By Andrew Morrissey aka Maki
You can’t have your cake and eat it.
Well actually if you’re lucky enough to know a cool watering hole that goes by the name of the Song Bar, you can. We do every week and this week has been no exception. Did you know that in Spain we say “you can’t swim and look after your clothes”? As far as I know, there’s no swimming pool at the Song Bar but if you want to strap your boots on and follow me, I’ll be quite happy to show you the way there.
Over here we have another saying that may well make more sense and will no doubt go down a lot better. “Con pan y vino se anda el camino” bread and wine will keep us going on our journey so let’s start out with Anthony Reynolds and the bread and wine he offers us.
As we set out maybe we will be in need of further sustenance. Not to worry Patty Griffin is Making Pies. Think I’ll pop a couple in my knapsack. Never know when they might come in handy. Grab a few yourselves.
It’d be a shame if we got bored on this walk or, worse still, actually started thinking seriously about anything. I’ll have to make sure you’re properly entertained and distracted. You know, the old formula – Bread and Circuses. There’s two takes here Os Mutantes and 10,000 Maniacs. You can take your pick. Or maybe just like me you’ll agree that you don’t need to choose if you can have them both.
Mike Heron has invited us to sit down and enjoy the view before we move on. Typical Song Bar in that the view is a soundscape. But that’s what we’ve come here for.
Double cream goes well with most cakes. Double entendres seem to go well with most songs about cakes and other baked goodies. As we Ramble along in the company of our Californian colleagues are we really supposed to take their I Like Pie, I Like Cake at face value? Probably not. And Bessie Smith really would be disappointed in us if we really though her Jelly Roll would ever be found on special offer in Marks and Sparks.
Now earlier, I hinted that sometimes bread and circuses were a trick to distract us from life’s weightier issues. But as Mariah rightly pointed out to Malvolio (and tfd kindly reminded us) – there is a place for cakes and ale. A nominator who unwittingly hit on my favourite Shakespearean line this week and there was no way the Silly Sisters were not going to make the list after that.
And seeing as we’re knocking back received wisdom, Félix Wazekwa says his cake is his and he will keep it, thank you very much.
As we reach the end of our walk I can just see Jake Thackray in the distance. I bump into him a lot when coming to this bar and make no apologies for doing so. Today he’s talking about his Roly Poly Girl and I share his enthusiasm. Just as I do for the simple things in life. Quite how the Newbeats make Bread and Butter sound so good is lost on me. But they do. Oh, look we’ve arrived!
The Ah So Very Tasty A-List Playlist:
Anthony Reynolds – Bread and Wine
Patty Griffin – Making Pies
Os Mutantes – Panis et Circenses
Natalie Merchant & Billy Bragg – Bread and Circuses
Mike Heron – Warm Heart Pastry
California Ramblers – I Like Pie, I Like Cake, But I Like You Best Of All
Bessie Smith – Nobody In Town Can Bake A Sweet Jelly Roll
The Silly Sisters – Cakes and Ale
Felix Wazekwa, Licha Shombo ft Cultur'A Pays Vie – Mon gâteau à moi/Mémoire ya Nzambe
Jake Thackray – My Roly Poly Girl
The Newbeats – Bread and Butter
Beautifully Baked and Buttery B-list Playlist:
Streetband – Toast
Richard Harris – MacArthur Park
Eileen Barton - If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd Have Baked a Cake
Led Zeppelin – Custard Pie
Katzenjammer – Cherry Pie
Wales Forever – Bread Of Heaven
Johnny Cash – Strawberry Cake
Eleni Mandell – Bun in the Oven
Kinky Friedman – Get your Biscuits in the Oven and your Buns in the Bed
The Stranglers – Yellowcake UF6
Guru’s Wildcard Pick:
Rosendo – Pan de Higo
Nothing to much say here other than it is called Fig Bread and it’s by Rosendo, who is one of my heroes:
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Bake-off? No, far better: songs about bread, cake, pastry and biscuits. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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Fancy a turn behind the pumps at The Song Bar? Care to choose a playlist from songs nominated and write something about it? Then feel free to contact The Song Bar here, or try the usual email address.
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