1001 Songs Challenge #788: Laid (1993)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenging 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 everyday (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…

 

James – Laid (1993)

 

 

We’re leaving the US today and making our way back to the UK and to Manchester. James were formed in 1982 and delved into alternative rock and later Britpop. The group achieved popularity in the UK in 1991 with a reissue of their track Sit Down. However, we join the group in 1993 with the release of their fifth album, Laid, and 1001 Songs have gone with the title track.

The opening lines leave one in no doubt what this song is about. We hear of passion and love in a bed and the woman’s preferred sexual position and that’s just the start of the song! There’s still more to follow. The rest of the track paints a picture of a dysfunctional relationship with therapy sessions, cross dressing, stalking and many other things. It comes across as comical and surreal rather than a song we should sit down and take too seriously. You take it with a pinch of salt. It’s fun and rather risque. I think I need a cold shower. 

Laid was a surprise choice on this list for me. It’s a great song but I can name better ones by James. However, its inclusion is warranted for although it only hit the UK Top 30, the song proved to be a big hit in the US and even featured in the American Pie films. The song was particularly popular in colleges which isn’t surprising really. Those opening lines we have already referred to were subject to censoring but it did not hinder the song’s success. James would split up in 2001 but reunited in 2007 and continue to record and tour.

 

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)