Ten songs in need of a good wash.
If you came looking for Christina Aguilera, you'll end up disappointed. She can't even spell 'dirty'...
10. Don Henley - Dirty Laundry
Here's one I haven't listened to in 20 years. A condemnation of TV news sensationalism from Henley's debut solo album.
9. Poison - Talk Dirty To Me
Hair metal at its best. If you believe such a thing is possible.
8. Frank Zappa - Dirty Love
If there's a dragon in your dreams, Frank's here to help... at a price.
7. AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Kinda like 118 118 for bastards.
6. The Bastard Fairies - Dirty Sexy Kill Kill
How can you not want to listen to a band called The Bastard Fairies? Especially when they sound like Amanda Palmer backed by the Eels? Get out while you still can!
Last I checked, this was even available for free download from their website.
5. The White Stripes - Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground
In which the line between Jack White and Johnny Depp blurs imperceptibly, courtesy of director Michel Gondry.
4. Lou Reed - Dirty Blvd.
Lou takes a serious shot at his hometown. Amazing storytelling.
Give me your hungry, your tired, your poor I'll piss on 'em3. The Pogues - Dirty Old Town
That's what the Statue of Bigotry says
Your poor huddled masses
Let's club 'em to death
And get it over with and just dump 'em on the boulevard
Written by Kirsty's dad, back in 1949, but Shane made it his own. You don't hear many opening lines better than this...
I met my girl by the gas works' wall...2. Bonnie Tyler & Todd Rundgren - Loving You Is A Dirty Job But Somebody's Gotta Do It
Written by Jim Steinman, like all the best Bonnie Tyler songs. You could probably guess that from the length of the title and the inclusion of orchestra, 12 sticks of dynamite and kitchen sink in the score.The video is also a work of demented 80s genius... featuring Hywel Bennett in the Todd Rundgren role.
There were times when we fought like tigers1. Steely Dan - Dirty Work
There were times we were damn good liars
There were times we extinguished every
That was burning, burning, burning up each other alive
From the heavens on down to the dives
There were times we lost it all we lost it all
There were times we lost it all we lost it all
I've been listening to this a lot lately since its appearance in my Film of 2014 (so far... but then, I have only seen two), American Hustle. However, over the last few months I've also been listening to a helluva lot more Steely Dan than I ever have before. I am officially middle-aged. (I reach The Meaning of Life, The Universe & Everything this week, folks!)
So I am now at the stage in my life where I'd rather listen to a 42 year-old Steely Dan song (this, from their debut album, is as old as I am) than anything Radio 1 would ever play. These Top Tens used to contain a lot more Cool Young Indie Music and a lot less Sad Old Muso Music. I always dreaded this day... but you know what? It ain't that bad...
Which one would you scrub up for?
