206. Neverland - Marillion (2004)

 

 

You provide the soul,the spark that drives me on

Makes me something more than flesh and bone

 

From the 'Marbles' album,this is the one that normally finishes top of the Marillion fans' favourite song poll (it was beaten in the last one). The production here is wonderful,especially the second half of the song and Steve Rothery contributes some of his best guitar work.

 

205. New Song (New Version) - Howard Jones (1984)

 

 

Don't crack up

Bend your brain

See both sides

Throw off your mental chains

 

'New Song' was Howard Jones' debut single,reaching number 3 in 1983. I prefer this re-recording,made for his 12" Album which filled a gap between his first and second studio albums,with its extended instrumental section.

 

 

 

 

 

204. Café del Mar (Three 'n One Mix) - Energy 52 (1998)

 

 

Energy 52 are the Germans Paul Schmitz-Moormann and Harald Bluchel. They originally recorded 'Café del Mar' in 1993. This is one of many remixes but I think it's the best known one. Like many trance hits from that time,there's a point in the middle where it almost comes to a halt before coming back to life again. In the second half it sounds like there's a choir chanting but I'm sure it's just a keyboard sound. In 2011,it was voted as best dance track of the last 20 years by Radio 1 listeners. The main melody is based on 'Struggle For Pleasure' by Wim Mertens from 1983.

 

TUNE!

203. Teardrop - Massive Attack (1998)

 

 

Night,night after day

Black flowers blossom

Fearless on my breath

 

Massive Attack's only top 10 single. This is a great piece of chilled out trip hop. I like Elizabeth Fraser's vocal and the harpsichord riff which is combined with a bass drum beat sampled from 'Sometimes I Cry' by Les McCann from 1973. Madonna was keen to sing the vocal after being sent a demo but the group voted two to one in favour of Fraser. The song is,of course,well known for its singing foetus video.

 

 

Love “Teardrop”, it was their highest peaking single too at #10. Most of their 90s output was stunning IMO- especially “Protection” and debut “Unfinished Sympathy”.

202. From The Sun To The World (Boogie No.1) - Electric Light Orchestra (1973)

 

 

Listen to me sister,I got news from the governor

And he's heard people shouting from the towers in the city

While their babies grow in test tubes overnight

 

ELO's second album contained five tracks varying in length from seven to eleven minutes,the first and only time they decided to record some long songs. This one is eight minutes long. Roy Wood left the group before most of the album had been recorded but he does contribute on cello here. This is mostly an instrumental track with the piano,played by Richard Tandy,who had just joined ELO,very prominent. The piano combines so well with the cellos,violin and drums to make this an overlooked ELO classic.

 

Edited September 13, 20186 yr by King Rollo

201. The Lightning Strike - Snow Patrol (2008)

 

 

As motionless cars rust on driveways and kerbs

You take off your raincoat and stretch out your arms

We both laugh out loud and surrender to it

The sheer force of sky and the cold magnet Earth

 

I do not own any Snow Patrol albums but when I heard they had recorded a sixteen minute song,I had to check it out so I downloaded it as a stand alone track. It was originally three separate songs but it works very well as one piece of music. I have placed it well ahead of 'Run' and 'Chasing Cars' in my countdown.

 

 

200. Your Silent Face - New Order (1983)

 

 

Rise and fall of shame

A search that shall remain

 

I've always known this song as 'Kwi' as that was its title on the track listing on the cassette of 'Power,Corruption & Lies' I bought in 1983. The songs working title was KW1 as it sounded like Kraftwerk. This is a rare slow New Order song with majestic synths combining with a great guitar rhythm.

 

199. Are 'Friends' Electric? - Tubeway Army (1979)

 

 

There's a knock on the door

And just for a second I thought I remembered you

 

This song was the talk of the school playground the day after it was first performed on Top Of The Pops. We had never heard or seen anything like it before and it later deservedly spent four weeks at number 1,influencing a lot of the synth pop that followed. The memorable synth riff was sampled in another number 1 single,'Freak Like Me' by the Sugababes.

 

 

198. Wake Up - Arcade Fire (2004)

 

 

If the children don't grow up

Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up

 

The fifth single from Arcade Fire's debut album 'Funeral'. The best part is the vocal chanting at the start which is repeated later on,making it an ideal song to perform with an audience. It's been used by Burnley,Aston Villa and Linfield for when the players come out of the tunnel.

 

'New Song' is a great 80s track, its one of those songs many people will know when they hear it but not by name!

 

It is quite tropical sounding too and I like the synths after the chorus.

 

'Teardrop' is a very nice song, although I much prefer 'Unfinished Sympathy' from them.

197. Magnetic Fields Part 1 - Jean Michel Jarre (1981)

 

 

One of Jean Michel Jarre's longest tracks,taking up the whole of side 1 of his fifth album. It consists of three movements,the second being slower than the first and last.

 

 

These four songs are a great start to your top 200!

'Are Friends Electric' is great! Indeed, it was likely to have influenced the synthpop hits that followed in the 80s.

 

Btw, I found out recently that the very first synthpop hit was back in 1962! - Telstar by The Tornados (which went to #1 on the UK chart).

 

Telstar is great. I'd forgotten about that one. A very early example of synth pop.

 

And thanks for your comment,Coi. :)

Cafe Del Mar and Teardrop are top tunes! Former is a proper trance classic and for good reason.

 

Are Friends Electric is very good especially for its time too, must've sounded really amazing in 1979 with it being the sound of the near future.

Btw, I found out recently that the very first synthpop hit was back in 1962! - Telstar by The Tornados (which went to #1 on the UK chart).

 

George Bellamy was in the Tornados! His son was of course Matt Bellamy of Muse fame. : )

Edited September 16, 20186 yr by Doctor Blind

196. Question - The Moody Blues (1970)

 

 

Why do we never get an answer

When we're knocking at the door

With a thousand million questions

About hate and death and war

 

A number 2 hit for the Moody Blues,kept off the top of the chart by the England World Cup Squad with 'Back Home'. Their only number 1 was 'Go Now' in 1965. 'Question' was Justin Hayward's protest song about the Vietnam War. I like the tempo change from fast to slow in the middle and then back to the original rhythm. It started out as two separate songs.

 

 

195. Mr Bad Guy - Freddie Mercury (1985)

 

 

Can't you see I'm Mr Mercury

Oh,spread your wings and fly away with me

 

The title track from Freddie's only solo album. He uses a full orchestra here and the intro bears a resemblance to the theme from 'Jaws'.