“Movin On” by Paul Weller
It’s been a while since Weller Wednesday happened here at lyriquediscorde. I think Weller and I needed a break. Sometimes space is needed to redefine music that once held significance in a relationship that is no longer. Though I was a fan before, it was definitely a shared thing, and I needed to find a way to unlink it, and put the memories away. I needed to find my way back to the music of Weller on my own.
Thanks, Paul Weller, for choosing a Weller Wednesday to release the second single, “Movin On”, from the upcoming album, True Meanings, coming out this September. It’s just what I needed to get back into your music. Lyrically, too, this song feels timely and relevant, and also just what I needed, for me, today.
“Movin On” by Paul Weller
from the upcoming album, True Meanings (coming September 2018)
Weller Wednesday
“Thru’ the heartaches and pain,
thru’ the darkness again,
til you find yourself back,
in the light once again.
To show –
you’re movin on.”
True Meanings to be released on September 14, 2018. Pre-order your copy here.
“Movin On” features English folk singer and guitarist Martin Carthy, as well as Villagers’ members, and songwriters, Conor O’Brien and Erland Cooper. Exceptional strings, something Weller is stellar at, add a bit of a jazz to this breezy summer folk-ish song. Something in the arrangement and lyrics reminds me of the mid-90’s.
Though I prefer Weller’s earlier single from True Meanings, “Aspects”, this new track feels like a grower. I know I’ll be hitting play many times in the near future…starting right now.
I do love the sentiment of moving on from pain and hurt, from things that hold you back, and perhaps even from yourself. Its hopeful, and I do love hopeful. I think we could all use some hopeful today. Thanks, PW.
“Life From a Window” by The Jam
It’s that day again. Wednesday. Weller Wednesday. The day of the week set aside to celebrate, listen to, and learn about all things Paul Weller. This week let’s travel back to 1977 and have a listen to my favorite track from This Is the Modern World. Reminiscent of The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” and “Liza Radley”, from later album, 1980’s Setting Sons, “Life From a Window” showcases the songwriting talents of Weller, as it captures the wistfulness of watching a world from a window that you are not yet a part of, but want to be.
“Life From a Window” by The Jam
from the album, This Is the Modern World (1977)
Weller Wednesday
“Looking from a hill top, watching from a lighthouse.
Just dreaming
Up here I can see the world.”
Haven’t we all looked out windows in our lives and dreamed of something different? Perhaps as a child, definitely as an adolescent, and even as adults. “Life From a Window” is not just my favorite from This Is the Modern World, but it is in my Top 10 of favorite Jam tracks. A lot of that love for it comes from the relatability of it – that sentiment. I know I’ve looked out of so many windows dreaming and wishing.
Haven’t you?
Top 5 Music Obsessions featuring Blur
Wednesday. Okay, Wednesday, I’m facing you head on and going for not being sad today. You and me, Wednesday, we know why it hurts, and we know it will for awhile, but fuck it. I’m not leaning into the pain today. I’m leaning so far back that I’m doing some gymnastic backbend here, and I’m turning the music on so loud that my ears are ringing. You and me, Wednesday, we’re going to get through it.
And that music turned up high? It’s today’s Top 5 Music Obsessions. Let’s have a listen.
Top 5 Music Obsessions – Wednesday, June 6, 2018
1. “Bang” by Blur
“I don’t need anyone.
But, a little love would make things better.”
Wednesday mantra.
2. “Tattoo” by Petra Haden
“Welcome to my life, tattoo.”
How cool is this? My favorite track off of The Who’s Sell-Out album. I’m so digging this.
3. “Oh! Sweet Nuthin'” by The Velvet Underground
“Say a word for Polly May.
She can’t tell the night from the day.
They threw her out in the street,
but just like a cat,
she landed on her feet.”
I feel you, Polly. I really, really do.
Quite possibly the song that has appeared the most on my Top 5 Music Obsessions. I can’t help it. This song makes me feel good.
4. “Million Reasons” by Lady Gaga
“Head stuck in a cycle,
I look off and I stare.
It’s like that I’ve stopped breathing,
but completely aware.”
I’m really trying to break this cycle, and breathe.
