Stop, Collaborate and Listen, #20 - 16

It has been far too long since the It's My Kind of Scene team came together, let their powers combine and take you on another exciting musical journey. You know what this means right? It means we're doing another countdown! And while the title could have made you thinks we're looking at the best Vanilla Ice songs (aka the shortest countdown of all-time), we'll have to apologise to the four of you wanting that and instead direct you to this countdown which is comprised of our favourite duets. Now, to avoid total chaos and potentially triggering a choice meltdown from the contributors, we've limited these duets to two acts. So soz, 'Lady Marmalade' fans... Xtina, P!nk, Lil' Kim and the other one won't be showing up. At least not as a foursome. S'ok... welcome to the Top 20 Duets countdown. Get ready to stop, collaborate and listen and maybe you'll even get to stop, drop and roll. Because these songs are hot... or something. From Jo, Nayt, Katie, Matt and Lou... enjoy!

#20. SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES

by Aretha Franklin and Annie Lennox

Mid 80s, two vocal giants joined forces to create this girl power anthem. Pop songstress and Eurythmics front woman, Annie Lennox in tandem with queen of soul, Aretha Franklin. They sung with power and grace and much eighties grunt in the duet 'Sisters are Doing it For Themselves'. Although the song was penned by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart under their band The Eurythmics, Aretha also released it on her own album.


I have to admit, the first time I heard this song it was on Australian TV show Young Talent Time. The cover version I first heard was sung by Dannii Minogue and her sister Kylie. I was immediately won over by the groove and the words (and probably entranced by the sparkles and the ridiculously larger than life hair dos the 80s – and Young Talent Time - were famous for). It wasn’t long after though that I heard the original, which was by far superior in delivery and soul. It was the birth for me of 80s power dance moves (which I still use today on the dance floor thank you very much). My own sister and I used to dance around the house singing this song and pretending we were big pop stars. Power moves aside, this song was also good signpost as an impressionable youngster to feel like as a female I had a future ahead of me that I was very capable of directing just as I please.


I have always been fascinated by Annie Lennox. Her white blonde hair, big voice and her somewhat androgynous appearance bowed to no preconceived feminine mould and instead put her into a class all of her own. Lennox had (and still does) the talent to make a pop song stick in your head. Add Aretha Franklin to this already tower house of power and poptastic music and you have one dynamite song. Being the original deliver of the 'Respect' message in the song of the same title, Aretha not only stood tall for racial equality but for us chicky babes too. (Lou Endicott)

#19. WHEN YOU'RE GONE

by Melanie C and Bryan Adams

Well well well, the fact that this song was brought up numerous times by numerous and very different people when I mentioned in passing conversation that we were doing a duets countdown on this here blog did make me giggle. I mean, it’s by Bryan Adams and the Spice Girl no one ever mentions as their favourite (except probably me. Well, she was the one who could sing), but the fact that people (my friends) remember it also made me ponder. Why? What is it about this song that people remember as a great duet? 

We could get all philosophical and speak of the beginnings of a new romance, that bouncy feeling in your belly when you are not with that said person you like, the thoughts of none other than the one who has captured your imagination, the inability to function on a normal level because of all the freakin good hormones coursing through your veins (I don’t know where hormones actually go, I’m a blogger, not a doctor) and the fact that when one is obsessing about another it’s true; “even food don’t taste that good” or on the other hand we could speak of the upbeat tempo of said song, major v minor keys, blah blah blah, but you know what? It’s just a goddamn good pop song, sung by the Spice Girl with the best voice and an old man who I don’t love but who certainly knows how to write a hit song. Combine the two averages and you got yourself some magical pop music. (Jo Michelmore)

#18. SOMEWHERE OUT THERE

by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram

And the childhood memories just come flooding back. Le sigh. Anyone that's seen the 80s animated classic, An American Tail will have a lot of love for 'Somewhere Out There'. In the movie, two Russian-Jewish mice siblings sing this song about a loved one being oh so far away to each other. They're far away from each other because Fievel got lost or something Finding Nemo-ish. It's not as weird as it sounds... not even a little, not even a lot. Now, back in the day, before the wonders of the internet made it easy for us all to plunder movies and music like the thieving cyber pirates we are, songs were used to promote moofies. Bring in a couple of 'hot' music stars, slap together a dodge music video with cuts to scenes from the film you're promoting, corporate synergy blah blah blah... you've gone to see the movie. How many people saw Titanic because of Celine Dion? More than you'd think... because Celine Dion is amazing. Anyway, Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram were tasked with taking over vocal duties from Fievel Mousekewitz and his older sister Tanya, to create a poptacular vocal duet that will be loved until the end of time. And get people's butts into movie theatres.


