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Best British Song since 1977?


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Old 04-01-2005, 10:18
Marrows
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Weird shortlist. No Radiohead???

Anyway - I'd like to see 'Unfinished Sympathy' by Massive Attack take the title.

Here's the list for those who don't know...

‘Heroes’ David Bowie
‘We Are The Champions’ Queen
‘Wuthering Heights’ Kate Bush
‘Night Fever’ Bee Gees
‘London Calling’ The Clash
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ Joy Division
‘That's Entertainment’ The Jam
‘I Don't Want To Talk About It’ Rod Stewart
‘Look of Love’ ABC
‘Golden Brown’ The Stranglers
‘True’ Spandau Ballet
‘Careless Whisper’ George Michael
‘Holding Back The Year’ Simply Red
‘Sledgehammer’ Peter Gabriel
‘Sacrifice’ Elton John
‘Unfinished Sympathy’ Massive Attack
‘Why’ Annie Lennox
‘Fields of Gold’ Sting
‘Kiss From A Rose’ Seal
‘Wonderwall’ Oasis
‘Angels’ Robbie Williams
‘Yellow’ Coldplay
‘Babylon’ David Gray
‘Leave Right Now’, Will Young
‘Dry Your Eyes’ The Streets
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Old 04-01-2005, 14:52
iain
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Originally Posted by Marrows
Weird shortlist. No Radiohead???

‘Heroes’ David Bowie
‘Wuthering Heights’ Kate Bush
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ Joy Division
‘Unfinished Sympathy’ Massive Attack
‘Wonderwall’ Oasis
‘Dry Your Eyes’ The Streets
i'd get it down to any of the above.

or "fake plastic trees" obviously.

Iain
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Old 04-01-2005, 15:12
Eraserhead
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Where does this list come from?

Not bad, I suppose, but I'd like to have seen something from the Smiths in there, probably "What Difference Does it Make". And I agree with Radiohead, but I'd put "Street Spirit" in.

And being an indie saddo, I'd include "Pearly Dewdrop's Drops" by the Cocteau Twins and "Soon" by My Bloody Valentine as well.
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Old 04-01-2005, 15:38
Marrows
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It's something to do with the Brit Awards - you can read the article here... but this is the main bit:

Originally Posted by NME
David Bowie, The Clash, Oasis, Coldplay and The Streets are amongst 25 acts vying for a new award in this year’s Brits ceremony that will crown the best British song since 1977.

The list of 25 was unveiled today (January 2) and it will be whittled down to five by listeners to BBC Radio 2. The five will be revealed on January 10 when the Brits nominations are announced. The ceremony is held on February 20.

The award has been introduced to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Brit awards.
'Street Spirit' would have to be my Radiohead choice too. I'm shocked there is no Smiths tracks, and I'd have thought Pulp and Portishead may have had a look in too.

I dread to think who came up with the original list of 25 - it's certainly a mixed bag (and not particularly imaginative).
Getting BBC2 listeners to vote on such a limited selection of tracks is a little bit insulting.

Is this the best Britain has to offer?!?!?! Still - at least Busted aren't included...

Last edited by Marrows : 04-01-2005 at 15:41. Reason: Felt like it
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Old 04-01-2005, 15:55
chris chow
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"maritime city" by Tramway
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Old 04-01-2005, 16:02
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Yet another pointless award. To me its a ridiculous list but its to be expected since its to do with the Brit Awards. I think every time I've heard of a poll like this, the public always seems to vote Bohemian Rhapsody as their favourite song so I'm surprised they haven't put that on the list.

I'm fully expecting Robbie Williams to win and make a mockery of the whole thing as with the UK Music Hall Of Fame....
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Old 04-01-2005, 16:08
ianpetchey
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Bohemian Rhapsody was 1975...
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Old 04-01-2005, 16:22
kimindex
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Strange indeed and, I agree, to have no Radiohead is odd. Mine would be the Bends or Karma Police or Paranoid Android. It looks more like a pop list really with a few additions for credibility. And no Smiths is bizarre too as has already been said. I don't like that Jam song as much as others and no Frankie Goes to Hollywood?

Out of that list, I would definitely choose Unfinished Sympathy.
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Old 04-01-2005, 16:22
afcbfan
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From that list, 'Wuthering Heights'.

With these sorts of lists they shouldn't include anything from the last five years, as a record has to pass the test of time to be called great.
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Old 04-01-2005, 16:41
delgado
 
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Originally Posted by ianpetchey
Bohemian Rhapsody was 1975...
OK, good point . What about 'Don't Stop Me Now'?, that would have been better than 'We Are The Champions'.

