日志

so take a look at me now
'cos there's just an empty space
and there's nothing left here to remind me
just the memory of your face

take a good look at me now
'cos I'll still be standing here
And you coming back to me is against all odds
that's the chance I've got to take

;-;

Phil Collins - Against All Odds

When I think about my love of music and how my taste was shaped it always comes back to one year ... 1981. I was 15 and the chart music of that year turned a passing interest in music into a lifelong obsession.

To understand why you need to look at the upper reaches of the UK chart and in particular at how varied and sometimes brave the music was. Remember these were big hits and chosen by record companies to be singles.

I'm going to pull out some of my favourites from the year that all made the top 3.

We start with In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins - Probably the only decent song he ever did outside of Genesis and still a great song for anyone who can get past the fact that it's Phil Collins. (Number 2)

Next one of the earliest singles I remember raving about -
Vienna by Ultravox. Not only do I remember being obsessed with this epic piece of electronic music, but I remember being devastated that a dire novelty record could deny it the number 1 spot it so richly deserved - the dreadful novelty record was Shaddap You Face by Joe Dolce - Vienna peaked at number 2.

Just with those two tracks we can hear something that is missing from most chart music today (in fact from the late 80s onwards) - atmosphere and songs that have light and shade.

Not only was the nature of the music different, but there was also variety. Rock music is represented by Rainbow with I Surrender and John Lennon was at number 1 with Woman.

And that just covers January 1981.

Adam and the Ants went from Kings of the Wild Frontier in February to Prince Charming in December.

The 80s are always associated most with synthpop and the new romantics. 1981 was a defining year for both - Spandau Ballet number 3 with Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On), Soft Cell broke through on both sides of the Atlantic with a true 80s classic, Tainted Love and The Human League made top 3 twice with tracks from the classic album Dare.

But to really understand how different the UK charts of 1981 were and how that lead me to expect something more than a pretty tune from my music I give three examples:

During a summer of riots and at the peak of Thatcher's reshaping of British society the number one was Ghost Town by The Specials. Rarely does a song capture the political mood as well as this song. Not only that, but how does a song that is so bleak become a huge number 1? 1981 was a bit different!

One of the albums I bought that year and which is still a firm favourite was Architecture And Morality by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. The top 3 single from that album was Souvenir which showcased the unique sound of the album - the mix of tape looped choirs, tinkling electronic percussion, mellotrons and synths is a sound that no-one has reproduced and made for a single that had a strange fragile beauty that would undoubtedly label it as an album track today.

In October 1981 - a true artist had a number 2 hit with probably the strangest hit single ever. Laurie Anderson, New York performance artist, released an 8 minute single which by any standards is weird - O Superman was as minimalist as it gets, just a spoken vocal processed through a vocoder over a repeated vocal sample going 'ha ha ha ha'. The other instrumentation used is used sparingly and to excellent effect It's a love or hate track, but for me it was mesmerising.


I'm sure that if I'd been 15 in years other than 1981 there would have been songs that would also have inspired the varied taste and drive to always find something new that I still possess even in my 40s, but I consider myself lucky to have had my taste shaped by the music of the early 80s and of 1981 especially.

Recommended Songs (sorted by most recommended songs)

