people even consider advocating terrorist ideals – into something ‘normal’.

660.      

‘True Colors’, Cyndi Lauper (1986)

Influenced by: Bridge Over Troubled Water • Simon & Garfunkel (1970)   

Influence on: Shining Through • Fredro Starr featuring Jill Scott (2001)   

Covered by: Leatherface (2000) • Sarina Paris (2001) • Erlend Bratland (2008)

I don’t think I initially realised that this was a song by Cyndi Lauper when I first heard it, as it sounds somewhat at odds with the songs that had made her famous. To Lauper’s credit, her production that saw things stripped back from some of the more frenetic pop work of her debut album rewarded her with a chart topping hit. I never overly consider Lauper as a ‘great’ singer, but her vocals here do the job and are left to stand on their own due to the sparseness of the backing music. As an interesting aside, this was written by the same duo who wrote ‘Like A Virgin’ for Madonna.

661.      

‘Move Your Body’, Marshall Jefferson (1986)

A banger that heralded the start of a new musical movement. I don’t think I’ve ever heard this before, but I couldn’t help but bop along as I wrote this paragraph. Jefferson had disliked the commercial sensitivities of disco, before discovering an altogether ‘dirtier’ genre of music that spoke more to his interests when it came to filling the dance floor. ‘Deep house’ and ‘house’ are the terms used by the book, genres I’ve either not heard of in the former or don’t overly care for in the latter, but it isn’t hard to see the allure of this tune on night in the club in the 80s. The piano – a rarity in this style of music apparently – is an excellent addition that adds a further layer to enjoy.

[Moses Julep]

The Leonard Cohen version of “First We Take Manhattan” is so much better.

[METALMAN]

Some Candy Talking is good. I would have thought the J&MC song for this list would be Just Like Honey but this is a good pick too. That being said I don't actually know much about J&MC music from around this time. I really like Darklands, which is the album before or after this period (I can't remember) but never really listened to anything aside from those two more famous songs.

NSTB is alright.

The intro of Raining Blood is great, really intense. The rest of the song is okay. I'm not a huge Slayer fan in general, but I prefer them when they go a bit slower.

The previous poster is right about First We Take Manhattan. This version here is fine but it aside from having a female singer it sounds a bit like a Dire Straits b-side.

True Colours is fine. The very 90s version by Phil Collins is a bit better.

Move Your Body is a good thing to experience.

[VerbalPuke]

Slayer is pretty cool, my favorite of the big 4 of thrash metal (which isn't that big of a feat really because I don't like Metallica or Megadeth, Anthrax is cool though). I find with metal though lately, I'm either in the mood or I'm not, and generally I haven't been as much. This is still a fucking banger of a song though, it serves as a blue print for what I'd consider to be my favorite style of heavy metal. 

Beastie Boys are cool, I adored them as a youngster and honestly don't listen to them much anymore. I still like them though, but I think their best work was yet to come (and I totally expect another song or two from them to come). 

[Malenko]

1 hour ago, VerbalPuke said:

Slayer is pretty cool, my favorite of the big 4 of thrash metal (which isn't that big of a feat really because I don't like Metallica or Megadeth, Anthrax is cool though). I find with metal though lately, I'm either in the mood or I'm not, and generally I haven't been as much. This is still a fucking banger of a song though, it serves as a blue print for what I'd consider to be my favorite style of heavy metal. 

Beastie Boys are cool, I adored them as a youngster and honestly don't listen to them much anymore. I still like them though, but I think their best work was yet to come (and I totally expect another song or two from them to come). 

Since you brought it up mine is anthrax by far. I can't avoid disliking slayer mostly because I can't stand their opinions. I know, there are bands I don't necessarily agree with and yet I listen to them, but there are others I just can't stand. It may be a bit hypocritical but it's just how it is.

 

I wasn't a big fan of the beastie boys as a kid but became one in my 30s. I love them now. Btw, there was a decent documentary on netflix (?) I think. 

 

As for the rest, Cindy Lauper, I'm a big fan. I have no idea why. It isn't remotely similar to anything else I listen to yet I just love it. This song, not so much but in general.

I also like the jesus and mary chain. I've listened to them since forever because my older sister loved them. I remember being 6 years old and listening to them pretty regularly.

