The super menacing Arctic Monkey’s single, “Do I Wanna Know?,” originally released in 2013, has surpassed a mind-boggling one TRILLION streams worldwide on Spotify, and earlier this year, on YouTube via the band’s official channel.
Dropped with the release of AM, which was only the band’s third album since 2007’s epic Favourite Worst Nightmare (the follow-up to the equally-epic breakthrough 2006 album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not), “Do I Wanna Know?” is a fantastic track.
That said, it begs the question of why isn’t one of the band’s earlier gigantic singles, like “When The Sun Goes Down,” “505” or “Fluorescent Adolescent,” and which have been around for a lot longer, the track that surpasses the one TRILLION mark?
(Do we wanna know? )
The official video on YouTube surpassed the one TRILLION mark a couple of months ago and it keeps on adding more views every day.
A few months ago we launched a new weekly playlist series called The Sunday 25 Mix, aka, S-25. The idea behind the playlist mix is to choose 25 songs we love that are not necessarily “indie,” thereby giving us the chance to share music from any era and genre of music, including, but not limited to, classic rock, pop, new wave, psychedelic rock, punk, post punk, folk, jazz, blues, hiphop, and so on. Many of the S-25 mixes (dig the archives and find music jems) also included a spotlight band, and in the future, many others will. If you’re a regular listener/reader of IRC, you’ve probably already streamed some of the S-25 mixes, such as the special mix, or the Love Songs We Love, and Winter Songsmixes.
The first few S-25 mixes were randomized, and well-received. Yet, in subsequent weeks, we found that our regular visitors were showing even more interest for songs in a playlist mix that share a common characteristic or theme – whether implied or direct. Therefore, the weekly S-25 mixes from here on out will have specific subject matter that is reflected (often, not always) in the song title of every track in the playlist. A couple of good examples would be one of the most popular S-25 mixes so far this year, the Egyptian Revolution mix. For that mix, the songs were not directly related to each other, but when put together, tell a bigger story.
The other type of S-25 mix is much more targeted and granular when it comes to the theme or the subject matter, and it requires that whatever the subject matter is – from something completely mundane to something gripping – each song title in the mix must share the same highlighted word. This week’s S-25 theme is the color red. It’s always fun to put together playlist mixes, but the best part is sharing them with other hundreds of thousands of other people across the globe.
In the meantime, enjoy these 25 – plus some extras for good measure – songs that have ‘red’ in the song title, ranging from UB40 and The Decemberists to Jimi Hendrix and Nick Cave. The live version of “Red House” is a bootleg from the old Winterland Theatre in Palo Alto (today ijust another piece of evidence, even 40 years later, of why Hendrix is considered one of the – if not the – best electric guitarists ever. Let’s kick off this mix with one of our favorite songs from one of our favorite albums by one of our favorite bands of 2008, “Red and Purple” by The Dodos.
You may notice some other common themes in this playlist mix other than the fact that all of the song titles have the word ‘red’ in them; notice the number of songs about ‘red ankles’ and ‘red hands,’ plus ‘red rain’ and ‘red wine’.
Note: You can click on the artist/band name to see another post playlist and click on the album title to purchase the entire album directly from Amazon on a secured server. Often times, Amazon’s prices are lower than iTunes, and each time you make a purchase using our link, we get a small referral fee which doesn’t amount to much, but helps pay our server costs.
Originally, we were going to post a list of songs with any color in the song title. The problem is that there are so many great songs with a color in the title that we needed to get even more granular and simply pick a color. The choice of going with a specific color – in this case, red – is not meantto be symbolic at all for anything other than the fact that it is one of many naturally occurring colors; red is found deep in the oceans, in the veins that travel throughout of our bodies, across the great expanse of the universe, and in countless other forms, shades and designs, from rocks and flowers to feathers and fruits.
We scoured our music collections to gather up, filter out, and post 25 great songs containing the word ‘red’ in the song title. We realize the whole idea might be a little corny to the oh-so-serious among you, but come on, man, we’re just trying to make sharing great music just a little more playful and interesting. Afterall, it’s Sunday.
Among our personal music playlists – which have been under development for years – are many different categories and themes; dozens upon dozens of intriguing playlists, spanning the gamut of themes, ranging from Songs About The Moon, Songs About New York City, and Songs For Moms, to genre-based playlists, like dream-pop, garage rock, Americana and post punk, to name a few. As we’ve done in the past, more of these mixes will be posted in the ensuing months, including the weekly S-25 Mix. Of the many playlist categories in our iTunes is one of our favorites themes: ‘Songs About Colors’ which contain literally hundreds of great songs with at least one color in the song title. Still sounds corny? That’s cool, we totally get it, but hopefully you’ll enjoy this mix even if you think it’s corny.
“Red Right Hand” – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds from Let Love In (1994) – special: only $5.99 on AMZ Cover Version: “Red Right Hand” – Arctic Monkeys* from Cryin’ Lightning
“Red Berries” – Angus & Julia Stone from Hollywood (2008)
Don’t miss new songs, videos, news, contests and giveaways, plus other cool stuff and links that we often post only via our Twitter and Facebook accounts – it’s a way to stay in touch with what’s happening on a hourly and daily basis.
“Red House” (Live) – Jimi Hendrix from Live at Winterland (1971)
“Red Red Wine” – The Russian Futurists from The Method of Modern Love (2010)
“Red” – Miles Davis from Aura (1985)
“Red Sky” – Please The Trees from Please The Trees (2009)
Lastly, we need your help. We want you guys to pick the songs for the next S-25 Mix using the Comments box below. The theme will be cars. Do you have one or more songs about cars that you really dig? Remember, for this mix series, your song suggestions are not restricted to the indie genre – whatever that means to you.
