Variations On A Theme

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

One of the reasons I found doing the Morrissey review I did this week quite easy - aside from the fact that I've been listening to the old goat for 20 years and he barely changes - is that he's a pop star whose songs keep on returning to certain favourite themes. (This is one way in which "barely changes" isn't necessarily bad).

Who else does this? What are some of the ideas and themes your long-term favourite stars and songwriters keep coming back to? Do you think it's a good thing?

Comments

this is easy ;)

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

Tom Waits - bourbon, also death
Nick Cave - god, also death
Serge Gainsborg - sex, also death
Burt from Suede - nuclear skylines, also death

etcetcetc

Re: this is easy ;)

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

In Brett's case I don't think we should confuse "tiny songwriting vocabulary" with "themes"! Or maybe we should. See also the Brothers Reid.

Re: this is easy ;)

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

and also their former drummer...

but yes, i just like writing "nuclear skylines" rather than particularly thinking that burt belongs in the same category as the other three...

Re: this is easy ;)

[anatol-merklich.livejournal.com]

See also the Brothers Reid.

Let's keep The Proclaimers out of this. :p