1001 Songs Challenge #876: No One Will Ever Love You (1999)

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… legendary!

 

The Magnetic Fields – No One Will Ever Love You (1999)

 

 

 

We’re continuing in the US today, dear reader, but leaving Maryland and making our way to Boston in Massachusetts. Formed in 1989 The Magnetic Fields began with a synthesised sound before shifting towards a more indie pop and rock sound. We join them in 1999 with their sixth album, 69 Love Songs, a truly ambitious triple album literally comprised of 69 love songs and clocking in at around 3 hours. 1001 Songs have gone through the entire album and come up with No One Will Ever Love You. 

No One Will Ever Love You was written as a tribute of sorts to Tusk by Fleetwood Mac, a song which previously appeared on our prestigious list. This guitar driven piece seems to be a song of heartbreak but ambiguity can be found throughout its lines. The narrator here seems to have believed in love but something has gone wrong along the way. The song’s conclusion ties in with the title as the narrator insists no one will love this person that has hurt them nor will they condone their lies and deceit. 

I have not come across The Magnetic Fields before but did enjoy No One Will Ever Love You and was especially impressed by the ambition of the group’s 69 Love Songs album. I have yet to listen to it but having enjoyed this track I am intrigued. The album would receive universal acclaim from critics and the band continue to go from strength to strength, releasing their twelfth album in 2020.

 

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)

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (1988)

U2 – One (1991)

Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah (1994)

Radiohead – Paranoid Android (1997)