Just One Song, Part 2
Hey, folks. Well, Just One Song part 1 was fun, wasn't it?
Seems like the secret to this is to find artists who have done a lot of music, are known enough to evince opinions, but may not be as hard to pick just one song from. Of course, it really is impossible to choose just one song from a great artist, because our minds change so much that tomorrow's favorite may not be even in your mind today.
But it can be fun to do the exercise anyway!
So let's make it a semi-regular feature. Every two or three times I do this game, I'll put every respondent's name in a hat, pick out a name, and send the lucky one a custom mix CD. So here's part two...
If you could only have one song from each of the following acts, what song would it be?
*Simon & Garfunkel
*The Platters
*Paul Revere & the Raiders
*The Clash
Below, should you wish to peruse, are my selections...thanks for reading and checking in!
Peace.
Simon & Garfunkel: Extremely tough choice; I often like their album tracks better than their singles. "Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall," from 1966, has everything I love about S&G in spades.
The Platters: "Only You," one of my mother's favorite songs.
Paul Revere & the Raiders: Surprisingly tough; so many A-1 singles. I'll go with "The Great Airplane Strike," one of the great guitar 45s of the 1960s.
The Clash: "Brand New Cadillac."
posted by Stuart Shea at 8:45 PM
22 Comments:
Simon and Garfunkel - it's a toss-up between about 10 songs. But I'll go with "The Only Living Boy In New York" because of its effectiveness in the movie "Garden State."
The Platters - " The Great Pretender." Who hasn't felt this way?
Paul Revere and the Raiders - Not a big fan. All their songs seem the same. I guess "Just Like Me" is good, basic three-chord rock.
The Clash - "Rudie Can't Fail." Over several more meaningful, but less fun songs.
10:38 PM, January 11, 2009
all a little tough for me. hmmm
s&g - fakin' it
platters - twilight time
paul revere - steppin' stone
the clash - tried to select another absolute favorite, but Brand New Cadillac is also mine
1:31 AM, January 12, 2009
oops, on second thought: whose song was Steppin' Stone? Paul Revere? The Monkees? Boyce and Hart? I'm confused.
2:00 AM, January 12, 2009
S&G: "America", b/c it's the only song I've ever heard that mentions Saginaw. (Why someone should hitchhike there is another question entirely)
Platters: "Only You (and You Alone)", for that otherworldly tenor and piercing note at the end.
Paul Revere & the Raiders: "Hungry", which seems to have little bits of every contemporary band (Stones, Mamas & Papas, BS&T, Doors, et al.) yet doesn't sound derivative.
Clash: None. Okay, maybe "I'm So Bored With the USA" b/c you can dance to it. Besides that, pfft.
6:42 AM, January 12, 2009
Clash - The Magnificent Seven
8:07 AM, January 12, 2009
Simon and Gar - "America" comes to mind first as a song I like and don't often hear; likewise "Fakin' It." Then I recall the thrill I get when "Bridge over Troubled Waters" comes on the radio and I realize that it is the highlight of their career.
The Platters - I don't think I own a single recording by them, so I went to Amazon to look at some greatest hits compilations. When I recalled their version of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" my selection was made. What an ending!
Paul Revere & the Raiders - From Boise to Seattle, from Pendleton to Portland, they were the champs way back when (and wrote "The Ballad of Paul Revere" to celebrate that fact!). Out of a long list of good ones (“Kicks”, “Hungry”, “Don't Take it so Hard”, “I Had a Dream”) I'm going with “Him or Me – What's It Gonna Be?” for the wonderful descending bass line.
The Clash – Another big fave! I love “White Man at Hammersmith Palais”, “London’s Calling”, “Complete Control”… but I’m voting for “White Riot” single version, complete with screaming siren. It’s one of punk’s defining moments.
8:33 AM, January 12, 2009
May I suggest The Who next time we play this game?
8:35 AM, January 12, 2009
S & G: "I Am A Rock," as it got me through a good chunk of junior high and high school.
Platters: "Magic Touch"
Paul Revere & the Raiders: "Him or Me-- What's It Gonna Be?"
The Clash: "London Calling"
8:57 AM, January 12, 2009
Simon and Garfunkel: The Only Living Boy in New York (shocked that "Cecilia" not on anyone's list!)
Platters: N/A
Paul Revere: Hungry
Clash: Stay Free
9:02 AM, January 12, 2009
S&G - "America" the mixture of melancholy, playfulness, and hope defines S&G in my mind.
The Platters - "Only You"
Paul Revere & the Raiders - "Kicks" Ballsy, rockin' anti-drug song plunked down in the middle of the psychedelic era.
