God, I love this woman. I love that she is like no other musician. That her music conveys so much beauty. Her voice so much emotion. I’ve loved her since I first heard the Sugarcubes track Hit (one of the greatest pop songs of all time) back in 1992. However, it was her first single Human Behaviour, as a solo artist that I rushed out and bought on 7″ (yes I am that old) that cemented my lifelong obsession and adoration of the Icelandic singer. Yet, she is more than just a singer. She is an artist, a songwriter, a performer and a composer. Her innovative and eclectic artistry has spanned a 30 year career and I have no doubt that she has a lot more to offer. Her artistic style is so remarkable that you can currently catch a Björk exhibition at MoMA. Tragically, I still haven’t seen her live and can we please not talk about the time she played a Glastonbury that I was attending and heroically drunk on Somerset cider, I didn’t quite get round to making it to the NME Stage in time to watch her. Don’t. It’s almost as bad as the time, I didn’t quite get round to watching David Bowie at Glastonbury (you can’t possibly despair of me as much as I despair of myself).
Favourite Björk album: Homogenic (1997, no.4)
And here are all my favourite Björk songs. There’s a Spotify playlist at the end as per.
15. The Dull Flame of Desire (2008, did not chart, Volta)
14. Triumph of a Heart (2005, no.31, Medúlla)
13. Like Someone in Love (1993, album track, Debut)
12. Army of Me (1995, no.10, Post)
11. Human Behaviour (1993, no.36, Debut)
10. Unravel (1997, album track, Homogenic)
9. Pagan Poetry (2001, no.38, Verspertine)
8. Big Time Sensuality (1993, no.17, Debut)
7. Come to Me (1993, album track, Debut)
6. All Is Full of Love (1999, no.24, Homogenic)
5. Isobel (1995, no.23, Post)
4. Jóga (1997, did not chart, Homogenic)
3. Venus as a Boy (1993, no.29, Debut)
2. Bachelorette (1997, no.21, Homogenic)
And my all time favourite Björk song is…
.
.
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1. Hyperballad (1996, no.8, Post)
The one that almost made it: Cosmogony (2011, did not chart, Biophilia)
Don’t forget to tell me your favourite Björk track below.
See you next week for top Suede tunes!
For other musical artist top tens click on the link:
In 1975, Margaret Thatcher defeated Edward Heath and became the first female leader of the Conservative party in its history, 43 people were killed in the Moorgate tub train crash, a large National Front protest took place in London against Europe integration, after brake failure a coach plunges off a bridge in West Yorkshire killing the driver and 31 female pensioners becoming the worst UK road accident in history, 67% of voters in a referendum voted to remain in the EEC, the London Hilton hotel was bombed by the IRA killing 2 and injuring 63 people, Fawlty Towers was broadcast for the first time, an IRA bomb exploded near Green Park tube station killing 1 and injuring 20 people, an IRA bomb intended for politician Sir Hugh Fraser kills oncologist Gordon Hamilton Fairley, the first vicim of the Moors Murders is discovered in Leeds, the first public performance by Sex Pistols takes place, racing driver Graham Hill (Damon Hill’s father) dies in an air crash, the co-founder of the Guinness Book of Records Ross McWhirter is shot dead by the IRA, the Vietnam War ends, VHS is introduced to the world, the 15 year civil war in Lebanon starts between Maronite Christians and Muslin militias and the filmsJaws, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Dog Day Afternoon, One Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest, Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Tommy are all released (what a year for film!) and I started to make my mum look like she ate all the pies….
Oh gang, I can’t believe this is it. This is THE final Top Ten Tunes. I started this feat of an idea way back in November 2017 and here we are in 2019 and I’ve finally gone through every year from 1960 to 2018 with my Top Ten Tunes from each year, along with the news form each year, a bit of reminiscing and some rather wonderful photography hopefully capturing the various eras. I’ve learned a lot, it’s renewed my passion in music from the past and it has also taken me down memory lane. I thoroughly enjoyed doing these lists and thank you so much for joining me every week or even if you just popped in from time to time. And I really hope I didn’t let you down when it came to your birth year’s selection of music (and sorry if I didn’t cover your birth year). At the end of this post, I’ve gathered together a renewed selection of facts about these playlists similar to how I did with this post HERE and there’ll be a playlist at the end of every favourite song of mine from every year (all 59 songs!).
