The A to Z of Pop - E is for Europe, Maybe

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek...

The A to Z of Pop

by Jo Michelmore

When thinking about the fifth instalment of the A to Z of Pop, I had only one thing in mind, because, well, really, it's only just happened and you all know how much I love it. I shouldn't even have to say it, but I will; Eurovision. While I reeeeeeeally wanted to write a post about my favourite night of the year and everything fabulous about it, I'm going to assume our readers are intelligent, politically aware music loving readers who have already read more than enough about this year's competition. Instead of boring you with those details, I have decided to visit the fabulous continent that Eurovision is held in and explore some of the best/worst (up to you) Europe has offered the world in pop, amongst other things. 

Let's begin on the far left, with the UK, (yes, for the purposes of this post let's say they are part of Europe everyone) and in the early 90s they gave us an interesting version of pop. 

This is what the UK have to offer to the world in the form of the letter E. Earl Grey tea, Earl Grey himself, English muffins (are they actually English?) and East 17. Named after the postcode of their hometown, Walthamstow, which these days is more famous for it's homeless mattrii and celebrities who like to dress like them. Like E17 member, Brian Harvey....

Travelling a little further north, from the land that offered us Bjork and.....Bjork and....well, there's Bjork...

There's also 'E-jork'. Ok, it was tempting just to change Bjork's name, but E-jork doesn't really make sense and thos Icelandics have given us Emiliana Torrini, who performed possibly one of the most annoying songs I've ever been (un)fortunate enough to hear. "My heart is beating like a jungle drum onburuburobummbummbumm"...is that Icelandic for "dumbadumbadumbabumdum" or is that actually "onburuburobummbummbumm"??? We may never know.


Let's move across the continent to that beautiful land that offered us escargot and...no wait, are they French? The Eiffel Tower is in France but...

Eiffel 65 were Italian. I don't know and I don't want to know, so don't ask me why they named themselves after one of the most famous towers in the world. Maybe because Colosseum 65 didn't have the same ring.


You knew where this was going to eventually lead, didn't you? It was bound to happen, considering the person who won last year's competition began with E as well...

Denmark's Emmelie De Forest. Which means that E has led us straight back to that thing I said I wouldn't mention in the first place...Eurovision. Just accept it, in my alphabet, E is not for Europe, it's for Eurovision. You might be over it, but I'll be singing this in my car (for at least another week). I'm so glad I wrote C is for Conchita back at week three. It's true even more so now, after all...

Eurovision 2015, I have to wait another 52 weeks for you? That's two more A to Z's. Noooooooooo....!

Top 25 - 21 July, 2013

MTNS!

Songs of the Week, 21/07/13 from itsmykindofscene on 8tracks Radio.

1. St Lucia - Elevate (NEW)





2. The Trouble With Templeton - You Are New





3. MTNS - Lost Track Of Time (NEW)





4. M.I.A - Bring The Noize





5. Holy Holy - Impossible Like You




6. The Paper Kites - St Clarity

7. [Strangers] - Sense of Liberty (NEW)





8. Emiliana Torrini - Speed of Dark (NEW)





9. Molly Contogeorge - Bad Boy (NEW)




10. Little May - Boardwalks





11. Clairy Browne and The Bangin' Rackettes - Good Problems

12. City Riots - Catch The Sun (NEW)





13. Jacob Banks - Worthy





14. Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know?





15. Sons of Rico - Get To You (NEW)





16. Pigeon - Curtain Call





17. Lorde - Royals

18. Angel Haze - No Bueno (NEW)





19. Cub Scouts - Paradise





20. The Mountains - Sun (NEW)




21. This Sanctuary - I Do





22. Lime Cordiale - Bullshit Aside

23. Goldfrapp - Drew (NEW)





24. Dan Croll - In/Out (NEW)





25. Mutya Keisha Siobhan - Flatline (NEW)

The Candy Shop #4

The Candy Shop #4:

Torrini Delights
by Nayt Housman

Winter is all about comfort foods. Now that the Australian winter is really getting its teeth stuck in and the brisk winds cut right through to the under garments, it’s time to get out the blankets, put on my slippers and shake off the shivers by embracing my favorite comfort drink, a hot cup of cocoa with cinnamon and honey while listening to the perfect music to warm me from within.


