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'Wind
of Change' Scorpions
This 1990 track by Scorpions is absolutely brilliant. With a massive
orchestra, flute, guitars and a bevy of other instruments forming
the musical structure, it is riveting. There is something achingly
beautiful about this melody and singer Klaus Meine captures the words
with conviction and emotions in full swing.
Off their 1990 album, Crazy World, 'Wind of Change' is an important
song that reflects political changes that took place in that era.
This song and especially the lyrics are a celebration of political
changes that took place in Eastern Europe at that time such as the
fall of the Berlin Wall, the freedom that led to the fall of the USSR
and the end of the Cold War.
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opening lines of the track that go, "I follow the Moskva/Down
to Gorky Park/Listening to the wind of change" is often missed
by listeners. "The Moskva" is the name of a river in Moscow
and "Gorky Park" is the name of an amusement park, also
in Moscow. The band was inspired to write this track after a visit
to Moscow in 1989. |
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'It
Came Upon A Midnight'
Sixpence None The Richer
Sixpence None The Richer shot to fame in 1999 with 'Kiss Me' after
the song was used as a soundtrack for teen flick, She's All That.
In reality, 'It Came Upon A Midnight' is a far richer song. Musically,
there is a lot of texture to this track and what hits you the most
is the soft, and intricate melody. Vocalist Leigh Bingham has a husky
voice and here she uses it to full advantage. Guitarist/songwriter
Matt Slocum creates a musical whirlwind but guitar remains the most
dominant instrument but this isn't a noisy track at all.
Lyrically it strays away from cliches and uses language as a tool
rather than jamming words together. As the song goes, "All ye,
beneath life's |
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load/whose forms are bending low/who toil along the climbing way/with
painful steps and slow/look, now for glad and golden hours/come swiftly
on the wing/o rest beside the weary road/and hear the angels sing",
it's almost poetic. Four albums later, Matt and Leigh are following
solo careers but one hopes that they reunite soon. This is one band
that is capable of absolute brilliance. |
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'Dice'
Finley Quaye featuring Beth Orton
Finley Quaye is a Scottish musician who surprisingly has a Southern
touch to his vocals. The winner of Brit Award in 1997, Finley is a
successful artist in the United Kingdom. But it was the year 2004
when Finley managed to attain some fame in the US after 'Dice' was
used on the soundtrack of The Oc, the hit American show about life
in the Orange County. As the lyrics go, "I was crying over you/I
am smiling I think of you/Where your garden have no walls/Breathe
in the air if you care, you compare/don't say farewell/Nothing can
compare/To when you roll the dice and swear that your love's for me"
it's a love song but the musical character of this song is filled
with colour (due to use of various instruments and varying sound that
shifts with the chorus).
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it's pop but this isn't straight pop but the melodic, textured kind
that is extremely addictive. |
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'London
Calling'
The Clash
If one were looking to hear a great punk rock number, a great choice
would be 'London Calling'. In terms of sound, it's an accomplished
track. With some hardcore drumming, a strong bass line and guitar
forming the musical structure, 'London Calling' is gripping and quite
edgy. Lyrics penned by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones,
pinpoint to a number of events that took place around the world at
that time.
The title, 'London Calling' was a reference to BBC radio identity,
"This is London calling" back in the World War II. "Nuclear
error" was also a reflection on the partial meltdown of a US
nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania in 1979, which led to the deaths
of almost 1000 innocent lives.
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in 1979, this single along with the album (of the same title) became
The Clash's first critical and commercial success. Now ranked amongst
the top 100 albums of all times, making The Clash, one of the world's
most influential musical acts of all times! |
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