Inspired by Louis Prima’s ‘The Bigger the Figure’, I would like to present the Playlist of Positivity: too many songs are about being hot and sexy, being madly in love and having sex, and I suspect that (along with their music videos) many of these songs make us feel just a teeny bit inadequate.

(www.campusclipper.com)

So I have put together a playlist of songs that make you feel great about whoever you happen to be – as comedian and writer Amy Lamé says (I paraphrase), she loved the Smiths because their music was about being a loser, and made her feel that being a loser was OK. I’ve just realised that Lamé without the accent is of course Lame, so she obviously is OK with that!

Naturally I had to include the Smiths in the Playlist of Positivity. Here it is: enjoy!

Standing in the Way of Control – Gossip

I Like Big Butts – Sir Mix-a-Lot (the video is a bit questionable but played for laughs)

Ask – The Smiths

Born This Way – Lady Gaga (with long crazy intro)

Whole Lotta Rosie – AC/DC (gone for a live version complete with inflatable Rosie. This might be questionable too…)

Imperfection – The Tears

The Bigger the Figure – Louis Prima & his Orchestra with Keeley Smith

Beautiful – Christina Aguilera

Sweet Transvestite – Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (BEST THING EVER)

Once and Never Again – The Long Blondes

Kiss – Prince

Beauty – Tim Minchin

Independent Women – Destiny’s Child

Heroes – David Bowie

I’d love your help in expanding the list: which song would you add?

Today’s post was supposed to be about Stephen Gundle’s book Glamour: A History, but I managed to leave the book in a different location to myself. So that should appear on Friday.

In the meantime, you should hear this song by Louis Prima and his Orchestra with Keely Smith, called ‘The Bigger the Figure’. Credit to Elli again for bringing it to my attention!

(www.metrolyrics.com)

You’ll be singing it all day. Guaranteed 🙂