So week 13 is a little tricky in terms of choosing my favourite video because there are two strong contenders: When Doves Cry by Prince and Total Eclipse of the heart by Bonnie Tyler. Both videos are very interesting to watch but I think if I had to choose, I would give first place to the Prince video.

So today I watched a very interesting video analysis of a song by the Beatles called A Northern Song. Post Covid Island Discs now usually records the death of famous musicians and of course poor old George Harrison passed away many years before the Covid-19 pandemic. So I guess this post is in memorandum to George Harrison even if he did pass away so many years before this website was even born. Yet there appears to be so much more to this song of Harrison's than meets the eye as explained by James Hargreaves in his video which is also included under the Beatles Anthrology recording of Harrison's clever song which I think, as Hargreaves argues, is a passive-aggressive dig at the way McCartney and Lennon treated him as an inferior member of the Beatles.

After watching Hargreaves excellent analysis of the Harrison's song, along with his detailing of the complicated tensions that existed between the Beatles in the late 60s, it became obvious that the band was always in trouble and it was only a matter of time before the fab four would go their separate ways. Hargreaves analysis challenges the commonly held idea that the breakup of the band was solely down to Yoko entering the scene as clearly relational tensions in the Beatles were not just confined to John and Paul.

A less known version but better version (in my opinion) of the song before Lennon and McCartney fell into a possible trap set by Harrison (see Hargreaves analysis below).

Analysis of the song and its meaning by James Hargreaves

The mainstream version of the song as first published on the Yellow Submarine Album

A cracking song made even better with the distinct female vocals of Kate Pierson from the B52s (see yesterday's post)

Wow another milestone. This completes my David Bowie trilogy with the last 1984 themed-based song from his Diamond Dogs album. I remember really wanting to have a New Years' Eve party because wouldn't it have been great to play this song at midnight on the dawn of 1984 (just as good as playing Prince's 1999 at turn of the Millennium: man what a disastrous night that was, do you remember David E Coleman).

Needless to say, I did not get my wish because the Benson family were on holiday (can't remember where now maybe Lake Macquarie Julie Cummings ??) so it was just a quiet night in for me as a then young 17 year old teenager who put the song on his car cassette radio near midnight so he could pretend and imagine what it would be like to play this song at that unique date in human history.

This song really is great in its musical intensity.

Someday they won't let you, now you must agree
The times they are a-telling, and the changing isn't free
You've read it in the tea leaves, and the tracks are on tv
Beware the savage jaw of 1984

They'll split your pretty cranium, and fill it full of air
And tell that you're eighty, but brother, you won't care
You'll be shooting up on anything, tomorrow's never there
Beware the savage jaw of 1984

Who says you have to be blond to be a rock star. Love this girl's voice.

Time for another song from one of my all time favourite bands Supertramp. Dreamer was one of their hit songs from their Crime of the Century album and it certainly made the Aussie singles and album charts. When I listen to this song it always makes me feel a little sad because in many ways it summaries my own life. I definitely was a man with many dreams which would never be fulfilled. I do feel a much wiser course of action as a younger person is to set realistic goals so you don't set yourself up for crushing disappointment.

This song I guess is a bit dated now, but it captures the nervousness of a potential nuclear war that hovered over all us during the cold war. As someone who loves lyrics this song certainly is a good example of the wordsmith's art as it captures in lyrics the hope that nuclear war will never happen because those who control the ICBM arsenals also love their children. Below is the full lyrics of this song.

2022 Update: Hmm sadly not as dated as we would have liked 😥.

In Europe and America there's a growing feeling of hysteria Conditioned to respond to all the threats In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets Mister Krushchev said, "We will bury you" I don't subscribe to this point of view It'd be such an ignorant thing to do If the Russians love their children too How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy? There is no monopoly on common sense On either side of the political fence We share the same biology, regardless of ideology Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too

There is no historical precedent To put the words in the mouth of the president? There's no such thing as a winnable war It's a lie we don't believe anymore Mister Reagan says, "We will protect you" I don't subscribe to this point of view Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too We share the same biology, regardless of ideology But what might save us, me and you Is if the Russians love their children too

Time for another Queen classic. This song opened the B side of their Night at the Opera album and in some ways has the same intense rock opera theme of Bohemian Rhapsody which closed the B side. Amazing really to have two such intense songs on the same side of the same album.

In some ways this song perhaps has more resonance than it did when it was released in the 70s because in a very real sense we now have modern prophets (scientists) warning us about the seriousness of global heating and warning us of the dire consequences if we do not change our ways. Let's hope at some point we are able to rise to the challenge global heating presents for the sake of future generations.