You'll Never Walk Alone

I vaguely remember seeing news footage of the Hillsborough Disaster back in 1989. Wasn't much of a football fan then (unlike now), but i will forever remember this tragic event because of this remake of a favourite liverpool anthem.

This human tragedy occured on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium in Sheffield, England. It was a FA cup semi-final match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC, two well-loved football clubs. Prior to the match, fans started filling in the stadium but the influx of more fans than what the stadium could handle soon created overcrowding, primarily where the liverpool fans were located. Back then, football stadiums have a tall fence barrier in front of the stands to prevent any pitch invasions from the fans. It got to a point where the overspilling crowd caused a large section of the fans to be pressed against the fencing and eventually a fatal human crush. This went unnoticed till sections of the crowd were seen climbing out of the fence that it was apparent something was amiss. The match was abandoned 20 minutes into the game, which soon witnessed scores of fans filling in the pitch gasping for breath, suffering crush injuries and sadly the bodies of the dead as some fans were literally crushed to death. A total of 96 people died in this tragedy - all liverpool fans with hundreds more suffering injuries. An inquiry into the disaster pointed to the failure of crowd and police control. From then on, the fence barrier was permanently removed in all football stadia in UK and converted to all-seaters, which has existed till today.

The next month, a group of liverpool musicians, lead by Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney came together to produce a remake of "Ferry 'Cross The Mersey", an original by Gerry & The Pacemakers in the 60s. The line-up included The Christians, Holly Johnson, Gerry Marsden and songwriter-producer team Stock Aitken Waterman, with all proceeds from the sale of this single going to the Hillsborough Disaster Fund, to help families of victims suffered during the tragedy. It shot to #1 in the UK singles chart for 3 weeks. This is just one of the most poignant but beautiful tune that have stayed with me throughout the years.

Music can be a strong healing force and in this case, i believe it helps an entire nation to tide over a period of mourning for its people in a most unfortunate event. More than anything, it bonds us emotionally and to triumph over adversity.

Another song by Gerry & The Pacemakers called "You'll Never Walk Alone" is always sung rapturously by the liverpool faithful before the start of any home game at Anfield. I may not be a liverpool fan but this song resonates deeply in my heart always...

"Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
and you'll never walk alone..."

A Wide Expanse Of Sound...

This particular album called "The Circle & The Square" by 80s band Red Box has been on heavy rotation on my mp3 player for much of 2008 so far. My brother had a cassette of this in the late 80s that he probably played so often that all these songs have remained etched in my memory as i grow up.

Red Box was formed by Simon Toulson-Clarke and Julian Close in the early 80s. They released three singles before making their full album debut in 1986 with "The Circle & The Square" which have since been considered a classic and is highly rated by new found listeners as well. Though they made a second album in the 90s called "Motive", that had never surpassed the musical high of their debut.

A wide range of musical styles is heard on this excellent album from pop-rock, brass ensembles, choral music and most significantly the strong tribal beats/percussions and angelic background vocals and chanting that reverberates throughout the album. When i hear this album, it evokes a certain spiritual feeling, though (definitely) not in any sense religious - just pure musical awakening i guess. This album is very close to my heart indeed.

This album was received only a limited release on CD. As such, rare CD copies has been exchanging hands at exorbitant prices. My brother bought an imported Japanese pressed CD copy of it from Tower records sometime in the late 90s at a reasonable price. Lucky him, i am envious.

"Lean On Me" and "For America" were their most successful singles. The former features a unique MTV with a sign language interpretation of the song, very apt with the song's theme of human communication and understanding.

Check out "Bantu" and "Saskatchewan" too.

This version of Chenko is just excellent, putting me in a trance-like state each time i hear it.

For those who are enjoying what you hear, there is an online petition started by fans for the record company to re-release this classic on CD again, do help to sign it if you like what you hear. This was what i wrote : "Such well-written and unique thoughtful music should be re-released for future generations of music fans."

"It's over...chenko tenka-io"

Songs That Saved Your Life...

Once in a while, an album comes along and sounds like every track is a hit single...in a word-perfect. This was exactly what happen on a certain day in year 2000 that i strode into a music store and bought off The Smith's "The Queen Is Dead" album, after reading off Q Magazine that it was ranked number 21 in an all-time best albums poll. I have never looked back since...

The Smiths hailed from Manchester, UK and was made up of Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rouke and Mike Joyce. They released a total of 4 studio albums but it was not until 1986 that the band peaked with "The Queen Is Dead." Morrissey's clever, witty and unusual lyrics, combined with Johnny Marr's great guitar playing (Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher said in an interview before that "there is nothing he can't do on a guitar"). The Morrissey/Marr songwriting partnership has been widely regarded as the best since Lennon/McCartney.

The Queen Is Dead is a mixture of pop-rock tunes with a bagful of emotions. From the guitar-driven introduction of the title track to just plain hilarious in "Frankly Mr Shankly", the album shifts
to an emotionally charged "I Know It's Over" with Morrissey's endearing voice which have made me shed tears many times i hear it. Despair took over in "Never Had No One Ever" before the first glimpse of optimism rang in "Cemetery Gates." "Bigmouth Strikes Again" demonstrates Johnny Marr's frantic guitar playing at it's best. "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" exudes with a sense of joy and "Vicar In A Tutu" just have me laughing each time with Morrissey lyrical genius. The album closes with the Smiths anthemic love song "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" with these lyrics that only Morrissey could make sense out of it :

"And if a double-decker bus crashes into us, to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die And if a ten-ton truck kills the both of us, To die by your side well, the pleasure and privilege is mine"

Ending the album is the sombre "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others." Marr's playing on this makes it feel like a dance track the more i hear it. Brilliant. Although this album remains a fan favourite, Morrissey and Marr had disagreed, insisting that their last album "Strangeways Here We Come" is their best work.

