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Irish Aris's Walrus: The Reveal

Irish Aris

Hello everyone and welcome to my Walrus reveal.

We have 21 Gamers - in order of submission:
Necro
Shane U
Electric Nitwit
JP Liz V1
Also Starring LeVar Burton
s1ippy
beakerjoe
Gru
Sawduck
Homer J. Fong
Mustang Shelly
Kolido
RasTa
Green&Red
lassykk
JohnGreenFan
Osh
phatkev
Zaph
the purple tin
fixXxer

A reminder on the categories:

1. The Fantastic 80s: I was a teenager in the 80s and it was when I started listening to music, so many of my favourite artists and albums are from that era. So simple enough, I’m looking for any song released in that decade.

2. The Irish Aris Connection: I moved to Ireland on October 2011 and because of all the concerts I started listening to a lot of new music. So for that category I’m looking for songs that were released from October 2011 and later. Songs can be by any artist (not just Irish artists) and obviously album tracks are allowed.

3. It takes 2 to make it right: Here I’m looking for duets and collaborations. It could be a straight forward duet (i.e. Elton John and Kiki Dee) or a collaboration (i.e. David Guetta feat. Whatever vocalist is popular). You could also select collaborations with 3 or more people, instrumental collaborations (i.e. Eno and Fripp) or even a duet between 2 lead singers of the same band (Fleetwood Mac pun intended)

4. That’s Not My Name: Simple enough: A song with a name in the title. I will also allow songs with the word “name” in the title.

5. Body of Evidence: For this one I’m looking for songs that mention any part of the human body in their title. And similar to the previous categories with the names, I will also allow songs with the word “body” in the title.

6. The Lasting First Impression: I like listening to albums from start to finish and it is always nice when an album gets to a great start. So for this category I’m looking for songs that open their respective albums and you consider them great openers. The idea here is to make me want to listen to the whole album and expand my music library further!!

7. Preach to the unconverted. . .or the choir: This is like a wildcard category. Give me a song from one of your favourite artists, one that you think everyone should listen to. This could be your chance to prove me wrong on some of the genres that I mentioned as not being a big fan of, so anything goes!!!

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Electric Nitwit

Irish Aris wrote: »

In 14th place, submitted by
Electric Nitwit
, The Wedding Present-Take Me

Ah well, that was always a gamble but I happened to be listening to it soon after reading the categories and I love it. I also guessed it might be new to you so I went with it, I'll take my medicine (and I'm buzzing from Liverpool’s trophy lift so you could have thrown anything my way

)

To be honest, I'm more offended that I finished above...

Irish Aris wrote: »

In 15th place, submitted by
Sawduck
, Joy Division-Atmosphere

Irish Aris

ShaneU wrote: »

Ah mediocrity, we meet again

ShaneU

Ah mediocrity, we meet again

Irish Aris

osh wrote: »

Was going to change to this, but never ended up doing it

ah, really like this song, it would have probably placed a few places higher.
I haven't listened to it in years and a year or so go one of new favourite pop bands, Roosevelt did this great cover:

osh

Was going to change to this, but never ended up doing it

Necro

Irish Aris wrote: »

And in 1st place, submitted by
Necro
, Tears For Fears-Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Necro was the first to send me songs and I immediately knew that it would take something really extraordinary to beat this song. This is just one of those iconic songs that define 80s. I have seen Tears For Fears live twice the last 3 years and they started with this song both times. Where Shout is a powerhouse of a song in a slightly obvious way, Everybody Wants To Rule The World unveils its strengths so naturally. I think it also has to do with Curt Smith’s soft, sweet voice which always brings a kind of vulnerability to the songs he sings. Excellent pop music and though Tears For Fears will never be my favourite band of all times, they were consistently very good.

Well this is a very nice thing to come back to

Whoop!! Actually discovered this song only a couple of years ago and (I think) was reminded of it through one of the tournaments, tis on my always playing list and actually happened to be listening to it when I saw Irish put up their Walrus so figured, why not

quickbeam

Deleted User wrote: »

Very interesting bottom two. Have to say I'm not a fan of Every Breath You Take at all, and definitely agree about it being overplayed. I just can't warm to The Police in general, I'm not that mad about Sting's voice (he seems like a fairly irritating person too, which doesn't help) and their songs all just seem to drag on a bit, even the ones that aren't actually that long.

On the other hand I really like End Of The Line (even better than Handle With Care imo), that probably would have been in the Top 5 for me from that selection.

I do like The Police, but Every Breath is way overrated. They have much better songs, which aren't played to death.

Agree with your second paragraph there.

[Deleted User]

Yay, very happy to get on the podium here!

