Tuesday, September 27, 2005

CHOICE


Paul & the rest of The Erics have been selecting their top 5 songs…..It got me thinking about how difficult that would be. I could select a CURRENT top 5 but I haven’t heard every song written yet & any potential top 5 will change by next week.

I sat down began my list & gave up. I could not settle on a top 5; It was a little like been trapped in “ High Fidelity”.
Top 5 reasons for not doing a top 5

1. I am indecisive
2. I change my mind too often
3. I have yet to hear everything
4. It depends on my mood
5. It is too final.

However I will make a stab at my current favourite 5 songs..


1. “A remark You Made” Weather Report
Chosen for Jaco’s wonderful bass line & Wayne Shorters Sax.

2. “Working for the clampdown” The Clash
It evokes perfectly what it was like to grow up in the England of the late Seventies.

What are we gonna do now?
Taking off his turban, they said, is this man a Jew?
'Cause they're working for the clampdown
They put up a poster saying we earn more than you!
When we're working for the clampdown
We will teach our twisted speech
To the young believers
We will train our blue-eyed men
To be young believers

The judge said five to ten-but I say double that again
I'm not working for the clampdown
No man born with a living soul
Can be working for the clampdown
Kick over the wall 'cause government's can fall
How can you refuse it?
Let fury have the hour, anger can be power
D'you know that you can use it?

The voices in your head are calling
Stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming
Only a fool would think someone could save you
The men at the factory are old and cunning
You don't owe nothing, so boy get runnin'
It's the best years of your life they want to steal

You grow up and you calm down
You're working for the clampdown
You start wearing the blue and brown
You're working for the clampdown
So you got someone to boss around
It makes you feel big now
You drift until you brutalize
You made your first kill now

In these days of evil presidentes
Working for the clampdown
But lately one or two has fully paid their due
For working for the clampdown
But ha! Gitalong! Gitalong!

And I've given away no secrets
Who's barmy now?

3. “ The Fear “ The Feelers
Great band & great song directed at all those “ Tortured “ artists out there .

Dont play the tortured artist with me
Or you can pack up all your bags and then leave
Yeah you know what Im saying
Im praying for you to take heed
its like your mother was drunk all the time
And your brother turned to a life of crime
Yeah you fear he’s lost direction
You fear he’s finally lost his way
But look out on the bright side
Look out to the world
Look at all the boys and the girls
But look out on the bright side
Look out to the world
Look at all the boys and the girls, Yeah
Dont play the tortured artist with me
'Cos its not all about you, and what about me
You can save your breath son
'Cos Inever said that iwas gonna leave you
It's like your father he never came home
And your sister spent her life on the phone
And all the other kids used to give you shit all the time
But look out on the bright side
Look out to the world
Look at all the boys and the girls
But look out on the bright side
Look out to the world
Look at all the boys and the girls
Maybe I dive for treasure
Maybe I steer the world
Or maybe I just gonna live in the hills
Maybe I found my pleasure
With some far off eastern girl
Or maybe i'll still be living in the hills
Dont play the tortured artist with me
Dont play the tortured artist with me
Its a fear of losing direction
Its a fear you've lost your way
Its a fear of losing face
And that someone can replace you
Its a fear of losing direction
Its a fear you've lost your way
Its a fear of losing face
And that someone can replace you
Look out on the bright side
Look out to the world
Look at all the boys and the girls
Look out on the bright side
Look out to the world
Look at all the boys and the girls


4. “ Nails In my feet “ Crowded House
I first heard this track at a gig at St. Georges Hall, Bradford in the UK on a cold October evening. Little did I know that 5 years later I would living in the same town as songwriter Neil Finn as well as running across those same burning beaches.

My life is a house
you crawl through the window
slip across the floor and into the reception room
you enter the place of endless persuasion
like a knock on the door
when there's ten or more things to do
Who is that calling?
you my companion
run to the water on a burning beach
and it brings me relief
Pass through the walls
to find my intentions
circle 'round in a strange, hypnotic state
I look into space
there is no connection
a million points of light
and a conversation I can't face
Cast me off one day
to lose my inhibition
sit like a lap dog on a matron's knee
wear the nails on your feet
I woke up the house
stumbled in sideways
the lights went on and everybody screamed "Surprise!"
the savage review
it left me gasping
but it warms my heart to see that you can do it too
Total surrender
your touch is so tender
your skin is like water on a burning beach
and it brings me relief

5. “Every kinda People“ Andy Fraser
Always makes me feel there is still hope in the world.

Said the fight to make ends meet
Keeps a man upon his feet
Holding down his job
Trying to show he can't be bought
It takes every kind of people
To make what life's about
Every kind of people
To make the world go 'round
Someone's looking for a lead
In his duty to a King or to a creed
Protecting what he feels is right
Fights against wrong with his life
There's no profit in deceit
Honest men know that
Revenge does not taste sweet
Whether yellow, black or white
Each and every man's the same inside
It takes every kind of people
To make what life's about
Every kind of people
To make the world go 'round
You know that love's the only goal
That could bring a peace to any soul
Hey, each and every man's the same
He wants the sunshine in his name
It takes every kind of people
To make what life's about
Every kind of people
To make the world go 'round
It takes every kind of people
To make what life's about
Every kind of people
To make the world go 'round...


Phew glad that’s done with , I may repeat this exercise next month just to see how it changes.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

hello mister
dave eric here
nice site, i like the listening to bits at end of posts
hope you don't mind if i pinch the idea
keep it up
p.s. you pissed paul off 'cause he reckons the years have been a lot kinder to you
keep it up

Paul Richardson said...

David
'Every kinda people' Thankyou thankyou thankyou for reminding me about that song!! I remember you and I and (Giselle i think) going to see the Andy Fraser band at Leeds poly.

ps Thanks for the mp3 - everyone here will have heard it soon!