❌Monthly Song Challenge: Archived🎵

Day 2: A song that was a gateway to a lot of the music you currently enjoy
it's past midnight, okay!

Some of you might have picked up on this by now; I like a lot of different genres. Anything goes. There are diamonds in every type of music. Most of it, the punk, the metal, the rock n' roll comes from dad and I can't remember a particular song that brought into the genre. I just went with whatever he played for me.

But a genre that I've discovered on my own, rather recently, is Vaporwave. It's supposed to be the neon and pastel of the '80s distilled into music. It's the soundtrack of driving down the high-way next to the beach in your pink cabriolet, wind in your hair and friends in the back seat.

It's what I listen to when working out, it makes me happy and gets the endorphins running 🥰

Saffari - Body Talk

 
Day 1: A song that once you hear it, it will be stuck in your head all day

Stays stuck in my head all day -- but in the best way possible!

She had rings on her fingers and bells on her shoes
And I knew, without askin', she was into the blues
She wore scarlet begonias tucked into her curls
I knew right away she was not like other girls, other girls

 
Day 2: A song that was a gateway to a lot of the music you currently enjoy

I don't think I have posted this song before. I remember playing with my father's mini Casio keyboard recorder trying to recreate the instrumental bridge part. Love 80's pop music. It is my happy place and has influenced what I listen to today for sure.

Take On Me - A-ha

 
Day 2: A song that was a gateway to a lot of the music you currently enjoy

Growing up, the music that surrounded me was dance/happy hardcore/rave etc but this was one of the first songs that introduced me to rap/hip hop. Was a complete contrast in culture/aesthetics and so new, fun and exciting..

 
Day 2: A song that was a gateway to a lot of the music you currently enjoy
I played French horn in the high school band more for the social aspect than for any talent or interest in classical music. But getting to blast through "The Planets" was some of the most fun I ever had. It turned my whole attitude toward classical music around.
"Mars" - Gustav Holst
 
Day 2: A song that was a gateway to a lot of the music you currently enjoy

I could go on for pages about Big Star, but I won't bore you. They should have been huge -- the reviews for #1 Record were glowing. But their record label fell apart, and Columbia, who agreed to distribute them, decided they were too much competition to their own artists, so instead of getting records on shelves, they actively hunted down and destroyed copies. And it got more complicated from there.

But listen to this. This is from 1974. It could easily be from 2024. Big Star was the favorite band of your favorite band. Hell, they inspired us to form a garage band in high school. They were one of the foundations of modern alternative rock, and most people who know their name heard it from a Replacements song praising them. A true unknown pioneer.

This is a brilliant song from their second album, which also got screwed over (I think they all pissed off a bunch of fairies as children. Fucking up a fairy ring is my theory. It is the only thing that makes sense), Radio City. It is a classic "Boy Loves Girl, Girl is Amused By It And Will Sometimes Have Sex With Him" song. You know, that old standard.

"September girls do so much
I was your Butch, and you were touched
I loved you...
Well, never mind
I've been crying all the time

December boys got it bad."

This is almost perfect power pop, a pure, perfect moment of love and longing and disappointment. There is a venom there, but diluted by tenderness. I love this song for so many reasons, and it opened up a world of love for music. I never go far without a little Big Star...

"September Gurls," Big Star.

(I loved you...well, never mind...)
 
Day 2: A song that was a gateway to a lot of the music you currently enjoy

Oooh! @morelikeasong is really making us think this month! :)

I think the reason Bowie is my favorite artist is because he is so influential. Nearly all the music I listen to has been influenced, either directly or indirectly, by his genius. Hard to pick a single song, so I'll go with my favorite:

 
Day 2: A song that was a gateway to a lot of the music you currently enjoy

My music tastes are sort of scattered here, there, and nearly everywhere. For example, I somehow found myself listening to Russian Orthodox chants last night apropos of nothing. As for today, I didn't know if I wanted to go in the direction of new wave or jazz. Decisions, decisions...so here's a 98 year old recording 🥰 It's fanciful, but I like to imagine I was also listening to this stuff in a past life.

Jelly Roll Morton - Black Bottom Stomp
 
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