Last week, with a twenty five euro voucher for Golden Discs on offer, we asked you to complete this sentence:
‘The greatest non-ballad love song ever is….”
You did so in your dozens.
But there could only be one winner:
Tomboktu takes the voucher with an Irish-made, Dublin-based swoon choon:
Under Clery’s Clock by the late Phil Chevron and performed by The Radiators, because not only is it a genuinely gay Irish song (‘last bus to An Lar’), and not only did it capture the anxiety of being gay before decriminalisation (song: 1989; law change: 1993), and not only because it recounts an honesty that we don’t talk about in polite society (‘Burgh Quay at night/In this dark and stinking place’), but also because in those dark days it was so, so visionary, looking to a day of equality long before even gay activists were thinking about it (‘to hold him and embrace/Just like other lovers do/Without disgrace’).”
Runners up:
Penfold: “The greatest non-ballad love song ever is ‘Fell in Love with a Girl’ by the White Stripes because it’s a great manic song that comes in under two minutes, which is more than enough for any love song or associated acts! The video Is pretty class too which just enhances the song.”
Odockatee: “‘Whatever’ by Liam Lynch. He puts up so many barriers but shows his true love for Zaphron by the end. Maybe its friendship, maybe its more. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll kiss 1 minute and 29 seconds goodbye. MWAH!”
Mike: “The greatest non-ballad love song ever is Love Machine by Supermax because how could you pick anything else with a lyric like ‘If you need a one day lover just call 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 1 day lover. If you need a two day lover just call 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 2 days lover‘”
Ivan: “The greatest non-ballad love song ever is I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing by Pet Shop Boys because it’s sounds daft as a brush, looks dafter, has an ace descending bassline, you can dance to it and it references the Rite of flippin Spring.”
Bertie Blenkinsop: “I don’t know if this is considered a ballad but I absolutely love the way Alicia Keys sings thisI’m no music critic but i often thought it may be because it seems to be slightly out of her vocal range so it seems like she’s reaching for the notes and so seems to be yearning even more. Anyhow, don’t listen to it if you’re mad for someone and can’t have them, you’ll have to go off and stand on a cold square of lino to get yourself back on track :)”
Deluded: :The greatest non-ballad love song ever is “Hey Boy, Hey Girl” by the Chemical Brothers because it is so joyous and high-energy and Paul Oakenfold opened a set with it which still gives me goosebumps.”
Smith: “The greatest non ballad love song ever is “This is not a Love Song” by PIL. Throbbing [Jah] Wobble bass and wailing anti-capitalist /neo-liberal sentiment delivered by Lydon. The title says it all.”
Serval: “The greatest non-ballad love song ever is F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E. by Pulp because the lyrics are astoundingly brilliant and the melody and arrangement perfectly match the wildness, craziness and uncontrollable urges of love.”
Thanks all
Last week: This is Not A Slow Set
Winner for sure, well done :)
Nicely done!
I didn’t participate, but this would have been my offering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96xohVexRnE
Bell XI are good, I especially liked their songs when Talking Heads recorded them originally.
haha
Please forgive my innocence of enjoying a fine melody – is it because they’re from Kildare?
Ah they’re grand just find their stuff very derivative Shayna, let’s not fight on this special day .
Worth reflecting on fact that law didn’t change until 1993…
That news is most pleasant (and unexpected after the objections about the eligibility of Under Clery’s Clock when I nominated it on Friday).