Interesting piece with short video. Neil McCormick, well-known music critic writing for The Telegraph, has compiled a Great British Songbook in response to the often-cited Great American Songbook.
He's picked out 100 songs: The Beatles, The Rollings Stones and Bowie obviously feature heavily but there's also English folk songs and standards, The Pogues, Anthony Newley, Kate Bush, Joy Division, Elvis Costello, Noel Coward, The Cure and a whole heap more. It's a great playlist and can be found on Spotify: spoti.fi/2M9dian
He has this to say about the two Smiths entries:
There is a Light That Never Goes Out – The Smiths (Marr, Morrissey), 1986
A classic by one of the greatest writing teams. Johnny Marr’s luminous gifts as a melodicist were pushed into strange realms by Morrissey’s unique lyricism.
Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want – The Smiths (Marr, Morrissey), 1984
Morrissey has rarely been so artless as he is here. The exquisiteness of the melody underlines the song’s direct plea for a change of fortune.
The whole article + video is well worth a look:
Neil McCormick's great British songbook: 100 homegrown hits - The Telegraph
This does not appear to be a 'Premium' article so should be accessible to all, but let me know if not and I can cut and paste.
He's picked out 100 songs: The Beatles, The Rollings Stones and Bowie obviously feature heavily but there's also English folk songs and standards, The Pogues, Anthony Newley, Kate Bush, Joy Division, Elvis Costello, Noel Coward, The Cure and a whole heap more. It's a great playlist and can be found on Spotify: spoti.fi/2M9dian
He has this to say about the two Smiths entries:
There is a Light That Never Goes Out – The Smiths (Marr, Morrissey), 1986
A classic by one of the greatest writing teams. Johnny Marr’s luminous gifts as a melodicist were pushed into strange realms by Morrissey’s unique lyricism.
Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want – The Smiths (Marr, Morrissey), 1984
Morrissey has rarely been so artless as he is here. The exquisiteness of the melody underlines the song’s direct plea for a change of fortune.
The whole article + video is well worth a look:
Neil McCormick's great British songbook: 100 homegrown hits - The Telegraph
This does not appear to be a 'Premium' article so should be accessible to all, but let me know if not and I can cut and paste.
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