Most of the time for us journalists in independent media is spent digging in the rubbish and smelling the stench of decay. But sometimes you have to let your hair down and enjoy yourself.
For my part, I have few hobbies to lean on. But all my life I’ve loved football (soccer) and music. I already write a few lines about football from time to time, and I’ve also written a few articles about music.
But now I got this ridiculous idea: How about making a little playlist for Friday? If it’s well-received, I’ll repeat the exercise when time permits. If not, then I haven’t wasted much time on this.
England in my heart, This Sceptred Isle
I have to start in England, and most graciously extend this to the British Isles. After all, it’s England that has won my heart, both in terms of football and music. England gave us The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, that’s about it. But I have more music gods from this beautiful island, which unfortunately is about to be razed.
The first song is inspired by my love of England and my many visits to London, back when it was a fantastic city. It’s England that I’ve loved all my life. After all, there is no British national football team, except in the Olympics. At least in the 2012 Olympics on home soil.
My childhood heroes were the likes of Kevin Keegan, Robin Hood and Richard the Lionheart. Later I discovered Isaac Newton, Geoffrey Chaucer, James Bond, Churchill and Henry V via Shakespeare. None of these were British, they were English.
It’s true that Churchill was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, but if you’ve read the history of the War of the Spanish Succession, you know that Churchill was English.
Because the war started before the Union became a reality, and it was Churchill’s ancestor John (Duke of Marlborough) who led the English forces. The drinking song For he’s a jolly good fellow is a tribute to the hero, an English version taken from a French song in honour of one of the greatest military geniuses in English history.
But although Marie Antoinette (who didn’t say cake, but brioche) is said to have sung this song to her children, we have to move forward in time.
This is a classic, from what I consider one of the best albums of all time: London Calling by The Clash. The gems come in a row, but here’s the title track from 1979. By the way, a fantastic year for music that I hope our music expert Yan Friis can address. I’m not an expert, just a person who loves music.
British working class and punks
Once I was late for a football training session. The reason? The Police. I have no idea if it was me who had switched on the TV, but the song Walking on the Moon hit me in the face and I couldn’t move.
Then, it wasn’t long before I heard the amazing Message in a Bottle, from the same album.
Guitar, bass and drums at the absolute highest level. Plus beautiful vocals. What more do you really need? I practised for years to learn how to play this song, but never found a bass player who could keep up.
Actually, there was a guy studying at the Music Academy in Trondheim who wanted to play bass in our amateurish student band. But he never managed to play Walking in the Moon, he didn’t understand «off beat», meaning that the rythm started between the beats. So this was a music student with a sibling who had won the Eurovision Song Contest in Norway, that’s all I can reveal.
Just a castaway, an island lost at sea, oh
Another lonely day with no one here but me, oh
More loneliness than any man could bear
Rescue me before I fall into despair, oh
I’ll send an S.O.S to the worldWalked out this morning, I don’t believe what I saw
Hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore
Seems I’m not alone at being alone
Hundred billion castaways, looking for a home
I’ll send an S.O.S to the world
Some hard rock has to be included. In my youth, Iron Maiden and AC/DC were the most popular among us from Skjetten, a suburn close to Oslo. As the picture above shows, I choose the East London band Iron Maiden today, since the band is celebrating 50 years as artists this year. What’s more, Iron Maiden are English, and named after Maggie Thatcher herself, though not as a tribute! After all, AC/DC are mainly from Australia.
To commemorate some fine years in military uniform, I chose the song The Trooper. It’s a blast, and the two-part guitar solos are a pure delight. This is from a concert at Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile in 2011. South Americans can really create an atmosphere at concerts. The song was released in June 1983, almost 42 years ago.
From the lyrics, which are based on the Crimean War, and are appealing to the few of us who still consider ourselves warriors:
You’ll take my life, but I’ll take yours tooYou’ll fire your musket, but I’ll run you throughSo when you’re waiting for the next attackYou’d better stand, there’s no turning backThe bugle sounds, the charge beginsBut on this battlefield, no one winsThe smell of acrid smoke and horses’ breathAs I plunge on into certain deathThe horse, he sweats with fear, we break to runThe mighty roar of the Russian gunsAnd as we race towards the human wallThe screams of pain as my comrades fall
Pure masculine power and energy
But since it’s English music that’s being celebrated today, we need to move down the ditch too. While Iron Maiden is led by a pilot, there’s also Motörhead, led by a bloke who’s unlikely to even be allowed to drive a bus.
Well, this might be a bit much hard rock in a row for some of you, but my god what a song! The Ace of Spades! I saw the band live in Trondheim in the 90s, and went to a party with the guys in the bus afterwards. Incredible things were happening right in front of my eyes, on a level that would be considered classified, but involving beautiful women in their 20s.
Once again, it’s the rhythm, the bass and especially the drummer who is probably approaching a working class hero that impresses. The vocals are brutal and full of energy, I love this song.
