MIKE PERCIACCANTE
Hi everyone! Welcome to spring! I mean welcome to what really is spring. The weather has gotten nice and hopefully your dispositions have gotten sunnier, as well. I know mine has. For this installment of The Songs No iPod Should be Without, I decided to essentially “spin the wheel” or “throw a dart” at the list of song titles that I had compiled for future columns and see what would come up. When the first one was “Respect” I knew that I had to write about it. It and the other songs in this column were randomly chosen from my list. Each is essential. It was a blast writing this column because the selections were unplanned and each song is so good. I gotta tell you, it was fun to write this one.
So without any further delay…here they are songs 181 – 185! Enjoy!
181. Respect – Aretha Franklin
Why is this song on the list? Because it’s a great Otis Redding song. Because as great as Otis’ version is, Aretha’s is better. Otis’ version called for equality. Aretha demands respect. The Chant of “sock it to me” sung by Aretha’s back-up singers (Carolyn and Erma) helps bring the song to another level as does King Curtis’ sax solo. Released on Aretha’s I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You LP, an album many say is the release on which Aretha found her voice. That is only half true. “Respect” is the song on which Aretha found her voice. Think of the opening verse…
What you want
Baby, I got
What you need
Do you know I got it?
All I’m askin’
Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
Hey baby (just a little bit) when you get home
(just a little bit) mister (just a little bit)
…as well as the chorus and final verse as Aretha’s National Equal Rights anthem…
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, TCB
Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me,
sock it to me, sock it to me)
A little respect (sock it to me, sock it to me,
sock it to me, sock it to me)
Whoa, babe (just a little bit)
A little respect (just a little bit)
I get tired (just a little bit)
Keep on tryin’ (just a little bit)
You’re runnin’ out of foolin’ (just a little bit)
And I ain’t lyin’ (just a little bit)
(re, re, re, re) ‘spect
When you come home (re, re, re ,re)
Or you might walk in (respect, just a little bit)
And find out I’m gone (just a little bit)
I got to have (just a little bit)
A little respect (just a little bit)
Recommended versions can be found on: I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (Atlantic, 1967—reissued by Rhino in 1995), 30 Greatest Hits (Atlantic, 1985), The Very Best of Aretha Franklin: The 60’s (Atlantic/Rhino, 1994), Live At The Fillmore West (Atlantic/Rhino, 1971) and the box set The Queen Of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings (Rhino, 1992).
182. Time to Dance – Panic! At the Disco
Because of the Chuck Palahniuk connection. Fans of author Chuck Palahniuk (of Fight Club fame), know that this song offers multiple nods to Palahniuk’s novel Invisible Monsters. The book opens with a shooting at a wedding in a grand ballroom and Palahniuk’s signature repetition of phrases is used as a parody in the chorus:
Well, she’s not bleeding on the ballroom floor
Just for the attention
Cause that’s just ridiculous…ly odd.
Well, she sure is going to get it
Here’s the setting
Fashion magazines line the walls now
The walls line the bullet holes
Have some composure
And where is your posture?
Oh, no, no!
You’re pulling the trigger
Pulling the trigger
All wrong
Have some composure
And where is your posture?
Oh, no, no!
You’re pulling the trigger
Pulling the trigger
All wrong
Give me envy, give me malice, give me your attention
Give me envy, give me malice, baby, give me a break!
When I say “Shotgun”, you say “Wedding”
“Shotgun”, “Wedding”, “Shotgun”, “Wedding”
What’s not to like? If Palahniuk’s writing style is considered minimalist, then consider this minimalist rock ‘n’ roll.
Recommended versions can be found on: A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out (Fueled By Ramen, 2005) and the Live in Chicago CD/DVD (Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen, 2008).
183. Rumour Has It – Adele
Just like “Rolling In The Deep,” it’s sooooo overplayed. Actually Adele is sooooo overplayed. There’s a reason for that. Her songs are good. As with all other Adele songs, “Rumour Has It” is a bit retro, very soulful, jazzy, even a bit bluesy and has a great hook. And Adele’s lyrics which were aimed at people who were spreading falsities about her are both simple and biting…
(Bless your soul!…) Bless your soul, you’ve got your head in the clouds,
You made a fool out of me,
And, boy, I’m bringing me down,
You made my heart melt, yet I’m cold to the core,
But rumour has it I’m the one you’re leaving her for,
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
All of these words whispered in my ear
Tell a story that I cannot bear to hear
Just ’cause I said it, it don’t mean that I meant it
People say crazy things
Just ’cause I said it, don’t mean that I meant it
Just ’cause you heard it
Recommended versions can be found on: 21 (XL Recordings, 2011) and on the Live at the Royal Albert Hall CD/DVD (XL Recordings, 2011),
184. I Touch Myself – The Divynals
It’s funny that his one should come up. Especially since its singer, Christina Amphlett recently passed away. But it did. Yes it did. And it’s such a good pop song. It’s got an unusual structure – the bridge comes after the first verse – and that is part of what makes it work. I know, the song’s title makes it explicitly, abundantly and obviously clear what the song is about. It doesn’t matter. It’s a great song. It’s intense and rockin’ – and has all the elements that made New Wave great – quirks, melody and the ability to push boundaries.
Recommended versions can be found on: Divynals (Virgin, 1991), the greatest hits CD, Divynals: The Collection (Virgin, 1994) and on the Original Soundtrack to Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (Hollywood Records, 1997).
185. Do Ya – Electric Light Orchestra
Jeff Lynne originally wrote and recorded this song with The Move. ELO began performing the song in concert and eventually recorded it for inclusion on the A New World Record album. They liked how it sounded and after many journalists began asking about it decided to record it and show the world that it was a Jeff Lynne song. They did a fine job. Its poppy, rocking, swirling and the lyrics are awesome.
In this life I’ve seen everything I can see woman,
I’ve seen lovers flying through the air hand in hand
I’ve seen babies dancing in the midnight sun,
And I’ve seen dreams that came from the heavenly skies above
I’ve seen old men crying at their own grave sides
And I’ve seen pigs all sitting watching, picture slides
But I never seen nothing like you.
Do ya do ya want my love
Do ya do ya want my face
Do ya do ya want my mind
Do ya do ya want my love
Well I, heard the crowd singin’ out of tune,
As they, sat and sang Auld Lang Syne by the light of the moon
I heard the preachers bangin’ on the drums,
And I heard the police playin’ with their guns
But I never heard nothin’ like you.
Recommended versions can be found on: A New World Record (Jet Records/Epic, 1976), and the greatest hits collections: Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra (Epic/Legacy, 1996), Essential Electric Light Orchestra (Sony, 2003) and The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra, Volume 2: Ticket To The Moon (Epic/Legacy, 2007). It can also be found on the box set Flashback (Epic/Legacy, 2000).
Okay let’s go through the drill again. I want to hear from you. Please write me and tell me some of your favorite songs. Tell me what you like and why. Send me some of your favorites, I promise to feature them in another column. E-mail me at: [email protected]. Type Can’t Live Without in the Topic. Til Next time!
