From the heart

A classic reworking of the old Beatles song, Help, performed by John Farnham as a ballad, and released in 1980, from his solo album, Uncovered. 

Set your hopes up way too high

Quad poster for The Living Daylights

Long before the proliferation of suburban multiplexes, and when film piracy was less of a problem, major studios often staggered their biggest film releases around the world. Summer blockbusters released during the northern hemisphere summer were released in the southern hemisphere until the southern hemisphere summer.

The Living Daylights was Timothy Dalton's debut appearance as James Bond. The theme song to the James Bond movie of the same name, performed by Norwegian pop trio A-ha, in Australia it was released months before the movie, which wasn't released there until November 1987. Arguably, this is one of the reasons why it wasn't much of a hit in the Australian singles charts, peaking at number 29 later that same month. It would have made more sense to release the movie and the song simultaneously. It was a bigger hit in the UK, where this was done,  it peaked at number 5.

By Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use, Link

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/jwjstone/australian_top_50_singles___aria_chart___week_ending_16_august_1987/

Banks of the River Clyde

For those of you who take note of such things, sometimes a group or solo artist has two songs in the top forty at the same time. Del Amitri achieved this rare feat on this day in 1990, with their singles, Kiss This Thing Goodbye (20), and its follow up, Nothing Ever Happens (24). Their musicianship was impeccable.

I pressed a few buttons on my keyboard, and generated an entire song

New scientific research shows that there's a reason why we stop discovering new music at around 30 years of age. There's more to it than my tastes changing, so that I now prefer older music, and haven't followed the Top 40 for years. There has been a shift away from musical and vocal ability, and higher use of computerised production rather than actual instruments, and autotuning.

https://www.businessinsider.com.au/why-we-stop-discovering-new-music-around-age-30-2018-6?r=US&IR=T

Act your age, not your shoe size

Triple J is moving its Hottest 100 countdown from Australia Day to January 27. The radio station said it moved the countdown in recognition of “increasing debate” surrounding and the day’s meaning for indigenous people. In response, Senator Cory Bernardi, leader of the Australian Conservatives Party, decided to compile his own alternative list of 100 Australian songs on Spotify. The created controversy, when many of the artists on the list demanded they be removed from it.

To paraphrase, "You and your party are against everything I stand for. I refuse to let you use my music for your political purposes," they said.

Bernardi also invited suggestions from Twitter users. Leftist keyboard warriors couldn't resist the opportunity to smear and mock him by suggesting songs like Mummy Doesn't Know You're a Nazi, by Frenzal Rhomb, and Christian songs with titles such as Jesus Use Me, He Touched Me, and Hallelujah, The Lord's Coming Again. Well, tee hee, and chortle. What shining wits these people are. 

Two can play at that game. Here's some of my song suggestions for the other side, some of whom stubbornly cling to socialist ideology, despite ample historical evidence that it doesn't work. 

Dahp Prampi Mesa Moha Chokchey (National anthem of Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge)

The East is Red by Li Youyan

The Internationale (Traditional)

Haste Siempre, Comandante by Carlos Puebla

Onwards Toward the Final Victory by Kim Moon Hyuk and Yoon De Geun

Solidarity Forever (Traditional)
The Stalin Album by the Red Army Choir

State Anthem of the Soviet Union (1944 version) by Alexander Alexandrov 

Here ends today's history lesson. 

Star quality

Some time last year I went to the Totally 80's concert, with the likes of Paul Lekakis, Limahl, Men Without Hats and Stacey Q on the bill. Martika was the standout performer. Her singing ability and stage presence was superior to the other artists. In 1989, she had a massive hit with I Feel the Earth Move, her cover of Carole King's 1971 single. On this week, it held the number 4 position on Melbourne radio station Fox FM's Top 40 chart.

The Youtube clip is from a performance on Countdown Revolution, a widely derided and short-lived music show that ran for two seasons from 1989 to 1990. Martika is still around, but now that she's married, her priorities have changed.

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/jwjstone/fox_fm_top_40_singles___21_december_1989___melbourne_vic_australia/

The Bible is groovy

Long before Sons of Korah, Boney M were turning the Old Testament Psalms into songs. 39 years to the day, they had a number 2 hit with Rivers of Babylon. Until I wrote this post, I had no idea that composers have been putting this Psalm to music for hundreds of years. It shows how much I know.

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Badgerdarkness/australian_top_100_singles___03_july_1978/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm_137

Head shots from different angles

The reader of this blog may or may not have noticed that it hasn't been updated for a few days. The main reason for this is that my laptop has been sent away for repairs. Occasionally I write about hit songs that were in the charts this week exactly 40 or 50 years ago, but this time I'll look at another year.

