Self-Help For Cynics #27: Dopamine

The Fixx - Opinions

Last week on SH4C, we met Tiberius, a “friend” of mine who worries constantly about other people’s opinions. 

And we asked the important question: Why do we care what other people think?

Major Parkinson - The Age Of Paranoia

Once again, the finger pointed firmly in the direction of our brains, and I immediately figured our old friend the amygdala might be responsible. However, it turns out there’s another suspect in the frame: the hypothalamus!

The Divine Comedy - Who Do You Think You Are?

The hypothalamus is a tiny little blob of gunk deep within our brain which takes charge of our heart rate, body temperature, hunger, and the sleep-wake cycle. It does a bunch of other jobs too, notably mucking about with our social behaviour – including sex-drive and aggression. How does it do this? By releasing hormones! And which hormone is responsible for our obsession with what other people think of us? Dopamine.

The Hormones - Don't Let Them Get You Down

Last week, we closed with a quote about “externalising our self-worth”: in other words, seeing ourselves as others see us. Take Tiberius – when someone smiles at him, even a stranger, he feels a little better about his day. If a colleague or peer compliments him on his work or tells him he’s doing a good job, it makes him happy. And if someone reads his blog or leaves a nice comment… well, it’s cartwheels time! Because every time one of those things happens, the hypothalamus in Tiberius’s brain releases dopamine… the “feel good hormone”… the “happy hormone”… the “pleasure hormone”. You’ll find many similar sobriquets applied to dopamine online. Because dopamine is also the hormone that’s released when we eat, have sex, and take drugs… anything that feels good. (Even if it's bad for us.)

D.R. Hooker - A Stranger's Smile

Healthline tells us…

Anything that gives you pleasure will trigger the release of dopamine. This can range from a fun activity you enjoy, like dancing or cooking, to sex, shopping, and even certain drugs. Dopamine activates the reward pathway in the brain, leading you to desire these activities more. For this reason, dopamine can play a role in addiction.

The Good Rats - Does It Make You Feel Good?

This opens up a whole bunch of questions for me. 

For example… if being smiled at by a stranger gives Tiberius a mini dopamine hit, why doesn’t he go out of his way to be nicer to strangers? Or... does he pick and choose which strangers he would rather be nice to, because, frankly, their smiles are worth more to him? Other factors outweigh the dopamine hit in certain circumstances. A smile from a little old lady in the supermarket who’s asked Tiberius to reach for a tin on the top shelf… that’s worth it. But he’s still not going to wave at that Audi driver and let him pull out, even if the Audi driver might smile back… is that because Tiberius believes the Audi driver won’t smile back, or does he get more of a dopamine hit by denying the Audi driver, by causing him a little inconvenience? There are, I presume, certain circumstances where being mean will grant you more of a hit than being nice? It all depends on who you’re interacting with in any particular moment. 

The Wonder Stuff - Happy:Sad

Speaking for myself, rather than Tiberius, I can report a recent incident when I was on the motorway, driving at the speed limit in the fast lane, with an Audi driver behind me, far too close, desperate to get past. When it was eventually safe to pull back into the middle lane, I did so. My hands remained at ten to two on the steering wheel, but I carefully extended the middle finger of my right hand as the Audi accelerated past. Up ahead now, the Audi swerved erratically as he opened his own car window and raised his own hand / fist / finger up into the air in a furious gesture of aggression. And then he was gone. But the fact that he’d clearly noticed my subtle bird flipping, and that it had aggravated him so very much... this gave me a much greater dopamine rush than any stranger’s smile could have done. Call me petty, but I was buzzing on that for the rest of the day.

The world needs people like you and me
Who've been knocked around by fate
'Cause when people see us
They don't wanna be us
And that makes them feel great

Avenue Q Cast - Schadenfreude

Going back to Tiberius, I’m sure that positive feedback from his colleagues – and the feel good hormones released as a result – encourage him to keep trying his best in the workplace. It’s interesting to note that some scientists believe a shortage of dopamine might be responsible for all manner of medical and psychological complaints, from autism to Parkinson’s, but that you can boost your dopamine by eating more protein (because that’s what it’s made from, apparently). Another reason to keep chomping brazil nuts… if I needed one. Better yet, Healthline tells us...

