Even music fans who aren’t fans of Massive Attack seem to appreciate them and when this song popped up on Spotify the other day I thought to myself ‘this might just be the coolest song ever recorded and I think everyone might agree’
The only other contender that came to mind was something by Steely Dan off either Aja or Gaucho, but they are as hated as they are loved so I’m not sure they would get many votes on here. But anyway, enough of my rambling, what do you think? Am I wrong, or could I possibly be right? And if [as I suspect] I am wrong, then what IS the coolest song ever recorded?
The Coolest Song Ever, is …
by 107 Comments
It’s not quite as cool as Five Man Army, not least because that has Horace doing random bits of his old songs apropos of nothing, as if he’s singing in the shower. I think the MA sound is already slightly becoming a formula by Karmacoma. (“Formula by Karmacoma…. because you’re worth it” etc)
I feel like Barry Adamson belongs on this thread. Anybody?
Five man army Is the coolest Massive Attack song. The Big Bamboozle is the coolest Barry Adamson song. No idea if either is THE coolest ever. But they’re both bloody ace!
I’m of the thought that this is the coolest song that ever lived:
I am also of the thought that this is the coolest song that ever lived:
Plus 1….
Gary – no Japan?
I had Gentlemen TP on this week – half speed vinyl remaster [very good] and from that I’m going to nominate this
Could be the best electronic instrumental ever [not that the vocal spoils it, but it’s such a good track it could stand without one]
Have you heard this version @gary?
I hadn’t. And it’s fantastic! Thanks. Am going to be listening to that all day!
Here you go… I’ll nominate this one.
Elvis singing Dylan. Tomorrow Is A Long Time – as smooth as warm chocolate and swings like a big swing-y thing.
So cool there are no words.
And the model for the horns on Aja, to add a few degrees of chill.
Some good suggestions so far
This is definitely top 10 material
Tom Petty – Freefallin’
This is an extremely cool song…..
Yes. Everything JJ Cale did was effortlessly cool
Then again, by my definition, this is also a cool, cool song….
How about early period cool
Even earlier but non cooler
Johnny Burnette is certainly cool….but that tune is hot!…Hot!!…HOT!!!
Wow. If there’s anything this thread shows it’s that there are many different ideas of what ‘cool’ is.
The original suggestion, Karmacoma…. Well, I would increase its coolness exponentially by choosing the much less well known (but twice as brilliant) Karmacoma (Portishead Remix). Not only is it the coolest triphop band on the planet remixing the other coolest triphop band on the planet, it’s also based around a sample of a song by Serge Gainsbourg, who could out-cool everyone.
Blimey! I can’t think of many things more tedious than Massive Attack, mixing that with Portishead seems like something close to purgatory! Please keep it away from me!
This must be up there Shirley.
Well, yes, if the word ‘cool’ still has any meaning. But wait! Is it a song? And … does the word still have any meaning?
Apparently not, judging from some off the responses.
Never seen this before. FWIIW, I think it makes a brilliant song even better.
If we were ever voting, this would probably get my vote for the coolest song ever.
Wonderful.
“Drive west on Sunset – to the sea…”
THIS (or any number of Dan works)
You won’t get as far as the sea if there isn’t gas in the car.
Yes, there’s gas in the car.
Dan be well chilled. But will never be cool. Can you imagine James Dean listening to them? No you can’t. On account of he’s dead. But that’s not my point.
Elvis does Bob
I have got both of the Kings albums & I think he is shit hot.
Cool as a cool thing in the fridge….
Grace channelling Piazzolla with the help of Sly and Robbie
The Brazilian poet Vinicius de Moraes was a seriously cool cat. Here is the Garota before she became an American housewife.
Serge and Birgitte – two icons for the price of one. Bunnie and Clyde!
All my suggestions have been either long dead or foreign. Zara can help to put that right.
“In the cool of the evening…..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f7QzxYAjgNc
I was just about to suggest this myself.
