Songs Called Something Something

mixed by Liam Eagle

PERFECT FOR:

Taking stock in what you believe in.

INTRODUCTION:

Every so often, a songwriter will feel so strongly about the subject of a song that they'll give it a single-word title. Think Exodus, Moondance or the ever-dramatic One. These are passionate songs, carrying passionate sentiment. No shit. And even less frequently, a songwriter will come up with a tune or a lyric that grips them so intensely they give that song an even more potent kind of single-word title: a single word repeated twice. One more repetition, and that's a chant. And I don't think I have to tell you that people don't chant shit don't believe in. Quite the opposite. People only chant shit they do believe in. Yeah. This, my friends, is the big-leagues of feeling things about other things.

TRACK LISTING:

Please Please - Devo
Mony Mony - Billy Idol
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
Sugar Sugar - The Archies
Hey Hey, My My (Out of the Blue, Into the Black) - Neil Young
Holla Holla - Ja Rule
Louie Louie - The Kingsmen
Monday, Monday - The Mamas and the Papas
Hot Hot Hot - Buster Poindexter
Radio Radio - Elvis Costello
Bling Bling - BG
Rock Rock (Till You Drop) - Def Leppard
Run Run Run - Velvet Underground
Baby Baby - John Lee Hooker
Happy Happy, Joy Joy - Ren and Stimpy

PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:

I believe I touched on this point earlier. Nobody is so eager to repeat themselves as somebody discussing something they truly believe in. This is especially true in the case of songwriters, to whom a vast assortment of words come very easily. No, these people are not fucking around. When Elvis Costello says "radio radio," you'd best believe he believes what he's saying. You would do well to have something you believed so strongly in yourself.

LISTENING INSTRUCTIONS:

You're looking at the short list of passionate beliefs put to music, so this really ought to be inspirational for you. Get comfy, pop in this mix, and start re-evaluating your life and your system of beliefs. When the tape has run all the way though, ask yourself if there is anything you believe in so strongly that I'd say it twice? I know I have a few, such as "abstinence abstinence," or sometimes "I'm hungry, I'm hungry."