458. Bliss - Syntax (2004)

 

 

When you dream of themes that drive you to feel insincere

Think again,you know that all those feelings are just fear

 

The third song on my chart from Syntax. I see this song is listed in the Unknown Pleasures archive so someone else on here likes it. I don't know how it did. I would have to click on each contest to do that and I can't be bothered at the moment.

 

457. By Default By Design - ABC (1983)

 

 

The object of my affections

Walked off in the other direction

 

Taken from ABC's second album 'Beauty Stab'. For most of the song,it's just Martin Fry and a string section plus some backing vocals. The guitar only comes in at the end.

 

456. Trains To Brazil - Guillemots (2005)

 

 

Can't you live and be thankful you're here

See it could be you tomorrow,next year

 

This was Guillemots first single but not a top 40 hit until it was re-released in 2006. I like the drum pattern which makes it a real toe tapper of a tune. The title is a reference to the Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes who was shot dead by police on the London Underground after they mistakenly thought he was involved in the London bombings.

 

455. Two Months Off - Underworld (2002)

 

 

This is the radio edit. The full track is nine minutes long. Part of this song was re-worked for Underworld's music for the London Olympics opening ceremony.

 

454. Here (PSB New Extended Mix) - Pet Shop Boys (2003)

 

 

You've got a home here

To return to when you can't

Face the world and you need

Some support to succeed

 

'Here' was originally from Pet Shop Boys' 2002 album 'Release' but I prefer this longer remix from their 'Disco 3' album which has the addition of a tinkly piano sound not present on the first version.

 

453. Newborn - Elbow (2001)

 

 

I'll be the corpse in your bathtub

Useless

I'll be as deaf as a post

If you hold me like a newborn

 

From Elbow's debut album 'Asleep In The Back',Guy Garvey has said that the arrangement of this song is influenced by the Genesis sing 'Entangled'. The last four minutes of it are stunning.

 

452. Blasphemous Rumours - Depeche Mode (1984)

 

 

I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours

But I think that God's got a sick sense of humour

And when I die I expect to find him laughing

 

One half of a double A side single with 'Somebody' which was at number 548 on my chart. The lyrics are a bit controversial but they were allowed to perform the song on Top Of The Pops. I like all the different sounds on this which they created from hammering at everyday objects or throwing them about.

 

451. Bitter Suite/Heart Of Lothian - Marillion (1985)

 

 

The mist crawls from the canal

Like some primordial phantom of romance

To curl,under a cascade of neon pollen,

While I sit tied to the phone like an expectant father

 

These are two tracks from Marillion's only number 1 album 'Misplaced Childhood' but they form a continuous piece of music and you can't really have one without the other so they count as one song on my chart. Fish's vocals combine so well here with Steve Rothery's guitar.

 

450. Love Will Find A Way - Yes (1987)

 

 

You wanna get next to me

I need your intrusion

I don't need to be

Blinded by confusion

 

Trevor Rabin wrote this song for Stevie Nicks but Yes' drummer Alan White encouraged him to let Yes record it instead. Trevor and Jon Anderson sing harmonised vocals on this but you can barely hear Jon which partly explains why he left the group after the 'Big Generator' tour. The single only got to number 73 but was a top 30 hit in the US where pop/rock songs like this were more popular at the time.

 

449. Burn My Shadow - UNKLE (2007)

 

 

I have burned my tomorrow

And I stand inside today

At the edge of the future

And my dreams all fade away

 

From the 'War Stories' album,this features vocals from Ian Astbury of The Cult. I have never seen this dramatic video for the song before.

 

“Trains To Brazil” and “Two Months Off” are both brilliant - both were #1s on my personal chart in 2006 and 2002 respectively.

 

I was first introduced to Guillemots in about September 2005 with the I Saw Such Things In My Sleep EP (it has a picture of a cat on the sleeve) and fell in love with “Made Up Lovesong #43” - which I remember charting at #23 the following July and their wonderful performance on one of the last ever TOTPs. I really loved their debut!

Edited June 2, 20187 yr by Doctor Blind

I discovered them after reading a favourable review of their first album 'Through The Windowpane'. There will be more tracks from that album to come.

448. All The Things She Said - t.A.T.u. (2002)

 

 

And I'm all mixed up

Feeling cornered and rushed

They say it's my fault

But I want her so much

 

A number 1 single for the Russian duo. It's video caused quite a stir at the time. I like Trevor Horn's production here. It's a re-working of Tatu's Russian language version 'Ya Soshla S Uma' which was number 1 in Russia for 18 weeks in 2000.

 

447. Brighton Rock - Queen (1974)

 

 

Jenny pines away,writes a letter every day

We must ever be together,nothing can my love erase

 

Written by Brian May,the lyrics are Shakespearean style rhyming couplets. The song is best known for Brian's legendary guitar solo which would often be extended to ten minutes when it was performed live. As you can tell from the youtube comments,it is now known to a younger audience after being featured in the 2017 movie 'Baby Driver'.

 

446. Oxygen - JJ72 (2000)

 

 

It's dreams that bind us and locks us in

The rest are impaled by sense

 

The fifth and final song on my chart by JJ72 and the only one of the five from their debut album. This is probably their best known song,reaching number 23. Another towering vocal from Mark Greaney and I like the addition of a string section.

 

445. Me And Sarah Jane - Genesis (1981)

 

 

And now I'm standing on the corner

Waiting in the rain

But then in sunlight without warning

I invent a name

 

From the 'Abacab' album,written by Tony Banks,this starts off with a reggae sound. It then goes slightly Beatle-ish before finishing with a more familiar Genesis sound.

 

All the Things She Said, now that's a song I did not expect to see here! But yes the synth-rock production is brilliant.

 

Brighton Rock is great! I love the way Freddie's voice changes from high to lower pitch in the line 'It would be of small avail to talk of magic in the air'.

 

Bitter Sweet/Heart Of Lothian is great, my father has that album so I heard it before!

 

I can see how Blasphemous Rumours is controversial lyrically, but it sounds very good production wise on hearing it. I do like Depeche Modes industrial music era, sadly it didn't last for long and they moved on to a similar sound to New Order by about 1987 (which was still good though).

Yes,I like the way Freddie uses higher pitch for Jenny and lower pitch for Jimmy.

My countdown will now be taking a short break,firstly for my holiday and then for the World Cup. It will resume in July.

All The Things She Said is a bloody brilliant pop song, I was only 6 but I remember quite well the fuss over the lesbian storyline in the video :lol: