Music Chart RP Style - w/c 11 Jan 2021

Is it just me or does this last week feel more like 2020 than 2021?

After the lockdown announcement, it seems we’re at home again, taking work calls within the four walls we call home, so I figured it was time to draw attention to the other half of our Highclere road trip this week, this time with musical choices coming from Rob! Again this playlist was supposed to come in 2020, in October, but things got busy!!!! And again... better late than never!

Having met Rob in 2018, when I was sporting REALLY BADLY burnt shoulders thanks to 6 hours waiting in a queue to get into Wimbledon, it fast became clear that he is super great. And since then it's been ace getting to know him better, and he's defo considered a key part of the clan, with our weekly lockdown quizzes... and of course this road trip, which included a tennis match (we are the greatest doubles duo ever, am I right Rob?) and crustless cucumber sandwiches... (plus many other sandwiches and free pimms).

Anyway, as much as I can ramble on... shall we get to the music? Yeahhhh... And these ones are really good! And a proper good throwbacks included... :D

As ever, the music can be found at this link. Give the playlist a follow for FORTNIGHTLY updates (a bit more manageable for me, let’s be honest) and I can promise you, you won’t be disappointed over the next few weeks!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=gIX5IVSNT22tkLH3T5IzDA

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NUMBER 10.

Rewrite the Stars - Zac Efron & Zendaya

The bonus of the Greatest Showman soundtrack is that all the songs (well, maybe not Come Alive) are addictive and get stuck in your head. We had the CD in the car for AGES when this came out (yes our car is an old man and only plays CDs) and we ALWAYS do the harmonies. I'm Zac and Josie's Zendaya because my poor voice box can't go high anymore... But for any singer who needs to practice their harmonies, this is a good one to do, because it's challenging but also relatively easy to keep your part at the same time. This scene was awesome too. I was told that Zac and Zendaya were actually on the trapeze, but then again, stunt people were probably involved for some of it...

NUMBER 9.

Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley

This song will always remind me of Lilo & Stitch, despite it being the Gareth Gates version, which is OBVIOUSLY not as good. And it's definitely one of my favourite Elvis Presley songs. I'm not really a Presley fan, but I do enjoy this one, and thank Rob for putting it back on my radar. (For anyone who wants to see the Gareth Gates version, it's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTBZT5q1R6c oh god the spiky hair...) I wonder where Gareth Gates is now? Hmm...

NUMBER 8.

When You Were Young - The Killers

This is the throwback I was talking about, one of them anyway, and this is hands down THE BEST Killers song. People may throw tomatoes at me and say NO IT'S MR BRIGHTSIDE but this is better. The lyrics may not make any sense and but it's kind of like an anthem to being young. The Killers were around when were teenagers, and I can still remember all the lyrics to all the songs sung by bands in my teens (and not my exam notes lol). And I know this might be a wee bit morbid, but I'm sure I'm not the only one. This song will be one of the songs played at my wake. Thank you!!!

NUMBER 7.

Here I Am - Bryan Adams

Aw man I love Bryan Adams. And his voice is ABSOLUTELY perfect for the Spirit soundtrack. This one's in the credits of the film, but it's a fast-paced copy of the song that features in the film, which is second after the Main Title. I've put it as a bonus below, and I know the Main Title will feature at some point as well, because guess who it's scored by...? YEP, you guessed it: Hans Zimmer. I think the film works so well because of its soundtrack, and how Spirit not only speaks (only with a narration, the horse doesn't actually speak) but how he's feeling. You Can't Take Me and Get Off My Back are quite telling... Before How To Train Your Dragon came along in 2010, this was probably my favourite animated movie. Yes maybe it helped because it was about a horse, but music is a huge part of why I love films. And the music in this one is pretty epic. Coincidentally, it's why I love How To Train Your Dragon as well. That and the story and the animation itself... the list goes on.

NUMBER 6.

