Musical Shairs

Monday, 31 October 2011

Chattanooga Memoirs

I still remember the words to this from singing it at school in music. I was about 12. And loved it.

Chattanooga Choo Choo
by Glenn Miller

Pardon me, boy
Is that the Chattanooga choo choo?
Track twenty-nine
Boy, you can gimme a shine
I can afford
To board a Chattanooga choo choo
I've got my fare
And just a trifle to spare

You leave the Pennsylvania Station 'bout a quarter to four
Read a magazine and then you're in Baltimore
Dinner in the diner
Nothing could be finer
Than to have your ham an' eggs in Carolina

When you hear the whistle blowin' eight to the bar
Then you know that Tennessee is not very far
Shovel all the coal in
Gotta keep it rollin'
Woo, woo, Chattanooga there you are

There's gonna be
A certain party at the station
Satin and lace
I used to call "funny face"
She's gonna cry
Until I tell her that I'll never roam
So Chattanooga choo choo
Won't you choo-choo me home?
Chattanooga choo choo
Won't you choo-choo me home?

Playlist: Daisy Picking in Motion

For Alice T, who panicked in a job interview and said she loved trance music, then couldn't remember any.

Thursday, 20 October 2011

Playlist: Drizzle Down the Drain

A little mix of indie rock, folk, jazz, electronic 'shoegaze' (?), dream pop. You know...

Dad's Influence

I was on a late night music crawl in outer Youtube last night when I found myself looking up, and questioning where I had heard a song before. It was Adele - fat, beautiful, soulful Adele - singing a cover of something I had heard, but not for a long time.

The song is called ‘I Can’t Make you Love Me’, and was originally by Bonnie Raitt, an American blues singer who is now 60ish. It’s a sad and powerful song. At first though, before I could really listen to the song itself, I was struck with confusion. Where had my memory been?

As I clicked on Bonnie Raitt’s original song, I recognised her ginger hair and kind face in the video picture from a CD album my dad used to keep in his car. There is not a single moment I remember listening the song, but more a general recollection of listening to Bonnie Raitt in those early mornings when he would drive me to school. Everyone else was allowed to listen to Radio1, but I was stuck with Dad’s weird choice of old music. Sometimes jazz and blues, sometimes piano, guitar, sometimes classical. Never what I wanted, at the time.

And as I played the song over and over, I realised how beautiful it was. The lyrics told a story of heartbreak, and the tune was modest and perfect. It was personal and sad.

I listened to other people’s covers of the song, and felt a wave of appreciation for my dad. I probably have a few of these little gems stored up somewhere in my head. My music taste is not something I was born with, but something that grows. We like songs for different reasons: the feelings they provoke, the thoughts they induce, or the memories they trigger.

Playlist: Pop girl sleepover mix (For Barbara)

Something to naked pillow fight to...

Friday, 14 October 2011

Playlist: Legend Wierdos

A pocket full of wierd and wonderful artists, singing about God knows what!

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

Twin Atlantic - Brave Hearts

Formed in 2007, Twin Atlantic have released 3 albums and have supported some big names in the world of rock music. They are a very Scottish band: made up of Sam McTrusty (vocals, guitar), Barry McKenna (guitar, cello, backing vocals), Ross McNae (bass, backing vocals) and Craig Kneale (drums). But it is not just their names which are Scottish. Unlike the current wave of singer-songwriters who sing in a somewhat unexpected attempt at a 'posh South accent mate', Twin Atlantic embrace their Glasgow roots. And it works.

This 'classic British accent', displayed so beautifully by bands like The Kooks, has been copied so queerly by bands from all over the UK that it has now lost any meaning or mystique. Twin Atlantic sing real songs, with their real accent and it conveys real emotion. It is difficult to imagine their songs being sung any other way!

Some songs become more personal for a reason. Perhaps they make you think of a person, a place, a film, the music video, or even where you were when you first heard it. Twin Atlantic songs are more personal because of the thick Scottish accent unintrusivley and thoughlessly worked through each line. Well...for me anyway.

Favourite tracks:
- Make a Beast of Myself
- Yes I was Drunk
- Edit Me