Songs That Touch My Soul, Nine
Published May 15, 2008
“The Incidentals” - Alisha's Attic
Alisha's Attic is a band that had its success primarily in the UK. English sisters discovered by Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), they were active from 1996 with the release of their BRIT Award nominated début album Alisha Rules the World but broke up in 2001. “The Incidentals”, from their second album Illumina, speaks to the romantic in me, and again this one is about the lyrics. Although with acoustic-pop sounds that are bright and breezy, it really is a great summer love song, but what touches me about this track is its message; it's the incidentals that really turn me on, not the over the top, worn-out, tried and failed romantic gestures.
“It's just the little things, the incidentals/ It's like you wouldn't even notice when you really turn me on/ It's the little sparks that fly and then land like dynamite/ It's just, it's just the simple things, pure incidentals/ It's like stayin' up 'till midnight and talkin' about, absolutely nothing... It's like breathin' on the back of my neck and makin' me feel weak inside...”
That's where the real romance lies in a relationship, in the little things. Those are the things that really show you care about someone, that you're paying attention, and that you really understand. And in the end, once you have stripped away all the sex, politics, and tangible pleasures, all the crap that doesn't really make life better, when it's all stripped away, you just want someone who understands you. Someone who can see all your craziness, all the quirks and eccentricities, see all that, and love you anyway. Not just love you but see how beautiful all that is and adore it, too. Now that is romance.
I'm a writer and music journalist originally from Salt Lake City, but now living in Scotland. I was a Punk/Goth in the '80s and these artistic influences have stayed with me; although a love of Chopin, chamber music, and Spanish guitar would seem to belie this. I am one of many assistant music editors at Blogcritics.org, staff writer for a gay men's magazine based in Edinburgh, and a freelance writer.
- Songs That Touch My Soul, Nine
- Published: May 15, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Acoustic, Music: Dance, Music: Lists, Music: Pop
- Part of a feature: Songs That Touch My Soul
- Writer: A.L. Harper
- A.L. Harper's BC Writer page
- A.L. Harper's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
My favourite songs always change with my mood and current emotional state, but I still, after more than 100 listens, adore One Cell in the Sea.
I'm that same way with most albums where my favorite song changes from time to time depending on the mood. One Cell in the Sea is a great album.
Oh, and Kylie Minogue is icky.
She's a low rent Madonna with a better accent (and I think Madonna is atrocious, too).
Which only serves to prove that you know nothing at all about Kylie.
There are many good reasons to hate Kylie but on the other hand she is way more interesting and talented than many of those dreary old rock bands. Yes, you know who! And Madonna is way better than Kylie.
There are no good reasons to hate Kylie Minogue. Period.
I agree there's no good reason to hate Kylie.
In a world, where pop stars are trying to bare their shallow souls with hallow music, it's refreshing that Kylie simply makes pop music. She's not trying to "save the world" or reinvent the wheel. She's simply having fun and shaking her tiny booty. And somehow that seems more genuine.
You've obviously never heard her Stock, Aitken and Waterman stuff or seen "Neighbours"...
I agree with Sean Paul. Her past is a good example. She has never shied away from the fact that she was Charlene, or from her ST&W years. Never tried to hide her shame. She has also never tried to be anything other than a fun disco-pop star. She would never claim to be a performance artist, or save the world by exposing her breasts to the world. She is just a pop star. I like that about her.
That's not my point though, I have heard and seen that stuff and it was total dreck. She may be great now some of the time but the claim was that there is no reason to hate her.
Furthermore, you both seem to be trying to suggest that her music is somehow less of a construct than other kinds of music, which is also total bunkum. There is no such thing as "just a pop star" and some of her more recent work has actually been pretty arty.
Come on, admit it, you are both wearing Kylie coloured glasses!
Well I admit that I do like to stare at her perfect ass... but beyond that I will not admit too.
Did you really use the word bunkum? Seriously Rose, how old are you? I thought you were about 40-ish, but bunkum places you at about 90.
As I've mentioned before, A.L., I just have an enormous... vocabulary. My mental age tends to vary in the same way as your favourite songs, with a range somewhere between 5 and 500, whilst my flesh remains forever teenage. How about you?
I thought "bunkum" would appeal to your Bronte reading American soul, but we could go with the more contemporary bullshit if you prefer. Either one describes quite accurately the fetid gushing about Kylie displayed above. Mwuah!
....and his vocabulary is exceeded only by his modesty.
-Glen
As opposed to having one's vocabulary exceeded by one's ego, eh, Glen.
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"Near to You" isn't my favorite song off the AFF disc, but it's a good song and I really do like that album an awful lot.