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It's that song again...

Bryan Burnett | 19:58 UK time, Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Something happens to me at least once in every show. I play a song that gets me thinking about how overplayed it is and am I doing our audience a disservice by giving it another spin when I could be playing some unheard gem instead. Then, when I play it it dawns on me why it's played so much. I want to get a list going of the songs that get played all the time, but still move you in some way every time.
I know there's a fair amount of groaning comes from the blog when the overly familiar opening notes of 500 Miles or Bohemian Rhapsody come on the radio, but there must be a reason why people want to hear them again and again. So what are the ones that do it for you? If you think they are overplayed then think again....

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    I did say I was gonna be positive this week so......well done Bryan for setting me the biggest challenge yet!

  • Comment number 2.

    Don't stop believing / Journey
    I think its safe to say it comes into the overplayed category but I still like it.
    Probably cos I liked it 30 years ago when noone else did.
    I thought it rather bizarre it took off all those many moons later.

    And the fact that Cowell wanted to use it for his winning karaoke song and was told to get tae was also ok by me.

  • Comment number 3.

    Anf if you're gonna play bohemian rhapsody can we have the Fugees version for a change














    or the Rolf harris one

  • Comment number 4.

    #2

    Paolo,

    You like it because it sounds similar to Bob Seger. Me too.

    >8-D

  • Comment number 5.

    WEDNESDAY


    Bob Harris seems to think this is the only song Tull ever recorded. But it's a joy to hear every single time.

    'Life is a Long Song' - Jethro Tull

  • Comment number 6.

    WEDNESDAY


    Billy Rankin seems to think this is the only song Tull ever recorded. But it's a joy to hear every single time.

    'Locomotive Breath' - Jethro Tull

  • Comment number 7.

    WEDNESDAY


    Richard Murdoch seems to think this is the only song Tull ever recorded. But it's a joy to hear every single time.

    'Living in the Past' - Jethro Tull

    >8-D

  • Comment number 8.

    Frankie Miller has recorded many fine songs, presently being revisited on the iPod, but of course the one most played is not his own

    Caledonia - Frankie Miller

    is there any chance once this lot's out the way, of having the unheard gems given their own show? In the interests of balance of course.

  • Comment number 9.

    I second that emotion Gaie

  • Comment number 10.

    #3

    There are absolutely no circumstances in which it is appropriate to play any version of Bohemian Rhapsody - except perhaps The Muppets version.

    It is unquestionably the worst record ever made.I just plain hate it. I have hated it from the moment Emperor Rosco played it on his new releases show one Friday evening in the autumn of 1975. Incredibly, he played Springstein's 'Born To Run' almost immediately thereafter.

    I felt certain I'd just heard a monster number one - but to my shock and surprise, it was the operatic pastiche mince wot done it, proof that the record buying public's taste is firmly in it's mouth.

    When I think of all the things that never get played, I have difficulty with this theme - but I'll think of something.

    As predicted, Moorcheeba and Judy Tzuke didn't make it again - I had to go to the fiery dragon's funeral today and didn't have time to drop a copy off to Pacific Quay.

    Maybe it wouldn't have mattered.

    regardez youse

    henri

  • Comment number 11.

    but there must be a reason why people want to hear them again and again

    CHURN! CHURN! CHURN! ~ T. Byrds

  • Comment number 12.

    as time goes by / Dooley Wilson

    Play it again Sam





    Aye I know he never actually said that but it's on theme

  • Comment number 13.

    'Honky Tonk Woman'

    Sorry ... Never get tired

  • Comment number 14.

    It's the same old song / KC & the Sunshine Band

  • Comment number 15.

    Stop me (If you've heard it all before) / Billy Ocean

  • Comment number 16.

    Rainbow - 'Since You've Been Gone'

  • Comment number 17.

    I really do like / am sick off:

    Waterboys / Whole of the Moon
    Bowie / Life on Mars
    The Boss / Hungry Heart
    The Clash / London Calling
    Jackson Broon / Stay
    Lou Reed / Walk On The Wild Side

  • Comment number 18.

    'Cold as Ice' ~ Foreigner
    'Ain't seen nothin yet' ~ BTO
    'More than a Feeling' ~ Boston
    'Africa' ~ Toto

    also seem to fit the snuggly ...

  • Comment number 19.