5. “By the Waters” by Paul Weller
“Come down beside the water,
sit and rest.”
I miss the ocean. I miss the water. I need to find my own space near it now. Reclaim the water.
Top 5 Music Obsessions – Week of June 4, 2018
Thanks for the music, the turned-up-high volume, and for the motivation to get through another Wednesday in this “after” reality. I hope you enjoyed these Top 5 Music Obsessions with Blur, Petra Haden, The Velvet Underground, Lady Gaga, and Paul Weller.
What music are you obsessing over today?
It’s time to walk on and get over you
It’s time to walk on and get over you
A Monday Playlist
“To Wish Impossible Things” by The Cure
“Running Away” by Richard Ashcroft
“Nothing Lasts Forever” by Echo And The Bunnymen
“How Can You Be Sure?” by Radiohead
“The Songs That We Sing” by Charlotte Gainsbourg
“Aspects” by Paul Weller
“Sweet” by Cigarettes After Sex
“Damaged” by Primal Scream
“Let’s Stay Together” by Low
“Sugar For the Pill” by Slowdive
“Love” by Lana Del Rey
“Stuck On the Puzzle” by Alex Turner
“I Need My Girl” by The National
“Movies” by Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson
“Moonage Daydream” by David Bowie
“Tender” by Ruby Force
“Out of Time” by Blur
“Suspended In Time” by Juliana Hatfield
“Left and Leaving” by The Weakerthans
“Get Better” by Frank Turner
“Fire” by Anna Calvi
“I Want To Go To the Beach” by Iggy Pop
“All We Ever Wanted Was Everything” by MGMT
“Unreflected” by Mazzy Star
“I Don’t Believe In the Sun” by The Magnetic Fields
“Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)” by James
“Lola + Joseph” by July Talk
“last words” by isaac gracie
“Goddess On a Hiway” by Mercury Rev
“You Said” by Ryan Adams
It’s time to walk on and get over you
Weller Wednesday – The Covers, Part 1
Welcome back to Weller Wednesday. Today is the last Wednesday of May. So to mark an “ending” in a month that seems full of them I thought we’d start a new recurring Weller theme for the last Wednesday’s of the month called “The Covers”. Paul Weller has recorded and performed many covers. There are so many out there to listen to that I knew this would make a great monthly Weller-treat. So, sit back, get comfortable, turn up the volume, and get ready to hear Paul Weller do some fantastic versions of songs for this week’s Weller Wednesday – The Covers, Part 1.
Weller Wednesday – The Covers, Part 1
Weller Wednesday
1. “Wishing On a Star”
originally by Rose Royce
2. “Needles and Pins”
originally by The Searchers
3. “Don’t Go to Strangers” (live), featuring Amy Winehouse
originally by Etta Jones
4. “Bang, Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” (live)
originally by Cher
5. “Instant Karma” (live)
originally by John Lennon
What is your favorite Paul Weller cover?
“Aspects” by Paul Weller
Today is Paul Weller’s 60th birthday. Today Paul Weller released a new track, offering a present to his fans on his day. “Aspects”. It’s gorgeous. Honestly, it may be one of my favorite solo Weller songs I’ve ever heard. I played it at least 18 times already.
Its arrival is bittersweet. Weller was one of our shared loves. We celebrated him as we celebrated us. We would have been celebrating this new song together if it hadn’t all ended last Friday. Its been a week. I still feel gutted and shell-shocked and broken.
I woke this morning wanting a better day. I felt all “fuck it”, and “get over it”, and “get on with it”, and “stop this wallowing”. And then this song. Yeah, I’m not ready for getting over it.
But, that doesn’t take away from the beauty of this song. I’m grateful for it, even though it hurts. Thank you, Paul Weller, and happy birthday.
“Aspects” by Paul Weller
Song of the Day
“It’s not in a holler.
It’s not in a scream.
You won’t find it,
under your feet.”