'Somewhere Out There' has a special place in the hearts of many 80s and 90s kids, but it won't just go down in history for its association to An American Tail. Get this... it won Song of the Year at The Grammys in 1988. Amazing! In your face, Suzanne Vega's 'Luka' and U2's 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For'! Of course, it helps that Ronstadt and Ingram's voices fit together so smoothly. Like, this is some sappy/wanky material  right here, but these two sing the shit out of it, so you can't hate on it. How could you hate on it? The Grammy voters couldn't. So how can you? Don't answer that. And just in case you forgot this was an 80s number, you just wait for that guitar solo to kick in. It's ridiculous and brilliant and you'll be left wondering why there isn't a saxophone solo to really sell that this is the 80s! The person I've grown into might hear a track like this today and say something along the lines of, "what a total wank-fest," but when it comes to tracks like this from my childhood, I can't help but love them. This is one duet I'll always love and seriously... everytime there's a full moon and I look up at it, the tune is like BAM! right in my head. Anyone else? (Matt Bond)

#17. JACKSON

by Ali Barter and Steven Clifford

I had two trains of thought when it came to deciding on my favourite duets. One involved some of the silliest songs and combinations of artists, you know the types, which songs always made me sing along manically and made me laugh because they were so absurdly duet-ey. The other thought process was a little less silly and a little more ‘sigh’. While some combinations of artists bring about the most fun music can offer, some combinations of incredibly talented artists bring about the most emotional and heart wrenching sounds music can offer. This brings me to one of my favourite covers and also one of my favourite duets, ever.


Ali Barter is a Melbourne based singer/songwriter who is quite a talent all on her own, with an incredible ability to convey all sort of thoughts with her delicate voice. Steven Clifford is one part of one of my favourite Australian bands, The Hello Morning, with a voice that transcends time creates the most intense goosebumps with his husky tones. Last year they came together and recorded ‘Jackson’; an up-tempo song originally by June and Johnny Cash. What Ali and Steven managed to do was turn what was once a kind of cute little tale into the most touching, tear-jerking heartbreaker I’ve heard in a long, long time. When Ali almost coldly takes Johnny’s line “all them women gonna make me, teach them what they don’t know how” and Steven replies later with the husky “goodbye was all she wrote”; that’s when it hits hard, that’s when describing music in simple words becomes almost impossible. It creates the same spine-tingling-stop-everything feeling now as it did when I first heard it and when I wrote about this song for the first time last year, I said something that deserves repeating, because in my world, there’s not a better way to describe it and, well, it’s true; “this is what beautiful, honest music sounds like.” (Jo Michelmore)

#16. BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

by Ray Charles and Betty Carter

During my teenage years an elderly gentlemen who lived across the street from me gave me a cassette with a jazz program he had taped off the radio. I popped it into my pink ghetto blaster (that’s what we used to call iPods), and was immediately entranced by this bygone era. The smoothness and sentimentality of jazz hit me right in the heart. The tape had a scratchy version of Ray Charles and Betty Carter singing this duet, 'Baby It’s Cold Outside'. Apart from being entranced by the smooth voice of Ray Charles and Betty Carter’s whispery girly tone, I was also entertained by the theatrical dialogue in the song. I enjoyed the song so much that by the time I had replaced my pink ghetto blaster with a sleek black five CD stacker stereo (yes the 90s) I had another copy of the song - this time digitally remastered on disc.


The song itself is quite hilarious in a modern day take. A man and woman share an evening together at his house. The girl decides it’s time to go because who knows what “the neighbours might think” and her “mother will start to worry” and of course “there’s bound to be talk tomorrow…” It paints a picture of an era where the politics of sex and romance were strictly governed by keeping up appearances and following a well worn path of chastity (particularly for women). The song is a gentle call and response with the girl giving reasons to go and the boy giving all kinds of suggestive body warming techniques because “it’s cold outside.” Perhaps the creepiest/funniest part of the song (in a modern day take) is the lyric Betty sings. “Say, what’s in this drink?” For its kitsch factor (and lovely delivery of instrumentation and vocals) 'Baby It’s Cold Outside' is still a staple in my jazz playlist. (Lou Endicott)


And that's it for this week... We'll be back with five more fantastic duets each Friday in May. Stay tuned! 
 

