Walking round a town or city centre shopping mall can be a dull and soulless affair soundtracked by the distant hum of musak or Merry Christmas Everbody, if seasonally appropriate.
Therefore I was delighted recently to be perambulating through Accrington Arndale Centre to be stopped in my tracks on hearing this relatively obsure Godley and Creme track. Have you heard any unusual background choices recently?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=426n6tnk1nw
Mall Music
I was very pleasantly surprised when strolling down a shopping street in Beverly Hills a few weeks ago and the speakers on the lamposts were blasting out This Must Be The Place by Talking Heads.
About 20 years ago Wolverhampton used to have lampposts which played Christmas carols in December. But each one was broadcasting a different tune, so when you were roughly at the midpoint between two posts you’d have different carols competing for your attention. Very disorientating when you were half cut and waiting for the last bus home.
In a straightforward non-artisan supermarket a few days ago it dawned on me eventually that they were playing full classical pieces over the PA. It was so nice.
Got into a lift in Vegas and they were playing Accidents will Happen by Costello but it was the slowed down piano version. Class.
Not a warning you were about to get stuck then, Steve?
Or plummet to your doom, of course.
A couple of years ago, in a Tesco cafe quite early, Photograph by Ringo Starr. Made my day.
Last year in a mid-sized supermarket in Barcelona, they were playing Grand Prix by Teenage Fanclub. I didn’t want to leave.
Most obscure I have heard was Elvis Costello’s cover of Yoko Ono’s Walking on Thin Ice.. That was in Zurich.
My pal told me once, that he was walking round a garden centre (Dobbies I think), and The Beautiful South’s ‘Don’t Marry Her’ was playing over the PA. He noticed right away that it was the album version that was playing, but someone else in the centre noticed too because it got cut short abruptly.
Have me/F*ck me.
I’ve heard a whole host of unexpected tunes playing in the local branch of Home Bargains of the last few years. Particularly memorable ones include Big Star’s ‘September Gurls’, Soloman Burke’s ‘Cry To Me’, Steely Dan’s ‘Peg’ and The Byrds’ ‘Ballad Of The Easy Rider’. Today’s tune was T-Rex’s ‘I Love To Boogie’.
Aah that’s where I left my iPod! (But who put Deely Stan on it?)