We Built This City : Starship (Score = 99.34)
The Boys Of Summer : Don Henley (Score = 97.08)
Missing You : John Waite (Score = 72.11)
Africa : Toto (Score = 61.71)
Dust In The Wind : Kansas (Score = 58.33)
ROLL ME AWAY : Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (Score = 55.33)
Right Here Waiting : Richard Marx (Score = 54.2)
Cold As Ice : Foreigner (Score = 46.58)
Take It On The Run : REO Speedwagon (Score = 46.42)
I Want to Know What Love Is : Foreigner (Score = 45.88)
Over My Shoulder : Mike & The Mechanics (Score = 45.47)
When I See You Smile : Bad English (Score = 44.15)
Hungry Eyes : Eric Carmen (Score = 43.02)
Foolish Heart : Steve Perry (Score = 39.46)
Juke Box Hero : Foreigner (Score = 37.78)
Ride Like the Wind : Christopher Cross (Score = 36.66)
All By Myself : Eric Carmen (Score = 35.79)
No Explanation : Peter Cetera (Score = 34.57)
Burning Heart : Survivor (Score = 34.13)
Waiting For A Girl Like You : Foreigner (Score = 33.94)
Sara : Starship (Score = 31.23)
Just Between You and Me : Lou Gramm (Score = 30.48)
I Go Crazy : Paul Davis (Score = 27.44)
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet : Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Score = 27.35)
Can't Fight This Feeling : REO Speedwagon (Score = 26.42)
Baby Come Back : Player (Score = 25.84)
Hold The Line : Toto (Score = 25.51)
Maggie May : Rod Stewart (Score = 25.47)
The Way It Is : Bruce Hornsby & the Range (Score = 25.3)
Feels Like The First Time : Foreigner (Score = 25.24)
Drive : The Cars (Score = 24.88)
Hold On To The Nights : Richard Marx (Score = 24.32)
Rocky Mountain Way : Joe Walsh (Score = 24.3)
Carry On Wayward Son : Kansas (Score = 24.07)
King Of Wishful Thinking : Go West (Score = 23.97)
Harden My Heart : Quarterflash (Score = 23.74)
Old Time Rock and Roll : Bob Seger (Score = 23.7)
One Thing Leads To Another : The Fixx (Score = 23.42)
Sometimes When We Touch : Dan Hill (Score = 22.63)
Hotel California : Eagles (Score = 22.3)
The Heart Of The Matter : Don Henley (Score = 22.1)
Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone) : Glass Tiger (Score = 21.81)
You're the Inspiration : Chicago (Score = 21.67)
Midnight Blue : Lou Gramm (Score = 21.66)
The End Of The Innocence : Don Henley (Score = 21.59)
Against the Wind : Bob Seger (Score = 21.57)
Hot Blooded : Foreigner (Score = 21.55)
Turn Back the Clock : Johnny Hates Jazz (Score = 21.38)
Love Is A Battlefield : Pat Benatar (Score = 21.14)
Kiss on My List : Hall & Oates (Score = 21.06)
Any Way You Want It : Journey (Score = 20.44)
Dirty Laundry : Don Henley (Score = 20.17)
Lonesome Loser : Little River Band (Score = 19.94)
Barracuda : Heart (Score = 19.84)
Hazard : Richard Marx (Score = 19.7)
Dance With Me : Orleans (Score = 19.57)
Heaven in Your Eyes : Loverboy (Score = 19.56)
Slow Ride : Foghat (Score = 18.85)
Steal Away : Robbie Dupree (Score = 18.62)
Rosanna : Toto (Score = 18.5)
Long Train Runnin' : The Doobie Brothers (Score = 18.35)
Sailing : Christopher Cross (Score = 18.33)
If You Leave Me Now : Chicago (Score = 18.19)
Now And Forever : Richard Marx (Score = 17.59)
Crazy On You : Heart (Score = 17.53)
Summer Breeze : Seals & Crofts (Score = 17.1)
Urgent : Foreigner (Score = 16.93)
The Stroke : Billy Squier (Score = 16.83)
We Belong : Pat Benatar (Score = 16.8)
Summer Of '69 : Bryan Adams (Score = 16.77)
Lovin' Every Minute of It : Loverboy (Score = 16.76)
Sister Golden Hair : America (Score = 16.26)
Time for Me to Fly : REO Speedwagon (Score = 16.15)
Magic : The Cars (Score = 16.11)
Open Arms : Journey (Score = 15.8)
I Get Weak : Belinda Carlisle (Score = 15.17)
No Easy Way Out : Robert Tepper (Score = 15.17)
Holding Out For A Hero : Bonnie Tyler (Score = 14.7)
One More Night : Phil Collins (Score = 14.49)
Night Moves : Bob Seger (Score = 14.44)
She Drives Me Crazy : Fine Young Cannibals (Score = 14.39)
Frankenstein : The Edgar Winter Group (Score = 14.19)
Still the One : Orleans (Score = 14.05)
You're The Only Woman : Ambrosia (Score = 13.64)
Who's Crying Now : Journey (Score = 13.45)
Dancing in the Dark : Bruce Springsteen (Score = 13.18)

Chicago
Styx
The Beach Boys
John Mellencamp(in the days when he was John Cougar)
Heart
Billy Joel
Neil Young
Paul McCartney
Eric Clapton
The Monkees
The Moody Blues
Def Leppard
Cher
Herman's Hermits(AKA Peter Noone)
Rockappella
Van Halen
Puddle of Mudd
Tyler Read
Michael Crawford
Gary Puckett
Elvis Costello
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Phil Collins
The Povertyneck Hillbillies
Duran Duran
The Devlins
Cyndi Lauper

Someday I hope to add Michael Schenker to the list and perhaps Scorpions,

Yeah, I know these things are quite retarded, but I've got some spare time.. And they are fun to do anyways!

1. What's your favorite song by 15? (Acda en De Munnik)
Wow, starting off with a hard one.. Can't really think of a favorite song right now, they're all great! I guess I'm liking 'Voicemail' from their latest album a lot lately.

2. How did you get into 20? (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
I think I got these guys from Bacoben's Rock top 500, which is a pretty famous compilation of great music.