So, here we go, for the final time, my 10 personal favourite tunes from a particular year and this week, it’s 1975.
1. You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate
2. Young Americans by David Bowie
3. Lovin’ You by Minnie Riperton
4. I’m Not in Love by 10cc
5. Black Country Woman by Led Zeppelin
6. Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) by Steve Harley & the Cockney Rebels
7. Never Can Say Goodbye by Gloria Gaynor
8. Love is the Drug by Roxy Music
9. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
10. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
I mean, I’m so basic, I’m going to pick Queen this week. I tried really hard not to go for the obvious one, but I had to pick the one that just so happens to genuinely be my favourite (which is exactly as I have done every other week). So, please don’t be shy (especially not on our final week), tell me which is your favourite.
When I did the years 1976-2018, the nationality of acts that appeared the most was British and that was by quite a long way, but interestingly between 1960-1975, the most popular nationality for these playlists was American. In fact, for this period, all the acts were either American or British, apart from just 3 acts (who all hailed from the Caribbean).
My top 4 acts from 1960-1975 are:
4. Elton John (features 4 times)
3. Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye & David Bowie (5 times each)
2. Stevie Wonder (7 times)
1. Beatles (9 times)
That means, my overall top 5 acts (from 1960-2018) are:
5. Bjork (features 7 times)
4. George Michael & Beyonce (8 times each)
3. Beatles & Blur (9 times each)
2. Madonna, Stevie Wonder & Kylie Minogue (10 times each and Madge has been knocked off the top spot by…..)
1. David Bowie is my most popular artist throughout all of these Top Ten Tunes, appearing 12 times. First appearing in 1969 and featuring for the final time in 2016. I think that really says something about Bowie as an artist.
All of those top artists are favourite artists of mine unsurprisingly, apart from Elton John. I must like him more than I think I do!
Last thing, from next week onwards I’ll be doing posts on my favourite songs by certain artists, so I hope I still see you all on some of those future posts.
And here’s that final playlist of every one of my favourite songs from every single year from 1960-2018. Phew!
In 1974, the IRA bomb a coach on the M62 in West Yorkshire, killing 12 people (2 of which were children), Grenada becomes independent from the UK, the general election takes place and results in a hung parliament, Ted Heath announces his resignation and Harold Wilson becomes Prime Minister leading a minority Labour government, 180 Brits die when a plane crashes near Paris– killing all 346 people on board, the Eurovision Contest takes place in Brighton and a band called Abba wins with the song Waterloo, 34 people are killed in bombings that take place in Dublin and Monaghan, clashes between the far-right National Front and counter-protesters results in a 21 year old student being killed, the IRA bomb the Houses of Parliament, another IRA bomb explodes at the Tower of London killing 1 person, the Guildford pub bombing kills 5 people, a second general election takes place, which results in Labour winning, another IRA bomb explodes at the Brook’s club in London, Lord Lucan disappears after the death of his children’s nanny, the IRA bomb a pub in Woolwich killing 2 people, McDonald’s open their first restaurant in the UK, 21 people are killed in an IRA bomb in a pub in Birmingham, the London home of Ted Heath is bombed by the IRA– he only narrowly missed the explosion, Richard Nixon becomes the first American president forced to resign after the Watergate scandal, the Rumble in the Jungle takes place when George Foreman and Muhammed Ali fight in a much hyped boxing match- Ali wins, Gerald Ford becomes the President of the United States, Isabel Peron becomes the first female President in the world when she becomes President of Argentina, West Germany wins the World Cup and the films Chinatown, The Godfather Part II, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Death Wish, The Towering Inferno, The Man With Golden Gun and Swallows and Amazons are all released.
