Six degrees of (musical) separation
A while ago on a road-trip to Pemberton we set a challenge for a friend of mine with a fairly encyclopaedic knowledge of music.
With my iPod set on shuffle, his mission was to connect each artist to the next using less than six steps. The connections might be cover versions, producers, bandmates, whatever. It's about finding the right combination of very few, but very obscure links.
It turned out to be a great way to discover music, so I thought I'd give it a go here.
So, here's my challenge for you. These are five random songs to come up in iTunes:
- 19-2000 (Soulchild Remix) - The Gorillaz
- A Love Supreme - John Coltrane (A Love Supreme)
- The Hardest Button to Button - The White Stripes (Elephant)
- Discotheque - U2 (Pop)
- Superfly - Curtis Mayfield (Superfly)
How would you connect the artists/songs? Leave me a comment with some ideas (if you're stuck on one, comment with the ones you know).
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 and filed under Music.
Comments
Well, U2 performed "People Get Ready" on the When Love Comes To Town tour, which was written and performed by Curtis Mayfield.
1 step.
Posted by: Jordan Brock on March 15, 2006
Don't forget the rule that it has to be exactly 6 degrees so if you had Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana. You couldn't say do...
1. Mellissa from the smashing pumpkins played in Hole
2. Courtney Love from Hole was married to Kurt Cobain.
As that's only 2 degrees.
But with the selection you've given us I can't imagine having anything less than six. So this is just a tip for those playing at home :)
Posted by: Chris on March 15, 2006
Ok... Here's one for 2. to 3. Take a deep breath...
John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" was known as his "Christian" album (due to it's religous themes) Bob Dylan (1) also had a "Christian" album "A slow train coming" Which Mark Knofler (2) played guitar on. Mark Knofler was part of a highly succesful and quite crap band in the 80's Dire Straits (3). Michael Jackson (4) was also a highly succesful and quite crap artist in the 80's. Fortunately Nirvana's (5) "Nevermind" with it's huge break through single "smells like teen spirit" knocked Michael jackson's appropriately titled "Bad" album from the US number one spot and Nirvana were hailed as the Saviours of Rock by the indie press. Nearly 10 years later The White Stripes (6) with there "Elephant" album and break through single "seven nation army" were also hailed as saviours of rock by the indie press. "the hardest button to button" was another single from that album.
See it's easy :)
Posted by: Chris on March 16, 2006
