Week 42 – Think Bensonium

Day 294: To her Door, Paul Kelly

Roderick Benson — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Time to finish the first week of 2021 with another classic song from arguably the greatest Australian wordsmith Paul Kelly. A great story about a guy struggling with alcohol addiction who ends up splitting up with his wife while he receives inpatient therapy for his addiction. The story then covers the nervousness of his returning to his home after such a long time away.

He came in on a Sunday
Every muscle aching
Walking in slow motion
Like he’d just been hit
Did they have a future?
Would he know his children?
Could he make a picture
And get them all to fit?
He was shaking in his seat
Riding through the streets
In a Silvertop
To her door

Day 293: History never Repeats, Split Enz

Roderick Benson — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

So as I write these words the USA state capital has just been stormed by pro-Trump supporters trying to organise a coup to prevent Joe Biden from being certified as the 46^th president of the United States. A good German friend of mine wrote the following on my Facebook page:

It’s not over, and this is symbolic. The Munich Beer Hall putsch was the first (and neither the first, nor the most significant) sign of the young Weimar Republic being in trouble. Security forces and parts of the army colluded. Why was there no police, no national guard in Washington? Because they collude.

In response to his comment, this song came to mind as it obviously reflects the hope of I have for the USA. All I can say is the world would be a safer place is DJ Trump was not a free man.

Day 292: Bitter Sweet Symphony, The Verve

Roderick Benson — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Second song in Covid Island discs by the Verve. I particularly like the string instruments in this song and the line: “trying to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die” Not the most cheery line I must confess.

Day 291: Bring me to life, Evanescence

Roderick Benson — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Phew! All I can say is that the band Evanescence takes musical intensity to another level.

And if you think that was intense, try the live version out!

Day 290: Sweet Child of Mine, Guns N’ Roses

Roderick Benson — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Second song from Guns N’ Roses. I think this is their most best known hit and certainly would sit comfortably in a Hard Rock Café playlist.

Day 289: Babooshka, Kate Bush

Roderick Benson — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Another classic from Kate Bush. I remember when this song was released as the radio track for her “Never for Ever” album. Certainly this song tells an interesting story of a woman “who wanted to test her husband’s fidelity”. The word “babooshka” means an elderly Russian or Polish woman especially one who is a grandmother.

Day 288: Peace on earth, U2

Roderick Benson — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Following on from yesterday’s song from U2 for New year’s day this one from U2 also covers the Christmas season. A song by a band from a land that saw way too much conflict in the 20^th century. Sadly the heart of humanity seems always intent on conflict and division rather than unity and love.

They’re reading names out over the radio
All the folks the rest of us won’t get to know
Sean and Julia, Gareth, Ann and Brenda
Their lives are bigger than any big idea