Thursday 23 June 2011

Blood, I Can Hear The Sirens Coming

It looks like Jason Derülo is going to be Number One this Sunday with his lamazing 'Don't Wanna Go Home'. On first inspection you might think that 'Don't Wanna Go Home' is comprised merely of one part 'Show Me Love', one part 'Banana Boat Song' and one part In The Club/On The Floor-type banality. But you would be wrong. There is a fourth aspect, and that is the siren that comes in at around the 2 minutes and 55 seconds mark. It is a very important addition to the song, not least because there is little else to it, but also because - and this a universally accepted fact - the use of sirens in pop music is never not a Good Thing, often improving the standard of a track two, three or even tenfold, in this case the latter. In fact it's testament to the general amazingness of sirens that Derülo won't be the first to harness their power to top the charts.

3 Other Numbers Ones That Make Good Use Of Sirens

The Sweet - Blockbuster


"Does anyone know the way? There's got to be a way: to block Buster!"
Possibly the best use of a siren in pop to date. Number One for five weeks in early 1973 and described by Tom Ewing as "(possibly) the first rave track". Used to be on the end credits of The Grimleys. Very good indeed.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes


"The air attack warning sounds like. This is the sound" 
APOCALYPSE-MAZING (The siren is better on the 'Annihilation Mix', but that isn't as good)

Oxide & Neutrino - Bound 4 Da Reload


"When I say you say we say they say make some noise" 
When future generations look back on the past ten years or so, there will be important questions asked. "Was Bound 4 Da Reload really Number One?" "Yes", grandparents will answer. "Why?" The answer of course is that it features the Casualty theme tune and samples from Lock, Stock..., thus making it both ridiculous and brilliant.

Well done sirens.

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