Listening to music can be a fun way to stimulate dopamine release in your brain.

Adam Green & Binki Shapiro - Just To Make Me Feel Good 

That'll do me!

War - The Funky Music Makes You Feel Good

And that third thing I mentioned that gives Tiberius an instant dopamine hit? Online blog feedback? Hoo boy. We’ve opened a real can of worms there...

Richard Thompson - I Feel So Good

Next week, we’ll talk about one of the biggest dopamine boosters on the planet – and, as a result, one of the most addictive drugs you will ever come across. Worse still, it’s perfectly legal and children are becoming exposed to it at an increasingly younger age these days… with all kinds of horrific consequences.

I’m talking about social media.

Oh, the horror.

If you could see the you that I see

When I see you

You would see things differently

I assure you

I wish I could hire Henry Rollins as my motivational coach.

Snapshots #251: A Top Ten Beach Songs

Ten songs to take with you to the beach. If we get the weather...

10. Top scholars.

The First Class - Beach Baby

9. Rich arse.

Unfortunate anagram alert!

Chris Rea - On The Beach

8. Stirrer.

Pushing the boundaries of what's accepted on this blog, even by my own low standards...

T-Spoon - Sex On The Beach

7. Warm, stuffy, smoky atmospheres.

Lovely musical interpretation of the Matthew Arnold poem.

The Fugs - Dover Beach

6. First Man on the Golf Course.

Adam on the green.

Adam Green - Broadcast Beach

5. Leafy Romford suburb.

Check your maps for Gidea Park.

Gidea Park - Beach Boy Gold

Apologies, but featuring the actual Beach Boys in this week's quiz would have been too obvious.

4. Carlos's Samba Goes To Washington. 

Carlos Santana performed Samba Pa Ti.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.

Patti Smith - Redondo Beach

3. Jamie Unchained, twice.

Jamie Foxx starred in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained.

Django Django - Life's A Beach

2. Bruce & Clark's mum makes mules.

The mothers of Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent both shared the same first name, a fact that was used as a cringe-worthy "let's stop fighting and make friends" plot twist in the awful Batman Vs. Superman movie.

Muffin was a mule.

Martha & The Muffins - Echo Beach

1. Ms. Tricky Local.

Anagram! (Fixed after Charity Chic spotted a missing y.)

Kirsty MacColl - He's On The Beach

More next week.

Name That Tune: Our Top Ten Adam Songs

There really was only one Adam who could illustrate the Top Ten Adam Songs that you have helped me compile over the last week. Jim in Dubai was surprised by how many Adam Ant songs he had in his collection... but there's no such thing as too many Adam Ant songs, surely? And I know this is after he lost his Ants, but I still don't think it gets better than this...



There were, of course, other Adams in contention, including Adam Faith, Adam Green, a couple of Beastie Boys and Adam's House Cat... though I'm afraid to say that surnames are not allowed (those darned rules!) so no room for Bryan or Ryan, Tony or Rick... and definitely no room for Adamski, sorry to John Medd. I'm afraid Killer still gives me nightmares, John, and you did no favours by suggesting it was a "banger" since that term should only be used for sausages and fireworks. At least you didn't say it "dropped" in 1990... that really would have got you a three post suspension.

However, the idea of this series is that I collate ten tunes which have Adam in the title or the lyrics... from your suggestions, and my own. Nobody actually suggested any lyrical Adams this time, though you could have had...

Harry Belafonte - Man Smart, Woman Smarter

Garden of Eden was very nice

Adam never work in Paradise

Eve meet snake, Paradise gone

She make Adam work from that day on

Different times, folks.

