It’s that time of the week again: the time when we subject one unlucky Indiependent contributor to the pure agony of having to condense their precious iTunes library into a list of just 5 songs which define their life. This week it’s Joe’s turn to be put to the test…
Complete Control // The Clash
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeTw_p_WglY&w=740&h=422]
Picking the five songs that define my life is as hard as someone having to pick their favourite child! John Cusack’s character in the film High Fidelity has plenty of ‘All Time Top 5’ lists that he lists off the top of his head, only now do I understand how hard that is. But anyway here goes.
The Clash are a no brainer in this list for me. Ever since I first listened to them at the tender age of 11 having raided my dad’s CD collection I fell in love almost instantly. Whittling my favourite Clash song to just the one was a hard enough chore in itself but for me ‘Complete Control’ captures the band in their most aggressive and volatile state. Joe Strummer will forever be a massive inspiration to me.
Venus in Furs // Velvet Underground
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwzaifhSw2c&w=740&h=422]
When I was in year 9 I was set art homework to collage a piece by Andy Warhol. Being completely talentless and apathetic towards art as I was I opted to do the easiest work of his I knew of, the iconic cover art of Velvet Underground & Nico. My dad bought me a copy of the album a few weeks later and to say it blew me away would be an understatement. Being a greasy 13 year old who’s favourite band at the time were Slipknot I’d never heard anything like it before. The whole album is flawless from start to finish but ‘Venus in Furs’ has always stuck out as one of my favourites.
Nostalgic Pushead // Manic Street Preachers
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXzrGIF40Ak&w=740&h=422]
This one’s a bit of a curve-ball. Anyone who knows and loves the Manics as much as I do may be surprised I haven’t picked something off glamorous debut Generation Terrorists or the dark masterpiece The Holy Bible but instead I’ve gone with a hidden gem off the album that is sandwiched between the a fore mentioned albums. ‘Nostalgic Pushead’ is a fierce rant against the record industries obsession with nostalgia and repackaging of old albums that still continues to this day. It was around this time that I realised that when it comes to songs I value lyrical content slightly above musical content. I’d already gotten into bands such as The Smiths and The Libertines who have amazing lyrics but it was the lyrics of Richey Edwards and Nicky Wire of the Manics. No matter how unloved or grey Morrissey felt, it was never as alienated and bored as Richey and Nicky felt.
Sea Within A Sea // The Horrors
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1lD5cE6Bwc&w=740&h=422]
This song still sends goosebumps running down my back even today. For me The Horrors were like a gateway band for me into many other similar bands such as Toy, Temples, Tame Impala, Melody’s Echo Chamber etc. Lots of modern artists with psychedelic influences. And then from these I backtracked into more obscure bands like Suicide and Spacemen 3. This song is undoubtably an anthem. It builds and it builds until it just completely explodes at the end. I imagine it gives me the same euphoria that those boring people get when they listen to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’
Rainy Night in Soho // The Pogues
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1m3q9mQN-s&w=740&h=422]
I’m sure most of you know The Pogues as the band that wrote ‘That Christmas Song’ but believe me they are oh so much more than that. Shane Macgowan is hands down one of the greatest lyricists ever. ‘Rainy Night in Soho’ is quite simply the best love song ever written ever. Each line is pure poetry that will melt your heart and send it gushing out your eyes. I urge everyone to listen to it trust me you’ll thank me later.
Words by Joe
Which songs would define your life? Tell us@indie_pendent_