http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpFudDAYqxY Love is like Christmas, it comes round regularly but it always feels rare and boy do you miss it when it's gone. Joni Mitchell is no novice when it comes to writing of the matters of the heart, and I knew I had to include her in this list, but what song would best show what an eloquent writer she is about the vagaries of the heart? Initially I plumped for 'Big Yellow Taxi', its line 'Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got til' it's gone?' sounded like a perfect addition to this tale. Then I remembered her masterwork of heartbreak, 'Blue' and found 'River' - her take on a Christmas carol and a perfect fit for this list. The song includes several parts of the five stages of grief, depression being the chief amongst them - and the lyrics are agonisingly sad "I'm selfish and I'm sad, now I've gone and lost the best baby I ever had. I wish I had a river I could skate away on." Using the melody from 'Jingle Bells' gets the music to set the theme it's a time for festivity, but not for everyone, its cold and she's alone, whilst others around her rejoice at being with the people they love. This is a perfect snapshot of regret and solitude expressed in just over four minutes.
What makes music fantastic? Star quality, amazing music, breathtaking lyrics and the ability to bring something new to the table, even if that means a new take on the classics. That's what I love to listen to and write about.
As well as writing for What Culture, I occasionally write a blog http://tedney.blogspot.co.uk and sometimes use Twitter, but sparingly @TedneyNash