I'll Always Love the Way You Say Glasgow
So we've done London, Liverpool, Manchester and Ireland. Let's head North of the border. Here's some of my favourite songs from Scotland.
In no particular order.
1. The Snuts- Glasgow
Originally released in 2016 and re-recorded in 2021 for the bands debut album 'W.L'. 'Glasgow' is a brilliant slice of indie pop. An anthem about love, and national pride. It builds into something quite spectacular, starting as almost like a ballad before descending into a fully fledged indie disco banger. With a riff that is reminiscent of Oasis in their prime and one of the best choruses in recent memory. One of the best songs to come from Scotland in recent memory.
2. Gerry Cinnamon- Fortune Favours the Bold
Gerry Cinnamon is the symbolization of a working class hero, writing anthems for the every man. With no major label backing, very limited radio play but a whole lot of self belief, an army of devout fans and some brilliant songs. Including this one.
'Fortune Favours the Bold' showcases Gerry's brilliant lyrics, his guitar playing and his unique voice for the first two minutes before turning into a live favourite, that has made hundreds of thousands bounce. At venues all over the world.
It's one of his songs that I don't see getting enough credit, but it has been a main stay on the setlist now for a number of years and having seen him a few times. I can promise it is one of the shows high points. There's a few of Gerry's songs that could make this list, and maybe another one does, but this one had to.
3. Biffy Clyro- Bubbles
This song is one that I don't listen to as often as some of the others on this list, but when it comes on. Whether that be on my playlist or on the radio at work, I am reminded on just how good it is.
Backed up by Josh Homme, the band create one of their boldest, bravest and most brash songs. With a wall of noise providing the perfect accompaniment for one of their best choruses.
Biffy certainly changed with this record, and it's parent album 'Only Revolutions' however, I think they changed for the better, finding their pop sensibilities a little, but firmly keeping the Biffy Clyro DNA. To create a universal rock anthem.
4. Franz Ferdinand- Darts of Pleasure
This was a hard pick, any of the songs from Franz Ferdinand' self titled debut album could have made this list. The indie disco classic 'Take Me Out' or the jangly 'Tell Her Tonight'. It's an album that is full of brilliant unique songs, that stand up over twenty years later. Ask me tomorrow a different song makes this list. Today it's the albums first single.
'Darts of Pleasure' was released in 2003 as the first single from the bands self titled debut album. This was the song that introduced the world to Franz Ferdinand. NME editor Connor McNicholas said, "My first contact with Franz Ferdinand was when someone was playing the Darts of Pleasure demos, in the NME office, and it was genuinely one of those moments when a track goes on and I come bundling out of my office saying 'what the hell is this because this is amazing"
It's quick witted, funny and very unique, with post punk guitars, Kaparanos' brilliant lyrics that tackle seducing the opposite sex. The song also includes a rather weird ending, with several lyrics in German most famously the line "Ich heiße Super Fantastisch! In terms of an introduction, this is a very very bold but brilliant one.
5. Young Fathers- Sink or Swim
Similar to the previous track I could have chosen a number of Young Fathers songs. Their 2023 album 'Heavy Heavy' is nothing short of mesmerising. An album that combines soul, pop, rock, hip-hop, noise to create one of he best listens in years.
'Sink or Swim' is one of the standout moments on the record. . It’s a bombastic affair soundtracked by pulsating drums, and a chorus that was made for festival fields around the world.
The song doesn't hang around but it fully encompasses the listener with a wall of noise and chant like vocals, that doesn't sound like anything I have heard before or since for that matter. It's a brilliant song.
6. Travis- Flowers in the Windows
This song has been a favourite of mine since I was a child. It's not particularly complex, or avant garde. Nor is it that big or anthemic. However, it's the songs simplicity that I love. According to Fran Healy, he wrote "Flowers in the Window" during June 1998 in France, at Mike Hedges' recording studio while Travis were recording their previous album, The Man Who. When Hedges told Healy that every artist who had recorded at his studio wrote a song there, Healy refused to do so because he "didn't feel like it". Healy had previous written songs alone in his room, but one day, he sat at Hedges' piano and composed the opening riff. He then transferred this riff to his guitar and came up with most of the song's melody and its hook, which he wanted to be six syllables. Upon looking outside at Hedges' garden, he came up with the hook and title: "Flowers in the Window"
It's a simple love song that uses the flowers as a metaphor for a relationship. Travis made their name for writing songs like this, most famously on their 1999 album 'The Man Who'. This song from two years later makes my list though.
A song that reminds me of my childhood. Where I remember this song being played a lot.
7. Deacon Blue- Fergus Sings the Blues
A song and I band that I found later in life, after being played them by my dad. This song is always the one that stuck with me though. There is so much going on, in the best possible way.
The third single from the bands 1989 album 'When the World Knows Your Name' it has gone on to become one of the bands most famous songs alongside 'Wages Day' and 'Real Gone Kid'. That album would knock Madonna's Like a Prayer off top spot.
'Fergus Sings the Blues' showcases the band at their pop best, whilst also reflecting a a wistful, introspective tone, blending personal longing with a celebration of artistic influences. The lyrics evoke a sense of cultural and emotional exploration, with references to jazz and blues icons who have shaped the musical landscape. The name "Fergus" is thought to symbolize an everyman figure, a character grappling with life's struggles and seeking solace in music and artistry.
It's a song that reminds me of my dad, and for that reason alone it makes this list. A brilliant slice of 80s British pop.