 

Going back some posts to some lists I missed, surprised to see Big Black there. Great stuff.  Also like the Smiths and the bangles. As for the Fall, I own a bunch of releases but I wouldn't be able to listen to a couple albums in a row. I feel their songs are longer than needed.

 

The cult was my sister's favourite. The cult, sisters of mercy and the jesus and mary chain. I've heard all their songs so much growing up. I like them but I don't know how much of it is just nostalgia.

I like the cure but mostly up to pornography which obviously isn't what they're famous for. I'm ok with their post-85 stuff, though.

And this was long enough, already.

[VerbalPuke]

1 minute ago, Malenko said:

Since you brought it up mine is anthrax by far. I can't avoid disliking slayer mostly because I can't stand their opinions. I know, there are bands I don't necessarily agree with and yet I listen to them, but there are others I just can't stand. It may be a bit hypocritical but it's just how it is.

 

I wasn't a big fan of the beastie boys as a kid but became one in my 30s. I love them now. Btw, there was a decent documentary on netflix (?) I think. 

 

As for the rest, Cindy Lauper, I'm a big fan. I have no idea why. It isn't remotely similar to anything else I listen to yet I just love it. This song, not so much but in general.

I also like the jesus and mary chain. I've listened to them since forever because my older sister loved them. I remember being 6 years old and listening to them pretty regularly.

 

Going back some posts to some lists I missed, surprised to see Big Black there. Great stuff.  Also like the Smiths and the bangles. As for the Fall, I own a bunch of releases but I wouldn't be able to listen to a couple albums in a row. I feel their songs are longer than needed.

 

The cult was my sister's favourite. The cult, sisters of mercy and the jesus and mary chain. I've heard all their songs so much growing up. I like them but I don't know how much of it is just nostalgia.

I like the cure but mostly up to pornography which obviously isn't what they're famous for. I'm ok with their post-85 stuff, though.

And this was long enough, already.

I wasn't aware of Slayers opinions....dare I ask?

[apsham]

Definite Trump supporters with posts talking about snowflakes and Trump turning "fruits into vegetables", and then there's how you stand on their use of Nazi imagery - whether it's all for shock value, which it most assuredly was used as such or if there's something deeper there. Which I lean towards "yeah, probably one or two of them are fuckheaded enough for that."

[VerbalPuke]

I wont miss them that much. Didn't even think "oh right. They tend to attract a lot of right wing skins to their shows and don't really seem bothered by it". Yeah....

[Liam]

662.      

‘Rise’, Public Image Ltd (1986)

Lyrically, this song takes a swipe at the treatment of people in apartheid-era South Africa, especially when it begins to describe some of the torture techniques used by the powers that be. I much prefer this song to the previous entry from the band, though I still don’t particularly care for John Lydon’s overall…presence…on things. The presentation of this song in a case marked ‘Single’, taking a swipe at consumerism, was something that was interesting enough and gives it perhaps a wider significance on top of the topical lyrics. I am a big fan of the mix of lighter music with darker lyrical tone so this was always going to be more up my street than some offerings on this list, even if it isn’t top tier for me.

663..      

‘Love Can’t Turn Around’, Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk (1986)

Influenced by: I Can’t Turn Around • Isaac Hayes (1975)   

Influence on: Flowerz • Armand Van Helden (1999)  

Covered by: BustaFunk (2000)   

Other key tracks: All Acid Out (1986) • The Funk Is On (1986) • It’s You (1987)

The song – or at least the backing music – was a source of great controversy as the ex-housemate of Farley claimed that it had been appropriated. However it came to find its way out there, it is a pretty catchy little number. It was topped off by the almost literally larger than life Darryl Pandy, who I can only assume is the plus-sized mullet on legs that is showcased in the video. It is a strong look, I’ll give him that. Not my sort of music, but it was hard not to get carried away with the overall boppiness of the track. Can imagine this easily filled a dancefloor or two.

664.      

