rebness

Various Friends tagged me to do the “Six Songs I like now” meme, so I’m finally doing it in lieu of a Proper Entry.

Athlete – Wires

Along with a good few people that I know, the lyrics to this song struck me as worthy of mockery, until I found out that it’s actually about the lead singer’s daughter. On the night of her birth, she was premature and survival looked bleak. The juxtaposition of this soft, vulnerable little life and the “wires” of the machine keeping her alive scarring her skin really gets me.

You’ve got wires going in
You’ve got wires, coming out of your skin
You’ve got tears, making tracks
I’ve got tears that are scared of the facts.

Rilo Kiley – Portions for Foxes

I don’t really know or follow Rilo Kiley, but I heard this on one of the music channels one morning and couldn’t stop singing it all day. I love the singer’s voice, but the lyrics are pretty good, too. It finds the love amid the chaos of a turbulent relationship.

Rufus Wainwright – Oh, What a World

I like the spoilt, middle-class lyrics revelling in melodrama: “oh, what a world my parents gave me.” I love Wainwright’s irony here and the later affirmation that life is indeed beautiful. It brings a grin to my face—I have to love it for that. But, best of all, when Rufus sings this live and ponders “why am I always on a plane or a fast train?” he interjects, “because I’m fabulous.” Got to love that man.

Still, I think I’m doing fine
Wouldn’t it be a lovely headline?
“Life is beautiful” on the New York Times

Rufus Wainwright – Hallelujah

~~Forget all mention of Jeff Buckley~~.* Muted, thoughtful lyrics throughout given real feeling by Wainwright.

Maybe there’s a God above
And all I’ve ever learned from love
Is how to shoot someone down who overthrew you

Helena – My Number One

Yes. YeahIknow. I know! It’s tacky, it’s ditzy, it’s loud and the lyrics are…ahem… well. But the Greeks were so proud of winning Eurovision, and I didn’t go more than a few hours in Greece without hearing this song afterwards. I hear it and I’m back there…

The Cure – In Between Days

Am rediscovering my semi-Goth band of choice from when I was fourteen, yo. The song just makes me really happy. Also makes me think of being in France or finally visiting Italy because of that Renault advert in which it appears.

*Shakes fist at