A Centenary, a Controversy, a Blast of Rockabilly, and (yes) a Joke)
Welcome to the first Midweek Song List of April — a month that always feels like a hinge between seasons, a moment where the light changes and the world seems to breathe differently. This week’s selection is eclectic even by our standards: a trade‑union anthem, a historically tangled tune, a slice of rockabilly, some modern reinterpretations, and a question for our readers. And, for the first time in the history of this feature (as far as we can recall), we end with a joke. A proper groaner. You have been warned.
We also mark the 100th anniversary of the 1926 UK General Strike, a moment when the country’s industrial heart paused in collective defiance. It feels right to honour that history through song.
THE SONGS
The Cleverlys – Creep
A bluegrass‑comedy collective from Arkansas, The Cleverlys specialise in reimagining modern songs through a country‑fried, tongue‑in‑cheek lens. Their version of Radiohead’s Creep is both musically tight and knowingly absurd — a reminder that reinterpretation can reveal new emotional textures, even in songs we think we know inside out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvvN0XnR_6s
Miley Cyrus – Heart Of Glass (Live)
Cyrus’ live cover of Blondie’s 1979 classic became a viral moment for good reason. Stripped of studio polish, her voice leans into a raw, rock‑inflected power that surprised many listeners. It’s a reminder that pop stars often contain multitudes — and that a great song can survive, even thrive, in unexpected hands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbdRLyixJpc
Deacon Blue – Dignity (Live Acoustic)
A genuine highlight of this week’s list. Dignity has long been one of Deacon Blue’s most beloved songs — a working‑class portrait wrapped in melody. Hearing it performed acoustically gives it a new intimacy, a sense of quiet reflection. And yes, they look impossibly young. Time is a trickster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGh_wGTc_Is
Dropkick Murphys – A Hero Among Many
Boston’s Celtic‑punk stalwarts rarely do subtlety, and this track is no exception. A Hero Among Many blends their trademark pipes‑and‑punk energy with a narrative of sacrifice and solidarity. The band’s long‑standing connection to labour history makes this a fitting inclusion in a week marking the General Strike centenary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTnTM8o1__0...
Erasure – A Little Respect (Live)
One of the great synth‑pop anthems of the late 1980s, A Little Respect remains a masterclass in emotional clarity. This live version showcases Andy Bell’s voice — still luminous, still urgent — and reminds us why Erasure’s catalogue continues to resonate across generations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGI_Wk3ly8s
Larkin Poe – Black Betty
Larkin Poe, the Nashville‑based sister duo, have carved out a distinctive niche with their blues‑rock reinterpretations. Their take on Black Betty is gritty, muscular, and steeped in slide‑guitar swagger. The song itself has a long and complicated lineage, stretching back to African‑American work songs — a reminder of how music carries history within it.
https://youtu.be/NOx0wyEG0bE?si=sRdfkjYSjjGmCGY
Natalie Merchant – Motherland
Merchant’s voice has always carried a kind of weathered wisdom, and Motherland is one of her most haunting compositions. Released in 2001, the song blends folk, Americana, and quiet lamentation — a meditation on belonging, loss, and the idea of home in a world that shifts beneath our feet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2JbLUVt0Z0...
Placid Cactus – Circus
A more contemporary, lesser‑known entry, Circus by Placid Cactus offers a blend of indie textures and atmospheric production. There’s a dreamlike quality to the track — a sense of drifting through a carnival of half‑remembered images. A welcome curveball in this week’s list.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6v03ycu2Qg...
Pete Seeger – Solidarity Forever
Recorded in the early 1960s, Seeger’s version of Ralph Chaplin’s 1915 union anthem remains one of the most stirring. Seeger himself was a towering figure in American folk music — a bridge between early labour radicalism and the protest movements of the 1960s. Including this song is our way of honouring the 1926 General Strike’s centenary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8eK9ZXf-Ow
Tom Stormy Trio (featuring Rhythm Sophie) – Rockabilly Rhythm
A joyous burst of retro energy. The Tom Stormy Trio specialise in authentic rockabilly revivalism, and Rhythm Sophie’s vocals add a charismatic spark. This is pure dance‑floor fun — upright bass, twangy guitar, and a wink to the 1950s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCLGqTCm1EE
Tailgunner – Midnight Blitz
A British heavy/power metal band with a sound that unmistakably nods to Iron Maiden’s galloping rhythms and melodic twin‑guitar lines. Midnight Blitz is fast, fierce, and unapologetically old‑school. We know very little about Tailgunner — so if anyone has seen them live, do get in touch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnsTQq_8mR8...
Traditional – Dixie Land
A song with a complicated and often misunderstood history. Though later adopted by the Confederacy, evidence suggests it began as a satirical critique of slavery rather than an endorsement. Its journey through American cultural memory is tangled, contested, and revealing — which is why our Arts, Culture, History & Sport strand will be exploring it in a future issue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZI0IHCtV1Y...
AND FINALLY… THE JOKE
Did you hear about the man who was asked to lay new turf on a field for a civil war re‑enactment battle?
He thought sod that for a game of soldiers!
We laughed. We accept full responsibility.
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