‘Dear God’, XTC (1986)

Influenced by: God • John Lennon (1970)   

Influence on: One of Us • Joan Osborne (1995)   

Covered by: Sarah McLachlan (1996) • Tricky (2003)   

Other key tracks: Making Plans for Nigel (1979) • Generals and Majors (1980) • Ball and Chain (1982) • Senses Working Overtime (1982)

According to the book and Colin Moulding, the bassist for the band, this was a song that saved XTC as they were days away from being released by their record label when this became an unlikely hit. A song that is anti-religion in its lyrics, it caused some controversy but was also gaining airplay enough to see it get placed as a B side for a single. I don’t mind the song as a whole, though I think it speaks volumes that I actually like the bit sung by the little girl at the start the most out of everything else, at least up until the lyrical freakout towards the end. A decent offering, if less impactful for being heard several decades later.

665.      

‘Don’t Want To Know If You Are Lonely’, Husker Du (1986)

I’ve only heard the odd bit from Husker Du before, but what I have heard only left me thinking that a band with that name should be heavier. I don’t know why, it just sounds like a metal band rather than one that plays heavy rock. I perhaps got my answer from the book as they were originally a punk band, though their ‘best’ work tended to be when they added in more in the way of pop sensibilities to go with their capable aural onslaught. The entry goes on to mention Nirvana and the Pixies and I can definitely see the fingerprints of this song on what those bands released in the years to come. In the recent entries, this is by far the best song that I’ve never heard before.

666.      

‘Kiss’, Prince & The Revolution (1986)

A song that the record label didn’t want to relase as it sounded too much like a demo, this became the third Number One in the U.S. for Prince. Apparently, this was developed by Prince and Mazarati, with it originally being the bones of a song Prince was willing to let go, only for him to be subsequently impressed by the potential once he heard a fuller, fleshed out version the following day. I say fleshed out, because it is pretty sparse going as Prince songs go, but it allows the simple lyrics and delivery to do the talking. There is something effortlessly cool about most of what Prince does and it might be best highlighted by ‘Kiss’ – it isn’t his best song, but it wouldn’t necessarily work with any other musician.

[GoGo Yubari]

I think I really liked "Dear God" the first time I heard it on the radio and now that's mostly curdled into contempt that XTC's best album was overshadowed by an angsty teen journal entry set to music. Like, Andy Partridge called the song "a petulant failure" and I can't argue with it. But then, who's to say I'd have delved into that album without hearing that song on the radio first, I guess?

I always also used to assume that Husker Du were heavier than they actually were, was a real surprise when I finally heard them for the first time. I really should devote the time to listen to full albums of theirs rather than having isolated songs pop up now and then.

[Malenko]

I love husker du. Big pleasant surprise. Wasn't expecting them.

[METALMAN]

Rise is a good one. Sometimes you get a bit tired of songs doing the whole "wrong or right; black or white" rhyme but it doesn't really matter. 

Love Can't Turn Around is meh. I like this style in general but this song is lacking something. Also the singer sounds like Homer Simpson.

XTC is a band I've given plenty of chances to because they are the sort of thing I thought I'd like, but they have never really clicked for me. I find them a bit all mouth and no trousers. Dukes of however the hell they spell it is good though.

I love Husker Du. This was the first song of theirs I heard and I was hooked immediately. Making a racket and still doing good pop tunes at the same time is a rare gift, and these guys were among the best at it.

Kiss is great. Not much to it, but what is there is splendid.

[Liam]

667.      

‘Attention Na SIDA’, Franco (1987)

This gets on the list due to Franco being a popular Congolese music artist and this being a very open call for people to ‘Beware of AIDS’. In the country at the time, a lot of the lyrics had to be wrapped up in metaphor to avoid censure, but there is nothing hidden here. Franco would pass away 18 months later, quite possibly from AIDS itself although it was somewhat unclear. This song shows him use a mix of speak-singing and more spoken word sections against a lively percussive background beat. I find this type of song hard to judge; definitely here on merit, but unlike a lot of the other stuff that made the list.

668.      

‘Under The Milky Way’, The Church (1987)

Another band from Down Under, but one that had moved to Los Angeles by the time they had international success. I felt like I would know this as it kicked in, yet it wasn’t to the chorus that I realised I had at least heard that part of the song before. This is moody and poetic and unsurprisingly successful as it is a fine piece of music, though the wailing sounds that punctuate the middle of the song I could very much do without.

669.      

