Category: Song of the Day

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Ambient Art Pop Electronic Music Experimental Song of the Day Triphop

Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): Björk – All Is Full Of Love

Day 29. The video for this great tune by Björk is sadly age restricted. I do include it below though you’ll have to be logged into YouTube to watch it. The official audio on YouTube is also included below.

It’s one of my favourite tunes by Björk, a sensual downtempo piece which calls to mind the halftime rhythms of Dubstep as much as the murky electronica of Trip Hop. Great video too.

You’ll be given love
You’ll be taken care of
You’ll be given love
You have to trust it

Maybe not from the sources
You have poured yours
Maybe not from the directions
You are staring at

Twist your head around
It’s all around you
All is full of love
All around you

You just ain’t receiving (All is full of love)
Your phone is off the hook (All is full of love)
Your doors are all shut (All is full of love)
And be the little angel (All is full of love)

All is full of love (All is full of love)
All is full of love (All is full of love)
All (All is full of love)
All is full of love (All is full of love)
All (All is full of love)

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Indie Rock Rock Rock And Roll Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): Manic Street Preachers – If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Day 28. Another one influenced by Disco Elysium here. This song doesn’t appear in the game, as such, but appears as one of several easter eggs within the game which reference Manic Street Preachers song titles & lyrics. In the game world, the song was the anthem of a past Communist revolution in the main city, Revachol. An old man who fought during said revolution sings (or speaks, it isn’t voice acted) the opening lines of the song to you. When you ask him how the rest of the song goes, he says: “Something about shooting rabbits? I don’t remember.”

The song was originally written about the Spanish Civil War & became the Manic Street Preachers first number one single in the UK. The song is the longest song title (without using parenthesis) to ever reach the number one spot. It is, as far as I can ascertain, the only UK number one single to address the Spanish Civil War too, although I remember, at the time it was released, journalists saying that The Clash did it better with Spanish Bombs. I’m not sure where I stand on this.

The future teaches you to be alone
The present to be afraid and cold
So if I can shoot rabbits
Then I can shoot fascists

Bullets for your brain today
But we’ll forget it all again
Monuments put from pen to paper
Turns me into a gutless wonder

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next

Gravity keeps my head down
Or is it maybe shame
At being so young and being so vain?

Holes in your head today
But I’m a pacifist
I’ve walked La Ramblas
But not with real intent

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next

And on the street tonight an old man plays
With newspaper cuttings of his glory days

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah

Looking for some great music? Check the Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral) Spotify playlist.

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Dream Pop Indie Rock New Wave Pop Post Punk Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): The Jesus & Mary Chain – Head On

Day 27. This is actually the second time this particular song has appeared during a Song of the Day series. The first time was during the Cover Versions series, in the form of the excellent cover by Pixies. This original version is a solid piece of dark Post Punk Pop, late ’80s style. The Reid brothers are on top form here. Stylish synthetic bass rhythms & stupendous rhythms are central to the composition, with the distorted swirls of electric guitar adding colour depth.

As soon as I get my head around you
I come around catching sparks off you
I get an electric shock from you
This secondhand living just won’t do
And the way I feel tonight
I could die and I wouldn’t mind
And there’s something going on inside
Makes you want to feel
Makes you want to try
Makes you want to blow the stars from the sky
And I can’t stand up
I can’t cool down
I can’t get my head off the ground
As soon as I get my head around you
I come around catching sparks off you
And all I ever got from you
Was all I ever took from you
Yeah, the world could die in pain
And I wouldn’t feel no shame
And there’s nothing holding me to blame
Makes you want to feel
Makes you want to try
Makes you want to blow the stars from the sky
And I’m taking myself to a dirty part of town
Where all my troubles can’t be found
I said yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
And I’m taking myself to a dirty part of town
Where all my troubles can’t be found
Makes you want to feel
Makes you want to try
Makes you want to blow the stars from the sky

Looking for some great music? Why not check out the Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral) Spotify playlist.

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Folk Indie Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): British Sea Power – The Smallest Church In Sussex

Day 26. Tonight I finished my first playthrough of the incredible detective RPG Disco Elysium. It has a soundtrack by British Sea Power, who I love, & there is a scene in which the main protagonist sings an altered version of this song entitled ‘The Smallest Church In Saint-Saëns’. I’ve included this version below for the curious. The vocals are by the protagonists Ancient Reptilian Brain.

