Entertainment For Lively Minds
Is there anything musically everyone agrees on?
So Astral Weeks is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary and Van will be performing it live.
It reminded me again of how subjective music really is. Astral Weeks has often been put at the top of the 'great albums everyone must own' style-lists that litter music magazines, but most people will have never heard it.
But is there any album/track that everyone genuinely agrees on?
Clearly we can't rely on sales: that would mean everyone loves Dido, James Blunt, Coldplay and David Gray (the decade's highest selling artists) - and we know that's not true.
But how many people who buy Dido et al would agree on the merits of Pet Sounds, Astral Weeks, What's Going On or OK Computer? Not many, I'll wager.
I know the answer is probably, but would anyone care to posit any album/track that everyone loves?
I'll throw into the ring that once heard, most people would love Big Yellow Taxi (obviously the original and not the Amy Stewart mangling from the 90s).
- More from robram.
- Login or register to post comments
-
It's alright
but it's no Dark End Of The Street - James Carr version.
Astral Weeks is dreadful. Bumbling, mumbling, jamming, guff from a miserable old sod.
I like Big Yellow Taxi
but unfortunately I've had more than one person tell me they prefer the awful, insipid Counting Crows/Vanessa Carlton version
C'mon Everybody
the original I mean, not Sid's version. I'd venture that if you don't like that then you probably don't really like popular music.
I don't know about that...
but no arguments from me over the song. Priceless.
I think you need to listen to astral weeks again
I did over the weekedn and one of the many things it has going is the lack of van mumble.
as for taxi the laugfh at the end is annoying after a while.
and Mister Colibosher
if you have not been moved by "Astral's" "Ballerina" then you too probably don't like music. Mumbles indeed!! Go sit in the corner.
Yes.
You're right.
I was
only kidding!!
Sorry,
but I prefer Common One. And Veedon Fleece.
Big Yellow Taxi
Sorry, but I find the original intensely irritating.
As an alternative Joni M song, how about Carey?
Early Joni...
irritates me after a while, her voice is *too* high and piercing. I far prefer the jazzy mid period Joni
Agreed...
on those early albums she hits notes only audible to dogs.
Jumpin' Jack Flash
Is there anyone who doesn't like it? It has everything surely?
It does have everything
but sadly that includes Jagger so count me out.
Dancing Queen - Abba
I don't much like them but it's a great song. So extrapolating that rule, I reckon it may be universally agreeable.
God no...
Too many wedding discos and Christmas parties have put me off it for life!
i hate that song
I'm not an Abba fan - I can take maybe half a dozen of their tracks. That ain't one of 'em.
How about these?
Be My Baby - The Ronettes
Teenage Kicks - The Undertones
Monster Mash - Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt Kickers
Yes - all of the above
each in their own way, but if I had to pick one it would be the Ronettes.
They'll do fine
Maybe something by Al Green also, 'Tired of Being Alone' or Let's Stay Together'.
Be My Baby
scores one from me
Peel and Kicks
I agree with your other two but suspect we are all enamored of The Undertones because of its unassailable place in the Peel pantheon. We revere the DJ but forget or forgive that in his quest to champion the new and relevant he quite often had cloth ears.
Nope!
I loved Teenage Kicks from the moment I heard it on TOTP. (As a twenty-year-old, and so still young enough to remember the kicking.) Still love it now, when said kicks are but a dim, distant memory...
I'd agree that sometimes Peel would champion some dreadful, unlistenable rubbish (Extreme Noise Terror, anyone), but he loved some great stuff, too, and I'd place TK in the latter category. It's clear, though, that there's probably nothing that appeals to everyone, as your post, and the various "x is great", "no, y is great, x is crap" arguments here go some way towards demonstrating.
Jackson Five
I want You Back
Oh...
yes.
Indeed
That is a great track. As alternatives, what about Marvin Gaye's What's Going On or Move On Up by Curtis Mayfield?
Or something a little more recent, Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack?
I think I'd opt for the Massive Attack track - it's just perfect.
Oh yes...
that piano intro gets me every time.
Another one from the Van?
Recently at a wedding disco Brown Eyed Girl came on and the whole atmosphere seemed to lift. Everyone sang along, from Nans to Nieces, and the dance floor was packed for a couple of minutes. The DJ of course then blew it by playing Sinitta. We all returned to our over priced drinks and shouting conversations into each other's ears.
