They say one is the loneliest number, but they sure have written a ton of songs about it (including that classic tune of the same name, that you won’t find here, because I don’t like it). The best one has to be Okkervil River’s ‘Plus Ones’, in which Will Sheff cleverly references a bunch of well known songs, adding ‘one’ each time to create his own version.
No one wants to hear about your 97th tear…
And no one wants a tune about the 100th luftballoon…
Eight Chinese brothers…
51st way to leave your lover…
I told you I can’t listen, baby, ’bout the 4th time you were a lady…
Kitten, not everyone’s keen on lighting candle 17…
Some more tunes that reference numero uno can be found below.
One Dove – Antony & The Johnsons
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September 24, 2009 at 1:52 pm
A Free Man
With ‘Plus Ones’, Okkervil River became one of my favorite bands. It’s like music geek porn, that song.
September 24, 2009 at 3:27 pm
itallstarted
Laughed out loud at that description Chris! You’re so right.
September 25, 2009 at 4:12 am
Tricia
Fantastic set of ones. Love the Old 97s and One Horse Town is a total favorite of mine. Okkervil River…I can go on about them all day. My son is going to be one of the band members in their “Lost Coastlines” video TV cardboard head thingies for Halloween. I can’t wait!!
September 26, 2009 at 1:23 pm
claire amp
i love your… blog i guess, you have great taste in music, some i know some i dont know, however okkervil river is amazing, and they fall in the ones i do know.