    Went online to a well known download store to look for a track I wanted 'Baby I'm yours' by Linda Lewis only to find that it was available on album only and I would need to buy the album. Fortunately the album was a soul compilation for £4.49 for 60 classic tracks, all original recordings . Ok i had over450 of them but still cracking value. And i'd forgotton how good gene Chandler 'Does she have a friend for me' was. Good buy for any soulsters out there.

  • Comment number 20.

    450=40

  • Comment number 21.

    #20

    could you put down your working please so we can see how you did it.

    Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival

    Uprising - Muse

    Get Ready - Temptations



  • Comment number 22.

    #10 there's a difference between (did I get that right, GM?) not liking something and something being rubbish. It's all about subjectivity and ..err.. another brand of the same. Just with more folks on one side. Or the other.
    So - whilst some of us may appreciate why you don't like it - it doesn't amount to us accepting it's not good. YOYO there, henri. Totally disagreeing with you. ;o)

    If I ask for The Eagles now Hotel California it's not only because I'm extremely unoriginal in my requests, it's also because I'm extremely unoriginal AND think it's not in the least bit underplayed. There's something for everyone, if you care to listen and take in the LA psychobabble that does, in some distorted way, have something to say about STUFF. see they flowers in ma hair? they're all well preserved.

  • Comment number 23.

    I note that Mr Miller has been rendered speechless

  • Comment number 24.














    DC

  • Comment number 25.

    #22

    Yep, I see what you mean,MD. And you're quite right:-)). I stopped short of saying it was rubbish in case I offending anyone's preferences.

    That notwithstanding, Bohemian Rhapsody remains utterly loathsome and the worst record ever made.

    Even 'Dignity' is better, it's a good tune with duff lyrics whereas Bohemian Rhapsody has no redeeming features at all - most particularly because it's completely humourless -they take it so seriously, like it was a great work of art when in fact it's three bits of nonsense pastiche thrown together.

    If 10CC had made that we could all have joined in the fun.

    regardez youse

    henri

  • Comment number 26.

    Born to run - Springsteen
    Sweet home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
    Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones
    This year's love - David Gray
    Lido shuffle - Boz Scaggs
    White winter hymnal - Fleet Foxes
    Heroes - Bowie
    One day like this - Elbow
    Fix you - Coldplay
    Superstition - Stevie Wonder
    Midnight train to Georgia - Gladys Knight and the Pips
    Run - Snow Patrol
    Use somebody - Kings of Leon
    Read my mind - The Killers
    Strangers in the night - Sinatra
    Dance the night away - The Mavericks
    Ring of fire - J Cash

    Joe
    Linlithgow

  • Comment number 27.

    Human League - 'Love Action'

  • Comment number 28.

    Captain Raimus must hae the definitive list. He should just send in the top 23 and be done with it






  • Comment number 29.

    Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes

  • Comment number 30.

    #29 How very dare you Juliefromedinburgh!

  • Comment number 31.

    Give it Up - KC and the Sunshine Band
    Tragedy - Bee Gees
    Love Train - O Jays
    Feel the Need - Detroit Emeralds
    Give Me Just A Little More Time - Chairman of the Board

  • Comment number 32.

    And here was me leaving:

    Showaddywaddy / Under The Moon of Love

  • Comment number 33.

    WEDNESDAY


    'Kashmir' - Led Zeppelin

    'There's No Lights on the Xmas Tree, Mother, They're Burning Big Louie Tonight' - SAHB

  • Comment number 34.

    Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

    Long Train Running - Doobies

    Layla - Derek & the Dominoes


    Paul from Ayr

  • Comment number 35.

    We haven't had the Proclaimers on Get It On in ages!

    Sunshine on Leith please!



    DC (going sailing tonight so unfortunately won't hear the show)

  • Comment number 36.

    The usual suspects we can hear any night. I reckon these ones are worthy of at least one more play:

    Big Audio Dynamite - E=MC2

    Heaven 17 - Temptation

    The Teardrop Explodes - Reward


  • Comment number 37.

    Previously on the blog....

  • Comment number 38.

    Look for #25

  • Comment number 39.

    I need clarification on tomorrow's theme. Is it Christmas songs? Is it re-releases? Is it cover versions? I need to be telt!

    :o)

  • Comment number 40.

    Especially after getting last night's theme wrong again.

    ;o)

  • Comment number 41.


    I Can't Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt

    Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel

    Sylvia's Mother - Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show

    Paradise By The Dashboard Light - Meat Loaf & Ellen Foley

    :o)

  • Comment number 42.

    two of the greatest pop songs ever to escape from the silvery banks o' the tay......