It’s Sunday, and that means it’s time for the Sunday 25 playlist. In case you are new to The Sunday 25 Songs (S-25) mix, each week we put together 25 songs we love from any genre and any time period; a chance for us to take a break once a week from bringing you the best new indie rock songs, bands, albums and live events.
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At the core of the S-25 mix is the band profile, in which we feature a band we love (and hope our readers do/will as well). In addition to a general overview of the featured band’s members, first big breaks, best songs and albums, influence on music, etc., we also include five to seven songs from their discography in the weekly S-25 mix. Today’s featured band is The Clash.
The Clash remain as one of the most influential and popular rock bands in British music history, and they were, for all intents and purposes, the first high-profile to combine ska, punk, rock pop and reggae into their songs, giving the band a unique identity in the annals of pop music.
“Train In Vain” – The Clash from London Calling (1979)
With unforgettable hit songs like “Should I Stay or Should I Go” and “Rock The Casbah,” The Clash swayed in between underground music and the mainstream (especially in the U.K.), while staying true to their roots. Every day, new Clash fans from around the world are discovering the band’s music for the first time; whether it’s a 14 year old boy in Birmingham, U.K. playing his Dad’s old Clash vinyl records or a Mom with two kids in Des Moines, Iowa discovering the band for the first time listening to classic rock radio station, The Clash are definitely in the Top 100 Best Bands Ever, and for good reason.
The many different ways that music lovers are discovering The Clash is interesting, but if you really want interesting, and you enjoy the five Clash songs in this mix, we strongly recommend these Clash LPs: their self-titled debut (1977); Give ‘Em Enough Rope (1978); London Calling (1979).
In London during the late 1970s and early 1980s, The Clash, in many ways, would eventually surpass The Sex Pistols as the U.K.’s most popular punk rock band. Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote in the All Music Guide: “Where The Pistols were nihilistic, The Clash were fiery and idealistic, charged with righteousness and a leftist political ideology. From the outset, the band was more musically adventurous, expanding its hard rock & roll with reggae, dub, and rockabilly among other roots musics. Furthermore, they were blessed with two exceptional songwriters in Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, each with a distinctive voice and style. The Clash copped heavily from classic outlaw imagery, positioning themselves as rebels with a cause.”
Joe Strummer and Mick Jones were the heart of The Clash during their glory years (1977-1982). Even after they finally broke through in America in 1982 with the release, and success, of Combat Rock, the band began to implode only months later. Despite line-up changes, worldwide tours, heavy promotion, and stops and starts, The Clash officially disbanded in 1986. But, we still have their awesome albums to play for the rest of our lives.
“Should I Stay Or Should I Go” – The Clash from Combat Rock (1982)
“Weird Divide” – The Shins from Oh Inverted World (2005)
“For Agent 13” – The Besnard Lakes from The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse (2007)
Arctic Monkeys, riding high on the success of their latest album Favourite Worst Nightmare, and their new single “Teddy Picker” (video below), are resting up following a nearly non-stop touring schedule in 2007.
Last month, the band launched a 11-day, seven-show sold-out concert tour of the U.K. and the Netherlands. The tour extended from Dec. 4 to Dec. 15 with the final show of 2007 performed at Manchester’s Apollo Theatre.
For hard-core fans, you may be interested to know that Warped Films – which has produced some wildly successful British film since 2003, including Dead Man’s Shoes and This is England – was at the Apollo filming the show. The “theatrical” DVD special is expected to be released in the spring.
Warped also filmed Arctic Monkey’s short film Scummy Man.
By the way, after much searching, I was able to get my hands on an exclusive and rare print (handed out at the shows in December) of the Arctic Monkey’s “Christmas special” with Big Issue magazine.
The spread includes many photos of the usually shy band members and an extensive article.
“Teddy Picker” video – released Dec. 31, 2007
Teddy Picker Lyrics
They’ve sped up to the point where they provoke The punchline before they have told the joke Plenty of desperation to be seen Staring at the television screen
They’ve sped up to the point where they provoke You to tell the f**king punchline before you have told the joke Sorry sunshine it doesn’t exist It wasn’t in the top 100 list
And it’s the thousandth time that it’s even bolder, Don’t be surprised when you get bent over, They told ya,but you were dying for it
She saw it and she grabbed it and it wasn’t what it seemed The kids all dream of making it, whatever that means Another variation on a theme A tangle on the television and the magazine D’you reckon that they do it for a joke? D’you reckon that they make ’em take an oath? That says “we are defenders [Teddy Picker lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]
Of any poseur or professional pretender around”
When did your list replace the twist and turn like a fist replaced a kiss, don’t concern us with your bollocks I don’t want your prayers Save it for the morning after
And it’s the thousandth time and it’s even bolder, Don’t be surprised when you get bent over, They told ya, but you were gagging for it
Lets have a game on the Teddy Picker Not quick enough can I have it quicker? Already thick and you’re getting thicker Lets have a game on the Teddy Picker Not quick enough can I have it quicker? Already thick and you’re getting thicker
Assuming that all things are equal, Who’d want to be men of the people When there’s people like you?
The super menacing Arctic Monkey’s single, “Do I Wanna Know?,” originally released in 2013, has surpassed a mind-boggling one TRILLION streams worldwide on Spotify, and earlier this year, on YouTube via the band’s official channel.
