Redartz: You've heard of "love at first sight". How about "love at first hearing"? There are countless tunes I've come to enjoy, often growing to like them after several initial listenings. Some songs took much longer to 'grow on me'. First time I ever heard Devo- I thought "you gotta be kidding, what the heck are these guys pulling?". But songs that grabbed me right from the start? Not very many.
Among them, aside from the two illustrated here:
Thomas Dolby, "She Blinded Me With Science": first time I heard that song, I had to have it. It was perfect in every way. And I still love it (another related question- if you like a song from the start, does it become tiring to you faster?).
Adele, "Skyfall": Adele is incredible, and who doesn't like a good Bond theme? So it had a lot going for it already, but it won me over right off the bat.
The Sweet, "Ballroom Blitz": The driving beat and raucous lyrics fired my cylinders from the start. It helped make the bus ride to school fun (almost).
So what songs captured your ears from the get-go? Did they still appeal to you years later, or did they burn brightly for awhile then fizzle? Let us all hear...
15 comments:
"Rock the Boat" by the Hues Corporation, "When Will I See You Again" by the Three Degrees, "Top of the World" by the Carpenters, "Our House" by Madness..., "Alone Again (Naturally)" by Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Modern Love" by Bowie, the list goes on and on.
"What Is Life" by Harrison also ranks up high.
Fox On The Run - The Sweet
The Tide Is High - Blondie
Super Trouper - ABBA
Angelo - Brotherhood Of Man
Sugar Sugar - Archies
The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tight Fit
Seasons In The Sun - Terry Jacks
Annie's Song - John Denver
Eighth Day - Hazel O' Connor
They Don't Know - Tracey Ullman
I Only Wanna Be With You - Tourists
Video Killed The Radio Star - Buggles
Coward Of The County - Kenny Rogers
Across The Universe - Beatles
Ma Baker - Boney M
I Love To Love (But My Baby Just Loves To Dance) - Tina Charles
La Isla Bonita - Madonna
Got To Be There - Michael Jackson
Baby Love - Supremes
Wooden Heart - Elvis Presley...
...and lots more :)
Interesting that you mention Sweet. I like "Ballroom Blitz" well enough, but my favorite song of theirs is "Burn on the Flame." That was the B-side on a 45 single of "Fox on the Run" that my older brother bought, and when he flipped it over, I loved that song from the moment I heard that opening riff, and still love it today.
"Riders on the Storm" by the Doors. First heard it when I was probably in the 5th or 6th grade, sitting in my room reading a comic book on one of those typical late autumn rainy days in Oregon, with the radio on for a little background noise. My ears pricked up right at the start of the song, because there was something about that keyboard intro that jibed so well with the rain pattering against the window.
Another two songs that come to mind that similarly captivated me instantly are "Roundabout" by Yes and "Black Magic Woman" by Santana. Loved both songs right away and became a big fan of the respective artists.
There's many more, but those are the ones that just stick out in my memory as just grabbing me right away.
In my teens The Who's "5:15" and Pink Floyd's "Money" and Wall of Voodoo's "Mexican Radio"
As a kid Charlie Daniels' "The Devil went down to Georgia" and Thin Lizzy's "The Boys are Back in Town"
As a college student Peter Gabriel's "Red Rain" and Mary's Danish's "Yellow Creep Around"
Now ... still like them but just don't listen as much as I used to.
David_b and Colin- you have a couple good long song lists! Perhaps the tendency to require several hearings to warm to a song is a phenomenon peculiar to me.
Edo- "Burn on the Flame" - nice mention. Hadn't heard of it, and checked it out on YouTube. Very cool. And you're right on "Riders on the Storm". Very effective, evocative intro.
I'll second "Boys Are Back in Town" and I'll add: Dream Police, My Sharona, This Flight Tonight, Jessie's Girl, Every Picture Tells a Story, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting, Jailhouse Rock, Sheena is a Punk Rocker, Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad, Saturday's Kids, Jeepers Creepers (by Siouxsie and the Banshees), Bad Reputation (Joan Jett), and the entire Germfree Adolescents album by X-Ray Spex.
There's lots more, but those are the ones that came to mind.
'Pilot of the Airwaves' by Charlie Dore, anyone..?
The Theme from 'Taxi'..
But none beats 'Satisfaction' by the Stones.., now c'mon.
It's very hard to remember first impressions from so long ago but the ones that I do recall loving upon first hearing were:
ELO - "Mr Blue Sky."
Boomtown Rats - "I Don't Like Mondays."
ABBA - "Take a Chance on Me."
Pilot - "January."
Gerry Rafferty - "Baker Street."
The Sweet - "Love is Like Oxygen."
Donna Summer - "Love's Unkind."
Ultravox - "Vienna."
David Bowie - "Ashes to Ashes."
Steve - yes to Ultravox and Vienna.
Baba O'Riley.
Then I played it for a buddy of mine and he was gobsmacked by it too.
Probably Blinded by the Light, too. The Manfred Mann version.
M.P.
I know it's not a "song" but I don't remember an entire album hitting me like Boston's debut did. First cut to last... "it's been such a long time".
Now, songs:
Tom Petty's Refugee, The Waiting and You Got Lucky.
Bill Wither's Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone.
The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again.
Jonathan Edwards' Sunshine.
America's Sister Golden Hair.
Modern English's Melt With You.
U2's Seconds.
Terry Jack's Seasons In The Sun.
Tony Orlando And Dawn's Knock Three Times.
Barry Manilow's Weekend In New England.
I could go on... and I often do!!!
(Help! I need somebody
Help! Not just anybody
Help! You know I need someone
Help!
(When) When I was younger (When I was young) so much younger than today
(I never need) I never needed anybody's help in any way
(Now) But now these days are gone (These days are gone) and I'm not so self assured
(And now I find) Now I find I've changed my mind, I've opened up the doors
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me?
(Now) And now my life has changed (My life has changed) in oh so many ways
(My independence) My independence seems to vanish in the haze
(But) But ev'ry now (Every now and then) and then I feel so insecure
(I know that I) I know that I just need you like I've never done before
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me?
When I was younger, so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
(Now) But now these days are gone (These days are gone) and I'm not so self assured
(And now I find) Now I find I've changed my mind, I've opened up the doors
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me?
Help me, help me
Ooh).
PS: And that special moment when you heard one of your favorites as Muzak. When did they stop playing that stuff!?!
I have zero recollection of "love at first listen" from my youth. However, I can say that I really, really instantly liked the first track and several others on the Beatle's Love Album which blends several Beatle's songs together I think starting with the opening chord to Hard Day's Night, then the Get Back bass, and maybe even Ringo drum solo from Abbey Road in the first 30 seconds?
Whatever the heck it is... it was love at first listen.
Rhiannon-Fleetwood Mac
No More Words-Berlin
The Warrior-Scandal
Walk Like an Egyptian-The Bangles
Stevie, Terri, Patty, and Susanna were all cute and hot.
Stealing from other brilliant commenters:
Rhiannon-Fleetwood Mac
What Is Life-George Harrison
Baba O'Riley -The Who
Others (not just adoring the song but being the first song i ever heard from these band, which i quickly came to love):
New Day Rising-Husker Du
Caribou-Pixies
Seven-Sunny Day Real Estate
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