Just like a hot cocoa, this week The Candy Shop features a favorite winter warmer, an artist whose music fills me with warmth, whimsy and sentiment. So get the marshmallows ready while I pour a delicious cup of Emiliana Torrini’s 2005 album ‘Fisherman’s Woman’.


‘Sunny Road’

Unrequited love, a life fully lived and coming full circle set the theme in this beautifully optimistic song. Opening for me, the book of Emiliana, a song that instantly captured my sentimental side.


‘Lifesaver’

As a love letter to letting go or breaking up with holding on, Lifesaver is contemplative and is infinitely superb in its simplicity. This live clip shows a little bit of Emiliana’s personality as she performs, where she is equally adorable, awkward and delightfully funny.


‘Heartstopper’

Sung delicately about resigning to the chaos of life, Heartstopper is effortlessly uplifting and makes me appreciate the normality of my own chaos. This also happens to be one of my favorite video clips, I mean who doesn’t love puppets?

So if you’ve never heard of Emiliana Torrini or have maybe heard of her, though not managed to fit in the time to give her a listen, winter is most certainly the season to introduce you to ‘Fisherman’s Woman’. It is the perfect album to put in your earphones and listen to in a café (or Candy Shop of course) while sipping your favorite warm drink and treating yourself to a block of chilli chocolate or warm brownies; or at home in your most unflattering winter woolies with your feet up and a fire burning.


Fisherman’s Woman really deserves the label of “timeless” due to its simplistic folk influence and creative yet simple melodies. It could easily be at home in the 60’s or 70’s as it is now or when released in 2005. Soft, intimate songs woven with piano and acoustic guitar; embellished with sounds of creaking boats and a voice that is strong yet almost a gentle whisper in parts form beautiful atmosphere while Emiliana’s confessional lyrics paint vivid pictures and invite you into her world.


So now we know how I like to get cozy during winter. What’s your favorite
winter comfort?

Top 300 Songs of the 2000s, #140 - 131

Beyonce Knowles.

Music is having a big week. It's night of nights, the Grammy Awards, saw Arcade Fire win Album of the Year, Lady Gaga debuts at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with 'Born This Way,' the Foo Fighters released 'White Limo' and Radiohead are about to deliver their new album, The King of Limbs, on Saturday! But that's enough about the now, let's go back to the past and keep the countdown going!

#140 - Coin Operated Boy (2004)

by The Dresden Dolls

Who could ever, ever ask for more?

Love without complications galore...

#139 - With Every Heartbeart (2007)

by Kleerup and Robyn

Still I'm dying with every step I take,

But I don't look back...

#138 - Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control) (2007)

by Groove Armada ft. Mutya Buena

Sat there with some new girl what is this?

That's who has replaced me, what a diss...

#137 - Today Has Been Ok (2005)

by Emiliana Torrini

Friends tell me it's Spring, my window show the same,

Without you here the seasons pass me by...

#136 - Empire State of Mind (2009)

by Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys

One hand in the air for the big city,

Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty...

#135 - Breathe (2003)

by Blu Cantrell ft. Sean Paul

When love hurts, it won't work,

Maybe we need some time alone, we need to let it breathe...

#134 - A-Punk (2008)

by Vampire Weekend

Half of the ring lies here with me,

But the other half's at the bottom of the sea...

#133 - Golden Skanks (2007)

by Klaxons

Light touch my hands, in a dream of Golden skans from now on...

#132 - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) (2008)

by Beyonce

Beyonce - "Single Ladies" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
Uploaded by vidsuperstar. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

I got gloss on my lips, a man on my hips,

Hold me tighter than my Dereon jeans...

#131 - Come Away With Me (2003)

by Norah Jones

Norah Jones - Come Away with me
Uploaded by Mdkart. - Explore more music videos.

Come away with me,

And I will write you a song...

Song of the Day - Today Has Been OK

Emiliana Torrini - Today Has Been OK

Album: Fisherman's Woman (2005)

She may be well known for having a heart that beats like a 'Jungle Drum,' but Emiliana Torrini can go through some crappy times too. Not that I'm an advocate of people suffering for their art, but when we get a song like 'Today Has Been OK' then hey... guess I'm not completely opposed. It could be quite some time before we hear anything new from Iceland's favourite folky songstress, so now's as good a time as any to catch up on some of her best work. Enjoy!