It's All Coming Back To Me Now - She Who Must Not Be Named

Who is this?

SHE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED

by Jo Michelmore

What a crap week for Australian fans of Madonna. First we wait in anticipation for her 2013 tour dates to be announced, then she tells us to work all year to save money to come and see her show, then she cancels any plans to play any shows in Australia. What’s going on Madge? Is this just another dull publicity stunt and you’ll announce dates later in the year? Have you realised your latest album isn’t the greatest and you can’t be bothered making your way to the southern hemisphere to promote something you know doesn’t really deserve much promotion? Is it all a bit more tiring than it used to be and you need a cup of tea and a nap? You are getting on, after all. Those fingerless gloves aren’t hiding anything. We know how old you are. You know what Madonna? It’s Vintage Thursday time and even though I thought I might focus on how fabulous you are, this week you’ve pissed me off. So, instead, let’s focus on some other divas of the past. Until next week, when I hear some song I love from American Life or Bedtime Stories or even that Ray Of Light and remember how much I liked you again. Until then Madonna, you suck.

Marilyn Monroe - Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend, 1953

Madonna. The 1950’s were the decade you were born. Then there was Marilyn. Beautiful, intelligent, controversial, sexy, icon of fabulousness (Madonna only gets three of those things, you decide which). There’s nothing to be said that hasn’t already been said about Marilyn. Madonna’s been paying tribute/completely copying her for years. Madonna does ok, but Marilyn, there’s just something, there’s a reason you became the absolute star you were and your memory continues to be today. You had it, that quality that can’t be learnt. Madonna’s still trying.

Top 100 Songs of the 1960s, #10 - 1

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls... welcome to the final issue of our swingin' sixties countdown! Today we unveil the top 10 songs of the 1960s and they are pretty damn incredible (but my gosh don't you know it!). We've got a great mix of music and artists that defined the decade, forging legacies that have kept them respected for over fifty years. The greatest girl group of all-time, the most successful band of all-time, the Queen of Soul, the Lizard King, Ziggy Stardust... and that's only half the acts we're going to be hearing from. Let's get to it!

#10 - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (1964)

by Nina Simone (or The Animals, if you'd prefer)

If I seem edgy, I want you to know,

I never meant to take it out on you.

Well, I can get away with letting both Simone and The Animals get a nod here, can't I? Watch me. Two fantastic versions of the one song; Simone's slow, emotional R&B ballad and The Animals rock anthem. It's too hard to pick just one, so you get both. How. Lucky. Are. You?

#9 - Will You Love Me Tomorrow (1960)

by The Shirelles






So tell me now, and I won't ask again,
Will you still love me tomorrow?

'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' would mark the first time that an all-girl group took a song to the top of the charts in the United States of America. With that landmark achievement, the doors were opened for The Supremes, The Ronettes, The Crystals, Destiny's Child, Spice Girls, TLC and En Vogue. That's such a Halle Berry thing to say. The song holds up pretty well, no? It also scores points for inspiring delicious covers by artists such as Amy Winehouse, Roberta Flack and most recently, Lykke Li!

#8 - Crazy (1961)

by Patsy Cline

I knew, you'd love me as long as you wanted,
And then someday, you'd leave me for somebody new...

Urgh... you should know the go by now. Country music is the music of pain. Patsy Cline had a penchant for releasing songs that could almost literally tug at your heartstrings, with 'Crazy' being not only the best, but the song that has defined her as an artist since its release. Without question, the greatest country song of all time (and it was written by Willie Nelson!).

#7 - Space Oddity (1969)

by David Bowie

And the stars look very different today...

Oh, come on. How can you listen to this and not want to have been around to enjoy it as the 60s came to an end? Bowie? Love.

#6 - Eleanor Rigby (1966)

by The Beatles

All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
All the lonely people, where do they all belong?

The quintessential Beatles song that pushes what 'pop' music can be further than any song before it. I've previously posted that 'Eleanor Rigby is It's My Kind of Scene's favourite song by the fab four and nothing's changed. Amazing. Outstanding. Perfection. With eight songs, The Beatles place more on the countdown than any other act. Surprised? You shouldn't be.

#5 - God Only Knows (1966)

by The Beach Boys

I may not always love you,
But long as there are stars above you...

