I consider these songs as the three best examples of saxophone use in modern-day pop music. When listening to them today, they sure do bring back a lot of pleasant memories.
The first is from 1975. Al Stewart named his song as "Year Of The Cat" after the Vietnamese animal zodiac sign but we Chinese would recognise it as the Year Of The Rabbit instead. Every time I hear the saxophone played in this song, it sends shivers down my spine. Of course, the piano intro is equally superb. Actually, everything is perfect with this song.
The second video is from 1978. Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" has an incredible saxophone riff throughout the song. The song just makes me feel so lazy. Warm and lazy memories, a complete contrast to the gloomy atmosphere in Rafferty's music video. By the way, he passed away on 4 Jan 2011.
And the last example of great sax play comes from 1984 and it is none other than George Michael's "Careless Whisper". The bloke comes across as totally heterosexual but who would have thought then that he would end up different? Nonetheless, the song simply oozes with great sax (pardon the pun)!
So would you agree with me that these three songs are simply the best examples of sax play in pop music?
I agree with videos 2 and 3. Quintessential saxophone examples. Although Year of the Cat is good song, and great sax solo, I'd probably put the following ahead of it:
ReplyDeleteDire Straits - Your Latest Trick
Billy Joel - Just The Way You Are
Sade - Smooth Operator
Men at Work - Who Can it Be Now
Hall & Oates - Maneater
Billy Joel - It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me
All good solos. my choice though would be a toss up between Us and them (Pink Floyd) and Lily Was Here ( Dave Stewart and Candy Dulfer).
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