Snapshots #265: A Top Ten Fireworks Songs

I remember when we used to spend the day after Bonfire Night running around finding all the half-burnt fireworks from the night before and trying to set them off again. My childhood was a health and safety nightmare.

I'd much rather spend this morning playing you ten songs named after fireworks...

10. Get some more tissue for Marie McDonald.

Lulu was born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie. Tissue is another name for flesh.

Flesh For Lulu – Roman Candle

9. House bird for a couple who are Long & Little, and from the Hills. 

Little John and Long John goes to Beverly Hills to meet some Housemartens.

John & Beverly Martyn – Traffic Light Lady

8. Proby bangs the wall.

PJ Proby is a Harvey Wallbanger.

PJ Harvey – Fountain

7. A bit like gnus.

Gnus are like Wildebeest, or Wild Beasts...

Wild Beasts - Catherine Wheel

6. At the heart of all curmudgeons. 

Found in the centre of "all curMUDgeons" is some MUD.

Mud - Rocket

5. Cruise, like 7.

Tom Cruise and a Buffalo, which is a bit like a Gnu or Wildebeest.

Buffalo Tom - Sparklers

4. Named after their “dreary hometown”. 

Portishead – All Mine

The firework in question is a Mine. Go look it up.

3. Never known to gather a handmaid.

Elizabeth Moss stars in The Handmaid's Tale. A Rolling Stone never gathers her.

The Rolling Stones - Jumping Jack Flash

2. Cuddle!

Embrace - Fireworks

1. The Corrs, Janet Jackson, Del Shannon 

All the above sang about Runaways.

There will be ten more bangers for you to identify next weekend.

(I use the word "bangers" to refer to fireworks and, against my better nature, a reference to that extremely unpleasant term that young people use to refer to a good tune. I feel quite ill for doing it, but a joke's a joke.)