Weller Wednesday – The Playlist, Part 1
Weller Wednesday – The Playlist, Part 1
Weller Wednesday
“My Ever Changing Moods” by The Style Council
“Carnation” by The Jam
“Foot of the Mountain” by Paul Weller
“English Rose” by The Jam
“The Paris Match” by The Style Council, with Tracey Thorn
“Sunflower” by Paul Weller
“Life From a Window” by The Jam
“Above the Clouds” by Paul Weller
“Have You Ever Had It Blue?” by The Style Council
“Pretty Green” by The Jam
“Green” by Paul Weller
“The Changingman” by Paul Weller
“Private Hell” by The Jam
“Money-Go-Round (Parts 1 & 2) ” by The Style Council
“From the Floorboards Up” by Paul Weller
“Strange Town” by The Jam
“Shout To the Top” by The Style Council
“Friday Street” by Paul Weller
“Art School” by The Jam
“The Cranes are Back” by Paul Weller
“You’re the Best Thing” by The Style Council
“Wishing On a Star” by Paul Weller
“Wild Wood” by Paul Weller
“The Butterfly Collector” by The Jam
“Down In the Tube Station at Midnight” by The Jam
“Wake Up the Nation” by Paul Weller
“Woo Se Mama” by Paul Weller
“Come On/Let’s Go” by Paul Weller
“Up In Suzes’ Room” by Paul Weller
“Frightened” by Paul Weller
Weller Wednesday – The Playlist, Part 1
Top 5 Music Obsessions featuring The Jam
Back at work. Its a lot harder to be here than I anticipated. Some things are nagging at me that I can’t shake off, questions that I can’t let go of, and I’m still a wreck. But, I’m trying to concentrate. I’m trying to stay focused. I’m trying not to cry. I’m relying heavily on coffee and music right now. I haven’t been able to eat pretty much anything since it happened. But, coffee and music, that I can do.
Top 5 Music Obsessions featuring Paul Weller
May 22, 2018
1. “So Sad About Us” by The Jam
“Apologies mean nothing when the damage is done,
but you can’t switch off my loving,
like you can’t switch off the sun.”
I can’t switch it all off. I can’t stop feeling, loving, caring, hurting. I still can’t make sense of any of this.
2. “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Prince
“But nothing,
I said nothing can take away these blues.
‘Cause nothing compares,
nothing compares to you.”
I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I can’t seem to get myself to do much of anything. It’s so fucking ridiculous because I’ve been through many things, painful things, and have always been able to bounce back quickly. This is different. I just can’t.
3. “Like a Fool” by Keira Knightley
“You have taken all the wind out from my sails,
and I have loved you just the same.”
Yes. Just like a fool.
4. “Roses” by Pete Yorn
“When the jasmine bloomed on Sunset Boulevard,
and we fell in love for the first time.”
It was over a year and a half ago, but it seems like yesterday. I’d give anything to go back to that night right now. Do it all over again. Figure out what the hell went wrong.
5. “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” by The White Stripes
“I don’t know what to do with myself.
Planning everything for two,
doing everything with you,
and now that were through –
I just don’t know what to do.”
This is so hard.
Thanks for listening. Thank you to The Jam, Prince, Keira Knightley, Pete Yorn, and The White Stripes for sticking this out with me.
“Have You Ever Had It Blue?” (live at Sydney Opera House) by Paul Weller
“Have You Ever Had It Blue?” (live at Sydney Opera House) by Paul Weller
Happy Weller Wednesday, that special day of the week where we celebrate, listen to and learn about All Things Paul Weller. This week we turn our eyes and ears to a Live Performance from the Sydney Opera House. Paul Weller performing a Song originally by The Style Council, and featured in the Film Absolute Beginners – “Have You Ever Had It Blue?”
“Have You Ever Had It Blue?” was The Style Council’s contribution to Julien Temple’s 1986 musical version of Colin MacInnes’ novel Absolute Beginners (earlier the inspiration for a classic Jam single) was their last truly interesting single, and even it has undeniable echoes of a few songs from the previous year’s Internationalists, particularly “With Everything To Lose” and “All Gone Away.” A horn arrangement by Gil Evans opens the song with an authentically cool jazz nod to the novel’s time period, but the song itself has more of a bossa nova feel, with its subtle Latin percussion and Dee C. Lee’s Astrud Gilberto-like wordless backing vocals. Still, it’s a richly melodic tune and the end of Paul Weller’s continental jazz-pop persona. From here it was the miserable genre-exploitation of the last few Style Council records and a diminishing-returns solo career. (from Stewart Mason at All Music)
“Have You Ever Had It Blue?” by The Style Council
Though Weller tends to disregard Absolute Beginners as a Film, often saying disparaging things about it before performing “Have You Ever Had It Blue?”, its Soundtrack is stellar. The Style Council shares Musical space with David Bowie, Ray Davies, Sade, among others.
