Homonyms #9: Come Together

For the purposes of this blog, homonyms are different songs with the same title. And for the purposes of my sanity, I'm limiting each post to two songs, however many there may be that fit the bill.

Today we examine two different takes on, ahem, unity. Of sorts.

Our first Come Together is by Blur, from their oft-maligned debut album, 1991's Leisure. I say maligned but, thinking back, I seem to recall most people (myself included) were just a bit disappointed that it wasn't all as good as There's No Other Way. In fairness to Damon et al., they set themselves quite a high bar there. Anyway, here's their very-91 offering.

I usually write something here along the lines of "there's always a bigger fish" ... and so it is today, for this is the brilliance of Come Together by The Beatles, a popular Scouse beat combo who I feel may go far.

Poor Blur, I've just lined one of their lesser moments up against one of the greatest moments of the biggest band of all time. Anyway, other acts who also want you to come together include Primal Scream, The Internet, Spiritualized and, er, that's about it, I think; everyone else just covers The Beatles.

So, do you want to come together, or do either of these drive you apart?

Homonyms #8: Loser

For the purposes of this blog, homonyms are different songs with the same title. And for the purposes of my sanity, I'm limiting each post to two songs, however many there may be that fit the bill.

Today we take a detour into self-deprecation, self-effacement, self-pity and maybe even self-loathing.

Our first Loser is by Tame Impala, and is currently pulling up proverbial trees after its inclusion in the recent Spiderman film, Brand New Day. Social traction, if that's even a phrase, has been helped further by an engaging video starring Joe "not just 'Steve Harrington' but also a musician by the name of Djo" Keery. Here it is.

But there's always a bigger fish or, in this case, a bigger loser. I picked up Beck's Loser on 7" vinyl from the Woolworth's bargain bin for 49p, back in the day. I can picture the slightly tatty cover now. This was his third single but first hit, and went top ten all over the place (though only reached #15 in the UK). I have fond memories of trying to decipher the lyrics with my good friend Tim, on late night drives back from wherever. Get crazy with the Cheese Whiz indeed...

Other losers include Limp Bizkit, The Grateful Dead, Motorhead, 3 Doors Down, and probably loads more - we're everywhere, after all.

So, are these lucky losers or a lost cause?

Homonyms #7: Run

For the purposes of this blog, homonyms are different songs with the same title. And for the purposes of my sanity, I'm limiting each post to two songs, however many there may be that fit the bill.

Today we lace up our trainers and go for a run.

Our first Run is by New Order, from 1989's Technique. I think that was the last album by them that I bought, other than compilations. It's certainly the last I bought on vinyl. Don't @ me, as the youth might (still?) say. Anyway, it's alright isn't it, but suffers by comparison to other tracks on the album, I think.

Talking of suffering by comparison, here's Snow Patrol's Run. I know this cemented their status as the headline act they've been ever since, and I don't mind it at all, but, as a guitarist, I do sometimes wonder how a band can get so big with such simple songs? What am I missing?

Other Runs I haven't been on include those by Spiritualized, Air, Stephen Fretwell (popularised [a bit] by Gavin & Stacey), Lighthouse Family, Amy Macdonald, and probably loads more, inevitably including that one you know and love that I've somehow overlooked.

So, do these make you want to run towards them, or in the opposite direction?

Homonyms #6: Superman

For the purposes of this blog, homonyms are different songs with the same title. And for the purposes of my sanity, I'm limiting each post to two songs, however many there may be that fit the bill.

Today we turn our eyes to Kal-El, last son of Krypton... with thanks to JC, who suggested this title.

Our first Superman is from David Gedge's other band, Cinerama. He might have switched jangly guitars for a string quartet, but the gritty drama of heartache and failed love is all present and correct.

REM's Superman is more upbeat. I suppose I ought to feature the original, since this is a cover of 60's band The Clique, but this is the version I know and love, and my gaff, my rules.

