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Middle-aged Dummies are back and bursting at the "themes" to get going! Full theme ahead! (4 Viewers)

"West End Girls" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. Written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the song was released twice as a single. The song's lyrics are concerned with class and the pressures of inner-city life in London which were inspired partly by T. S. Eliot's poem The Waste Land. It was generally well received by contemporary music critics and has been frequently cited as a highlight in the duo's career.

The first version of the song was produced by Bobby Orlando and was released on Columbia Records' Bobcat Records imprint in April 1984, becoming a club hit in the United States and some European countries. After the duo signed with EMI, the song was re-recorded with producer Stephen Hague for their first studio album, Please. In October 1985, the new version was released, reaching number one in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1986.

In 1987, the song won Best Single at the Brit Awards, and Best International Hit at the Ivor Novello Awards. In 2005, 20 years after its release, the song was awarded Song of The Decade between the years 1985 and 1994 by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters. A critic's poll in 2020 by The Guardian selected "West End Girls" as the greatest UK number-one single.

The song was performed by the Pet Shop Boys at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.





 
krista4 – Chicagoland

Slow Down Chicago – Canasta

Artist connection to Chicago (1-5 scale): 5 - Another of those local bands you'd see playing at one of the small or mid-sized clubs practically every week in the early aughts. Always a good show, their music spanned a lot of genres, but mostly you'd call it chamber pop. I didn't realize until this exercise that one of my best friends in Chicago had a track on their downloadable remix album back in 2008. So weird that I didn't know that.
Song connection to Chicago (1-10 scale): 7 - The song mentions Chicago places, but I gave it such a high score mostly for the feel of it, the desperation sometimes in this city that you want everything to quiet or pause, just for a minute. But the city just chugs along anyway.
This town it breathes on its own
With or without me
The skyline wakes up whether or not I get out of bed
El trains, they rumble along
And headlines will happen with no help from me


Total: 12
 
#7 THE ROOTS - HOW I GOT OVER

I had a random album from The Roots in that pile of CDs I talked about earlier that I rediscovered in the closet. I had heard of Questlove, but not tied him to The Roots and I didn't know they were Fallon's backup band. This probably was the group I was thinking about the most for my MAD31 Part 2 artist until I got cold feet and pivoted to Mastodon. As I got more into them I also read Questlove's memoir, which I thought was really good. I never bothered to think about the history of hip hop or think about the music from the artist's POV. I like the dynamic between Questlove and Black Thought and how their different backgrounds add to the music. One of the biggest take-aways I got from the book was him pointing to Stevie Wonder on the Cosby Show being the birth of hip hop. It also didn't hurt that they has originally thought about calling themselves Black to the Future.

Recommended listening: What really drew me in was the wide range of styles and talent they display on their albums. I chose this song to as a bit of a nod to the non-rap fans, but also How I Got Over is a great album that I think even people not typically drawn to the genre could mostly dig. Doin' It Again is another track I considered, as is the tune with John Legend - The Fire. Speaking of, the other album I would recommend to all in here is Wake Up!, which is a full album of John Legend + The Roots. You all like covers, right? I included Hard Times below for a preview. Other than that, there is a wide range to listen to. Illadelph Halflife has a harder edge to it, while Phrenology is all over the place with styles. I linked a couple favorites that I had considered for the playlist below.




NEXT: Going north to our 51st state to highlight the 2nd duo of the top 10.
The Seed is the best track off of Phrenology imo
 
7. Eye to Eye by Chaka Khan

Album: I Feel For You
Released: Oct 1



Chaka's first solo pop album after leaving the funk group Rufus. This was really the peak of her career as a pop star Through the Fire charted on the Hot 100, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts, This is My Night hit number 1 on the dance charts and her biggest hit, the cover of Prince's I Feel For You (featuring Melle Mel rapping and Stevie Wonder playing the chromatic harmonica) basically went top 10 on every chart in every part of the world. A pop star embracing hip hop and putting a rap verse on her song was groundbreaking at the time. I believe this is the first pop hit to feature rap in it.

Blondie's "Rapture" reached #1 on the main Pop chart three years earlier
 
7. Eye to Eye by Chaka Khan

Album: I Feel For You
Released: Oct 1



Chaka's first solo pop album after leaving the funk group Rufus. This was really the peak of her career as a pop star Through the Fire charted on the Hot 100, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts, This is My Night hit number 1 on the dance charts and her biggest hit, the cover of Prince's I Feel For You (featuring Melle Mel rapping and Stevie Wonder playing the chromatic harmonica) basically went top 10 on every chart in every part of the world. A pop star embracing hip hop and putting a rap verse on her song was groundbreaking at the time. I believe this is the first pop hit to feature rap in it.

Blondie's "Rapture" reached #1 on the main Pop chart three years earlier
Yes yes good call, should be first guest rap verse. I will change that.
 
11s

Known
Garbage: Only Happy When it Rains
Billy Joel: Piano Man
Gheorghe Zamfir: The Lonely Shepherd
Traffic: Dear Mr. Fantasy
Psychedelic Furs: Love My Way
The Who: Eminence Front
When in Rome: The Promise
Jewel: Foolish Games
Beastie Boys: No Sleep Till Brooklyn
a-ha: Take on Me

Caught My Attention
New York Dolls: Subway Train
Kill Cheerleader: Sell Your Soul
Kadavar: Dust
Drowning Pool: 37 Stitches
Paul Engemann: Scarface
Waterboys: Whole of the Moon
Reverend Horton Heat: Bullet
 
-OZ- - song / music moments from the Marvel cinematic universe

On And On - Curtis Harding
If I had done this as a countdown, this song would have been a strong contender for the top spot, no lower than top 5. It makes for a really good ending to F&WS. The first time I heard it was at the end of the show, I thought for sure it was a classic as it had that great feel.

Curtis Harding is an artist who brings a unique blend of retro soul, rock, and R&B to the modern music scene. His 2020 album “On and On” encapsulates his musical essence—a deeply soulful, introspective, and emotionally raw collection of songs. Harding’s work is a reflection of his personal journey, rooted in the African-American experience, while simultaneously being universal in its themes of love, loss, and perseverance. The album takes listeners on an emotional journey, characterized by its genre-defying sound and Harding’s distinctive voice, which effortlessly navigates through the complexities of soul, funk, and rock.


Curtis Harding’s musical career began in the late 2000s, but it was with the release of “Soul Power” (2014) and its follow-up, “Face Your Fear” (2017), that he began to gain widespread attention for his retro-soul approach. However, it is “On and On” that truly exemplifies his growth as an artist, both in terms of sound and lyrical content. Harding’s musical style is influenced by iconic artists such as Curtis Mayfield, Otis Redding, and The Temptations, but it also carries the influence of contemporary artists like D’Angelo and Alabama Shakes. What stands out most in “On and On” is how Harding’s music seamlessly blends these varied influences while still feeling fresh and original.

The album’s title track, “On and On”, embodies the overarching themes of perseverance and resilience. The song’s lush instrumentation, which features groovy basslines, smooth guitar riffs, and a steady drum beat, is matched by Harding’s impassioned vocal delivery. The lyrics speak to the challenges of life, yet there is an underlying sense of hope. Harding’s voice, a rich baritone with a raspy edge, conveys a sense of longing and determination. The repetitive refrain, “On and on, I keep on going,” serves as both a mantra and an affirmation that no matter the obstacles, he will keep moving forward.

