Thank Broadsheet it’s Friday.
To celebrate the weekend I’m giving away a highly coveted Golden Discs voucher worth an eye-popping €25.
To enter simply tell me below what is your favourite song which has a person’s name in the title and why?
Here’s mine.
Lines remain open at 6am [Sunday].
Please include video link where possible.
Nick says: Good luck!
Sponsored Link
Pablo Picasso
by The Modern Lovers
“Well some people try to pick up girls
And get called assholes
This never happened to Pablo Picasso”
Nothing else to add!
Have you heard about the painter Vincent Van Gogh?
Who loved Colour and who let it show.
Dirty Harry – Gorillaz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLnkQAeMbIM
Scott Walker – Rosemary
https://youtu.be/T-Fx-Dq73Hs
That’s what I want,
A new shot at life,
But my coat’s too thin,
My feet won’t fly,
And I watch the wind,
and I see another dream blowin’ by
This maybe considered sacrilege, but I’ve always really liked this slowed down version of Jolene by Dolly Parton.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMrfM711vXI
Great version.
While we’re at it;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SDVkdcO8ts
It was always ‘400 children’
or
Ruby; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDOznxiEcdM
simply for that chucka-chucka-chucka solo near the end.
The first time I heard this song I felt chills, and still do,
Cowboy Junkies, Sweet Jane
https://youtu.be/RG3L0RGY6yM
KIm Carnes cover of ‘Betty Davis Eyes’ from 1981. I can’t put my finger on why someone who sounds like they’re suffering from a bad case of laryngitis would sound so appealing and emotive – maybe because it sounds like how your voice might go when you’re consumed with emotion, not sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyRosnwO_mg
Carnes’ vocal performance and the musical arrangement sounds all the more impressive when you listen to the original 1974 version by Jackie DeShannon which sounds fairly awful in comparison (in my opinion)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAQsOJbs-yo
No name in the title, but all of the names….
Beautiful south. Song For Whoever…
Mary McMahon of Ballinahinch – Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill
Not only a name but an address too
https://youtu.be/NGWEzO8VpHI
This is a difficult one, as there are so many great songs out there. However, I think I have to go with Thin Lizzy and Rosalie. A great song and great energy from Phil and the boys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSo9CC2wKVI&ab_channel=ThinLizzyFanpage
Dion, Runaround Sue
https://youtu.be/4NQLmUOgT5M
What a vocal. He recorded this after his split with the Belmonts and sung about his then wife.
Doo wop needs to make a comeback I reckon
I will leave behind all of my clothes
I wore when I was with you
All I need’s my railroad boots
And my leather jacket
As I say goodbye to Ruby’s arms
Although my heart is breaking
I will steal away out through your blinds
For soon you will be waking
The morning light has washed your face
And everything is turning blue now
Hold on to your pillow case
There’s nothing I can do now
As I say goodbye to Ruby’s arms
You’ll find another soldier
And I swear to God by Christmas time
There’ll be someone else to hold you
The only thing I’m taking is
The scarf off of your clothesline
I’ll hurry past your chest of drawers
And your broken window chimes
As I say goodbye
I’ll say goodbye
Say goodbye to Ruby’s arms
I’ll feel my way down the darken hall
And out into the morning
The hobos at the freight yards
Have kept their fires burning
So Jesus Christ this goddamn rain
Will someone put me on a train
I’ll never kiss your lips again
Or break your heart
As I say goodbye
I’ll say goodbye
Say goodbye to Ruby’s arms
Ruby’s Arms, Tom Waits
Great version here
https://youtu.be/iUkzgepeYmk
There are so so many I want to play with here….! but to be fair I’ll go with this one from my teens.
Come on Eileen… Dexy’s Midnight Runners.
I’ll never forget seeing them perform this on TOTP for the first time. I was a serious teen with a sharp Led Zep and Black Sabbath addiction. But this masterful piece of pop came on and it was impossible not to love it.
Their second no 1 after Geno (oops!). Song of 1982 if not the song of the decade.
Too Rye Ay indeed….!
Alison – Elvis Costello
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnS_5JY0LAQ
Great emotion expressed so simply and cleverly. Partly punk, part ballad, a little country, a bit of pop, some rock n roll; it’s all heart.
“You gotta learn how to disappear in the silk and amphetamine.”
Solid advice from the master to the pupil.
Johnny Mathis’ Feet – American Music Club
https://youtu.be/P0XauclfgI0
Name checking more American easy listening favorites
Percy Faith – Damien Jurado
https://youtu.be/R_ImfdUHxsY
John Holt’s – Ali Baba
because John sounds like he’s in a really great mood, for some reason
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8D8Kp_sMu8
Slow Hand himself
Layla
in full and original form
https://youtu.be/vBZxVcZ2RGw
A bit like meself
Full and Original
A great song! I was never able to play it, so a friend of mine did a slowed down version for me to learn. A few months later, Eric did a very similar version (only much better) on MTV Unplugged. I reckon he had bugged our kitchen :)
Still, the Unplugged is also a great version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZV7akaSo0s&ab_channel=Shwapples
This has to be the winner:
https://youtu.be/cEaRCAcfOEQ
He’s a bad motherfSHUTYOURMOUTH!!
