As ever, thanks for your patience. Here is the List of the Moment, volume number 16.
"Holding Back the Years" by Simply Red: Here sentiment rules the day. Who could forget that mop of red curls flopping about in the late '80s and those shirts buttoned to the top button as our boy hip-twisted to the sax and wailed out the words that seemed to apply to all of us at the time and we were sure (or I was anyway) that the radio was speaking directly to me? (How very Donna Summer, I know, but there you have it.)
There is something about the notion of “holding back the years” and “holding back the tears” that is sadly beautiful, that we wish we could do, that we want to do but know we can’t. Time will march forward regardless. Still, no matter that the lyrics are not romantic, we attach some romantic significance to this song regardless because of the way it's sung and because of the music associated with it. Yes, it’s sad, but in that melancholic way that only those in love seem to experience. Take a taste of the lyrics and make up your own mind:
- Holding back the years,
Thinking of the fear I’ve had for so long.
When somebody hears,
Listen to the fear that’s gone.
Strangled by the wishes of pater,
Hoping for the arm of mater,
Get to me sooner or later,
Nothing ever could, yeah.
I’ll keep holding on,
I’ll keep holding on,
I’ll keep holding on,
I’ll keep holding on.
"Lover’s Spit" by Broken Social Scene: Has this song made the list? I don’t think it has. It may have been mentioned but not officialized and if so, it bears repeating, especially as we move into summer and the warmer weather. Everywhere I go, parks, alleys, cafes, I see lovers swapping spit as the song says, they sit around and clean their face with it. Nothing wrong with being a lover, it’s only that if you are single, then it gets a bit much and even if you’re not single, then it still gets a bit much to watch. A great song and if you don’t know it, then listen to it and check it out – the heavy lead-in beginning is well worth it (Are those violin strings I detect that lead into a heavy piano amplified or synth, I can’t tell). Whatever the lead-in is, it works wonders here and is really worth listening to. If there is a song made for GenX-ers, then surely this is right up there, with a screw-all attitude and pure astonishment that all these people “drinking lover’s spit” and “cleaning their face with it” as he says, “You know it’s time, that we grow old and do some shit...” Need I say more?
Article comments
1 - Steve
Well, I guess I've enjoyed Simply Red for over 20 years now, that song you mention is a classic for sure. "Fairground" - UK#1/1995 - from their album "Life" is my fave of theirs but they've had alot of good songs over the years IMHO.
I do recall the UK music critics just loving Fairground Attraction when they came on the scene around 1988. (They seemed to like just about anything folksy back then). It wasn't my cup of tea at the time, but your song and "Perfect" (UK#1) have grown on me over time. The lead singer, Eddi Reader, has had a few solo albums since they broke up around 1990.
I tried to sit thru "The OC" once but couldn't get into it myself.
I have Lloyd Cole's "The Collection" which had some good tunes on it, but don't feel like buying his other albums, a 'best of' his is enough for me.
20th Century Boy - UK#3/1973 - is the only T. Rex tune I have. I quite liked the "Billy Elliot" movie and I happen to have collected a couple of songs from the soundtrack unintentionally over the years ("I Believe" by Stephen Gately - UK#11/2000 - and "A Town Called Malice" by The Jam - UK#1/1982) as well as an Elton John track "Electricity" - UK#4/2005 - which is from the 2005 "Billy Elliot" London musical apparently.
Alas, I can't stand R.E.M. frankly. I could tell you why, but seeing as they've sold a gazillion records over the years, I figure there wouldn't be much point, I know I'm in a minority on that score lol.
2 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
"Life" is a great song by Simply Red, but i chose HOlding Back the Years for purely sentimental reasons..... it's funny, whatever the song is about, i just remember being with, erm, a certain man (unnamed and uhm, anyway....) well, i remember listening to this in his upper east-side apartment and so that's i suppose why i put it there. The lyrics likely mean something totally different from what i think they mean... lol...
Fairground Attraction - glad i'm not alone in my like of them. "Perfect" is another great song ... as is "Find My Love" (Is that the title?) - the whole album is pretty great, i think, The First of a Million Kisses.... it's just lovely... i love the lead singer's jazzy but not overdone voice...
