Culture Czar

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Wednesday, January 04, 2006

The Songs I Have Loved (And Lost)

Have you ever heard this song somewhere, really liked it, and been searching high and low for it ever since? Worse, have you owned the audio cassette, but now have no way to play it? You are not alone.

Here are some of the best songs I have ever heard. Hardly any of these are available in India, on CD. And they are all fantastic songs, so if you have any idea where I can get them, let me know!

1) Blood of the King by Manowar

Brilliant, thundering, richly operatic heavy metal, epic in scope and intensity, this is one of their most famous songs. If you thought Rammstein was Wagnerian, then listen to Manowar!!

2) We Will Remember by Saxon

I have this thing for melodic harmonies wrapped in blazing guitars and throbbing drums, and nothing exemplifies that style better than this Saxon masterpiece. With an incredibly addictive chorus, this is a tribute to all those rock stars dead and gone.

3) This Flight Tonight by Nazareth

Yet another anthemic barnstormer. Originally sung by Joni Mitchell, Nazareth totally reworked it and made it a pounding, foot-tapping hard rock number. If you ever wanted to hold up your arms at a concert as the band launches into the chorus, this song is the perfect number for that.

4) Run Away / Another Night by the Real McCoy

These two were dance staples for much of the 90s- I still remember taking a break from watching MTV's European Top 20, to study for my I.S.C. (Std. XII) exams. The official term for the genre is the scary-sounding Eurodance, but as far as catchy, addictive and hummable dance numbers go, The Real McCoy have no equal.

5) Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles

The first song ever played on MTV, but then everyone knows that by now. Covered by numerous bands, including The Presidents of the USA, the original version is a catchy jingle that has you swaying and singing along to it. Nostalgia bottled, distilled and sung to perfection.

There you go. There are many, many more songs, and just writing about them makes me nostalgic... if you can find these anywhere, they are worth a listen!!

9 Comments:

Blogger Anita said...

I've listened to only 2 of them - This Flight Tonight - aeons ago when Nazareth was a rage with us collegians. And Video Killed the Radio Star on Orbit Rock. But I am sure Inu-the-mella will have them tucked away in his music collection. Or better still, if you're nice, he might even present them to you on the 6th of March :)

9:45 PM  
Blogger Lahar said...

what, not even The Real McCoy? Shocking..

If Inumella gives me my Trainspotting I would be delighted.

3:04 AM  
Blogger G said...

I have listened to Real McCoy's most of the songs and also the 'Video killed the radio star' in one of those VH1 channels :)

7:22 AM  
Blogger Sunil said...

and happy new year LA..

Video killed the radio star....in your top 5? hmmmm...

10:50 AM  
Blogger Lahar said...

Happy new Year to you too, Sunil :-) And this is a random list, not a "top 5"!!

7:37 PM  
Blogger rainbeau_peep said...

Er ... u haven't heard much, have u?

8:27 AM  
Blogger dhoomketu said...

Video Killed the Radio Star can be found on the Wedding Singer soundtrack, in case you want a CD

8:45 AM  
Blogger Lahar said...

Thats the Presidents of the USA version, not the Buggles version :-)

9:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brer Lahar, if that's the same Manowar album that has "Hail & Kill" on it, check sneakily under the counter of That Shop Next To That Place That Has (Free) Mayo On Its Tables (dammit! I used to be a mobile pen drive before all that green stuff)...you know what I'm talking about...Brigade-end of the lane with Empire on it. Or else, if you're desperate, I see a trip to Shillong on your cards.

All the best, bro :)

10:12 AM  

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