Snapshots #458: Songs From Hell

And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder

One of the four beasts saying,

'Come and see.' and I saw, and behold a white horse...

Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts

And I looked, and behold a pale horse

And his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him...

Hopefully none of you are going to Hell any time soon, but if you are... at least they'll have a decent playlist...

15. S/laughter.

The Killing Joke - Pandemonium

14. Cher airs her grievances.

"Cher airs" was an anagram.

Chris Rea - The Road To Hell (Part 2)

13. Hyper, cuff and chain... make him wary (almost).

Hyperlink, cufflink, chainlink. Wary becomes Wray.

Link Wray - Fire & Brimstone

12. Ginger was not a Northerner.

Geri Halliwell was Ginger Spice

Jeri Southern - Fire Down Below

11. They just keep coming around.

Orbital - Satan

10. Have you misplaced the camera, Mike?

"Camera, Mike" was an anagram.

Maria McKee - This Property Is Condemned

9. Be good in St. Julian's country.

Johnny B. Goode meets goes to Cope-Land.

Johnny Copeland - Sufferin' City

8. Strange faces.

Steve Strange's faces...

Visage - Damned Don't Cry

7. Not Fats Domino.

I think I might have used this clue in reverse at some point...

Chubby Checker - Limbo Rock

6. Royalty................................................................................ and me with a capital, in the Middle East.

Prince is Far from I (the pronoun with a capital letter).

Prince Far I and the Arabs - Out Of The Abyss

5. No longer on the sidewalk.

He used to be in Pavement, now he's just...

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Houston Hades

4. Did they have Reds under their Beds?

McCarthy - In Purgatory

3. Politicians on the funicular. 

A funicular is a type of tram, with added MPs.

The Trammps - Disco Inferno

2. What a bunch of cows!

The Herd - From The Underworld

1. Ben's gal is confused, obviously.

"Ben's gal" was an anagram.

The Bangles - Eternal Flame

Bonus track today from HMHB...

Because "Hell is other people". Not the people playing this quiz though, so hopefully I'll see you all back here next Saturday...

Saturday Snapshots #458

I would do anything for Saturday Snapshots, but I won't do... that.

Here are some people to identify. Who are they and what connects their songs?

15. S/laughter.

14. Cher airs her grievances.

13. Hyper, cuff and chain... make him wary (almost).

12. Ginger was not a Northerner.

11. They just keep coming around.

10. Have you misplaced the camera, Mike?

9. Be good in St. Julian's country.

8. Strange faces.

7. Not Fats Domino.

6. Royalty............................................................... and me with a capital, in the Middle East.

5. No longer on the sidewalk.

4. Did they have Reds under their Beds?

3. Politicians on the funicular. 

2. What a bunch of cows!

1. Ben's gal is confused, obviously.

If you didn't get them all, remember: Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad.

Answers tomorrow.

One Track Summer #7: Better Things

Here's wishing you the bluest sky

And hoping something better comes tomorrow

Hoping all the verses rhyme

And the very best of choruses, too

Follow all the doubt and sadness

I know that better things are on the way

Here's hoping all the days ahead

Won't be as bitter as the ones behind you

Be an optimist instead

And somehow happiness will find you

Forget what happened yesterday

I know that better things are on the way

The Kinks really are a gift that keeps on giving.

One Track Summer #6: Watching Your Workplace Burn To The Ground

Is it a common fantasy to imagine your workplace burning to the ground?

Certainly, when I worked at The Bad Place, I would regularly hear the idea mooted, especially every time we had to go stand out in the car park for a fire drill. "Maybe this'll be the time...?"

Durry are from Minnesota. Here's a song they wrote about being a slave to the paycheque and hoping your workplace might one day become just a pile of ashes...

Celebrity Jukebox #82: Kevin Keegan

Usually it's Ben who informs me of the latest candidates for this feature, but yesterday morning it was Sam who announced that Kevin Keegan was no longer with us.

When I was growing up, I paid very little attention to sport, so I knew very few sporting celebrities. Ian Botham. Steve Davis. John McEnroe, obviously. But as football was the sport I liked the least (let's be honest: I actively hated it), my knowledge of footballers was worst of all. I went out of my way to not know who they were.

All that said, I knew Kevin Keegan. And not because of this...

Kevin Keegan - Head Over Heels In Love

I was pretty certain Nigel Blackwell must have mentioned Kevin Keegan in a song at some point, but all I could find was this...

Bubble perm

Ever since your bubble perm, 

I've gone ex-directory, just in case you need me

Half Man Half Biscuit - Everything's A.O.R.

Paul Heaton though, he gave Kevin the immortality he deserves...

Nearly, we were actually the reason

Footballer and popstar would perform

All they really wanted was cuddle and a hug

And an XXL like me to keep them warm

Nearly did I get myself run over

When Kevin Keegan clearly blew a kiss

Nearly did we get beat up by bouncers

When Elton John we caused his train to miss

Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott - Nearly Once

Here's something very loud, with an amusing title.

Mia Hope - My Sister Looks Like Kevin Keegan

And here's something a lot easier on the ears...

Rebecca Richman - Eglantine / Kevin Keegan's Waltz

And here's a tribute from a German ska band...

No Life Lost - Kevin Keegan

But like many of the stars featured in this jukebox, Kevin Keegan probably deserves a better song to eulogise him. 

Perhaps he can share one with Jennifer Finch, bass player with L7, who also sadly died of cancer earlier this week...