I would often go there
To the tiny church there
The smallest church in Sussex
Though it once was larger

How the rill may rest there
Down through the mist there
Toward the Seven Sisters
Toward those white cliffs there

I would ofter stay there
In there tiny yard there
I have been so glad here
Looking forward to the past here

But now you are alone
None of this matters at all

Looking for some great music? Check out the Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral) Spotify playlist.

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Indie Rock Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): Weezer – Say It Ain’t So

Day 25. I saw a meme yesterday (that I can no longer find) that stated, “society has progressed beyond the need for Weezer.” Obviously this was meant as a joke (probably). This morning, while watching YouTube music videos, Say It Ain’t So came on. It’s a great tune.

Oh yeah
Alright

Somebody’s Heine’
Is crowdin’ my icebox
Somebody’s cold one
Is givin’ me chills
Guess I’ll just close my eyes

Oh yeah
Alright
Feels good
Inside

Flip on the telly
Wrestle with Jimmy
Something is bubbling
Behind my back
The bottle is ready to blow

Say it ain’t so
Your drug is a heart breaker
Say it ain’t so
My love is a life taker

I can’t confront you
I never could do
That which might hurt you
So try and be cool
When I say
This way is a water slide away from me
That takes you further every day
So be cool

Say it ain’t so
Your drug is a heart breaker
Say it ain’t so
My love is a life taker

Dear daddy
I write you in spite of years of silence
You’ve cleaned up, found Jesus, things are good or so I hear
This bottle of Steven’s awakens ancient feelings
Like father, stepfather, the son is drowning in the flood
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Say it ain’t so
Your drug is a heart breaker
Say it ain’t so
My love is a life taker

Looking for some great music? Check the Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral) Spotify playlist.

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Dub Reggae Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): Culture – Lion Rock

Day 24.

Was listening to this excellent mix by The Chemical Brothers on Mixcloud and it finishes with this incredible song. I’ve been a fan of Culture, & this song in particular, since hearing it on a John Peel show sometime way back when. Excellent decolonisation message.

What a shame what a shame
For the day dat we where born
We never seen the right dollar here
Only the count of fear we a see oh!

Bring back the money with the sign of the Lion money
Me say fe get back the money with the sign of the dragon money
Dat we no use him no no
Bring back the money with the sign of the Lion money
Me say fe get back the money with the sign of the dragon money

For we no waaaant
To hear no more about your great sir francis dread
Put us slave driver like wise
We no waaaant
To hear no more about your great long John Silver
Dat na have drop to use the sufferes dem
Bring back the money with the sign of the Lion money
Wat gone down can tell your friends dat i tell yu dat
I jus fe take back the money with the sign of the dragon money
Dats (?)even fe feed the hungry belly pickney dem me say yu
Bring back the money with the sign of the Lion money

Me no waaant
To hear no more about your great sir francis dread
The old slave driver
We no waaaant
To hear no more about your great long John Silver
Dat only help to colonialize our mind lord
Bring back the money with the sign of the Lion money
Lion dollars we want to see
Inna Jamdung
Take back the money with the sign of the dragon money
I am so tired to hear the sufferes dem a bawll
Bring back the money with the sign of the Lion money
The Lion dollars can’t satisfy good wants and needs
Take back the money with the sign of the Dragon money
One sake one sake inna aluminum kind hehe!
Bring back the money with the sign of the Lion money
Clap me with the Lion but back way with the dragon
Me say Bring back the money with the sign of the Lion money
Back way with the dragon inna dis ya time
The dragon must drop
Bring back the money with the sign of the Lion money
For we no waaaant
To hear no more about your great sir francis dread
We no waaaant
To hear no more about your dreadlock John Silver… FADE…

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Pop Punk Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): The Offspring – Gotta Get Away

Day 23. Damn, I’ve been very busy recently & have fallen a little behind with Song of the Day. For today’s entry I am choosing this ode to depression & social anxiety by The Offspring. It’s a great tune by a band who, it’s fair to say, have had a hit & miss career. Nevertheless, Smash! is a great album & this tune is fantastic.

Fun fact: frontman Dexter Holland completed his PhD in Molecular Biology in 2017. He is also the creator of the Gringo Bandito hot sauce.