Finally, a Beach Boys song that wasn't simple, lame 60s pop-rock. While the title was controversial for its time, the song has nothing to do with the man in the sky, so it gets bonus points for that too! Pitchfork named it their greatest song of the decade and made an excellent case for it being #1. But there's four more songs that I believe deserve some more love...

#4 - Respect (1967)

by Aretha Franklin

What you want, baby, I got it,
What you need, Do you know I got it?

I've been trying really hard to better my maths skills lately. So let's try some simple equations. If Rolling Stone places 'Respect' at #5 on their list of the greatest songs of all time and then put Aretha at #1 on their greatest singers of all time countdown, where will It's My Kind of Scene put 'Respect' on their Top 100 Songs of the 1960? 5 - 1 = 4. The answer is 4. See, maths is easy. Now to study logic.

#3 - Light My Fire (1967)

by The Doors

Girl, we couldn't get much higher...

Yep, The Doors. No big deal, right? Except yes, yes it is. 'Light My Fire' deserves to be ranked higher on practically every 60s slash music list ever. Except it doesn't have to be ranked higher than #3. Because there are two songs that are better.

#2 - Stop! In The Name of Love (1965)

by The Supremes

But this time before you run to her,

Leaving me alone and hurt,

Think it over...

Speaking of songs that don't get the love they deserve, it's 'Stop! In The Name of Love!' Performed by, "good looking youngsters with long hair and on them it looks good because they're girls." Music may have been good in the 60s, but comedy... not so much.

#1 - Be My Baby (1963)

by The Ronettes

So won't you say you love me?

I'll make you so proud of me.

I believe this is the only decade countdown we've done in which a female fronted act has taken the top spot. No one deserves it more than the Ronettes for the groundbreaking 'Be My Baby,' but it should be pointed out that behind every great woman (or women), there's a great man. In this case, it's our favourite looney-tune, Phil Spector. His 'Wall of Sound' recording technique realised its full potential on 'Be My Baby,' instantly securing its respected place in music's history. Even Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys agrees that 'Be My Baby' is the greatest song ever. While I wouldn't go that far, I'd certainly say it's the best of the 60s!

And with that, we're done. Peace out, groovers! Oh, and Blogger... sort your s**t out. Using this old blog editor has been the most painful experience of my life.

Top 100 Songs of the 1960s, #50 - 41

Mary, can you handle this? Florence, can you handle this? Diana, can you handle this? I think they can handle this.

The top 50 songs of the 1960s kicks off today and we've got some of the biggest acts in the history of popular music on display! Rolling Stone's greatest singer of all-time and Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, takes on the highest selling solo performer the world has ever seen (in concert tickets people, in concert tickets) and Queen of Rock, Tina Turner! Ray Charles and Johnny Cash, two dominant male artists that inspired Academy Award winning films make an impact and yes The Beatles are here... ... ... again. Like you're surprised. Let's get to it!

#50 - Then He Kissed Me (1963)

by The Crystals

You know The Supremes, The Shirelles, The Ronettes and The Shangri-Las. One sixties girl group that's often forgotten and generally underappreciated is The Crystals, who gave us some amazing songs like 'Then He Kissed Me.' Sure they've got that ridiculous 'Da Doo Ron Ron' song that automatically makes me think of Ronald McDonald (I have a problem, I know), but some of their much, much better songs have slipped into obscurity. Shame. Shame, shame, shame. If you like 'Then He Kissed Me,' look for songs like 'There's No Other (Like My Baby)' and 'He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss).' No, that last one isn't the 60s own 'Hit Me Baby One More Time.' It's a harsh documentation of singer Little Eva's ('The Loco-Motion) abusive relationship with her boyfriend and her actual belief that he beat her out of love.

Top 100 Songs of the 1960s, Honourable Mentions



The Beatles: Not likely to make many appearances... ... ... ...


Have you lost that loving feeling? Can you get no satisfaction? Do you find yourself questioning where did your love go? Well, this is the countdown for you. Welcome to the swinging sixties! Our latest decade countdown (and last for now, unless you really want to see the 50s or the Baroque era) takes us back to a time where rock and or roll music reigned supreme, the talent of a girl group far exceeded their skank factor and unattractive people with bad teeth could be really famous. I'll let you figure that last one out. This was music that shaped not only a generation of far-out guys and gals, but the direction popular music would take for the next fifty years. Around the world, The Vietnam War was all the rage (quite literally) and anti-war protests would result in the rise of the (dirty) hippie, the promotion of 'free' love and a whole lot of recreational drug use. 1960s music was defined by one major music festival that ended the decade (and was the last great moment for psychedelic rock), Woodstock. Three days of peace and music, it brought a close to ten years of amazing music.