8. Primal Scream- Loaded
"Loaded" by Primal Scream is a landmark track in the evolution of British music, embodying the seismic shift that occurred during the early 1990s. Released as a single in 1990 and later included on the seminal album Screamadelica (1991), the song seamlessly merges rock and electronic music, serving as a cornerstone of the burgeoning acid house and indie dance movement.
The essence of "Loaded" lies in its hypnotic groove and hedonistic spirit rather than traditional lyrics. The track opens with a memorable sampled line from Peter Fonda in the 1966 film The Wild Angels: "We wanna be free... to do what we wanna do!" This declaration of freedom sets the tone for a song that celebrates escapism, individuality, and the euphoric culture of the time. Rather than adhering to a narrative structure, "Loaded" uses its sparse vocal elements and repetitive chants to create an atmosphere of liberation and rebellion.
"Loaded" is as much a production masterpiece as it is a song. Produced by DJ and musician Andrew Weatherall, the track is a reworking of Primal Scream's earlier rock song "I'm Losing More Than I'll Ever Have." Weatherall stripped down the original, looping the rhythm, adding layers of funk-infused beats, psychedelic guitar riffs, brass samples, and an infectious bassline. The result is something quite extraordinary, it completely changed music in the UK. Along with bands like The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, Primal Scream bridged the gap between indie music and acid house.
Even in 2025 this song still sounds modern and fresh. It's still brilliant. One of those timeless pieces of music that still resonates today.
9. Franz Ferdinand- Jacqueline
I had to include another track from Franz Ferdinand on this list. "Jacqueline" by Franz Ferdinand is the opening track on the band’s self-titled debut album, released in 2004. The song exemplifies the group’s knack for merging angular post-punk riffs with infectious pop melodies.
As well as showing the bands brilliant instrumentation, it also reinforces just how good of a songwriter Alex Kapranos is. Writing lyrics that are universal yet interesting. Contrasting the monotony of working life with the liberation of carefree indulgence. Creating an interesting juxtaposition for the listener mirroring the the tension between the constraints of daily life and the freedom of escape. Jacqueline becomes a figure of longing and release, embodying the universal desire to break free from societal expectations and experience life on one’s own terms.
Musically, "Jacqueline" is a masterclass in dynamics. The soft, almost introspective opening gives way to a driving rhythm, spiky guitar riffs, and an infectious bassline as the tempo accelerates. Franz Ferdinand’s ability to shift gears mid-song is a hallmark of their sound, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and exhilaration.
The tight interplay between the band members, particularly the rhythmic foundation laid by bassist Bob Hardy and drummer Paul Thomson, ensures that the song retains its propulsive energy. Kapranos’s distinctive vocals and sharp delivery amplify the song’s wit and emotional resonance, making "Jacqueline" both relatable and irresistible.
It's one of the very best songs of the 2000s.
10. Gerry Cinnamon- Where We're Going
‘Where Were Going’ is from Gerrys second album ‘The Bonny’ and was made for the festival fields, with a big chorus and a perfect bounce along beat. Festival fields, arenas and soon football stadiums will lap this tune up. The song was written during a dark time within Gerry's life, where he was in a bad way.
However he still had something to hold onto. It reminds us no matter how things get to never stop chasing our dreams. He said it best himself “doesn’t matter where you’re at, it’s where you’re going that matters. Put the graft in and better times are inevitable.”I admire how Gerry writes songs because they work on all levels and his lyrics are often a lot more complex than people give him credit for. He poured his heart and soul into this song, and we see a more vulnerable side to the songwriter and the human being, yet he managed to create one of his biggest live moments to date.
A brilliant song by a brilliant musician.
11. Texas- Summer Son
Anoter relatively recent addition to my playlist. Nevertheless that doesn't make it any less deserving of a place on this list. Released on the bands fifth studio album 'The Hush' in 1999. Summer Son combines elements of pop, rock and even dance, to create a groove based atmospheric hit.
At its core, "Summer Son" explores themes of passion, longing, and vulnerability. The lyrics convey the bittersweet intensity of a romantic relationship, with lead singer Sharleen Spiteri delivering lines like “I need to know where I belong / A heart to hold on to.”
The song’s lyrical ambiguity allows listeners to project their own experiences of love and yearning onto it, making it universally relatable. It captures the complexities of relationships at once exhilarating and uncertain.
It's a song that is rather unique to Texas, Sharleen Spiteri’s vocals are both powerful and emotive and the songs prodcution, and driving rhythm backed up by electronic flourishes create a sound that is both intimate and expansive..
At the back end of last year (2024) this song became one I was playing a hell of a lot. There was something that made me keep coming back. It's one of the most underrated songs of the 1990s.
12. Calvin Harris, Florence Welch- Sweet Nothing
This song is a definitive moment for me, and arguably a lot of people my age. It in my opinion was our first introduction to dance music.
Calvin Harris had been around for a number of years before the release of this track, however this song propelled him to new heights. The song debuted at Number One in the UK singles chart, and also peaked at Number 10 in the States.
Florence and Calvin wrote the song together, and it's a combination that works perfectly. Her vocals work with the electronic bouncy beat. It was a match made in heaven.
A heartfelt emotional affair backed up by one of the best dance backing tracks of the 2010s. All these years later this song still stands up. In my opinion it's Calvin Harris' best song. It also acted as my introduction to Florence & the Machine. Which is only a good thing.
Stick it on and have a dance. It's still as good as it was. I promise.
That brings us to the end of the list.
I hope you enjoyed my selections. Did I miss anything?
Thank you for reading
Jack