King here. Although, a while back, I was perceived as being a music aficionado, I hardly consider myself one. Heck, I’m not even sure I’m a fanatic of music. It’s a vehicle for inspiration, concentration, and, in some cases, building confidence or adrenaline. And so it fulfills essential goals to having a good well-being.
Or sometimes they’re just catchy tunes you find yourself singing throughout the day occasionally. So, recently, I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 favorite songs of all-time that either cater to nostalgia, genuine quality of the song, great lyrics, and/or any other factors putting the song ahead of all others the pantheon of music tracks. So to start off with…
10. The Three Bells by The Browns
The Three Bells by The Browns, released in 1959, isn’t a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination. It doesn’t have the superb editing that you see from the likes of Bohemian Rhapsody, nor the bubblegum, catchy flavor retained from songs by The Beach Boys. However, like many songs that would follow in its footsteps, and songs before its release, it is an exercise in narratively-formatted music, which plays off to great effect.
The Three Bells essentially has three vignettes, each of which signify the most important stages of life: Birth, Marriage, and Death. Marriage, these days, might be less important, but the union of one person to another is fairly significant in my book. It tells these vignettes through the lens of a man named Jimmy Brown (who woulda thunk?).
SPOILER ALERT AHEAD IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN “THE SOPRANOS”!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvvGu5PRWJ4&frags=pl%2Cwn
What I’m about to use next as justification for this song on my list is its clever use in The Sopranos. Although it’s one of my favorite shows of all-time, and something I was sad about when I finished the final episode, I do not think I’m being blinded by nostalgia in this case. Nonetheless, Tony Soprano basically faces three phases of life within The Sopranos, at least metaphorically, being reborn, adjusting his view of his marriage, and, according to a prominent theory regarding the show’s finale, dying.
“The Three Bells” isn’t a masterpiece of a song by any metric. It’s lyrics aren’t incredibly moving, nor is its beat, tempo, or any specific quality particularly remarkable. However, it adequately uses and reflects on the three primary stages of life with a soft melody that I sincerely believe is worth at least one listen.
Sincerely,
Brandon McIntyre
King & Queen's Beans & Things 