Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Friday: A happier place

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  • Robert Fox,

    Thanks for evoking fond memories of local youth club discos in the late 70's, where memebers of all the various sub tribes (Punks, Teds, Mods Skins etc ) would stop scowling at each other and head to the dance floor and skank in unison whenever the DJ dropped one of those Marley tracks. Great tunes, great times, great memories.

    Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Pete Sime,

    The video for Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros always makes me smile.

    Dunedin • Since Apr 2008 • 171 posts Report Reply

  • peter mclennan,

    Thanks for the Sonia P – doesnt have anything in it when I extract it on Windows tho?

    My fave find of the week, steel drum take of Voodooo Ray…

    https://soundcloud.com/thevinylfactory/jeremy-deller-english-magic-ep

    and here’s Aretha being interviewed by Don Cornelius, before playing a song she did with Curtis Mayfield -check her outfit.

    Related: Questlove has a new book out on Soul Train too.

    And Good Life done brass band style…

    AK Central • Since Nov 2006 • 159 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    But there's also a time to dance, and there's Inner City's 'Good Life'. I hear those opening chords and I lift my head. It's a tune whose opening offer is to transport you somewhere else, to "a place I know you want to go," and then your bum starts wiggling. Well, mine does, anyway.

    This is how it works for me too. I first heard the song in 1989, when I was a 14-year-old living in rural Hamilton, desperate for something more metropolitan. Even when there were cows outside my window, this song took me to that place. Music is magic.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Thomas,

    Surely a shout out to Sheep Dog & Wolf is in order, after their Critic’s Choice prize this week. It’s a brilliant album. You can listen to it in full on Bandcamp:
    http://download.sheepdogandwolf.com/

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    a few finds that made me very happy…

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Love the woozy guitar on this, from the latest Arcade Fire release.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEcu3-fxZSE

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Sadness, beauty and happiness, all given it's proper space. That's why I love soul music whether it comes from Kingston, Memphis, Philadelphia or Lagos.

    and on that note, I never get tired of this from the late great Darondo;

    And after a horrible week where we should all be bigging up the females of this country here's Althea and Donna "Uptown Top Ranking" which always makes me feel good - "See me in me heels and ting!"

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Kate Hannah,

    Blondie will always, always get me on the dance floor - this is probably my favourite:

    Auckland • Since Mar 2010 • 107 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie,

    Yeah! What Peter said.

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh,

    Hope the link works…. Wu Bai/伍佰’s 《白鸽》(báigē/dove) always works for me:

    纵然带着永远的伤口
    至少我还拥有自由

    And my crappy translation:

    Although I still carry eternal wounds
    At least I still have freedom

    Also his 《挪威的森林》 (Norwegian Wood -anybody know why that's such a popular title? I've been in a forest in Norway, and it's no more magic than forests anywhere else).

    As for One Love/People Get Ready, I love how defiant it is – joyfully, positively, lovingly defiant:

    Let’s get together to fight
    This Holy Armagiddyon (One Love! ),
    So when the Man comes there will be no,
    No doom (One Song! ).
    Have pity on those whose
    Chances grows t’inner;
    There ain’t no hiding place
    From the Father of Creation.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    For over-the-top feelgood, dance with your kids happy - Lindsey Ray.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Sadness, beauty and happiness, all given its proper space. That’s why I love soul music

    Yes! So true.

    This is one of the songs that makes me feel great about romantic relationships, and so I think it’s a good song for this week, especially. A song about people who are together, being equals, liking each other (and, uh, smoking). I find it really moving.

    (Edited to remove "heterosexual" because, actually, this could be about any couple. But it seems extra relevant to male/female now because, y'know, fraughtness this week.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Tinkler,

    Only cause I'm old and like the Pogues

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2010 • 16 posts Report Reply

  • Brodie Davis,

    Not in the same theme as other videos. But this is a cargo pilot indulging his love for gliders. With a pretty good backing track matched in.

    I like to think you can see the joy of flying in it.

    Since Aug 2008 • 54 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe,

    Cause it's always been one of my go to's for cheering up:

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen R,

    A song for the week.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2009 • 259 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen D. O'Hoy,

    If you like a bit of gay disco then this takes some beating. Bronski Beat and Marc Almond covering a Donna Summer & Giorgio Moroder song. Always puts a smile on me dial.

    Since Sep 2013 • 7 posts Report Reply

  • octopusgrrl,

    Here's a few that never fail to cheer me and make me bounce about a bit:

    Dunedin • Since May 2009 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to octopusgrrl,

    Here’s a few that never fail to cheer me and make me bounce about a bit:

    How did I not include Voom!? They just embody the joy of music, that band.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to peter mclennan,

    My fave find of the week, steel drum take of Voodooo Ray…

    Oh, I pressed play and that just made me smile! How fab.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • bbrooks,

    It’s Jeff Tweedy, not Tweedie. Which is important because then you can find this version of them doing it together:

    …which leads to this version of them singing on a CCR tune:

    …which leads to Wilco doing Hoodoo Voodoo:

    and if you aren’t happy after that, well you need some serious help.

    Melbourne • Since Nov 2013 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Stephen D. O'Hoy,

    If you like a bit of gay disco then this takes some beating. Bronski Beat and Marc Almond covering a Donna Summer & Giorgio Moroder song. Always puts a smile on me dial.

    I had totally forgotten their version starts with 'Love to Love You Baby'. As does my favourite remix, the Bobby Busnach one. Sweet.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh,

    And because Bob Marley was mentioned: Redemption Song.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Jason Kemp,

    Cant really go wrong with this 1966 song by Ramsey Lewis. This version has vocals by Marlena Shaw

    Enjoy

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 368 posts Report Reply

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