Some German rap today for you, courtesy of... erm... German rappers 23 (aka Bushido and Sido). Don't say I don't treat you.
23 - Mit 'Nem Lächeln
Following last week's unexpected (except by me) victory for Half Man Half Biscuit, The Swede played it safe this week...
So could it be two weeks running for HMHB?
Half Man Half Biscuit - Tending The Wrong Grave For 23 Years
Charity Chic will not be happy with the first word in your sentence there, Swede.
Still, this'll cheer him up. Here comes George...
The Butthole Surfers - 22 going on 23
That's a rather disturbing song for you.
Bet that won't stop you suggesting it again next week, George.
And Dwight Yoakam - Readin', Writing, Route 23
That's more like it.
Hang on, The Swede's back...
Prince Far I - Psalm 23
I was expecting that after last week.
Soothsayers - Crying on 23rd
New to me.
Underworld - Twenty Three Blue
Japanese bonus track. No stone unturned!
The Lightmen - Luke 23:32-49
I'm not quite sure how I missed my two previous opportunities to suggest that one. Better late than never.
You know it's rare when it's only on youtube once. All done, Swede?
Delayed inspiration...
John Cooper Clarke - 23rd
That was one from my list.
Quick reminder of the Lime Green Rule, for anyone who's not been paying attention...
Unless they're amazing suggestions, I'm going to stop allowing lyrical 24s (and so on) as we get nearer number one. Let's face it, there are way too many. So you'll have to be really persuasive if you want to sell me on a lyrical reference from now on. Sorry.
Because, look, here's George again.
Damn that lime green rule. It means whip Crack Away by Doris Day is excluded.
Exceptions can be made in exceptional circumstances, George.
Twenty-three miles we've covered today
Doris Day - The Deadwood Stage
Although, to be fair, you could have had that four weeks ago, before the Lime Green Rule was instituted.
Here's a man the sheriff watches
On his gun there's more than twenty-seven notches
Time for C, who's found another suggestion from my shortlist...
Blonde Redhead - 23
Any band with Japanese art students sounds good to me (but whatever happened to them, are they still going?)
Apparently so, unless their website's lying.
Here comes somebody else wanting to flout the Lime Green Rule. It's Lynchie...
Before the lime green restrictions, I'd have said Jesus, the Missing Years by John Prine was a serious contender.
John Prine is always a contender in this house, Lynchie.
Charley bought some popcorn, Billy bought a car
Someone almost bought the farm but they didn't go that far
Things shut down at midnight, at least 'round here they do
Cause we all reside down the block inside 23 Skidoo
I really must enforce that rule more stringently. What else do you have for me?
Patti Scialfa - 23rd Street Lullaby
Martin was late to the party this week...
FurryBootsCityBoy beat me to Patti Scialfa...
You snooze, you lose.
I'm going for a punctuation cheat:
The Wedding Present - 2,3, Go!
Well, it's always nice to see my students using commas.
Over to Jim in Dubai who was hoping not to give me any nightmares like he did last week...
My offerings this week.
Stephen Duffy - Twenty Three
That was on my list.
Hippo - Twenty Three
The internet tells me you're making that one up, Jim.
Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Twenty Three Hour Toothache
Not that one though. But no nightmares this week, so thank you.
Finally this week, it's Rigid Digit...
Shakira - 23
It's in the collection - no idea how it got there, but it aint bad ... I'm off to listen to some more. Never knowingly heard it.
Welcome to 50% of my record collection, RD. One of the reasons I do this blog is so I actually get to listen to some of the tracks I've never heard before.
OK, before we get to this week's debate, what else did my hard drive spew up?
Luna - 23 Minutes In Brussels
Redbone - 23rd And Mad
Republic of Loose - 23 Things I Don't Like
Rufus Wainwright, Helena Bonham Carter, Martha Wainwright & Fiora Cutler - Unperfect Actor (Sonnet 23)
Teleman - 23 Floors Up
The Divine Comedy - 23rd of December
Carter USM - 23:59 End of the World
Death In Vegas - 23 Lies
Paul Westerberg - 23 Years Ago
Ryan Adams - Sweet Little Girl (23rd & 1st)
Which brings us to the debate. The Swede was the first to raise the issue...
Seriously though, is anything going to top 'Strawberry Letter 23' by Shuggie Otis this week?
Charity Chic seconded that... but then, Lynchie threw in the alternative.
I prefer The Brothers Johnson version of "Strawberry Letter 23" to Shuggie Otis, so there!
I must admit, I'm really kind of torn. I know Shuggie wrote it, and the original takes some beating... but I really am rather fond of the Brothers Johnson version myself, especially as it's the version I heard first. Have we to call it a tie?
(I know: chicken!)
Next week is Catch 22. We may never escape...
