| Joan Armatrading – Willow Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| This song is so beautiful. The message is about someone who will stick by you whatever - what a fantastic thing to say to anyone, and sung so fabulously. | |
| Eminem – Stan Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| I am not an Eminem fan in general, and I don't like rap/hip hop as a rule. But this song is awesome. The passion and intensity of Stans anger, leading him to a psychological breakdown, against the chilled out Dido tune in the background ( and, FWIW, he also picks the only bit of Dido I reckon is worth listening to ), against the busy artist, trying to find the time to write to his fans - phenomenal. This is genius. | |
| Martha and the Muffins – Echo Beach Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| A wonderful feelgood song. It makes me smile every time I hear it. | |
| Genesis – Follow You Follow Me Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| This song is about the only time, IMO, that they managed to combine the Phil Collins sound with the earlier Genesis sound. If they could have kept that feel, it would have been wonderful - soft and touchy Collins, with rocky and driving music behind him. | |
| The Bangles – Hazy Shade Of Winter Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| This is a brilliant cover of the song - IMO far better than the original, which is a real achievement. Simon and Garfunkel are one of the best songwriting teams ever, and their versions of most songs are not only the best ,but pretty well unbeatable. However, in this case, by taking a rockier approach to it, I think the Bangles have done a great song real justice. | |
| The Kinks – Lola Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I love that this song is so open in its meaning. I think arguing that it HAS to mean one thing or the other is to miss this point. It could be about a kid who falls for a ladette - which is why she walks like a girl but talks like a man. But who is still all woman, and is glad he's a man. It could be about someone who is just interested and experimenting ( the line "I almost fell for my Lola" could suggest that he was not actually duped at all ). And the "mixed up, muddled up" world, except for Lola, who is at least being honest about who s/he is. And it could be about a naive boy who hooks up with a transvestite, and probably gets a shock. And most of all, it is about the reality that we cannot really know, and we should not judge - the world is very mixed up, so just make the most of it. And it is a very funny song, so not to be taken too seriously. |
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| Ugly Kid Joe – Cat's in the Cradle Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I had forgotten this song, until it was played on the radio recently. It is awesomely bittersweet - I find it very painful, because I know I don't give my kids enough of my time, much as I try. And, just to clarify a few rumours, the original was Harry Chapman, this is the only cover that anyone has heard of, and it was never done by GnR. It is purely about a father not having spent his time with his son, and his son loving him, and wanting to be just like his dad - which came true, as the dad realised far too late. In all the worst ways. The chorus is just images of childhood, just about growing up normally. The final verse "The kids have flu" is not an indication that he is spending more time with them, it is just an excuse not to spend time with his dad - "new job's a hassle" too. It is excuses for not spending time with people you should. |
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| Gnarls Barkley – Reckoner (Radiohead cover) Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Love this version of the song. It is a real challenge to cover a song that is so radiohead-style as this, but I think Gnarls does it so well. | |
| Radiohead – No Surprises Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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It is most definately about middle-class resignation - no alarms and no surprises is the middle-class dream. And in this song it is being shown for what it is - resignation, as someone has said. "A job that slowly kills you" - think Reggie Perrin. "Bring down the government - they don't speak for us" - typical middle class rebellion, because no government speaks for them. "A handshake of carbon monoxide" - middle class suicide, wonderfully put. And it is a hauntingly beautiful song too, in a disturbing way. It was used at the start of Series 6 of House, to stunning effect, to reflect the desperation House was feeling in the hospital. |
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| Gary Numan – Are 'Friends' Electric? Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Meaning? It is about someone who is lonely, desperately so, despite the friends he has, who he doesn't entirely trust or understand. He seems paranoid, but it may be that he is right to be. And this is a phenomenal song/tune. The utter bleakness of a world without "real" friends, and the passion and intensity that he shows through the music ( although he keeps his dispassionate voice and demeanor ) are unrivalled. And with so many people having only virtual friends these days, it is so not dated. |
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| Brian Eno – Another Green World Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Many in the UK will know this as the theme for "Arena", but it is a very cool and beautiful tune on its own. And very short. And I have absolutely no idea what it is about. |
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| Judie Tzuke – Stay with me 'till dawn Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Sometimes you just need someone now. Irrespective of what ever else they do, for now, you need them. Judie Tzuke is often mentioned as one of the most underrated UK stars. I think she is not so good live as she could be, but on record, she is stunning. |
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| Mylo – Need You Tonite Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| This is a really good remix. I guess it means "Don't play about, I need you". | |
