by the neon
What is the total amount of music files on your computer?
If we’re talking about professional recording artists’ stuff, then it’s less than one giga at any one time. Only rip it if I need to slow it down and learn it. Once I’m done, I delete it. But I love original homemade stuff made by other non-pro people – music, videos etc. That’s around 3-4 gigas – not a lot by any measure.
The CD you last bought?
James Taylor’s The Best of. Wanted to check out why this man is revered as one of America’s greatest songwriters. The live cut of Steamroller alone is worth the price of the CD three times over…
… and Butterfingers’ Selamat Tinggal Dunia which, to paraphrase kudo, ‘is how it should be done’.
What was the last song you listened to before reading this message?
Faith Hill’s Let Me Let Go. She has two versions of the song, I think. I prefer the one with the male singer accompaniment, i.e. the more country-sounding version with slide guitar.
My all-time, Top 5 records, in no particular order, are as follows:
i Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye from Let’s Get It On
The song I shared most intimately with someone I bled for.
Enough said.
ii Bold As Love by The Jimi Hendrix Experience from Axis: Bold As Love
Great lyrics, sublime guitar playing (particularly that glorious through-zero-flanging sound in the outro) and prophetic vision of what modern music should be – a potent mix of old skool rnb, skanky funk, 70s psychedelic rock and old blues. A good song to make out to, too. 😛
iii Paranoid Android from OK Computer & Fake Plastic Trees from The Bends, both by Radiohead
Paranoid Android blows the mind. Some bands write one hit song and do three alternate versions for MTV airplay. Radiohead put six gorgeous songs in that 6-minute aural burst.
I have to include Fake Plastic because that song was very dear to me during a period of difficult times a few years back. I saw them play live in London, but had to leave early as I had to attend a project meeting at 9 a.m. in Sheffield the next day. As I was pushing my way through the crowd, I heard that glassy, haunting voice of Thom Yorke singing, “Her green plastic watering can†and the next thing I felt was hot, stinging tears on my cheeks. I tried very hard not to look over my shoulder and kept on walking to the exit. Simply heartbreaking.
iv Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen from A Night At The Opera
The greatest song ever written in popular music. Period.
v Bell Bottom Blues by Derek And The Dominos from Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
I owe it to myself to include something by E.C. This song is good ol’ country blues and the guitar playing on it is too tasteful. The solo kills me when Eric does this repetitive lick only audible to dogs and bats. Most importantly, the band sounded like they were having a whole lot of fun – something lacking in modern-day acts.
I am guilty for not including works by/from Pink Floyd (Us And Them, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Wish You Were Here etc), Led Zeppelin (Rain Song, Black Dog, Immigrant Song etc), B.B., Freddie and Albert King(s), Jeff Beck, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, SRV, the Seattle grunge scene and a whole lot of other newer acts like Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, Jonny Lang etc.
But these types of questions are almost like asking, “So which one of your children would you kill first if God ordered you to do so?â€.
Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?
I don’t pass sticks. I dish them out.
Kickin squelin gucci little piggy. 🙂
it’s a SIN, neon!!! u dont include Adrianne from The Calling (?!)
But Fake Plastic Trees makes up for all the rest that he did not include.That song has my vote as the Mona Lisa of music
i didnt know Neon has a taste for pretty boys ( the calling ) :p
Anuar,
aye2. hence my email handle. heh
THE Neon,
judging from your past entries, I woudl never thought you’re a Radiohead fan. But yes besides the Dave Matthews Band, your list is tres magnifique!
Haven’t heard half of it but list’s great. Radiohead, Jonny Lang – done deal, great list.
Intimatest song with a bleed-for-babe and tears on cheeks? Neon doode, you’re emozionale? No way man. Chill. Say it with me. Life’s too good to cry over. Go fly a kite. Kill a mockingbird.
i just made my fren here sing Bohemian Rhapsody.
Yeah! Bohemian Rhapsody!
“Scaramouche,scaramouche,
will you do the fandango..”
i used to listen to Queens a lot. my friends all hated it but hey, they were big one long time ago!
Bohemian Rhapsody is the dutch queen’s anthem – they sing it – in choir, concerts etc on her birthday every year. Turn on any dtuch channel at any time of the day on the 30th of April, you either see BR performed life or a Queen’s special.
maharizmo
wats up
Lisa: I did a 800km stint (with a few mates) in less than 24 hours from Sheffield to Edinburgh and back to see Radio play at the CornEx. Limited 2000-only audience show… A FEW DAYS BEFORE MY THIRD YEAR FINAL EXAMS!!! That’s how crazy I am about Thomas and Co.
And what’s wrong with Dave Matthews? Don’t be so harsh lah. They deserve some recognition. Even if they’re Americans. HoHOHOhoHo…
Lmsn: Do you know what kind of amp the guitarist for The Calling pakai? TOP HAT, okay? Setakat Matchless tu kena ratah je lah… 😛
kudo: Thanks for the space and opportunity.
Optimist-eque: Oh! All of those are old stories lah. I do go kite flying and mockingbird killing to take my mind off things these days. Heh.
One can have a lot of songs to like, but only a select few transcend to become almost autobiographical. As if some songs were meant to be written for those few specific moments in one’s life – Life’s Soundtrack. Hehehe…
Fortunately I have two of those songs which relate to (a) specific (read:’difficult’) period(s)/person(s) of/in my life as a reminder.
neon: even if aku pakai Trentino, Dumbel or Savage sekalipun, u’d still have another brand(s) yg boleh ‘ratah’ these amps…
… like-wise laa…
Neon
ive always thought DM as this century’s PHISH 😛
i’ve never listened to trey anastasio. what’s phish like?
Yeah. Heal and kill some more.
Sharing Life Soundtracks. Aren’t we all exhibitionists? *snicker*
CornEx 04? Frickin’ Edin? Lil’ sis went. The weasel fancies she’s the only Malay there, biggest Radio fan in Malaysia. Hahh.
Corn Ex 03, before they even released HTTT and were trying the songs out live. I was the only Malay there that year. So your sis must’ve been the only Malay in 2004. Setiap tahun ada sorang.
Hehehe…
Optimist-eque: Oh, about her being ‘The Biggest Radio Fan in Malaysia’ tu, I pun disagree jugak lah… HoHOhOhOHo…
The Neon
I was also the only malay at SG in 96, the only malay at Rage in 97, the only Malay at RH in 00, the only Malay at PJ in 96 , 98 & 00 and so the story goes.
hahaha..hidup melayu
(also helps that your Uni is so hulu from anywhere else and yo’re one of the 3 malay students)