3. Who is your favorite member in 1? (The Beatles)
Hehe, oh lawd. I'm gonna go with Paul McCartney.. John Lennon.. George Harrison.. Ringo Starr? Come on, this is impossible!

4. Whats your favorite lyric bit by 29? (Bruce Springsteen)
"In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway American Dream.
At night we ride through mansions of glory in suicide machines.
Sprung from cages out on highway 9,
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected and steppin' out over the line.
Baby, this town rips the bones from your back.
Its a death trap, it's a suicide rap,
We gotta get out while we're young.
`cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run"

5. Have you ever seen 22 live? (Van Halen)
Sadly enough, can't say I have.

6. What's your favorite album from 10? (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
That's going to be a tie between Blood Sugar Sex Magik and By The Way.

7. Do you own any merchandise from 3? ([The Who)
Weirdly enough not. I did search for it though.

8. What is a good memory you have of 7? (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
Listening to the music in general. Every time a JHE song comes on, it just takes me away to another dimension.

9. Is there a member of the same age as you in 2? (The Tubes)
Hehe, no way. They are way older then me. Would've loved to be around their age though, as I'd have experienced a great portion of musical history by now.

10. When did you first get into 8? (The Eagles)
Probably the same as everyone else: Hotel California. Some day I just decided to get more of their music, which evolved into... this.

11. Who likes 4 along with you? (AC/DC)
A lot of people. From teenagers to grandparents.

12. Which song did you first hear from 16? (Blue Öyster Cult)
That'd Have to be 'Don't Fear The Reaper', what a freaking amazing song! I recall someone sending me that song on MSN. Still one of my all-time favorites.

13. What song made you fall in love with 5? (Tenacious D)
Oh, these guys got me into rock music. Especially with one song: Kickapoo. I remember sitting behind my computer, watching the youtube video over and over again. Drove my parents mad, but it did open a whole new world for me.

14. Which song do you not like by 18? (Golden Earring)
Can't really pinpoint a song I do not like, but they do have a few songs that are just "meh" to me. I realize that they're good songs, but they just don't strike me.

15. Why do you like 14's songs? (Michael Jackson)
What's there not to like? Amazingly touching singer, who made some pretty revolutionary tracks!

16. Where did you first hear 6? (Jimi Hendrix)
Honestly, I wouldn't know.

17. How long was 19 a singer before you liked them? (Pink Floyd)
I haven't been around for a long time, so I'm gonna go with: FOR AGES.

18. Does 13 have a song that gives you a bad memory? (Iron Maiden)
How could Iron Maiden have that effect?!

19. When did you get into 17? (Frank Sinatra)
About 2 to 3 years ago. A friend of mine was playing some of his songs at school, and I thought "heh. Hey, that's actually completely amazing.". I kinda took his music for granted before that. I knew it, but never really listened.

20. How long have you been into 9? (The Doors)
About 3 years?

21. If 11 had a concert 300 miles away, would you drive there to see them? (Metallica)
I (obviously) can't drive, but I would make damn sure to get there somehow!

22. How many CDs do you own of 12? (Joe Jackson)
Uh, I guess we have some record of his laying around! I guess about 4, the rest would be acquired.. in a different way.

23. Does 21 have a song that makes you cry? (Eric Clapton)
Well, Eric Clapton has to be the most-cried-to artist ever. Obviously, Tears In Heaven.

24. Does 27 have a song that makes you happy? (Stevie Wonder)
Pretty much every song! Masterblaster, Superstition, etc. They're all really upbeat and brilliant.

25. Does 23 have a song that makes you smile? (Led Zeppelin)
Couldn't really pinpoint a song that'd make me smile, but their overall musical brilliance is something that makes me happy I guess!

26. What's the last song you've listened to from 28? (Huey Lewis & The News)
I think that's 'Workin' For A Livin''

27. Is there a song by 32 that you've listened to more than 30 times? (Scorpions)
Absolutely, Rock You Like A Hurricane & Dust In The Wind.. Probably other songs as well.

28. What is a song from 50 that you've only listened to once? (The Monks)
That'd be Spotty Face.

29. Is there a song you are sick of hearing by 24? (Joe Satriani)
Not really, all his songs are so great and laid back.. Even 'If I Could Fly' doesn't bore me, while it got so much media-attention.

30. What song got you into 40? (Steve Miller Band)
The Joker. Whoo yeah!

31. What is your favorite single by 25? (Johnny Cash)
Hurt.

32. If 49 hated you, what would you do? (Chicago)
Cry.

33. What would you say if 42 or one of the members from 42 asked you out? (ZZ Top)
Oh god that's brilliant! It'd be quite odd, but sure, I'd have a beer with 'em!