| The Pretenders – Creep (Radiohead cover) Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This is the best cover of this song I have heard. The depth of passion in this song - and in all of Chrissies work TBH - is astounding. Other versions, I have always understood to mean "you are very special, wonderful, and I wish I could aspire to being like you. Unfortunately, I am just a creep and a wierdo, who shouldn't think such things". However, this version is much more like "You think you are SO very fucking 'special', don't you, and I am just a lowlife you can't be bothered with? Why am I wasting my time with you?" It is different, but with the same words. |
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| Damien Rice – When Doves Cry (Prince cover) Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Beautiful version of this song, passionate and intense, just as I like it. | |
| A Man Called Adam – Estelle Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Love this song - love changes things seems to be what it is about. If anyone can interpret/translate the conversation at the start, that would be even cooler. So far I have got: que ce nom? ( Whats your name? ) Estelle ???? pas de deux ( ? ) And that may be completely wrong! And 4th line from the end of my posted lyrics - it is fills up, not feels up! Can this be corrected please? |
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| The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1 Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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The album as a whole is a concept, and within that it fits clearly. On its own, however, it stands out as a highly surreal song. The title - Yoshimi battles the giant pink robots - sets it up. This is not going to be a Gary Moore "After the War" type of battle song. This is about pink - and probably squidgy if not fluffy - robots. The style of the song, the signers voice, and the arrangement all serve to support this idea that it is a fluffy song. And then the lines "Oh Yoshimi, they don't believe me, but you won't let those robots eat me" makes it all real. I see a girl cowering in a corner, hoping not to be munched up by rampaging robots. Which fits the cancer idea perfectly. |
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| R.E.M. – Leaving New York Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I heard that this was about Stipe feeling that he had to leave New York after 9/11, because he no longer felt safe. That makes sense ( to me ), because it seems to be about being forced to leave, or leaving reluctantly. I think there is also leaving someone there, who could not or would not move out. I used to hear this song on the radio when it came out as single, while I was driving home from work in the dark, the traffic, and sometimes the rain. Perfect haunting melody for that, beautiful singing - Stipe does have a very good if distinctive voice. |
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| R.E.M. – Everybody Hurts Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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when you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on. If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone Everybody hurts. That seems to summarise the song meaning very well. Beautiful, clean and clear, passionate and one of the best songs ever. |
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| Muse – Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Frankie Valli cover) Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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It is one of those songs that really should never have seen the light of day - the lyrics are tacky, the music is naff, and even combined it still manages to be a really lousy song. However, the association with drunken nights is so strong that it has somehow managed to survive. Quite why this makes it any better, I am not sure, but it remains a well known song. And then Muse do this to it, which is fantastic, because it drags it out of the realms of utter tackiness into something that is very good, and a really fabulous song. Weird still, but good. |
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| Muse – The House of the Rising Sun (Animals cover) Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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As a rule, I don't like covers of songs, when there is a definitive version ( as in this case - I realise the Animals were technically covering the song, but theirs is the definitive version ). However, I do like this. I was alerted to it through it being used in a trailer over here, and the first verse part is fabulous. I don;t think the rest quite lives up to it, but a very cool cover of a very cool song. IMO. |
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| The Animals – House Of The Rising Sun Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I'm not sure it is or needs to be specific what type of place the House is. It could be a brothel, a gambling house, or a drinking place ( during prohibition maybe? ). It is about a person who spent their life their - either as a patron or as a whore or someone trying to pay of their gambling debts by working there. It works whatever. And the moral of it is not to waste your life in any of these pursuits, but to value your family, those who care for you. I suspect some of the words may be wrong in this version, I think it is "in God I know I'm one", and I am not sure about "on a drunk". And anything so easy to play and yet so powerful is awesome, and so in need of various musical interpretations. |
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| Corderoy – Deeper Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Great song - it is, in a general way, about wanting more of life in general, and a person in particular. Knowing Kirstie ( who sings it ) it is also very strongly about wanting to know more of God. But it expresses a desire for more, but in a positive, rather than an acquisitive way. | |