There are a couple more to follow, but what about the Runners Up?

The Swede suggested...

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - Tony Adams

...which is a top tune, but (under the rules) would only fit into the Top Ten Tony Songs... which I've already done. Although maybe it's time for a second volume?

Wayne Shorter - Adam's Apple

Nice. Another Adam's Apple made the cut though.

Alyson was next...

You know I love old musicals and in Call Me Madam one of Irving Berlin’s songs is Mrs Sally Adams. All about a wealthy widow turned socialite. It won’t be in your Top Ten and probably breaks a rule with the extra ‘s’ but enjoyed watching the clip from the film with a young Donald O’Connor and Ethel Merman in fine fettle (she reminded me of Rizzo from Grease).

Mrs. Sally Adams

An enjoyable clip, Alyson, but disqualified on the same grounds as The Swede's first suggestion.

Finally in today's runners up, we have  Rigid Digit , who says...

Oo - another opportunity to plunder the depths of my brain and record collection for things!

Aerosmith - Adam's Apple

Blink 182 - Adam's Song

Two fine tunes, RD, but not quite good enough to make the ten. One of your others did though, so stick around.

And here's the rest of the scrapings from my own hard drive...

Eddi Reader - Adam

Billy Idol - Adam In Chains

Bob Seger & Laura Creamer - Adam & Eve

Paul Anka - Adam & Eve

That's groovy.

Julian Cope - Adam & Eve Hit The Road

Ben & Jason - Adam & Lorraine

Josh Ritter - The Temptation of Adam

Violent Femmes - Adam Was A Man

And let's not forget this little beauty, which teased the series last week...

Half Man Half Biscuit - Adam Boyle Has Cast Lad Rock Aside

But what of the winning ten?

Here they are...


10. The Sun and the Moon - Adam's Song (Pour Fenella) 

Brian kicks us off with this lost jangly classic from a band that obviously listened to too many Smiths records. Didn't we all?

Some ex-Chameleons there from 1988.

Ah, well, that explains it.

9. LYR - Adam's Apple

A brand new one next, from my old local pal The Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, and his new band LYR. I will feature their new album again soon, because it's a belter.

8. Elvis Presley - Adam & Evil

For anyone who's missing Elvis Fridays.

7. Jesse Garon and the Desperadoes - The Adam Faith Experience

I appear to have a song called The Adam Faith Experience by Jesse Garron & the Desperadoes from the Big Gold Dreams boxset, says Charity Chic. And Brian had it too. Now I want it!

6. They Might Be Giants - XTC Vs. Adam Ant

Thanks to Walter for recalling this one. Lots of Adam Ant songs mention Ants, but none mention Adam.

If you can't decide between XTC and Adam Ant, don't worry... They Might Be Giants have the answer.

XTC versus Adam Ant

Content versus form

Fighting for their place in rock and roll

There is no right or wrong

Just when you think it's finished

With XTC on top

Ant music, like a phoenix

Flies back up the charts

XTC versus Adam Ant

Only one will survive

Beatle-based pop versus new romantic

History will decide

XTC versus Adam Ant

I can't tell you why

Even the singer from Bow Wow Wow

Can't make up her mind

XTC versus Adam Ant

Time is marching on

XTC versus Adam Ant

There is no right or wrong

There is no right or wrong

There is

No right

Or wrong

5. Momus - Adam Green

Jim in Dubai kicked us off with this one, which he explains thus:

A great song by Momus from his album where people paid money to him to have a song written about them to help him pay some legal bills I believe, this one obviously came from a Mr Adam Green.

I did wonder if the Adam Green in question was George's favourite Adam Green (from The Moldy Peaches)...

Adam Green - Hairy Women

...but I suspect, after listening to the track, that it was Adam Green the cartoonist.

Still, thanks for making me aware of that album, Jim. I like some Momus, but hadn't come across that before.