T-Rex i think are great and i always have - that particular song may be a bit of a downer, but other songs by them are just so damn sexy (they've made The List many times with songs such as Jeepster and Bang a Gong and more obscure titles... but you have to love love love their sound.... which i personally do).
I didn't realize it had been made into a musical !!!!! That sounds awfully odd to me - i like Elton John's music but can't tolerate him as a person anymore. He used to be okay back in the day but has since turned into a real ass and arrogant at that, in my view. Just look at the news reel to get a sense of this ... just one take. But maybe i misread ? it's entirely possible
The Jam i can't get enough of, and Paul Weller forget about it (and i say this in the Donny Brasco forgetta 'bout it kinda good way). He's everything i've loved forever and even proposed a monograph on him for Continuum which alas someone had already done... (bastard!) when i feel strongly i could have done a better job.. but of course i feel that way... i've followed his career since i was a kid, practically weaned on Paul Weller for god's sake... so there's that. A Town Called Malice is an all time fave. I remember seeing him at Berkeley here in Mass. and he was incredible. I got the ONLY autograph he gave out during the whole show (i had only one piece of paper - a prescription for Valium) - handed it to him, he flipped it over to see what he was signed (smart); laughed, signed it, held my hand, pulled me up slightly and kissed my cheek... (faint)... i was the envy of every push-up-liquid-eye-linered broad there. just me and my khakis and my black tank top - very Mod, which is perhaps why he gravitated to me and not to them (duh duh duh duh duh) I mean, it's Paul Weller.
What's the Frequency Kenneth by REM - i just love the story there... whatever came first, the Dan Rather incident or the song i don't know but would love to know... i would guess the song, but if anyone knows with certainty... and i mean with absolute certainty and can quote source that would be super.
Give Nick Drake a try - he's wonderful... you didn't mention him - i know you're resistant, but give him a shot. Which Will is a terrific song....
3 - Steve
Re. song lyrics, I'm sure there are many songs in my collection that I have no clue of the meaning of, so I don't know the origin of that R.E.M. song, alas.
Re. Fairground Attraction, yes that is the title.
Re. Elton John, he has seemed to become more irritable in his old age, though his tirades are often against the press, so I have some sympathy for him, I would think it would be hard having your privacy invaded regularly.
Yeah, they seem to be making musicals of everything these days, a Lord Of The Rings musical opened in Toronto recently lol.
What albums do you have of Paul Weller, Sadi??
4 - Scott Butki
I think you picked Which Will before, or maybe it was another Nick Drake song, because
I downloaded it and two others by him. His music is so amazing, very mesmerizing. No
wonder people are still talking about it 20 years plus later.
5 - Steve
Hey there, Sadi, it's been a while no see, any idea when the next List will be out??
6 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
sorry all = i've been working on a looooong dylan piece but the next list should be great, i hope and something that you'll like... i've just been busy with this one article and then, well, another article to be honest, but i'm doing both at same time and then i can do list - but am keeping running list of songs so it shouldn't be too hard to just fill in the text after that since i pretty much know by now what is on my playlist, since i'm listening to it as we speak - my problem is that i like to listen to some of teh same stuff repeatedly and then a lot if you guys HATE (comme Dylan et al) so that leaves me a bit stuck at times... but no worries... give me some time and i'll get it out, but yes, keep bothering me... that's the best thing to do...
love to all,
s.
7 - Steve
By the way, Sadi, just wanted to remind you about my question at the end of comment #3 above.
8 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Steve, hi.... new List is up... did you see it yet? it's up as Volume Number 17 and just went up yesterday - this one is important to me, i hope you and others will read it as it cuts to the bone... please do check it out.....
9 - Steve
Thanks so much Sadi.
10 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
thanks, Steve, you're a love... hope the word gets out.... this list is an important one to me (no. 17, that is...), so let's hope the word spreads.... we'll see... you can never tell with such things... but if you can help at all, that would be great... !
u roque.
sade