Your Racist Friend by TMBG. No, we don't have to put up with that shit out of politeness and a fear of causing a scene. Yes we can and should speak up even if it makes ppl uncomfortable.
"This Land Is Your Land" Woody Guthrie. 1940 in critical response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America". I first heard sung in private by a South African folk duo (Des & Dawn Lindberg) during Apartheid. They sang is publically at concerts after Mandela elected president.
Not a song, but so many years ago I saw U2 with their Elevation tour. At the end I walked out with such a positive mindset; wish I could capture that sense again.
Vagabonds by New Model Army, for of the sense of togetherness in the room when it's played live. It's like an anthem for all of us, reminding us to stay curious, support each other and keep moving forwards. We call ourselves The Family for a reason :)
I can still remember the 20th anniversary show at Rock City where Ed played the longest, most gorgeous intro. As we thought it was drawing to an end we all started to stomp, and Justin counted the song in to line up with us. Euphoria is the perfect word :)
Surprised no-one had mentioned the men they couldn't hang yet, so I'm putting in an extra suggestion for The Colours. Makes you want to start a revolution right now.
After reading the story of the Kinks’ Come Dancing on your other thread, I think I’d like to nominate it here too.
The selflessness in Ray Davies giving his sister the happy ending seems to have hit home to me
You know what, for a while this did. Then I sat there one day & watched this same man preside over the murder of a (terrible) man, in his home, with his family present. And I understood like a landslide that it was all just showmanship. Nothing, nothing changed.
I’d qualify this by saying I grew up through The Troubles like that scamp @michaellegge.bsky.social
I’ve had enough of flegs to last several lifetimes.
Loved when he played in the open mike episode S1.E3 and the look on the faces of the guys having to follow that.
For all those who've somehow never heard of it: https://youtu.be/Q58Gm18-IMY?si=uZ2x9og1JQugmUD4
It’s perfect, I agree. It’s the sum of the parts isn’t it, the voice, words, music and something so true and honest at the core. Can’t really explain it.
Was very lucky to hear it live as he doesn’t really plays it at gigs. A couple had left their own wedding reception to come to the show so he made an exception for them.
This isn't quite what you mean, I reckon, but I'd have joined Jarvis Cocker on the barricades the first time I heard this. A lot of the bitterness from my teenage years has worn off now, or is more of a distant memory, but this is still pop music riding to the rescue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0DRch3YLh0
‘Gimme dat harp, boy’ by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band. One of the songs for my eventual funeral. This chap knows he can play the harp (harmonica) better than Bob ‘the Bear’ Hite.
Everything about it, though. It starts as this fragile little thing and by the end it’s punching a hole through the sky. ‘Transcendent’ is such a pseud word but it really is.
Classic Scouse anthem from my Liverpool youth.
Gave me "I get knocked down, but I get up again" vibes, years before Chumbawamba's hit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSs_hTEJKyI
Both questions together make me think of Eels, and how they took one of the saddest songs from their Daisies of the Galaxy album (Selective Memory) and reworked it into the new, uplifting, Fresh Feeling for their next album. An inspiring act itself.
Yes, Eels also came to my mind on the sad and inspirational front but Electro Shock Blues is for me their pinnacle. The whole album is a masterpiece borne out of survival in the face of persona trauma and loss, but if it has to be one song then I'm going with this https://youtu.be/hy-2JM4QY0A?si=MSUqPkuGkjsdr2qU
I had the absolute joy of arranging the brass
and then playing in the horn section in a band that backed him singing that song at The Garage in Highbury years ago. After we both remembered we were at college together in the early 90s.
Not sure. I think it depends on the day I think about it. I'm pretty sure Peter Mulvey, the Radical Sheiks, Willie Nelson or Chris Smither will be involved though.
The Everso Closely Guarded Line by Cardiacs. Been listening to it for decades now and still those final few notes always make me emotional and full of optimism:
You saw they came back last year with various eras of the band coming together to celebrate Tim’s life? They’re releasing the previously mythical LSD album - Tim’s final work - this year too.
I did see that, unfortunately I didn’t make it to the shows. I first saw them at Reading Festival 1986, first band on the main stage, I fell in love with them immediately. Over the years I made sure to take at least one person who didn’t know them, without fail they were blown away.
I first heard them in 1990 but didn’t get to see them until the mid 1990s and like you instantly became a prophet for them, trying to get everyone to give them a listen. The only band I know who, once you unlock the beauty in their music, you hear ALL music differently because of them.
