1001 Songs Challenge #798: Connection (1994)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenge of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post every day (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be…

 

Elastica – Connection (1994)

 

 

We’re staying in the UK, dear reader, and continuing our stay in London. Our latest guests actually form a link between both Blur and Suede with lead singer, Justine Frischmann, having once dated each of the frontmen from those respective bands. Having been in Suede, Frischmann formed Elastica in 1992 and the group were heavily influenced by punk rock. We join them in 1994 prior to the release of their debut album and 1001 Songs have gone with the track – Connection.

Written by Justine Frischmann, Connection is a song open to interpretation with the singer not confirming its meaning, though there is likely a legal reason for that, disclosed below. One interpretation is that it makes reference to the risk that comes with gambling and how one can lose or gain everything in the blink of an eye. On the other hand, the “connection” of the title may be concerned with an actual relationship and making sacrifices either personally or professionally. 

Connection is a fast-paced and brief number which garnered a lot of attention for Elastica but initially for the wrong reasons. A guitar intro from Wire’s Three Girl Rhumba was lifted for use in Connection and a legal battle proceeded which resulted in an out of court settlement. Elastica’s self-titled debut album arrived in 1995 to much praise but by 2001 the group had split up.

 

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

The Doors – The End (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Ultravox – Vienna (1980)

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (1988)

U2 – One (1991)

Suede – Animal Nitrate (1993)