To prepare you for the Top 100 Songs of the 1960s, today we'll be looking at ten songs that narrowly missed out. Get decked out by putting on your hippest threads, sip on a coke (or root beer float) and prepare yourself for some real classics. Enjoy!

Honourable Mentions:

Chain of Fools (1967)

by Aretha Franklin

Top 25 Singers, #16 - Aretha Franklin

#16 - Aretha Franklin

What you want, baby Aretha's got it... and what you need, is to show her voice a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Why? She's the Queen of Soul and the first woman induced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A legend and icon who's voice has arguably inspired more female singers than any other. The respect she's earned from her peers in the music industry saw her claim the #1 position on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

So now you're wondering why Aretha Franklin finds herself in the somewhat low position of #16. Why go against Rolling Stone? Because I'm (well) under 45. Because the 179 industry associated voters for their countdowns will always stick with what was good in the 60s and 70s. Every Rolling Stone countdown will generally include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin fighting for the #1 spot, because that's what their voters love. That was their generation, their 'heyday' if you will. Sometimes it seems they fail to take into account anything post 1970 out of fear of bucking the trend. Don't get me wrong, Aretha Franklin has a beautiful, powerful voice that deserves the respect of everyone... but I don't feel it deserves the #1 spot. What do you think?  



Top 100 Songs of the 1980s, #90 - 81

What's on tap for today then... how about the song with what many consider to be the greatest music video, the biggest band in the world, an anthem of female empowerment and a song that inspired Jessica Simpson to wake up one day and say, "I'm going to totally s**t on the legacy of that song by covering it." Now that I've got you in the mood, let's look at today's 80s hits!

#90 - Thriller (1984)

by Michael Jackson

Yah... this would be the one with the amazing music video. Long before Kanye and Gaga were doing pointless mini-movies because it's 'art' (and art isn't meant to be understood, right?), the former King of Pop was showing us how it's done. The song's good, the video is better.

#89 - Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves (1985)

by Aretha Franklin & Eurythmics

Do you remember the scene in The Simpsons when Milhouse sings a bit of this in drag. Funny stuff. I'm sure Franklin and Lennox were thrilled.

#88 - Heaven Is A Place On Earth (1987)

by Belinda Carlisle

#87 - Relax (1983)

by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

I like this song. Of course you do. Hello Derek. Hello. Welcome to your relaxation time. Let this wonderful 80s classic soothe you. Just a nice warm happy time. Happy happy happy... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Nothing to worry about at all, just relax. Hey there Derek, my name is little Cletus. I'm just a regular kid that wants you to know the real truth about child labour laws, okay? Okay. They're silly and outdated. In the good old days, kids as young as five could work as they pleased; from textile factories to iron smelts. Yippee! Hooray! But today the age-old right of children's work is under attack, from the Philippines to Bangladesh and China and India and South America too. Boo hoo! But you can help these children, Derek... BY KILLING THE PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA! He is bad. What? You learn martial arts. PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA BAD! Martial arts good. KILL NAUGHTY MAN. Obey my dog.

- I could have just said I like this song because of Zoolander but I don't think it would have had the same effect.

#86 - Jane Says (1988)

by Jane's Addiction

As we get to the end of the 80s, all these amazing rock bands start to emerge as the backlash towards new wave and the birth of grunge begins to happen. Rock doesn't get much better in the 80s than Jane's Addiction!

#85 - Word Up! (1986)

by Cameo

What's word up? It's the code word... duh.

#84 - Summer of '69 (1985)

by Bryan Adams

Karaoke classic... pub sing-along... 80s rock anthem. Who doesn't like 'Summer of '69? You'd be a rare breed.

#83 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (1987)

by U2

#82 - Don't You (Forget About Me) (1985)

by Simple Minds

Animated TV shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy are generally a good source for older music if, like me, you're young (and pretty) and don't remember anything pre-1993. I joke about the pretty thing, but I'm not kidding about the tv shows. If you know the scene in Futurama where Fry's dog waits his entire life outside the pizza place for Fry to come back from the future, then you'll love this song too.

#81 - Take My Breath Away (1986)

by Berlin

Yah... this would be the one that J Simps decides to poop on. Top Gun... good movie, better soundtrack.

I'm going to try and work through this countdown a little quicker than the 90s one... so look for some more great 80s musack very soon!