When I was younger I went through a phase in which I was heavily into British art rock band, Genesis. In 1981 their lead singer, Phil Collins launched his highly successful solo career with In the Air Tonight, the first single from Face Value, his debut solo album. In so doing he inspired a generation of annoying air drummers. On May 1, 1981, it was the number 2 single on 3XY's Top 40 chart, and was also a massive hit around the world.

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Badgerdarkness/3xy_top_40___01_may_1981___melbourne_vic_australia/

Kippers for breakfast

This is a television advertisement for the admittedly spiffy HP Sprout, which is a combined desktop computer, scanner, and 3D printer. As you can see, the advertising jingle is a reworked version of The Logical Song by Supertramp, a massive worldwide hit from their 1979 album, Breakfast in America. I don't begrudge them for monetizing their back catalogue. If I was in their position, I'd do the same thing.

Play, pause, rewind, fast forward, and stop

I still have number nine on this list, on audio cassette.

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/definitive-ranking-insanely-awesome-christian-album-covers

Of baguettes and berets

On this day in 1968, the number one song on Melbourne radio station 3UZ's chart was Love is Blue by Paul Mauriat (1925-2006). Born in Marseille, Mauriat was an orchestra leader, conductor and arranger who enjoyed a long and prolific career. This is perhaps his best known hit, and to this day, it remains a staple of AM easy listening radio. On the other hand, 3UZ is now broadcasting as Sport 927, and covers horse and greyhound racing.

http://paul-mauriat.com/

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/jwjstone/3uz_official_top_40___07_april_1968___melbourne_vic_australia/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3UZ

A throat full of phlegm

Today I present inexplicably popular American crooner Michael Bolton's biggest hit, How Am I Supposed to Live Without You?, released in 1989. At the time it became a fixture on easy listening AM radio stations.

I remember my father saying at the time, "What a terrible voice." Even though he had no musical ability to speak of, I heartily agreed with him. Mr Bolton sounded like he needed to take decongestants. I couldn't stand him then, and still can't now.

Doggy breath

Back in the golden days of 1993 Christian rock band PFR released their second album, Goldie's Last Day. The song is about bass player Patrick Andrew's beloved late dog, Goldie. I don't know if the song has a Christian subtext. I speak from personal experience when I say that through the unconditional love and loyalty they offer, dogs can often be a source of comfort to their owners in times of suffering and sadness. I often wonder if they can be an instrument of God's grace.

If a dog sees that its owner is sad, it might offer consolation in the form of a paw on his or her lap, or gently nudge you to put your arm around it. In times of crisis, some human beings aren't much help at all. They either ignore you, offer empty platitudes, or offer unwanted advice. Just like Job's friends, they amount to "miserable comforters." (Job 16:2). Unlike some humans, dogs never let you down.

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/pfr-mn0000741974/biography

Groovy times

Where were you in February 1965? I wasn't even born or thought of. Fifty years ago this week Manfred Mann's single Come Tomorrow entered Melbourne radio station 3DB's Top 40 chart at number 32.

In this clip from Top of the Pops, watch as lead singer Paul Jones tries to perform the song while a girl in the studio audience touches his leg.

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/jwjstone/3db_top_40___19_february_1965___melbourne_vic_australia

The Hi-Fi Club

Compact discs were meant to replace vinyl records, but vinyl has made a comeback. Old vinyl records are highly collectable, and current artists are releasing their albums on vinyl. Some people may now be regretting throwing out their vinyl records collections. Other people have kept them, not because they knew they would become fashionable again, but simply because they have an aversion to throwing things out.

In Christmas 1981 Bert Newton teamed up with the Debney Park High School band to release the spoken word single, Bring Back the Spirit of Christmas. I distinctly remember my mother buying this single for herself and for a couple of friends and relatives. She still has it today. A few thousand people bought it, helping it to become a minor hit around Australia. 

My own prison

A couple of years ago I read Sinner's Creed, the memoir of Scott Stapp, former lead singer of Creed. This was one of those warts and all memoirs, with no sugar coating. Stapp candidly talked about his past struggles with being raised by an abusive stepfather, and problems with drug and alcohol addiction, divorce, and a suicide attempt. At the time this book was published, it seemed his life was back on track, with a happy marriage and family, and he'd found the stability he longed for in his Christian faith.

