It has been said that water is the source of life. So it's only natural that this element has had a leading part in many songs. Today I present you some of those songs I came across in my discotheque.1. The Water – Feist
(Feist-Brendan Canning)
The Canadian Leslie Feist records solo but is also a member of the Broken Social Scene collective. She became famous after her third album, The Reminder (2007), which includes this exceptional song, with the mystic instrumentation and the fragile performance by its creator.
2. Spirit On The Water – Bob Dylan
(Bob Dylan)
The old Bob was never scrooge on timing when he recorded, resulting to songs that sometimes passed 10 minutes in duration. Here we have a medium situation, just 7:42, with Dylan in excellent shape, not letting you realise how fast time goes by. From the great Modern Times in 2006.
3. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
(Paul Simon)
This epic ballad, after which the successful duet's swan song was named, became one of the reasons that eventually leaded to its separation. Simon wrote it for Garfunkel to perform it, but the later hesitated as he felt it didn't suit him. After all he agreed, but in the meantime Simon had regret it, as he felt his own presence moved to the background. The balance was regained in the concerts they gave a few years ago, after they were reunited, when they shared the microphone.
4. Glass Of Water – Coldplay
(Guy Berryman-Jonny Buckland-Will Champion-Chris Martin)
A track with dramatic crescents like the ones the British Coldplay adore. It was included in the EP Prospekt’s March which was released in 2008 and contained songs that did not get into their album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends. Passing to 7/4 metre in the chorus and ornamented with stringed instruments and beautiful guitars, it is indeed glorious.
5. Walk On Water – David Byrne
(David Byrne)
Ex - Talking Head in a song from Look Into The Eyeball in 2001. Here he is slightly reminiscent of his old band, while accompanied by stringed instruments, keys and, as always, a lot of percussions.
6. Deep Water – Portishead
(Geoff Barrow-Beth Gibbons-Adrian Utley)
A miniature song, just 1:39 minutes, from the third album of the Bristolians, released in 2008, 11 years after the second under the obvious title Third. Beth Gibbons performs solely accompanied by a yiukalili (or something like that) and a few choire vocals.
7. Where Peaceful Waters Flow – Chris De Burgh(Chris De Burgh)
A song from the sixth solo album ny the Irish De Burgh entitled The Getaway released in 1982. With an almost gospel instrumental orientation, a choire and spiritual - religious lyrics, it is a really relaxing thing to listen.
8. I Asked For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline) – Howlin’ Wolf
(Howlin’ Wolf)
Howlin’ Wolf, secular name Chester Arthur Burnett, has been one of the most influential bluesers, especially on the field of electrc blues. Here we listen to one of his famous songs, which was included in the compilation album Moanin’ In The Moonlight in 1959.
9. Horse To Water – R.E.M.
(Peter Buck-Mike Mills-Michael Stipe)
The American trio from Athens, Georgia had not sounded that refreshed and passionate as in songs like this pne from their last studio album, Accelerate (2008) in many years. Loud drums and 'dirty' guitars, strong base and a hertfelt performance by the frontman Michael Stipe. The criticism they had received for previous albums of theirs functioned as a kick in the ass – and they needed that one!
10. Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple
(Ritchie Blackmore-Ian Gillan-Roger Glover-Jon Lord-Ian Paice)
December 4th, 1971. The Deep Purple are at Montreux, Switzerland in order to record their new album. For that, they will use a mobile studio, borrowed from the Rolling Stones, which they intend to set where the famous casino of the city lies. But everything goes wrong, as during a concert of Frank Zappa's Mothers Of Invention in the casino theatre someone from the audience accidentally starts a fire that destroyed everything. THis is the story behind the lyrics of this classic rock song with the amazing, simple but imposong guitar riff. A cliche choice, I know... But sometimes even cliches are necessary.
* Photos from http://www.free-pictures-photos.com/water/water-j7g5.jpg και www.wikipedia.org
Relevant article