Song, by Toad

I heard a song by The Wombats today. I do not especially like The Wombats, but they have done some good things, and this song isn’t half bad. Thing is, it inspired a couple of bizarre synaptic leaps that seem related to the very raison d’etre of this entire blog.

The song is called Let’s Dance to Joy Division, and it immediately put me in mind of a song by My Teenage Stride that Ed posted last week some time, with the chorus ‘You only dance to the Happy Mondays’. Simultaneously, the truly splendid Half-Man Half-Biscuit track Joy Division Oven Gloves popped in there as well.

I think, apart from the peaceful ruminations and the impassioned ranting, that may be one of the key reasons people a/ write about music so much and, b/ why music is said to be good for the brain.

Synaptic leaps and generally keeping one’s grey matter well-exercised are said to be important in keeping it healthy and staving off dribbling senility. Presumably the brain is forever making these kinds of little associations, often, I would imagine, more musically than simply in the superficial terms I am talking about. So perhaps with the vastly increased number of songs, pop music can achieve the same as classical, which is generally more recommended as brain food, despite the songs being shorter and far less complex.

And in terms of all kinds of talk about music, sharing these little associations and leaps and somehow recording them – preserving your inner music monologue in aspic – is something which motivates a few of us internet weirdos to an oddly great extent. Why? Who knows, but recording all my inner musical thoughts is a big motivation behind writing this blog. Even the stupid ones that take me from Liverpool indie-pop to Brooklyn Cool and then to middle-aged punky smart-arsery in a matter of seconds.

Song, by Toad: thoughts in aspic for your eternal perusal. Inspiring!

The Wombats – Let’s Dance to Joy Division
My Teenage Stride – Happy Mondays
Half Man Half Biscuit – Joy Division Oven Gloves