On October 29, 1983, Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side Of The Moon” marked its 491st week on the US Billboard album chart, surpassing the previous record holder, “Johnny’s Greatest Hits” by Johnny Mathis. When it finally dropped off the list in October of 1988, over 14 years later, “Dark Side” had set a record of 741 consecutive weeks on the chart.
In honor of this feat, not to mention the upcoming Halloween holiday, today’s playlist features “Moon” songs, and includes the artist responsible for the accomplishment, as well as the artist dethroned: both Pink Floyd and Johnny Mathis appear on the list, along with the likes of The Police, Van Morrison, Sting, Creedence Clearwater, Ozzy Osbourne, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis Pressley, Billie Holiday, even Benny Goodman!
One of my favorite “moon” songs is “Sister Moon” by Sting. It sounds as though he wrote and recorded it in some old haunted house under the light of a full moon. It contains the line “my mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun,” no less from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130. Sting must have a thing for the moon, with the playlist title song “Walking On The Moon” with The Police, and his solo songs “Sister Moon” and “Moon Over Bourbon Street.”
Van Morrison’s “Moondance” is one of the greatest romantic mood songs ever recorded. CCR’s “Bad Moon Rising” and Genesis’ “Mad Man Moon” are also among my favorites. And who thought of making a brilliant mash-up of Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven” and The Police’s “Walking On The Moon?” If you haven’t seen it, it’s a must watch:
Most songs contain “moon,” in the title, though there are also songs whose titles include “moonlight,” “moondance,” “moonshine,” “moonshadow,” and even “moonage.” And one song instead has moon prominently featured its lyrics, Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage” which includes the lyric “see you on the dark side of the moon,” from which the album gets its title.
I hope you enjoy these moon songs:
Also, in honor of the upcoming holiday, I thought I’d share one of the best Halloween themed videos ever made, “Thriller”:
As well as a “bonus” playlist, “The Season Of The Witch,” with dark, spooky songs, suitable for Halloween Haunting!
I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew. Rediscover the passion of music in your life.
Live in the moment
Enjoy the moment
Love the moment
Listen to the MUSIC!