Absolute Beginners was released in 1986 and was adapted from Colin MacInnes’ book of the same name. It is about life in late 1950’s London and was directed by Julien Temple. It stars Patsy Kensit, David Bowie, and Sade.
Although the Movie received heavy Media coverage and promotion, it was essentially a box office flop. So, I guess Weller has a point when he talks it down. The Music was what made the Film memorable, especially Bowie’s “Absolute Beginners” Single, and “Have You Ever Had It Blue?” by The Style Council.
Absolute Beginners (1986)
End of Video features “Have You Ever Had It Blue?”
The Song lives on well past the unfortunately low-rated Film. It also seems to have lived past The Style Council itself. Weller still plays it often during Solo shows, breathing new life, and an Acoustic update to the Song, keeping it relevant and quite lovely to hear.
“Have You Ever Had It Blue?” (live, KEXP Radio) by Paul Weller
What do you think of the Song? Do you prefer the Absolute Beginners/Style Council Version or Weller’s Live Acoustic stylings?
“Don’t Go To Strangers” (live) by Paul Weller and Amy Winehouse
“Don’t Go To Strangers” (live at Jools Holland) by Paul Weller and Amy Winehouse
Originally from the Album, The Golden Age Of Song by Jools Holland
It’s Wednesday again. Weller Wednesday. The day of the week where we celebrate, listen to and learn about All Things Paul Weller. This week we turn our eyes and ears to a Live Performance from Jools Holland featuring Paul Weller with the late, great Amy Winehouse, and their rendition of “Don’t Go To Strangers”.
“Don’t Go To Strangers” was originally recorded in 1954, by The Orioles. The Song was written by Arthur Kent and David Mann (Music) and Redd Evans (Lyrics). It has been Recorded and Performed by many Artists, such as Etta Jones, Joni Mitchell, Rufus and Chaka Khan, Paul Weller and Amy Winehouse, and others, putting the Track into a “Standards” category.
“Don’t Go To Strangers” by The Orioles
The Golden Age of Song by Jools Holland is a collaborative effort on Album which is largely pairings up with Artists and Bands, with Jools. Other Artists features are Paloma Faith, Rumer, Cee Lo Green, Paolo Nutini, and Weller and Winehouse.
Jools Holland told the NME this about Amy Winehouse, and specifically her performance on his show with Paul Weller:
“The likes of her and Adele’s performances will have a very long shelf life because of YouTube – their views go into the millions. Essentially because it’s artists doing something that’s real. Amy did a duet with Paul Weller with my big band, they did (jazz standard) ‘Don’t Go To Strangers’ – he did the first verse, she did the second and we were both like ‘What??!!’ It was like Dinah Washington, or Bessie Smith or Edith Piaf, the biggies. The awful thing is she would have gone on to be one of those people.”
Jools has also said this about Paul and Amy:
“Amy Winehouse and Paul Weller are examples of poets, I think.”
Paul has this to say on working Amy Winehouse, and on Amy herself:
“One of my favourite all-time singers is Amy Winehouse, I’ve been lucky enough to work with her. She is an amazing, great talent and despite what all the papers say she is a great role model for people. I don’t think the drugs and the drink and all that make a scrap of difference, really. I think you should judge people on their talent and on that level she’s up there, a major talent.”
“Don’t Go To Strangers” (live at BBC Electric Proms) by Paul Weller and Amy Winehouse
What do you think of Paul and Amy’s version of “Don’t Go To Strangers”?
Hope you enjoy this Week’s Weller Wednesday feature and that you come back next week to see what’s up next from Paul Weller. Feel free to share your thoughts, and Weller requests in the comments below.