Supermen I have passed over include early Blur, Eminem, Stereophonics, Black Lace, Goldfinger, Tarrus Riley, and loads and loads more. And before you start, the Laurie Anderson song is called O Superman, so strictly speaking doesn't qualify as a homonym...

Do these make you want to leap tall buildings in a single bound? Or should they be banished to the Phantom Zone?

Homonyms #5: Hot Hot Hot (!!!)

For the purposes of this blog, homonyms are different songs with the same title. And for the purposes of my sanity, I'm limiting each post to two songs, however many there may be that fit the bill.

Today's offerings seem very t(r)opical, labouring as we are under freakish June temperatures. Console yourselves with the thought that they won't be freakish in the future...

First up, the disco/party/club staple of our younger days. I have gone for this 80s version by Arrow, because it's the one I remember, rather than the 60s original by The Merrymen (or their hastily re-recorded 80s cash-in). All together now: olé, olé, olé, olé... etc.

And for contrast (who doesn't like contrast?), here are godlike geniuses The Cure, differentiating themselves slightly by adding three exclamation marks to their homonym.

One of these may make you want to embrace the heat. But which, dear reader, which?

Homonyms #4: In The City

For the purposes of this blog, homonyms are simply different songs with the same title. And for the purposes of my sanity, I'm limiting each post to two songs, however many there may be that fit the bill.

Today, a little something from The Who's proto-concept album A Quick One. Unusually for the band, In The City was written by Keith and John; indeed, only they originally played on it, though Pete added some overdubbed guitar later. A bit Beach-Boys-lite in places, it was originally the B-side to I'm a Boy in 1965, before making it onto the album a year later.

And then there's The Jam's debut single, a song that needs no further introduction. Now I'm not saying Weller is a magpie (I've said that before) but listen carefully to The Who track from around the 1m45 mark, then get into The Jam's opening line... it's just a tiny snippet, but it's note for note. Anyway, forget that - this is still fantastic, nearly 50 years later. Will it ever not be?

Other artists with noteworthy songs called In The City, to name but a few, include: Madness (brilliant), Razorlight (not brilliant), Adamski (not for me), Elastica (not their best) and, er, Hanson (not as bad as you might expect).

Homonyms #3: One Love

For the purposes of this blog, homonyms are simply different songs with the same title. And for the purposes of my sanity, I'm limiting each post to two songs, however many there may be that fit the bill.

Today, a suggestion from the Blogfather, JC, at the inestimable (New) Vinyl Villain, specifically One Love by Bob Marley & The Wailers (much loved by Amusements Minor) and also One Love by The Stone Roses (much loved by me, not least for its ability to conjure a summer job working in a high street electrical store, where MTV played it every hour on the satellite TV demo set-up).

For completeness, and to do him justice, I should add that JC also noted songs by Massive Attack and Nas of the same name. It's me that's added the two homonym rule.

Homonyms #2: I Can't Help Myself

In linguistics, homonyms are words which are either homographs — words that mean different things but have the same spelling — or homophones — words that mean different things but have the same pronunciation. For the purposes of this blog, however, homonyms are simply different songs with the same title.

To whit, here's a slice of classic Holland-Dozier-Holland Motown from the Four Tops, and a very different but no less classic few minutes of unparalleled 90s indie from Gene, both called I Can't Help Myself. Only one has the subtitle Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch though...

Not the first time I've blogged different versions of the Gene track, but I make no apologies for that. Anyway, which homonym leaves you most unable to help yourself?

Homonyms #1: Monochrome

In linguistics, Wikipedia tells us, homonyms are words which are either homographs — words that mean different things but have the same spelling — or homophones — words that mean different things but have the same pronunciation.

For the purposes of this blog, homonyms are different songs with the same title, and a shabby excuse for a new occasional series to keep this shambles ticking over.

I was reminded by Strangeways' excellent recent ICA post at The New Vinyl Villain of The Sundays' Monochrome, which in turn brought to mind the more recent Wedding Present track of the same name. So here they both are.

Which most floats your boat? Runaround... now!