    'mary's prayer'....................danny wilson

    'beanoland'................deacon blue

    i'll bet nobody switches off the radio when they hear these two songs

    a theme...........songs by band/singer that are about the place the band/singer is from.

    cheers frae the dale

  • Comment number 43.


    #28 - DC - Follow the link on #37 then look for #63

    ;o)

  • Comment number 44.


    #42 - dale_kelvin - What a brilliant idea!

    :o)


    Back To Bradford -

    ;o)

  • Comment number 45.

    Why is Willie Bartke The Genius asking for songs on email instead of the blog? I should be telt!

    ;o)

  • Comment number 46.

    #44 @ ya senga.........cheers.........

    this is total bliss and makes me want to visit not just sheffield but every 'coles corners' in the country..........

    'coles corner'...............richard hawley (would also suit tonites programme)

    cheers frae the dale

  • Comment number 47.

    @ dale kelvin - Lou Reed, New York

  • Comment number 48.

    Good news Glen! The theme has changed! It is now "timeless classic". Any better?

  • Comment number 49.

    Greensleeves - Henry VIII

  • Comment number 50.


    She wouldn't have a Willie or a Sam

    ;o)

  • Comment number 51.

    #48

    50 posts in and they change the theme !! Where did you see that Norrie?
    Sheesh, what a week.

  • Comment number 52.

    Thats the facebook listing:

    "What tracks do you never get fed up hearing - the tunes you hear time and again and still love - from the Beatles to the Stones, Stevie Wonder to Dusty Springfield...what's your timeless classic...."

    i.e songs you like. Not songs that are played to death and you are heartliy sick of. I withdraw all my list.

    I add in instaed:

    Always on My Mind - Elvis / Willie / Ryan Adams
    Ashes to Ashes - Bowie
    Sweet Jane - Velvet Underground
    Secret Garden - The Boss
    Sky Blue and Black - Jackson Browne
    All The Young Dudes - Mott

  • Comment number 53.

    #51
    Senga being repsonsible for 20% of them. Thats JfE levels that is.

    :)

  • Comment number 54.

    i always love hearing.............

    'go west'..................pet shop boys................it's upbeat,great tempo seemingly optimistic but it's a strangely poignant song.

    cheers frae the dale

  • Comment number 55.

    I see there's a new all night show. I suppose swapping slots with this programme is out of the question.

  • Comment number 56.

    #52 don't know why it wasn't advertised that way before. I might have looked up my 'most played' list on ayechoons.

    Not that it would have made any difference. They only have half of the Live in Gdansk album at Pacific Quay

    DC

  • Comment number 57.

    * Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison
    * U2 - Pride (In the name of Love)
    * Pink Floyd - Money
    * Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
    * Black Sabbath - Paranoid
    * Cream - Sunshine of Your Love
    * Fairport Convention - Meet on the Ledge
    * Deep Purple - Black Night
    * Janis Joplin - Mercedes Benz
    * Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
    * The Commitments - Mustang Sally
    * Oasis - Rock 'n' Roll Star
    * Slade - Coz I Luv You
    * Bowie - Life on Mars
    * Madness - Our House
    * Rolling Stones - Paint It Black
    * Undertones - Teenage Kicks
    * Blues Brothers - Everybody Needs Someone To Love
    * Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth
    * The Kingsmen - Louie Louie
    * The Crew Cuts - Life Could Be a Dream (Sh-boom)
    * The Shadows - Classical Gas
    * The Jam - That's Entertainment
    * Labi Siffre - It Must Be Love (Madness version also accepted)
    * The Kinks - Lola
    * Right Said Fred - Deeply Dippy
    * James Taylor - Fire and Rain
    * Fairground Attraction - Perfect
    * Free - All Right Now
    * Lou Reed - Perfect Day
    * Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough
    * Martha and the Muffins - Echo Beach
    * Roy Orbison - Crying
    * Toploader - Dancing in the Moonlight
    * Tom Waits - I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love With You
    * Ram Jam - Black Betty
    * The George Baker Selection - Little Green Bag
    * The Specials - Free Nelson Mandela
    * Rod Stewart - Handbags and Gladrags
    * Barenaked Ladies - If I had $1,000,000
    * The Police - Roxanne
    * Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
    * Elvis Costello - Shipbuilding (Robert Wyatt also acceptable)
    * Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper
    * Temptations - Papa was a Rolling Stone
    ...for starters

  • Comment number 58.

