Musical A-Z - B

B*Witched

I can't pretend I've always had amazing music taste, and this is probably all the proof you need of that... But it's from the first CD I ever bought (their self-titled first album) so does deserve inclusion in this silly project. I remember watching them perform this on TotP, with ridiculous oversized flowers, and believing they were a French band because of the lyrics... hmmm.....

Talking of the lyrics, this was the first time that I learnt adults sometimes hear things in a way children don't: the line "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" concerned my father, but I knew they were talking about treehouses.

Barenaked Ladies

Another band from my later teens. I've been an insomniac as long as I can remember: I had a lot of blood tests for anaemia and other problems as a child because I was always so tired. It never occurred to anyone to check what time I stopped reading or how long I lay awake wishing I was still reading because there was no way I'd be getting any sleep. So this song really resonated with me (along with Feeder's Insomnia) and I still love it even though I haven't significantly suffered with insomnia since I finished uni. 

I like that this version has been made in a bathroom. Simple things and simple minds and all that.

Beastie Boys

I don't have much to say. I just think they're fun. Also, I'm pretty sure they were on the soundtrack for Tony Hawk (or maybe we just listened to them whilst playing), so fond memories of fun times with friends.

Billy Idol

Husbit and I have fairly eclectic taste, but mine leans towards rock/metal and his dance: Billy Idol is one of those artists we both love, so this album gets plenty of play time in the car!

Blink 182

And back to love songs, I'm afraid. I was trying to explain to someone recently why I'm so fond of this as a love song, and I think it comes down to the fact that the person being sung about is given agency: "She left me roses by the stairs, surprises let me know she cares". It's not about what she looks like; it's about what she does, and that's cool.

Bob Dylan

I don't particularly like Bob Dylan (although I do like other people's covers of his songs) but my Dad is a fan so I listened to him a fair amount as a child and always think of my Dad when I hear his music. Also, the first picture I saw of him looked a bit like my Uncle Bob which made me wish I liked his music more. 

Bob Marley & the Wailers

When I was doing my GCSE's, one project in English was a 'balloon debate' - in groups, we each chose a famous person (fictional, real, living or dead) and then defend their position in an imaginary hot air balloon that only had enough lift for one person. As I recall, one of the other groups chose Superman, which was ridiculous because he could survive jumping out of the balloon and anyway could carry the others that the balloon couldn't...

Anyway, our group chose Bob Marley and I'm glad because I knew very little about him and found what I learnt about him interesting.

We lost because the other teams pointed out he was already dead so it wouldn't matter, which we felt was very unfair. His music is still excellent.