Over the New Year period, Channel 4 decided to broadcast the twenty best songs of the last decade. All I can say is that I really hope whoever voted has been living in a cave for the past ten years, because if this is the best music that they've heard in that amount of time then I pity them greatly. For those of you who didn't watch it, here's the rundown...
20: Leave Right Now - Will Young
19: Ruby - Kaiser Chiefs
18: Valerie - Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
17: Viva La Vida - Coldplay
16: Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
15: Mercy - Duffy
14: Patience - Take That
13: Stan - Eminem
12: I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters
11: Hey Ya! - Outkast
10: You're Beautiful - James Blunt
9: Can't Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie Minogue
8: Crazy in Love - Beyonce
7: Rule The World - Take That
6: Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
5: Rehab - Amy Winehouse
4: Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
3: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys
2: Mr Brightside - The Killers
1: Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
Many would argue that this list is tailored to Channel 4 viewers tastes, which is why the list is entirely comprised of 'mainstream' songs. Fine, but call your programme 'Channel Four viewers' songs of the decade' instead to clarify this.
I'm not saying I disagree with the entire thing. Gnarls Barkley certainly deserve to be on the list; not only is Crazy a ridiculously catchy song, but it represented a milestone for digital media in the music industry as it was the first track to reach number one in the singles chart on download sales alone. Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand's releases heralded the resurrection of the indie era in British music and Can't Get You Out Of My Head proved that pop can be classy as well as catchy. Even though I may not be a fan it is fact, like it or not, that Eminem's emergence in the charts paved the way for rap music to become more generally accepted in popular culture.
It is undeniable that Ruby is a ridiculously catchy song. But one of the best written, both lyrically and musically, over the past ten years? No way. Lead singer Ricky Wilson himself admitted that the entire song is based on about three notes. Combine that with the ridiculously repetitive lyrics and you may have a hit single, but not a well written track.
It is a similar situation for the Snow Patrol track, though at least Ruby came towards the bottom of the list. Chasing Cars is a good song. The harmonies and lyrics are meaningful and thought out, and it's popularity has increased after it's increased usage on tv shows and adverts. Yet we all know that just because lots of people buy it, it's still not necessarily an outstanding song. Bob the Builder was one of the biggest selling songs of the last decade for crying out loud. When I think of the last ten years, this song wouldn't even register in my head as a possible contender, let alone winner.
Whereas now we can look back and say that the Beatles' 'She Loves You', 'Son of a Preacher Man' by Dusty Springfield or 'I Got You Babe' by Sonny and Cher were stand-out songs of the 60s, I don't believe that half of these tracks listed will be considered in the same high esteem as these older tracks are when we look back at the noughties in forty years time. I don't think this is because there were not enough memorable and incredibly produced songs over the last ten years, far from it. It's just perhaps the general music buying public has become far too content in their acceptance of mediocre lyrics and music.
Showing posts with label Arctic Monkeys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arctic Monkeys. Show all posts
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Saturday, 2 January 2010
They think it's all over.... 2009 definitely is now
So.... the 24 days of Christmas Crackers didn't quite come to fruition. Turns out there are quite a lot of parties and gigs at Christmas time and I had too much music to listen to and not enough time to write about it. I'm sure you were all devastated.
Anyway, 2010 is here and the blog is back on form, and I have a feeling it's going to be a great year for music. 2009 wasn't bad but there were only a few stand out albums for me, and there should have been more. Here are the few that tickled me pink last year...
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
The Leeds lads finally graduated to the big time and if this storming album didn't do it for them, then nothing would have. Moving on from their typically lad-driven sound, this record was heavily influenced by psychadelia but it was a change in direction that suited them perfectly. Their songs proved them band have more substance than their previous two releases gave them credit for. Kasabian's new found success has spurred them on so much that they aim to have their next album out at the end of this year; if they manage it, it will be most interesting to see if it ends up sounding too rushed, and what direction they take next (sources say it's already quite Nirvana-esque).
Noah and the Whale - First Days of Spring
Moving on from their pop-folk sound, NATW undeniably released one of the most emotionally heart-wrenching albums of last year, or perhaps even of the decade. It's not often that a guy puts his emotions on such blatant display, but lead singer Charlie Fink took the risk and it most certainly paid off. Anyone who can make it to the end of the album without a tear in their eye needs to check they actually have a heart.