I think (though I may be wrong) that Grace Jones went unrecognised in the previous threads like 'Best 80's song' and 'Best Song sung by a Woman', so that's what made me pick her amongst a huge bunch of possible entries here. Also really fun live, and in unbelievable shape for a woman now in her 70's!

Very interesting bottom two. Have to say I'm not a fan of Every Breath You Take at all, and definitely agree about it being overplayed. I just can't warm to The Police in general, I'm not that mad about Sting's voice (he seems like a fairly irritating person too, which doesn't help) and their songs all just seem to drag on a bit, even the ones that aren't actually that long.

On the other hand I really like End Of The Line (even better than Handle With Care imo), that probably would have been in the Top 5 for me from that selection.

Irish Aris

And this is the YouTube Playlist I created.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUaRXycpvvkEJNAkGG3qOlThYUVHXEFI-

I have already started listening to the next 2 categories and for now targeting to do the next reveal on Friday evening, I will confirm it on Friday morning.

Irish Aris

Necro takes an early lead but with 6 more rounds to go and my unconventional music taste it's anybody's game!!

Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Total Points
Necro 21 21
Homer J. Fong 20 20
Zaph 19 19
phatkev 18 18
Gru 17 17
s1ippy 16 16
beakerjoe 15 15
Also Starring LeVar Burton 14 14
Green&Red 13 13
JP Liz V1 12 12
Shane U 11 11
the purple tin 10 10
Osh 9 9
Electric Nitwit 8 8
Sawduck 7 7
Mustang Shelly 6 6
Kolido 5 5
fixXxer 4 4
RasTa 3 3
JohnGreenFan 2 2
lassykk 1 1

quickbeam

Now, THAT is a class song!

Irish Aris

And in 1st place, submitted by

Necro

, Tears For Fears-Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Necro was the first to send me songs and I immediately knew that it would take something really extraordinary to beat this song. This is just one of those iconic songs that define 80s. I have seen Tears For Fears live twice the last 3 years and they started with this song both times. Where Shout is a powerhouse of a song in a slightly obvious way, Everybody Wants To Rule The World unveils its strengths so naturally. I think it also has to do with Curt Smith’s soft, sweet voice which always brings a kind of vulnerability to the songs he sings. Excellent pop music and though Tears For Fears will never be my favourite band of all times, they were consistently very good.

Irish Aris

In 21st place, submitted by

lassykk

, The Police-Every Breath You Take

OK, I reckon this will be controversial. . .
By the time I started listening to music in 1986, The Police were already inactive and Sting has started his solo career. I never got into his music and it didn’t inspire me to search The Police’s back catalogue, although in later years I discovered a couple of songs I like through friends. Between that and the fact that Every Breath You Take is a bit overplayed sent it to the bottom end of the list.

Irish Aris

quickbeam wrote: »

Yeah. That and George Harrison earlier are my two favourites so far. Mmmm, wonder if there's a connectioin?

To be honest it is probably the fact that I didn't know the song at all and didn't catch my attention enough to place it higher. If I had Handle With Care in the mix, it would have placed higher - I reckon just outside the top-10 - because I know it.

quickbeam

Irish Aris wrote: »

You mean The Travelling Wilburys? It is a good song, just not something that I would listen to regularly, and not something that I would consider as proper 80s - I'm more on the pop side of the 80s

Yeah. That and George Harrison earlier are my two favourites so far. Mmmm, wonder if there's a connectioin?

Irish Aris

In 2nd place, submitted by

Deleted User

, Grace Jones-Pull Up To The Bumper

when it comes to the amazing Miss Jones, I’m lost for words. An incredible, enigmatic, magnetic persona that doesn’t have to demand attention, as it is impossible not to give it voluntarily. Pull Up To The Bumper is one of her best songs. From the double-entendre lyrics (although Jones herself has dismissed the sexual innuendo aspect), to the funky, groovy music, to the assured, yet kind of laid-back vocals of Grace Jones, this is one of the most defining moments of an extraordinary career. I would have liked to give it the top spot, it was very close but fell just short.

Irish Aris

quickbeam wrote: »

Awww, that's a great song.

You mean The Travelling Wilburys? It is a good song, just not something that I would listen to regularly, and not something that I would consider as proper 80s - I'm more on the pop side of the 80s

quickbeam

Awww, that's a great song.

Irish Aris

In 20th place, submitted by

JohnGreenFan

, The Travelling Wilburys-End of the Line

Another one of the 4 songs that I didn’t know. I know The Travelling Wilburys as a supergroup but they never took off in Greece and except for Handle with Care I don’t know any of their other songs. This was initially last, but the harmonies in the vocals sound really nice and I moved it up one spot.