| Shinedown – Second Chance Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This song is getting quite a lot of play on Absolute Radio ATM, so I I hearing it a lot, and love it. Their sound is great, with, as someone mentioned, a bit of the early Bon Jovi sound in it, raw and rocking. I think the meaning can be taken a little wider, that sometimes moving one from one thing means having to let go, having to say goodbye to things, but that it is necessary to do so in order to get the new things and the new life - the second chance. As such, it could apply to a whole range of situations. |
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| The Isley Brothers – Summer Breeze Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Love this song - just eulogising about youth in summer. The little guitar riff just so makes this song too. The last few weeks have been warm and sunny, so very much Summer Breeze time. |
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| Fleetwood Mac – Albatross Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| There is something really chilled about this. The feeling of a Albatross sailing over the water, I guess. Such a cool tune. | |
| Oasis – Champagne Supernova Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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This has to be the best totally-high-as-a-kite out song ever. As to meaning, I am not sure it can have any real meaning, as he is clearly so spaced out, but the wonderful "constructive tension" of the opposites is fabulous. "Slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball" - I am not sure that it needs any more meaning than the perfect contradiction. And "Someday you will find me caught beneath the landslide, in a champagne supernova in the sky" is surely about how one day the drugs will overtake him, and he will be both high and dying. Which, TBH, is quite likely. But for me the music and the musical quality of the lyrics make this song brilliant. |
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| Michael Jackson – Ben Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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In general, I don't like MJs music. That is not to deny his talent influence or importance, just a question of taste. This song, OTOH, is fabulous. Really showing off his vocal talents ( rather than just his range as so often ). And while it may have been written about a rat, I think it also speaks of loneliness and finding someone to share that with, a subject that I suspect was very close to his heart. |
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| – Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't Have Fallen In Love With?) Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| oliver - you make me feel so old, as I remember this song coming out. I think it is probably wider than just the original story - although yes falling for someone of a different ethnic origin was frowned upon ( by both sides ), it would also cover girls falling for punks, and anyone falling for someone outside their acceptable social circle. | |
| Fleetwood Mac – Oh Well (Part 1) Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Fabulous song, giving an opportunity for some cool guitar work around a cleverly written ( and very catchy ) song. I guess it is really about someone who is self deprecating, or at least acknowledging their own shortcomings, but also that others have their problems too - don't judge, just accept. I particularly like the second verse, because it takes a very realistic approach to God ( is that possible? who knows ). Sort of "yes I love you and will help you, but don't get too bigheaded." |
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| Fleetwood Mac – Songbird Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Many years ago I saw FM at Wembley. This was one of their oncores. The beautiful simplicity of Christines voice and piano playing, over the crowd was amazing. The pain that they were feeling at the time ( the split very soon after ) always comes over in this song. Eva Cassidy could not, IMO, do it justice. And James Blunt is not in the same league, but such a long way. |
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| Fleetwood Mac – The Chain Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| As an F1 fan, and Fleetwood Mac fan, this has to be one of the greatest riffs ever. The music so compliments the lyrics, the sense of a chain holding them together that you can almost hear cracking in the guitar solo at the end. | |
| Fleetwood Mac – Sara Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Beautiful song, really shows what a fabulous voice Steve Nicks has ( not to everyones taste, I know, but I think it is gorgeous ). I actually have no idea what it is about, but to me it seems to be reflecting Saras growing up and moving away, and the memories of her father, coming back at a time of losing Sara. Which probably says more about me than anything. |
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| Derek and the Dominos – Layla Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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An interesting comment I heard some time ago was that in this period of his life, Eric Clapton was struggling to find a way to go ( what with being in love with the wife of a Beatle and not having a band to play in ). He formed DatD as a way to hide, and produce music without it being focussed on him. And in that time he produced the song probably most definitive and most recognisable by him ever. Thus proving he can't even hide properly. I think if you are going to go for unrequited love, falling for the wife of Beatle was top-notch. The unplugged version is different. I like both, but for different reasons - the original is the most passionate and rocking, but the unplugged version does have a certain amount of wistfulness about it, possibly because when he produced it, he could look back on that time with, erm, wistfulness. |
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| Meat Loaf – For Crying Out Loud Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Fantastic song, and full of complex verbal twists, as per usual with Meatloaf. The meaning though is in the double meaning of "crying out loud". The expression "for crying out load" is a frustrated one - sort of like FFS, only less ... erm ... expressive. So he is partially saying "yes, FFS, of course I love you". But the literal meaning of the words is the real reason he loves her, because she expresses herself, she shows what she feels. For that reason, primarily, he loves her. |
