Back into space, this week with ten songs about (or very loosely connected to) the smallest, hottest planet in our solar system...
10. Long-View - Further
OK, I'm stretching the rules, but this is from the debut Long-View album, called 'Mercury', and it's a nice enough noise.
9. Red Hot Chilli Peppers - On Mercury
The Chilli Peppers go ska. I'm not the world's biggest RHCP fan, but I love the fact that Flea was in the Back To The Future movies.
8. Bloc Party - Mercury
Their Mercury's in retrograde. The video is what happens if you eat too much cheese while watching Planet of the Apes... and then fall into a nightmare.
7. American Music Club - Johnny Mathis' Feet
I've had to cheat again. As with the Long-View song, this is from an album called 'Mercury'. But never mind that - the name of this song is Johnny Mathis' Feet! You need no other reason to love it.
6. Todd Snider - Thin Wild Mercury
A song about the rivalry between Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs. Billy Bragg would have something to say about that.
5. Counting Crows - Mercury
It's a sunny day as I write this (I'm sure it won't be by the time it gets posted) and there are few better bands for chilling in the summertime. The music of the Counting Crows evokes long, dusty roads stretching off into nowhere and a heat haze on the horizon. Not quite as hot as the planet we're celebrating... but hot enough for me.
4. The Steve Miller Band - Mercury Blues
Lots of songs have been written about American cars. This is just one of them, and it's a Ford too. See, American songwriters had it easy. Try writing a song about a Ford Escort, Sierra or Mondeo... without sounding like Alan Partridge.
3. Kathleen Edwards - Mercury
Another song about the same car... though this one leads to a tragic death. Don't smoke pot and drive, kids.
2. Mercury Rev - Goddess On The Hiway
How could I have a Mercury list without the Rev? This is their finest moment, a song built around a quite dreadful pun... and yet, a thing of great beauty.
1. Freddie Mercury - Mr. Bad Guy
Well, it had to be. I could have chosen any number of Freddie songs, but this one wins out for its shamelessly autobiographical nature, and the fact Fred sings:
Can't you see?
I'm Mr. Mercury!
Yes, he's everybody's Mr. Bad Guy. They're all afraid of him. He can ruin people's lives. And somehow he manages to rip off both the Jaws and Psycho themes in this track...
Those are the songs that get my Mercury rising... but which is your Mr. Bad Guy?