4. Weezer - Thank God For Girls

There will be plenty of people who tell you that Weezer haven't been any good since (insert early Weezer album here, probably Pinkerton). To those people, I ask them again to listen to this.

God took a rib from Adam

Ground it up in a centrifuge machine

Mixed it with cardamon and cloves

Microwaved it on the popcorn setting

While Adam was like, "Ooh ooh! That really hurts!”

Going off into the tundra

So pissed at God

And he started lighting minor forest fires, stealing osprey eggs

Messing with the bees who were trying

To pollinate the echinacea, until God said

“I'm a smite you with loneliness

And break your heart in two!”

And Adam wept and wailed

Tearing out his hair

Falling on his knees, looked to

The sky and said, “Thank God...!”

3. Jackson Browne - Song For Adam

Also suggested by Walter and Rigid Digit, who obviously share the same record collection.

Great choice though.

Now the story's told that Adam jumped

But I've been thinking that he fell

2. Billy Bragg - A Lover Sings

Adam & Eve crop up in lots of songs because they were the first lovers... and it didn't end too well, did it? Still, they did inspire Billy to write one of his very best love songs.

Walking in the park, kissing on the carpet

And your tights around your ankles

Late at night a lover thinks of these things

Adam and Eve are finding out all about love

Teresa and Steve are finding out all about love

1. Bruce Springsteen - Adam Raised A Cain

As was traditional on the Hot 100, The Swede was first in... and he hit the nail on the head with his first guess. No surprises, really. I'll try to be less predictable in future weeks...

I know George doesn't like Bruce, but maybe I can tempt him with this Biblical epic...?

(Probably not.)




Thank you for your participation. I thought it might take a couple of weeks to get this feature going, but most of you stepped up to the challenge immediately.

They won't all be as easy as Adam though. Take next week... we're sticking with the letter A, and a name that's close to all our hearts. The only snag? One song will dominate our thinking. It's the obvious Number One, but can we find another nine to back it up? That is your challenge. Remember, lyrical references are allowed... but no surnames.

NEXT WEEK: OUR TOP TEN ALISON 

(OR ALLISON & ALYSON*! Alternate spellings are allowed.) 

SONGS

(I'll even allow abbreviations such as Allie... though this won't always be the case.)

(*Although Alyson may consider this the only true spelling?)

Get your thinking caps on... and join me back here next Tuesday.

Guest Post Thursday #10: Top Ten Genesis Songs

Guest Post Thursday returns... and so does George!

I saw Genesis in concert in 1980 at the Caird Hall in Dundee. I queued for about 4 hours to get my £4 ticket. That was not £4 well spent. It was tedious. The allegedly famous light show seemed, as I recall 40 years later, to consist of a few green laser-like beams splaying about. Oh, and Mr Collins told some lengthy tedious introductions to some of the songs. Why did I go? A lot of my school friends were going, that’s why. I didn’t like them before the concert, and they did not go up in my esteem during and after the concert. Actually, Genesis are quite possibly my least favourite band, I have a visceral loathing for their music. Irrational maybe, but there you go. It borders on the psychopathic. Some people may know that I am not exactly a fan of The Clash and Springsteen, but I don’t detest their music, it just does not do much for me. Genesis on the other hand, good god almighty, they are just beyond! I get irritated beyond belief by their music.

So, My Top Ten Genesis Songs are inspired by…………..the book of Genesis in the Bible. To be more specific, names mentioned in the book of Genesis. Come on, did you really expect some sort of tribute to that loathsome band that give prog rock a bad name?

First, a track be Génesis. Now PAY ATTENTION! Look at the spelling, note the acute accent on the first e, I’m presenting a track by my favourite Colombian folk-rock band………and a song that veers into prog-folk territory.

10. Génesis - Carta de Juan

The people on the record cover look as if they are auditioning for a role in that early 1970s film masterpiece Jesus Christ Superstar.

(Prog-folk? I think I'd rather listen to I Can't Dance. But don't let me interrupt George when he's on a roll. - Rol.)

