By DiscoMonster
Music works as the antidote to the poison I accumulate during the day. The music I play when alone and in need of recuperation is my honest preference but is often eardrum poison to others. Picked from last week’s theme, approach this playlist with caution.
The first tune through the speakers is by The Flowers of Hell. They offer my world-weary body Muchomůrky Bílé (Destroying Angel). I love the conviction in the voice and the melancholy depth of the music and atmosphere.
I feel the toxicity inside me. I could be a real Poison Dart just as Warrior Queen sings on The Bug’s aggressive tune. Feeling the beat I lurch and sway as I head in the shower and wash the day’s grime off me. I love the threat in her voice and the cavernous sounding dub effects. I sing along and spit out the words.
My soul is now relaxing and I want something more uptempo. Afric Simone brings me Curare. It’s the poison you’d put on an arrow to paralyse prey. It’s disarmingly innocuous at first but ends up sounding like nihilistic Rolling Stones in 68/69 while under the influence and letting Merry Clayton rip. I love it.
If you’re poisoned by curare then use Strychnine. This is true. Who knew that The Sonics knew? The aggression, boldness and unhinged fun rocking in the tune have me singing along and burning away more of the fever I felt in me.
In fact, I’m pleased with myself and turn to classic pop. ABC and Britney Spears my heart with Poison Arrow and Toxic… I love these tunes. The drama in the music and the unerring aim of Poison Arrow’s lyrics always get me. Toxic also has wonderful sounds rising and sweeping into the mind from the deep of the soundsystem. The timing of Spears’ delivery and that guitar twang – some poisons are irresistible.
Something is still nagging away inside me though. There’s doubt and self-examination poisoning my mind. I play two songs to allow me to think. They are rhythmic but have folk music elements to different degrees but sound honest and troubled like I do. Are they poisoned too? Do they want to use poison? Un Veneno by C. Tangana & Niño de Elche and Mam ja męża by Chłopcy Kontra Basia help me find the poison in my own mind.
Thus I acknowledge that I am both the poison and the antidote. It’s a lesson I learn and forget over and over. It seems appropriate to play GoGo Penguin’s The Antidote Is In The Poison, I think and breathe deep. My mind is clear and I can sleep easy. The toxins of hate, anger, pollution feel expunged. Like The Prodigy say: “I got the poison. I got the remedy”. Time to dance and rave until the next time I Play Dead and The Poison Takes a Hold.
Oh. One more tune... CocoRosie’s Poison has a sound in it resembling the rumbling of my blood as poison surged into me today.
An Assassin’s Acrid A-List Is Probably Enough:
The Flowers of Hell - Muchomůrky Bílé (Destroying Angel)
The Bug - Poison Dart featuring Warrior Queen
Afric Simone - Curare
The Sonics - Strychnine
ABC - Poison Arrow
Britney Spears - Toxic
C. Tangana & Niño de Elche - Un Veneno
Chłopcy Kontra Basia - Mam Ja Męża
GoGo Penguin - The Antidote Is In The Poison
The Prodigy - Poison
I Play Dead - The Poison Takes a Hold
CocoRosie (with Antony Hegarty) - Poison
Guru’s Deadly Wild Plant Pick:
Fingerprintz - Wet Job
It's inspired by the story of Georgi Markov, who was assassinated by the Bulgarian secret service. They used ricin, which was likely injected by the tip of an umbrella.
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations in response to last week's topic: Toxic warning! Songs about poison. The next topic will launch on Thursday at around 1pm UK time.
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