Song of The Day #8 - Neil Young - 'Philadelphia'

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"Hi! Just so you know - I go mouldy within three minutes of being opened."

In 1993, 'Philadelphia' director Jonathan Demme asked songwriting giants Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young to write a song each to be featured on the OST of his groundbreaking film. Now for me, that's a pretty tough gig. To give you a bit of context here in case you live under a multitude of rocks, the film's about a guy (Tom Hanks) who sues a law firm for unfair dismissal and was one of the first major motion pictures to tackle AIDS discrimination. In short, it ain't exactly squirting a quick pop song out to accompany 'Finding Nemo' or whatever. Neil and Bruce approached this task in totally different ways yet both got similarly stunning results. That's why they're both bosses. Neil, however, won out.

Neil Young - 'Philadelphia'


HD video is for pussies.

I'd like to quantify that statement up there a little further actually. The Springsteen song from this film, 'Streets of Philadelphia' is amazing as well. Please don't get that twisted. It's just this song from old shakey here is a stone cold wounder. It's just so delicate, so unsure of itself in its beauty. It assumes nothing and doesn't ask for much more. I've played it seven times in a row now and each time I've heard a new favourite part. I've now settled on the very start when the main piano part comes in after the sweeping 'Phhillaadeeellphhhiaaaaa...'. That piano can roll on forever as far as I'm concerned.

Obviously that video of Neil up there is a live take. You should've guessed that by the fact that its taken from an awards ceremony with an audience and tuxedoes and is introduced by Johnny Depp, you idiot. Still, I think it kinda suits. It's clearly ripped from a VCR which is cool with me. Songs like this weren't made to downloaded as FLAC files from iTunes and played through your HD stereo system you "hi fidelity" geek.

City of brotherly love
Place I call home
Don't turn your back on me

Song of The Day #7 - Elton John - 'I Want Love'

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Actually no holds barred old.

"ELTON JOHN?! Elton....John...As in that guy that would look like a proper old man (as in OAP) if you stripped him of his ridiculous wig and even more ridiculous sunglasses?...you mean *That* guy?" "Yeah, that Elton John." "Elton John though?! That guy who says something a bit edgy/shocking about whoever happens to be getting column inches on a certain day now and then to stay in the news - that guy?" Yeah, that guy. "And the song your posting isn't even one of those good old ones like 'Rocket Man' and shit?" Nah, it's a sort of new song.

Enough of that already. Elton John released in an album in 2002 called 'Songs From The West Coast' that no one apart from me liked. It got little press at its time of release (aside for the star turns of Robert Downey Jr. and Justin Timberlake in the videos of the accompanying singles) and I'm utterly damned if I've heard anyone mention it since but, yeah, I still listen to it all the time. The two leading singles from the record were good old piano ballads about wanting love and rueful reflections on times that have passed and I'd be lying if I was to say those aren't central themes of the majority of the record but yeah, put all your predjudices to one side, forget about that possum wig and listen to the man. He's got and always had a great great voice. TOP TIP: Just try not to picture his face as he's singing.

'I Want Love' is a beautiful song and the choice of Downey Jr as the star and subject of this video is an inspired choice. I'm all over this MOR piano shit.

Elton John - 'I Want Love'

Cheer up Robert. Everyone likes that film of yours - 'Iron Man' - despite me thinking it was SHIT.

I want love, but it's impossible

A man like me, so irresponsible

Song of The Day #6 - Ciara - 'Oh'

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Ciara, after going to the gym presumably.

Before you say it, yes, I do listen to current music too. Please try and remember that there are a lot of days in the month of April (30 if you must know) so I'm trying to keep the latest next level shit for later in the month when both my and your interest in this ridiculous 'Song of The Day' proposition is seriously on the wane rooney. Why have I chosen this song? This song quite simply does the classic chart R&B turn of smooth female verse/guest male rapper spot better than any other I can recall. That's why.

Ciara - 'Oh'

Turn it up and make the speakers bleed.

Released in 2005, 'Oh' is a song I've returned to time and time again since. It sees three artists at the top of their respective games who, if we're being brutally honest, only went one way after this single. Just at different speeds. Ciara, whilst never a one hit wonder ('Goodies', '2 Step') never topped this song. Ludacris, back then, was the best rent-a-verse commercial rapper in the game. Finally, producers Dre & Vidal make this song with that smooth southern beat that they never got anywhere near matching at any other point in their career(s). Everything in its right place. I still find it utterly exhilarating when Ludacris' self-shoutouts give way to that first line of his "Southerrrn styyyle, get willlddd, old skkool comin' downnn in a differrrunnt colour whip whip whip." and I'm quite positive I always will.

They got that southern cookin'
They got them fellas lookin'
Thinkin' I was easy I can see it
That's when I say no, what fo'?

Song of The Day #5 - Johnny Cash - 'God's Gonna Cut You Down'

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Some people you don't mess with.

