It took a little more than year to complete the album list. At the half way point, I began thinking of the next project to do. I suggested on Twitter a song project, which was immediately encouraged, particularly by my BFFS.
This cause great consternation. See, narrowing down albums is hard enough. Narrowing down songs is god damned near impossible. While my top five songs of all time are pretty much set in stone, the numbers afterwards are fluid and ever-expanding. So it becomes a question of how one breaks down the list. I considered by year (already did that one once, years ago). I considered by genre, by decade, by artist, by whim. None of these satisfied. THen, one day, in my eternal search for good music from where ever I can find it, digging through Turkish rock music on-line ( I’m not kidding), it hit me.
By country.
This idea was later solidified while watching the Scottish TV special Scotland’s Greatest Album, which admirably didn’t give the Scots a Wet Wet Wet song to vote for, but still skewed MOR and bland over all (literally- Middle of the Road was on the list with “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep”). I also objected to the Fifa rules of nationality they ascribed to. Essentially, the album was made up with the same artists, with two Proclaimers songs, the wrong Primal Scream song,and their entire nineties selections were actually released in PREVIOUS decades. I found the song selection process flawed. And that irritated me.
This being said- EVERY single song that panel selected was a great song. But the disagreements run deep.
Yes it was a democratically selected list, voted by the people. Scots have terrible taste in music. Though I suspect that similar experiments would probably end up similar.
So I have decided to produce lists of varying numbers, depending on my research and love of various bands and genres and ultimately the quality of a nations music scene. The two nations exempt for the time being are the U.S. and England ( yes, England. I am separating the U.K. like they do for the World Cup. Come on Wales, give me more than the Manics!). The history is so massive that it would take years to finish a list. So they will come towards the end, as I have already taken my previously created lists and began divvying them up.
I am starting with these three countries first- Scotland (I’m irritated); Slovenia (thanks to my lovely BFF and Eurovision apologist Nina for the primary list, which shall be expanded on); and Australia ( I’m listening to a lot of Nick Cave lately).
As always, I appreciate all feedback and recommendations. The email address is fromamess@gmail.com.
Thanks, and wish me luck. I’ve been stuck on a loop of Hue and Cry, Aztec Camera, and Deacon Blue. I might how up to work in tartan leg warmers at this rate.