I'm gonna keep rollin' on (on)
No matter what the world may do (do)
'Cause with a love like this (like this)
There's nothing left to do (to do)
So let me tell you
It doesn't matter what you say, I'm still
I'm still gonna float away for real
In a minute, y'all, I'll be gone right or wrong
I'ma just keep rolling on and on
And on and on
No more wasting time (time)
I gotta get into this groove (groove)
'Cause with a love like this (like this)
I just can't help to move (move)
So let me tell you


next up- conveniently titled as I’m currently driving to HHI with 3 of my kids.
 
"West End Girls" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. Written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the song was released twice as a single. The song's lyrics are concerned with class and the pressures of inner-city life in London which were inspired partly by T. S. Eliot's poem The Waste Land. It was generally well received by contemporary music critics and has been frequently cited as a highlight in the duo's career.

The first version of the song was produced by Bobby Orlando and was released on Columbia Records' Bobcat Records imprint in April 1984, becoming a club hit in the United States and some European countries. After the duo signed with EMI, the song was re-recorded with producer Stephen Hague for their first studio album, Please. In October 1985, the new version was released, reaching number one in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1986.

In 1987, the song won Best Single at the Brit Awards, and Best International Hit at the Ivor Novello Awards. In 2005, 20 years after its release, the song was awarded Song of The Decade between the years 1985 and 1994 by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters. A critic's poll in 2020 by The Guardian selected "West End Girls" as the greatest UK number-one single.

The song was performed by the Pet Shop Boys at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.





Love the PSB.
They seemed to arrive too late for the synth pop genre, but theyve been making music for 40+ years now with no signs of stopping.
A MAD playlist from them would be nigh on impossible for me as the later releases always have a good few tracks.
I already did Love etc for this countdown. Probably their best song of the last 20 years.
They do try the odd innovation, but still sound the same as they did in 1985. A good thing.
 
Known-to-me favorites from #7:


kupcho1 – rain

I Love a Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt


Eephus – Single (Named) Ladies

Like a Prayer – Madonna


Charlie Steiner – songs from Mad Men

Both Sides Now - Judy Collins


Dr. Octopus – guitarists I’ve seen live

Damn Right I Got The Blues - Buddy Guy


Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen


Mrs. Rannous – umlauts

She's A Woman (And Now He's A Man) - Hüsker Dü


Raging weasel – name-checking Beatles or their songs

King of Rock - Run- DMC


jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

Vogue – Madonna


scorchy – songs by Manchester(-ish) artists

Made Of Stone - The Stone Roses


shuke – Saxytime

Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Spotify) – Traffic


landrys hat - favorite Side 2 Track 1s from my record collection

Electric Funeral - Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)


rockaction - Songs that state the genre they’re in


We Will Rock You - Queen


Tau837 – Hair metal

No One Like You - Scorpions


DrIanMalcolm – Songs about New York

Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful


higgins – Instrumentals with places in the title

Terminal Frost - Pink Floyd


Zegras11 – New wave

West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys


MAC_32 – Songs to play during (and after) a funeral

Landslide - Fleetwood Mac


A double-up from Queen as we move toward the top does not surprise me at all from this crowd.
 
I'll give another hint with the #5 playlist. I think it will be a more useful hint.

Selections:

31. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers

30. Hear The Drummer Get Wicked - Chad Jackson

29. Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

28. Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai

27. Another Chance - Roger Sanchez

26. Living On My Own - Freddie Mercury

25. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

24. Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay

23. Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music

22. By The Time I Get To Arizona - Public Enemy

21. I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry

20. Goddess On A Hiway - Mercury Rev

19. Dark Therapy – Echobelly

18. Run To You - Bryan Adams

17. Inside Out – Anthrax

16. There's Nothing I Won't Do – JX

15. You - Bad Religion

14. Don't Stop Me Now – Queen

13. Moving – Supergrass

12. The Time Is Now – Moloko

11. Ms Jackson – Outkast

10. Ray of Light - Madonna

9. Winter Hill – Doves

8. Carnaval de Paris - Dario G

7. Seven Days and One Week - B.B.E.



Incorrect guesses:

Songs that give advice

Bands That Have Never Been in My Kitchen

Songs by artists who have headlined Glastonbury

Songs featuring the Mellotron

Fear mongering

Song titles that could be part of geometry proofs

Bands who have a member whose first or last name is a James Bond reference

Bands with family members

Songs that reference a location in another country

Songs that have nine or more words in the title

Songs that mention famous streets

Bands who had a member mysteriously disappear, get declared dead, but no body has ever been found

Songs that reference footballguys user names

Songs without a guitar

Song titles that are commands

First two words of song titles in order of lyrics from The Youngbloods’ Get Together

Songs about resilience in the face of adversity

Songs about the importance of progress

Songs to make people overthink and speculate about an imaginary theme that doesn't really exist

31 songs that MADs submitted in prior MAD rounds, but judge disqualified because the submitting MAD failed to get the long-form birth certificate of all band members before submitting

Songs NOT produced by Todd Rundgren

Artists without umlauts

Songs Sam Rockwell has danced to in a movie

Songs about navigating and adapting to a constantly changing world

Songs credited to more than one songwriter

UK top ten singles

Singles released by UK artist/bands

31 British Isles Songs That Did Not Appear in the MAD British Isles Countdown

Non-guitar driven songs

Songs in 4/4 time

Broadway shows

Songs that all charted in the same six countries:
UK
Australia
Germany
France
Ireland
Netherlands

Songs under 5 minutes

Songs where artists let out excessive vocalizations of the “ahh,” “ooh,” “dee,” etc. variety

A break up and starting over

Things that will drive a bunch of middle aged dummies who are trying to find a pattern go crazy

Stages in Rustoleum’s marriage

Guinness World Records

Songs that can qualify for other people’s themes

Songs by people with facial hair

All songs use an instrument with keys

Songs that are the narrative arc of a divorce

Addiction

Songs with 125 BPM or more

Songs that sample other songs on the list

Songs representing different Nicholas Cage movies / characters

Songs

This is your life, Krista

Something to do with Tina Turner/abused women

Jimi Hendrix

Detailing Britney Spears’ descent into madness

Addiction ... to love

Songs in A Minor

The plot to Thelma and Louise

Kourtney Kardashian

Songs about a major change in someone's life

Midlife crisis

Songs with a subject you should see a therapist about

Mental illness

Songs about the world's worst super heros

Mania

Things you do impulsively

Songs that use the word “The” at some stage in the lyrics

The Ballad of @krista4 and OH

Songs the were on the UK official singles chart for the week ending on Aug 16, 2008

Songs from multiple decades

Songs about exploration of identity

Dancing

Each of these songs holds a special place in the hearts of listeners, and they remain influential in the genres they represent

krista's iconic playlist

struggle, rebellion, and survival

songs that have no connection to each other whatsoever - y'all are just wasting your time - ha ha ha suckers

Id, ego, and superego

Each song is somehow connected to one of the first 31 themes submitted for this countdown

Songs that qualify for more than one of the MAD31 themes submitted

Obscure chess strategies

All of these songs tie into the movie Thelma and Louise

history repeating itself

Songs for which there exists another song with the exact same title

Songs that implicate the seven deadly sins

The plot of a movie

the arc of Pink Floyd’s The Wall

Being in an oppressive relationship, and the journey to take back control of your life

the arc of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

trapped in a continuous cycle and finding a release that feels like freedom

Moving on through suicide

Things that require immediate action

Determining your own destiny

the life and tribulations of Pamela Anderson

[Eliminating/adding characters to a title -or- re-ordering the words in a title] give you the title to another song.