‘Bamboleo’, Gipsy Kings (1987)

I’m pretty sure I found out that this song was from the 80s many years ago, yet I always try and place it in the 90s. Was it sampled in another song, or was it just that good that it was getting radio play several years down the track and in my formative years? I wouldn’t be surprised either way as this is an absolutely storming track. Lively and passionate, it works its way to a chorus that desires audience participation. Apparently this song helped the album it came from go on to sell seven millions records, which only serves to highlight how exciting this song was for the contemporary audience. Still just as good today, mind.

[gunnar hendershow]

Aw man "Under the Milky Way", what a damn good song. I always place their US hits (that, "Reptile" and "Metropolis") like half a decade earlier than they came out. They sound like an early post-punk group but instead they were in many ways setting the stage for a lot of dreamy and even shoegazey 90s bands.

[Liam]

670.      

‘This Corrosion’, The Sisters of Mercy (1987)

This is another band that I’ve always felt that I should have gone back to check out, yet have never got around to it. I’m not entirely sure if I believe I’m missing out having listened to it, though this is at least one example of a Jim Steinman produced song that I can now name outside of his work with Meatloaf (I’m sure I know others, just not that Steinman was involved). If anything, this is a little too electro-poppy for my liking – that isn’t often a bad thing, but I almost expect the vocals to be accompanied by music that was a bit punchier than what I actually got. The multi-tracking backing vocals to create a wailing choir is cool and it isn’t a bad song at all, yet it sits below top tier stuff that this list has kicked up for me. To give it some credit, I was more into it by the end of the song, so maybe it was a grower?

671.      

‘Camarón’, Pata Negra (1987)

The problem I have with ‘world music’ in a list like this is that I am so very unarmed when it comes to what I can say about it. I don’t necessarily know if it is a strong representation of the genre it is representing, or whether the artist did better songs elsewhere. I can say that this is a pretty fun song with flamenco mixed with electric blues riffs, creating something that is definitely listenable to…that’s all I got really. To what extent it is worthy of its place is hard to judge.

672.      

‘Amandrai’, Ali Farka Toure (1987)

…ditto?

It is tempting to cut and paste what I said before almost word for word, though this time the list celebrates someone that was dubbed the ‘African John Lee Hooker’. However, this one musically feels a little more universal, at least up until Toure’s vocals which are in the language of the Touareg. It is undeniably interesting to hear such a bluesy feeling tune coming out of Mali and it feels pretty cool even without too much knowledge about the narrative of the song. Apparrently a song about a secret lover, this uses the guitar sparingly in places, building to louder bursts to pierce the tension. A song that I enjoyed irrelevant of my lack of knowledge.

673.      

‘Push It’, Salt ‘n’ Pepa (1987)

Influenced by: The Bird • The Time (1984)   

Influence on: Money Honey • Lady Gaga (2008)   

Covered by: Numb (1996) • Ten Masked Men (2000) • Harry (2003) • Girls Aloud (2008)   

Other key tracks: Tramp (1987) • My Mic Sounds Nice (1987)

Now, this is a song I know. The provocative lyrics and rapping were surely eye opening for its time, though I’ve always thought that it was the music in the background that made the song what it was. People came for two ladies talking about people who needed to ‘push it real good’ and stayed for the catchy electro rhythms. This is another song I can’t imagine people disliking – it might not be in their top 10 or 20 or 100 even, yet I’ve never heard a poor word said against it.

674.      

‘Bring The Noise’, Public Enemy (1987)

Influenced by: Niggers Are Scared of Revolution • The Last Poets (1970)   

Influence on: AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted • Ice Cube (1990)   

Covered by: Anthrax featuring Public Enemy (1991) • Staind and Fred Durst (2000)

What I’ve always enjoyed about this song was how it appealed to fans of other genres, not just rap or hip-hop. There is a weightiness to everything, from the vocals to the music to the scratching, that works for me even as someone who never particularly cared for this style of music. If I was more knowledgeable about this style, I’m sure I’d be able to talk some more about how complex and multi-layered everything sounds: there feels like there is a hell of a lot going on from start to finish. Oh, and enjoy – if that’s the right word – some Tim Westwood on the video choice.

675.      

