We all have them, songs that seem to speak right to that secret place in your soul – sometimes secret even from you. They flow into you, through you, whirling, swirling around until they completely surround a tiny spot deep down inside of you. And then they never leave. They can grow and occasionally fester in you like an open wound, or they can heal you, fill you up and inspire you.
Many times they don’t even reflect your normal musical tastes. They can be shameful secrets that you keep from family and friends – in my case it’s Janet Jackson – sneaking listens when no one is home or when you’re alone in your car. You feel like a drug addict craving your next fix. Thank whatever god you pray to for MP3 players – the syringe of those suffering with this terrible and often embarrassing affliction.
This is my list of some of the songs that speak to me in ways (and places) no person can (or has yet). This is the third instalment of Songs and I will let you to delve the depths of my musical depravity. My dirty little secrets seem to go on and on, some are dirtier than others and some are just head-scratching or eclectic – and some of them are VERY dirty, and I probably need a BBFC rating of 15 rating.
In no particular order:
Glory Box – Portishead
This steamy, sultry jazz/trip-hop tune frames lyrics that I think mirror all women’s feelings about love, life and men eventually. “I’m so tired, of playing/ Playing with this bow and arrow / Gonna give my heart away / Leave it to the other girls to play / For I’ve been a temptress too long / Just… / Give me a reason to love you / Give me a reason to be, a woman / I just wanna be a woman”. Those lyrics combined with the jazzy sensual melodic music and Beth Gibbons distinctive, eerie, mournful voice create a song that reaches out and grabs my soul in its silky, sensuous grip.
“Warmth” and “Moist” – Janet Jackson
Yes I know. But as I said in my first Songs article I love Janet. I’m a very naughty girl and Janet sings to that side of me like no one else ever has. No woman has ever made me as, umm… “Moist” as Janet does. And I believe the following lyrics explain why that is. I also believe they are self explanatory but if you need me to draw you a little map just let me know.
“Warmth”
“My hands, wrapped around / Strokin’, up and down / But nothing can compare to / The warmth of my mouth / I love, every sound, you make / When I’m down / Nothing can prepare you / For the warmth of my mouth”
“Moist”
“Feeling your anatomy breaking me down / Sucking on my (mmm) with ice in your mouth / Hurry and undress me take me right now / I’m wet for you boy / Caught up in the waves of passion up & down / Love the way you movin’ my body all around / Boy you know you make the rain come down / You know how to make my rain come down”
“Bitch” – Meredith Brooks
Cliché? Maybe. But that doesn’t make it any less true. This, now classic, pop rock track was written by a woman about being a woman. This song celebrates the amazing and diverse people women are. Women can also be – well, I know I can be – exciting, contrary creatures. I’m a bitch, I’m a lover, I’m a child and a mother just like the song says and I love that this song makes it ok, even cool, to admit that.
“Crazy” – Patsy Cline
This, Willie Nelson written song is perfect for a very first dance with someone very special. Do you really need more of an explanation than that? OK, here’s one.
You’ve known him (or her if you’re a man and so inclined) for a short time; a few weeks at most. You’ve been gently flirting , shy glances – the moment he notices, you only just make eye contact, then give a sweet little smile and look away. The soft occasional brushing of hands and a few lingering hand shakes while you smile into each others eyes. And now after weeks you want to touch him, kiss him, you have a physical need to feel him up against you.
“Crazy” is the perfect song for that. It demands that he pull you in close, so close that there’s no light between you, your legs entwined, his warm cheek, rough with stubble, pressed against your soft, smooth cheek, one arm around you waist holding you gently, your small delicate hand in his tucked up against his chest, feeling his soft breath on your ear while you sway back and forth together. And there, wrapped in each others arms, even if you are in the middle of a crowded dance floor, there will not be another living soul for a thousand miles. Just the two of you.
“Son of a Preacher Man” – Dusty Springfield
For sleepovers “Son of a Preacher Man” was always a must for me and my punk/goth friends. Even then we knew this song was something special. With towels wrapped around our heads (to create long hair of course), wearing just our PJ’s we would grab a hairbrush and meet in the middle of my bedroom floor. There we would stand right in front of my blaring stereo speakers and sing as loud as we could and usually off key.
Whatever that something special is, it is undoubtedly the reason so many have covered this song. Aretha Franklin turned it down originally but after hearing Dusty Springfield’s husky, bluesy voice signing it she too recorded it – although she never released it as a single. It is R&B/blues classic that is sheer perfection. Who could have done it better? The answer to that is: Not even Aretha Franklin.
(lion)
mört
September 1st, 2006