Cool About It by Boygenius because it’s full of wit and compassion which might not be enough to make a better world but will be essential to deal with the one we have.
Comments
Harks back to my childhood
https://youtu.be/Bz8iEJeh26E?si=DXlz57fGFyf7KkeY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2n-7K0Ef6Y
With more brass. Then turned up to 11.
And then some more brass.
Opens up a window on the past, to an earlier version of myself when anything seemed possible.
https://youtu.be/yv5xonFSC4c?si=IF4zcgnx6e0YNkUT
So full of love 🙂
even the video makes me happy 😊 https://youtu.be/3qVPNONdF58?si=XswcM6G-_NnqL0Hu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJjj0hHBvDg
Pink Floyd
Serious answer: almost anything written by Robb Johnson. Undefeated, Rosa's Lovely Daughters, Winter Turns To Spring are all favourites.
https://youtu.be/KRu0Uyu_mOc?si=Yi9Y2Airq7vRkUCM
The selflessness in Ray Davies giving his sister the happy ending seems to have hit home to me
A true poet, but this song more than most makes me believe that we can build a better world full of art and resilience. ✊🖌️
https://youtu.be/2fZHou18Cdk?si=n4YkwQvvKJbdKA6-
https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=lIOFglBPf-Y&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY
Emeli Sande.
“Better the pride that resides
In a citizen of the world
Than the pride that divides
When a colorful rag is unfurled”
I’ve had enough of flegs to last several lifetimes.
When I become pessimistic about creating art and feel a sense of its futility, then Kristofferson's To Beat the Devil is my go-to song.
For all those who've somehow never heard of it:
https://youtu.be/Q58Gm18-IMY?si=uZ2x9og1JQugmUD4
Could have sworn I included another vid in the post I deleted just now, but it was meant to be the one hopefully correctly included now.
I'm a sucker for good folk music anyway.
My love of English 'folk' music probably started with this gem.
#MaybeItsMe
https://youtu.be/y2kpUdfULuQ?si=-hJsLHSFE3DZn7uM
And it has a sense of yearning, and scale, and time, and history and our place within it. Destroys me every time.
Tomorrow by James
No Fear of Falling by I Am Kloot
Heartbeats by Kate Goes
She Will Have Her Way by Neil Finn
Don’t Give Up by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush
https://youtu.be/SJSaRw1vjxM?feature=shared
https://youtu.be/LIgIgojL7Ns?si=Yo_jycs3BLpLVikc
https://youtu.be/CaCSuzR4DwM?si=FZEkIXpoRN2TS4tM
There’s a community for your ideas if you look for it
https://youtu.be/l3VqAsMXE7o?si=-TA2OdOh8X8N-mXu
Even when the dark comes crashing through
When you need a friend to carry you
When you're broken on the ground
You will be found
https://youtu.be/u0S8RNkL5Wg?si=UKa-awptyGPHPTEb
Blowin' in the wind.
Gave me "I get knocked down, but I get up again" vibes, years before Chumbawamba's hit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSs_hTEJKyI
https://youtu.be/r0sICC8CxRQ?si=Jbm0QZE4NcWPsvvp
https://youtu.be/hYoBbdaWW4w?si=Q739HrLO9NvEz7AS
https://youtu.be/hy-2JM4QY0A?si=MSUqPkuGkjsdr2qU
https://youtu.be/ojf18wT_Xtk?si=TiE5slqmY7oQSSZK
and then playing in the horn section in a band that backed him singing that song at The Garage in Highbury years ago. After we both remembered we were at college together in the early 90s.
That and The Coventry Carol played on R4 on Christmas Eve. as a fill before the Shipping Forecast in 1994.
Indigo Girls - Closer To Fine
Prophets Of Rage - Unfuck The World
Humate - Love Stimulation (Paul van Dyk remix)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rBrd_3VMC3c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMVjToYOjbM
https://youtu.be/Cm2khPgLN58?si=xANe6QESsAJi-5Ia
https://youtu.be/SGWYbkXCcGU?si=xRAY6PAwuJhmBDb_
https://youtu.be/fCSQd8Nx4mI?si=oPsJXB7cXwgVpw8E
https://youtu.be/FzrskrNXLds?si=Z4JbQNAwbcQFUA9J
https://youtu.be/xdd5pn1xs7M?si=utSSuPfwT7jFxuyb
Freedom is merely privilege extended unless enjoyed by one and all