I really enjoyed the latest film!
Rumplestiltskin – Rumplestiltskin
top notch musicianship on this rock instrumental from 1970
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-2_Y2nEKmU
Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qObzgUfCl28
Great sing-along stuff! Try getting it out of your head.
Happy Birthday
Take your pick from the Beatles
Hey Jude
https://youtu.be/A_MjCqQoLLA
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
https://youtu.be/naoknj1ebqI
The Ballad of John and Yoko
https://youtu.be/v-1OgNqBkVE
Lovely Rita
https://youtu.be/ysDwR5SIR1Q
Rocky Racoon… A great little tune and story within a short pop song…
:-J
+ Eleanor Rigby
Here’s Bobbie Gentry’s version
https://youtu.be/S5Rc7zm966I
Bell X1
Rocky took a Lover.
In the video below Paul Noonan explains who Rocky was and the events which inspired him to write it.
The song is a funny, tender story which reminds me that, regardless of our circumstances, we’re all searching for the comfort of human connection.
Also if the lyric: “ then why is my arse the perfect height for kicking” doesn’t make you smile then you have my pity.
https://youtu.be/96xohVexRnE
Also Eve the Apple of my Eye to continue the name theme…..
https://youtu.be/pb1qW_g2a50
Chuck Berry had a bucketful. Johnny b Goode Nadine, Carol, little Queenie, Maybelline, Joe Joe Gunne, Little Marie, Anthony Boy,..
Has Bud Flanagan been on with his very own ‘who do you think you are kidding mister hitler ‘ yet?
lol.. or “… the self preservation society..”
:-J
“Under the Bridge” always reminds him of home, apparently
Hurricane – Bob Dylan
I always found it a little annoying how many people would cite Dylan as the best of this and the best of that until, many years ago, thankfully I heard this song and my bias disolved and effectively I snapped out of my bad ideology…
“Hurricane” is like making a murderer or any other true to life, quality and riveting documentary done in a kind of trad opera song form before netflix, streaming or broadband was even a twinkle in a fax modem.users eye.
You just can’t deny him as one of the true great songwriters. Ok, that’s obvious to most but in fact I was wrong a second time after this, even paying to listen to him mumbling is probably worth ten times the admission price…
Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, Patty Valentine, Bello, Bradley, Dexter, the cops, the D.A., Judge authorities, justice system, newspapers, dead bodies and mysterious men, women and all the racism of Paterson New Jersey…. take your pick, it’s all great and mostly true…
Even Buddha get’s a mention in there too…
:-J
Hurricane – Bob Dylan
Original Banned Version – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4JU-ZdVfgc
The re-recorded 2nd version is arguably even better…
:-J
Van Morrison – Gloria (not the best song in the world but everybody knows GLORIA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RI-QtEAwvE&app=desktop
Rave on John Donne
Patti Smith wipes her bottom region with Van’s/Them’s original.
retroboy
Richard, by Joanie Mitchell from the album Blue
Ah, come on Guys…
“Martha” Tom Waits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Mse62NFl4
So Starkly beautiful, you barely notice the strings come in, such is the anguish in his voice.
Or any number of Leonard Cohen songs:
Marianne, Suzanne etc
…Eh bien, écoutez l’histoire de Bonnie and Clyde…
Gainsbourg et Bardot.
https://youtu.be/Wa7wjr1NwhA
From leftfield..
John Wayne Gacy, Jr. – Sufjan Stevens
Another John Wayne
https://youtu.be/CeQhjDoy3l0
And a Harper Lee
https://youtu.be/cHwMDr6dMHI
Both from Irish band Little Green Cars
The John Wayne video was shot in one of the finest modernist buildings in Ireland. It’s now owned by badger quiffed capitalist Johnny Ronan
https://www.themodernhouse.com/journal/house-of-the-week-goulding-house-by-scott-tallon-walker-ireland/
Tina Arena’s ‘Vanina’ makes Del Shannon seem tired:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSTvxJ3obPg
Marie Laforêt, who passed away at the beginning of this month, once elbowed the Rolling Stones aside in her own parish with her ‘Marie douceur Marie colère’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zuqX6gHriM
ça fait du bien
Peter Gabriel – Biko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zuqX6gHriM
What a time it was.
he was a dull and simple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTBl-Xq2auY
Rod Stewart – The Killing of Georgie Parts I & II. Rod’s plaintive “Oh Georgie stay, don’t go away” gets me every single time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95zxtaKQBBc
JJ Cale – Cherry
for the soothing effect it has every time I listen to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGxBWluon84
That’s an easy one.
