A Musical A-Z: U

~ beetleypete

Not as bad as some, but a little tricky, U sets a challenge. This is the second post in this series for today, as I am coming close to the end now. At least I had a top pick in mind from the start. Please play along; any group, song, album, or singer, as long as the name begins with ‘U’.

Big ballad, powerful voice, and a song about lost love, from a strong female vocalist. That ticks all my boxes, and this song from Toni Braxton is just great too.
Un-Break My Heart

Released in the UK in 1952, the same year I was born, this song has endured throughout my whole life, with many versions and covers of the original bringing new audiences at least once a decade. This is the original though, with the incomparable tones of Nat King Cole.
Unforgettable

Aretha Franklin is one of the great soul singers of all time. Her back catalogue of songs is huge, and she has been popular for more than fifty years, since signing her first recording contract in 1967. Rightly known as The Queen of Soul, she is famous for both ballads, and more up-tempo songs. Over the years, she has collaborated with many other famous singers, and also appeared in two feature films. This quiet love song has always been my favourite though, and I waited for ‘U’ to use it.
Until You Come Back To Me

British band Squeeze have a distinctive London sound. They were hugely popular here, with their songs about everyday life, great guitar work, and the distinctive vocals of Glenn Tillbrook. Over the years, they have split, then reformed, and changed some of the line-up too. They still continue to tour, with the original singers and guitarists, Difford and Tillbrook. Their big hits showed a talent for musical construction, interesting and often meaningful lyrics, and a sense of time and place too. Here’s a good one from 1979, when Jools Holland still played keyboards.
Up The Junction

An up to date entry for a change. From the talented arranger and producer Mark Ronson, and the vocal talents of the likeable Bruno Mars. A huge hit from 2014, and a real toe-tapper. Sassy video too.
Uptown Funk

Utah Saints are a British electro-pop band. They specialise in sampling, mixing, and DJ work, delivering driving beats well-suited to the Dance and Rave scene. Not really the sort of thing you might expect to find here, I agree. However, this video is great fun, and I always enjoy seeing it.
Something Good.

Always going to be my top pick, and featured many times on this blog. And why not? Massive Attack are a powerhouse of overwhelming songs and music, and they have sold millions of records. In 1991, they released the album ‘Blue Lines’, hailed as one of the best albums of all time. And it featured this orchestral wonder, a wall of sound, behind the flawless vocals of Shara Nelson. Drift away, on this modern masterpiece.
Unfinished Sympathy

44 thoughts on “A Musical A-Z: U”

  1. “Ugly Man” by Rickie Lee Jones, “”umbrella” by Rihanna, “until It Sleeps” by Metallica “Use to Love Her” by Guns N Roses and “Up The Pool” by Jethro Tull….okay next…chuq

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    1. Thanks, Robert. One of my favourite letters! Glad you liked the Utah Saints video. I love it. Like a short comedy film. The music is pretty much irrelevant, and I only included this for the clip.
      Best wishes, pete.

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    1. Born Slippy is a great choice, Ian. That worked so well in Trainspotting, but it is easy to forget the song was more than just a film soundtrack.
      Cheers mate, Pete.

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  11. U2, U2, U2
    “Under Pressure” Queen/Bowie
    “Undercover of the Night” Stones
    “Underneath it All” No Doubt
    “Universally Speaking” Red Hot Chili Peppers
    “Unwell” Matchbox 20
    and “Us and Them” by Pink Floyd.

    What are you gonna do when you run out of the musical alphabet? What will I do? 😉

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    1. OK, I know people like U2, even if I cannot understand why…
      Thanks for your other picks too, Cindy.
      I might just go back to ‘normal’ blogging for a while, but I do have an idea for a ‘Film-makers’ theme in draft… 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  12. Argh you beat me to Uptown Funk, I love that song. Phil really likes the Toni Braxton woman but I cannot stand her or that song lol.
    U2 (who are not my thing normally) duetted one of their songs called “One Love” with Mary J Blige doing a phenomenal vocal, so I’m just going to leave it here, well worth a listen.

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    1. Aargh! Now I have a photo of Bono on my blog! 🙂
      I have heard that song, but would have preferred an MJB solo myself.
      Sorry to pinch Mark Ronson, but that’s funky stuff!
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  13. Great choices once again Pete. I’ll add “Up On The Roof” by The Drifters in 1962, and The Rolling Stones with “Under My Thumb” – and if you want an obscure album track for your list, I offer up, from the “Private Eyes” album by Daryl Hall & John Oates, the catchy “Unguarded Minute” – you know why? Because the lyrics are: “An unguarded minute, has an accident in it” and how can you argue with that?

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    1. Good call with your extras as always, John. I left off the Drifters, sure that a few people would go for one version or another of that song. I saw Carole King sing it once, and she was great. But after all, she wrote it! (With Goffin)
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  15. In the shower(where my mind is the sharpest, must be the ozone) I remembered the theme song from “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.” Unfortunately it appears the song had a different title. I’ll keep pondering.

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  16. I saw that you were doing ‘U’ and my first thought was Toni Braxton Unbreak My Heart and my second Unforgettable by the wonderful Nat King Cole and lo and behold they were your first two choices too.
    I’ll add Under the Moon of Love by Showaddywaddy, I loved it as a child! Also Bette Midler’s version of Under the Boardwalk.

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