‘True Faith’, New Order (1987)

Influenced by: Planet Rock • Afrika Bambataa & The Soul Sonic Force (1982)   

Influence on: The Real Thing • Gwen Stefani (2004)   

Covered by: The Boo Radleys (1993) • Dreadful Shadows (1995) • Aghast View (1997) • Flunk (2005) • Code 64 (2005) • Anberlin (2009)

What a song. This isn’t a universal song that I think everyone would enjoy necessarily, but if it scratches that musical itch like it does for me, it ends up there with some of the best of the decade. There is a darkness about the lyrics that is at odds with the sound, a darkness that was even toned down somewhat as the original lyrics explicitly referenced drugs in a way the radio-friendly ones didn’t. This is probably Bernard Summer at his best vocally in terms of what I’ve heard by New Order, whilst the drums and melodic bass touches adds an almost ethereal atmosphere. Bliss.

[METALMAN]

I really that Congolese style of music. This is a good one.

Not meaning to be a dick, but none of these Australian bands that keep popping up are that good, are they? This song isn't bad by any means, but it's not great either.

I guess if we are being politically correct we should call them the Gipsy and Traveller Community Kings. LOL. Anyway...I had heard of this band and I had heard this song (it was a favourite in night clubs when I was a student for some reason) but I'd never placed the two of them together. I really like it.

I like Sisters of Mercy a lot. This is a good song but it had never stood out when I listened to the album. I'm a bit surprised it was a single but it's good all the same.

This Pata Negra one is fine.

Ali Farka Toure is great. I think the older he got the better his music got. Certainly all my favourites by him are from the 2000s. But this is still good.

Push It is good fun.

Bring the Noise is really good. Got to admit I never really got into Public Enemy that much, but I like this one.

Finally, at the end of a somewhat underwhelming set, we get an absolute belter. Of course, when you are posting any single by New Order you should be sharing the 12 inch version, so allow me to fix that:

 

[gunnar hendershow]

Let's start with "True Faith", one of those songs that's probably a frontrunner for my most-listened to song ever. It's just, my god, brilliant. I think in a lot of ways this song is the true culmination of the sound New Order were trying to achieve.

I've gone back and forth on how much I want to dig more into Sisters of Mercy but as a goth in my early teenage years I have quite the soft spot for them. "This Corrosion" is kind of an overview song of what they're all about. Real good tune but they have better.

"Camaron" is I believe a new song for me. It's pretty good. Likewise I'm not versed on Ali Farka Toure but I'm interested in exploring him a lot more now. Sounds like the kind of music I'd take a serious liking to.

Salt n Pepa are great for a lot of reasons and have a surprisingly deep catalog for a group known for a handful of hits. "Push It" is a classic and 33 years later female MCs are still looking to it for inspiration.

Public Enemy are one of the best to ever do it. Decades later their lyrics remain just as relevant as they were in the 80s and early 90s. I wouldn't say "Bring the Noise" is my favorite by them (or perhaps even in my top 5) but it's definitely the best song to crossover to a non-hip-hop audience and very representative of what they were capable of. Probably the best track to use to try and get someone into PE.

[Liam]

676.      

‘It’s A Sin’, Pet Shop Boys (1987)

Influenced by: Passion • The Flirts (1982)   

Influence on: Like a Prayer • Madonna (1989)   

Covered by: Gamma Ray (1999) • JJ72 (2001) • Paul Anka (2005) • And One (2009)   

Other key tracks: What Have I Done to Deserve This? (1987) • Always On My Mind (1987)

Though I didn’t immediately recognise the song when I read the title, I assumed that it was likely to be something I had heard before. However, it was a vague recollection at best, while I heard songs like ‘West End Girls’ so much when I was younger. This is the Pet Shop Boys aiming to be at their most theatrical and it is a storming dance-pop offering that unsurprisingly confirmed them as superstars, at least nationally. It is a hook-laden offering that includes some interesting additional elements such as thunder, organs and synth flourishes. It wouldn’t usurp the other songs by them I like, but I can see what the appeal would have been.

677.      

‘Pump Up The Volume’, M|A|R|R|S (1987)

A collaboration between AR Kane and Colourbox, yet mainly a showcase of the latter’s talents, this was a crossover between the underground dance scene and a myriad range of other sounds through samples. I can believe that this would have sounded urgent and vital to music fans who were looking for something a bit different. It isn’t necessarily for me, though the appeal is obvious and it is a tune that even had me shuffling away on the sofa as I wrote this entry.

