I remember hearing this no 3 hit from 1996 described as a perfect piece of perverted pop.

Listening to the lyric and looking at the video it’s easy to see why.

Babybird: You’re Gorgeous

I was shocked to hear of rapper Coolio’s death today. He was only 59. Then again I suppose that is quite venerable for someone in the area of popular music.

As you may have guessed rap is not my thing. Indeed in the past I have been known to say the genre is spelled with a silent ‘c’ at the beginning.

Whatever, no-one who was around at the time could have missed this, his biggest UK hit, a No 1 in 1995. (I’ll pass over his spelling of gangster.) It is a very good reimagining of Stevie Wonder’s Pastime Paradise.

Coolio: Gangsta’s Paradise

Artis Leon Ivey Jr (Coolio); 1/8/1963 – 28/9/2022. So it goes.

Given the events of this week this song’s title* could be the most appropriate for the sentiments we have witnessed being expressed.

O’Connor most well-known hit by far. (Even if it was written by Prince/TAFKAP/Symbol.)

Just to be different, this is a live version.

Sinéad O’Connor: Nothing Compares 2 U

*I do of course deplore the text-speak in that title.

I saw in the Guardian earlier in the week that Paul Ryder of the Happy Mondays had died.

The band never actually bothered the charts overmuch but I was aware of them.

This was their second top ten hit.

Happy Mondays:- Kinky Afro

Paul Anthony (Horse) Ryder: 24/4/1964 – 15/7/2022. So it goes.

This is simply because my youngest son used to like it.

Semisonic: Secret Smile

Republica’s biggest UK hit, a number 7 in 1997. An exemplary pop song.

Republica: Drop Dead Gorgeous

This is apparently regarded as trip hop though the group seemingly do not like their sound being described that way.

To my mind there’s more than a bit of psychedelia about it. It’s a good enough description for me.

Portishead: Glory Box

Here is the band playing Glory Box live on Later:-

I don’t suppose there are many pop songs which have referenced a poem by T S Eliot. But this one did.

Crash Test Dummies: Afternoons and Coffee Spoons

I think I noticed this subliminally at the time but it wasn’t till a week or so ago when I heard this again that I consciously realised that the chords under the spoken intro here, not to mention the chorus, resemble the most well-known tune to which the hymn Amazing Grace is sung.

I must also add that of course I do not like the pronunciation of the letter ‘Z’ as ‘zee’ in the first verse. I know that it’s to provide a rhyme and a contrast with the pronunciation ‘zed’ in the second iteration. But still.

All Saints: Never Ever

I have never been a fan of Madonna; I think she has a very thin voice. This, however, written for the Mike Myers film Austen Powers: The Spy who Shagged Me is a very good attempt to capture a certain sound of the 1960s. And I’m a sucker for that.

Madonna: Beautiful Stranger