Music That Saved Me--Letter T, Part 1

The letter T is an interesting mix of alternative 80's, Gothic dream pop,  heavy metal and a bit of rap thrown in. I do have rather eclectic tastes. So off we go!

This Mortal Coil

OK, technically, This Mortal Coil was a "superband" made up of the best and brightest from the alternative scene, but when I think of This Mortal Coil I immediately think of Elizabeth Fraser from The Cocteau Twins singing Song to the Siren.  This was their biggest hit and it is lush. It is mostly acapella with the occasionally swipe of reverberating guitar music by Robin Guthrie. The star of this song is Elizabeth Fraser's voice--once dubbed "the voice of God." Her deeply emotional singing with that waiting to ho (ol,ol,ol,),old you where she pulls the music back into her golden throat is so beautiful. Those slow motion falling autumn leaves that lighting make this a beautiful video to watch as well as listen to.
Watch it here:

Tim Buckley

Tim Buckley actually wrote Song to the Siren. His version is very different, but just as mesmerising and beautiful. Sadly, Buckley died young of a heroin overdose leaving behind a wife and two sons. His son Jeff Buckley became a singer and sadly died from accidentally drowning. He once dated Elizabeth Fraser making this all the more poignant. This song about a man who has been lured by a Siren and now is being shipwrecked and is drowning has been covered by many people.  Buckley has a way of pausing in strange places in the song and in This Mortal Coil she does that back of her throat singing so you can tell whose version they are copying by the way they sing it. This was recorded live at the end of an episode of The Monkees and I remember seeing it on telly.
Watch it here:

Tears for Fears

Most people know them from their song Shout (and others) from the 1984 album Songs From the Big Chair. My favourite song by this band is Mad World from their 1982 album The Hurting which featured on my beloved Greenpeace cassette. It is their only song (I believe) sung by bassist Curt Smith rather than lead singer Roland Orzabal. Roland is the crazy man dancing strangely out the window in the video. I like this more upbeat version, but Gary Jules did a slower, more introspective cover version used in the film Donnie Darko. It had a cool video too, but i really like Curt singing and Roland dancing like a lunatic for its low key charm.
Watch it here:

My favourite lyrics are the second verse:
Children waiting for the day they feel good
happy birthday, happy birthday.
Made to feel the way that every child should,
sit and listen, sit and listen.
Went to school and I was very nervous,
no one knew me, no one knew me,
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson?
Look right through me, look right through me.

I can play this on the ukulele.

Tom and Olly

These two are a Christian duo from East Sussex in England. Their song Love at the Disco is a great song about going out and getting pissed (wasted) every Friday night and getting off with someone you don't even like and how maybe there is something better out there.
It doesn't have to be like this every Friday night,
you can change the outcome can't you see? 
Are you having fun now or do want more? 

Olly sings and Tom raps. I like them because when you read their interviews they aren't saying don't drink or don't have fun--but do you want to grow as a person. I *really* love the CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP bit. You'll know it when you hear it.
Listen to it here:

Transvision Vamp


Singer Wendy James wearing an outfit I would have though great at the age of 15 and would have undoubtedly tried to copy.

This song is the ultimate Mean Girl song. I just love the no holds barred bitchiness of it. It's called Tell That Girl to Shut Up. It was originally performed by Holly and the Italians, but i love TV's version best of all.
Watch it here:

So that's a varied selection of T bands. Fancy some more? You'll have to wait til Friday.