I tell you, I’m your man
You win some, lose some
It’s all the same to meThe pleasure is to play
Makes no difference what you say
I don’t share your greed
The only card I need
Is the Ace of Spades
A little more pop and you can relax a little! I love sweet and talented Lily Allen, not for her political opinions, but for her amazing music with lyrics that almost always risked being censored by the BBC.
It’s not fair is one of my favourites.
Oh, I lie here in the wet patch
In the middle of the bed
I’m feeling pretty damn hard done by
I spent ages giving head
Then I remember all the nice things
That you’ve ever said to me
Maybe I’m just overreacting
Maybe you’re the one for me… There’s just one thing
That’s getting in the way
When we go up to bed
You’re just no good
It’s such a shame
I look into your eyes
I want to get to know you
And then you make this noise
And it’s apparent it’s all over
English elegance with visible decay
The English were aggressive and expansive, and the Irish and Scots took notice. That’s why I’m including some songs from my surroundings that have also meant a lot to me.
From Ireland, you can’t overlook the amazing Thin Lizzy and Phil Lynnot, who sadly died far too young. It’s a fitting song for today, when there’s a new sheriff in the White House after all: The boys are back in town
Inclusion? As long as you deliver the goods, you’ll be accepted
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The Cranberries with their fantastic song Zombie must be included, also performed here by a singer who unfortunately died far too early. Here, the vocals elevate the song, aided by beauty, rhythm and energy. Definitely a classic: Zombie!
Note how the vocals start out almost humble and fussy, then suddenly a fierce power and energetic will emerges after a while. A piece of advice for us mere mortals perhaps?
Also note the yodelling inspiration in the song.
Beautiful
But the English weren’t content with winning the world, they wanted to conquer space too! Sure, they failed technically, but musically, the marvellous Electric Light Orchestra were well on their way to success. Even George Harrison of The Beatles thought that Jeff Lynne was Britain’s greatest ever songwriter. I largely agree, and here it’s pure pop and the joy of music that rules, supported by great musicians and a wonderful vocal.
Mr. Blue Skye is probably my favourite, but I choose Telephone Line today, largely because of the video from Wembley, many decades after the song came out. The age difference in the audience gives me hope.
If you have a young boy or girl who wants to be a drummer, tell him or her to study the precision of this song!
Top class!
We’ll probably throw in some Scottish music too. But I’ll go with what the Scots really need: A Letter from America. The Proclaimers may not have been the prettiest, but they could play guitar and sing beautifully, in glorious Scottish.
You have to include the really great ones. For me personally, my childhood was characterised by Pink Floyd. I was 11 years old when The Wall came out in 1979, and I remember every second of the first time I heard the record at my father’s neighbour’s house in Jessheim, 35 miles outside Oslo, our capital.
I remember what the walls looked like, the posters on the wall (naked women in velour) and the ridiculous fishing net on the ceiling. Since I was trying to learn to play the guitar, David Gilmour was a godsend because he played relatively simple but indescribably beautiful music on the strings.
You can pick and choose, but as a young boy there was one clear favourite, the beautiful song Comfortably Numb. Here it’s the guitar that steals the show. PS: I’ve deliberately chosen a clip where the Jew-hating original bassist/composer Roger Waters does not participate.
When it comes to the Rolling Stones, I just pick a song based on the mood of the day. I’ve always liked this song and it was the first thing that came to mind. Start me up.
I want to pay tribute to The Beatles in a special way. This also points to a possible second edition of this thread, where I want to pay tribute to American musicians. Here it’s a light mix.
You’ll probably recognise Tom Petty and the aforementioned Jeff Lynne. In addition, we’ll hear Steve Winwood’s amazing guitar playing, and George Harrison’s son also features in this performance of my personal Beatles favourite, While my Guitar Gently Weeps.
But suddenly Prince himself turns up and steals the show! How many people actually knew how incredibly talented Prince was as a guitarist? Another bunch of dead people are honoured here. Tom Petty died in 2017, George Harrison in 2001, Prince in 2016. The world was immediately poorer.
Since it’s Friday after all, it has to end with an appropriate song. I love The Cure, who formed in 1976 in the small West Sussex town of Crawley, around 45 kilometres south of London.
Crawley today is characterised by mass immigration. 38.2 per cent of the population belonged to a so-called ethnic minority in 2021, the highest level in the whole of West Sussex.
While this isn’t my absolute favourite song by this amazing band, there are few songs better suited to a Friday night than Friday I’m In Love. It was released in May 1992, just after I dropped out of the Air Forces Flying School and headed to Greece for a three-month trip before starting my studies in Trondheim. It was only in Trondheim that I got to hear this little gem.
Life is tiring for many, so why not fall in love on a Friday? There are opportunities here for both happiness and, not least, reproduction!
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A short extract from the text:
I don’t care if Monday’s blue
Tuesday’s grey and Wednesday tooThursday I don’t care about you
It’s Friday, I’m in loveMonday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday, break my heartOh, Thursday doesn’t even start
It’s Friday, I’m in loveSaturday wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate
Go ahead, forget Tinder, talk to the one you’re in love with, take a chance!