And after that I could follow it up with Debora by Tyrannosaurus Rex. I won’t, it’s nonsense, as is all of Mr Bolan’s music.

(Biting my tongue again. - Rol.)

But there is a famous singer of that name:

9. Blondie - Pretty Baby

Yes, the singer is indeed named after the nurse of Rebecca, wife of Isaac.

And here’s a singer who shares his name with the third son of Jacob and Leah. Levi...

8. The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself

Even the most avowed atheist surely can’t claim ignorance of the name Adam. Here’s Adam Green, from an album I bought in Reveal Records, Derby, that was playing, and had myself and a friend laughing out loud at the lyrics. Not this one, though, this a play-safely-at-work song:

7. Adam Green - Cast A Shadow

(I will take this opportunity to remind everybody of my new Tuesday feature in which this week I'm looking for songs that mention Adams. Please keep sending your suggestions through. - Rol.)

Hagar was the woman who gave birth to Abraham’s first child, Ishmael. And Hagar The Womb (clever name) did a session for John Peel in 1984 which resulted in this:

6. Hagar The Womb - One Bright Spark

Dinah Washington was a jazz singer who also made some very famous pop songs in the early 1960s, and also this blues song, which is really not about getting your teeth done:

5. Dinah Washington - Long John Blues

Dan (and that is Dan not Daniel) was the fifth son of Jacob, and founder of the Israelite tribe of Dan. Dan Auerbach is in a blues band called The Black Keys, but his given name is Daniel so he’s excluded.

A quite famous female name from the book of genesis is Eve. Great, I thought, I can wreck this blog for all eternity and post a song featuring Eve Graham, of The New Seekers!! Alas, Eve Graham is actually an Evelyn. I can’t find any Eves so it’s an Isaac next. Isaac, son of Abraham and Sarah, lived to be 180, which is 118 years more than Isaac responsible for this majestic soul masterpiece:

4. Isaac Hayes - Walk On By

That’s 12 minutes of your life well spent!

(Can't disagree with that. - Rol.)

And time for a Benjamin. The Genesis Benjamin was the thirteenth child of Jacob and Leah. The Benjamin of “Benjamin and Barnaby Green” is probably not the 13th child of his parents. By the way, the duo consist of a bloke who goes only by the name of Benjamin, not Benjamin Green. We saw them at the world music festival here 3 years ago. A free gig on the esplanade, with a backdrop of the Atlantic (ocean). And very enjoyable they were too, despite straying a bit too closely to Level 42 territory at times. Not this, a nice, gentle Portuguese pop song:

3. Benjamin & Barnaby Keen - Terra Firme

You can get the album 1986 on Bandcamp.

Penultimate song, and a song which I think might be about dying. The Staple Singers make it sound quite joyous...

2. The Staple Singers - Jacob's Ladder

That would be Jacob, father of the twelve men who were the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. And the chappie who had a dream about a ladder.

Finally, a song that starts with the first three words of the book of Genesis. Gram Parsons’ era Byrds, saving the best ‘til last.

1. The Byrds - You Don't Miss Your Water

It occurred to me as I was whiling away the hours doing this that RE teachers (who you should never refer to as Jimmy Jesus) could (should?) be following this example to get the surly teenagers somehow even remotely interested.

And here’s the now obligatory JCS clip, there’s at least two of us who have professed to the world to be fans. (Yes, Sundried C, that’s you!)

And yes, I do know that JCS is not a Book of Genesis thing, but any remote excuse to post a clip will do:

“You have set them all on fire, they think they’ve found the new messiah” Toptastic lyric! And I kid you not, my singing along has attracted Parsley the goat and bought Billy the farm cat back to house. When I play these JCS songs, I am amazed at how much of the lyric I can remember, and it really is not a record I have played in decades.

Apologies to Rol, but my extensive biblical studies revealed no Hueys in the Book Of Genesis. Although, I was aghast to discover, there is a Huey Lewis song called Jacob’s Ladder!

