Black And White World - Suicide Machines

Black And White World - Suicide Machines

1:52

Battle Hymns, 1998

Written by the Suicide Machines

Unfortunately, this is not the punk cover of the Elvis Costello song that we all want and need, but an original.  It's more fast-paced hardcore musically and snarling vocally than their typical ska-punk sound, but the new approach fits the theme of this song.  The lyrics are a good-intentioned, if somewhat ham-fisted, declaration against racism.  "Some persecute their brothers because of the color of their skin, oh yeah / Well that's wrong." Seems pretty on the nose, but the people who need to hear it aren't known for subtlety, anyway.

Thank You - Dido

Thank You - Dido

3:37

Sliding Doors soundtrack, 1998

Written by Dido Armstrong and Paul Herman

A soft ballad over a steady percussion, some probably programmed.  In this song, the narrator is depressed over, possibly an absent love, but also just the trails of living ("I drank too much last night, got bills to pay / My head just feels in pain / I missed the bus and there'll be hell today").  But then she sees the picture of her inamorata, or gets a phone call, and "it's not so bad."  It's a tender sentiment, delivered with an etheral voice.