Roxanne by The Police. Still a brilliant tune. Crazy blend of tango, bossa nova, reggae, punk rock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1c7GkzRQQ
Alternatively its Ross can by Phoebe Buffay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2qh_Y8A6ug&feature=youtu.be&t=49s
The Undertones – Julie Ocean
https://youtu.be/rVrgauVv-fQ
In honour of the late, great Laura Brannigan: Gloria
I loved this song growing up (still do) and was relly upset when she passed away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=355Fk8drgZE&ab_channel=modem1001
And to pander to my not-so-inner ABBA fan, Chiquitita. I occasionally would play this when feeling down It and Super Trouper just reached into my soul and brought me along the way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4QqMKe3rwY
“So that is why, from now on and into the future, 100% of the royalties to Chiquitita will go to help towards the promotion of rights for girls. Chiquitita means ‘little girl’ and we must never abandon the little girls,” Björn concluded.
http://www.icethesite.com/2014/11/bjorn-pledges-abbas-long-term-support-of-unicef-to-the-united-nations-general-assembly/
ABBA cool!
I did know that, and yes, it is really cool of them.
Unfortunately you also pointed out that the entry is ineligible, as Chiquitita is not a name :(
Ok, it is still November, but given the season about to descend on us, how about a little hokey disco?
Mary’s Boy Child -Boney M. out with the tight white leotards, now ::)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGqXy_iD4kc
I was tempted to go with Rasputin, but I will save that for later :)
There can only be one winner, the fantastic half man, half biscuit with “Fu**in’ ‘Ell, It’s Fred Titmus”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWfmDIiax_8
Lola – The Kinks
Why?.. Great songwriter, singer, band, song, riff and that lyric “Well I’m not the world’s most physical guy… But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine, Oh my Lola la-la-la-la Lola”
Kinky… -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20C1cpnYjMo
:-J
Philby – Rory Gallagher
Not a love song but a rocking track about Soviet spy Kim Philby. It’s a Cold War story told in a 4 minute belter.
Probably my favourite Rory track and it’s up there amongst my favourite Irish tracks of all time.
https://youtu.be/WlEQOmGISHM
Good choice. The dulcimer sounds are just amazing. The combo of this with the rocking drum beat and changes does indeed make this one of Rory’s best ever tune.
I dreamt last night I saw Joe Hill as live as you and me.
Said I; “But Joe you’re ten years dead”
“I never died said he…I never died said he”.
(..working from memory here).
Pearll JAM – JEREMY
OR
Eminem – STAN
John Mellencamp with Jack and Diane
https://youtu.be/h04CH9YZcpI
life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone
I love Stan by Eminem with Dido, such a good pairing
Gabhaim molta Bríde by Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dNRPcPpeI4
Because it’s very old and it’s ours
Elton John – Bennie and the Jets
Recorded in 1973 for Elton Johns 10th album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, it was written by Elton and long term writing partner Bernie Taupin.The intro is unmistakable and gets the foot a-tappin’ straight away. Bennie and her Jets are a fictional glam-rock style band and the song was meant to serve as a satire to the pop music industry at the time. Elton John and the band worried that the song was un-original and plain but it enjoyed huge success in the US and Canada. This live version works really well with the audience providing accompaniment to the rhythm and Elton John providing his usual flair, passion and a wonderful vocal. This track has been a troublesome ear-worm for me in the past and I will most likely wake up some morning this week only to make the mistake of singing Buh-Buh-Buh Bennie! and therefore resigning myself to another day of it.
“Oh but they’re weird and they’re wonderful
Oh Bennie, she’s really keen
She’s got electric boots
A mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5zFpctrgjs
Polly – Nirvana. Beautiful song, dark subject. Here’s the unplugged version:
https://youtu.be/3H0NHHKBemg
Honestly, this was easy as it is one of my forever favourite songs ever.
I first heard it when I was a teenager, and cant help myself to sing aong!
Fleetwood Mac and Sarah.
Just always so very haunting and the melody is wonderful fuelled with Stevie Nicks vocals…amazing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOVyBhVsOV0
It struck me in bed last night that we forgot one of the greats. Valerie: Mark Ronson but featuring the incredible vocals of Amy Winehouse! One of my favourite of her songs. A phenomenal talent, again gone too soon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bixuI_GV5I0
Of course, honourable mention to Steve Winwood with the original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbKNICg-REA
Eh… the Zutons did the original.
Oh, I always thought theirs was a cover of Steve Winwood. Thanks, I learn something new every week :)
In that case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3xpmfJp0Xc
Ah, this is the problem with dream led things – Wrong Valeries :)
Never mind, I’ll get my coat!
Came across this gem today, for reasons I will not go into. I include it not for the competition, but just because it is a fantastic song, by an incredible singer. Not aiming to win, but to share the the joy!
The wonderful jazzy soulful Elkie Brooks and Pearl’s A Singer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2yYLdigGbo&ab_channel=officialelkiebrooks