Jeez, that list is crap.....
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Old 04-01-2005, 16:56
kimindex
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Or Barcelona
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Old 04-01-2005, 17:36
Ian Cleverly
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I'd vote for Massive Attack's "Unfinished Sympathy" as well, it's so emotive.
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Old 04-01-2005, 18:47
iain
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Originally Posted by afcbfan
From that list, 'Wuthering Heights'.

With these sorts of lists they shouldn't include anything from the last five years, as a record has to pass the test of time to be called great.
from a quick look, is it one song a year since 1977?

i agree about the test of time thing tho'.

i think "dry your eyes" probably will tho'.

Iain

Last edited by iain : 04-01-2005 at 19:02.
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Old 04-01-2005, 19:20
cybergirl3
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Robbie is very likely to win it (Love him or hate him; that song will out live him). My personal choices are ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Night Fever’ .
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Old 04-01-2005, 21:33
AndyM
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'London Calling' obviously...no contest
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Old 04-01-2005, 22:20
avfc82
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Why are The Streets even there, have i missed something? Why do people think they are such a great influence? All they do is talk over music and they are considered a great group, why???
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Old 05-01-2005, 08:56
iain
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Originally Posted by avfc82
Why are The Streets even there, have i missed something? Why do people think they are such a great influence? All they do is talk over music and they are considered a great group, why???
because Mike Skinner is a poet and a genius.

its hardly just talking over music. you may as well ask whats so great about the others. all they do is sing a bit over a bit of music.

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Old 05-01-2005, 08:58
Dan27
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My Radiohead choice? Paranoid Android.
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Old 05-01-2005, 10:48
Marrows
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According to The Sun, Virgin listeners (that's listeners of Virgin Radio, not listeners who happen to be virgins) have come up with an alternative list... (read all about it here). The Sun being SUCH a great paper managed to only list 22 (duh!).

Personally, I appreciate this list more than the official list.

Oliver’s Army - Elvis Costello (1979)
Cool For Cats - Squeeze (1979)
Another Brick In The Wall - Pink Floyd (1979)
Going Underground - The Jam (1980)
Ashes To Ashes - David Bowie (1980)
Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits (1981)
Vienna - Ultravox (1981)
Ghost Town - The Specials (1981)
Tainted Love - Soft Cell (1981)
Don’t You Want Me - Human League (1981)
It Must Be Love - Madness (1981)
Golden Brown - Stranglers (1982)
Come On Eileen - Dexy’s Midnight Runners (1982)
Should I Stay Or Should I Go - The Clash (1982)
Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics (1983)
Blue Monday - New Order (1983)
Every Breath You Take - The Police (1983)
The Love Cats - The Cure (1983)
Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1983)
A Kind of Magic - Queen (1986)
Wonderwall - Oasis (1995)
Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve (1997)
Angels - Robbie Williams
Babylon - David Gray

Human League - fabulous choice! This is in my opinion one of very few PERFECT pop songs. I'm also prefering Bowie's 'Ashes to Ashes' choice than 'Heroes'.

Last edited by Marrows : 05-01-2005 at 10:54. Reason: The Sun can't count...
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Old 05-01-2005, 12:08
Inkblot
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Originally Posted by Marrows
‘I Don't Want To Talk About It’ Rod Stewart
I reckon this is by far the best song on the list (Dry Your Eyes is fantastic but not really a song) but surely it's not eligible?

It was written by an American, Danny Whitten of Neil Young's band Crazy Horse, whose death from an overdose in 1972 prompted Young to make the Tonight's The Night album. So it's not British and it's not "since 1977".

In a way I hope it wins because it's such a beautiful song, but there are plenty of great British songwriters who deserve to win.
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Old 06-01-2005, 19:31
Chuffy
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My choice from the original post would be Massive Attack's 'Unfinished Sympathy' whereas my choice from Marrow's list (Post number 19) would be The Clash - 'Should I stay or should I go'.

Others have posted their favourite Radiohead song, so here's mine - The Bends.

I don't understand why 'Fields of Gold' by Sting is in the original list and nothing by The Police. Sting's solo music is very poor in comparison to his work with The Police.

Eraserhead (post number 3) mentioned being an 'indie saddo'. So am I and as a result, my favourite single since 1977 is 'Taste' by Ride (1990 Creation Records).
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Old 06-01-2005, 23:12
Ash_735
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If Dry Your Eyes by The Streets Wins it, then it must be some kind of a joke!, no offence to any1 who likes it, but its a crap song, too overrated, was played all the time on the radio, and, once again, Its CRAP!, other stuff on there is good (not really sure about will young, but its alot better than the streets)
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Old 07-01-2005, 00:07
Quickfade
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What a useless shortlist. Definitely like Massive Attack to win out of the original lot, but some very strange omissions. (I would have put in Radiohead's Creep or Fake Plastic Trees.)

Looking at the second list, I can't believe Ultravox is in there. Vienna has to be one of the songs I hate the most... I don't understand why people rate it so highly. Strange.
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