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| Soul Asylum – Runaway Train Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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This song is brilliant. For me, the best verse is bought a ticket for a runaway train like a madman laughing at the rain little out of touch, little insane it's just easier than dealing with the pain which is about someone who cannot cope, cannot face life and just needs to runaway, because dealing with the pain is more that they can cope with. And they are going slowly mad trying to. |
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| Meat Loaf – Heaven Can Wait Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Stunningly beautiful song this. And really demonstrates Meatloafs serious vocal talent. I think it is about someone who realises what he used to have just before he almost loses it, and so wants to hold onto it for ever. The seeking after "heaven" - something he cannot quite get to will have to wait while he deals with the here and now. |
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| Meat Loaf – Bat Out Of Hell Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| This is "leader of the pack" done properly. The ultimate in OTT rock driving music. | |
| Ian Van Dahl – Castles In The Sky Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I think it is more about questioning those who build up false hopes in this world than heavenly ones, and saying that we really can't reach them. It asks whether we ever question why we do this. As someone said, meaning in trance songs is not always that relevant. It is a great song. |
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| Matt Darey – Beautiful (Feat. Marcella Woods) Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Being a trance song ,the lyrics are note the most meaningful ever, but it is a cool song. I think it is a wonderful comment that a partner is beautiful, both inside and out, according to the singer, even though this may not be appreciated by others. Which is fab. |
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| Fatboy Slim – Praise You Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Brilliant song - so well underplayed. And extraordinary video. I mean, why try harder? In terms of meaning, surely it is about a "couple" in any sense, who have struggled and won through. And it therefore can serve as a message to all who struggle. |
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| Guns N' Roses – November Rain Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| This is fantastic song. I am not really a GnR fan, but this song rocks. The intensity and the softness are fabulous together. | |
| Snap – The Power Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I love this song. It is used in so many films, ads etc, because it is still a really good song, despite being 15 years old ( something like that ). As to meaning, I think the lyrics are more chosen for their musical quality than their meaning. Not that I have a problem with that, as they combine to make an awesome song. |
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| Pink Floyd – Marooned Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I love this tune. best instrumental ever - not so sure, but it does demonstrate Dave Gilmours brilliance on the guitar, and his ability to use the effects to make some chilling music. Is it "proper" Floyd? I think that they miss Roger on this album, excellent though it is, which tends to mean it is more of a Dave showcase. This track shows that this is not half bad, but misses something indefinable. |
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| Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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What really bugs me about this song is the second verse, which doesn't scan at all, and puts emphasis in all the wrong places. It is the sort of verse that should have been edited out, or reworked to actually fit. It does talk about the clocks being reset and the pendulums held, something that is reminiscent of death, which makes me wonder if either a) Ruby is dead, and this could reflect a regret of not having known anything about her except her name or b) that the experience of being so in love is as surreal as the experience of being around death. IMHO, of course. |
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| Joan Armatrading – Love and Affection Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Beautiful song, and I think she is trying to work out whether the person she is with is a friend or a potential lover. It seems that at the moment, it is just a friend, but if he were to try a little more, it could all change. And by the end, I think it might be progressing that way. | |
| Iona – Encircling Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Fantastic track this. Powerful, Celtic-inspired, and passionate. Love it. Meaning - it is three ancient Celtic prayers, with commitment, guidance and protection as the three themes. |
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| Gary Moore – Still Got the Blues (For You) Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Blues playing at its absolute best. Blues song at its best. If you want to know what the Blues basis of rock is, this is the perfect song. This is making a guitar cry. | |
| Gary Moore – Parisienne Walkways Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Gary is phenomenal on guitar, and it gives this song the wonderful haunted sense of looking back on good times, but now being left with just him and his guitar. Beautiful. |
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| Amy Mcdonald – This is the life Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I think there is something about the fun of youth, but the melancholic edge is ( to me ) in the "where you gonna sleep tonight" angle, that despite having a great time, having mates to chat to, eventually you are on your own, you don't have anything solid to fall back on. Amy McDonald has such a cool rocky voice. Gorgeous. |
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