This week contains one of my all time favourite songs, lots of familiar faces from previous Top Ten Tunes and the introduction of some band called Queen. Spotify playlist at the end.
1. Killer Queen by Queen
2. Jet by Paul McCartney & Wings
3. You’re The First, The Last, My Everything by Barry White
This photo of Bazza is perfection
4. You Are Everything by Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross
5. That’s the Spirit by Judee Sill
6. This Town Ain’t Big Enough For the Both Of Us by Sparks
7. Rebel Rebel by David Bowie
8. Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing by Stevie Wonder
9. I’m In Love by Aretha Franklin
10. Candle in the Wind by Elton John
Queen and Bowie are my runners up, but Judee Sill is easily my favourite this week as it’s one of my all time favourite songs. Please let me know below which one of these 1974 gems is your favourite.
See you next week for the final ever Top Ten Tunes and 1975!
In 1973, the UK enters the EEC (European Economic Community), 400 children attack British troops in Derry, Northern Ireland, Pink Floyd release The Dark Side of the Moonthe best-selling album of all time by a British artist, two IRA bombs explode in London killing 1 and injuring 250, the Northern Ireland sovereignty referendum voted in favour of remaining within the UK with 98.9% of the votes, the new London Bridge was opened, women were admitted into the London Stock Exchange for the first time, the Bahamas gains full independence, 18 coal miners are killed in Derbyshire in a cage brake failure accident and 7 miners die in West Yorkshire in another coal mine accident, more IRA bombs explode in both Manchester and London, the Princess Royal (Anne) marries Captain Mark Phillips, the US ends its involvement with Vietnam after signing the Paris Peace Accords, the American Indian Movement (AIM) occupied Wounded Knee in South Dakota taking 11 hostages to highlight the injustices that Native Americans faced, Sears Tower in Chicago is completed, the Sydney Opera House is opened, the World Trade Center is also opened, Basque terrorists kill the Spanish Prime Minister Luis Carrero Blanco, the films The Exorcist, American Graffiti, The Wicker Man, Live and Let Die, and Mean Streets are released and both my big brother and my husband were born.
Another absolutely storming week this week. Only two more weeks of these Top Ten Tunes after this week!
1. Nutbush City Limits by Ike and Tina Turner
2. Top of the World by The Carpenters
In 1973, The Carpenters performed at the White House.
3. Killing Me Softly With His Song by Roberta Flack
4. Living For the City by Stevie Wonder (Whilst the song is from 1973, this video isn’t quite, but almost. Listen to that voice!)
5. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
6. Love Train by The O’Jays
7. You Can’t Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones (from the 1969 album Let It Bleed, it was randomly released as a single in 1973)
8. Piano Man by Billy Joel
9. Life on Mars? by David Bowie
10. Love Reign O’er Me by The Who (this had to be in here this week as Quadrophenia is one of my all time favourite films)
Struggling to pick a favourite from those last three songs, but I’m going to go for Billy Joel this week. If you can pick one, which one is your favourite?
In 1972, British troops open fire on unarmed demonstrators in Derry, Northern Ireland killing 14– the event is remembered as “Bloody Sunday”, protestors burn down the British Embassy in Dublin, an IRA bomb kills 6 people in Aldershot barracks, Edward, Duke of Windsor dies at 77– 35 years after he abdicated from the throne, a British plane crashes near Staines killing all 118 people on board, the first gay pride march takes place in London, a series of IRA explosions in Belfast leave 9 dead, in County Londonderry 9 are killed by IRA car bombs, the Olympics takes place in Munich, West Germany- where 11 Israel athletes are murdered in a terrorist attack, the first episode of Emmerdale Farm is broadcast, the Watergate Scandal starts when wiretapping laws are broken and 5 White House officials are arrested for burglarising the Democratics’ offices, President Nixon is re-elected as president of the United States, 16 people survive a plane crash in the Andes after practising cannibalism and the films The Godfather, Deliverance, Cabaret, The Poseidon Adventure and Super Fly are released.
