Great loungey beat that's dying to be sampled. This is early Brigitte Fontaine and it reminds the folks at Dusty Groove of early Serge Gainsbourg. I agree. Cool upbeat jazzy beat with emotive singing. Wish I spoke French. The only problem with this song is that it's too short.
from 17 Chansons D�cadentes
02 Feb 04 ·jeanette: Ha! If you think this song is too short, you wanna catch the Vous Et Nous album with Areski: millions of songs, most clocking in under 3 mins, many under 1. And they look like primary school teachers on the cover.
Good call; brilliant tune.
28 Oct 02 ·FlyingDutchman1971: Great song!! I have this version and a quite excellent cover version by the Pennsylvania band 'the ocean blue'... 02 Feb 04 ·jeanette: Another interesting version by Schneider TM vs Kpt. Michi.Gan (retitled The Light 3000). Can be found on Rough Trade Shops: Electronic 01 CD.
Another great dramatic pop number by Mina, this song is from the comic Alberto Sordi film, 'Fumo di Londra'. The backing track is identical to that used in the film, although Mina's version was released separately as a single. What can I say? This is an other deeply affecting dramatic pop number in which Mina belts out the words in a heartfelt manner. If these are the same words I used to describe her track 'se telefonando', then that's because this song is pretty much in the same vein, with a heavy, brass-laden pop arrangement. ps. a version of this song exists with none other than ME singing in Italian - reverb-laden vocals belted out karaoke style over the same background track.
from the single Breve Amore available on CD - Studio Uno 66 (BMG Italy)
04 May 01 ·tinks: the 'fumo di londra' soundtrack was recently reissued as a 2lp set, with tons of outtakes. i really, really love it. i'd make a recommendation from it right now, but i can't remember the song title, and the record isn't with me. argh! 04 May 01 ·delicado: The one which really bowled me over was 'Mr Dante Fontana'! Like 3 brilliant songs rolled into one! 04 May 01 ·tinks: wouldn't you know it? that was the one i was trying to remember! i couldn't recall if that was the title or if they just said "hey, mr. dante fontana" a lot. 16 Feb 04 ·jeanette: Also from that Fumo Di Londra album: that fabulous 'You Never Told Me'. A Brit-girl-sound lost classic! 16 Feb 04 ·delicado: Yes; that's actually an English-language version of this same song
This is a strange song and it hits me in a strange place. The melody is very pretty, yet complex and unexpected and there are odd washes of moog at times. It's a Christmas song and has a Christmas feeling but not the familiar fireside one. Instead it's the cold alien blank expanse of snow and that pulse of stars. Kate Bush is a genius at creating this precise, complicated emotional terrain. Also, being a genius requires you to risk making a fool of yourself and Kate Bush certainly isn't afraid to do that. She's like that eccentric high school drama teacher I never had. In this song she turns herself into the snow that falls over the white city. "Jumpin' down with my paraCHUTE! Oh see how I fall."
20 Feb 04 ·jeanette: I always think that this kind of christmas song just isn't done enough. It is a great song anyway, but what makes it even better is that it has this unusual view of the festive season - that it's not just about being jolly / feeling downbeat / singing about how "so much has happened in a year" etc etc. Kate Bush of course is mistress of the offbeat lyric and it's nice that she found a way to marry it to a christmas tune.
A classic 60s girl pop vocal, produced by the legendary Joe Meek. It's a heartbreaking tale of infidelity with a typical 60s pop-orchestral backing. Apparently this song never even charted, which is astonishing in view of how catchy and generally wonderful it is.
from the single Something I've Got To Tell You (Pye) available on CD - It's hard to believe it - The Amazing World Of Joe Meek (Razor & Tie)
20 Feb 04 ·jeanette: One of the most astonishing records ever, simply took my heart when I first heard it. 29 Mar 06 ·leonthedog: An anthem - I love the backing vocals, and listen for the cameo by the horn section! Google for the old WFMU program that will let you hear the whole thing. My 6-year-old daughter loves to dance to this one.