The Bluemoon Song Cup 2023

[Saddleworth2]

I remember when she hit the TOTP screen and thinking Wow! She’s weird. And so is her voice. I wasn’t overly impressed tbh Sadds and never have been since with that song.
Kate herself, however obviously had something and she grew on me more and more as she got older and progressed.

Massive Attack were so different to what I was listening to but I was instantly drawn to them and this song in particular.
It really is epic and a classic in my opinion. Not saying Wuthering Heights isn’t, just doesn’t hit the spot with me.

Sorry Sadds. Massive Attack for me.

Yes I saw that and really no need to apologise. Too old to really absorb massive attack but I think my kids liked them.

 

[Saddleworth2]

I've only applied one consistent rule of thumb in this whole competition - anyone but Kate Bush

Massive Attack

I used to like you.

 

[bluegirl74]

I used to like you.

Don't hate the player, hate the game :-)

 

[chesterbells]

I love both these but voted Kate. She was a true maverick and I do think a bit of a genius talent really, as her later recordings esp Hounds of Love proved.

Unfinished Sympathy although a decent track, suffered from an overbearance of cool in terms of the way it was lauded then and since by the self styled cognoscenti and purveyors of taste in the music press and dj circles, esp in the south at the time.
That whole Bristol trip-hop scene was up its own arse to a large extent, and filled column inches in a disproportionate way.
At the time I was bouncing around to much more energetic, fun and downright enjoyable club and rave tunes which though you wouldn’t hear Pete Tong playing them, made for a much better night out and even home listen.

Tl;dr A massively overhyped track

 

[normskih]

This is a pretty difficult choice but I’ve had to go for Kate. How can I not especially with that guitar ending, sublime.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

In your opinion of course. Many don’t hold the same. A song without chorus about a classic book written by an unknown eighteen year old is still critically acclaimed by many. Just be clear, what definition of pap are you applying to this song 1) soft food 2) worthless) 3) a woman’s breast
Not sure any of them fit mate.

First off, to me, “classic book” is an immediate red flag — the same territory Genesis wandered near, and one off from sci-fi/fantasy territory frequented by bands like Rush. But that’s as maybe. It’s (1) btw — a song that doesn’t move me; it mushes along without a hook, without a crunch, without a beat. Its crescendos don’t, errr, crescend. It’s not aurally beautiful (on purpose, which is a plus) and uninteresting lyrically to me. Like most Yanks, my greatest exposure to KB was Hounds of Love and especially Running Up That Hill, which to me is a far better song and very well may have gotten my vote here. WH doesn’t even sound like the same artist — again, I give KB points for stylistic chameleonism. I think Brits overrate KB which doesn’t mean I don’t like her or her persona/act — there was some good stuff on the quadruple live or whatever record we had on the other music thread some time ago, and she deserves kudos for experimentation and being unique. But this song — as noted — smacks of Barry Manilow, and those of us/you familiar with his work (largely begrudgingly in my case) will notice the musical similarity pretty readily. Again musical — his big overwrought declamatory voice is no comparison. But his music is pap — mush designed to be inoffensively consumed by the lowest common denominator.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

First off, to me, “classic book” is an immediate red flag — the same territory Genesis wandered near, and one off from sci-fi/fantasy territory frequented by bands like Rush. But that’s as maybe. It’s (1) btw — a song that doesn’t move me; it mushes along without a hook, without a crunch, without a beat. Its crescendos don’t, errr, crescend. It’s not aurally beautiful (on purpose, which is a plus) and uninteresting lyrically to me. Like most Yanks, my greatest exposure to KB was Hounds of Love and especially Running Up That Hill, which is a far better song and very well may have gotten my vote here. WH doesn’t even sound like the same artist — which is, again, a plus. I think Brits overrate KB which doesn’t mean I don’t like her or her persona/act — there was some good stuff on the quadruple live or whatever record we had on the other music thread some time ago, and she deserves kudos for experimentation and being unique. But this song — as noted — smacks of Barry Manilow, and those of us/you familiar with his work (largely begrudgingly in my case) will notice the musical similarity pretty readily. Again musical — his big overwrought declamatory voice is no comparison. But his music is pap — mush designed to be inoffensively consumed by the lowest common denominator.

Ah. I thought ‘He’s pap’ was like ‘ Who’s your Daddy’.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

I love both these but voted Kate. She was a true maverick and I do think a bit of a genius talent really, as her later recordings esp Hounds of Love proved.

Unfinished Sympathy although a decent track, suffered from an overbearance of cool in terms of the way it was lauded then and since by the self styled cognoscenti and purveyors of taste in the music press and dj circles, esp in the south at the time.
That whole Bristol trip-hop scene was up its own arse to a large extent, and filled column inches in a disproportionate way.
At the time I was bouncing around to much more energetic, fun and downright enjoyable club and rave tunes which though you wouldn’t hear Pete Tong playing them, made for a much better night out and even home listen.

Tl;dr A massively overhyped track

I agree a little — but this was the early 90s where such directional twists were happening all over rock music genres, like they were in the late 70s and early 80s. I think I can forgive the music press for being overexcited about a lot of music from that time.

 

[Saddleworth2]

First off, to me, “classic book” is an immediate red flag — the same territory Genesis wandered near, and one off from sci-fi/fantasy territory frequented by bands like Rush. But that’s as maybe. It’s (1) btw — a song that doesn’t move me; it mushes along without a hook, without a crunch, without a beat. Its crescendos don’t, errr, crescend. It’s not aurally beautiful (on purpose, which is a plus) and uninteresting lyrically to me. Like most Yanks, my greatest exposure to KB was Hounds of Love and especially Running Up That Hill, which is a far better song and very well may have gotten my vote here. WH doesn’t even sound like the same artist — which is, again, a plus. I think Brits overrate KB which doesn’t mean I don’t like her or her persona/act — there was some good stuff on the quadruple live or whatever record we had on the other music thread some time ago, and she deserves kudos for experimentation and being unique. But this song — as noted — smacks of Barry Manilow, and those of us/you familiar with his work (largely begrudgingly in my case) will notice the musical similarity pretty readily. Again musical — his big overwrought declamatory voice is no comparison. But his music is pap — mush designed to be inoffensively consumed by the lowest common denominator.

Lots of words. All of them shite. Imo.
why would you be put off by a song that has literature at its heart.
when the fuck did Genesis roam into the same territory?
that it’s not ‘aurally beautiful to you’ fair enough, but it is to many.
It wasn’t a quadruple live. It was a double album.
Barry fucking manilow? Really? Cococobana vs Wuthering Heights? are you genuinely serious?
wow, wow, wow wow, wow, unbelievable.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Lots of words. All of them shite. Imo.
why would you be put off by a song that has literature at its heart.
when the fuck did Genesis roam into the same territory?
that it’s not ‘aurally beautiful to you’ fair enough, but it is to many.
It wasn’t a quadruple live. It was a double album.
Barry fucking manilow? Really? Cococobana vs Wuthering Heights? are you genuinely serious?
wow, wow, wow wow, wow, unbelievable.

Have we moved on to another round?
I know it’s the hottest place north of Havana, but I’ll have to go with Wuthering Heights even if The Cocacabana is all inclusive.