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I rarely unleash my music anorak side on my Substack ‘newsletters’, but for Melanie I made an exception.

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The Telegraph did a really good obituary of her on Saturday. “What have they done to my song, Ma...one of the songs I remember well, and covered by many ..

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Oh I will have a look. She did so many. A very productive woman!

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I loved Melanie, she was so much more than Brand new key, a great singer and lyricist who didn’t get the credit she was due.

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Exactly. What an poet and philosopher too. The world is less for her loss, certainly.

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Oh my God, this is awful news. I absolutely loved her songs, particularly from the era you mentioned. I was at school during that period and I guess you could say she was my first crush! The albums Candles in the Rain and Leftover Wine were so so good. I could lose myself in them. Thank you for putting your reminiscences down. One of my favourites and one that is so poignant is ‘The Saddest Thing.’ If you’ve not heard it have a listen. Has me in bits.

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Oh Anthony, I know them all. 💔It’s a beautiful song. She did pain and grief so damn well.

Another darker one I love is ‘Summer Weaving’. Now THAT’S one I break my heart to. That first line “And when it comes right down to it, we’re really all alone”, she’s straight in there, no messing about.

https://youtu.be/VtEF7D4afWg?si=6jKpXwTWC8LrTC_f

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Very poignant. I’d not heard that one. Thank you x

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Thanks. I will listen to that later.

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Ah it's so hard when someone who means so much to you passes. Just listening to Baby Day I thought her voice reminded me a little of Joanna Newsome's.

Reading Pete Burns' autobiography a while ago I was surprised to learn that he was a fan of Melanie. May she rest in peace 💛

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Oh I love Joanna Newsome. What a unique talent she truly is. Yes I can hear that a little.

I bet Pete Burn's autobiography was a colourful read, I remember reading Boy George's, he was mentioned quite often!

With 'Baby Day' I adore the sentiment, the idea that we are indeed meant to see the beginning of the day. It's what I was alluding to a few weeks ago when i wrote that poem 'Twice a day' and mentioned the Cheryl Strayed quote. Then the way she plays with the idea of the day as an infant and that we can watch it being born........just gorgeous.

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Yes that kind of theme is often reflected in your own work.

I recommend Pete Burns' book. He had a waspish image but he was a nice guy. It was very revealing.

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Yes I go on about sunrises A LOT, I know😂😂😂

Thanks for the recommendation :)

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I don't think I've ever heard of her but you've piqued my interest so she's now added to my Spotify playlist 👍🏻

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Ha! She’s not for everyone but neither am I, neither are you, hey?😂😂

You MUST know ‘Brand New Key’ as resurrected by The Wurzels in ‘The combine harvester’.

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Lol no we're not 😆 and I love something a bit different and discovering new music!

I've just played that one and yes I do know that song!! So I will give her a proper listen tomorrow. 🎶

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founding

What a fantastic piece, Julie. Like a proper music journo but with none of the requisite cynicism.

This week of the year, I already celebrate the memory of Robert Burns and Warren Zevon, so now I should add Melanie to that list.

For me here, it’s Lay Down. What a performance - the rawness of Cobain doing Lead Belly (but with joy rather than pain) required to distinguish her from the sweet backing harmonies. One of my favourite rewatches is from Netherlands TV from that same era. A Stax-Volt tour show that included Otis Redding, Booker T and the MGs and Sam & Dave. I’m blown away by the sound and picture quality they managed to achieve. The audience were somewhat less stiff at that recording.

Weirdly enough, I watched a TV program last weekend with my daughter that featured Ruby Tuesday (Boy Swallows World) - not Melanie’s version, but I did mean to play it for her on the drive home (though we got distracted by Edison Lighthouse...)

Thank again for taking the time to care about stuff like this, and for having the voice to bring it to life.

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author

Music is something I’m passionate about but have rarely written about so far. I couldn’t let her death pass by unmarked though…..

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Thank you, Julie, for such a selection of her songs. I don’t know her at all but love her classic 70s sound on Baby Day! Gotta come listen to more later.

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I don’t know if they’re necessarily ‘the people’s choice’ - I’d expect her covers of Mr Tambourine Man and Ruby Tuesday to feature there, but they’re just my own personal favourites.

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Jan 26
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author

She was one of my faves. She had a sweet people loving, animal loving vibe. You enjoy your day :)

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Jan 25
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Do you mean starting a stack, what they call a ‘newsletter’? I’ll see what I can see on here.

This maybe

https://open.substack.com/pub/on/p/start-basics?r=1c4b56&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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Jan 25
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Im not the most techie myself, sadly, really would be blind leading blind😂😂The replies show as comments on my posts - if you look on the website or app they should be there under the post.

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Jan 25
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author

I know you appreciate good music, Viv

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Jan 25
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Did you see the link I found? Under the other comment

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