34. Would you care if 41 had a boyfriend/girlfriend? (Journey)
I'm pretty sure a few of them are married, and it doesn't really concern me.

35. Who has the best voice in 46? (Prince)
I'm gonna go with.. Prince?

36. Do you think 26 is/are good-looking? (XTC)
In their own way, sure.

37. How many times have you listened to your favorite song by 36? (Dio)
14 Times 'We Rock' on here, and 10 times 'Rainbow in the Dark'. Oddly enough though, I'm pretty sure I've listened to 'Holy Diver' and 'Rainbow in the Dark' the most. Didn't scrobble all of it I guess!

38. How many CDs do you own of 30? (Electric Light Orchestra)
None. (Oh, I feel bad.)

39. Is there a song from 38 that makes you mad? (The Rolling Stones)
Bwah, not really.

40. Which member from 31 do you want to see go solo? If 31 is only one artist, what would you do if they joined a group? (Queen)
Odd Question for this band. I guess it's not really a good question, as the real Queen is dead. The 'new' Queen should all go solo, if you ask me.

41. What does your favorite song from 48 remind you of? (Santana)
I'm going to sound like a retard, saying this. But it reminds of me of the first time I played Guitar Hero 3. Black Magic Woman was on there, and I was totally amazed.

42. Did you hate 43 at first? (Oingo Boingo)
Not really. They take a bit of getting used to I guess, but they're great.

43. Does your best friend also listen to 33? (The Proclaimers)
Hehe, a bit of a guilty pleasure that one. Don't think anyone around me listens a lot to the proclaimers.

44. Do you think your parents would like 37? (Dream Theater)
Interesting question. I think my dad might like some of their songs, my mom wouldn't though.

45. Does 47 have a song that makes you want to dance? (Bryan Ferry)
Eventhough all of his songs are great to dance to and really happy, no. But that's just because I don't dance.

46. Have you ever seen 34 in person? (Phil Collins)
Nope. I did make a pact with a friend of mine, that if he ever were to do a concert in the Netherlands, we would go see him. Apparently though, he can't do concerts anymore, because his hearing is messed up.... Which makes me a sad Kylian.

47. Do you like 44's name? (Frank Zappa)
Well, what's there not to like?

48. Is there someone in 45 that you want to go out with? (Boston)
Nope.

49. Do you know anyone that hates 39? (Alestorm)
Everyone that can't handle the totally awesome power of pirate metal!

50. Have you ever danced to a song from 35? (Suede)
I guess they have a few danceable songs, but once again; I don't dance.

Since I've had a Last.fm account for a while now, I'd like to show the top songs that I have listened to since joining Last.fm. Here they are.

25.) Muse - I Belong to You - New Moon OST 2009




24.) Ne-Yo - Miss Independent - Now That's What I Call Music 71



23.) SHINee - Ring Ding Dong - 2009, Year Of Us



22.) Jade Ewen - My Man - My Man (Single)



21.) Darin feat. David Jassy - Pop That - Pop That (Single)



20.) Roop Kumar Rathod - Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi



19.) Murat Boz - Gümbür Gümbür - Sans



18.) Michael Jackson - Human Nature - Thriller



17.) Ne-Yo - Closer - Year Of The Gentleman



16.) Michael Jackson - For All Time - Thriller 25



15.) Avril Lavigne - I'm With You - Let Go



14.) Elena - The Balkan Girls (Romania) - Eurovision Song Contest 2009: Moscow



13.) Sunset Strippers - Falling Stars - Falling Stars CDM



12.) Jordin Sparks - No Parade - Battlefield



11.) Britney Spears - Overprotected - Britney



10.) Sean Kingston - Me Love - Sean Kingston



9.) Jordin Sparks - Watch You Go - Battlefield



8.) Phil Collins - Son Of Man - Tarzan OST


(Yes before you say anything, I am embarresed LOL)

7.) Hironobu Kageyama - Cha-La Head Cha-La - Dragonball & Dragonball Z - The Complete Collection



6.) Jordin Sparks - S.O.S (Let The Music Play) - Battlefield



5.) JLS - Only Tonight - JLS



4.) Hironobu Kageyama - Hero (You are the Hero) - Dragonball & Dragonball Z - The Complete Collection



3.) Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You - All I Ever Wanted



2.) Jordin Sparks - Battlefield - Battlefield



Drum roll please...
















































1.) Sean Kingston - Fire Burning - Tomorrow




Right I did NOT expect my Number 1 to be ...THAT^^^ LOL, but honestly this song is pretty good and I recommend a listen, otherwise maybe in a few months I'll make another one of these to compare countdown...you never know.

Better Luck Next Time! xxxxx