Friday five

I think today's post is what you'd call somewhat conceptual. 

Or maybe not.

Anyhoo...

Anytime anyone talks about Muse somebody else is there to mention how many other bands they sound like.

And it's true. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Well today I was listening to Soldier's Poem for the tenth time (as you do) when it struck me that the song reminded me of exactly five other songs.

The first song it sounds like is Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis. The way it starts, at 0:55, is pretty much a dead ringer for the beginning of The King's classic. But if you don't believe me, take a listen for yourself.

I couldn't help falling in love with Soldier's Poem the very first time I heard it and now I know why.  

E.A.P.

The second song Soldier's Poem sounds like is Everybody Hurts, by R.E.M. I can't pinpoint an exact moment in the song but I'd say the overall melodies are pretty similar. Take a listen.

The third melody Soldier's Poem mimics is Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin's (or to you non-Poles, Frederic Chopin's) Nocturnes. Give it a go from 5 minutes on. Do you hear it or is it just me?

It think it has something to do with the waltz vibe.

Though Soldier's Poem also has a barbershop feel.

But on to the fourth similarly sounding song which is, of course, Ave Maria by Franz Schubert. I say of course because I picked that one out the first time I listened to it, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.

Here's my bro Zach Galifianakis singing Ave Maria. Because, as Bradley Cooper says, "he's got the voice of an angel."

If you need to go back to Soldier's Poem to compare I'd say the first sound alike clocks in at around 2:17.

The last and fifth song Soldier's Poem reminds me of is Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen. You don't hear the similarity as much in the live version, as opposed to the studio one, but "the moment" happens at 2:30.

And here's a little Queen.

It's only fitting since I started off with a King.

Friday five

Everybody has their own soundtrack. If life is like a movie then it only makes sense. 

On the show Ally McBeal each character had their own internal theme song and at the time, somewhere between 1997 and 2002, mine was ABC, by the Jackson 5. Probably because I worked as a shelver at a library and it somehow seemed fitting (as well as motivating).  

These days I don't so much have one theme song as I have... five!

Madness by Muse has been running through my head almost constantly and one of the happiest moments I experienced recently was driving with the window open on spring while the almost theatrical song wailed defiantly on the radio.

Stay by Rihanna has also been on constant replay, in my mind at least, for the past week. I have to a admit a certain fondness, shall we say weakness, for music released by certain pop artists, like Rihanna, JLo and even, yes, Britney Spears, and this latest by RiRi is no exception. Catchy and melancholy. Gotta love it.

Thrift Shop by Macklemore, on the other hand, had to grow on me. The first time I heard the song, or rather saw the video, I thought it was a joke. Literally. And not a good one. Somewhere between that time and now it really grew on me... like mould, some might say.

I've had my grandfather on my mind lately and as such two of the songs that he used to sing while driving to the cottage have also been on my mind. I tried finding "perfect" versions, ones that really paid homage to my memories, but not surprisingly none do. Kalinka, written in 1860, and Ochi Chernye, interpreted from a poem originally written in 1843, are the songs.  

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.