Snapshots #350: A Shades Of Red Top Ten Songs

Yesterday's quiz was hosted by Will Ferrell, aka anchorman Ron Burgundy. Today, it's Scarlet O'Hara's turn at the viewfinder. 

I hope you have your Dulux colour charts at the red-dy...

10. Hattie Nolan meets Hot Nathaniel. Both end up confused.

"Hattie Nolan" and "Hot Nathaniel" were both anagrams...

The National - Cardinal Song

9. But there's only three of them!

I bet Ben Folds got sick of that remark, but he only had himself to blame...

Ben Folds Five - Brick

8. Colourfully ascending semitones.

Chromatic refers to both colour and a scale that goes up (or down) in semitones...

The Chromatics - Cherry

7. Plane taken by Fresh Prince.

Will Smith on an aeroplane...

Aerosmith - Pink

Still one of the most disturbing pop videos I've ever seen.

6. Made up for battle.

Warpaint - Burgundy

5. Yogi Beard is a Boo Boo.

"Yogi Beard" was an anagram...

Dobie Gray - Rose

4. Vicar found on tiny planet.

Mercury Rev - Vermillion

3. It all starts with the Taxman.

The first track on Revolver, by the Beatles, is Taxman.

Revolver - Crimson

2. Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!

The clue is a quote from the Bette Davis movie...

All About Eve - Scarlet

1. Wilhelm at the helm.

Kaiser Wilhelm was the Chief...

The Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby

Reddy for more Snapshots? Crimson back here next Saturday morning...

Positive Songs For Negative Times #39: Drift Away

I don't know about you, but I'm finding it really hard to stay positive at the moment. About the only thing keeping me going is music. I live for the moment I crawl into bed, slide my headphones on, turn out the lights, and Drift Away...

Day after day I'm more confused

Yet I look for the light through the pourin' rain

You know that's a game that I hate to lose

And I'm feelin' the strain, ain't it a shame?

Beginnin' to think that I'm wastin' time

I don't understand the things I do

The world outside looks so unkind

Now I'm countin' on you to carry me through

And when my mind is free

You know a melody can move me

And when I'm feelin' blue

A guitar's comin' through to soothe me

Thanks for the joy that you've given me

I want you to know I believe in your song

And rhythm and rhyme and harmony

You've helped me along, makin' me strong

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul

I wanna get lost in your rock 'n' roll and drift away

Saturday Snapshots #23 - The Answers

Lose Yourself in the answers to this week's quiz... while pondering what your Saturdays would be like Without Me...


10. Bizet's loneliness.

Bizet's most famous opera was Carmen.

Eric Carmen - All By Myself

Rigid Digit woke up first this weekend to snap this one up.

9. Animal doctor siblings stir feelings between us.

An animal doctor is a vet. D'oh.

The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You

Knew Charity Chic would get this one.

8. Van & Laura's girl won't die.

Van Morrison and Laura Branigan both sang about Gloria.

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive

Another point for Rigid Digit.

7. A blogging hero gets sad about his tactile addiction.

The Swede gets the blues... But Alyson gets the clue.

Blue Swede - Hooked On A Feeling

6. Billet doux on the cost of keeping time.

Metronomes keep time. Economy counts the cost.

Metronomy - Love Letters

Well done, Chris.

5. 50 shades of spliff will have you floating off...

A spliff is a doobie (hence The Doobie Brothers). 50 Shades of Grey, obviously.

Dobie Gray - Drift Away

Lynchie was hip enough to get this one.

4. An indistinct packet of Alecia's daylight.

Pink!'s real name is Alecia Beth Moore.

An indistinct packet would be a fuzzy box.

Fuzzbox (or, if you prefer, We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It!!) - Pink Sunshine

Another point for RD!

3. I am intensely enthusiastic about Franka Potente.

As Chris pointed out, I spelled Franka Potente incorrectly. Sorry, that wasn't part of the clue.

The Passions - I'm In Love With A German Filmstar

Half a point to Lynchie, half a point to Chris.

2. American mother reveals excessive excerpts of erotic envy.

Momus - A Complete History Of Sexual Jealousy (parts 17 to 24)

Lynchie got the artist (half a point), The Swede beat Chris to the song by one minute (half a point).

1. Gregory Peck goes west for a solitary fireplace.

Gregory Peck was in a western called The Big Country.

A fireplace has a grate.

Another one for Rigid Digit, making him this week's undisputed winner.


Thanks for playing. More next week.

My Top Ten Gymnastic Songs

10. Jill Sobule - Lucy At The Gym

OK, so strictly speaking, Lucy doesn't actually appear to be doing gymnastics at the
gym. But look at her ribs - they show through the spandex. And she's working so hard... to conquer her loneliness. Give her a break, will you?

9. Culture Club - I'll Tumble 4 Ya

Culture Club are one of those bands I hated at the time, yet I've grown to nostalgically respect over the years.

8. Dobie Gray - Out On The Floor

Classic Northern Soul belter.

7. The Divine Comedy - Can You Stand Upon One Leg?

(It's harder than you think.)

6. Depeche Mode - Get The Balance Right

You think you've got a hold of it all
You haven't got a hold at all
When you reach the top, get ready to drop
Prepare yourself for the fall, you're gonna fall

Nothing like a positive mental attitude.

5. David Bowie - Boys Keep Swinging

Worth watching the video to the end if you're a Kenny Everett fan.

4. Rocket From The Crypt - On A Rope

The video features puppies and goats. Not quite as rock 'n' roll as the song suggests.

3. Maximo Park - Acrobat

One of my favourites from this mob, perhaps because it reminds me of Belong by R.E.M.

I am not an acrobat,
I cannot perform these tricks for you,
Losing all my balance,
Falling from a wire made for you

2. Chairlift - Bruises

I tried to do handstands for you
But every time I fell on you

1. The Beatles - Twist & Shout

This is the first time I've ever given a Beatles song the Number One position, but while this may not be a Lennon & McCartney original, theirs is still the definitive version. I blame Ferris Bueller...



Those were my gymnastic classics... which one gets a 10.0 from you judges?