Best song of the past 25 years?

[anotheranon]

VH1's latest "greatest" list and a conversation elsewhere got me to thinking - what are the songs that really made an impact on my musical tastes (I hesitate to say "life" - it is JUST music, after all)?

Given that I've not kept up with the latest musical trends very well, I automatically think back to my teens/early 20s, when music really MATTERED to me, in a passionate, sanity-maintaning kind of way. These two spring immediately to mind:

Joy Division "Atmosphere" - hauntingly beautiful and so wonderfully somber, I'd listen to this one when I needed a really good cry. I still love JD's work, but it is so emotional it's difficult for me to listen to now. This is the one track I can think of that should never be remixed/covered/tampered with - it's breathless as it is.

808 State - "Pacific" - it wasn't love at first listen (more like 3rd or 4th), but this turned my musical landscape upside down my senior year of high school - good-bye goth, hello proto-raver! I had to wait 4 years to go to my first "proper" rave, but this music introduced me to the genre that has influenced my life in so many ways - found me good friends, encouraged me to travel, fed my need for adrenaline, fueled many a road-tripping weekend, and ultimately, led me to D. (ok, so maybe music did affect my life, after all!)

What about y'all?

Comments

[semmie17.livejournal.com]

I can't point out exact albums per se, but more *genres* or *artists* that influenced me. Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, and The Wall were big influences in my survival of high school. Paul Simon's Graceland helped me survive university.
Celtic music, in general. Darkwave Goth, the type put out by Projekt. Egyptian rock and roll. The medieval secular music of Guillaume Dufay. Anything by Vivaldi. Anything by Peter Gabriel. And I have to thank Ani DiFranco for her help in keeping my sanity during my divorce.

Not sure that answers your question...??

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that does answer my question :)

Egyptian rock and roll? What is that like? Can you provide links?

Actually, it's called 'Rai" and its from Algeria

[semmie17.livejournal.com]

Clips from the pages:

"Music style mixing modern, western rythmes and technology with a traditional music line. Grew out of north- western Algeria, and has reached all corners of the world. The most prominent performers are now living abroad, mainly in France. The Arabic word ra'yy is the common word for 'opinion, view, notion'. More than any other form of Arab music, Raï have been the object of world attention, and performers like Khaled (formerly Cheb Khaled) and Cheb Mami are international stars, with Europe and America as their most important market."

http://www.angelfire.com/al/alyafaei/chebkhaled.html

"Rai is a popular and happy music style from Algeria. The texts may sometime have a hidden critic agains fundamentalism or it simply tells about happy young people in love and just that may among some groups be considered as vulgar. Anyway Rai not so popular among islamic fundamentalists. Some militant religous leaders just called for a "fatwa", an order to all muslims to kill, for singers they disliked. So far Cheb Hasni, known as the prince of Rai, was murdered Thursday the 29 of September and one other singer was kidnapped and later set free. Cheb Khaled, known as the king of Rai, has not been able to live in Algeria the last years. He is currently living in Paris."

http://www.unik.no/~robert/mizik/maghreb/maghreb.html

Aramusic: http://www.aramusic.com/htmls/emi184.htm

I have the albums of Cheb Mami and Cheb Khaled, and could send you a few samples in chat if you like?

Actually, it's called 'Rai" and its from Algeria

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd be interested! I listened to a couple of samples off of Aramusic - I like it, kind of familiar because I hear the same kinds of vocals in some world dance stuff I listen to.

If I can't show up in chat, maybe posting a File to one of our mutual Yahoo Groups might work?

Re: Actually, it's called 'Rai" and its from Algeria

[semmie17.livejournal.com]

I put a file in Klaatut that's I'm sure you heard in the 5th Element. If you like it, we can trade over chat.:)))

Re: Actually, it's called 'Rai" and its from Algeria

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Listened - quite impressed, and I do remember this from the movie! Once we find ourselves in chat at the same time, yes, more please!

I've been looking for sound files for you, but honestly don't know where to find such things :/ If you like this I'd recommend the latest Afro Celts album - not necessarily Algerian, but sort of "world fusion". Peter Gabriel was a guest on one of the tracks as well.

Re: Actually, it's called 'Rai" and its from Algeria

[semmie17.livejournal.com]

I've been looking for the Calypso classic "Underneath the Mango Tree" that Harry Belafonte sang in "Dr. No." Ursula Andress was humming it when she walked onto the beach in the famous bikini scene, remember? Any ideas?

Dr. No soundtrack

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Remastered, even (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000087DRV/qid=1055644748/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/103-7364671-7124619). I know it's not the single, but according to the reviews the disc has several versions of "Underneath the Mango Tree" (that track always sticks in my mind whenever I watch the movie!)

Also there are quite a few James Bond theme music comps out there, but most only include the beginning/ending title tracks. I still love Shirley Bassey's "Goldfinger".

Re: Dr. No soundtrack

[semmie17.livejournal.com]

I know, and I've drooled over that CD for a long time, but I'm spoiled enough to admit that I just want that *one* song. My bad. :))