the Kiefer Sutherland life story

Awakenings

Coming full circle

Trials and tribulations involving breasts?
My dad sucks
 
Known-to-me favorites from #7:


kupcho1 – rain

I Love a Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt


Eephus – Single (Named) Ladies

Like a Prayer – Madonna


Charlie Steiner – songs from Mad Men

Both Sides Now - Judy Collins


Dr. Octopus – guitarists I’ve seen live

Damn Right I Got The Blues - Buddy Guy


Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen


Mrs. Rannous – umlauts

She's A Woman (And Now He's A Man) - Hüsker Dü


Raging weasel – name-checking Beatles or their songs

King of Rock - Run- DMC


jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

Vogue – Madonna


scorchy – songs by Manchester(-ish) artists

Made Of Stone - The Stone Roses


shuke – Saxytime

Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Spotify) – Traffic


landrys hat - favorite Side 2 Track 1s from my record collection

Electric Funeral - Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)


rockaction - Songs that state the genre they’re in

We Will Rock You - Queen


Tau837 – Hair metal

No One Like You - Scorpions


DrIanMalcolm – Songs about New York

Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful


higgins – Instrumentals with places in the title

Terminal Frost - Pink Floyd


Zegras11 – New wave

West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys


MAC_32 – Songs to play during (and after) a funeral

Landslide - Fleetwood Mac


A double-up from Queen as we move toward the top does not surprise me at all from this crowd.
I didn't catch the Queen double up. I was too excited for 2X Madonna, I guess.
 
7. We're an American Band
Artist: Grand Funk (aka Grand Funk Railroad)
Album: We're an American Band (1973)
Todd's role: producer, engineer
Writer(s): Don Brewer

The song: This is the only song on my list to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and every middle-aged dummy who ever listened to mainstream radio should know it. Grand Funk Railroad were already a wildly successful act by the time of their seventh album, but the tastemakers on both coasts had mostly ignored them other than to write something snarky every so often.

Assisted by Todd Rundgren's production which tightened up their sound and added organ and cowbell to the band's usual power-trio setup, the title track of We're an American Band was by far Grand Funk's most successful song and remains the one most identified with them. If anyone asks you what '70s "boogie rock" sounds like, this is the song to play for them. As per Rundgren tradition, the song with the most hit potential led off the album.

In contrast to most of the material on their previous albums, "We're an American Band" was written and sung by drummer Don Brewer, making it one of the most successful drummer-sung songs that wasn't performed by Phil Collins or Ringo Starr.

Brewer told Ultimate Classic Rock that the story of the song being a middle finger to British band Humble Pie is not true. While the bands toured together and did have a backstage debate over whether American or British rock bands were better, the song was actually just a chronicle of the band's life on the road.

"We were on planes all the time, flying into these towns," he said. "I remember I'm looking down at the ground as we're coming into a city and that thought came to my mind: 'We're coming to your town. We'll help you party it down' – because that's what we're doing; that's what this band does."

The song is credited to Brewer, but guitarist and primary singer/songwriter Mark Farner claims to have written the music for it but let Brewer take sole credit.

"I gave it to him because he came to me and said, 'Listen, man, I never wrote a song all by myself, do you think I could just have this?' I said, Yeah, you can have it,'" Farner told Mojo.

Brewer told American Songwriter that the first time he heard the song on the radio, "I pulled off the side of the road and I cranked it up. And I just sat there and I couldn’t believe how good it sounded on the radio. It just had that thing – and that's when I knew, that’s a hit record. That's what a hit record sounds like."

The album: Grand Funk Railroad was in a transitional state when it came time to record their seventh album. They were wildly popular on the road but didn't have the radio presence to match. They had added keyboardist Craig Frost to flesh out their sound -- he played on their sixth album Phoenix but was not credited as a full member until We're An American Band. And they had settled a legal dispute with their original manager Terry Knight, which allowed the band to keep its name but gave Knight the copyrights and publishers' royalties for every song recorded between March 1969 and March 1972. And they dropped the "Railroad" from their name, I guess since everyone called them "Grand Funk" anyway.

So it's little wonder that they were looking for radio hits, and Rundgren was brought in to help the band achieve them. The earlier Grand Funk records have a "plug in and jam" vibe about them, but We're an American Band was lavishly produced and exquisitely arranged by boogie rock standards -- yet still only took three days to record, in keeping with Rundgren's preference for using first takes. Contemporary and retrospective reviews both noted that the album sounds more "professional" than its predecessors.

The title track's massive success was followed by another Brewer-sung single that hit the top 20 in "Walk Like a Man," and the process went well enough that Grand Funk became one of the few artists to have more than one Rundgren-produced album. He also produced the follow-up Shinin' On, which yielded another No. 1 hit, a cover of the Carole King/Gerry Goffin-penned "The Loco-Motion," originally performed by Little Eva. However, the band was defunct by the end of 1976 due to internal tensions and declining sales. They have reunited at various times since the '80s, though Farner has not played with them since 1998.

You Might Also Like: "Walk Like a Man" sounds just enough like "We're an American Band" to signal that this is cut from the same cloth, but features electric piano instead of organ and has a staccato arrangement that sounds even more "macho" than the big hit. The bass-driven instrumental passage before the final chorus may be the best part of the song. https://open.spotify.com/track/0gRiVUZhN7AErXjiJnCqPX?si=a56f1d9d3dc6471a

Rundgren covered it on the (re)Production album. https://open.spotify.com/track/5DO0LVVRyiWnM5HxJ042ML?si=cea0986422b646d1

At #6, what happens when you try to make your guitar sound like a motorcycle.
 
7. We're an American Band
Artist: Grand Funk (aka Grand Funk Railroad)
Album: We're an American Band (1973)
Todd's role: producer, engineer
Writer(s): Don Brewer

The song: This is the only song on my list to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and every middle-aged dummy who ever listened to mainstream radio should know it. Grand Funk Railroad were already a wildly successful act by the time of their seventh album, but the tastemakers on both coasts had mostly ignored them other than to write something snarky every so often.

Assisted by Todd Rundgren's production which tightened up their sound and added organ and cowbell to the band's usual power-trio setup, the title track of We're an American Band was by far Grand Funk's most successful song and remains the one most identified with them. If anyone asks you what '70s "boogie rock" sounds like, this is the song to play for them. As per Rundgren tradition, the song with the most hit potential led off the album.

In contrast to most of the material on their previous albums, "We're an American Band" was written and sung by drummer Don Brewer, making it one of the most successful drummer-sung songs that wasn't performed by Phil Collins or Ringo Starr.

Brewer told Ultimate Classic Rock that the story of the song being a middle finger to British band Humble Pie is not true. While the bands toured together and did have a backstage debate over whether American or British rock bands were better, the song was actually just a chronicle of the band's life on the road.

"We were on planes all the time, flying into these towns," he said. "I remember I'm looking down at the ground as we're coming into a city and that thought came to my mind: 'We're coming to your town. We'll help you party it down' – because that's what we're doing; that's what this band does."

The song is credited to Brewer, but guitarist and primary singer/songwriter Mark Farner claims to have written the music for it but let Brewer take sole credit.

