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Hey, this way. Don’t forget the moths, says the rosy maple
Fragile mutability, intangible beauty, or a hairy horror with collecting obsessives? Metaphor or more, in lyrics or music, with a four-stage life cycle, from egg to pupae, caterpillar to winged wonders, let’s hear it for all these wondrous lepidoptera, with as much for the moths as for the butterflies
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So, do you want this, or not? Well, let’s see …
Ever felt in two minds? Caught between two stools? Stuck between a rock, pop, and hardcore place? All the wobbles and vacillations about everything in life are expertly and entertainingly captured by guest Olive Butler, chosen from nominations for last week’s topic. But which list will it be?
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Are you fur staying on the fence?
From the many various situations and vacillations of love to shopping, voting, moving or staying and more, it’s finally time to plump for indecisiveness on song lyrics. The choice of what to nominate is yours. If you can …
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Vladmir Kush’s African Sonata
From practical life problems, work, relationships, craft or crisis, to all sorts of creative problems, or even channelling dreams, it’s time to access the right hemisphere and see how the imagination can be used, as expressed in song lyrics. Read on for more stimulation …
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Sands of time …
It’s time to celebrate the Bar’s seven years with poetic inspiration for a topic that also endures – and songs about romantic love or friendship that’s perpetual through life, or forever enshrined in in the memory even if tragically cut short
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Rare, and always on the move: Halley and Billie
From celestial to historical, the fictional to the emotional, while rarities are exactly as described, there’s a huge variety, and many songs about them. Picking from last week’s huge range of nominations, guest Marco den Ouden makes heavenly choices
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Some activities are rarer than others … Thomas Rowlandson’s satirical work of 1811
Looking up or down, from sights of rare astrological bodies to unusual encounters with unusual or unique people or events, from birth to death, it’s time to capture the rare in song form, from personal or universal perspectives
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The Shangri-Las in full conversational flow …
Duelling tablas to bar-room or bandmate banter, flirty duets to star-crossed lovers, chatty parody to skilful dissing, all the questions and answers are here in a creatively conversation playlist picked by guest Amylee from an enormous offering of nominations last week
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Pointed dialogue: John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson in Pulp Fiction
Can you tell me what this is all about? Sure. Whether between two or more vocalists, or reported within the lyrics by one, or even involving instrumentalists, songs that include communication between more than one person. There’s lots of examples to get your ideas flowing. OK, thanks.
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Just the ticket: pricey or priceless?
Whether music, sport, film, travel, or wider culture, they mean different things to different individuals, but all are items that trigger or preserve memories, personal or more universal. Let’s explore these specific objects in song, overall or in specific lyrical detail
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Warning: diversions expected ahead …
Prepare for the unexpected. This week in song, it’s all about moments of divergence, digression, and distraction, of interruption and intervention, leading to the unplanned, whether that be because of oneself, another person, events, or circumstances
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Not a curtain-raiser for 2023, but a hair-raiser …
Not a curtain raiser, but a hair-raiser for 2023. It’s a sign that music is at its optimum effect, but when and why does it happen? From Darwin’s explanation to more recent studies, and some musical examples, it’s time to share your goosebump inducting songs and explain why …
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Water year it’s been …
It’s time to reflect on an extraordinary year, about events public or personal, to celebrate those artists who have sadly left us, and also include in particular your discoveries in music old or new, here at the Bar or elsewhere
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Shadows and light: Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra have all the angles …
Jazz, funk, classical, African, Cuban, Balkan and beyond, this week it all came together beautifully in these fabulously powerful and erudite selections by guest of the week Nilpferd, from a many more nominations from last week’s ensembles theme
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The classic Netherlands Elfstedentocht event. But what songs made the finish for this week’s theme?
Skating, skiing, ice hockey and other sliding, the big freeze inspired musical outdoor winter activity. But which songs made it to the finish line, and which were left on ice? Check out in this winter wonderland of playlists by guest Marco den Ouden
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Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s Winter Landscape with Ice-skaters and Bird-trap, 1565
Competitive events to leisure and pleasure, skis to skates, sleds and other sliding and outdoor winter fun, it’s time to embrace the cold in song with the literal or metaphorical, and recall that this is also something very much from our past
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Keys to happiness: Blossom Dearie
Sunrise to sunset and everything in between, food to flowers and all the joys of the natural world, these are just some of the many simple pleasures rendered beautifully in perfect playlists by guest writer Barbryn picked from last week’s topic nominations
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Float your moments …
This week we aim to strip away life’s stresses and complexities to search for songs that capture moments of calm simplicity, enjoying the little things in life. Setting sail with this becalming poem, what moments might float your boat?
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Yes, b’Lady: FAB 1 - Lady Penelope pink Rolls Royce inspired by Thunderbirds
Flowers, champagne, the moon, and even an elephant, it’s a colour that covers many shades and contexts, and from many blossoms of nominations, you’ll be tickled pink by the playlists perfectly arranged by guest of the week Severin
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A chance to dance …
Neither red nor purple, this very particular colour has a strong identity and effect, from changing cultural and gender associations to distinctive animals, plants or minerals, how does it come up in song? Read these verses for inspiration …
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