Anyone here dislike Brown Eyed Girl? If there is anyone, I'll throw my weight behind Be My Baby.
Brown Eyed Girl
I'm probably going to be slated for this but I hate Brown Eyed Girl, as it seems to be everywhere. However, Be My Baby is wonderful.
Whiter Shade of Pale
surely fits the category perfectly as does Killing me softly, First cut is the deepest (not the duffy version) and Lady in red - okay i didnt mean that last one!!!
How about...
John Lennon's finest recorded vocal? Twist and Shout
Four Tops
Reach Out I'll Be There
Maxwell's Silver Hammer.
Well I liked it.
It was a favourite of mine as a baby...
according to my mum I used to hit her with a spoon whenever the 'bang bang' lyric appeared. I think my mum must have encouraged this, as I do not believe I had a spoon collection to hand every time the song played.
After me
I am a lineman for the county...
A song that makes me wish I could sing like Glen. Oh how I try.
There are loads of songs...
... where I'll question the very humanity of anyone who hated them.
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
I've Been Loving You For Too Long - Otis Redding
Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
Reach Out I'll Be There - Four Tops
Goin' Back- Dusty Springfield
And many many others.
Albums though? I love Pet Sounds to bits but I really hate Sloop John B. I think Kraftwerk's Computer World and Scott Walker's Scott 4 are astonishing, perfect things but I'll always accept folks thinking otherwise. Albums are too long surely for everyone to agree on every track?
Help! or Hard Day's Night (Singles)
Surely agreeable to most? (I'm always a bit suspicious of people who claim to hate everything the Beatles ever did.)
Songs it is impossible not to like
She Loves You
I Want To Hold Your Hand
I Want You Back
Superstition
What a Wonderful World
God Only Knows
Rainy Night in Georgia
Save The Last Dance For Me
Stay With Me
Man of the World
Walk Away Renee
I Say a Little Prayer
True Love Ways
Another Girl, Another Planet
I'm Your Puppet
In The Ghetto
1999
Dock of the Bay
A Change is Gonna Come
Tears of a Clown
Tracks of my Tears
Past Present and Future
Merry Xmas Everybody
Gimme Some Lovin'
Young Hearts Run Free
All I Want For Christmas is a Dukla Prague Away Kit
Being a suburban South London pub DJ
has given me a long series of vox pops on this topic.
I have often played Big Yellow Taxi and while the reception is overwhelmingly positive, I've had catcalls and "wanker" gestures for playing it too.
I have never, ever had a bad reaction, however, to:
Waterloo Sunset
Monkey Man
West End Girls
Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
Call Me Al
It Must Be Love
Rehab
Sweetest Feeling
Never Can Say Goodbye
Hurts So Good
Movin' On Up (Primal Scream, NOT M People!)
Atomic (in fact most Blondie singles)
Dexys
Never heard anyone slag off "Come on Eileen". Put that on and watch the crowd rush to the dancefloor. Hat's off to Paul waring and Patrick I can't top your lists
You've never spoken to me then!
I hate Come on Bloody Eileen. Whereas Geno is just brilliant...
Have you heard
the 2003 comeback live version of Come On Eileen? Really rather enjoyable.
No, but
No, but I'd give it a try. Where can it be found?
Scratch that.
It can be found on Youtube but my memory played tricks on me regarding it's quality. Here's Geno from the same show:
I would say...
... it is hard to really dislike anything from the classic period of Motown. An 'off the cuff' top ten could easily include ;
Just My Imagination (Temptations)
Standing In The Shadows Of Love (Four Tops)
Never Had A Dream Come True (Stevie Wonder)
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby (Marvin Gaye)
I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose (Marv Johnson)
Two Lovers (Mary Wells)
My Cherie Amour (S. W. again)
Bernadette (Tops again)
Stop In The Name Of Love (Supremes)
Baby I Need Your Loving (more Tops)
...but that hardly scratches the surface. If I am ever asked what type of music would go down well at a do I always suggest that the DJ includes a good helping of Motown (with a dash of Atlantic, naturally). I have never known it to fail. It is timeless.
You missed one...
...(or maybe more): What Becomes of the Broken Hearted by Jimmy Ruffin. This one has it all!
Big Yellow Taxi
The 90s one was by Amy Grant. I thought it was decent enough. Hardly a mangling, more a pretty exact copy and I don't recall her having a bad voice. Counting Crows version was cack though, and I like a lot of their own stuff.
Mea culpa
Amy Stewart knocked on wood, didn't she?
