What song inspires me? (Day 5 of 30)

Hi!

Well, sorry about that little hiatus yesterday, but I felt like a butt, and then I went and did things anyway, so what resulted is that the time I had free at home I spent in bed asleep! True story. But I did get to hang out with my bro Deebs, who is leaving us in less than three weeks! :(:(:(

Anyway, today I’m meant to talk to you about what song ‘inspires’ me. Fuck that!

I’ve never been a person that really understands inspiration. Maybe I’m just not that creative. Well, yeah, that could be it. But when I’m inspired to do something it’s usually because of a random selection of thoughts that came together at a particular moment that made me think of something else.

The fact that this is such a random process is probably part of the reason I don’t create original things very often, and I need something like this set of rules to help me along. It’s a problem, I know. Especially if I want to be a writer some day. And you know, there are a vast selection of psychological reasons we could get into for why this is a thing.

But we’re not going to. You know why? ‘Cause we’re meant to be talking songs.

Now, while I don’t get inspired by any particular songs per se, I do really really love music. I love a lot of different types of music, and I love them a LOT. I sometimes have a hard time relating to other people’s music choices, because I’m so passionate about my own (see Tim: “You have shit taste in music”). But the point of this exercise is to get me writing, right? Not just so you can all learn my innermost secrets. So I thought what I’d do instead is pick a small selection of my favourite songs and pieces and tell you why I think they rule!

I’ll try to make them many and varied so they aren’t just the same old thing, ja? Anyway, let’s do this.

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Turns out I didn’t do this or, indeed, anything at all! I honestly sat there for the longest time until I realised I felt so shit that this just wasn’t going to get done, and then I gave up. True story! But now I feel better, so let’s actually do this, and other things. I’ve been painting all day, actually, so my creative juices are fucking BURSTING THEIR BANKS, LADIES.

Okay, songs. Go!

Let’s start with the most generic category and work from there. Rock! My favourite rock song is Welcome to the Jungle, by Guns and Roses. Man, what a great song. The powerful lead guitar drives it from beginning to end, the vocals are catchy and singalongable and the pounding of the drums is fast enough to make it awesome, but slow enough to make it epic. The lyrics are a little nonsensical, but it just doesn’t care because did you hear that solo? That’s right, shut up. Between this and Fuel by Metallica, I can get pumped up for anything.

Okay! Metal. I was going to pick a Rhapsody song, but I couldn’t. Not only because they are a series of concept albums, so you have to sort of take whole albums as a single song, but because, well, let’s be honest, they all sound pretty similar anyway. But man. Rhapsody. Or rather Rhapsody of Fire, I think they’re called now. They’ll always be Rhapsody to me. Anyway, Rhapsody. I believe their specific genre is “symphonic epic power metal”. Doesn’t that just say it all? So it’s power metal, obviously. The epicness comes from the scale, I suppose of not just one concept album, but a series of concept albums that all follow a continuing saga. The symphonic comes from their use not only of guitars and drums etc, but that they incorporate flutes, violins, brass even harpsichords into just about every song. Not even just like, a one off. They’re practically members of the band.

Also, did I mention that this little metal band from Italy, who have trouble speaking basic english (see: “emerald sword” pronounced “eeeeme-rald *shudder*) got Christopher Lee on not one, but like three of their albums? He even actually sang on one. It was amazing and epic.

Great band.

Okay, up next is… Pop! That’s right, even popular audio-listening tracks will get a mention here. I’m not fussy, really, I’m not going to limit myself away from a genre just because it’s not hip to listen to pop music, ironically. Well, it is hip to listen to it ironically. But you know what I mean.

Anyway, my selection for this category is an older pop tune, but a pop tune none the less, mostly ’cause I could not think of a single other category it would possibly fit into. And that is the song “I Could Never Be Your Woman” by Whitetown. You’ve possibly heard it, even if you don’t recognise the name. Anyway, the first thing about this song that I love is that it is in fact sung by a man. So I guess he’s right! It also talks about marxism for some reason. Musically, it’s funky as hell. It’s all electronic as far as I can tell, but the bassline in solid and the drum machine is very catchy. I also love the sound of horns as though filtered through a old timey turntable. Everything rules about this song. If you haven’t heard it, look it up on youTube. It’s got a neat filmclip also.

Classical is my next category. I don’t suppose too many of you can relate to this category, but it is in fact a tie for this one. First up is the Jupiter movement from the Planets suite by Gustav Holst. It’s pretty famous, you may have heard it in one of it’s other forms. But it is a beautiful piece of music, both grandiose and regal and jolly and fun. The toher contender is Tocatta and Fugue by Bach. Eeeeeeveryone will have heard this one, even if, again, you don’t know it’s name. It’s that really sinister piece of music that always get’s played when, I dunno, vampires come into the room. DEE-NUR-NEEEEEEEEEEEE…. duh-duh-duh-duh-duhhhhhh-duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Anyway, it is an incredible, incredible piece of music. There is a reason Bach is still one of the most famous composers of all time. He was a genius. But yeah, listen to it in it’s entirety, it’s about 12 minutes long, and just wonder at the convoluted, intricate nature. And remember the guy is not only playing on two keyboards, but a third with his feet.

Incredible.

I had some others I was going to mention, a lot of others in fact. You can’t get a small list of my favourite songs, unfortunately. But this had already taken over an hour, and is goddamn long enough! I’ll just list ’em and give you a summary.

Ayreon – Into the Electric Castle: Actually an entire album, again a concept album, but taken as a whole, one of the best pieces of music ever.

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun: Just a solid fucking song. Amazing.

Soko – I’ll Kill Her: The story of a vaguely french chick who has her whole life planned out before the guy even asks her out. Also, he’s seeing someone else. Beautifully awkward and bitter.

Nightwish: Goddamn, anything by Nightwish. One of the few bands who’s stuff I’ve collected almost in it’s entirety. Such an amazing band.

Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue – Where the Wild Roses Grow: Such a beautiful and sad song. Almost makes me cry, but I’m enjoying it too much.

So that’s it for today! Well, for the last three days, I guess. Regular updates start again tomorrow! Or today, I guess. But there’s be another one tomorrow, making them regular again from that time forward!

Whhheeeeeeeeee!