Outstanding week this week. Some of my all time favourite songs are on this week’s list. Here they are, in no particular order. Spotify playlist at the end.
1. Rockin’ Robbin by Michael Jackson
2. Superstition by Stevie Wonder
3. Papa Was a Rolling Stone by the Temptations (there are some marvellous dance moves and outfits in this video)
4. Day Dreaming by Aretha Franklin
5. The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack
6. You’re So Vain by Carly Simon
7. Starman by David Bowie
8. Tiny Dancer by Elton John
9. Handbags and the Gladrags by Rod Stewart
10. Les Fleur by Minnie Riperton
Stevie and The Temptations are close runners up, but it’s Minnie Riperton that’s my favourite this week. One of my all time favourite songs.
Here’s my succinct cultural review of 2018. I have completely failed you regarding film this year though. My local independent cinema is my idea of church and I usually visit it several times a month, but for one reason or another- I just haven’t made it there for half the time I normally would. So, it just wouldn’t be fair to say which I think are the best films from this year. Onwards with music, books and TV though. I’ve been fully engaged with all of those as per. There’s a longer playlist at the end of over 70 of the best singles and album tracks from the year for y’all.
Best Books I’ve Read This Year
5. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
4. This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay
3. Animal by Sara Pascoe
2. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
1. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeymoon
Best TV Programme
10. Better Call Saul (ALWAYS excellent. Question is, is it now better than Breaking Bad?)
9. Save Me (You can tell Lennie James wrote this as his character has sex with three different women in it. It also happens to be very good)
8. Sharp Objects (All 3 of these actors are fantastic in this. Incredibly gripping. And the post-credits ending…)
7. The Good Place (Just lovely, heart-warming fun with a strong cast. Plus Ted Danson- 100% would.)
6. The Assassination of Gianni Versace (Darren Chriss’s chilling portrayal of Andrew Cunanan is phenomenal in this)
5. Glow (nothing but glorious 80s fun)
4. The Bodyguard (I may have had a mini nervous breakdown watching this. Outstanding.)
3. Sally4Ever (not to be watched if you’re easily offended. However, if you’re not then this is essential viewing. Cringeworthy performances by an excellent cast)
2. This Country (perfect British comedy with a touch of vulnerability. KERRRRRRRRRRY! WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?)
1.Killing Eve (give both of these actors ALL THE AWARDS)
Best Album
5. The Blue Hour by Suede
4. Rebound by Eleanor Friedberger
3. Ruins by First Aid Kit
2. Chris by Christine & the Queens
1. Dirty Computer by Janelle Monae
Top Ten Tunes
10. All My Dreams by Roisin Murphy
9. Dancing by Kylie Minogue
8. no tears left to cry by Ariana Grande
7. Girlfriend by Christine and the Queens
6. Make Me Feel by Janelle Monae
5. Paradise by George Ezra
4. I Am Woman by Pink Martini
3. Mr. Weinstein Will See You Now by Amanda Palmer & Jasmine Power
2. Edge of Town by Middle Kids
1. Missing U by Robyn
Honorary mention & best music video: This is America by Childish Gambino. At times shocking and difficult to watch, the symbolism used in this video and Donald Glover’s artistry and social commentary are exceptional.
So, you know the score. Which song, album and/or TV programme are your favourites from this year? And please, please let me know which have been your favourite films that you’ve seen this year. I have a lot of catching up to do.
And here’s an extended playlist of my favourite songs from 2018.
