Sophia’s final Smiths song comes from the band’s final studio album, 1987’s Strangeways, Here We Come. This album was released months after the band had already broken up.
‘A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours’ is the album’s opening track, and it’s a stunner. Johnny Marr challenged himself to write a song without using guitar, so this one rocks along quite deliciously on piano, drums and a wicked bass (shades of Ben Folds Five).
It’s one of my favorite things, when a special occasion falls on a Random Weekend!
Today is my parents’ wedding anniversary, so I hope when I spin the dial I turn up something romantic — a celebration of love that endures over time.
Or we could end up with something by Ozzy Osbourne. That’s the beauty of this game! So here it goes: Mom and Dad, your anniversary song is…
The Random Weekend gods have served up a meaty selection on this particular Saturday. ‘Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me’ is a fine song in its own right but also has a host of interesting associations to explore.
For example, it was the final single from the band’s final album, inviting interpretations that the heartbreak it explores is The Smiths’ own demise. Is the dream of love the doomed partnership between Morrissey and Johnny Marr? Probably not, but it makes for fun listening.
And so I have arrived at the entry that marks one full year of Songs of the Day… my 365th song. And by some cosmic coincidence — and I swear, I did not plan this at all — it comes from the same album I featured one year ago when I started this series.
Yes, it was The Smiths’ ‘I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish’ from their Strangeways, Here We Come album that kicked off the Songs of the Day. I chose it because I found the title particularly fitting considering the daunting task ahead. A year later, I’m surprised at how “easy” it was to come up with 365 songs. It took lots of time and effort, don’t get me wrong, but I never felt I was at a loss for songs, or for words.
Inspired by this blog by the lovely and talented Malagueta, I’ve decided to write about a new song every day. I’m not sure how long I can keep this up… I currently have 7,798 songs in my iTunes library, so theoretically I can do this until I’m 56 using only my current collection. Throw in all the new music I’m sure to pick up over the next 21 years and it’s safe to say I can carry on for the rest of my life.
For now, I’ll concentrate on making it through next week.
To kick it off, I’ve chosen a song the title of which reflects my doubts that I’ll be able to carry out this daunting task. In the future I’ll choose songs pretty much at random.
Meet Me In Montauk 