Name that song?
September 2, 2010 6:30 PM Subscribe
For those who are awesome at identifying songs from next-to-nothing - why does the guitar part from this song ("Aaron and Maria" by the American Analog Set) sound so naggingly familiar? I know I've heard it before, but for the life of me I can't place it.
My boyfriend likes this band, and as far as I know I'd never heard them before. Whenever this song comes up, I keep hearing it in my head with different lyrics - something a little less indie and more sing-songy. Googling tells me this isn't a cover of anything, but I can't google a guitar riff . . . the part I'm talking about first appears from 0:17 - 0:33 in the video linked above, then the melody diverges from whatever it is that I remember.
My boyfriend likes this band, and as far as I know I'd never heard them before. Whenever this song comes up, I keep hearing it in my head with different lyrics - something a little less indie and more sing-songy. Googling tells me this isn't a cover of anything, but I can't google a guitar riff . . . the part I'm talking about first appears from 0:17 - 0:33 in the video linked above, then the melody diverges from whatever it is that I remember.
The first thing that came to mind for me was Collective Soul - Shine.
Nice song. I hadn't heard it before. Thanks!
posted by Balonious Assault at 6:48 PM on September 2, 2010
Nice song. I hadn't heard it before. Thanks!
posted by Balonious Assault at 6:48 PM on September 2, 2010
Sort of, vaguely, Time After Time, by Cyndi Lauper... but not really.
posted by jozxyqk at 6:59 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by jozxyqk at 6:59 PM on September 2, 2010
The guitar sounds a lot like Lou Reed to me. Can't put it to a specific song, but maybe "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" a bit?
posted by drjimmy11 at 7:12 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by drjimmy11 at 7:12 PM on September 2, 2010
A bit of it sounds like "So you wanna be a rock and roll star" by The Byrds.
posted by foobario at 7:21 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by foobario at 7:21 PM on September 2, 2010
Response by poster: Grr, nothing is quite right yet. The Silversun Pickups song does sound quite similar (and I can't believe I didn't think of it because it was played to death on the radio a couple years back), but that's not it.
I admit I've never been super big on shoegaze-y pop so I'm not surprised that it's actually a really common riff. I can still hear definite lyrics in my head whenever this plays though - a guy's voice, very melodic and earworm-inducing, a little cheesy maybe. (I love music but have absolutely no technical knowledge about it, so I'm probably doing a crappy job describing what I'm talking about here.)
posted by ella wren at 7:26 PM on September 2, 2010
I admit I've never been super big on shoegaze-y pop so I'm not surprised that it's actually a really common riff. I can still hear definite lyrics in my head whenever this plays though - a guy's voice, very melodic and earworm-inducing, a little cheesy maybe. (I love music but have absolutely no technical knowledge about it, so I'm probably doing a crappy job describing what I'm talking about here.)
posted by ella wren at 7:26 PM on September 2, 2010
Can't peg it to a specific song, but my first thought was something by The Weepies.
posted by bricoleur at 7:31 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by bricoleur at 7:31 PM on September 2, 2010
Here's my vote! Listen to the guitar in this song and how it's plucked at :33 seconds.
My guess came from this nagging thought that it sounds like one of the undercurrent songs played during a This American Life story. Is this it?
posted by glaucon at 7:32 PM on September 2, 2010
My guess came from this nagging thought that it sounds like one of the undercurrent songs played during a This American Life story. Is this it?
posted by glaucon at 7:32 PM on September 2, 2010
Ok, I'll have a go: Dire Straits 'So Far Away'.
It's got the same kind of beat, and if you skip to around 2:00 it's basically the same riff. Also: guy's voice, very melodic and earworm-inducing, a little cheesy ticks all those boxes!
posted by nomis at 7:40 PM on September 2, 2010
It's got the same kind of beat, and if you skip to around 2:00 it's basically the same riff. Also: guy's voice, very melodic and earworm-inducing, a little cheesy ticks all those boxes!
posted by nomis at 7:40 PM on September 2, 2010
I think this one does, too, especially around :30 seconds.
I'm probably reaching here. Anyways, hope you find what it is!
posted by glaucon at 7:45 PM on September 2, 2010
I'm probably reaching here. Anyways, hope you find what it is!
posted by glaucon at 7:45 PM on September 2, 2010
Immediately reminded me of Hayden - Dynamite Walls.
posted by oulipian at 7:56 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by oulipian at 7:56 PM on September 2, 2010
Smashing Pumpkins' Cherub Rock? (starting at 0:38)
posted by John Cohen at 8:00 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by John Cohen at 8:00 PM on September 2, 2010
Or, hey, Smashing Pumpkins' Rhinocerous. The melody isn't as similar as "Cherub Rock," but it's much closer to that clean, spare sound of AAS.