I’m getting edgy all the time
There’s someone around me just a step behind
It’s kinda scary, the shape I’m in
The walls are shakin’ and they’re closing in

Too fast or a bit too slow
I’m paranoid of people and it’s starting to show
There’s one guy that I can’t shake
Over my shoulder is a big mistake

Sitting on the bed
Or lying wide awake
There’s demons in my head
And it’s more than I can take

I think I’m on a roll
But I think it’s kinda weak
Saying all I know is
I gotta get away from me

I tell you something just ain’t right
My head is on loose but my shoes are tight
Avoiding my friends cause they all bug
Life is a riddle and I’m really stumped

If you reason, don’t you know
Your own preoccupation is where you’ll go
I think I’m being followed, I look around
It’s only my shadow creepin’ on the ground

I think I’m on a roll
But I think it’s kinda weak
Saying all I know is
I gotta get away from me

Looking for some great music? Here’a a Spotify playlist compiling the Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral) entries so far. Feel free to browse my profile for earlier Song of the Day playlists.

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Ambient Experimental Post-Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): Mogwai – Helicon 1

Day 22.

This entry is as much for the video as it is for the song. The aching nostalgia conveyed by the grainy, stop motion footage is supremely powerful. Especially when paired with the grandiose melancholy of the song.

Due to this song being an instrumental, I decided it might be both amusing & informative to quote the Wikipedia page for the song’s description of its composition:

The song begins with almost inaudible guitar, heavily delayed and reverberated, playing a descending three note melody. At (0:25), a bass riff (based around the chords of D major and B minor) enters. At (1:00), slightly distorted, heavily delayed and reverberated guitars begin playing along to the bass riff, swooping in and out. At (1:34), a relaxed, slow drum beat begins. At (2:50), all of the instruments pause for a brief second, then explode into loud guitar-driven noise, backed by a steady, heavy drumbeat (to which every snare drum beat is accompanied by a tambourine clash). At (4:28), the distorted guitars and drums end, leaving the soft bass riff to close the song, aided by the guitar melody heard at the start of song, all of which gradually fade out.

Live versions of the song are performed at a substantially slower tempo.

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Indie Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): Cake – Frank Sinatra

Day 21.

I’m not 100% sure why I chose this song. I love it & I only just saw the video for the first time today, so maybe that’s why. Either way, it’s a great example of the particular brand of Indie Rock which I love: what the press called ‘slacker’ music. Great lyrics too.

We know of an ancient radiation
That haunts dismembered constellations
A faintly glimmering radio station
While Frank Sinatra sings Stormy Weather
The flies and spiders get along together
Cobwebs fall on an old skipping record

Beyond the suns that guard this roost
Beyond your flowers of flaming truth
Beyond your latest ad campaigns
An old man sits collecting stamps
In a room all filled with Chinese lamps

He saves what others throw away
He says that he’ll be rich someday
We know of an ancient radiation
That haunts dismembered constellations
A faintly glimmering radio station
We know of an ancient radiation
That haunts dismembered constellations
A faintly glimmering radio station

While Frank Sinatra sings “Stormy Weather”
The flies and spiders get along together
Cobwebs fall on an old skipping record

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Art Pop Electronic Music Experimental Pop Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): múm – Green Green Grass Of Tunnel

Day 19.

I just love this great tune by múm & was shocked to see it hadn’t made it into any of my previous Song of the Day series. It’s glorious, melancholy, Scandinavian Electronic Pop music par excellence. Skittering percussion, lush melodies & sugar sweet vocals combine to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Interestingly, the YouTube video titles the track as ‘Green Grass Of Tunnel’ instead of ‘Green Green Grass Of Tunnel’. A favourite band of mine, British Sea Power, also recorded a cover version of the song & they used the former, shorter title.

Down from the ceiling leaks a great noise

It drips on my head through a hole in the roof

Behind these two hills here there’s a pool

And when I’m swimming in through a tunnel

I shut my eyes inside the cupboard

I make sounds and through the tubes I send this noise

Behind these two hill here I fall asleep

And when I’m floating green grass of tunnel

It flows back down from the ceiling, leaks a great noise

It drips on my head through a hole in the roof

Behind these two hills here there’s a pool

And when I’m swimming in through a tunnel I shut my eyes

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