As good as that is, surely this is cooler
https://youtu.be/DjydOI4MEIw
Cool as fuck, this one:
Up arrow in the post.
up from me as well
Good call
Surprised that this (or another of his choons) hasn’t made an appearance
Eh? People have very different ideas of cool, clearly.
This record is redolent of a drizzly afternoon at the services at Sutton Scotney, with the car-sickness smell of the nylon upholstery of a Ford Sierra. I half-expect Steve Wright to come on at the end with his showbiz gossip.
Bob’s cool
That’s more blimmin like it
The coolest song I know is one you lot won’t even have heard of.
Come on youngster, let’s have it
Most Christmas songs, especially if they involve snow
Zara is close, but this is the winner:
This is the coolest sounding record I ever bought and I’ve yet to hear cooler. Unlike other suggestions this is performed without any idea of look at me I’m cute and hip. That gives it the edge.
I prefer both Katie Love and Millie Jackson’s versions. Jackson’s is the coolest.
That is an interesting suggestion, Diddley: If you know you are cute and cool, then you are not. It certainly works in some cases, but not as a general rule.
It would disqualify Sly and the Family Stone who were coolisimo….
Their version of this Magazine song is a corker.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ptrc2cWRxU
And now my nomination: It’s a family affair.
Who knew such passion could be roused over such a topic. Marvellous
Here’s a good one
And another
Marvin Gaye – Got To Give It Up
“Hey Joe”?
My nomination. I came to know this via the Siouxsie & the Banshees version. Sooooo cooool!
This song popped up in my head the other day and it is rather cool. But do take a few minutes to hear the story at the beginning. Very funny.
https://youtu.be/5JJjxl8nu1Q
Actual recorded version is somewhat cooler than the live one
I adore China Crisis but I’ve never thought of them as cool. Until now….
Good shout, BC.
A much underrated band.
This one springs to mind…
⬆️
I wouldn’t generally think of Gong as cool, not in the accepted sense anyway……but this is cool….although it might not count as a song….
Oh yes – from the moment the funky flute comes in!
Extra credit for posting a song that isn’t a song…by a band who aren’t cool! 🙂
A couple of more recent offerings
Tell me this ain’t cool as!
This: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-V20fzdYSM
Or this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJmju0zbnrA
Chilled French vibes. Nice
But it’s probably this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj_g1MtfilM
It might be this
sure if you are going AC, it is this?
Only one way to decide
Mmmm … Nice
Dave Brubeck Quartet – Take Five
Dobie Gray – Drift Away
Ray Charles
This is what we have…
…so far
Wot, no Inspirals?
Oh, very good, Moosey. Extra cool points for you.
Moo!
The ICs don’t really have any cool records because of Tom wossname’s too-urgent voice. Mighty band in their prime, notwithstanding the ridiculous haircuts.
Notable omissions include Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, The Beatles…
Fleetwood Mac
I think this is it
Nina Simone – Do I Move You
Yes!
woke up with some more suggestions running through my head
Sade never smoother
I’m in that Sierra again…
This
My last suggestion, from Britpop obscurity
Okay, okay this is my last suggestion. I just thought I should at least have one from this decade
When my son was very small, he thought this was very cool indeed. He was right.
Well done for posting the album version. At the end of that, far from being cool, the conga player’s hands must have been smoking.
(Posse laughs)
‘And now, here’s Sally Traffic with the travel ‘
Orquestra Was.
Any Frank Sinatra with Nelson Riddle yet?
My late, great, mate insisted the following was the coolest tune ever. He wasn’t one to be shifted once he’d made up his mind, so I’m going with it
(The Fall – Bill Is Dead)
@sewer-robot
It IS a lovely song which is not something you often say about a song by the Fall.
Last one
Prince loved this album so it must be cool, right?
Nothing came into my mind when i saw this header. I had this one my New Orleans playlist for my radio show tonight and thought “cool”.
Written and produced by Allen Toussaint. Aaron Neville and Hercules.
Tres cool
Motown cool…….bass……finger clicks……take it away……
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KhcqxIUi6M