Irish Aris

In 3rd place, submitted by

Zaph

, Talking Heads-This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody)

I consider David Byrne one of the most interesting composers and arrangers of the last 40 years. That’s not to say that everything he has written is great, but he knows how to build and arrange a melody and I especially like his adventures towards world music, either as part of Talking Heads, his collaboration with Brian Eno or his solo albums. 10 years ago, This Must Be The Place would barely make it into a Top-10 of my favourite Talking Heads songs. All this changed with Paolo Sorrentino’s film of the same name. In one of the most memorable scenes of the film, David Byrne sings the song live, accompanied by strings, in an arrangement that brings the song to a whole different level. Thus I got “approval” from Zaph to include this version in the YouTube playlist.

osh

13th could be worse I guess. Was gonna switch for this one, but didn't end up doing it.

Irish Aris

and we are back!!

In 19th place, submitted by

RasTa

, New Order-The Age Of Consent

I am a fan of New Order but not of the beginnings as I feel they were trying to balance the aftermath of Curtis’s death and the idea of the new direction and I don’t think Bernard’s voice suits that sound. Having said that, Power Corruption and Lies is a good album and The Age of Consent a good song. Unfortunately this list was so strong and some songs had to be moved further down the pecking order.

Irish Aris

Quick bio-break and we will be back for the top 3 and bottom 3

Gamers still in it (in alphabetical order)

Homer J. Fong
JohnGreenFan
lassykk
Necro
RasTa
Zaph

Irish Aris

In 4th place, submitted by

phatkev

, Cabaret Voltaire-Sensoria

I didn’t expect to see Cabaret Voltaire nominated, so I was really excited when I saw this song. I discovered Cabaret Voltaire during the 00s with the more conventional, poppier 80's sound and eventually checked their more experimental 70s music. Phatkev linked for me the 7’’ version. I would normally listen to the original version off the Micro-phonies album, but every single version of this song is great. It’s one of these cases where Cabaret Voltaire created a tune that could be edited and rearranged in so many wonderful ways, and the percussion sound is phenomenal.

Irish Aris

In 18th place, submitted by

fixXxer

, Devo-Whip It

Another band that was on the down towards the late 80s so I never connected with their music at the time. Whip It is probably the only song of theirs I know and while I would dance to it if it came on in a bar/club, it’s not a song that I would include in my regular playlists.

Irish Aris

In 5th place, submitted by

Gru

, Fun Boy Three-Our Lips Are Sealed

I can’t recall if I heard this version first or the original of The Go-Go’s. Chances are that I heard the Go-Go’s first as I am a fan of Belinda Carlisle. But I prefer the Fun Boy Three version. I love the percussion sound, especially in the intro and the arrangement and production gives the opportunity to Terry Hall to give a great vocal performance. One of my favourite Fun Boy Three songs, only one other of their songs could have placed higher.

Irish Aris

In 17th place, submitted by

Kolido

, Madonna-Crazy For You

I am a big fan of 80s and 90s Madonna and the fact that any of her songs from that period would place so low is a testament of how strong this category is. Having said that, I don’t have many ballads amongst my favourite Madonna songs (and from that period Live to Tell would be my choice), so haven’t heard this song in quite a while and it was really great to listen it again.

Irish Aris

In 6th place, submitted by

s1ippy

, The Cure-A Forest

This was in the first 5-6 nominations I received and I thought that it would easily be in the top-3. What hurt it was over-familiarity: I am a big fan of The Cure and consider them one of the best live bands ever and many songs feature in my playlist, including A Forest. The haunting, almost goth sound of the guitar and the bass against a simple melody and lyrics makes this a song for the ages. But I have been listening to it so often so when I needed to split hairs, it took a hit.

fixXxer

Irish Aris wrote: »

In 7th place, submitted by
beakerjoe
, Stan Bush-The Touch

Of the 4 songs that I didn’t know this was the one that caught my attention straight away. This is as 80s as you can get, the FM rock sound that back in the day people loved to hate and hated to love. The last few years I have been listening to a lot of 80s inspired synthwave and I would say that many of the current bands have copied riffs and melodies from songs like this one. Best discovery of this category and straight into my playlist. I wish that I could place it a bit higher but the top-6 was locked fairly early in the process.

That is a class pick and has given me an song I'm gonna force in to my next Walrus selections SOMEHOW.

Irish Aris

In 16th place, submitted by

Mustang Shelly

, Journey-Any Way You Want It:

Another band that I discovered much later as they were in hiatus during the latter part of the 80s, but never drilled down their discography, so I only know a handful of their bigger hits. Any Way You Want it is one of them, a great song that has what I think is their trademark sound – the orchestration of this and Don’t Stop Believing have some similarities. In other circumstances it would have been much higher, but against the competition that’s the best I could give it.