Any Major Pandemic
There are very few good things about the coronavirus pandemic. But I hope this mix of songs, whose titles refer to this crisis in one way or another, joins clearer skies and balcony-singing in Italy among the few upsides.
Otherwise the effects of this virus are horrible, almost as though scripted by a syndicate of nasty capitalists, possibly headed by a stupid-haired English prime minister with too narrowly-set eyes who believes the culling of old people is good economy.
But all this, too, will pass, and we shall emerge from the Covid-19 wreckage. Possibly unemployed and/or bankrupt (but some tax cuts for the stinking-rich will fix that, I’m sure), but with an experience to tell our grandchildren about. “Yes, Amdwhah III, the US president really said all these idiotic things. Look it up in the hologramnet if you don’t believe me.”
But for now, let’s enjoy this playlist of songs, which effortlessly segues from the hard rock of Hawkwind to hygienic bath-time advice from Ernie and Bert. My one regret is the paucity of suitable songs about toilet paper for inclusion.
Many thanks to commenter “dramref” for song suggestions and making my mind up, on this Wednesday evening, to make this mix.
EDIT: I’m kicking myself for forgetting the song that has given me a conoronavirus earworm (besides The Knack’s My Sharona): Paul Simon’s Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard, with the line, “Goodbye Rosie, Queen of Corona”…
As always, CD-R length, home-cured covers, PW in comments.
1. Minutemen – Corona (1984)
2. Ramones – You Sound Like You’re Sick (1981)
3. AC/DC – Touch Too Much (1879)
4. Blue Öyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper (1976)
5. The Smiths – Still Ill (1984)
6. Crowded House – Isolation (2010)
7. The Cardigans – Sick & Tired (1994)
8. Hello Saferide – Get Sick Soon (2005)
9. Ben Lee – Catch My Disease (2004)
10. Ronnie Dyson – Fever (1970)
11. Ringo Starr – All By Myself (1974)
12. Thompson Twins – Doctor Doctor (1984)
13. The The – Infected (1986)
14. Joy Division – Transmission (1979)
15. Warren Zevon – Splendid Isolation (1989)
16. Bob Dylan – Suze (The Cough Song) (1963)
17. Kris Kristofferson – Feeling Mortal (2013)
18. Matchbox 20 – Unwell (2003)
19. The Verve – The Drugs Don’t Work (1997)
20. Manic Street Preachers – Another Invented Disease (1992)
21. Hawkwind – Choose Your Masques (1982)
22. Ernie & Bert – Everybody Wash (1970)
PW = amdwhah
Well played Major Dude. Romulus Michigan salutes you… SALUTE!
Thanks– and stay well.
Brilliant and thanks for the name check!
Very nice, as usual, if a little unsettling. I’m reassured that Mr Dylan seems to have recovered from the cough he has on my copy. He gets through it with nary a throat clearing. Good for you, Bob.
Be like Bob, and wash your hands.
And, indeed, be like Ernie and Bert!
Nice! I took inspiration from you for my radio show theme yesterday. I didn’t repeat any of your song choices though. Except the Ramones.
Oh, please share your playlist!
Thank you very much from Italy. I’m not sure I’ll be singing those songs
from my balcony, but anyway, music really can be a great company and consolation.
(‘Still ill’ by The Smiths my favorite one)
May I suggest in addiction Paul Simon’s ‘Allergies’ ?
Discovered your site just a few months ago. It’s really discouraging. I love creating compilations you understand. Love the joy of serendipitous discoverey, finding surprising combinations, and the process of writing a somewhat coherent story to go with it.
Not very good at it unfortunately, takes me years collecting enough tracks to fill half a CD-R. Nevertheless, I have themed folders for when I find something that fits a future compilation. Whistling, telephones and singing politicians amongst other things. May be able to make something of it if I live to be 80. In the meantime I bore my friends with half-baked theme collections every once a year.
I might as wel give up now. Tempted to keep your site a secret and present your CD-R’s as my own.
Won’t of course. Recently pointed some friends to Pandemic, hope they’ll enjoy it as much as I did. Currently listening to Any Major Flute vol. 1. I absolutely despise flutes, kudos to you for making me reconsider my position.
Finally a request. I have a huge fetish for whistling in pop music, could you perhaps re-up the two volumes?
YES SIR! word is born, fellow yedi! thanks for your peaceful effort…OMk/germany
Oh man, you had me worried at “discouraging”! Thank you for your kind and generous words.
I’ve re-upped the Whistling mixes”:
https://rapidgator.net/file/e49f6f6e48fadd006922c80666b8150b/Whistle_2.rar.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/79104e18350bcd8107c95155a6f6a04d/Whistle_1.rar.html
@halfhearteddude
That was fast.
Enjoying volume 1 very much! Thank you. What the hell is that Shining Path track? Obviously a Lambada cover, but I also found that Shining path is the communist-revolutionary party of Peru. Is it a rebel song from Peru?
Also, I’d forgotten Nobody Knows You is pop perfection. Did you ever do a Lennon Best of? His solo work is spotty at best, probably won’t fit a CD-R.
And to top it off Richard Cheese’s take on Creep. That really brightened my day!
Did I say thank you? I should.
@Pim
Lambada appears to be a cover of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llorando_se_fue. Nice, didn’t know that.