"I gave it to him because he came to me and said, 'Listen, man, I never wrote a song all by myself, do you think I could just have this?' I said, Yeah, you can have it,'" Farner told Mojo.

Brewer told American Songwriter that the first time he heard the song on the radio, "I pulled off the side of the road and I cranked it up. And I just sat there and I couldn’t believe how good it sounded on the radio. It just had that thing – and that's when I knew, that’s a hit record. That's what a hit record sounds like."

The album: Grand Funk Railroad was in a transitional state when it came time to record their seventh album. They were wildly popular on the road but didn't have the radio presence to match. They had added keyboardist Craig Frost to flesh out their sound -- he played on their sixth album Phoenix but was not credited as a full member until We're An American Band. And they had settled a legal dispute with their original manager Terry Knight, which allowed the band to keep its name but gave Knight the copyrights and publishers' royalties for every song recorded between March 1969 and March 1972. And they dropped the "Railroad" from their name, I guess since everyone called them "Grand Funk" anyway.

So it's little wonder that they were looking for radio hits, and Rundgren was brought in to help the band achieve them. The earlier Grand Funk records have a "plug in and jam" vibe about them, but We're an American Band was lavishly produced and exquisitely arranged by boogie rock standards -- yet still only took three days to record, in keeping with Rundgren's preference for using first takes. Contemporary and retrospective reviews both noted that the album sounds more "professional" than its predecessors.

The title track's massive success was followed by another Brewer-sung single that hit the top 20 in "Walk Like a Man," and the process went well enough that Grand Funk became one of the few artists to have more than one Rundgren-produced album. He also produced the follow-up Shinin' On, which yielded another No. 1 hit, a cover of the Carole King/Gerry Goffin-penned "The Loco-Motion," originally performed by Little Eva. However, the band was defunct by the end of 1976 due to internal tensions and declining sales. They have reunited at various times since the '80s, though Farner has not played with them since 1998.

You Might Also Like: "Walk Like a Man" sounds just enough like "We're an American Band" to signal that this is cut from the same cloth, but features electric piano instead of organ and has a staccato arrangement that sounds even more "macho" than the big hit. The bass-driven instrumental passage before the final chorus may be the best part of the song. https://open.spotify.com/track/0gRiVUZhN7AErXjiJnCqPX?si=a56f1d9d3dc6471a

Rundgren covered it on the (re)Production album. https://open.spotify.com/track/5DO0LVVRyiWnM5HxJ042ML?si=cea0986422b646d1

At #6, what happens when you try to make your guitar sound like a motorcycle.
I don't think my irrational love of this band needs explaining after the 25 years we've been doing this kind of stuff here. They sucked, ok? Stumble into whatever local dive bar that is close to you tonight and you'll find a better group.

DO. NOT. CARE. Come get some. :fro:
 
Don Quixote – Afrobeat

Talkin’ Talkin’ (Spotify) - Matata (Kenya)
Second trip to Kenya, after The Mighty Cavaliers earlier on my list.

In Swahili, “Matata” means worries. It is a problem-y philosophy. Matata won a BBC competition to find the best band in Africa, which led to them being invited to London and to perform on the BBC. It also landed them an album deal with President Records in England. Matata was definitely influenced by James Brown, which this song makes pretty apparent, with African percussion at the forefront too, and fusing it with the funk.

The “Feelin’ Funky” album is a compilation album with a bunch of the their stuff on it, and a good overall listen if enjoy the sounds of Afrofunk. President Records has a history of the band here:

 
7. Eye to Eye by Chaka Khan

Album: I Feel For You
Released: Oct 1



Chaka's first solo pop album after leaving the funk group Rufus. This was really the peak of her career as a pop star Through the Fire charted on the Hot 100, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts, This is My Night hit number 1 on the dance charts and her biggest hit, the cover of Prince's I Feel For You (featuring Melle Mel rapping and Stevie Wonder playing the chromatic harmonica) basically went top 10 on every chart in every part of the world. A pop star embracing hip hop and putting a rap verse on her song was groundbreaking at the time. I believe this is the first pop hit to feature rap in it.

Blondie's "Rapture" reached #1 on the main Pop chart three years earlier
If you can call what Debbie Hary does as rap. Yuck.
 
7. Eye to Eye by Chaka Khan

Album: I Feel For You
Released: Oct 1



Chaka's first solo pop album after leaving the funk group Rufus. This was really the peak of her career as a pop star Through the Fire charted on the Hot 100, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts, This is My Night hit number 1 on the dance charts and her biggest hit, the cover of Prince's I Feel For You (featuring Melle Mel rapping and Stevie Wonder playing the chromatic harmonica) basically went top 10 on every chart in every part of the world. A pop star embracing hip hop and putting a rap verse on her song was groundbreaking at the time. I believe this is the first pop hit to feature rap in it.

Blondie's "Rapture" reached #1 on the main Pop chart three years earlier
If you can call what Debbie Hary does as rap. Yuck.

Go eat a car
 
7. Eye to Eye by Chaka Khan

Album: I Feel For You
Released: Oct 1



Chaka's first solo pop album after leaving the funk group Rufus. This was really the peak of her career as a pop star Through the Fire charted on the Hot 100, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts, This is My Night hit number 1 on the dance charts and her biggest hit, the cover of Prince's I Feel For You (featuring Melle Mel rapping and Stevie Wonder playing the chromatic harmonica) basically went top 10 on every chart in every part of the world. A pop star embracing hip hop and putting a rap verse on her song was groundbreaking at the time. I believe this is the first pop hit to feature rap in it.

Blondie's "Rapture" reached #1 on the main Pop chart three years earlier
If you can call what Debbie Hary does as rap. Yuck.

Go eat a car
Why? So I can drive real far?
 
I didn’t forget what the #8s were for!

Known Numbers:
Piece of My Heart - Janis Joplin
Man In The Box - Alice In Chains. Also #8 in my AiC countdown. Serendipity!
Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
Self Control - Laura Branigan
Fantasy - Aldo Nova

Total Surprises:
Memories - The Coathangers
Innocence - Harlequin
I Guess I’m Just a Little Too Sensitive - Orange Juice
Downey to Lubbock - Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Promontory - Trevor Jones

Go Figure:
I’m going to put Queensyrche’s “Speak” and “Words” from Missing Persons here mostly because it amuses me. I mean, they also tie together in their way, but still.
 
jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

Vogue – Madonna

Out of all the songs in my list, this one is probably the best at imaging and soundstage. It's incredible.

This is not the original mix, which appeared on her album for the **** Tracy soundtrack. That one sounds great too in terms of soundstage and imaging, but this has since been remastered/remixed with something called Q sound. It takes it to another level - the sound just assaults you from everywhere. Most songs stick to the space between the two speakers, but this one ventures outside them. I love all the electronic keyboard fills and touches that never let up - this is definitely one of those "I never heard it like that before" that good speakers bring out. Even if you don't like Madonna, hopefully you can appreciate what goes into a song like this.
 
World’s Worst Superheroes #7

Fat Bottomed Girls

Artist - Queen (1978)

Strengths - Low center of gravity; very, very popular with certain demographics; red beans and rice didn't miss them

Weaknesses - Limited sprinting speed; seemingly at the center of every bar fight known to man; sometimes find it difficult to fit into regulation airplane seats


There Goes My Hero

Situation
- You’ve placed your life savings on the local Synchronized Swimming team to win the upcoming world championships. There was no way for them to lose. That is until the entire squad came down with a near-fatal case of swimmer’s ear. You need the replacement team to step up for you or else all is lost.

