I love a challenge and someone recently put up a 30 day song challenge on some social media. I had in my mind to write a blog post but hadn’t got around to it so today’s discover challenge is my cue to start this. Tackling all 30 at once could be too much so I’ll start with the first six.
Day 1: A song you like with a colour in the title
I first heard Nights in White Satin as a teenager, when the song was already coming up 20 years old. I fell in love with it then and I still love it now. What’s not to love? It starts so quietly, with the guitar, but then the orchestral tones come in, and the soaring chorus. And then a flute solo! “And I love, yes I love you, oh, how I love you.” Teenage me thought this was the most romantic song ever. If you have 40 minutes, I recommend the whole Days of Future Passed album. It cycles through songs from morning to night, and this song is the penultimate track.
Day 2: A song you like with a number in the title
Expect there to be a healthy dose of 80s in any music list I put together, it’s my era. And so for this category I’ve chosen something by Spandau Ballet, back before they went all smooth. Back when they were leading new romantics, making dance music. Funky rhythms that make you want to dance (although not as much as Day 6 does), a brass hook in the middle, and the chorus is great to sing along with: “I don’t need this pressure on.”
Day 3: A song that reminds you of summertime
It’s hard to pick one song from this album because the whole of Terry Callier – Essential sounds like a hot sunny afternoon to me. The combination of the subject of the songs, Terry’s golden voice, the smooth jazzy sound – it makes me feel the warmth of the sun even on a cold winter’s morning. Aural balm for the frozen soul.
Day 4: A song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget
I’m not wasting any words on someone I’d rather forget. You can listen to the song. “And then I go outside to join the others. I am the others.”
Day 5: A song that needs to be played loud
For some reason, I seem to be hearing Queen songs everywhere right now. On the radio, in advertising, on random playlists, even on Classic FM! I think most Queen songs benefit from being played loud, but I’ve picked Flash, as I think right now I need to hear something brave and heroic… and a little bit silly.
“Flash, I love you but we only have 14 hours to save the earth!”
Day 6: A song that makes you want to dance
I love a song with a catchy brass hook in it and that bongo drum rhythm. You would see that in the Day 2 selection as well. It’s a very 80s sound, and as I said earlier that’s my era, and that’s probably why I love that sound. This song is a distilled essence of that sound. And I know that when the brass kicks in, I will start twitching and swaying. I realise I don’t really know any of the lyrics to this song and I don’t care. It makes me want to dance, and that’s enough.
Dear readers, what would your choices be for these categories? Let me know in a comment!
Tales from Tobhamhor 