Love, Poetry and Revolution - Sunday 7th December 2025

As I begin this post, my expectation is that it will be about my TIDAL music listening stats for 2025.

Let's start with a link to those stats:


Just in case TIDAL take down these numbers, I've taken some screenshots which I'd like to write about.

First up is top artist, which reads as follows:



Toddly, Odd Rundgren held the top spot, probably because Q and I went to see him live in Birmingham. As Q is not familiar with the great man's oeuvre, I created a playlist which included the songs likely to be in his setlist.  I tried to bias this towards the songs I felt she'd find most palatable. In the event, the gig was so loud that the palatability of songs was a moot point. It was very much a gig for fans as well as being ruddy loud. Pardon?

The gig opened with 'How About A Little Fanfare?' which segued into one of my favourite Todd songs, namely 'I Think You Know':


Perhaps prophetically, it includes the line, "I can't explain what's in my brain". Indeed.

Camel took the second artist spot as well as grabbing Top Album with 'Rain Dances'.  This was the biggest surprise, but it was there because I became a bit obsessed with the song 'Unevensong', for two reasons - it's sung by Richard Sinclair whose voice I love and because of the lyrics, especially these two verses:

Sleepless nights, restless days
Memories of the gentle ways
Love locked out looks for a home
A place to find a shelter from the storm

She said you are the air I breathe
The life I love, the dream I weave
Without a word, with just a touch
Now I realize you meant so much

Tense aside, it means a lot more to me now than when I first heard it.



Other top albums are as follows:



Unusually for me only POPtical Illusion was an album from the past 12 months, though of course John Cale is hardly a spring chicken. (Mind you, he has just been recording with Charli XcX)

There's so much old stuff in there, anyone would think I was getting old!!

Top song was a bit better, with the top spot going to 'Rain' by Fana Hues followed hottish on her heels by 'Bad Feeling' from Becca Mancari.  Both songs being 'go to' favourites in times of trouble.

Fana

Becca



Even though it's an oldie, special mention must go to Caravan's 'L'Auberge Du Sanglier'.  I love the entire tune, but the section from about 4 minutes 22 seconds in, is sublime. It's like bathing in moonlight (on Vermont). 



Overall, I listened to a lot of different artists - 463 - according to TIDAL, and here's their summary


If you'd like to join Brian in the mind of a lover of music, here's a link to the 2025 rewind Playlist:

2025 unwound - le fin!

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