Radio DAZZ - Music Breaks To Make Your Day!: Fine Young Cannibals

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Strike Back! - Short Change Hero.

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The song is performed by The Heavy. It is called "Short Change Hero." It is the theme song to a TV series called Strike Back (on Cinemax), and I had heard it for the first time several nights ago. It is terrific, soulful, haunting and awfully low-down blues for a British show.

I know very little about the composer, the arranger or the artist. I know this much, though: It grabbed me, and I wanted to share it with you on Radio DAZZ.

So, take the safety off, and click on either the hyperlink or the video player to savor this quick piece of action movie mood music. Enjoy it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MXblTarOUg

Wait...I might be able to grab a longer version of the song for you -- Ah, yes!

This version is fabulous. The chap singing reminds me of a mixture of Al Green and Roland Gift (?) from the Fine Young Cannibals. It's wickedly discordant, with tremolo guitar and some "slightly hanging out" passing tones. D Minor, I think. Heavy 70s reverb. Fine mood music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1QUZzeZoPQ&feature=related

Dazzology!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Fine Young Cannibals - Johnny Come Home

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"Johnny Come Home," is one of my favorite songs from Fine Young Cannibals. Aside from the compelling desperation and intensity of the message, aside from Gift's empassioned tenor voice, aside from the cup-muted trumpet that cries throughout, aside from the guitar with choked strings, and aside from this frantic hybrid beat --- somewhere between a reggae on amphetamines and a military double-pace march --- the song is utterly memorable and uniquely written, arranged and performed.

It will haunt you.

The song uses a descending minor bassline (with corresponding chord changes) which has been used in various forms by other artists in numerous hits. A few examples of this descending minor riff, in its variations:

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" - Beatles
"24 or 6 to 4" - Chicago
"Roxanne" - Police
"Temptation Eyes" - Guess Who
" Walk Don't Run" - The Ventures (or was it the Surfaris?)
"I'll Be Back" - Beatles
"We Can Work It Out" [the bridge] - Beatles
"How Can I Be Sure?" - The Rascals

Enjoy this song, and let it impact you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUBE850kay0