Showing posts with label soundtrack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soundtrack. Show all posts

Friday, 6 October 2023

Strange Currencies


Trust Me #61
Strange Currencies by R.E.M

My wife and I are currently working our way through The Bear on Disney Plus. It's outstanding television. The first 7 episodes absolutely fly by at a furious pace, then in episode 8, the last in the first series, there is a feature length that really properly begins to introduce the characters to us and the storyline. It blew me away.

Last night we watched episode 2 in series 2. Strange Currencies by R.E.M plays towards the end and it is a simply perfect fit for the scene.

So here it is. Added to my Trust Me series and my Trust Me playlist.

I hadn't heard this song in a long, long time. I remember my brother Ross having R.E.M's Monster album on CD, but although Strange Currencies was released as a single, I didn't remember it at all when I heard it on The Bear. How could I forget a song as good as this? Probably because I haven't listened to Monster this century!

Anyway, that's a whole other thing, lets focus on the song.


Strange Currencies is glorious. Peter Buck's guitar sound is so warm, fuzzy and inviting. Michael Stipe sings his heart out, in full flow, hammering the chorus over driving chords that switch effortlessly to a picked riff.

Things slow down for the final verse, until Stipe is almost breathless as he sings everything he has to say, leading to the chorus again, with Stipe adding a little extra for good measure. His lyrics are so heartfelt and poetic, beautiful to read, sublime to hear.

You know with love comes strange currencies
And here is my appeal
I need a chance, a second chance, a third chance
A fourth chance, a word, a signal
A nod, a little breath
Just to fool myself, to catch myself
And make it real, real

These words, you will be mine
These words, you will be mine, all the time

The production on Strange Currencies is stunning. I've just listened to the song 7 times on headphones and I've not tired of it. R.E.M are on fire, the strings coming in at the end just lift everything higher, add even more emotion

R.E.M were a remarkable band and when you look back at their discography you realise/remember how exceptionally prolific they were. Six albums from Murmur in 1983 to Green in 1988, and then 5 in the 90's from Out Of Time in 1991 through to Up in 1998. They would go on to release a further 4.

I've now enjoyed revisiting Monster on headphone, loving the cranked up, fuzzed, or distorted guitars and the sound of a band having fun. It's like R.E.M went back being a garage band after the largely acoustic/stripped back albums Out Of Time and Automatic For The People.

Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series. For the playlist, search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify , or CLICK HERE

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton
1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells
2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond
3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell
4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot
5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon
6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras
7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans
8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland
9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave
10. Sometimes by James
11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time
12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre
13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields
14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals
15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser
16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes
17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth
18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter
19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground
20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub
21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub
23. Belfast by Orbital
24. Clouds by The Jayhawks
25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral
26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair
27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke
28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones
29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze
29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells
30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor
31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton
32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich
33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem
34. Mondo 77 by Looper
35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton
36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats
37. How High by The Charlatans
38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands
39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.
40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective
41. There She Goes by The Las
42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes
43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo
44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell
45. Revolution by The Beatles
46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys
47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays
48. American Trilogy by The Delgados
49. Loser by Beck 
50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy
51. Comedy by Shack
52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven
53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr
54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels
55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized
56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds
57. Cannonball by The Breeders
58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan
59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane
60. Lucky by Radiohead





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Monday, 13 June 2022

The Only Way Is Up

 Cover version of the month #77
Yazz and the Plastic Population cover Otis Clay

The Only Way Is Up by Yazz is a cover version!

It's a song I've always loved, euphoric pop music at its very best. 

Written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson, the song was originally recorded and released by Otis Clay in 1980

Yazz and the Plastic Population released the single in July 1988, the Second Summer of Love (which many will argue lasted for 2 glorious summers), absolutely perfect timing for a generation of people turning on to ecstasy and house music.

The Only Way Is Up hit number one for 5-weeks, going on to become the second biggest selling single of the year. While not quite a one-hit wonder (follow up single Stand Up For Your Love Rights reached no.2 and her album reached no.3), Yazz has recorded and performed very sporadically since those heady days.

Clay's original version of the song has a 45-second intro, jazzy guitar, punchy strings and backing vocals that build for Clay to come in with the opening line. Yet during that intro the positive nature displayed through the song (even when discussing how low things are) is teased by Clay declaring. We're gonna make it, we're gonna make it baby

It's the classic love will conquer all; homelessness/eviction/hunger ... no matter what, if Clay and his love stay together then they can make it - they are low but the only way is up.

Clay and his band hit a groove and I've found myself listening back to the song regularly since I discovered it. I've definitely fallen for it, but the Yazz version will always have a special place in my heart.

Actually, it would be interesting to hear Yazz's vocals over Clay's instrumental track.

 But back to those heady days of 1988 and Yazz's version of The Only Way Is Up.

