18 October 2012 Aside from words like 'austerity' and 'bailout', is there anything that could sound more early-'10s than Calvin Harris and Florence Welch on the same track? 'Sweet Nothing' combines their signature styles: his electro-pop production; her soaring choruses. If you know, you know. Alas, the Calvin Harris sound and the Florence sound that … Continue reading Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch – ‘Sweet Nothing’
Author: Aidan Curran
Bobby Goldsboro – ‘Honey’
15 June 1968 For years I thought 'Honey' was meant to be a comedy song. This was because I first heard it as performed by a theatrical troupe who, for reasons not clear to us, played at our secondary school one random midweek morning. The singer threw to us with gurning reaction faces at certain … Continue reading Bobby Goldsboro – ‘Honey’
Adele – ‘Skyfall’
11 October 2012 The archetypal James Bond title song has Shirley Bassey, or her most available equivalent, bellowing along to the strains of a buttoned-up orchestra. However, sometimes the franchise dips its toe into the bubble-bath of contemporary chart sounds - with mixed results. Duran Duran's hi-octane 'A View To A Kill' and Lulu's brassy … Continue reading Adele – ‘Skyfall’
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap – ‘Young Girl’
1 June 1968 Well now. I know this song because it was still being played regularly on the radio when I was as young as the title subject. Today it has over 41 million plays on Spotify, so it clearly still has a user group. Maybe it's being listened to by older folk who bopped … Continue reading Gary Puckett & The Union Gap – ‘Young Girl’
One Direction – ‘Live While We’re Young’
4 October 2012 One Direction's 'Live While We're Young' is the track that kept 'Gangnam Style' off the Irish number one spot. Justice dispensed or justice denied? While K-pop would have been a welcome addition to our story of Ireland's chart-toppers, I must admit my slight relief at not needing to engage with the global … Continue reading One Direction – ‘Live While We’re Young’
The Script ft. Will.i.am – ‘Hall Of Fame’
6 September 2012 What motivational memes and inspirational quotes drove The Script and Will.i.am while making 'Hall Of Fame', do you reckon? An Insta post that says "Keep It Stupid, Simple"? A coffee mug with "Same Shit, Different Day" on it? That '70s poster of a tennis player scratching their arse, with the slogan "Yerra, … Continue reading The Script ft. Will.i.am – ‘Hall Of Fame’
Engelbert Humperdinck – ‘A Man Without Love’
18 May 1968 Continuing the turbulent social upheaval of May 1968: here's Engelbert with tear gas for the ears. Originally an Italian song called 'Quando m'innamoro' from that year's Sanremo festival, it ended up being recorded in at least ten other European languages; 'A Man Without Love' is repping the language of Shakespeare and Shakin' … Continue reading Engelbert Humperdinck – ‘A Man Without Love’
Little Mix – ‘Wings’
30 August 2012 Here's Little Mix with their second Irish number one. 'Wings' still has one foot in The X Factor winner's-single idiom of inspirational journey. Happily, though, it forgoes that genre's usual sludgy balladry, instead going for up-tempo brass, handclaps and kick-bass drums. The verses are haters-be-hating sassy, the double-movement chorus is sweeping, the … Continue reading Little Mix – ‘Wings’
Dickie Rock & The Miami – ‘Simon Says’
11 May 1968 How come no media outlet dusted off this 1968 Irish number one for their 2024 news packages of Simon Harris now running the country as Taoiseach? Because they'd be mortified, that's why! (Also, there's its cruel term about mental ability which we rightly no longer use.) Having said that, you could imagine … Continue reading Dickie Rock & The Miami – ‘Simon Says’
Of Monsters and Men – ‘Little Talks’
16 August 2012 Or if you like, the music from a ton of TV ads and montages but not the ukulele one, which is 'Riptide' by Vance Joy. Interestingly, while 'Little Talks' was originally a US hipster pick in late 2011 and then a global hit in 2012—between ad breaks as well as during them—it … Continue reading Of Monsters and Men – ‘Little Talks’