The Maccabees - Wall of Arms
After receiving much acclaim for their debut release, the Maccabees managed to pull off the difficult second album with mature success. Much like Noah and the Whale, their follow up release showed a somewhat darker side to the band, with deeper lyrics and less ambrosial fluff. The gap in between their debut and second releases also gave the band more time to gel together on stage and made them ones to watch on the gig circuit.
The Temper Trap - Conditions
These New Zealanders made a definite impression with their debut single release, 'Sweet Disposition', which seemed to be forced onto us via the medium of film soundtracks, adverts, various tv shows and of course, radio play, towards the latter part of 2009. Luckily for us, it's a great song. Their ethereal indie sound captured the attentions of music listeners everywhere, and the band have already sold out three dates at Shepherd's Bush Empire in a few months' time based on their debut single alone. Not bad going. 2010 is the time for these boys to prove they are more than a one-hit wonder, and they certainly have the potential to do so.
Other releases worthy of a mention:
Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
Alex Turner proves these Sheffield lads are more than polo shirts and witty lyrics.
Muse - The Resistance
If someone had told us two years ago that Matt Bellamy and co. would cross Knights of Cydonia with Freddie Mercury, we'd have laughed. Somehow, it works.
Hockey - Mind Chaos
Indie rap never sounded so good. And they're from Portland! Who'd have thought it.
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
After years of unjustly flying under the radar, these French boys finally gained some commercial recognition with their catchy pop tinged with a touch of electro.
Anyway, 2010 is here and the blog is back on form, and I have a feeling it's going to be a great year for music. 2009 wasn't bad but there were only a few stand out albums for me, and there should have been more. Here are the few that tickled me pink last year...
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
The Leeds lads finally graduated to the big time and if this storming album didn't do it for them, then nothing would have. Moving on from their typically lad-driven sound, this record was heavily influenced by psychadelia but it was a change in direction that suited them perfectly. Their songs proved them band have more substance than their previous two releases gave them credit for. Kasabian's new found success has spurred them on so much that they aim to have their next album out at the end of this year; if they manage it, it will be most interesting to see if it ends up sounding too rushed, and what direction they take next (sources say it's already quite Nirvana-esque).
Noah and the Whale - First Days of Spring
Moving on from their pop-folk sound, NATW undeniably released one of the most emotionally heart-wrenching albums of last year, or perhaps even of the decade. It's not often that a guy puts his emotions on such blatant display, but lead singer Charlie Fink took the risk and it most certainly paid off. Anyone who can make it to the end of the album without a tear in their eye needs to check they actually have a heart.
The Maccabees - Wall of Arms
After receiving much acclaim for their debut release, the Maccabees managed to pull off the difficult second album with mature success. Much like Noah and the Whale, their follow up release showed a somewhat darker side to the band, with deeper lyrics and less ambrosial fluff. The gap in between their debut and second releases also gave the band more time to gel together on stage and made them ones to watch on the gig circuit.
The Temper Trap - Conditions
These New Zealanders made a definite impression with their debut single release, 'Sweet Disposition', which seemed to be forced onto us via the medium of film soundtracks, adverts, various tv shows and of course, radio play, towards the latter part of 2009. Luckily for us, it's a great song. Their ethereal indie sound captured the attentions of music listeners everywhere, and the band have already sold out three dates at Shepherd's Bush Empire in a few months' time based on their debut single alone. Not bad going. 2010 is the time for these boys to prove they are more than a one-hit wonder, and they certainly have the potential to do so.
Other releases worthy of a mention:
Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
Alex Turner proves these Sheffield lads are more than polo shirts and witty lyrics.
Muse - The Resistance
If someone had told us two years ago that Matt Bellamy and co. would cross Knights of Cydonia with Freddie Mercury, we'd have laughed. Somehow, it works.
Hockey - Mind Chaos
Indie rap never sounded so good. And they're from Portland! Who'd have thought it.
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
After years of unjustly flying under the radar, these French boys finally gained some commercial recognition with their catchy pop tinged with a touch of electro.
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