Horns, an urgent beat, squelchy synth and Yazz's vocal come in on the intro to the first verse. It's interesting to read the lyrics to the verses in black and white. They capture the time in a different way - highlighting the real struggle people were facing in the 80's - broken down, lowest turn, sure ain't no fun and not knowing where the next meal is coming from.

The build in the bridge is just teasing us ahead of the euphoric chorus, Yazz and her backing singers urging us to hold on, hold on ... before declaring ...

The only way is up, baby

For you and me now

The only way is up, baby

For you and me now

Yazz's vocals rise through the next verses before the bridge and the thrilling chorus kick in. After an instrumental, we're back to the bridge before the chorus is hammered home time and time again. It's pure pop perfection

As it was the 80's, there is, but of course, an extended 12-inch version, adding a full 2-minutes on to the song. This allows for an extra instrumental with strings, a breakdown, some 80's effects, which disappointingly (at least for me) doesn't build back into the chorus.

Check the Otis Clay version HERE and the Yazz versions HERE 

EDIT and one of the first people to read the blog has alerted me to this mellow acoustic version by Stornoway. Check that HERE

All previous cover version of the month blogs are listed below. To listen, search for Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist, featuring all of the songs below, on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Previous covers of the month

13. Hurt
39. ABBA-esque
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash
64. Lola
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Thursday, 15 October 2020

A Real Hero

 


Trust Me #17


I was in the old Captain's Rest on Great Western Road when I first heard this song. It was one of those 'what the f**k is that?' moments as it drifted up the stairs to where I was working the door for a friends band. I abandoned my post to go downstairs and listen.

The continuous synth bass pattern was infectious, the crystal clear vocals were sublime, the little synth riffs were all kinds of dreamy gorgeousness and I was just lost in wonder for a few minutes as the song played out the PA.

Afterwards I went up to Gerry Blythe who was DJ-ing and asked him what on earth he was playing.

Upon seeing the film, I fell even deeper in love with the song. A collaboration between French electronica artist College and Electric Youth.

Austin Garrick (Electric Youth) was inspired to write A Real Hero by a quote from his Grandfather, who spoke of airline captain Chesley Sullenberger after the US Airways Flight 1549 water landing incident in January 2009, referring to Sullenberger as "a real human being and a real hero" which became the songs refrain. The song also includes the line "155 people on board" which refers to the survivors.

Meanwhile College (David Grellier) said that he took inspiration from cinema and in particular the kind of lone hero from the Mad Max series. 

It's an exceptional song, both music and vocals create a really emotional feel to it and that is amplified when you see it in the film on the big screen. The song and lyrics fit absolutely perfectly.

Check a live performance and the recorded version below.

And all of the songs in the Trust Me series (listed below) feature on the Everything Flows Trust Me playlist on Spotify. Search for that or click HERE





Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton
1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells
2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond
3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell
4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot
5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon
6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras
7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans
8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland
9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave
10. Sometimes by James
11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time
12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre
13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields
14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals
15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser
16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes



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Saturday, 4 February 2017

Heroes



Cover version of the month #22
Heroes by Peter Gabriel

I've just finished watching Stranger Things, it is incredible. Funny, emotional, weird, strange, tense, scary, dramatic and it has fantastic characters. The soundtrack is pretty incredible too.

Gabriel recorded Heroes for his 2010 album Scratch My Back. This surprised me, it fits so perfectly with the scene in Stranger Things that I thought Gabriel must have had the script and recorded it specifically to fit. The arrangement is by a guy called John Metcalfe and his work with Gabriel on this track is more than enough to ensure I will be listening to the full album.

The tense, sparse and atmospheric opening leads to Gabriel singing tenderly but with real purpose. Strings and long held notes build then tension and feeling surrounding this exceptional version.

Without any of the drive of guitar and drums...it builds an enormous tension that bursts open.

Gabriel is immersed in the song and at 2-minutes 40 seconds the tension bursts in spectacular fashion with Gabriel's voice rising in time with the strings. It is truly mesmerising.

I, I can remember
Standing, by the wall
And the guns shot above our heads
And we kissed as though nothing could fall

The Scratch My Back album was conceived with the idea that Gabriel would cover an artists song in return for them covering one of his. The return album And I'll Scratch Yours was released in 2013.

If you're going to reinterpret something, then really do something. Nail your colours to the mast and say. 'this is different and it isn't everybody's cup of tea.'

Heroes is a Bowie masterpiece, the inspiration for the song, the lyrics, vocal, riff, feel and soul of the song is utter perfection. How the f**k do you even begin to consider covering it? Check this live version from Berlin in 2002 with Bowie commenting at the end I felt that.


Well Gabriel's cover is absolutely justified. Mat Snow wrote of Heroes in his Mojo review for the album that the songs underlying despair rises to the top.

Enjoy this remarkable interpretation of an incredible song. I've included the studio version and a live version in Verona with an orchestra - goosebumps!




Previous covers of the month

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