A tune for a beautiful Friday

For some reason Dire Straits are still in the vaguely naff/questionable bracket when it comes to the eighties music revival that's been influencing new bands and upping the sales of vintage vinyl. Maybe it's because of the mullets, maybe it's that they were the first band to have a song shown on the now deeply uncool MTV Europe, maybe it's the prevalence of those dads who still want to be cool who love them. But whatever; I care not: I am declaring my undying love for Dire Straits. The following is a complete tune from beginning to end, the end especially - oh! the piano - and, a gem of ridiculous eighties music video making.

Five Album Covers I Like

I was recently talking to a friend about album covers that we liked and why we liked them. It made me think of cover art and how peoples taste in it differs, even if they have similar tastes in music. Here are just five album covers I particularly like.

Five Lyrics That Caught My Ear This Week.

I listen to a lot of music, especially while I commute. I am a particular fan of lyrics and a stickler for them. If they're bad it can really ruin a song, likewise if they're good, they're often what raises it to a level of greatness. So here are five lyrics that caught my ear this week, whether it was from radio, TV, vinyl, CD (yup I still use them) or MP3. I have no criteria except that they stand out: maybe they made me think, or reflect, conjured images or even made me laugh. Lyrics with wry humour are sometimes the very best. So here you go, if you like the lyrics hear them at their best - set to the melody.

"His bird says it's amazing, so all that's left,

Is the proof that love's not only blind but deaf."  

Fake Tales Of San Francisco by Arctic Monkeys

"In newsprint boats I raced the sewer-mane."

 Oh My Sweet Carolina by Ryan Adams

  

"When you can fall for chains of silver, you can fall for chains of gold.

You can fall for pretty strangers, and the promises they hold.

You promised me everything, you promised me thick and thin.

Now you just say 'Oh Romeo yeah, you know I used to have a scene with him.'"

Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits

"If I was a woman, as I am a man, my bedfellow you would have been."

Willie O' Winsbury Traditional, performed by Sweeney's Men

 

"And I say 'Oh come on now, you know about my debutant!',

And she says 'Your debutant just knows what you need, but I know what you want.'"

Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again by Bob Dylan