Mind you, it wasn't an exact copy, because she changed the lyric about charging a 'dollar and and half' to '25 bucks' - ugh!
Be fair...
..a dollar and a half in the early 90s would surely be perfectly reasonable to see some trees, thus diluting the message of the verse.
I propose..
some great songs, and I love 99% of them, my wife about 75% but I propose " It´s a long way to the top " by AC/DC. Even non-rockers can´t argue with that one, can they ?
Hi ho silver lining/Jeff Beck
Naff and cool, ghastly and credible, all in equal ammounts. Surely there can be no-one who hasn't heard it, including the poster of last week who had the grace to, after I placed the You tube of it up.
I even suspect he will be remembered more for that than for the entire cream of Yardbirds, Beck Bogart & Appice, Donovan (Goo goo barabajacal, spelling uncertain, pop-pickers), Jeff Beck group with Stewart/Wood and the rest.
I hate Joni Mitchell and I hate Big Yellow Taxi
A lot of good suggestions...
And of course there's no way of testing them out, but I reckon lots of these would get a resounding thumbs down from many people, no matter how great they are.
In fact, I've suddenly remembered an article in Word a few months back, where they got different age groups to listen to well-known music that is popular among certain age groups.
Almost nothing (and I can't remember the complete result without consulting my copy which is at home on the bookshelf) received a 100% thumbs up.
The 60-year-olds always hated the 20-year-olds music and vice versa.
Glad this stirred up some righteous indignation, though! ;o)
In answer to your question...
...and judging by the above, I think we can conclude a resounding "No" and leave it at that. Would that other debates could be settled so absolutely.
Surely everyone
Likes Tiger Feet by Mud. Brothers Radcliffe & Maconie played it just now. As Stuart said, what's not to like?
The National Anthem
Is meant to unite us all but unfortunately, it's a miserable-sounding dirge. The sight of Brian May performing it on top of Buckingham Palace in 2002 confirmed my anti-Royal stance forever.
One of the few advantages of being Welsh
Is having the best anthem in the world. BBC2 5.10pm Saturday for your next chance to hear it, just before we have seven bells knocked out of us by the All Blacks.
EDIT : Well, six bells, but they didn't get out of 3rd gear
That should be easier...
... finding songs everyone hates but then again Millenium Prayer sold really well...
Joe Le Taxi - Vanessa Paradis
Only kidding... But these below are surely universal, though the problem with many/all the above (and below) is over-exposure.
Heart of Glass
(Come Up and See Me) Make Me Smile
Don't Leave Me This Way (the original or the Communards)
Aha
That's the factor I didn't put in when I originally posted. It's the overexposure factor.
As soon as a song becomes 'popular' it gets played to death, especially nowadays, on radio and people start to tire of it and, eventually, hate it.
A good example is the Ronson/Winehouse version of Valerie. Loved it when I first heard it, but it's now been so overplayed that it's like white noise.
Lennon/Lemon
Alternatively, what about songs we all hate? I vote for Imagine by that bloke. Always tops the lists of great songs but I have never met anyone who actually likes it. Laughable stoned saccahrine nonsense.
Yep
With you on that one Gunnerboy (and, presumably, your choice of footy team too...!).
Something that everybody likes?
For once, market research has the answer:
http://www.diacenter.org/km/musiccd.html
D
Here comes the Sun from
Here comes the Sun from Abbey Road? Impossible to dislike surely. Oh, and I agree with Tiger Feet!
Suprised,
that no-one has mentioned Hallelujah. Pick your version. Everyone has heard it (that was in the original thread but it seems to have been missed with some of these replies.)
Maybe they know the Jeff Buckley, maybe Cohen, maybe they heard it when watching Shrek.
I cant believe van will be
I cant believe van will be doing that album live awesome.
astral weeks best lines
" going for cigarretes and matches at the shops"
" walk and talk in fields all wet with rain"
" would you find me, would you lay me down, kiss my eyes and in silence easy, to be born again.."""
GENIUS GENIUS GENIUS
There Will Always Be Dissenters
I mean the statement, The Beatles The greatest pop band of all time, seems obvious to me but there will always those who disagree
Mr Muggs is right
Everyone likes Blondie singles - my 2 year old is obsessed with Blondie and we've therefore listened to the greatest hits on average twice a day for the last 6 months. When we tell people everyone says "aren't you lucky it's something good" and even my wife and I still aren't sick of them.