Love Will Find A Way - Liz Callaway & Gene Miller

Another one from Lion King 2! And another one that's great for any singer who wants to practice their harmonies! This is Simba's daughter, Ciara, and Scar's son, Kovu singing about how they love each other despite their families feuding... a Disneyfied Romeo and Juliet if you will. The 1990s Disneys were very much reliant on their songs - I mean Disney does still rely on music to keep everyone interested - but Lion King 2 was particularly key because it was a sequel... to one of the best Disney films out there. And although it will never be as good, this song is up there in its soundtrack for me. It's not as epic as He Lives In You, but it's pretty close.

NUMBER 5.

Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts

The ultimate road trip song. Life is a Highway and I want to ride it all night long... and if you've seen Cars, Pixar's 2006 classic, you will be awed by the incredible imagery that goes with this song. It's Mac and Lightning McQueen driving to California - crossing the country - and the vistas are so beautiful, I've sometimes rewound it, just to watch it again. As you can see from the picture above, the rock formations take the shapes of old cars, or car bonnets, and it is so clever. But this song. If you're on a road trip - any road trip - this song NEEDS to be on it. It's like an unwritten rule.

NUMBER 4.

She Looks So Perfect - 5 Seconds of Summer

5 Seconds of Summer is one of those bands that have always been teetering on my the edge of my radar ever since they became a thing, but I'm never that enthused with the albums. But there are some songs that sneak through. This one I only heard when Rob sent me his driving playlist requests, and since then I've listened to it more than I'd care to admit. It's a typically teen song, but it's a perfectly ear-wormy one. Thank you Rob!

NUMBER 3.

Bad Decisions - Bastille

Again, same as last week, we have another Bastille. It's catchy too! It's one of those I don't put on very often, but when I do, I have to repeat it about 4 or 5 times, just for good measure! It's another throwback, and one I'd recommend to anyone as a favourite of Bastille songs. The music video is pretty hilarious too!

NUMBER 2.

F**ckin’ Perfect - P!nk

Another one I haven't listened to for bloomin' AGES. And do I remember the words? Yes! Of course I do! Pink's kind of disappeared off the radar for a while, but this one is my favourite song of hers. It's a song that tells everyone not to feel like they're less than perfect... and that it doesn't matter who you are, you are perfect in your own way. It's for all those people that think they don't necessarily fit in, and I love it.

NUMBER 1.

Walking On Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves

I think I've had this song before (I'm reaching the amount of playlists where I'm in danger of repeating things!) but this song always reminds me of Herbie! Again, it's another driving song for me, one you have to play really loud with the roof open and sing it at the top of your lungs. I saw Katrina and some of the Waves perform at Lancaster House at the Dream Ball with work a couple of years ago, and let me tell you, she's one of those performers that still sounds great live!! (Also I just checked and I haven't had that song before!! So we're all good :D)

BONUS

Here I Am - Bryan Adams

I had to include this one as well, because it's the version that's featured in the film itself... as opposed to in the credits, which is where track 7 is. It's the song after the Main Title (Homeland) and it's Spirit growing up, experiencing the world for the first time and becoming a horse that his family and his herd will be proud of. Whenever I hear this song, I can hear the voice of Matt Damon in my head (who voices Spirit). You know when you have a voice right when you can just picture it as soon as you hear an animation soundtrack. Hans Zimmer got the nail on the head here, and even if it isn't one of his most memorable soundtracks, it's memorable enough to be featured in the World of Hans Zimmer, so stay tuned... because that will certainly be coming up!

"And so I grew from colt to stallion, wild and reckless as thunder over the land, racing with the eagle, soaring with the wind. Flying? There were times I believed I could..." And yes I remembered that by heart. No, I don't class that as sad. I class that as me being Spirit's number one fan!!!!

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A good list of film and life soundtracks in this playlist, and ones that I'd happily have on repeat all day every day if I could. I like music that comes from other people's minds. And I totally got lost in a Gareth Gates hole after I copied and pasted that link.

Next time it's back to me, and it's a few more I'd been introduced to via the delights of Spotify's Daily Mix...

Again, the link is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=gIX5IVSNT22tkLH3T5IzDA

ENJOY!!