By Loud Atlas
The Japanese term 'wabi-sabi' revolves around three main principles: nothing lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is perfect. The majority of the following songs will attempt to persuade you to the opposite.
Starting at the top, with a nod to the perfect abode in the sky, we begin with the idyllic comparisons made by Amen Corner. (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice is a love song akin to a kitten cavorting across a sun-soaked meadow – almost too perfectly cute.
Who needs paradise? I'd rather have you.
The Greatness and Perfection of Love tells us that, in actual fact, love is the greatest imperfection. So sings a perfectly ironic Julian Cope. Perfect bah-bahs too.
Who are you to give my life so much meaning?
Perfectly formed hyperbolic statements are Ella Fitzgerald's bag. Cole Porter's You're The Top is the ultimate compliment giver, with strings of perfect examples which in themselves are perfect.
You're the Nile, you're the Tower of Pisa / You're the smile of the Mona Lisa
Half-hearted love affairs are no good for anyone. Or at least that's what Fairground Attraction think. Patience is a virtue and the next foray into romance needs to be Perfect.
Too many people take second best / But I won't take anything less
A remedy for the 'Perfect Day' songs to come. Ideals aren't for everyone, especially not The Saints. Ironically named, both in band and song title, there is a perfectly envisioned teenage nihilistic view on This Perfect Day.
It's all so funny, I can't laugh / Oh perfect day
In Europe it'd be a perfect 38, in the US a perfect eight, but for UK-based The Beautiful South it's a Perfect 10. Different sizes and (ahem) lengths of a partner's body are subject to scrutiny here.
And if he's XXL, then what the hell / Every penny don't fit the slot
The ingredients for the ultimate perfect day: a nervous couple primed to exchange vows, expectant guests gathered, bottles of kola wine sought and a £1.10 cake to share. But no matter what the nerves throw up, things will end up Sweet and Dandy for Toots & The Maytals.
It is no wonder / It's a perfect ponder / While they were dancing in that bar room last night
Perfectly speaking, the moment when the music can't get greater is a moment to be cherished and sustained. Ahí Na' Má' ('Right there, no more') is the call for many a Latin singer, including Ismael Rivera and Cortijo Y Su Combo.
Ahí na' má' quiero el ritmo
Perfect beats which are beaten perfectly is Bronski Beat's schtick. In Hit That Perfect Beat, their dancefloor is the perfect place to be on the surface but there are dangers lurking.
I've got that feeling them beat boy feelings / I've got them feeling the perfect beat
A drums and vocals song, Perfection is Run-D.M.C.'s run down of perfect things in their life: a funky fresh car, prescription glasses and even...a little gnat.
Perfection's my selection, and I will select / And if it's not per-fect then I will perfect
A perfect vision of a partner is in Chet Baker's mind's eye. In My Ideal he ponders on whether he'll be able to find her or whether she'll just pass him by without realising.
Or will I pass her by / And never even know / She was my ideal?
A perfect vision of the world was one that a certain soft drinks company tried to sell in the 1970s. The Hillside Singers, in I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony), notch up the sweetness with their unsurprisingly perfect and peaceful harmonies.
I'd like to see the world for once / All standing hand in hand
To end A Perfect Day, there's no greater company to watch the sunset with than Paul Robeson and his sonorous tones.
We find at the end of a perfect day / The soul of a friend we've made
All Aces A-List Playlist:
Amen Corner - (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice (MussoliniHeadkick)
Julian Cope - The Greatness and Perfection of Love (ParaMhor)
Ella Fitzgerald - You're The Top (megadom)
Fairground Attraction - Perfect (severin)
The Saints - This Perfect Day (severin)
The Beautiful South - Perfect 10 (swawilg)
Toots & the Maytals - Sweet and Dandy (Nicko)
Ismael Rivera and Cortijo Y Su Combo - Ahí Na' Má' (pejepeine)
Bronski Beat - Hit That Perfect Beat (Daysinscotland)
Run D.M.C. - Perfection (IsabelleForshaw)
Chet Baker - My Ideal (megadom)
The Hillside Singers - I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) (Uncleben)
Paul Robeson - A Perfect Day (magicman)
Beyond Compare B-List Playlist:
The The - Perfect (ParaMhor)
Lou Reed - Perfect Day (amylee)
The Four Blazes - Perfect Woman (Nicko)
Billie Holiday - Practice Makes Perfect (magicman)
Clark Terry & Paul Gonsalves Quintet - Impeccable (TatankaYotanka)
Eddie Palmieri - Tema La Perfecta (magicman)
Chip Taylor and The New Ukrainians - F**k All The Perfect People (Nicko)
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - Perfect Skin (severin)
Badfinger - Perfection (megadom)
Indigo Girls - Perfect World (BanazirGalbasi)
Dorothy Love Coates - 99 and a Half Won't Do (tincanman2010)
The Undertones - My Perfect Cousin (Suzi)
Harry Nilsson - Perfect Day (swawilg)
Guru's Wildcard Picks:
A perfect trio to end on:
Paolo Nutini - 10/10
Paolo wants an A grade in every department.
Elizabeth & The Catapult - Perfectly Perfect
There's the P word - twice! With a perfect video, too.
The Duckworth Lewis Method - Jiggery Pokery
In the 1993 Ashes series, bowler Shane Warne delivered The Ball of the Century - i.e. a perfect ball. DLM give us the batsman's view. And what a perfect view he had.
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Picture, practice and pitch: songs about perfection. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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