Uncovering the tracks that are important people in music, we spoke to the frontman Matt Thomson from The Amazons on all about The Songs That…
Got me into music…
THE UNDERTONES | TEENAGE KICKS
With Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana coming close 2nd. We had a lot of music on in the house when I was younger, but these were the songs that really pricked my ears up when they came on the radio, once in a blue moon. It was my discovery. The music itself was so exciting and visceral, but I think it was the fact that I didn’t know when I was ever going to hear the song again that was so exhilarating. I had to turn the radio up right there and then and soak it up or I’d miss it.
Reminds me of my favourite festival…
ARCADE FIRE | WAKE UP
Reminds a lot of Reading Festival 2010. It was the Saturday and I was in a previous band playing Leeds Festival. There was no way on Earth we were gonna stick around and watch Blink 182 (which we did the next day) so we bombed it back down to Reading and just caught the start of Arcade Fire’s set. The band have been a huge influence to us in the way they can make these big, anthemic songs and avoid being corny or pretentious.
I love this year so far…
MIIKE SNOW | GENGHIS KHAN
Our guitarist Chris got me into Miike Snow last year, but I think this is their best effort yet. The beat and melodies are so infectious. The music video is great too, I recommend checking it out. It’s a really well made video based around a familiar narrative but with a great twist at the end.
I want played at my funeral…
THE BEATLES | IN MY LIFE
The lyrics are so beautifully retrospective, it’s one of those songs that finds the words to say how most of us feel but can’t express. I know funeral’s are supposed to celebrate the life of those who’ve died, but I’d like mine to to be a last message from myself to the people I love and I think that this song could be part of that expression.
I would play in a set to impress…
APHRODITE’S CHILD | THE FOUR HORSEMAN
One of the most underrated songs I’ve ever heard. Aphrodite’s Child I believe were the first band of Vangelis, who famously went on to write the soundtracks to Blade Runner and Chariots of Fire. For a song written and recorded in in 1971, it feels dangerously ahead of its time, especially in the production, I think matching and even surpassing anything out at around that time.
Always gets me up and dancing…
WHITNEY HOUSTON | I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME)
It’s not particularly original but I couldn’t care less. I had an epiphany about my love for this song at my Year 11 school prom years ago and can unashamedly recite the lyrics with a ton of sass at any opportunity.