#OneSongOnePlaylist: The Beat Goes On... And On... And On...
Here we are again, gathered for another entry in the sporadic series I like to call #OneSongOnePlaylist. For those who've somehow managed to avoid my banging on about it, this is where I indulge in a form of musical self-harm I prefer to call "deep diving into creative interpretations". Some might suggest this is a monumental waste of time, a bizarre hobby for someone with far too much of it. To them I say: you're absolutely right.
Today's obsession? "The Beat Goes On." Yes, that deceptively simple, endlessly looping bassline originally from Sonny & Cher. This particular rabbit hole was inspired by a fruitless search for the Mike Skinner version from the John Lewis advert, a quest which, like many of my grand ideas, spiralled magnificently out of control. An inevitable outcome of ADHD + internet access.
The result is a playlist of 34 versions, clocking in at a frankly unnecessary 2 hours and 24 minutes. It's an odyssey of repetition that will make you question your life choices by the halfway mark.
The Playlist(s)
As I’m a member of the Wokerati (and because I prefer it), the primary list was lovingly curated on Qobuz. I've also ported it over to Spotify for those of you still slumming it over there, though I can't vouch for its integrity as I haven't subjected myself to listening through it twice.
- Qobuz Playlist (The "Good" One): https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/37990454
- Spotify Playlist (The "Other" One): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4UJanRgg0ay3S18zeHEZT2?si=CNR5tBhIRces17pUSMW5xw
A Few Standouts in the Monotony
Venturing into this playlist is like attending a family reunion where everyone is wearing the same outfit but in slightly different fabrics.
I have a real soft spot for The All Seeing I version, which for many of us in the UK was the definitive take for a long time. It’s a classic for a reason.
At the other end of the spectrum is the "DnB Flip" by Spencer Ramsay. By all rights, this Drum & Bass flip should be an abomination - and it is. Still, it's the kind of abomination that makes you hate yourself for actually enjoying it.
But if I'm forced to pick a favourite from this mountain of questionable decisions, it has to be the electro-swing version by Le Cercle. It's jaunty, it's fun, and it perfectly captures the spirit of taking something old and making it just weird enough to be brilliant.
Why Do This?
Honestly, I don't have a good answer. It's a compulsion. It's the ADHD. It's the grim satisfaction of knowing I've created something so utterly pointless yet so meticulously complete. It's the digital equivalent of arranging your vinyl collection by the colour of the record label.
So, if you have two and a half hours to spare and a burning desire to hear the same four chords repeated into infinity, dive in. Feel free to judge me accordingly in the comments. You won't be the first.