Monday again!
Welcome to another week, and another installment of Music Mondays on 7w/D! Herc is back again and handing out another 7 song playlist. I love listening to his spotify playlists while reading the post he writes. Truly an interactive blog experience. Viva la Herc!
7 Songs About Mondays
[part of ongoing series 7 Song Playlists]
Mondays have a bad rep. They are the beginning of the work or school week and, even more importantly, Mondays mark the end of the beloved weekend. Mondays figure prominently in pop music as well, often bearing the blame for a failed weekend or the breaking point in an otherwise doomed romantic entanglement. Here are some Monday songs to help you bury the weekend and get on with the week so go get yourself another cup of coffee and jelly donut glass of water and some fresh fruit and start the countdown to next weekend. Or, if you’re an orange, Monday hating cat, have another lasagna.
“I Don’t Like Mondays” - Boomtown Rats [1979]
Before he asked us to “Feed The World”, Bob Geldof was the lead singer of The Boomtown Rats. One day in 1979, he read a news story about a teenage girl in California who had fired several shots into a schoolyard, killing two and injuring nine others. When asked by authorities why she would do such a thing, she replied “I don’t like Mondays; this livens up the day.” Bob composed a song about the senseless incident and it’s equally senseless motive, pointing out that he was not trying to glorify or exploit the tragedy.
“Monday Morning” - Fleetwood Mac [1975]
Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks performed this song before they were recruited into Fleetwood Mac and recorded it for inclusion on that band’s 1975 self-titled album. A rare, positive vibin’ Monday-titled tune about a man pledging his love if his woman will just do the same instead of lovin’ him and then getting “on down the line”.
“Come Monday” - Jimmy Buffett [1974]
Part of “The Big 8”, songs that Jimmy plays at all of his concerts, this 1974 song managed to climb three charts simultaneously upon its release: Pop, Country and Easy Listening. One of the only “looking forward to Monday” songs on this list, his job on the road as a lonely performer has him longing to be back home on Monday.
“Monday, Monday” - The Mamas and the Papas [1966]
It’s a sweet Sixties song about being dumped. “Every other day of the week is fine” but whenever Monday comes “you can find me cryin’ all the time”. Ah Monday. “Can’t trust that day” Like it has nothing to do with you, guy, it’s all Monday’s fault.
“Blue Monday” - New Order [1983]
The biggest selling 12” single of all time is also one of the longest running (7:26) charted songs of all time as well. A non-traditionally structured song, “Blue Monday” exists in multiple remixes as well as an instrumental version titled “The Beach”. The meaning of the lyrics are somewhat of a mystery to these old ears as Monday is never mentioned but I think “How does it feel? /To treat me like you do” hints at some form of a less than loving relationship.
“Manic Monday” - The Bangles [1986]
Originally, The Artist Always Known As Prince recorded this song as a duet with his Purple Rain co-star Apollonia but later pulled it from her group’s only album, Apollonia 6. Two years later, after hearing their single “Hero Takes A Fall” and seeing lead singer Susanna Hoffs, he dusted off the demo and sent it to The Bangles, then working on their second release, Different Light. The group and their producer added their own touches with Prince maintaining his songwriting credit under the name “Christopher”, a character he portrayed in the film Under The Cherry Moon.
“Rainy Days And Mondays” - Carpenters [1971]
A cataloguing of things that “always bring (the singer) down”, this sugary fluffy concoction shot up the charts in 1971. Karen’s voice glides and soars over a minimal musical backing but the girl has “what they used to call the blues”. The backing vocals are lush, a Carpenters trademark, and the very definition of easy listening. Herc can never to just one Carpenters track, he listens by the handful.
What is it about Mondays?
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