Artist Top Ten Enya

[Willie Oleson]

Let's see how it compares to theguardian's list.

Hm. Must not be Oasis fans.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Up Next! SERGE GAINSBOURG

 

[Emelee]

I like that most known sexy song he did with Jane Birkin. Some French title that I can't remember.

 

[Willie Oleson]

1. Initials B.B.
It almost sounds like a rap-with-samples song, like Eminem + The Zombies. The calm and more serious piano parts make a nice contrast with the anthemic brass.

2. Comme Un Boomerang
I think this is a great example of a song that never really changes and yet somehow manages to gain momentum.

3. Qui Est "In", Qui Est "Out"
No idea what the song is about, it could be something like choosing to be part of....something, or who's trending and who's old news like in Amanda's "Fashion Pack" (who is in, who is out, tell me tell me tell me).
It's not unusual for the French to use English key lyrics in songs or titles, I wonder where that comes from.

4. Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'En Vais
I couldn't find many songs with a true pop sound, but this fits the bill (by Gainsbourg standards).
Instead of the heavy breathing we get some sobbing and sniffing because he's telling her he's leaving.

5. Je T'Aime....Moi Non Plus
The strings and organ sound great (as it did in so many songs of that era) but I'm not always in the mood for this on the nose softcore music.

6. L'Anamour

7. I'm The Boy
A strange but intriguing synth-pop track from his Love On The Beat album.

8. 69 Année Érotique

9. La Chanson De Prêvert
Lo and behold, it really is a chanson.

10. Woom Woom Woom

He's done several movie scores....


Magnifique and fantastique but now it's time for the Next UP!

And that is CILLA BLACK

 

[James from London]

CILLA BLACK

Yes!! I suddenly feel the need to repost this lovely article about her singing career: https://amp.theguardian.com/music/m...ack-archetypal-british-working-class-pop-star

 

[Willie Oleson]

Thanks, that was a very nice read. And also surprising to learn she's had so many hit songs. I assumed Dusty was the biggest-selling artist, or Helen Shapiro.
I don't think Dutch viewers ever got the Popstar With Their Own TV Show, and if there was then it would be an national artist.

I've already become familiar with a few Cilla songs other than the two big signature evergreens because of the Almighty remixes. Needless to say, a 4-2-the-floor version of Anyone Who Had A Heart doesn't work at all, but let's appreciate the effort.

 

[Emelee]

1. You're My World
2. Anyone Who Had A Heart
3. You've Lost That Loving Feeling
4. Kiss You All Over
5. Heart & Soul
6. You'll Never Walk Alone
7. Something Tells Me (Somethings Gonna Happen Tonight)

 

[Willie Oleson]

An interesting album from 1978 (even though the artwork screams "1968" but maybe that's the point)

This sounds like an easy-listening/semi-disco soundtrack of an obscure 1970s movie and apart from a few cover versions (Heart Get Ready For Love, Sugar Daddy) it's as if a familiar sound was created to substitute for the hit songs that would have to be paid for.

Keep Your Mind On Love (an alternative "You Set My Heart On Fire" by Tina Charles)

If I Could Put You In My Song (like "Take The Ribbon From Your Hair", if that was a song)

Platform Rocker (like a bargain bin Suzi Quatro singing an Elton John song)

Fascinating, I must have it!

 

[Willie Oleson]

From that same album, Brooklyn which was recorded by Cody Jameson one year earlier

Since it wasn't a hit (not that I'm aware of) it hardly qualifies as a cover version.
There are so many songs recorded by different artists at the same time (give or take) that it's hard to say who can claim it as "their song", unless it's written by the performer him/herself. And even then it's not necessarily the definitive version.

I like this This Is The First Time a little bit better than the one Cilla recorded for her SHE-ROO! album

It sounds more Sandie but I've discovered it thanks to the Cilla Black top 10 (which is not exactly what this list is, but enfin)

But I like this Whatcha Gonna Do 'Bout It better than the one previously recorded by The Hollies

 

[Willie Oleson]

Follow The Path Of The Stars is a seriously intriguing cover version of an album track by psychedelic rock band Skip Bifferty

Love's Just A Broken Heart and My Love Come Home , in the same style as big signature songs.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Cilla by The Beatles

It's For You

They almost out-Bacharached the David/Bacharach

Love Of The Loved

and of course Step Inside Love
I have imaginary reworked it as an imaginary Bond song but for the time being we can enjoy the dance remix by Almighty.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Speaking of dance mixes

I've also re-discovered the zai-zai-zai song by The Tremeloes

Great! And now NEXT UP

THE TRAMMPS

 

[Emelee]

Disco Inferno
'cause it´s the only one I can name and because it's awesome

 

[Willie Oleson]

Hm, I'm afraid I can't do better than a top 5 this time.