Now it seems his life has fallen apart again. Media reports indicate that he is homeless, broke, and his wife has filed for divorce against him. If it's possible to hit lower than rock bottom, Scott Stapp has done so. Sensationalism aside, he's relapsed into his drug habit and he's clearly going through a very difficult time. It's sad to see his life turn out this way. My thoughts and prayers are with him, his wife, and his family.

http://www.stereogum.com/1721925/scott-stapp-posts-two-more-disturbing-video-pleas-wife-requests-psych-hold/video/

The funny and serious dichotomy

At the risk of milking a joke too much, today I turn my attention to The Police's 1978 hit, Roxanne. Years before Sting embarked on a solo career with songs like Russians and campaigning to preserve Amazonian rainforests, he shows his social conscience by singing against prostitution.

As a child hearing this on the radio, I had trouble making out the lyrics. The chorus goes:

Roxanne (Put on the red light)
Roxanne (Put on the red light)
Roxanne (Put on the red light)
Roxanne (Put on the red light)
Roxanne (Put on the red light)

I'm not joking when I thought that it sounded like "Ooo roo roo red right." It wasn't until years later that I properly understood the lyrics and the meaning of this song. Indeed, I used to sing it on the way to church on Sundays, because the congregation I belonged to met in a building that was on the same street as a brothel, and I often saw customers arriving and leaving said premises on a Sunday morning.

A good habit to be into

It was 40 years ago in 1974 that Adelaide based nun Sister Janet Mead of the Sisters of Mercy order had a worldwide hit with her rock version of The Lord's Prayer. She was the second nun to have a top ten hit in the Billboard Hot 100, preceded in 1963 by Sister Luc-Gabrielle, who had a hit with Dominique.

Following in Luc-Gabrielle and Mead's footsteps is Sister Cristina Scuccia, an internet sensation who won the Italian version of television singing competition The Voice. It remains to be seen how her career will turn out after this, but good on her for her achievement and sharing her gift with her fellow Italians.

Mead has shunned the limelight, but she deserves the distinction of being among many Australian female solo artists to have international hits in the 1970's just like her contemporaries, Olivia Newton-John and Helen Reddy.

An oldie but a goodie

Anybody Out There? is the title track from Burlap to Cashmere's 1998 album of the same name.

Its lyrics are very deep and introspective. They speak of feeling alone and abandoned, and a longing for deliverance. Job longed for a mediator who would end his suffering (Job 9:32-35). The authors of the Psalms felt lonely and forsaken (Psalm 13:1-6, 22, 27:10, 34:1-9, 142). Similarly, the book of Lamentations speaks to the feeling of despair and being estranged from God, with almost no hope of reconciliation.

God's ears are not deaf to the cries of His people for deliverance. Again, the song's lyrics refer to Jesus calling home a lost sinner. This person was "deaf and dumb," but in Jesus, found the answers to the questions of who they are and what their life is for.

On the cross Jesus also felt the pain of human separation from God (Matthew 27:46). A holy God cannot bear to the in the presence of sin, so by his death upon the cross, burial, and resurrection, Jesus took the penalty for sin upon himself, making it possible for humanity to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:21), and to have a relationship with Him, but only for those who repent and realize their need for forgiveness.

Anybody Out There rightly points to Jesus as the hope of the world, and as the only one who can satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart, answering the questions of life and its deeper purpose. Sadly, it seems that some peoples' hearts are so hardened against God that they'd ignore Him even if He whispered directly into their ears. On the outside those who live with no regard for God, may often appear to be happy and untroubled by the cares of this life, but little do they know that they are dead or dying inside.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/anybody-out-there-mw0000045790

http://www.lyricstime.com/burlap-to-cashmere-anybody-out-there-lyrics.html

Hmm, okay...

Hermans' Hermits. Image source: Wikimedia Commons

2014 marks fifty years since Herman's Hermits burst onto the music scene with their debut hit single, I'm Into Something Good. Unlike some of their contemporaries, such as the Rolling Stones and The Who, the Hermits sung light and fluffy songs. They had no pretensions of being subversive or making social or political statements. 

On first glance, their 1965 hit, I'm Henry the VIII, I Am, a revival of a 1910 British music hall hit by Fred Murray and R.P. Weston, also seems to be a novelty song. It tells the story of an unnamed widow who has been married seven times. All of her deceased former husbands were named Henry. The song doesn't reveal how they died.  Was it from natural causes, or could it be that this widow is a black widow who killed each of her former husbands in order to receive sizable life insurance payouts?

To avoid the same fate, Henry the VIII (his wife's eighth old man) needs to prepare all of his own meals, regularly check his car for signs of sabotage, and look over his shoulder. The other solution is to change his name to something other than Henry.