Cotton McKnight: “Welcome, everyone, to the world championships of the American Synchronized Swimming Association of America. I’m Cotton McKnight and I’m joined as always by former men’s champion, Pepper Brooks. What an event we have in store for you all, right Pepper?”

Pepper Brooks: [takes a large swig from his beverage] “Effin’ A, Cotton! Effin’ A!”

Cotton: “Unfortunately, the local favorites from Average Jane’s had to drop out at the last minute. Their replacements have a tough challenge to beat the near perfect score from the Russian team. Let’s see here, I believe the newcomers’ team name is Fat Bottomed Girls.”

Pepper: [perking up] “Well you know Cotton, you can’t spell the acronym for the American Synchronized Swimming Association of America without A-S-“

Cotton: [clears throat] “We’re aware of that, Pepper. Apparently, the team has recently returned from Brazil after getting some (ahem) elective surgery.”

Pepper: [removes sunglasses] “Oh they’ve definitely been to Brazil. It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for 'em.“

[The Fat Bottomed Girls take their spots at the edge of the pool. Music by Sir Mix-A-Lot kicks in. The FBGs enter the pool with an emphatic splash]

Cotton: [towels off his now soaked forehead] “Their first move is the always difficult Lunar Eclipse.”

Pepper: [toweling off for a completely different reason] “Usually you pay double for that kind of action, Cotton.”

Cotton: “Now their upper halves are completely submerged and their legs are doing the ever popular Bombay Bicycle.”

Pepper: “Get on your bikes and ride!”

Cotton: “Now for the grand finale, the FBGs are going to go completely underwater and emerge with an amazing flip in the air.”

Pepper: “Oh no, it appears their backsides are too buoyant to go underwater and the Fat Bottomed Girls will be unable to complete their final maneuver.”

Cotton: “It looks like the clock is about to strike midnight on this Cinderella story, turning the Fat Bottomed Girls into the proverbial pumpkin.”

Pepper: “I sure do like 🎃🎃 , Cotton. They make the rockin’ world go round!”
 
simey – train songs

Dusty Boxcar Wall - Eilen Jewell
This song is off Eilen's 2007 album Letters from Sinners and Strangers. She has made several albums over the years, and she blends genres often. She can be bluesy, jazzy, rockabilly, folky, americana, etc. I've seen her live a few times, and she sounds just like she does on her recordings, and her band is very good. She is on lead vocal and plays acoustic guitar on "Dusty Boxcar Wall."

Well I'm going away my baby
I'm gonna leave you honey now
Well that train passed by when you lay sleeping
I'm gonna write you a letter on a dusty boxcar wall
 
simey – train songs

Dusty Boxcar Wall - Eilen Jewell
This song is off Eilen's 2007 album Letters from Sinners and Strangers. She has made several albums over the years, and she blends genres often. She can be bluesy, jazzy, rockabilly, folky, americana, etc. I've seen her live a few times, and she sounds just like she does on her recordings, and her band is very good. She is on lead vocal and plays acoustic guitar on "Dusty Boxcar Wall."

Well I'm going away my baby
I'm gonna leave you honey now
Well that train passed by when you lay sleeping
I'm gonna write you a letter on a dusty boxcar wall
I liked this one a lot. Cool song.
 
7. "We Will Rock You" - Queen

Okay. You think you know this song. But really listen to it. It's one-and-a-half minutes of percussive clapping and bleacher stomping. Boom-boom-clap. Vocally, Freddie Mercury is in more than fine form, snarling the lyrics with a chorus of people behind him. So it's that and the stomping and clapping. Then simply and solely comes a half minute guitar part/solo by Brian May that is, for lack of a better word and minus any hyperbole, legendary. And that's it from Queen on this one (Whaddya mean that's it? Listen to this guy here . . . ). There is no bass, so there's no roll in the title after "Rock." Nothing about this song simply rolls along.

Its composition is so over-the-top even for Queen. Nothing quite fits the "rock" genre more than this song. but the minimalism in the amount of instrumentation and the use of simply bodies and voice for the first minute and a half of percussion and sound to induce the maximum amount of effect on the listener is probably second-to-none in a rock song. It's so stripped down other than that gosh darn guitar that elevates the song to God-knows-where.

That gosh darn solo.

I'd type out the onomatopoeia, but that would be impossible to do. It soars. Really. And then it just ends. Stops. You've had your face rocked off by Queen.
 
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9s

Saxy goodness
simey – The Memphis Train - Rufus Thomas
Mt. Man – 25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago
DrIanMalcolm – Take the A Train - Duke Ellington Orchestra

Shukelist appearances
scorchy – The Air That I Breathe - The Hollies
rockaction - Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker) - Parliament
Zegras11 – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics

Favorite new to me
Don Quixote – Allah Wakbarr (Spotify) - Ofo & The Black Company
Mister CIA – Telephone Road - Steve Earle

The transition from Somebody by Depeche Mode to Dreamers by Rizzle Kicks was pretty cool. Sounds like the continuation of the song.
 
New-to-me songs from #8 that caught my ear:

Eephus – Single (Named) Ladies

You'll Find A Way – Santigold


simey – train songs

A Train Robbery - Levon Helm


Yambag – Metal songs from 1988-1992 that became the gateway into the world of music for a young Yambag

Speak - Queensryche

Mrs. Rannous – umlauts

Limit Break – Girugämesh


KarmaPolice – songs from artists not on shuke’s list

Memories - The Coathangers


Mt. Man – Number, Please

24K Magic - Bruno Mars


Raging weasel – name-checking Beatles or their songs

Ballrooms of Mars - T Rex


scorchy – songs by Manchester(-ish) artists

History - The Verve


Ilov80s - One song from each of the 31 best albums of 1984

I Guess I'm Just a Little Too Sensitive - Orange Juice


Mister CIA – Texas Places in Song Titles

Downey to Lubbock - Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore


rockaction - Songs that state the genre they’re in

Backseat Freestyle - Kendrick Lamar


MrsKarmaPolice – Animal Kingdom

Doin' the Cockroach - Modest Mouse


Put Sting on vocals and "70-fy" the production, and "You'll Find a Way" could pass for a song on the first Police album.
"My scrotum, imposing" :laugh:
"Doin' the Cockroach" didn't make Marco's Modest Mouse top 31. :eek:
 
You’re probably asking yourself: how high was Yo Mama last night to come up with “Fat Bottomed Girls are in a synchronized swimming competition narrated by the guys from Dodgeball, but their BBL’s are too buoyant to submerge underwater”?

The answer is lots. Lots and lots of high!
This one got me.

[toweling off for a completely different reason]
 

Batman​

7 - Cutting Crew - (I Just) Died in Your Arms​


Relevant Lyric - Her diary sits on the bedside table
Curtains are closed, cat's in the cradle
Who would've thought that a boy like me could come to this?
And I, I just died in your arms tonight
Must've been something you said

Batman Vibe Score - 0/10. They hadnt even made Batman movies when this was released.

Where to Find - Lego Batman movie Soundtrack

Quick Hit Comment - Just such a great song that has absolutely zip to do with the caped crusader

Next Up - Let’s get Funky
 

Songs in D Minor - The Saddest Key of All​

7 - Justin Heyward - Forever Autumn​


Lyric - The summer sun is fading as the year grows old
And darker days are drawing near
The winter winds will be much colder
Now you're not here.

