Seven Songs for the Week #117 - 2nd July 25

It was Glastonbury week and it was delightful to see Franz Ferdinand in full effect. I was a massive fan for the first ten years but dropped off after the FFS record and half the original band left. The new FF were playing at 5:30pm on a stage that they had headlined 15 years earlier. I wonder whether they think about that, or worry about it. They played as if they were headliners and brought out Peter Capaldi for Take Me Out. I was reminded of how many top songs they have, and looking back at the records how many others, like this one, which didn't make the setlist.

I became obsessed with this song for about 48 hours having not heard it in years. Someone on Instagram put up one of those 30 second album recaps about "Dancing For Mental Health" and off I went. I listened to the whole album. It's a funny time capsule, but did not know that Steve Winwood and Todd Rundgren were co-writers or that Will was photographer Lynn Goldsmith. Or, to be more accurate, I must have forgotten because all this information was on the back of Chart Hits '83 - an album I would've gotten when my age was in single digits, and which I still own.

Didn't realise that Tyler had Roy Ayers-style grooves in his songbook.

Another new upcoming track from the upcoming Ron Sexsmith record. I had mentioned before how he did this song as a preview last year when I saw him. It's sweet.

Got a ticket on Monday and went to see Duran Duran on Monday. Very crowd-pleasing. This is their best song, produced by the support act on Monday, Nile Rodgers.

Kissing With Confidence made me think of that odd hinterland of early 1980s experimental mature pop that would occasionally become hit records. Like Godley & Creme or this. Still packs a punch. Still apt.

For one reason or another I did not go see Neil Young in Dublin last week. Yes, there's FOMO attached, but it was just one thing too many. And the weather was bad. Which is a pity because he's getting good reviews on the tour and I thought his Glastonbury set was excellent.

I've only seen Neil twice, the last time in 2003 when he was solo and acoustic in the small Vicar St venue. My memory is that this was the first ever gig ticket that was more than €100. I had a nice seat on the balcony. Neil came out and went into Greendale, his ecological family story, from start to finish. The album was still some months away from release. So no one knew the music and for well over an hour, on and on he went with no sign of what else was going to be played. I really enjoyed it, was happy to get something new and exclusive, plus it was fun to see how many people were not enjoying it. C'mon people, it's Neil Young! He has form. I don't know whether it's true or apocryphal but Neil apparently played the then-unreleased Tonight's The Night album to a crowd in the early seventies. When he was finished, he told the restless audience "I'm going to play something you heard before" and proceeded to play it a second time.

Back to 2003 and after doing Glendale, Neil took an intermission, and came out and did some very well known songs like Heart of Gold. I have maintained my fondness for Greendale over the years, I even went to see the Greendale movie. Neil did two Greendale songs at Glastonbury. This one has aged well.