Yesterday was one of the big TV events of the year, the traitors final! Back in 2015, I wrote a song all about traitors called "To the tower". It is based on a poem called "The Tichborne Elegy" that was written by Chidiok Tichborne, an ancient relative of mine who was put to death in the Tower of London. He was hung drawn and quartered. Such was the outrage that this was banned as a punishment. It fascinates me. I wrote the song to perform with The False Dots, but our then singer Allen Ashley didn't like it. As we used to do, we recorded the song at the time in a song writing session. What do you think? Should the Dots revive it and do a special Traitors theme? I actually think it sounds rather good, not quite what we are doing at the mo but...
It got me thinking of other songs of betrayal. I though I'd revisit my songs of Betrayal Spotify Playlist
Here is a little potted description of the songs and why I picked them.
1, Richard Hell and The Voidoids - Betrayal Takes Two. The greatest ever song of betrayal. Unlike most songs on the subject it is a celebration of the joys of betrayal and illicit love. The song is lyrically brilliant.
2. Marvin Gaye - I heard it through the grapevine. Everything about this song is brilliant. Marvin at his very best. A song that absolutely sums up the pain of betrayal.
3. Rod Stewart - The first cut is the deepest. Rod at his finest, before he went all bombastic. If Rod had carried on like this, he'd be one of my all time faves. A great song about being with someone who doesn't care about you at all.
4. The Sex Pistols - Liar. A song about the duplicity of Malcolm McClaren, their manager. Sadly Talcy Malcy isn't the only dodgy music industry manager.
5. Moby Grape - I am not willing. A splendid piece of 60's psychedelic rock, charting the realisation of the fact that you are being cheated on and coming to terms with not being in love anymore.
6. Gladys Knight and The Pips - Who is she and what is she to you. Gladys Knight made a bit of a niche for herself with soulful numbers about betrayal and the rotten way men treat women. This is one of her finest moments.
7. Toots and The Maytells - Monkey Man. A song where Toots lets his feeling be known about his ex'girlfriends new partner. It is a very up beat song about a very bitter feeling.
8. Ace - How Long. This is a song of betrayal by a band mate. Most people think it is about a lover, but it's about a band finding out that one of their members is off to join a more successful outfit. It always amuses me how many people have taken solace after a relationship ends with this song.
9. The O'Jays - The Back Stabbers. I always rather liked this song. It reminds me of a mate of mine, who's modus operandi for getting girlfriends was to nick his best mates girl. He ended up moving abroad as everyone wanted to murder him!
10. The Clash - Deny. A song about KeitH Levine, former guitarist with the band, who allegedly was not entirely honest with other members of the band about his activities. A great song.
Betrayal and cheating is terrible but just think how dull life would be and how many great songs would not exist if people were nice.
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