Its AFL grand final weekend, and of course one of the key skills
of Australian Rules football is kicking the ball – indeed kicking goals is the
aim of the game. So in honour of this, my theme this week is kick/kicking
songs.
Enjoy the list!
10 – Dropkick me
Jesus Through the Goalposts of Life – Bobby Bare
Ok, I know, its actually a pretty lame song, but you have to
give points for the title alone, and I will be honest with you, I only had nine
songs for the list and needed an extra one.
9 – Kick out the Jams
– Presidents of the USA
Based on the MC5 track, this I think was the only cover
version on the Presidents debut album.
8 – Kicking Stones –
Tim Rogers
Tim features fairly prominently in this list, so apologies
in advance for those that are not fans of his work. This is a real bluesy
number from his Dirty Ron album.
7– Ain’t that a Kick
in the Head – Dean Martin
From blues to swing now – I couldn’t quite find room for
this in my top ain’t songs, but it has been able to make this list.
6- Pumped Up Kicks –
Foster the People
A more recent track now, for a while it felt like this song
was everywhere – on the radio, on TV commercials, being played in stores etc.
It has a pretty catchy chorus though. I haven’t taken the time to study the
lyrics in detail, but I think they are actually quite dark – its about the homicidal
thoughts of a troubled youth. Makes you think about that catchy jingle a bit differently
now doesn’t it?
5 – Kick a Hole in
the Sky – You Am I
Tim is back, this time with his band You Am I. I think I may
have written before that I will always have a soft spot for their “Dress Me
Slowly” album. It may not be their best, but it’s the album I turn to when I am
down and need a bit of a pick up. The songs are great, and I associate it with
good times with my friends.
4- I Get a Kick Out
of You – Frank Sinatra
Back to swing now, from that other great exponent of the
genre, Ol’ Blue Eyes himself. This has been covered by many artists over the
years (in fact, Sinatra’s version is a cover too)
3- (Get Your Kicks
On) Route 66 – Nat King Cole
Perhaps I am being a bit cheeky including his, as the song
is often listed without the parenthesis, but it is often listed with them, so I
think I can get away with it. Nat King Cole had the original version, but as with
some of the other songs on this list, this is an often covered classic.
If you don’t like Nat’s version, perhaps you would prefer Chuck
Berry’s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg2EbJy-9dc
The Rolling Stones version is also excellent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyhkBg8wOBo
2- Kick – INXS
So I had a bit of difficulty in working out the order of the
top two, and I very nearly gave this one the top spot (it probably also should get
points for being off an album of the same name). There is something
simplistically brilliant about the chorus – “sometimes you kick, sometimes you
get kicked.” Many would have been able sum up life as well as that line does.
1- Arse Kickin Lady from
the Northwest – Tim Rogers
I gave the top spot to Tim Rogers, with this brilliant track
from his debut solo album. Not really much to say about this song, its great.
Love the banjo work on it too!
So there is my list. Did I kick a goal with this one, or
should some of my selections be kicked out?
