By takeitawayGuru
What makes an experience unforgettable, be it the first time or the last time?
Probably best to start at the beginning. But where? In the back row of the classroom. The promises made at such an early age clearly show how unforgettable that first kiss was for one of them, but for the other, well, they don’t even remember that It Started With A Kiss.
If it wasn’t a kiss then perhaps it was Just One Look? No, I must be dreaming, it was unforgettable and Mary Wells is gonna keep on scheming until she can make you her own.
Unforgettable first loves seem to be the order of the day; for Frank Sinatra it kicked in the window, struck him like lightning, Then Suddenly Love! Now he’s hearing bluebirds and wedding bells.
This night must have been unforgettable, and even though they can’t recall her name, the Four Seasons know the date: late December ’63, it was a special time, a rush like a rollin' ball of thunder, spinnin' my head around n' takin' my body under wow, what a night!
Enough first loves, our next artist has achieved a host of firsts from sailing to Peru to crossing the Mason Dixon line; hearing the “Swedish Nightingale” and even voting for Roosevelt in ’33. Can we believe that Grace Jones has done it again, done it again, done it again?
One thing that Grace certainly didn’t do first was go in to space. This unusual never to be repeated first, like our nominator said is a tune that’ll stick with you. The subject matter is the one the first animals in space, and certainly the first dog – Laika, though that wasn’t even her real name.
Our next song from the Dixie Chicks segues from an unforgettable first encounter that ends up as the last meeting also.
Two days past 18 he’s joining the army and has a chance meeting with a waitress and asks if he can write to her whilst he’s away. A memorable first meeting that through their letters they fall in love but with tragic consequences as he’s killed in action and when his name is read out in a list of the Vietnam dead at the football game no one cares ‘cept a piccolo player, bow in her hair.
As we see with first unforgettable experiences centre around love so do some of the most painful last experiences.
When it’s over it feels like you’re dying but you’re still alive suffering. You’d rather not see them for a really long time – Funny How Love Is.
My interpretation of this next song is that it’s over but he wants one last night with Ruby and recounts many memorable times together but he ultimately believes he’s no good for her but their relationship was so memorable that she could make him believe that the sun sets in the East but The Circus is Leaving Town.
There’s nothing colder than goodbye and he almost couldn’t do it but he does, despite her love for him he thinks it’s kinder to go than stay in Bobby Paris’s I Walked Away.
When it’s over its well and truly over and tears ain’t going to make any difference when your best man’s gone. He tried for many years but couldn’t please her because she was in love with someone else and it’s Too Late to Cry Baby to keep her man.
The shoe’s on the other foot with this serial offender. Too many times he’s come home late and a thousand times he’s seen that look in her eyes as his peace offering of 7 11 roses can’t mend all the hurt he’s caused.
Finally, no unforgettable list of ‘lasts’ could be complete without ...
Drum roll please …
... at last it’s Europe’s Final Countdown!
An Unforgettable A-List Playlist:
Hot Chocolate – It Started With a Kiss
Mary Wells – Just One Look
Frank Sinatra – Then Suddenly Love
The Four Seasons – December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)
Grace Jones – I’ve Done It Again
Wil Wagner – Laika
Dixie Chicks – Travellin’ Soldier
Fine Young Cannibals – Funny How Love Is
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan – The Circus is Leaving Town
Bobby Paris – I Walked Away
Lonnie Johnson – Too Late to Cry Baby
Spike - 7 11 Roses
Europe – The Final Countdown
A No-Less-Memorable B-List Playlist:
Black Box Recorder – The Facts of Life
The Walker Brothers – First Love Never Dies
P.P. Arnold – The First Cut is the Deepest
Impressions – First Impressions
Buddy Guy – First Time I Met the Blues
The Contours – First I Look at the Purse
The Waifs – Sunflower Man
Boss Caine – Truck Stop Jukebox
Bryan Adams – One Night Love Affair
Roger Whittaker - The Last Farewell
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Mary Jane’s Last Dance
The Monkees – Last Train to Clarksville
The Electric Flag – Killing Floor
John Martyn – Over the Hill
Led Zeppelin – Achilles’ Last Stand
Guru's First and Last wildcard:
Guy Clark’s memorable first impression of immigrants coming through Ellis Island reflected in his Grandfather’s Immigrant Eyes and Pearl Jam’s remake of that Last Kiss following the tragic car crash that took his ‘baby’ to heaven.
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Unforgettable? Songs about the first time … or last time. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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