You have to assume that when the producers of Skyfall, the latest James Bond flick, started discussing the new opening song that Adele was the very first name on their wish list.
I can’t think of a better marriage of voice and material — Adele was born to sing a Bond song. And she delivered a beauty, more than worthy of the great film director Sam Mendes delivered.
My wife has a knack for discovering new songs through commercials.
A few years ago it was Nick Drake’s ‘Pink Moon,’ featured so memorably in that night drive Volkswagen ad. Then it was Phoenix’s ‘1901,’ in another car ad (Cadillac). And this year she came through with ‘Too Close,’ the Alex Clare track that accompanied a commercial for Internet Explorer.
Kelly Clarkson is one of those artists who releases blockbuster singles every couple of years and maintains radio silence otherwise.
Her biggest hits are instantly recognizable, pure pop pleasure. But I defy anybody but an ardent fan to name a single other track from a Kelly Clarkson album.
When I compile my end-of-year song list, I start with the music I’ve purchased over the past 12 months. Then I hit Google, seeking out year-end wrap-ups that might remind me of a song that I never got around to buying but nevertheless captured my attention.
Invariably those sites lead me to songs that were completely off my radar but might have had a good chance of making my list had I only known they existed.
It’s my favorite time of year already. Not just the holiday season but the year-end list season. Time to spend one month looking past on the pop culture achievements of the past eleven.
2012 has shaped up to be an excellent year for music and, if the films on my must-see list live up to their promise, for movies as well. Starting next week I will count down my favorite songs of the year.
Meet Me In Montauk 