Many fans have written about how The Smiths songs relates very much to their own life and have "saved their lives on countless occasions". This is not an over-statement as it had certainly saved mine many times over. Beyond the often gloomy setting of most Smiths songs, they somehow provide a sense of comfort knowing that you are not alone feeling how you feel. i guess this is the magic of music, they just transport you to different stages in your life. Each song is like a bookmark in a person's life.

Check out this smashing cover version of "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" by the 90s rock band Supergrass. I blast this version loudly into my head whenever i feel vexed and it always makes me feel better.

This is a good interview from Johnny Marr about this great album. A full Smiths discography and complete songs lyrics can be found here.

The Queen Is Dead, yes so be it...but The Smiths lives on forever.




Morrissey/Marr

Singer, Songwriter, Storyteller...

Simon & Garfunkel is one of music's most successful and popular duo from the mid 60s to 70s. Paul Simon's talented folk-style songwriting and Art Garfunkel's angelic choir-boy vocals has resulted in classic songs like "The Sounds of Silence", "Mrs Robinson", "The Boxer", "Bridge Over Troubled Waters", which are highly regarded as standards in modern music.

Paul Simon went on a solo career later on, exploring diverse musical forms in his albums, notably "Graceland" and "Rhythm of the Saints" which introduced African and Brazilian music styles to mainstream music, characterized by strong and unique drum beats of the two genre.

Paul Simon to me is one of the best solo musicians i have heard, most noted for his uncanny ability to tell a story within a space of a few minutes or so in a song. His masterful playing of the folk guitar and his soothing vocals has produced some of the finest tunes these ears of mine has ever heard! My first encounter with his songs must be "El Condor Pasa" during my primary school days singing this great Simon & Garfunkel tune during music lessons. It was not until my university days when i got hold of a greatest hits CD of his that i began to backtrack his music catalogue, thus discovering and appreciating so much of his music works.

Here i am going to introduce two of his songs which are my personal favourites

• A Most Perculiar Man (Lyrics) This song was a track on Simon & Garfunkel's "Sounds Of Silence" album. Here is a different stripped down version with just Paul Simon singing along with his perfect guitar picking. As far as i know, this version was never released on any of his official albums. A more intimate version and of course great story telling...

• Rene & Georgette Margritte With Their Dog After The War (Lyrics)
  One of the longest song titles i have seen but a very romantic song with a waltzy feel. i fell in love with this song when i first heard it.
  

Check out "The Obvious Child" and also "You Can Call me Al", his most recognizable hit from the 80s.

A friend once told me that he always listens to Paul Simon's songs before they lull him gently to sleep. I can't agree more than that...

Only You...

The Flying Pickets is a British a cappella vocal group that had a very successful hit "Only You" in 1983 in the UK singles chart. It was a remake of the early 80's electronica duo Yazoo's hit song. Yazoo was made up of Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke who later went on to pursue very successful music careers, the latter forming the highly successful duo Erasure.

Yazoo :


I love to listen to cover versions as they give a different feel and interpretation of the original songs. However, out of the many i heard, i will mostly prefer the original version as i believe the song is best sung and expressed by the original creator most of the time. This version of "Only You" is an exception at least for me. The sweet a cappella voices seems to be drifting in and out of nowhere and finally soaring to a climax midway through the song. Not discrediting Yazoo's original version, it is a great version too combining the best of Vince Clarke's musical genius and Alison Moyet's velvety vocals, but the Flying Pickets just wins me over for this one.

My take on this song : a very sentimental love song and a great listen for all occasions. Check out the wonderful MTV too...

Listen to Yazoo's original version here and have your say!

Hits in the sky

I first discovered Alan Parsons Project sometime in 1994 when i was in college. My brother had this best-of collection CD by the group called "Hits In The Sky." It soon became a staple CD in my portable player for a good few months on those journeys to and from school. It sounds good then and still sounds as good today. For some reasons, their songs have a 'cosmic' feel to them that always makes me close my eyes and think of the stars, sky and the universe.

Check out more about this great band here.

"Eye In The Sky" was one of their biggest hits. This version here has a short instrumental called "Sirius" that segues into the main track. A very fitting start to my blog...

"Don't Answer Me" from 1984 is another uplifting track with a great innovative MTV. Check it out...

Welcome to Sirius Tunes!

Welcome to Sirius Tunes! An ode to music that have accompanied me from the cradle to where i am today...

I grew up listening to my brother's cassette collection when i was a kid. yes - cassettes, which may not ring much of a bell to music fans today who grew up with the CD and MP3 generations. but for those of us who grew up in the 80s, it was a very memorable journey - from rushing to my favourite music store and buy off the latest Bon Jovi album, getting blank cassette tapes to compile our favourite "best of" tunes, lugging those tapes and walkman in my school bag and boasting to friends of the latest cool hit from Def Leppard.

This blog has been long overdue. The intention of this blog is to share some of the most memorable tunes that have been circulating in my brain (other than on my mp3 playlist) for the most part of my life so far, and in a way to open up to music fans of today what they had missed out, but not too late to savour some of the best music that was made in yesteryears.

Welcome to Sirius Tunes!