Mathematical Institute Bulletin: Song of the Week

Songs about other singers...

John Martyn wrote this in 1972 about his friend, the songwriter Nick Drake (1948-1974). The lyrics are here.

Full list of Songs of the Week

In the Short Story above, we asked Josh what he would be if he weren't a mathematician and Josh says he'd have liked to have been a musician. In Tom Lehrer's case it really was true and mathematics became part of his musical routine. This song is about plagiarism in maths. Many of you might know it. And even if you don't, you might recognise it.

Lehrer gave up music in the early 70s to concentrate on teaching maths. He died earlier this year at the age of 97.

Here are the lyrics. Thanks to Gillian Grindstaff for the suggestion.

Dolly Mixture were a few years too early. Around at the time of post-punk, they sound like they were from the late eighties or nineties, or, frankly, any time since. Debsey, Rachel and Hester never really made it, but Debsey Wykes has just told the tale in an autobiography.

Sometimes artists become better known for their lifestyle or fashion tastes than the work without which we wouldn't know or care about them - Van Gogh, Bowie, even Taylor Swift. Jim Morrison of the Doors fits that bill, in his case for his death and grave as much as his life. But he and the band wrote some songs. That's where it all starts and ends.

Irving Berlin's masterpiece from the 1935 film Top Hat. Fred sings Cheek to Cheek to Ginger Rogers as they grace the dance floor. You can watch plenty of footage of that on YouTube, but today let's concentrate on the song: lyrics, music and, of course, Fred.

On January 17th 1967 the Hollies were recording their latest single, On A Carousel, in Abbey Road Studios when a Granada Television crew burst in with Beatles producer George Martin who was making a film with Granada on advancing music technology (The Beatles were recording Penny Lane next door). A surprise no doubt, but the boys were pros. The brilliant three part vocal harmony that was filmed proved to be the one used on the song, But maybe the star of the show is Bobby Elliott, as cool as drummer as ever there was.

You can watch a longer film of the making of the song here.

There has been a resurgence of interest and performance in recent years of the work of American 20th century composer Florence Price, helped by the discovery in 2009 of a vast collection of her works and papers found in her abandoned summer home in St Anne, Illinois. 

Florence Price was the first African-American woman to have a work played by a major orchestra.

Captain's log, star date 1968

William Shatner was the original Captain Kirk in Star Trek. But he also had a side line in singing; or rather talking his way through popular songs and Shakespeare plays. What was he up to? Who knows, but here's a song written by Bob Dylan, made famous by the Byrds and then beamed up to the USS Enterprise in Shatner's head. Enjoy.

Time to spin a classic. Happy weekend.

In the week the Prince of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne died, here's a nocturne by Chopin. Actually Ozzy has been due to feature in the Bulletin for some time, but not necessarily in Song of the Week. Watch this space. 

RIP Ozzy (if appropriate in your case).

The pianist is Canadian Jan Lisiecki.

The Reid brothers disliked their contemporaries' music so much that they decided they had to do something different. What they did was smother their sound in feedback and distortion. But underneath the noise, lay this pop classic.

'Pub Rock' was as deliberately grubby as an East End of London boozer. But it threw up the odd classic like this one. Hang in there for the chorus.

Watch any Glastonbury? Go to Glastonbury? Maybe not your thing?  Well, controversy aside, the one thing you have to say about Glasto is that musicians have to be truly terrible to not be loved or get great reviews. The vibe is so positive that all faculties are suspended. And, you know, that's no bad thing.

Olivia Rodrigo closed Sunday night to great acclaim (unsurprisingly). So for the young and less young among you, here she is with Robert Smith of the Cure. 

The put-down song has a long and honourable tradition in music right up to the present day (Taylor Swift is keen). Dee Dee Warwick, Dionne's sister, clearly means every word. Check out the last 25 seconds.

Abbreviating Tyrannosaurus to 'T', Marc Bolan detonated Glam Rock with the Electric Warrior album. He also wrote some great pop songs along the way.

In the week Brian Wilson died this has to be Song of the Week. Brian, who featured in a previous Song of the Week with the anguished 'Still I Dream of It', wrote many great songs - and it's worth checking out all the obituaries which link to them if you don't know his work - but 'Good Vibrations' is the pinnacle. 

Six months to record, six separate movements in three minutes, the use of the Electro-Theremin (that whirring sound) and a wikipedia page that, well, just goes on and on (the song is just over three and a half minutes long).

"A symphony must be like the world. It must embrace everything."

Probably the most famous quote attributed to Gustav Mahler and when you listen to some of his works it feels like he is changing direction every few notes with the vicissitudes of life. But amid the turmoil he wrote some of the most beautiful romantic music you'll hear. Here Juanjo Mena conducts the BBC Philharmonic.

Full list of Songs of the Week

Supergroup. Ah yes, a bunch of big stars get together only to find they don't like each other. Except in Cream's case they already knew they didn't like each other, at least in the case of Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce.

Cream didn't last long, but they recorded some good stuff including this late song written by Eric Clapton and Beatle George Harrison (with Ringo Star adding the vital line about swans). One for guitarists.

Over five years ago, when the wonderful Vicky Neale instigated and ran the Bulletin, your now self-appointed Song of the Week Editor suggested the odd song or poem to accompany the maths. Those suggestions don't appear in the full Song of the Week list (links now fixed), but to celebrate - or commiserate - Song of the Week at 5, here is the first ever suggestion.

Let Sandy Denny break your heart.

The Ipcress File movie is 60 years old this year. This spy film's theme tune was written by James Bond composer John Barry and it has a feel which, in comparison to the Bond movies, matches the more gritty style of 'Ipcress'. 

The film was based on the 1962 novel by Len Deighton (who is going strong aged 96). Deighton wrote cook books as well as spy and historical novels, and his main character, played by Michael Caine, whips up a neat omelette in the movie. Apparently Caine couldn't break an egg with one hand so it is Deighton's hands you see in the movie. It's a great film. And it's a great soundtrack.

And for those of you who like Song of the Week here's a full list

When all is said and done, 'Love' isn't a bad name for a band.

The epitome of the Jazz Age, Rhapsody in Blue is almost the same age (1924) as the 'Art Deco' exhibition of 1925 (see poster above). Written for solo piano and jazz band, it was subsequently orchestrated into the form you hear most often today. It's long, but it'll take you in to the weekend on a cloud.

So kick off your shoes, grab The Great Gatsby from the shelf (also 100 years old) and party like it's 1925.

With Elizabeth's Fraser's impenetrable, often made up lyrics, their 'ethereal' sound and a preference for privacy, the Cocteau Twins certainly cracked it when it came to mystery. Mind you, your Song of the Week editor once saw them having an argument on a London Underground train. Rock n' Roll.

Still, this is very uplifting don't you think? Also check out their cover of Tim Buckley's Song to the Siren (as This Mortal Coil), a Song of the Week from a long, long time ago.

Russell Thompkins Jr's falsetto and the boys showing an impressive disinterest in being filmed.

Happy Easter

This little pop classic was co-written by the talented and often overlooked Lynsey De Paul. Happy teatime everyone.

One drop of rain on your window pane
Doesn't mean to say there's a thunderstorm comin'
Rain may pour for an hour or more
But it doesn't matter, you know it doesn't matter