In 1971, a stairway crush at the Rangers vs Celtic football match left 66 dead, several bombs were exploded around the UK by the Angry Brigade– a left-wing revolutionary group, Qatar gains independence from the UK, the death toll in The Troubles in Northern Ireland reaches 100 with the death of 14yr-old Annette McGavigan who got caught in crossfire between British soldiers and the IRA, the first CAT scan took place at Wimbledon hospital, the House of Commons voted to join the EEC (European Economic Community), the UK became the sixth nation to successfully launch a satellite into orbit, the world’s first domestic violence shelter opens in West London, 15 people are killed and 17 are injured in a bomb attack in Belfast, border battles between India and Pakistan erupt into full-blown war, The Walt Disney World Theme Park opens, the United Arab Emirates is established, Jim Morrison is found dead in a bathtub in Paris, Apollo 14 lands on the moon and a Clockwork Orange, Dirty Harry, Fiddler on the Roof, Shaft, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Get Carter, Walkabout and Diamonds Are Forever are all released.
Only 5 years left and then we’re done, gang! I’m going to miss doing these. Another week of music from the past, another week of legendary tunes. Here’s my favourites from 1971, in no particular order.
1. Move On Up by Curtis Mayfield
2. I Feel the Earth Move by Carole King
3. Spanish Harlem by Aretha Franklin
4. Let’s Stay Together by Al Green
5. Rainy Days and Mondays by the Carpenters
6. Maggie May by Rod Stewart
7. What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye
8. Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves by Cher
9. I’m Still Waiting by Diana Ross
10. Proud Mary by Ike and Tina Turner
Carole King or Curtis Mayfield? Carole or Curtis? Imma gonna go for Curtis. You know the score, tell me your favourite this week below in the comments. Cheers!
See you next week for a review of 2018 (including a top ten tunes from 2018). Top Ten Tunes from 1972 will be published the following week on 4th January. Happy Christmas y’all!
In 1970, the half crown coin ceased to be legal tender, the grave of Karl Marx was vandalised by anti-Germanic racists at Highgate, London, four years after the declaration of independence Rhodesia is finally declared a republic and severs ties with the British Crown, 18 victims of Thalidomide are awarded £370,00 in compensation, Paul McCartney announces that he has left the Beatles and files a lawsuit against the other members of the band- effectively ending the band, Tonga became independent from the UK, the World Cup takes place in Mexico, the bodies of two children are discovered in shallow graves in woodlands in Essex and they form the Babes in the Woods case, the first General Election takes place where 18 year-olds can vote– the Conservatives win and Edward Heath becomes Prime Minister, British Army officers battle with the IRA in Belfast and 3 civilians are killed & 10 officers injured, 112 people are killed when a Manchester to Barcelona plane crashes into mountains in Spain- no one survives, dockers vote to strike which led to a state of emergency as food supplies become short, the Commonwealth Games take place in Edinburgh, riots take place in Notting Hill, Jimi Hendrix dies in London from a suspected drug-induced heart attack, the first Glastonbury Festival is held, the Gay Liberation Front arranged it’s first march in London, the Apollo 13 mission has a problem, the world’s first Jumbo Jet has its first commercial flight from New York to London, the US invades Cambodia, a cyclone in Bangladesh kills 500,000, 100,000 gallons of oil are spilled into the English Channel creating a huge oil slick, a fire at a nightclub in France leaves 142 teenage clubbers dead, Janis Joplin dies of a heroin overdose and the films Kelly’s Heroes, MASH, Catch-22, Airport, The Railway Children and Let It Be are released.
Welcome to the 70s! As bereft as I was to wave goodbye to the 60s, the 70s start off strong. Here’s all my favourites, in no particular order. Spotify playlist at the end as always.
1. Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine by James Brown
2. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) by Stevie Wonder (we played this at our wedding as we signed the register. Terribly tacky, I know, but we cared very little)
3. Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell
4. (They Long to Be) Close to You by Carpenters
5. Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel (controversial that I picked this instead of Bridge Over Troubled Waters?)
