Testing Testing....Is Dooyoo Alreet Now? A Music Op Challenge Thingy (Music)

Member Name: marandina

Product:	Music
Date:	02/10/03 (373 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Music is nice

Disadvantages: I'm tone deaf

There's nothing like posting a challenge op at the right time and this is nothing like posting a challenge op at the right time. Nobody is reading 'cos the site ain't been accepting IE as a browser, I haven't been reading cos I don't want to download another browser (BIIIIGGGG file) and....erm.....well the Euro footie's on again (come on Stuttgart, lol)

Aaaaaaanyway......

I guess music can be defined as one of the few constants that stays with us from the cradle to the grave. I must admit to slowing up in terms of discovering new bands over the last few years and can be accused of being rooted in the late 70s and 80s as far as music goes. Then again, I'm closing in on 40 don'tcha know? As ever, I'm miles behind with challenge thingies and wouldn't be surprised if nobody reads this.

Favourite last dance smoochie?

I seem to remember being the lad who wandered around with his hands in his pockets, head down when it came to the slow numbers at the end of the school disco. I did improve later in my teens and seem to recall "Whose gonna drive you home?" I can't just remember who sang it (The Cars?) but the best slow song in my time was U2 with "With or Without You". One of my best friends got married (later divorced, sadly) and had this as the traditional bride and groom dance. Listening to it left a shiver down my spine, it was so atmospheric and by one of the greatest bands the world has ever seen.

Best Cover Version?

As a rule, I don't really like cover versions. They often seem a cop out to me and easy money for record companies. Often used to consolidate a band's early success, they rarely reach the standards of the original artist. Notwithstanding that, there have been some great covers.

"Caravan of Love" by The Housemartins is such a wonderful acapella. I seem to remember it being a cover of an Isley Brothers track but i
t's just such an evocative song, sang brilliantly by a band that never realised it's potential.

Strangely, whilst I always felt mildly intimidated by the homosexual antics of Marc Almond and Soft Cell in general, I did have a lot of time for "Tainted Love". It was a seminal (careful spelling) record at a time when I was probably at my most impressionable although it will hardly go down (sorry, Marc) as a classic.

I have to throw in Paul Young's "Love of the Common People" too (Stiff Little Fingers also did a version) whilst The Clash did some of the best white reggae covers going including "I Fought The Law" originally by Sonny Curtis and The Crickets.

Worst Cover Version?

Yikes ~ loads I guess. Yep, "American Pie" was slaughtered by Maddy with Don McLean surely owed millions for deformation of character, so bad was Madonna's version. Let's face it, cover versions are easy to mangle so I won?t go on in this particular section albeit the latest exponents of horrible covers include Gareth Gates and the other bloke who came second. Write your own stuff you lazy ba*tards.

Best Male Vocal?

Crikey...virtually impossible to answer. Everybody looks for something different in a male vocal. For quality I'd probably go for Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet. He's sung so many songs that are just top notch. "Through The Barricades", "Gold", "True". The man possesses a wonderful voice although other notable mentions include Mario Lanza (my dad's favourite), Roy Orbison (a classically rock opera voice) and, to a point, Meatloaf who was involved with possibly The best album ever made, "Bat Out Of Hell"

Best Female Vocal?

Again, a crowded category but I've always loved Whitney Houston's voice (if only she hadn't married that loser) but others worth a mention include the talented Alison Moyet, o
nce of Yazoo.

Best Duo/Group?

It's easier to answer as a group so for me the band that always meant the most was The Jam. Saying that, both The Damned and Stiff Little Fingers will have run them close along with The Clash. I've seen all of the above live with the regrettable exclusion of Joe Strummer and The Clash.

The Jam were probably the closest to my heart. I always adored the Socialist rebel in Paul Weller and the lyrics in a lot of the songs are just so socially aware. There are too many classics to list here but I own all six studio albums as well as the live album they did and a few compilations. I honestly believe that, like a lot of bands, The Jam peaked at their third album "All Mod Cons" which is just breathlessly good. "Down in a Tube Station", "English Rose", there are classics throughout although "The Gift" came pretty close to getting perfect marks being their final studio album.