678.      

‘Birthday’, Sugarcubes (1987)

I’ve never heard anything Björk that wasn’t just her solo work, so to have a song from her initial band before her solo success is pretty cool. What was even more eye-opening was that this lyrically explored the ‘relationship’ between a five year old girl and a fifty year old man. Really experimental Björk does little for me, yet I do really enjoy her whisper to wail vocal delivery played out against a backdrop of pretty conventional indie rock. The birth of an eventual superstar, I guess.

679.      

‘Beds are Burning’, Midnight Oil (1987)

Influenced by: Clampdown • The Clash (1979)   

Influence on: Zombie • The Cranberries (1994)   

Covered by: Split Lip (1996) • Augie March (2001) • Novaspace (2003) • Misery Inc. (2007)  

Other key tracks: Dream World (1987) • Gunbarrel Highway (1987) • The Dead Heart (1987)

Another band from Australia, though based on the write-up and the number of views on this video, this is something a bit bigger than some of the other offerings from that country in the global musical scheme of things. This is another one I expected I might have heard before, but I legitimately had no idea what it was. Lyrically, this was a call for the Australian government to give land back to the indigenous peoples and it is definitely a catchy rock song with a hooky chorus. I’m not a huge fan of the singing style of the lead vocalist if I’m being completely honest, which detracted a bit from my enjoyment…but it was hard not to enjoy especially when the chorus kicked in.

680.      

‘Yé Ké Yé Ké’, Mory Kanté (1987)

Influenced by: Lan Naya • Bembeya Jazz National (1985)   

Influence on: Tekere • Salif Keita (1995)  

Covered by: Picco (2008)   

Other key tracks: Akwaba Beach (1987) • Nanfoulen (1987)

This was not what I expected at all. Take a Guinean love song and slap some techno-style beats and you get this floor filler from 1987. Apparently, this getting released shortly after the concept of ‘World Music’ began to take off helped it reach to a broad audience, including multiple remixes and covers (in different languages) over the years. Not for me, but an enjoyable curio nonetheless.

681.      

‘Just Like Heaven’, The Cure (1987)

Influenced by: Another Girl, Another Planet • The Only Ones (1978)   

Influence on: Taking Off • The Cure (2004)   

Covered by: Dinosaur Jr. (1989) • Goldfinger (1999) • 30footFALL (1999) • In Mitra Medusa Inri (2001) • Gatsby’s American Dream (2005) • Katie Melua (2005)

This is such a good song. Still not my favourite by The Cure - ‘Inbetween Days’ probably holds that crown – though the two songs aren’t a million miles away from each other sonically. This is perfect pop really in terms of the melody, whilst Smith’s lyrics add that extra poetic element that takes it to another level. Considering how the band could be viewed as one that celebrated melancholy, this is all pretty uplifting, helped significantly by the soaring string (at least I believe that is what it is) arrangements. We even get a cameo from Smith’s wife in the music video.

[Malenko]

Just a small note. That wasn't Bjork's initial band. Bjork's first band was a punk rock-ish band although they already had some experimental songs. I don't know much about them but the LP they released in 83 is cool. Then, she was in KUKL.

KUKL is kinda post-punk, very artsy.. some weird as fuck songs. It starts to sound a bit more like what you'd expect from Bjork, only harder. I like it.

Only then you have the Sugarcubes, which are alright I guess. It's a bit bland for my tastes, but the first album (Birthday's on it) is still cool. That's the most boring song on the whole record for me, which obviously meant it was their first and most successful single, because that's how things usually go. I've heard a few songs from the following albums but I didn't bother looking too much into it.

 

As for the rest, I like Just Like Heaven. It's also one of my favourite from the Cure - from that time period at least - and although I like old Midnight Oil, that one, not so much.

Also, they may be getting more views lately because they came back some 3 years ago and have been touring everywhere since then. They've been in plenty of european festivals in the last few years, I think. I believe that's why they're kinda relevant again.

 

Finally, I had no idea who Mory Kante was but I think I've actually heard this song before? I don't know. I don't think I'll listen to it again though, but who knows...