Minimalist American composer John Adams said of 'Short Ride:' "You know how it is when someone asks you to ride in a terrific sports car, and then you wish you hadn't?"
If you get chance go and see it live. Come to think of it, if you get chance go and see anything live.
This version is from the 2014 BBC Proms conducted by Marin Alsop.
Chester Arthur Burnett, as Wolf was born, was part of the Chicago Blues scene led by musicians escaping segregation in the South in the 1940s and 1950s.
Song of the Week has neglected Opera so far but we are going to start at the top with the 'Letter Scene' from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, based on Pushkin's verse novel. Tatyana pours out her love for Onegin by writing a middle of the night letter (never the best time perhaps). Onegin is not impressed.
Back in the 70s, even hard-bitten punks had a grudging respect for ABBA. After all it was clear that these guys could write songs. 'The Name of the Game' is a perfect example. Most bands would have squeezed 4 songs out of it, but Benny and Bjorn were on a roll. Agnetha and Anni-Frid each have solo parts. 'Dancing Queen', 'SOS' et al are great - as are lesser-known songs such as 'Angel Eyes' - but this, despite a silly if ironic video, might just be their masterpiece.
The phrase 'one hit wonder' is used rather disparagingly though it applies to many walks of life and for many of us is just an aspiration. American Garage-Rock band ? and the Mysterians fit the bill though they are more interesting than some. Their name was inspired by the Japanese Sci-fi film 'The Mysterions.'
It may not be common to mathematicians but retiring early is becoming a theme in Song of the Week (Bobbie Gentry being the first). Janet Baker retired nearly 40 years ago and now, in her eighties, reserves her singing to the odd visit to church. Here in Strauss's Morgen! (Tomorrow!) she sings "And tomorrow the sun will shine again." Indeed.
It's hard to imagine George Ivan (Van) Morrison dancing to anything but here he is giving it a go "under cover of October skies." Van has said some questionable things about the Coronavirus recently but Song of the Week is a strictly neutral segment of the Bulletin so we will move on. And anyway, as they say, don't love your heroes.
Bobbie Gentry had great success until she threw it all up 40 years ago and socially distanced from the world. Admittedly this, her biggest hit, is not the most cheery of ditties but it is good and in the spirit of keeping things current, it is a rare example of the word 'virus' being used in a song.
"I saw a werewolf drinking a piña colada at Trader Vic's
And his hair was perfect"
Trader Vic's in London is still there. Below is the remastered version but for the purists and those who want to see Warren in action (and howling) here is the original.
Originally a hit for 60s Jamaican Rocksteady artist Dandy Livingstone, this version by the Specials comes from the Ska revival based around Coventry in the West Midlands of England in the late 70s. The movement was part of the anti-racism movement in music at the time. Time for a ska revival revival?