I mentioned song murdering in an earlier post. But have been noticing strange remixes these days that takes it to a new level.

Hope that’s not the future of ‘new’ material in the coming years. I’m still recovering from Pat Boone murdering ‘Holy Diver’ .

Metallica + Journey = Don’t Stop the Sandman

Rick Astley + Nirvana = Never Gonna Smell Like Teen Spirit

Destiny’s Child + Nirvana = Smells Like Bootilicious

Michael Jackson + Nirvana = Smells Like Billie Jean

For some time I’d been meaning to compile a list of songs that have employed the very catchy I-V-VIm-IV chord progression. The most common are:

C – G – Am – F > D – A – Bm – G > A – E – F#m – D > G – D – Em – C > and E – B – C#m – A

The Australian comedy group Axis of Awesome did a video on this chord progression that’s a hoot. They’ve only covered 30+ songs in this but the next time you listen to the radio, look out for the progression in play.

From the top of my head, other songs that have used this progression at one point or wholly: ‘Head Over Heels: Alanis Morissette’, ‘When I Go Around: Green Day’ ‘No Woman No Cry: Bob Marley’, ‘Since You’ve Been Gone: Rainbow’ etc etc.

How can you write your own hits with this progression? My advice: Play with different beats and let a clean melodic bass line guide you: for example – “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” or  “With or Without You” etc etc.

The rest, you will find your own way. BTW, whatever the title of this post says, if you think knowing a certain chord progression(s) is half the battle won, you are smoking it pretty often.

[Hat tip: Nice Photography Magazine]

Similar post: How To Use Chord Association To Write Music.

The band, who some years later came back as this band, is back as this band.

Inspired by The Plugg’s Alternative Love Songs list although not original as theirs. Nor is that list any way degenerate.

Maybe the songwriters, as listed in mine, will not appreciate their songs listed as degenerates. But if you look it up, the word does not mean anything nasty.  I’ll use them, however, to make this list because they express my thoughts much better in their combination of words and lyrics.

Radiohead: House of Cards [lyrics]

Frente: Bizarre Love Triangle [Lyrics]

Led Zeppelin: Whole Lotta Love [Lyrics]

Judas Priest: Turbo Lover [Lyrics]

Bob Dylan: Love Minus Zero/No Limit [Lyrics] *love this song!

And of course, a list of degenerate love songs can’t be complete without:

Police: Every Breath You Take [Lyrics]

Related: Valentine’s in a Fast Car

The original by Wheatus had completely disappeared from my memory but came back as this version by Earl Okin; can I admit to not knowing Okin? Is it safe? [thx Bottletop]

Note: Conclusion of Yossi Fine interview Monday 20th, with pictures and another video.

A little time travel here. Just wanted to bring you some of the posts I’ve enjoyed from my ‘early’ days. Let’s start with 5.

1. My first guitar post. Of course it would be Ritchie Blackmore.

2. Jerry’s Reed Played by Two Guys on One Guitar; got over 5mill. plays on YouTube.

3. When I’d ‘dropped by’ Nashville last year I took some photos near the Ryman Auditorium and inside a Gibson Guitars store next to the new Grand Ole Opry. I’d like to go back very much.

4. Trailer of the upcoming Hank Garland biopic Crazy. Can’t wait to see it. Looks good.

5. A post on guitar in Bollywood music, the Burman clan, and links to chord sites and such.

Why having different hairstyles just doesn’t cut it (pun surely intented) for Vernon Boyd.

Funny video of a Marionette performing to guitar music.