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Towering performance: Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattison in The Lighthouse, 2019
They attract attention, may beckon, but also warn away. Lighthouses, beacons and other illuminated guides, as well perhaps representative ideas, people, or metaphors, all illuminate this week’s topic, as well as tales of keepers and shipwrecks. Lyrically and musically, it’s time to shine …
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Sound waves and beyond …
Pointing, clapping, nodding, waving, thumbs up, thumbs down, high fives and much more, there’s no end to the lyrical gesticulation on offer signalled from last week’s topic by guest playlister Loud Atlas, whose presentation and choices should attract a salute and long applause
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Paying attention? What’s the point of this? Jack Black’s stick in School of Rock includes he devil’s heavy-rock hand horn sign. But there’s a lot more …
OK to high-five, thumbs up to devil’s horns, greetings, pointing, praying or applauding, this week it’s all about the physical lexicon, conscious communication that’s different to subconscious body language. But how does it come up in song lyrics?
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Evergreen accompanists: The Chieftains
What’s the craic? Our recent St Patrick’s Day special was focused on songs in the Irish language, but with a generous distillation process, brought forth also some good cheer in other Gaelic identities, all served up with great taste by guest Marco den Ouden
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Irish Cláirseach Celtic harp, known as the O’Neill or Brian Boru, named after a 14th-century Irish king who fought against the Vikings
On the eve of Saint Patrick’s Day, it’s time to celebrate all things Irish with an ear for the original language, not merely with songs that use it in lyrics, but also those that express or are influenced by the Irish character and culture, across many musical genres
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Slowdive back in the day … but now reaching a new audience
Jazz, classical, acoustic rock to neo-folk, gentle pop and soul to ambient electronica, there’s a whole texture of sounds audible when the bang of drums and other struck percussion are absent. Inspired by last week’s topic, guest Nilpferd brilliantly guides us through a more delicate, nuanced musical experience
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Evolving sounds: Robert Wyatt …
It’s a mainstay backbone or backline of so much music, but this week all forms of percussion, from drums to cymbals, xylophones. to bells are simply out, and this topic also excludes soloists or duos. But will there be more space, or different styles? Let’s explore all kinds of genres and cultures …
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This joint is jumping …
There are many reasons to leave the ground spontaneously, such as for dancing, sex and relationships, but also more darkly - suicide. But inspired by the many leap of musical imagination from last week’s topic, guest pejepeine’s playlists will have you jumping for joy
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One giant leap: Bob Beamon’s long jump record at the Mexico City 1968 Olympics stood for at an unusually lengthy 23 years
A Thursday on 29 February rarely happens, so let’s not skip it: Songs about jumps, leaps, bounds, hurdles, vaults of all kinds, literal and metaphorical, no t random occurrence of a related words, but where the leap in question is central to to the song's theme. Get inspired by many varied contexts and guests in the Bar …
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Itching to have a go …
Got that tingle but don’t know how to reach it? Found the right spot but scratching makes it itchier? Inspired by last week’s topic, guest playlister EnglishOutlaw has a variety of melodious ointment to express and find musical relief
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Bear with us …
Let’s satisfy the itch across many musical surfaces with a multi-pronged backscratcher, not just on lyrical flesh, but also the tight skin of drums, wires, guitar strings, resonant idiophones or the hollow or solid wooden bodies of stringed instruments, and of course, using vinyl turntables …
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Blessed or cursed? How how will it play out…?
Mysterious places, songs and secrets. This week’s wonderfully vivid playlist, inspired by last week’s topic, sets an intriguing narrative in a mysterious establishment run by a shady figure. But will it take a dark or a light path? Guest writer Maki sets the scene …
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“Every sperm …” Monty Python’s magnificent scene from The Meaning of Life
They are the gifts of life that give and take, in every cultural context, from family to friendships, love and romance, money and work, possessions and other people, but also have superstitions – perceived benefits and bad luck. How will it all balance out? Let the songs do the calculation …
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Fatoumata Diawara
It could be pilfered by pirates or dug up by explorers, but treasure comes in many forms. In Song Bar’s Eighth Birthday week, guest ajostu finds many sorts of pieces of eight from around the globe in a truly celebratory set of lists inspired by a topic to treasure
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Eight? How many pieces do you have?
Precious, rare, valuable, timeless? Monetary or something more intangible? How do you define treasure? This week we celebrate eight years of of Song Bar from a phase from a Robert Louis Stevenson novel and seeking songs on this theme
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Tea time at the Bar? Alternative servings …
Pleased to meter? 5, 7, 11, 13, 15 or even 17? We’ve got all the strange signature numbers for you here in brilliantly arrhythmic playlists by guest of the week Barbryn, making it really count from last week’s topic nominations
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After a short paws …what happens next?
Hard to beat? Not necessarily. While most songs are in 4/4 time, and others in 3/4 waltz, there are many fascinating variants that push the boundaries, often in a catchy way. It’s not necessary here to name the numbers, just how it feels when you count …
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A shade better …
Jazz bop the hep hipsters, slick sunglasses to sharp dressed men, expressed in lyrics and sound, this week’s smooth operator is guest Loud Atlas, who picks some sublime and prime examples from last week’s coolness topic
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Calm looks: from Beyoncé’s Lemonade:designs based on Yoruba culture by Brooklyn Nigeria-born designer Laolu Senbanjo
From Arican itutu to European sprezzatura, American jazz and poetry to hip hop, and a lot more besides, how do you define coolness, whether in lyrics, or expressed in the music itself? It’s time to compose yourselves with some cultural inspiration …
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Revolutionary warnings: Crass
Coercion, violence and suppression, it’s a recurring cycle through history. Spanning the globe with philosophy and genre, guest playlister Marco den Ouden examines the big questions about autocracy and anarchy, picked from last week’s topic nominations
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