6. ABC by the Jackson 5 (Interestingly, I have featured The Jackson 5/The Jacksons more than I ever did with Michael Jackson as a soloist in these lists)
7. Band of Gold by Freda Payne (the dancing in this video is sublime)
8. Lola by the Kinks
9. Your Song by Elton John
10. Let It Be by the Beatles (the last time the lads will feature in these lists *sniff*)
Some people may be sick of hearing this song, but I think my favourite this week is Elton. Pray tell me, WHICH ONE IS YOURS?
In 1969, the Space Hopper toy and the Raleigh Chopper bike were introduced to the UK, the Beatles perform for the final time on the rooftop of Apple Records, the very first flight of Concorde takes place, Ronnie & Reggie Kray are imprisoned for life, John Lennon & Yoko Ono marry, Paul McCartney marries Linda, Lulu representing the UK came joint first in the Eurovision Song Contest, the voting age is lowered from 21 to 18, rioting takes place in Derry, Northern Ireland, Monty Python’s Flying Circus aired it’s first episode on the BBC and Sesame Street also airs for the first time, regular colour television is broadcast on the BBC and ITV, the first man- Neil Armstrong- lands on the moon (or did he?), the music festival Woodstock takes place, the Beatles record their final albumAbbey Road together, members of a cult led by Charles Manson kill 5 people, Richard Nixon becomes President of the US, former Rolling Stones guitarist Brain Jones is found drowned in his swimming pool and the films Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Midnight Cowboy, Easy Rider, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, The Italian Job, Hello Dolly!, Kes and Sweet Charity are all released.
Times are a’changing. You can really see a shift in music style now as we reach the end of the 60s (sniff). We also see a baby David Bowie for the first time and miraculously there’s the Rolling Stones this week! Here’s my favourites from 1969, in no particular order.
1. I Want You Back by The Jackson 5 (this video will make you happy- I promise)
2. Wonderful World, Beautiful People by Jimmy Cliff
3. My Cherie Amour by Stevie Wonder
4. Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
5. Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones
6. Come Together by the Beatles
7. The Israelites by Desmond Dekker
8. Spinning Wheel by Peggy Lee
9. Space Oddity by David Bowie
10. My Way by Frank Sinatra (this recording of Frank was done a little after 1969, but I thought you’d appreciate it anyway)
It’s almost a 4 way tie between The Beatles, Peggy Lee, The Jackson 5 and Bowie this week, but I’m going to pick Bowie as my favourite.
In 1968, Mauritius gains independence from the UK, motor racing world champion Jim Clark is killed at 32yrs when his car leaves the racing track and smashes in to a tree in Hockenheim, the new Abortion Act comes into effect allowing abortions in certain circumstances and provided free n the NHS, Martin Luther King is assassinated by James Earl Ray which leads to rioting across the US, the first Isle of Wight festival takes place, British tennis player Virginia Wade wins the US Open, the M1 motorway is completed, the Olympics take place in Mexico– which sees the Black Power Salute during a medal ceremony, anti-Vietnam protests take place in London, Mary Bell an 11yr old girl is sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing of two young boys, Senator Robert Kennedy is assassinated, the Kray twins are arrested for the murder of two underworld gang members and the films 2001: a Space Odyssey, Rosemary’s Baby, Bullitt, Night of the Living Dead, Planet of the Apes, Romeo and Juliet, Yellow Submarine, Funny Girl, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Oliver! are released.
When a playlist starts with Stevie Wonder and then goes onto Aretha Franklin then onto the Beatles and ends with the Mamas & Papas and also features both Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding, you know the 60s were everything and yes once again I could cry. Here’s all those gems from 1968, in no particular order.
1. For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder
2. Think by Aretha Franklin
3. Lady Madonna by the Beatles
4. Son of a PreacherMan by Dusty Springfield
5. Build Me Up by The Foundations
6. I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye
7. Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone
8. Piece of My Heart by Big Brother & The Holding Company (Janis Joplin)
9. (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding
10. Dream a Little Dream by Mamas and the Papas
Aretha & the Beatles are very close seconds, but it’s Marvin that is my favourite this week (one of the most perfect beginnings for a song ever).
Just Another Blog From a Woman 