1. (The Night The Lights Went Out In) New York City
I wonder if it should be considered a novelty. It sounds a little biblical like a song from Jesus Christ Superstar.
2. Shout
3. Disco Inferno
4. Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart
5. Hold Back The Night

Up Next! SILVER CONVENTION

Including PENNY MCLEAN solo releases.

That's right!

 

[Willie Oleson]

Hm, I'm afraid I can't do better than a top 5 this time

Slightly more successful with a top 6...

1. Fly Robin Fly
It's amazing how they created a bit of mystery with only 6 words (or 8, including the second "fly" and "up").
Is it about a children's TV show, a rock opera in the style of TOMMY or is he flying because his friends are more than fond of him? Yes, it's fascinating and the music is well-constructed which makes it a better 12" than Get Up And Boogie.

2. Spend The Night With Me
Undoubtedly their poppiest song and I think it sounds suspiciously like Tina Charles.

3. Get Up And Boogie

4. Tiger Baby
Almost as good as my imaginary cover version by Blondie.

5. Lady Bump

6.24 Hours Of Love
Most of their album tracks are...well...but I find this surprisingly catchy.

All right! Up Next: SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES

I'm not very familiar with their music, all the more reason to DO it.

 

[Willie Oleson]

With the benefit of hindsight I should have suspected this was going to be a treat-and-tricky top 10.
I"ve spent most of this evening rearranging my 10 favourite songs because, after all, you only get one chance in life to do a Siouxsie & The Banshees top 10 on tellytalk.
It had to be perfect, it HAD to make sense. And I'm afraid I've failed miserably - I just couldn't solve the puzzle.

Therefore, a top ten in alphabetical order.

Are You Still Dying Darling
It rarely happens that a song makes me laugh out loud. Somehow I couldn't stop seeing an imaginary video clip of Alexis and Dominique.

Dear Prudence
I guess no one knew that a Beatles song needed to be upgraded, until it happened.

Fireworks
Pretty much what it sounds like.

Happy House
Hm.
Do I really like this song or is it aaall about that synthy hook famously/infamously covered by Italian Cappella?

Heaven And Alchemy

Hothead
A wonderful, hypnotizing instrumental track.

Kiss Them For Me
This sounds like a Siouxsie/Kylie Minogue crossover.

Obsession
Really, this shoulda been one of those 15 minutes "suite" things. After all, obsessions tend to stick.

Shadowtime
Yeah, I think a hear a little bit of The Shadows in it.

The Staircase

A duet and therefore not 100% eligible:
Interlude

And that, my dear prudences, is the end of it.

What's UP NEXT Pussycat? It's TOM JONES!

 

[James from London]

This list from a couple of years is a really good cross-section of tracks from across Jones' career including quite a few rare gems I'd not heard before.

Tom Jones's 20 greatest songs – ranked!

Ahead of his 80th birthday on Sunday, we run down the Welsh superstar’s biggest and best belters

www.theguardian.com

I particularly loved his covers of Springsteen's 'The Hitter' and Gillian Welch's haunting 'Elvis Presley Blues'.

Also, by way of contrast:

 

[Payton Cross]

01. - Never Fall In Love Again
02. - She's A Lady
03. - Green, Green Grass Of Home
04. - Kiss
05. - Letter To Luccile
06. - If I Only Knew
07. - Sex Bomb
08. - It's Not Unusual
09. - Delilah
10. - Something 'Bout You Baby I Like

 

[Willie Oleson]

Now, what am I going to do with Tom Jones?
I have listened to a lot of his songs but the more I heard the more I realized I don't like his voice as much as I thought I did (that's 5 I's in one sentence but I don't mean to make it all about me).

What happened is that I tried to un-hear is voice and replace it with Neil Diamond's.
Tom Jones' vocal powerhouse capacity is admirable, in the same way I respect Céline Dion's talent.
In essence it's a great voice for raw soul music a la James Brown, but somehow it never loses that whiff of hysterical schlager (which, btw, totally works for Joe Dolan).
As a result I felt constantly conflicted, it's was always almost the real the thing.

To put it in a way that affects me in real life: I have a Joe Dolan CD and I have a Tony Christie CD, but I'm afraid this top 10 hasn't inspired me to buy a Tom Jones CD.
Besides, several of his biggest hits probably feature on some of my 1970s hits compilations.

Next UP, another very distinctive vocalist: MARIANNE FAITHFULL

You have 18 days, 4 hours, 39 minutes and 55 seconds to submit your personal top ten.

 

[James from London]

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