The Intros Round
The next playlist challenge idea was something I stole from The Word Magazine Podcast. I forget the exact situation/podcast, but the idea was to pick a song that you would use to introduce a band to someone who has never heard of that band. The idea being, if they like that song, then they will like the band.
It’s a fun game. Do you go for a hit single that sounds nothing like the rest of the band’s catalogue or a deep cut? If I were doing Blur, would I pick ‘Song 2’ or ‘Tracy Jacks’? Song 2 sounds like nothing else in Blur’s repertoire, but it is one of their most well known singles and would surely win hearts and minds.
So for this playlist challenge, the bands were picked beforehand.
- radiohead
- The Beatles
- Massive Attack
- Björk
- Modest Mouse
- The Smiths
- Belle & Sebastian
- New Order
- U2
- Jay-Z
Here are my choices
radiohead – Million Dollar Question
I couldn’t pick an album track. I would lose all my street cred. So instead I went with a Pablo Honey B-Side.
I stole this song from The Word podcast. They used this as an example – if you like ‘No Reply’, you’re gonna love The Beatles. I didn’t know this song before that podcast, and since listening to it – I think it may just be my favorite Beatles song as well.
Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
What do you think of when you hear the name Massive Attack? A track with a nice heavy beat and female vocals. And that’s what ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ is.
I’m pretty sure ‘Hunter’ was the first song by Björk I ever heard. It was on The X-Files movie soundtrack which I, of course, purchased. And I think it’s a good introduction to Björk. Hey, it worked on me.
Modest Mouse will never make another album like The Moon & Antarctica. 3rd Planet is everything you want in a Modest Mouse song – Isaac Brock shouting over guitars.
The Smiths – This Charming Man
What makes a song a Smiths song? Easy, jangly guitars and morose lyrics. Any of their songs would’ve worked. So I picked ‘This Charming Man’ because it’s one of my favorites. The version I picked is one they recorded for John Peel and was released on Hatful of Hollow and probably not the version you’re most familiar with.
Belle & Sebastian – Get Me Away From Here, I’m Dying
I used to really be into Belle & Sebastian. This was a hard choice. I picked this one because every few months I catch myself humming ‘get me away from here, I’m dying’ and I have to listen to it again. It sticks with you. The version I used is from their live recording of If You’re Feeling Sinister.
I’m not really familiar with New Order. The easy choice would be to pick ‘Blue Monday’ and call it a day. But I didn’t want to do that. Luckily I had rated ‘Temptation’ 4 stars at some point, so I gave it another listen and realized I was right. ‘Temptation’ is a great track and could only be done by New Order.
U2 is a band. And honestly, I’m not really that in to them. So, I picked a single because I couldn’t be bothered to listen to all of their albums to do some digging.
I’m not really familiar with Jay-Z aside from his singles. So I picked his best. This is from his MTV Unplugged album.
