Silence is awesome

This is a list which probably doesn’t really need to exist. But if it doesn’t exist in some written form somewhere, it will remain distractingly inside my head, because my brain just can’t let some things go once it’s thought of them. And if it’s going to be written down somewhere, it might as well be here. You’re welcome to suggest other things that should be on it, or point out any broken links.

Music. S’good, innit? But sometimes, it can be good when there’s not music, too. This list is about both of those things. Specifically, it’s a collection of songs that strategically place a big thick block of silence right in the middle, and use this to build up a reservoir of explosive awesome which hits you all at once when the music kicks back in.

Links are either to Last.fm or Spotify.

1. Apocalypse Hoboken – Sweet Transvestite

I see you shiver with antici…

Works best in the cover I’ve linked to above, I find. There’s much more of a pause than in the original Rocky Horror Picture Show version, and every time it lasts longer than I think it’s going to. Silence is 2:50 – 2:58.

…pation

2. Eels – That’s Not Really Funny

Also known as the theme tune to the criminally underrated animated sketch show Monkey Dust. I love ths song anyway, but right at the end it winds up, sounds like it’s done, then crashes back in before fading. Silence is 3:02 – 3:05.

3. Electric Six – Improper Dancing

STOP!…

Rock. Silence is 2:50 – 2:51.

…CONTINUE!

4. Roxette – The Look

And I go, la la-la la la…

I love a bit of whatever naff camp rock pop sort of genre type Roxette qualify as. Such inspiring lyrics, too. Silence is 3:10 – 3:12.

…Na-na-na-na-na…

5. The Ting Tings – Fruit Machine

Is my taste in music contemptible yet? I love this song, but the link above doesn’t actually have any awesome silence. It ought to, from 2:05 – 2:06, but every linkable version of the song I can track down is a slightly different edit from the one I’m thinking of. So, just pretend that those annoying “ka-cha-ka-ching, boy”s aren’t there, and take my word for it that it works much better without them.