This month’s playlist has an obvious theme, the month of May, albeit with some less obvious diversions. As such there are 31 songs, giving a song a day, plus an interloper, which we will get to.
It kicks off appropriately with a song in praise of May Day, Hail, Hail the First of May. This particular version of the traditional folk song is arranged and performed by Jon Boden and originally posted online as part of his A Folk Song a Day project. The ambition of the project was both generous and slightly bonkers in the way that all the best projects are, with Jon setting out to post a song a day on line to promote the idea of social singing, simultaneously giving people a resource to build a repertoire of their own. He was successful in his endeavour and I know, because I wrote the daily blog entry. Hail, hail Jon Boden.
The rest of the playlist features songs that obviously reference the month or more interestingly, cover off some notable anniversaries in May. In line with Jon’s generosity, I have tried to keep to that side of the human experience, celebrating some of our better selves, with a couple of points of contrast. Some of these songs are linked to the theme in obvious ways, some are rather more oblique, but either way we hope that you enjoy some varied and excellent music.
So as not everything is obvious and I have picked a fairly odd mix of the month’s history, here are a few pointers. May 1st is also labour day and two songs from Xtc cover off the plight of the working man and woman, one rural, one urban. The countryside also crops up through the violent put down of protests in 1607 about the enclosures act, which was basic theft of common land to benefit the rich… Hmmmm!
Our rights are also celebrated with the foundation of Amnesty International and the Clash and Max Richter are called upon. The latter’s work Voices is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is profoundly beautiful. We can also celebrate Nelson Mandela becoming president, which shows what can be done when our humanity shines through.
As does the breaking of the four minute mile, which I will admit is one of the more tenuous track selections here, as Madonna’s effort lasts rather longer than the record breaking run, but adds vibrant urgency. The most obscure link, however, is to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Circus reaching the UK, but then I get to shoehorn Wire into the playlist, which is never a bad thing.
May 1st also saw Queen Victoria inaugurate the Great Exhibition in Hyde park, which in a roundabout way resonates in my life. At is conclusion, the great glass hall was moved to Sydenham Park and the area was reborn as Crystal Palace, the place I have called home for over 30 years.
There are a couple of notable birthdays, Florence Nightingale and Karl Marx and the deaths of Joan of Arc, Napoleon and Bonnie and Clyde. The latter allows the frankly bonkers Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot collaboration into the list. On the bonkers / brilliant tip is See Emily Play. The Syd era Pink Floyd single cut references their 1967 Games For May show at the recently opened South Bank, an early triumph for the band and the venue.
One or two of these songs unashamedly reference my teenage years with Jade Warrior and the wonderful named Grobschnitt hinting at my burgeoning preference for obscure prog-rock. There is also another riot, this time at Alcatraz, giving a tangential leap to Rubber Bullets. Finally the interloper, or track 32 is Maggie May. It’s a time of life thing, but is my favourite single of all time. No excuse is necessary.
Enjoy.
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