Feeling on song? They may be derived from literature, media or historic, regular usage, but this week we’re looking how common phrases can jump out at you in lyrics, and ideally are used creatively or cleverly
Read moreEvery breath you take: songs featuring the harmonica
It plays out like the voice, beautifully expresses emotion, can wail like a train and is popular across blues, rock, pop, jazz, classical and other genres. This week it's time to inhale deeply and get harmonious with the harmonica
Read morePlaylists: great tracks to begin albums, mixtapes or radio shows
Is it best to set light slowly or start with a big bang? In what turned out to be topic of epic proportions and suggestions, this week's guest ParaMhor creates a superb selection of illuminating playlist openings
Read moreWhat's going on now? Incidental music and songs …
Silent or modern movie scenes to news footage, overture, underscore or background, suggest music or songs that suggests action going on, whether that's personal memory or a better known scenario
Read moreArrr! It's songs about pirates and piracy
Golden Age rogues from Blackbeard to Anne Bonny, Calico Jack to Treasure Island, from the Caribbean to modern marauders of Somalia, in folk to rock, metal to reggae, set sail with your song suggestions
Read moreThis is the place: songs about and from Manchester
As a tribute to the dead, the injured, and all those affected by the Manchester Arena bombing, this week let's suggest songs that capture the culture, character, accents, humour and history of this city
Read morePlaylists: songs with dynamic volume changes
Otis Redding to Arvo Pärt, Beach Boys to Beau, Kate Bush Waking The Witch to Wedding Present's Bewitched, guest writer Rachel Courtney turns up diverse and distinguished playlists from last week's topic
Read moreA whisper to a scream: songs with dynamic volume changes
From soft to loud in vivid variety, this week we look into musical works that test our headphones and master the control of decibel and frequency, bringing subtlety and surprises to our ears
Read morePlaylists: whimsical, strange and silly songs
The joint is jumping, and with Christmas silly season in full swing at the bar, our guest writer Flatfrog causes more than tapping feet and belly laughs with fabulous choices from last week's topic
Read moreNow for something completely different: whimsical, strange and silly songs
Sometimes the most sensible way to deal with a serious world is to get silly with it. From Spike Milligan to Jacques Tati, this week we look at music's most inventive, surreal and strange wonders of whimsy
Read morePumpkin up the volume: songs about the colour or term yellow
Sunlight to stars, ribbons to rivers, animals, birds, to flowers and vehicles, from the firey to the sickly, have a look into the musical and other cultural associations of this sublime colour
Read morePlaylists: successful out-of-tune songs
It didn't stop Public Image Limited, Joy Division or Teardrop Explodes from a great performance. Check out guest writer ParaMhor's playlists from last week's topic to find out why going off key will still keep you on song
Read morePlaylist: songs that trigger dancing
Benny's band to Brazil beats, Jackson's wall to a wondrous waltz, guest writer magicman gets The Song Bar party into full swinging with two playlists that will keep us moving all night long
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