In 2008, I seem to have gone slightly retro...
..so here ya go:
In rough order, I suppose. The videos count for me, too.
1. Elbow - One Day Like This
I know. Predictable, right? Woulda made my top 10 anyway, but it caught me unawares in the car on Boxing Day. Hello, lovely strings? Any live version is also guaranteed to be good. For example, Glastonbury 2008.
Also, I've been known to stick the video on just because it's beautifully simple and calming. That sublime little guy makes me smile.
2. Imelda May - Johnny Got a Boom Boom (+ bonus;) )
I don't think there's an official video. Loadsa live ones, though.
Just. That. Voice.
3. Infadels - Free Things for Poor People
After 'Love Like Semtex' in 2006 I'd kinda forgotten about them...til Summer and this.
4. Boyzone - Love You Anyway
Again, I know. I swear, I never liked them before. But I love the feel of this one. Plus the video, especially the way they react to the dancers, and the way Stephen Gately is trying so hard to be suave. Bless 'em all.
5. Sharleen Spiteri All The Times I Cried
Can't find an embed code for this one, so click, please.
So glad she's back. I like the solo retro style, too.
Incidentally, in my searching, I came across this thing she did with Alan Rickman:
Singing in French, with ?Spanish? subtitles, and dancing in a garage. Bizarre - how the hell did I miss that? It's Kylie's I am a a typeface all over again.
6. Fall Out Boy - I Don't Care
I'm not a particular fan of Fall Out Boy. But this is like a mix between Doctor and the Medics and Depeche Mode, imo. I couldn't get it out of my head for about a week.
7. M.I.A. Paper Planes
Been kinda following her for years. Finally, some proper recognition, even if she's an odd one, in interviews. But I did squee when she sampled The Clash here.
8. Reverend and The Makers - Open Your Window
And then they were gone.
9. Christina Aguilera - Keeps Getting Better
No embed code again. There's a million different unofficial vids. Linking to the official one.
A very late entry. Just had to include her because she got completely overlooked due to stupid Britney, and this is infinitely better than womaniser. And less hyped, which I approve of.
10. Duffy - Mercy
Linking again...but I gotta be outta here by 3, and I wanted to make sure I got the British Northern Soul version of the video, not the US one.
Yes, overplayed. And the background rap is a bit creepy. But I think Duffy gets a lot of flak she doesn't deserve. Listen to me - she's not trying to imitate Amy Winehouse. Duffy's voice is so distinctive - proper retro. She sounds like she's singing in mono and I love it. I also like Rain on Your Parade
Not Warwick Avenue so much, though.
There are others I coulda included, sure, but I really gotta go now. I just wanted to make sure I didn't forget these.
Happy New Year, all.
In rough order, I suppose. The videos count for me, too.
1. Elbow - One Day Like This
Click to viewI know. Predictable, right? Woulda made my top 10 anyway, but it caught me unawares in the car on Boxing Day. Hello, lovely strings? Any live version is also guaranteed to be good. For example, Glastonbury 2008.
Also, I've been known to stick the video on just because it's beautifully simple and calming. That sublime little guy makes me smile.
2. Imelda May - Johnny Got a Boom Boom (+ bonus;) )
I don't think there's an official video. Loadsa live ones, though.
Just. That. Voice.
3. Infadels - Free Things for Poor People
After 'Love Like Semtex' in 2006 I'd kinda forgotten about them...til Summer and this.
4. Boyzone - Love You Anyway
Again, I know. I swear, I never liked them before. But I love the feel of this one. Plus the video, especially the way they react to the dancers, and the way Stephen Gately is trying so hard to be suave. Bless 'em all.
5. Sharleen Spiteri All The Times I Cried
Can't find an embed code for this one, so click, please.
So glad she's back. I like the solo retro style, too.
Incidentally, in my searching, I came across this thing she did with Alan Rickman:
Singing in French, with ?Spanish? subtitles, and dancing in a garage. Bizarre - how the hell did I miss that? It's Kylie's I am a a typeface all over again.
6. Fall Out Boy - I Don't Care
I'm not a particular fan of Fall Out Boy. But this is like a mix between Doctor and the Medics and Depeche Mode, imo. I couldn't get it out of my head for about a week.
7. M.I.A. Paper Planes
Been kinda following her for years. Finally, some proper recognition, even if she's an odd one, in interviews. But I did squee when she sampled The Clash here.
8. Reverend and The Makers - Open Your Window
And then they were gone.
9. Christina Aguilera - Keeps Getting Better
No embed code again. There's a million different unofficial vids. Linking to the official one.
A very late entry. Just had to include her because she got completely overlooked due to stupid Britney, and this is infinitely better than womaniser. And less hyped, which I approve of.
10. Duffy - Mercy
Linking again...but I gotta be outta here by 3, and I wanted to make sure I got the British Northern Soul version of the video, not the US one.
Yes, overplayed. And the background rap is a bit creepy. But I think Duffy gets a lot of flak she doesn't deserve. Listen to me - she's not trying to imitate Amy Winehouse. Duffy's voice is so distinctive - proper retro. She sounds like she's singing in mono and I love it. I also like Rain on Your Parade
Not Warwick Avenue so much, though.
There are others I coulda included, sure, but I really gotta go now. I just wanted to make sure I didn't forget these.
Happy New Year, all.