Week 54 – Think Bensonium

Day 378: El Shaddai, Amy Grant (Good Friday)

Roderick Benson — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 23:00:04 +0000

Well I never thought I would be doing a second Covid Island Disc post on Good Friday. Given it is Good Friday, it seems only appropriate to share a song that is related to the Christian story of the creator God who redeems humanity via the death of his son Jesus of Nazareth around AD 30 in Roman occupied Jerusalem. Whether the story is true or false is something that every individual, who hears the story, must decide for themselves. However, if it is true, then it offers us an incredible hope that this present life, with all its pain and suffering, is not the final reality of our existence but there is a much greater and better reality that awaits us if we can just embrace the message of the gospel story which simply calls us to say sorry and to recognise that the creator of this incredible universe has the right to rule it.

Amy Grant is probably one of the most famous Christian artists within the mainstream musical industry and I have already cited one of her songs It takes a little time on day 184 of Covid Island Discs.

Day 377: The Load Out and Stay, Jackson Browne

Roderick Benson — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 23:00:03 +0000

I really like Jackson Browne’s song “Stay” with the female vocalist doing one verse and then Jackson Browne doing the next voice in falsetto. In this live version, “Stay” is preceded by another song called “The load Out” however, in this performance, the two songs are knitted together in a medley. Enjoy!

Day 376: Everybody’s talking at me, The Beautiful South

Roderick Benson — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 23:00:49 +0000

One thing about getting old is you begin to recognise song covers. This song by the Beautiful South which was released in 1994 but is actually a cover from a much older hit from by Harry Nilsson which has a lot of more a country cowboy feel. I have put the original song below The Beautiful South remake because if you are over 45 you will remember the original song as it dominated the radio waves in the 70s. Interestingly enough, the lady who introduces the song (in Spanish) says something about Paul McCartney

The Beautiful South Cover of Everybody’s talking about me

Harry Nilsson original classic live performance (1968)

Day 375: It must be love, Madness

Roderick Benson — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 23:00:31 +0000

Well this band is well overdue to make its first appearance on Covid Island Discs. This song reminds me of happier times in sunny Australia in the 1980s. I had a really good friend who was very into Madness and introduced me to their songs. “It must be love” is probably Madness’ most famous song but they certainly have some other great hits which might make an appearance in Covid Island Discs before the UK finally comes out of its Covid-19 lockdown.

Day 374: Chasing Cars, Snow Patrol

Roderick Benson — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 23:00:58 +0000

Another new band to join my long list in Covid Island Discs. This song by Snow Patrol is a nice little number. There is a line in this song which is very similar to an REM song Losing my Religion which has already been cited in Covid Island Discs. The line is:

Those three words
Are said too much
They’re not enough

This line is similar to Michael Stipe’s line:

Oh no I’ve said too much
I haven’t said enough.

Day 373: Dreaming while you sleep, Genesis

Roderick Benson — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 00:00:25 +0000

So this song is particularly interesting lyrically for it covers a disturbing theme of a guy who hits a woman in his car while driving home. Out of fear he doesn’t stop but continues on his way. It is clear from the song that the woman is not killed but remains in a permanent coma. Although the hit and run driver escapes justice, he cannot escape his conscience and it is his anguish cry against his conscience that occupies the chorus of the song

All my life I’ll be haunted by
All my life just one moment in time
All my life until the day I die
And it will live inside of me
I will never be free all my life
Trapped in her memory all my life
Till the day that you open your eyes

Day 372: The Reason, Hoobastank

Roderick Benson — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 00:00:35 +0000

So I start week 54 by citing a new band that is yet to appear in Covid Island Discs. The Reason is a song by Hoobastank. The video opens with him hitting a girl in his car and this reminds me of a Genesis song which will be my tune for tomorrow.