Source - https://musicstax.com/track/forever-autumn/3cscFxpX9fcmhiniTzF7n4
https://tunebat.com/Info/Forever-Autumn-Justin-Hayward/3VIKXGAq5GBI2jjIy6CvLa

Sadness Quotient - 10/11

Comment - From the wonderful Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. The Moody Blues lead singer pours his heart out here

Next Up - More from the My Dad Sucks list….
 
I had to have Rage Against the Machine on the list as well. This was the crossover I had the most confidence in when Yambag gave me the hint about the 4 1992 albums that were the reason for that date in range. 1992 had a lot of good albums, but this was one that seemed to reach everybody no matter the music background. I went with Freedom, because I had a funny memory while doing it about badgering the local radio station. (I think WORT, @MrsKarmaPolice ?) At some point a station had it where you could send/call a list of 3 songs for them to play. At work when we closed every night we would fax multiple submissions, and eventually I annoyed them enough that they played the songs (plus a message on air to kindly stop sending requests in) :lol: I know two of the songs were Jesus Built my Hotrod and Freedom. I am pretty sure #3 was Primus, but not sure what - Jerry sounds the most likely, but Mr. Knowitall was my HS yearbook song, so maybe that was it.


Since I can't read and included 1993 in my head for the playlist, I had Quicksand on my list as well. They were the exact type of band I was getting into at the end of HS going into college as I got a bit away from "metal" metal. Slip and Manic Compression were a couple albums that got a lot of play at the time. I went with the album opener Fazer for the playlist.


That brings us to 10 the same, and tomorrow will make 11. :popcorn:
 
7. Both Sides Now - Judy Collins


Every agency you're going to meet with feel qualified to advertise the Hershey bar because the product itself is one of the most successful billboards of all time. And its relationship with America is so overwhelmingly positive that everyone in this room has their own story to tell. It could be rations in the heat of battle or in the movie theater on a first date. But most of them are from childhood. Mine was my father, taking me to the drugstore after I'd mowed the lawn and telling me I could have anything I wanted. Anything at all. And there was a lot. But I picked a Hershey bar. The wrapper looked like what was inside. And as I ripped it open, my father tousled my hair and forever his love and the chocolate were tied together. That's the story we're going to tell. Hershey's is the currency of affection. It's the childhood symbol of love...I'm sorry, I have to say this 'cause I don't know if I'll ever see you again. I was an orphan. I grew up in Pennsylvania...in a whorehouse. I read about Milton Hershey and his school in "Coronet" magazine or some other crap the girls left by the toilet. And I read that some orphans had a different life there. I could picture it. I dreamt of it--of being wanted. Because the woman who was forced to raise me would look at me every day like she hoped I would disappear. Closest I got to feeling wanted was from a girl who made me go through her john's pockets while they screwed. If I collected more than a dollar, she'd buy me a Hershey bar. And I would eat it alone in my room with great ceremony...feeling like a normal kid. It said "sweet" on the package. It was the only sweet thing in my life...If I had my way, you would never advertise. You shouldn't have someone like me telling that boy what a Hershey bar is. He already knows. - Don Draper, season 6, episode 13, In Care of

Judy Collins made her name in music as a folk artist, but over her career, she also dabbled in pop, country, Americana and rock and roll, earning seven Grammy nominations between 1964-2022, though only winning in 1969 for this song. She was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 1975.

Both Sides Now appears on her sixth album, Wildflowers, released in October 1968, making it contemporary to the time in which this episode is set, roughly November 1968. It reached #3 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart in the US, as well as #8 on the Hot 100.

As a folk singer and somewhat social activist during this time, Judy was in demand. Here is Judy's very underrated performance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour:



This was one of the harder episodes for me to watch, because Don resolves to turn his life and marriage around yet reverses himself right after his fateful pitch to Hershey, in order to help Ted save his marriage and family, arguably the most selfless thing he's done ever on the show. Unfortunately, his 'confession' effectively ended his job at SC&P without him realizing it, and for someone who's been portrayed as being so perceptive, this seems incongruous. Nevertheless, his most selfless action so far ruins not only his marriage but also Meagan's career. Even for what Don's been through in his life, this turn of events seems to be the cruelest of all.

Roger's ruthless turn on Don and the tense meeting with the partners feels unfair yet consistent with previous firings (especially Freddie Rumsen); for me, the difference is I thought Don's relationship with Roger was going to protect him. In a bit of foreshadowing, at the end of the meeting, Roger tells Don, 'try to see it from our side.' not long before the closing scene of Don with his kids, looking at the dilapidated house he grew up in, while the song plays.
 
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#, Please # 7
Song: 21 Guns
Artist: Green Day
Year: 2009


(Official Music Video) Green Day - 21 Guns
(Live version) Green Day - 21 Guns [Official Live]

4 Lines:
Your faith walks on broken glass
And the hangover doesn't pass
Nothing's ever built to last
You're in ruins


Number Theory:
The choice of number is pretty simple here. A 21-gun salute is a military honor, with the full amount usually reserved for heads of state or government. It actually stems back from a British tradition in the 16th century. Then 7 guns was the recognized salute, though while ships would fire that many, forts would fire 3 shots per ship shot. Leading to 7x3=21.

Of course, probably the most well-known application of the salute is in military and state funerals. It’s that one that this song is about. That’s right, there are political aspects to this one, which means I’ll have to trust you to read between the lines instead of diving too deep.

With that, how about the music itself? Slow tempo and impactful, as you might expect. A true power ballad with the instruments and vocals both having some force. Oh, and if you think the chorus sounds like “All the Young Dudes”, you’re not alone. There’s enough overlap that Green Day credited David Bowie as a songwriter.

I should also note that Green Day had a tough choice for “21” songs, just from this album. There’s also the title track “21st Century Breakdown”. I know MAC_32 would’ve preferred it as that song was #6 on his countdown while “21 Guns” didn’t make it. I probably just have a soft spot for this selection.

Significant Digits:
Off album#: 8
Track #: 16
Charted in 17 countries. To pick a few, #22 US Billboard Hot 100, #15 Canadian Hot 100, and #21 in both Ireland and Netherlands

Artist crossover with other playlists: 27
(Known: 21)


Next on the countdown, a song that only makes sense at least 26 years ago. So I suppose it’s fitting to call the artist a dinosaur.
 
I've never heard of David Wilcox. I dig the style; a mashup of so many different styles.
Is that a Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy riff I hear @falguy ? Nice.

Like the lyrics too
I used to think that coke came in a bottle or can
Silk underwear
Wasn't right on a man
Hush puppies and sneakers
Now it's alligator shoes
Because downtown came uptown for you


Thanks for commenting on my selection. Glad you liked it. Was hoping the #9s would come up while I was hear. I was on vacation last week and tried to just relax and enjoy the sunshine.

