19 Comments
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Rick Ellis's avatar

Along the lines of favorite non-English speaking music, I have a playlist of favorite French-language pop/rock tunes that I think are pretty catchy. Even if I don't understand what they're singing.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3xQsYfy5FOir1aQKwOBbcK?si=6e5tUDiVRUWfHPuVnV8POQ

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Thank you, Rick!

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Andrew Smith's avatar

For the reader asking about "man" songs, this is a good one: Big Man, Big M.A.N. by Crass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSP8_ifRD5g

This might be THE song you're looking for.

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Andrew Smith's avatar

Also: I really appreciate seeing Gizmo's goofy face!! (also: goofy is high praise in my home)

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

High praise indeed! I'll tell him. :)

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Kristin DeMarr's avatar

I very much appreciated the question and answer about female musicians. I was surprised when I went and dug my vinyl collection out - because a local brewery does a vinyl night weekly, and once a month they do a theme - I dug my collection out to participate in the “Femme Fatale” theme, only to find that I had only 4 albums by female artists (or coed) in my collection! Madonna’s Like a Virgin, Altered Images’ Happy Birthday, Romeo Void, and the Eurythmics. Male artists seriously outnumbered female artists in the 80s (when my vinyl collection was from).

I am more intentional about what I buy now, and have purchased more female artists on vinyl. I still buy male artists, but try harder to find female artists - I’ve had to order some.

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Kristin DeMarr's avatar

I guess I should say that my vinyl collection isn’t very big - maybe 100 or less.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

This was definitely an interesting thought exercise for me! I'm glad it was brought up.

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Rocco Pendola's avatar

The Yellow Melodies - I will check them out! In fact, I am right now.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Right on!

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Andres's avatar

Gizmo is so cute and cuddly that it hurts. I love JT but I’ll also go for the BSB any day. Thanks for answering our questions!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Aw, thank you! I’ll tell him! :)

Seriously, this dog has brought unbelievable amounts of joy into our lives. He’s quite a character.

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Andres's avatar

Looks like it! 😊

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Wallytbm's avatar

Thanks for mentioning The Yellow Melodies and if anyone is interested in more Pop and Mod influenced music by Spanish musicians, here are a few more suggestions:

Cooper -

https://cooperpopmusic.bandcamp.com/

The Happy Losers -

https://youtu.be/RWPUhgPra-Q?feature=shared

LOS BONSÁIS -

https://losbonsaismusic.bandcamp.com/album/fanzine

LOS FRESONES REBELDES -

https://elefantbackcatalogue.bandcamp.com/album/tributo-a-pepito-sex-y-thy-surfyn-eyes

Vacaciones -

https://youtu.be/ooIyMNuBM4o?feature=shared

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Kim Hamlin's avatar

Anyone scrolling through the comments can check it out here.

I did! And I love it! First music I've actually paid money for in a minute! I didn't have high hopes because, hello, Phish guts!? But I'm old, so I pressed on and I'm so glad I did! Thank you for sharing this! 🙏

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Right on! I'm glad you liked it.

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Dissembling Bling's avatar

There are no wrong questions, just wrong assumptions, derp. Love the details of yr industry insight. Despite growing up in KS, I would not recognize the band. MTV visuals provided such a distinction between 70s and 80s onward of how much face mattered.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

100%

Sometimes I wonder what pop music would look like (no pun intended) if MTV had never become a thing.

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Xabi's avatar

Regarding the question about bands from Spain, I would recommend Yo Diablo, Los Premios, and Ku! All from Valencia, have members in common, make killer music, and are super nice guys to boot. Each has a new recent album which is great. I would start here:

https://open.spotify.com/track/1Z8kppWf9ZjfHST6VwJrDn?si=enTAHJOpQ5GAVJEvXAkEKg&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A056NHUgw73PJV1uOqfmEuw

https://open.spotify.com/track/01ldUUXSpJ02s0LN2Izyaz?si=iD033xc0REOv8p7cebeBqA

https://open.spotify.com/track/1faufHUQQuP3HR83mYyyDB?si=BQrQrcO7RoKJaeio4XmULQ

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