Tag Archives: forever

#729: The Chemical Brothers – Let Forever Be

Leave a reply

‘Let Forever Be’ was released as the second single from The Chemical Brothers’ 1999 album Surrender. After taking inspiration from the Beatles’ track ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ and collaborating with Oasis guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher on their previous track ‘Setting Sun’, a song that got to number one in the UK in ’96, the ‘brothers’ decided to do the same thing again here. It didn’t gained the same amount of commercial success but I believe it’s still one of the duo’s best singles.

While ‘Setting Sun’ relies on its pummeling drums to drive the track’s momentum ‘Let Forever Be’ relies on its bassline which mirrors Paul McCartney’s original bass from the aforementioned Beatles song, starting on the lower strings before reaching for those higher notes and carrying out some licks. Noel Gallagher continues his ‘faux-philosophical/actual nonsense’ lyricism style which, in that period of the 90s, was in its prime and worked tremendously well. His voice sounds great on here and, mixed with the psychedelic backdrop from Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (The Chemical Brothers), it makes from some very easygoing listening.

Its music video (above), directed by Michel Gondry, gained a lot of media attention. I don’t think it’s too bad myself. I did see it a lot back in the day on the television screen though you can’t go wrong by listening to the song on its own.

My iPod #399: Babyshambles – Fuck Forever

1 Reply

“Fuck Forever” was the second single from Babyshambles’ debut album “Down in Albion”; it was the first track I’d ever heard by the band when I was about ten years old, and its music video played regularly in the mornings on MTV2 – part of its countdown in the channel’s ’10 newest/hottest tracks’ programme. Or a name similar to that.

Obviously, the song’s title was censored as well as anytime Pete Doherty uttered the word ‘fuck’ or stuck up two crooked fingers to the camera. But at ten years old, I was surprised that a song with such a title could ever be played at that time. Or even be released as a single. And I also did think that it sounded fucking awful the first time. Doherty can barely sing on this one, the part where he belts out ‘ANNNNNNNND’ for the lead-up into the final chorus cracks me up every time, and the song’s overall instrumentation has a really sloppy feel to it.

I still have those feelings today. But even at that time I grew to appreciate the track more and more. The song was actually memorable and catchy in its own shitty way. It is a beautiful mess.

This track rules. Doherty has problems, but he can write good music.

My iPod #384: The Magic Numbers – Forever Lost

Leave a reply

So The Magic Numbers apparently released their fourth album this year…. I didn’t even know. Whether the band were still together was a question that popped into my head, before I went onto Wikipedia and saw that they, in fact, are. The group might not have so much mainstream success now, but about ten years ago – when guitar music had a greater chance of chart success – The Magic Numbers put the work in.

“Forever Lost” was the first single released from the band’s debut self-titled album in 2005. I distinctly remember the track’s music video appearing almost every day on MTV2, and every time I saw that first frame of that cartoon clock I switched the television to another channel. I did this countless times. The video never seemed to go away. So I gave in. I gave in, and found out that the song wasn’t actually that bad after all. In fact, it was a very sweet and pleasant song to listen to. And I had to admit that the video was a bit cute too. I was ten, don’t judge.

This cheery, upbeat tune about someone who doesn’t know where they belong anymore got the band their first top twenty hit. And for good reason. If you don’t feel anything listening to those soft vocal harmonies, general calm vibes and the melodica usage then…. this clearly isn’t for you. Come back tomorrow, though.