I realise on reading over what I’ve picked here that some of these songs meet several categories. Terry Callier has a voice I love but is sadly no longer with us. “Slipping through my Fingers” reminds me of myself as well as being a song that breaks my heart.
A song you like by an artist no longer living
Terry Callier has a beautiful voice, mellow and golden, and his music sounds like summertime. Play his music on a rainy day and it will bring the shimmer of sunshine.
A song that makes you want to fall in love
Most people will know the version by Madness but the original is so much better. It’s so simple, so uncomplicated, so happy.
A song that breaks your heart
“What happened to the wonderful adventures, the places I had planned for us to go? Well, some of them we did, but most we didn’t. And why? I just don’t know.” This song always makes me want to cry. Strangely, when I hear this song, I feel sad for me-as-a-child, as if I promised child-me a different life that I didn’t deliver. And the dreams of that child-me are getting further and further away – slipping through my fingers all the time.
A song by an artist whose voice you love
Midge Ure has a great voice and this song shows it off. In fact everything about this song is perfect. Perfect vocal, perfectly constructed, perfect video. The mournful sadness of “the feeling is gone, only you and I…” just gives me chills.
A song you remember from your childhood
I remember this song from long car journeys in my childhood but I must have heard it on the radio enough to know it before those car journeys to sing it repeatedly and annoy my sister. What’s the appeal? Is it just the catchy chorus? Or did I like the lyric “Every cloud’s got a silver ….. li-ning.”
A song that reminds you of yourself
And why not? It’s got my name on it.
As ever, I would be interested to hear what songs you would pick for these categories. The comments space is there for you to let me know.
Tales from Tobhamhor 