The Clash - "London Calling" defines them, but I've always been partial to "Charlie Don't Surf"
9:15 AM, January 12, 2009
S&G — "Hazy Shade of Winter" for the evocative lyrics, hand-twisting guitar lick and Herb Alpert/Love horns.
Platters — "The Great Pretender," because it was my fave song to sing in the shower, age 12.
Raiders — so many great ones, but "Just Like Me" still massively kicks my ass every time I hear it.
The Clash — "Safe European Home". A pure shot of adrenaline with hilariously self-effacing lyrics, great vocal performances from Strummer and Jones, and an oddly Beatlesque chrod progression in the bridge.
2:45 PM, January 12, 2009
Simon and Garfunkel - The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine
(hard to pick one, but here it is)
The Platters - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Paul Revere and the Raiders - tough choice here because they put out so many great singles - I'm going to go with "Let Me."
The Clash - For the sake of playing along, I'll pick "White Riot," but one song only does not do justice to this band. There's too much prime meat to choose from.
3:55 PM, January 12, 2009
Simon and Garfunkel - Cecilia (not a big fan, but I love that record)
The Platters - The Great Pretender (one of the greatest # 1 songs ever).
Paul Revere and the Raiders - Him or Me (not a close race - I don't like any of their other hits, most of which sound the same to me)
The Clash - Long Time Jerk (not a big fan, but that b-side always stayed with me).
4:41 PM, January 12, 2009
Simon & Garfunkel - I am a Rock
Platters - Smoke Gets in your Eyes
Paul Revere & the Raiders - Kicks
The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I Go
(I know, I probably picked the cliche choices, but oh well - I like the songs, dangit!)
8:18 AM, January 13, 2009
Simon and Garfunkel- Cecelia
The Platters- Twilight Time
Paul Revere and the Raiders- Good Thing (such good harmony!)
The Clash- Should I Stay or Should I Go
Lists..is there anything they can't do?!
11:44 AM, January 14, 2009
S/G - Homeward Bound (but there's so many)
Platters - Great Pretender (but I'm not passionate about it)
R & R - Louie Louie (not The Kingsmen - SO WHAT!?!?! Still a good one)
Clash - I'm Not Down (you can truly hear the hope and triumph)(and there's so many more here too)
PS - Stuart, this post never showed up in Google Reader - don't know if the problem is with the feed (you'd think not with Blogger) or somewhere else. I'll keep my eye on it.
12:24 AM, January 15, 2009
Simon & Garfunkel: Feelin' Groovy (because writing a universal happy song is one of the hardest tricks in rock)
Platters: another boring pick, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Paul Revere: Him or Me What's It Gonna Be?
Clash: We Are the Clash (from Cut the Crap). Ok, I'm being ironic.
7:56 AM, January 15, 2009
This is tough...
Simon & Garfunkel - I am really torn on this one because there are so many songs that "define" them.
Today I would say "America"
Ask me on another day and I might say "The Boxer" or "For Emily..." even tho that's really Art's tune.
Platters - "Twilight Time"
Paul Revere - "Kicks" (it's one of their more garag-ey tunes)
Clash - Like S&G.. have a hard time with this one.
Today I would say "London Calling" but I also can't ignore their cover of "Police & Thieves" - which they really made their own.
8:09 AM, January 15, 2009
Again without first looking at others' choices:
S&G--How about "Anji"??
Platters--Not a big fan, but would choose "With This Ring"
Raiders--"Too Much Talk" maybe?? Too many!!
Clash--Only know a few here so choosing the big one "Train in Vain"
OK, after seeing "Jim's" picks, I am jumping on his bandwagon with "America" (Studio version) for me for S&G! Wow, "LarryEpke" TOO!! Larry chose a Raiders song of their history, but he should check out "Out On that Road" if he wants Raiders history in song! Great video too! Again, Jennider with a GREAT choice--"Him or Me". John, why would you pick "Louie Louie"??? EEGHAD! :) Clark Besch
6:08 PM, January 15, 2009
S&G: The Boxer
Platters: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Raiders: In My Community
Clash: Spanish Bombs
My picks before reading the others. Wavered a bit when I read all those "Him Or Me" picks but I'll stick with "In My Community".
10:09 PM, January 15, 2009
Clark,
Why "Louie Louie"? Well, I could go on about the Zen beauty of it's mindlessness, but let's just say your comment is further proof of the existence of the "either love it or hate it" category of stuff.
John
3:25 PM, January 16, 2009
Another tricky one!
S&G- So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright (I'm a sucker for samba rhythms)
The Platters- Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Paul Revere & The Raiders- Him Or Me, whats It Gonna Be? (an epic, massive record)
The Clash- Armagedion Time
5:13 PM, January 18, 2009
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