I hadn’t pickup on the BwBB riff, but can hear it now. Fun lyrics, as you referred to. In particular, I like his delivery of “My manicure is at five. French lesson at six”

Anyway, David Wilcox is a legend here in Southwestern Ontario. Not sure about the rest of Canada burn this area he is very well known. He’s been playing small venues/festivals and the like since I was in high school. We all thought he was old back then, he’s still rocking. He’s got a lot of fun tunes. If you, or anyone is interested, here are a few more I love:

Out of The Woods
https://open.spotify.com/album/5zlHDoL8vOhQcWogBIdi1j?si=m5z9zo9HRXiupyfYwY6s_g

and My Eyes Keep Me In Trouble
https://open.spotify.com/album/4Kc1noLt7tI213dlzdd5Ve?si=Y0dvR9FsS4Gvh76ILJB5sQ

are 2 great albums

Here’s a few (YouTube links of some of my favourites)

Hypnotizin’ Boogie - I think you’ll like this one

Riverboat Fantasy

My Eyes Keep me in Trouble

Bad Apple

Do The Bearcat

Hot, Hot Papa


At some point they tried to commercialize him and his sound changed, but not for the better, IMO
For example:
Breakfast at the Circus

Decent song to sing along to but nothing to make him unique any longer

Now I can try to get back in the game here for the final few songs.
 
El Floppo – Mallet Rock

The Silent Orchestra - Hamilton Leithauser
#7

this was from Leithausers debut solo, post Walkmen album- the dark hours (2014).

We get a kinda orchestral rock-steady thing happening here, including Marimba which gets featured in a solo about halfway through the tune. Otherwise, it's plunking along accompanying the other instruments.

From Pitchfork (and shout out to Charlie)..
“The Silent Orchestra” mixes strings, marimba, and a jaunty rhythm guitar playing on the upstroke that suggests "Mad Men"-era cocktail party music matched with punk raggedness;

Hopefully you guys are starting to hear the differences in these instruments..marimba is wood 5+ octaves and has a rich, resonant (but not too) sound. Glock is metal without resonators, so is more quick, bell/chime-like and often upper registers as its not often more than a couple octaves and smaller.Vibes are also metal, with multiple octaves, so they produce that choral/chime/bell tone, but they can be plugged in and also use pedal-activated resonating tubes to give a longer sustain more than the quick burst of Glock (or xylophone). This is, I think, why Vibes get used in Jazz more.
 
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The 7's
Known and liked songs

I love a Rainy Night
Like a Prayer
Bullet in the Head
Damn Right I've got the Blues
Fat Bottomed Girls
21 Guns
We're an American Band
Vogue
Low Spark of the High Heeled Boys
Electric Funeral
We Will Rock You
No One like You
Summer in the City
Terminal Frost
Landslide

New to me likes
Talkin' Talkin'
Forever Autumn
On and On
Made of Stone
Eye to Eye
 
10s

Known
Eurythmics: Here Comes the Rain Again
Cher: If I Could Turn Back Time
Black Keys: Lonely Boy
Bonnie Tyler: Holding Out For a Hero
Iron Maiden: 2 Minutes to Midnight
David Bowie: Young Americans
Rick Astley: Never Gonna Give You Up
Van Morrison: Tupelo Honey
Bon Jovi: Wanted Dead or Alive
George Benson: On Broadway
Madonna: Ray of Light

Caught My Attention
Infernal: From Paris to Berlin
The BellRays: Infection
New York Dolls: Personality Crisis
Saga: On The Loose
The Three Johns: Teenage Nightingales to Wax
S Club Juniors: One Step Closer
Sea Wolf: You're a Wolf
 
I'll give another hint with the #5 playlist. I think it will be a more useful hint.

Selections:

31. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers

30. Hear The Drummer Get Wicked - Chad Jackson

29. Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

28. Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai

27. Another Chance - Roger Sanchez

26. Living On My Own - Freddie Mercury

25. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

24. Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay

23. Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music

22. By The Time I Get To Arizona - Public Enemy

21. I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry

20. Goddess On A Hiway - Mercury Rev

19. Dark Therapy – Echobelly

18. Run To You - Bryan Adams

17. Inside Out – Anthrax

16. There's Nothing I Won't Do – JX

15. You - Bad Religion

14. Don't Stop Me Now – Queen

13. Moving – Supergrass

12. The Time Is Now – Moloko

11. Ms Jackson – Outkast

10. Ray of Light - Madonna

9. Winter Hill – Doves

8. Carnaval de Paris - Dario G

7. Seven Days and One Week - B.B.E.



Incorrect guesses:

Songs that give advice

Bands That Have Never Been in My Kitchen

Songs by artists who have headlined Glastonbury

Songs featuring the Mellotron

Fear mongering

Song titles that could be part of geometry proofs

Bands who have a member whose first or last name is a James Bond reference

Bands with family members

Songs that reference a location in another country

Songs that have nine or more words in the title

Songs that mention famous streets

Bands who had a member mysteriously disappear, get declared dead, but no body has ever been found

Songs that reference footballguys user names

Songs without a guitar

Song titles that are commands

First two words of song titles in order of lyrics from The Youngbloods’ Get Together

Songs about resilience in the face of adversity

Songs about the importance of progress

Songs to make people overthink and speculate about an imaginary theme that doesn't really exist

31 songs that MADs submitted in prior MAD rounds, but judge disqualified because the submitting MAD failed to get the long-form birth certificate of all band members before submitting

Songs NOT produced by Todd Rundgren

Artists without umlauts

Songs Sam Rockwell has danced to in a movie

Songs about navigating and adapting to a constantly changing world

Songs credited to more than one songwriter

UK top ten singles

Singles released by UK artist/bands

31 British Isles Songs That Did Not Appear in the MAD British Isles Countdown

Non-guitar driven songs

Songs in 4/4 time

Broadway shows

Songs that all charted in the same six countries:
UK
Australia
Germany
France
Ireland
Netherlands

Songs under 5 minutes

Songs where artists let out excessive vocalizations of the “ahh,” “ooh,” “dee,” etc. variety

A break up and starting over

Things that will drive a bunch of middle aged dummies who are trying to find a pattern go crazy

Stages in Rustoleum’s marriage

Guinness World Records

Songs that can qualify for other people’s themes

Songs by people with facial hair

All songs use an instrument with keys

Songs that are the narrative arc of a divorce

Addiction

Songs with 125 BPM or more

Songs that sample other songs on the list

Songs representing different Nicholas Cage movies / characters

Songs

This is your life, Krista

Something to do with Tina Turner/abused women

Jimi Hendrix

Detailing Britney Spears’ descent into madness

Addiction ... to love

Songs in A Minor

The plot to Thelma and Louise

Kourtney Kardashian

Songs about a major change in someone's life

Midlife crisis

Songs with a subject you should see a therapist about

Mental illness

Songs about the world's worst super heros

Mania

Things you do impulsively

Songs that use the word “The” at some stage in the lyrics

The Ballad of @krista4 and OH

Songs the were on the UK official singles chart for the week ending on Aug 16, 2008

Songs from multiple decades

Songs about exploration of identity

Dancing

Each of these songs holds a special place in the hearts of listeners, and they remain influential in the genres they represent

krista's iconic playlist

struggle, rebellion, and survival

songs that have no connection to each other whatsoever - y'all are just wasting your time - ha ha ha suckers

Id, ego, and superego

Each song is somehow connected to one of the first 31 themes submitted for this countdown

Songs that qualify for more than one of the MAD31 themes submitted

Obscure chess strategies

All of these songs tie into the movie Thelma and Louise

history repeating itself

Songs for which there exists another song with the exact same title

Songs that implicate the seven deadly sins

The plot of a movie

the arc of Pink Floyd’s The Wall

Being in an oppressive relationship, and the journey to take back control of your life

the arc of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

trapped in a continuous cycle and finding a release that feels like freedom

Moving on through suicide

Things that require immediate action

Determining your own destiny

the life and tribulations of Pamela Anderson

[Eliminating/adding characters to a title -or- re-ordering the words in a title] give you the title to another song.

the Kiefer Sutherland life story

Awakenings

Coming full circle

Trials and tribulations involving breasts?
finding liberation
 
Single (Named) Lady #7 - Madonna - "Like a Prayer" (1989)
Full name: Madonna Louise Ciccone

Another mononym who needs no introduction. Madonna was born in Michigan but her musical career sprung from the NYC dance music scene in the early 80s. It was fortuitous timing because her talents were perfect for the new medium of music videos. She became a superstar in short order and had an incredible string of hit records throughout the decade.