Thank you kindly.

Indeed there is, George, although it was written by Bruce Hornsby. And since your brought it up...

Guest Post Thursday will be back next week - yes, there's another one in the bag (not from George, but I'm sure we can count on him to continue our Biblical Studies one day soon.) And don't forget, your contributions are always welcome...

My Top Ten Emily Songs

With the exception of Kenny Wednesdays, I haven't done a first name Top Ten in quite a while. So...

There are actually very few Emilies in my record collection. The only artists I could find were Emily Robinson from the Dixie Chicks; French singer Emily Loizeau, whose songs appear to have been recorded by everybody from Shelby Lynne to The Mountain Goats; Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo; Emily Kinney (above), who you might recognise as Beth from The Walking Dead, but she writes some pretty cool songs too; and a not-half-bad cover of Asleep by The Smiths by Australian actress Emily Browning, from the soundtracker of Sucker Punch.

But when it came to songs about Emilies... there were LOADS!


10. Pink Floyd - See Emily Play

I feel like I'm contractually obliged to include this. Not being a true muso, I never really got The Floyd. Nothing against them, I just never really saw what all the fuss was about. I probably appreciate the Syd Barrett stuff a bit more... although I prefer the David Bowie and Martha Wainwright versions of this song, if I'm totally honest.

9. Stephen Fretwell - Emily

Something about the name Emily must attract earnest young singer songwriters, since that's what most of this week's chart is made up of...

8. Bowling For Soup - Emily

...with a couple of, ahem, obvious exceptions. Nothing earnest about this lot.

7. Adam Green - Emily

Take one Moldy Peach... add a bunch of dangerous ladies, mix, watch the sparks fly.

6. Esiotrot - Emily Scott

More from that backwards tortoise, about the daughter of a clergyman who will wash your hair when it gets dirty. Lovely brass section on this.

5. The Handsome Family - Emily Shore 1819-1839

Emily Shore was a young English woman who died of consumptiom at the age of 19 in the early 1800s. Her diaries were published over 50 years later, and a century or so after that they inspired Brett and Rennie Sparks.

4. Luke Douchet - Emily, Please

Excellent track from Luke's 2005 album, Broken (And Other Rogue States). Great live version I found on youtube in which Luke duets with his wife, Melissa Mclelland.

3. Simon & Garfunkel - For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her

Art goes solo on this one: peerless romantic nostalgia from Paul. 

I wandered empty streets
Down past the shop displays.
I heard cathedral bells
Tripping down the alley ways,
As I walked on.

And when you ran to me
Your cheeks flushed with the night.
We walked on frosted fields of juniper and lamplight,
I held your hand.

John Grant did an excellent cover of this with The Czars. 

2. Louis Eliot - Emily

Second best song I own about a long lost teenage girlfriend called Emily... from the former Rialto frontman.

Took off our ties straight after school
For lager and limes and shooting pool
Underhand cigarettes to compilation cassettes...

1. Art Brut - Emily Kane

I miss Eddie Argos. I don't know what he's up to these days, but we need him back.

I don't even know where she lives.

I've not seen her in 10 years, 9 months, 3 weeks, 4 days, 6 hours, 13 minutes, 5 seconds.
Other girls went and other girls came, 

I can't get over my old flame.
All my friends think I'm insane, 

I'm still in love with Emily Kane.
There's a beast in my soul that can't be tamed, 

I'm still in love with Emily Kane.

Those were my ten favourites (well, nine and one contractual obligation), but I easily had enough Emily songs for a Top Twenty-Five. Perhaps I'll do a volume 2... once I've covered every other name in my Big Book of Baby Names. Suggestions are always welcomed...

My Top Ten Dude Songs

Can't believe I've never thought of doing this one before. Ten songs dedicated to The Dude... or his Dudeness... or Duder... or El Duderino, if you're not into that whole "brevity" thing. Because... he abides.


