My CrucialTracks for the last week - White Horses, Blue Monday, When an old cricketer leaves the crease, The Story of My Life, Óró Sé Do Bheatha Bhaile, The Sound of the Drum and The Werewolf
These were my Crucial Tracks for the last few days.
What is a song that feels like home to you?
"White Horses" by Jackie Lee
A memory of childhood. I remember absolutely nothing about the TV show, but I still love the theme song
What's the first song you'd play at a party?
"Blue Monday (2023 Digital Master)" by New Order
Another first song I'd play at a party.
We went to an ’80s disco recently and didn’t hear this. I should have asked for my money back.
<p style="margin-top: 5px;"><a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/blue-monday-2023-digital-master/1706916897?i=1706916906">"Blue Monday (2023 Digital Master)" by New Order on Apple music</a></p>
</div>
What song do you associate with the current season?
"When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease" by Roy Harper
I heard Jonathan Agnew on TMS commentating on the last ball of the last Test Match one summer, and he said that last ball was always a sad moment
"When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease" by Roy Harper on Apple music
What's your favorite love song, and why?
"The Story Of My Life" by Don Williams
When I met my partner I was a punk rocker and she wasn't....but we both liked country music.
This song reminds me of that time, and in a very tenuous way it has a connection with our daughter.
What's another song you've had on repeat recently?
"Óró Sé Do Bheatha Bhaile" by Pauline Scanlon
I listen to some version of this song every few days. I've heard trad versions, a punky version, a rock-y versions, an acapella version, a version with rewritten words, and Sinead O'Connor's reggae version.
They are all fab - the song is indestructible
I don’t have any Irish in me, but when I hear this song, I swear some part of my DNA twitches
"Óró Sé Do Bheatha Bhaile" by Pauline Scanlon on Apple music
What's a song you've had on repeat recently?
"Sound of the Drum" by Steeleye Span
I saw Steeleye Span a few month's back and I wasn't particularly expecting to enjoy it. For some reason English folk music doesn't really float my boat, and nor does folk rock
I did enjoy the show though, and although I still can’t get on with their older records I do enjoy this one, which is from this year’s LP
What's a song that helps you focus or concentrate?
"Werewolf" by The Frantics
In the short term, music doesn't help me focus at all.If I need to think really hard about something for a short-ish time I prefer silence. However to focus on stuff for hours or days at a time, I'd go mad without music on in the background
A middle option is instrumental music, and as I’ve been thinking about autumn and Halloween I’ve picked this slightly spooky tune
I think the Cramps borrowed the guitar for ‘TV Set’