    #52

    Damn. Just read this. While most of the above are from my top rated/most played playlist, it was heavily cleansed through the filter of overt populism.

  • Comment number 59.

    oh that is a totally different theme.

    I withdraw Caledonia and replace it with

    Love Letters - Frankie Miller, as if that's going to get played hahaha
    Cellar of Dreams - The Silencers ditto
    Refugee - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

    and

    Stop Messin' Round - Fleetwood Mac

    for the folks who write the theme 'guidelines'




  • Comment number 60.

    One track I listen to again and again yet still marvel at the quality of the acoustic guitar playing:

    New Faces - The Rolling Stones

    DC

  • Comment number 61.

    Romeo & Juliet - Dire Straits
    Walking In Memphis - Marc Cohn
    12 Reasons Why I Love Her - My Life Story
    Breakfast At Tiffanys - Deep Blue Something
    Patience Of Angels - Eddi Reader
    Stacy's Mom - Fountains Of Wayne
    Dolphins Make Me Cry - Martyn Joseph
    You've Got The Power - Win
    Portions For Foxes - Rilo Kiley
    Obscurity Knocks - Trash Can Sinatras

  • Comment number 62.

    Brilliant lists el capitano and elspethspa

  • Comment number 63.

    OK, my most listened to tracks (according to last.fm stats since Feb 2006) are:

    * Clannad & Bono –
    * Capercaillie – (If I Ever Go Again)
    * Cocteau Twins –
    * Sandy Denny –
    * Richard Thompson And Mary Black –
    * Miles Davis –
    * Elbow –
    * Fairport Convention –
    * Van Morrison – Before The World Was Made
    * Sinéad Lohan – The Fish
    * Sheryl Crow –
    * Neil Young –
    * Nick Drake –
    * Pink Floyd –
    * Charles Trenet –

  • Comment number 64.

    #45,Senga,I email on a regular basis,just dont always get a mention and it seems only good manners to address our glorious leader"in person"from time to time!Regarding overplayed songs you dont seem to get sick of,Old Motown or Phil Spector stuff always does the trick for me.The opening drums on both the Ronettes "Be My Baby" and Martha and the Vandellas"Dancing in the Street"get me rockin!Joni's "Help Me"and Steely Dan's"Do it Again"remind me of my "loonpants and cheesecloth shirt"days.I suppose memories have a lot to do with irrational liking for old and overplayed chestnuts!Cheers Willie Bartke

  • Comment number 65.

    Theme suggestion

    Songs cOvered in episodes of Glee

  • Comment number 66.

    Theme suggestion

    Recorded at.....

    So Abbey Road, Record Plant, Trident Studios, Muscle Shoals etc

  • Comment number 67.

    Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen.
    Jeff Buckley, John Cale, Rufus Wainwright, KD Lang, to name just a few, have all done a cover of this brilliant song? It's also featured on The West Wing, Cold Case and Shrek but I never get tired of it.

  • Comment number 68.

    #65

    Careful Norrie, there's stuff like F B Gs in there......

  • Comment number 69.

    #65

    Norrie,

    What's a Glee?

  • Comment number 70.

    #68 you turned into Capn/Glen??

  • Comment number 71.

    #69. Glees were wee purple sweeties

  • Comment number 72.

    #59

    Gaie,

    This is Bryan's favourite wind-up. Usually Pablo or Adam is cast as the victim.

    Don't take it personally.












    ...unless you really, really want to...

  • Comment number 73.

    Delighted to hear Gaie got her wish.

  • Comment number 74.

    Haha, I know, and no, I don't take it personally - they seemed to be having a go at a few of us this evening - Locomotive Breath, Dignity played after mentioning Henri, Norrie getting thrown off the blog for suggesting the Glee theme - yep, have-a-go at bloggers night tonight. I guess we can't complain, given the amount of time we spend doing the same.

    In any case I'd rather hear Frankie than not at all

  • Comment number 75.

    mind you I didn't hear mention of the second part of that post, Unheard Gems night... daresay it'll be coming up soon?

  • Comment number 76.

    and now I've got to spend an hour on the phone having a gaelic tutorial. Oh my aching head, just when I was so looking forward to thinking up songs that have been in the charts so often we've heard them over and over and over - or did we just do that? I'm so confused.

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