Back-Of-The-Sofa Tunes...
Some songs are made for everyone. These are the kind of back-of-the-net, cannot-miss hits that scale the dizzy heights, take up residence at the top of the charts, and enter the public consciousness, to become much-loved and highly-regarded musical additions to the family of man (and woman, obv). No social gathering is complete without them, and even constant radio play does nothing to reduce their emotional impact.
Although if they're TOO popular, these songs do run the risk of being killed to death by endless covers on TV talent contests and finally granted an inhumane execution...the Opera Cover Version (in Italian).
But what of the other songs, songs which have the same amount of wild inspiration in their DNA, and which can, if played to the right people, cause the same extreme kind of reactions as those other songs, but will never appeal to everyone because they're too different, too wayward, too unorthodox or too lost down the back of the sofa? What of those songs, eh? Who's going to look after them?
Let's share the responsibility, shall we? Here's a selection of songs that either haven't been hits or possibly won't BE hits, but which deserve attention all the same. First of all, thoughts please? And secondly, what's down the back of YOUR sofa? Recommend me some stuff!
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You've got to love the video for 'You! Me! Dancing!' by Los Campesinos. And you've also got to love the song. That's not just an expression, by the way. It's an order...
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Basia Bulat is a Canadian singer-songwriter lady who has a new album out called 'Oh, My Darling'. She's not over-represented on the internet. There's not hoards of YouTube footage or reams of fansites and stuff. She's got a MySpace page (), and an and that seems to be about it. Now, I'm not going to do a huge amount to change this, except to say that if this woman was a friend of yours, and she suddenly started singing like that in a queue for the cinema or something. You'd probably want to drop all your loose change at her feet. And then give her a hug.
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Middleman - 'Blah Blah Blah'
This isn't out until the beginning of July, and I've no idea if it's going to be a hit or not. But you have to admit, it's pretty good scuzzy pop music, innit? In your FACE, Just Jack!
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Lou - 'The Doctor'
Now, this thing here is amazing for reasons other than the music, or the star quality of the people involved. No, the brilliant thing about this song - which is called 'The Doctor', and is by a lady called Lou - is that up until recently, she was in a band with her idential twin sister (or so I was told by her people).
The story goes that they had a bit of a sisterly falling out, but are both determined to continue with their pop ambitions. So, a compromise has been reached. Lou gets to release this song, her sister gets her own song out in a month or so, and then, when both of them are massively successful, they'll release an album which is half Lou and half twin-sister.
I'm telling you, some marketing/PR person got a brand new Porsche for cooking up a scheme like this.
And the final fun twist is that I Googled "Lou" and "Doctor" to find her website and check the facts (you can tell I couldn't find it, can't you?), and apparently there is a man called Lou Doctor in real life. And he's not a doctor, or a loo, or a loo doctor. Cuh!
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Lavender Diamond - 'Open Your Heart'
If I'm honest, this isn't the band's most brilliant song, and their name is..not great. But they ARE a brilliant band, plus it's the song with the cute video. Roller-skating is clearly NOT one of Becky Diamond's best things ever.
Also, there's something a little bit over-intense about this band's happiness vibe which leapfrogs over the border from 'fun' WAY into 'Cult Member: back away slowly', but don't get too scared, they're probably all very nice people really...I hope...
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More of this kind of wayward genius is available at ±«Óãtv Collective ALL THE TIME, not just when I remember to mention it...
Previous Rummages:
Back Of The Sofa V
Back Of The Sofa IV
Back Of The Sofa III
Back Of The Sofa II
Comments
Reactor Party by S**tdisco, all the Kubichek! singles and The Feast by Enter Shikari are my main not-quite-hits.
oh! sorry, but i just have to ask....is this the JT back who i had a huge argument with all that time ago?
madina lake - house of cards is great btw and that didnt really hit the main stream although it was big if you listen to kerrang etc
This was the Gerard-Way-As-Nutcracker thing, right? I'm the same person.
Really loved the Los Campesinos song. Almost seems new pornographers-ish for a bit, but very much it's own brand. So good, wish something like that could get to number 1!
ah right, well, hello then. where did you vanish off to? you havnt commented for months!
He hasn't much, has he. And Jamie has disappeared lately too hasn't he? Tsk!
Basia Bulat is lovely for a crazy girl.
Right now I'm liking,
Andrew Bird
Keren Ann
I didn't want to get into another argument too soon!
im sorry, i dont want another argument either, but if i belive something ill stand up for it..and you did start the argument
argh, and where did my last comment go from here?! grrr
Song:
Soko- I'll Kill Her
theres this really good song by pencey prep but the problem is i found it on their myspace and the title is too long so it wont fit on so i dont know it! im guessing its called 'trying to espace the inevitable' judging by the amount you can see from the amount it displays when you add it to your profile. anyway, you can hear it for yourself by clicking on........... www.myspace.com/penceyprep
I think the lavender diamond song is in an ad, but i cant remember which