10. Adam Green - Hey Dude

Adam Green's lyrics often crack me up. No idea what he was smoking before he wrote this one though...

Bob Dylan was a vegetable's wife
Game over, hope you had a good life...

9.  Scatterbrain - Don't Call Me Dude

I don't know a lot about Scatterbrain and I've no idea where I first came across this track. Described by iffypedia as an "American thrash metal band", this is probably their most poppy and commercial number - a Top 20 hit in Australia back in 1990. They're a band with an obvious sense of humour... and that always wins my attention.

8. Sonic Youth - Dude Ranch Nurse

Let Kim Gordon give you a shot and take your pulse... it's something to do.

Taken from the 2004 album Sonic Nurse, this track was named after a piece by artist Richard Prince who also provided the album cover.

7. Curtis Mayfield - A Heavy Dude

If the first three seconds don't hook you, you ain't got no funk in your soul. And if Curtis whets your appetite for groovin'... try this:

6. Quincy Jones - The Dude

Who is it
That ain't got time for foolish talkin'?
Who is it
That looks so clean you can't ignore him?

Featuring Michael Jackson, James Ingram and Patti Austin on backing vocals, they don't get much dudier than this one!

I'm a stone cold taker,
I'm a piggy bank shaker,
An' I don't waste my time talkin' trash...
So if you go to my school,
You gotta learn this rule —
Don't let your mouth write a check
That your body can't cash!

5. Kula Shaker - Hey Dude

Poor old Crispian Mills, forever cursed to be known as Hayley's annoying Britpop son. Give Kula Shaker some credit, musicologists - they were far less derivative than Oasis! This is their biggest original hit (their only other Number 2 was a cover of Deep Purple's Hush) and it stands the test of time pretty well.

4. Steely Dan - Any Major Dude Will Tell You

The album this came from, Pretzel Logic, is currently on rotation in my car. Great driving music - keeps the road rage at bay... unless you find yourself face to face with a wild squonk along the way.

Have you ever seen a squonk's tears? Well, look at mine
The people on the street have all seen better times

A squonk, in case you're wondering, is a mythical Pennsylvanian creature that looks a little bit like a turd on legs (according to google images).

This song also gave its name to one of the greatest music blogs on the internet. If you've never paid that dude a visit, I recommend you do so immediately!

3. Aerosmith - Dude (Looks Like A Lady)

Originally titled 'Cruisin' For A Lady', Steven Tyler was persuaded to change the title by openly gay songwriter Desmond Child (Tyler thought it'd be offensive to the gay community, Child said 'bollocks' to that). Apparently the inspiration came when Tyler saw a hot blonde in a bar that he was about to hit on... until he realised it was Mötley Crüe vocalist Vince Neil...

Never judge a book by it's cover
Or who you gonna love by your lover
Sayin' love put me wise to her love in disguise
She had the body of a Venus,
Lord imagine my surprise!

Hey, take it as a compliment, Vince.

2. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Looking Out My Back Door

The Dude's own personal favourite (until his car is broken into and they steal his tape deck AND his Creedence); some may dispute its inclusion here since the "dudes" of the chorus are often interpreted as "doo doo doos". But after The Big Lebowski, it's impossible to hear it any other way. I really hope The Dude got his tape deck back. And his Creedence.

1. Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes

If anyone ever pauses to question the prolific genius of peak period Bowie, consider this: one of his best songs, and he happily gave it away to save the career of Mott The Hoople. ATYD begins with one of the most memorable guitar hooks in the history of rock before the triumphant end of the world as we know it lyrics kick in - but we feel fine. A rallying call for a generation that rejects the Beatles & Stones in favour of T-Rex, this had to be re-recorded for BBC airplay because Wendy stole her clothes from Marks & Sparks. (It was the advertising they didn't like, not the shoplifting.) Apparently there's a version where Wendy steels her clothes from unlocked cars... but I don't think I've ever heard that.



Those were my favourite Dude songs. Which one takes you bowling?