By the time "Like a Prayer" came out in 1989 she could do pretty much whatever she wanted and in this case, she wanted to be taken more seriously as an artist. It's an unusual song in that the verses are performed by Madonna accompanied with only Andre Crouch's gospel choir and a church organ which emphasize the religious imagery of the lyrics. The chorus sounds more like a typical Madonna track with a funky synth part written and performed by Patrick Leonard. The last three minutes of the song are like a revival meeting that builds through multiple choruses and a bridge.

What can I say about the video? It generated a lot of controversy and led to the cancellation of a multi-million dollar promotional campaign with Pepsi (Madge got to keep the money). There's an lot going on in the video and parts of it seem to contradict other parts but brunette Madonna dancing in front of the burning crosses wearing a black negligee is peak Madonna for me.
 
Single (Named) Lady #7 - Madonna - "Like a Prayer" (1989)
Full name: Madonna Louise Ciccone

Another mononym who needs no introduction. Madonna was born in Michigan but her musical career sprung from the NYC dance music scene in the early 80s. It was fortuitous timing because her talents were perfect for the new medium of music videos. She became a superstar in short order and had an incredible string of hit records throughout the decade.

By the time "Like a Prayer" came out in 1989 she could do pretty much whatever she wanted and in this case, she wanted to be taken more seriously as an artist. It's an unusual song in that the verses are performed by Madonna accompanied with only Andre Crouch's gospel choir and a church organ which emphasize the religious imagery of the lyrics. The chorus sounds more like a typical Madonna track with a funky synth part written and performed by Patrick Leonard. The last three minutes of the song are like a revival meeting that builds through multiple choruses and a bridge.

What can I say about the video? It generated a lot of controversy and led to the cancellation of a multi-million dollar promotional campaign with Pepsi (Madge got to keep the money). There's an lot going on in the video and parts of it seem to contradict other parts but brunette Madonna dancing in front of the burning crosses wearing a black negligee is peak Madonna for me.
I think this is her best record and one of the best of the decade.
 
Single (Named) Lady #7 - Madonna - "Like a Prayer" (1989)
Full name: Madonna Louise Ciccone

Another mononym who needs no introduction. Madonna was born in Michigan but her musical career sprung from the NYC dance music scene in the early 80s. It was fortuitous timing because her talents were perfect for the new medium of music videos. She became a superstar in short order and had an incredible string of hit records throughout the decade.

By the time "Like a Prayer" came out in 1989 she could do pretty much whatever she wanted and in this case, she wanted to be taken more seriously as an artist. It's an unusual song in that the verses are performed by Madonna accompanied with only Andre Crouch's gospel choir and a church organ which emphasize the religious imagery of the lyrics. The chorus sounds more like a typical Madonna track with a funky synth part written and performed by Patrick Leonard. The last three minutes of the song are like a revival meeting that builds through multiple choruses and a bridge.

What can I say about the video? It generated a lot of controversy and led to the cancellation of a multi-million dollar promotional campaign with Pepsi (Madge got to keep the money). There's a lot going on in the video and parts of it seem to contradict other parts but brunette Madonna dancing in front of the burning crosses wearing a black negligee is peak Madonna for me.
Also eligible for the Marvel theme.
 
The #7s!

Known Numbers:

Both Sides Now - Judy Collins
The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys - Traffic
Electric Funeral - Black Sabbath
No One Like You - Scorpions
West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys

Total Surprises:
Dusty Boxcar Wall - Eilen Jewell
How I Got Over - The Roots
Day By Day - Doug and the Slugs
Promised Land - Joe Smooth
Slow Down Chicago - Canasta

Go Figure:
Again, it’s time where we have an artist show up twice, and I must choose only one to mention! So let’s go for Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” and “We Will Rock You” from Queen in slight preferences over the others.
 
#7 THE ROOTS - HOW I GOT OVER

I had a random album from The Roots in that pile of CDs I talked about earlier that I rediscovered in the closet. I had heard of Questlove, but not tied him to The Roots and I didn't know they were Fallon's backup band. This probably was the group I was thinking about the most for my MAD31 Part 2 artist until I got cold feet and pivoted to Mastodon. As I got more into them I also read Questlove's memoir, which I thought was really good. I never bothered to think about the history of hip hop or think about the music from the artist's POV. I like the dynamic between Questlove and Black Thought and how their different backgrounds add to the music. One of the biggest take-aways I got from the book was him pointing to Stevie Wonder on the Cosby Show being the birth of hip hop. It also didn't hurt that they has originally thought about calling themselves Black to the Future.

Recommended listening: What really drew me in was the wide range of styles and talent they display on their albums. I chose this song to as a bit of a nod to the non-rap fans, but also How I Got Over is a great album that I think even people not typically drawn to the genre could mostly dig. Doin' It Again is another track I considered, as is the tune with John Legend - The Fire. Speaking of, the other album I would recommend to all in here is Wake Up!, which is a full album of John Legend + The Roots. You all like covers, right? I included Hard Times below for a preview. Other than that, there is a wide range to listen to. Illadelph Halflife has a harder edge to it, while Phrenology is all over the place with styles. I linked a couple favorites that I had considered for the playlist below.




NEXT: Going north to our 51st state to highlight the 2nd duo of the top 10.

Some great songs here. My personal preference is to start with Phrenology as an introduction and then move onto Things Fall Apart for a real blockbuster. Then Illadelph Halflife before moving onto their later stuff, two songs of which you've highlighted here.

As some of you who were music drafters might know, "Water" by The Roots was something I listened to a lot and finally heard the message regarding alcohol. The song always meant quite a bit to me even in my darker days. But more than that, it's a flat-out conscious jam dedicated to the soon-to-be late Malik B., who was a founding member of the group. That shuffle beat and ?uestlove's drumming is astounding on this track. It's not just message. It's got DJ'ing, brilliant drum machine hand claps—it's perfect.


eta* Don't let the time fool you. It's a four-minute jam with a six-minute long outro/coda. It doesn't do a ton after the four minute mark. It's definitely for the patient if you believe in letting a track run until whenever its creator decides to end it. I tend to edit these types of things as a listener, so I really just cut it off when it gets tiresome or too jammy. The last five minutes or so of this is plenty fine to skip if you ask me. You ain't missing nothing but heartbeats and rain at the end.

The next song is something else also. "Quills" is Black Thought at his best. He's a serious emcee, universally hailed as one of the best ever. At least a top thirty emcee, if not easily more than that.


If you appreciate the art of emceeing, then this link below is a must. Black Thought of The Roots on Funk Flex's show. If you've ever clicked on one of our hip hop links, this is a pick to click nonpareil. Ten minutes of seriously talented rapping/singing/melodic language.

 
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