I visited the Grand Canyon four years ago and it left, like it always does, quite an impression on me. It's enormous, imposing, encompassing, otherworldly. It's many things like that. Not too long after that visit I was listening to Johnny Cash and thought similair things. Cash is one of those artists that is sewn into the very fabric of America. He's someone millions can identify with for different reasons. He's huge, he's the Grand Canyon.

Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down

This video got a fair bit of press on its release due to the multitude of stars it features. If you haven't seen it, I mean actual stars there by the way. Rick Rubin, Jay-Z, Keith Richards. Proper heroes like. It's filmed as a stop start motion that works really well with the montage of famous faces. More than that though, the song resonates a lot louder than all these mugs you see adorning your papers and magazines on a daily basis. This song is a rumble from the earth. If anything , this song sounds like it is sung by God himself. This thing strikes fear into all wrongdoers so you all better know who you are.

Song of The Day #4 - Eels - 'Grace Kelly Blues'

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More Grace than (R) Kelly.

There's always a different reason why I pick the track that will feature on here as 'Song of the day'. Some bang (K.R.I.T yesterday), some are sweet (The Elected on Friday) and some just do something to me that I can't put my finger on and that's Eels today. See I was just scanning through my iTunes library trying to find something particularly standout and although there's some great music on there, nothing was really offering much resistance to my grubby little digit hitting that shuffle button. Then I saw 'Grace Kelly Blues'. Now I use to be an enormous Eels fan in my youth. ENORMOUS. In fact, buying 'Beautiful Freak' was a massive moment for me as it's the first proper album I can remember having on cassette. By 'proper' there, I mean I've conveniently forgotten a whole truckload of shit I got before that record. BF was the first good album I bought at the age of about 12. That's what I really mean. So alt man, just so alt.

Eels - 'Grace Kelly Blues'

The kid in the mall works that hot dog on the stick.

I mainly dig this song because it's really nice to drift away too. And there's a viola. And a marching band. And it was the first song to be released following the boldly beautiful yet strikingly bleak 'Electro Shock Blues'. I particularly dig how that grandiose funeral opening melts away for E to come in in with that voice of his. A voice which is made for cliche music writing where you basically say plenty of synonyms for words like "weathered" and "worn". To me, it's just great and sounds like an old friend that's been through some tough times and come out the other side.

But me I'm feeling pretty good as of now
I'm not so sure when I got here or how
Sun melt in the fake smile away
I think, you know, I'll be okay.

Song of The Day #3 - Big K.R.I.T. - 'Tell Me Different'

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King Revealed.

Big K.R.I.T. is finally getting some recognition. Several solid mixtapes and numerous killer guest spots have taken K.R.I.T. from unsigned outsider to XXL freshman in double quick time and whilst that all sounds pretty impressive, it's important to remember that jokers like Lil B are part of the freshman class this year too. To put that record straight, K.R.I.T. owns every single one of the other freshman this year over and over again. If they're freshman, this guy has already finished his PhD.

Big K.R.I.T. - 'Tell Me Different'

Play yo' iPod and don't say shit.

'Tell Me Different' displays K.R.I.T.'s best characteristics well. It's clever, sharp and so accomplished it really sounds like it has been cut by a seasoned pro. It's an obvious and oft observation to make but this could be Pimp C or one of them OG's on this thing right here. K.R.I.T's going put the hip hop game in the chokehold this year like 50 threatened to ten years ago now. Thing is, he means it. King Revealed In Time indeed.

C'mon, who's gon' tell him different?

Go get you a singing hook
a beat with an 808
some "ays"
and some "ohs"
and that's all it takes

Song of The Day #2 - Calexico - Guns of Brixton

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All guns blazing.

Guess what? Well, I'm already wishing I hadn't entered this competition to write on here every day. Quelle surprise. Wanna know why? Here's why. I was planning to write this post at home but then at the last minute plans changed and I'm now at a friends for some drinks. Imagine that for a second if you could. So, I get around here and start drinking with a couple of bros. I then recall having to make this post and say "can I borrow your laptop to post on my blog please?" This isn't what bros were expecting me to say but nevertheless they give me the laptop. So they're drinking and im blogging. Essentially, I'm the guy at the hardcore orgy who gets a Rubik's cube out and starts trying to furiously solve.

Calexico - 'Guns of Brixton'

Goodbye to Brixton sun.

Today's song, it doesn't take a genius to know, is a cover. It's an incredibly famous song by The Clash and that's why I love this version so much. Calexico have completely reimagined this tune and coated it in dust and wire like only the can. The lead vocal is astounding and is delivered in a way that sounds so defiant it's very difficult not to be stirred by it. Songs like this really will not back down. When the verse below is delivered and your left with that question, you know that there really isn't any choice.

When they kick out your front doors
How you gonna come?
With your hands on your head
Or on the trigger of your gun?