Anyway, I'm pretty sure it's something by the Smashing Pumpkins...
posted by John Cohen at 8:04 PM on September 2, 2010
Anyway, I'm pretty sure it's something by the Smashing Pumpkins...
posted by John Cohen at 8:04 PM on September 2, 2010
My two thoughts:
Collective Soul - Shine
Which always reminded me of Kenny Rogers - Love will turn you around.
posted by alikins at 8:08 PM on September 2, 2010
Collective Soul - Shine
Which always reminded me of Kenny Rogers - Love will turn you around.
posted by alikins at 8:08 PM on September 2, 2010
It does sound like Collective Soul's "Shine," but the OP has told us that that is not the answer.
posted by John Cohen at 8:23 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by John Cohen at 8:23 PM on September 2, 2010
I think nomis has it with Dire Straits' "So Far Away"
posted by ourroute at 8:25 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by ourroute at 8:25 PM on September 2, 2010
The first riff that comes to mind is the guitar in Modest Mouse's Missed the Boat.
posted by ChuraChura at 8:28 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by ChuraChura at 8:28 PM on September 2, 2010
Buffaload, I was thinking Sundown, too, but I rejected it because it was a bit too bright and twangy in Lightfoot's version. I know that Ron Sexsmith and Jesse Winchester have done covers, but I can't find any links.
I have a nagging feeling it's something Canadian, from the 90s onward, but I can't put my earlobe on it.
Have you tried Pandora? iTunes Genius?
posted by maudlin at 8:39 PM on September 2, 2010
I have a nagging feeling it's something Canadian, from the 90s onward, but I can't put my earlobe on it.
Have you tried Pandora? iTunes Genius?
posted by maudlin at 8:39 PM on September 2, 2010
I'm also hearing Hungry Heart by Bruce Springsteen.
posted by iconomy at 8:54 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by iconomy at 8:54 PM on September 2, 2010
Could I ask, is it just the melody or does the guitar tone seem familiar as well? I keep hearing the guitar as vocals for some reason and it does sound very familiar.
posted by occidental at 8:58 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by occidental at 8:58 PM on September 2, 2010
Okay, yes, it reminds me of Shine melodically, but it also reminds me of Dry the Rain by The Beta Band - the part where he sings "It'll be alright, it'll be alright..."
posted by Jimbob at 9:03 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by Jimbob at 9:03 PM on September 2, 2010
The Tragically Hip - Ahead by a Century?
posted by Hardcore Poser at 9:07 PM on September 2, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Hardcore Poser at 9:07 PM on September 2, 2010 [2 favorites]
Divorce Song by Liz Phair?
posted by bottlebrushtree at 9:16 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by bottlebrushtree at 9:16 PM on September 2, 2010
Seriously, I think I've got it. Somebody's Baby. Play them both in succession.
posted by Miko at 9:26 PM on September 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Miko at 9:26 PM on September 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
Reminds me of Wilco's Ashes of American Flags, especially. Wilco in general, though.
posted by Kattullus at 9:33 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by Kattullus at 9:33 PM on September 2, 2010
Actually, now that I've listened to it again, what it reminds me even more of is Wilco's Kamera.
posted by Kattullus at 9:45 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by Kattullus at 9:45 PM on September 2, 2010
Somebody's Baby.
Oooh, good one! OP, I recommend paying close attention to this.
posted by John Cohen at 10:13 PM on September 2, 2010
Oooh, good one! OP, I recommend paying close attention to this.
posted by John Cohen at 10:13 PM on September 2, 2010
It reminded me of a mellow version of an upbeat riff that I couldn't quite place, then I realized it was something I'd just seen a few days ago... Bay City Roller's "Saturday Night."
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 11:15 PM on September 2, 2010
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 11:15 PM on September 2, 2010
Oh, so that's "Somebody's Baby." I've heard that one.
That actually sounds a lot like "Saturday Night," which came out about six years earlier, and is at least six times more cheesy. This is like the Coldplay/Joe Satriani thing all over again.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 11:33 PM on September 2, 2010
That actually sounds a lot like "Saturday Night," which came out about six years earlier, and is at least six times more cheesy. This is like the Coldplay/Joe Satriani thing all over again.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 11:33 PM on September 2, 2010
The opening sounded a lot like Girl Like You to me.
posted by watercarrier at 12:46 AM on September 3, 2010
posted by watercarrier at 12:46 AM on September 3, 2010
It reminds me of Sugar Ray -- Someday. Or maybe something else by Sugar Ray (Every Morning, maybe? Starts at 00:17)
posted by prenominal at 12:58 AM on September 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by prenominal at 12:58 AM on September 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
No doubt lots of songs have a similar riff - its so simple. It's just sliding one finger between 3 frets on the A string while droning the open D string.
posted by canoehead at 8:14 AM on September 3, 2010
posted by canoehead at 8:14 AM on September 3, 2010
Best answer: Sounds like the melody for Lola to me too.
Well, I'm not the world's most physical guy
But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine
posted by supercres at 4:21 PM on September 3, 2010
Well, I'm not the world's most physical guy
But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine
posted by supercres at 4:21 PM on September 3, 2010
Response by poster: I finally had time to listen to every single song in this thread and we have a winner - Lola by the Kinks! Now I'll have (way more fun) lyrics to sing every time the song comes up on my boyfriend's playlists.
Thank you everyone for the education in music, too - listening for the one common guitar part in all these songs has been kind of fascinating (as a non-musical person). You guys are good!
posted by ella wren at 7:07 AM on September 5, 2010
Thank you everyone for the education in music, too - listening for the one common guitar part in all these songs has been kind of fascinating (as a non-musical person). You guys are good!
posted by ella wren at 7:07 AM on September 5, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by fore at 6:37 PM on September 2, 2010