Most Memorable Song?

It's impossible to single out one song as different songs elicit different emotions. I've had so many good times out and about with my mates when Bon Jovi's "Living On a Prayer" has brought the house down at the end of an evening. "Whole of the Moon" by The Waterboys has a similar effect whilst U2 have a whole string of songs that move the listener.

Your Song?

I can't say that I have one particular song although I do confess to like "Victims" by Culture Club, which was the slushy record I danced to at my wedding with my good lady.

Best Female Vocal Performance?

I've never really been a big one for female leads so it's hard to pick a winner here. I guess Whitney Houston would stand out for warbling many a good tune and the theme from the movie "The Body Guard" seems to register with me.

Best Male Vocal Performance?

I guess I'd take this as bei
ng the best live gig I went too which was back in the early 80''s. I saw The Jam play live at Bingley Hall, Birmingham. I was such a fantastic gig. The place was jumping although the middle of the hall was dominated by Mods wearing Fish-tailed parkas. I always remember catching the bus home on a high as though I'd just had an injection of endorphins or something. It was the night of my life seeing my heroes play live. It was the only time I saw them and Bingley Hall was burned down some time later (not linked, I hope)

Most Poignant Song?

Most poignant song? Erm...see references to "Victims" by Culture Club blah blah blah. Too many similarly worded questions!!!!

All Time Favourite Album?

As alluded to earlier, without doubt "Bat Out Of Hell" by Meatloaf. It was in the album charts for years, although the songs are just so good it?s totally understandable with the immortal "Bat Out Of Hell" the masterpiece. With Jim Steinman penning the material, the duo combined to produce one of THE best albums ever and it still sells well today.

On a more contemporary note, "Black Album" from The Damned is a work of black art with the punks still going strong today, albeit with a much changed line up. I own the original double album that was deleted in favour of a single disc with a pure black cover so I think it will be worth a few quid. Not that I'd ever sell it. "Machine Gun Etiquette" is also The D at their very best.

Best Music Video?

Probably "New Year's Day" by U2 or "Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2 or "Live at Red Rocks" by U2. Generally, anything with U2 as they have always made the very best music videos. No expense has ever been spared by Bono when it comes to things like videos, merchandising and the like and I'm sure the millions that have seen them over the years will testify to value for money. I&
#39;ve been lucky enough to see them twice and would suggest that the Red Rocks video would be the best I've seen based on a gig they did in Colorado some time ago now.

Best Act Ever?

See previous answers. (Who can forget "Save all your kisses for me" by Brotherhood of Man?)

Best act/best group?

Same sort of thing really so see previous answers. (I may have missed out "Save Your Love For Me" by Renee and Renarta.)

Best TV/Film musical piece?

There have been some great pieces written for films but the one that stands out is "Philadelphia" by Bruce Spingsteen. Not that I'm a huge fan but I thought the film did a great social service at the time highlighting the issues around aids with Tom Hanks carrying yet another excellent role as the lead character. The Boss's vocals are on top form providing wonderful backing to a significant piece of film making that pricked the conscious of many that saw it.

Best personal computer (any) music software?

Ho hum....misread the question initially....best music software...no frickin idea so I'll go with a recommendation I read recently from a great (?) Irish writer that MusicMatch Jukebox 8 rocks. As a bonus I'll leave the references to electro pop in below.

Kraftwerk took the world of music by storm back in the 80s. A German band who had been around for some time before the New Romantic era was ushered in, came up with the work of genius that was "The Model". A great video too, they epitomised what electro music was all about. If you haven't seen it then the band are dressed up in predominantly black gear with them playing their instruments as a camera circles around them. With a stop-start motion style the video takes on a completely unique dynamic for it's time.

Eek...feels like I've droned on forever. Oh well, just my thoughts.

Thanks for reading

Maran
dina

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