Don’t cheat.

This is The Lyrics Game (Part 1).

5 lyrics.

From songs you’ve heard.

See how many you get.

Answers below.

(Scroll down.

But not until you’ve done your best, OK?

If you get 5 you’re pretty cool).

1. “In France, a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name. By chance his girlfriend came across a needle and soon she did the same.”
2. “I’ve changed my name, I’ve changed my face.
   But no one wants you when you lose”.
3. “We started out as friends,
   But the thought of you just caves me in”.
4. “Oh, can’t anybody see
   We’ve got a war to fight
   Never found our way
   Regardless of what they say”.
5. “Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
   Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
   Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
   Mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale”.

ANSWERS.

1. Prince. Sign O’ The Times.
2. Peter Gabriel. Don’t Give Up.
3. Terence Trent D’Arby (Sananda Maitreya). Sign Your Name.
4. Portishead. Roads.
5. Youssou N’Dour (Neneh Cherry). 7 Seconds.

Something beautiful: https://www.50odd.co.uk/the-lyrics-game-part-1/

And another:

When the little fella did this.

In 1984.

I was 16.

Genius.

I didn’t really understand or recognise his genius at the time.

And I didn’t really understand or recognise the song’s genius either.

But I do now: https://www.50odd.co.uk/doves/.

Here is a little reminder.

Of how beautiful this song was when it was released.

27 years ago.

In 1992.

And a reminder that it sounds just as lovely today: https://www.50odd.co.uk/nightswimming/.

I’m not sure what you’ll think of this.

It’s a 1994 album.

Called ‘Showbiz’.

By a band called ‘Cud’.

Mark Shayler.

I bloody love this album.

And I think my friend Mark Shayler might like it, too.

Because Mark dresses funkily.

And because Mark’s head is filled with magic.

But I’m not sure what you will think.

Unusual.

The album is unusual!

(But then so is Mark).

Let’s see if you like it: https://www.50odd.co.uk/cud/

On paper.

This should be a David Brent type disaster.

But somehow.

It is really very, very cool.

Cool.

It’s likely you’ve seen it before, of course.

But it’s definitely worth another 4 minutes of your time.

For a listen and a watch: https://www.50odd.co.uk/brent/ ‎

I’ve always wanted to be cool.

But I don’t know what the formula is for making someone cool.

Or for making something cool, either.

Cool.

I do know when I see cool though.

And I do know when I hear cool.

And this.

Is very, very cool: https://www.50odd.co.uk/cool-2/.

OK, a quick chat about Among Authors.

A band I’ve just discovered.

Introduction.

It wasn’t looking good for them, to be honest.

12 years ago.

At 23 years old.

Bandleader Ian Ketterer had open-heart surgery.

Ian plays piano.

And he has 9 fingers.

And he’s a singer.

And he’s deaf in one ear.

Christ!

Oh, one more thing.

They are stunningly fucking brilliant!

Here they are: https://www.50odd.co.uk/among-authors/

Following the success of their first single “Only You”, Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet wanted to quickly create an album.

Clarke’s only previous experience of a recording studio had been Blackwing Studios in south-east London.

So he chose there.

On the day recording was supposed to happen, not only was the producer unavailable, but the main studios had already been booked.

So Clarke and Moyet had to record the album across several early mornings.

With studio owner Eric Radcliffe overseeing most of the recording process.

They all turned up around 5 a.m. and working through until 11 a.m. each day.

Upstairs at Eric’s.

A cool album.

That very nearly didn’t happen.

Here it is: https://www.50odd.co.uk/eric/.

Here are Antony and The Johnsons.

Again.

This time with a Bob Dylan cover version.

Knocking on Heaven’s Door.

Close your eyes for 5 minutes maybe.

Have a relax.

It’s a lovely thing.

Here it is: https://www.50odd.co.uk/heaven/