Namesakes #147: The Fantastic Four

After Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four are my favourite comic book characters. Yet they've never been treated particularly well by Hollywood. I'm hoping that will change with their latest film (out on Friday). The cast is top notch, particularly Ebon Moss-Bachrach from The Bear as the Thing.

Marvel movies have been a bit hit and miss lately, so I hope this one is a success. To help it on its way, here are a few musical Fantastic Fours...

(LIL RAY &) THE FANTASTIC FOUR #1

Hard to get a date on this one, but songwriter Guy Hemric was active in the late 50s / early 60s. If I had to guess, this has a soulful mid-60s sound to me... but I could be under the influence of The Psycho Man...

L'il Ray And The Fantastic Four - One Man's Love Is Another Man's Poison

THE FANTASTIC FOUR #2

Detroit soul band from the 60s, briefly on Motown, who also enjoyed a disco-flavoured comeback in the late 70s. Their debut single remained their biggest hit... their career was clearly ambushed by Dr. Doom.

The Fantastic Four - The Whole World Is A Stage

THE FANTASTIC FOUR #3

Italian Euro-House gubbins from the 90s... even Galactus couldn't eat this.

The Fantastic Four - Turn It Up

THE FANTASTIC FOUR #4

A Swedish FF from 2001 - though their sound is much older. They got their break on a TV talent show, Talang 2007, and went on to win the 2012 World Championship of Performing Arts in Hollywood... though some suspect The Puppet Master was behind that.

The Fantastic Four - Wait A Minute

THE FANTASTIC FOUR #5

Intriguing dance track from 2003 which features spooky windy noises and an electronic magpie. Or that's what it sounds like to this philistine. It could just as easily be the sound of Blastarr, The Living Bomb Burst.

The Fantastic Four - Stooged

THE FANTASTIC FOUR #6

Finnish "Jazz Society Big Band" featuring Bianca Morales and three other dudes in 2004. Changed their name to The New FF Band, presumably to avoid getting sucked underground by The Mole Man...

Bianca Morales & The New FF Band - Angel Jane

FANTASTIC FOUR #7

Finally, the sound of Hungarian trance in 2011. Annihilus can't come soon enough.

Fantastic Four - Perfect Day

It's not our best selection this week - I can guarantee the movie will be better!

Which ones are Fantastic? And which just makes you go FF...sake!

Snapshots #377 - A Top Ten Carry On Songs

We watched the movie Carry On starring Jason Bateman and Elton John over Christmas. It's basically a PG version of Die Hard II. Even worse, there's no sign of Babs, Kenneth, Jim Dale or Sid...

Here are ten Carry On songs... 

10. Disorder in newborns.

Babyshambles - Carry On Up The Morning

9. Superman grew up in a right state.

Superman grew up in Smallville, which is in Kansas...

Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son

8. The Beach Boys sang about them three times.

The Beach Boys sang Fun Fun Fun...

Fun. - Carry On

7. Policeman stuck in a freezing watering hole.

Bobby Caldwell - Carry On

6. The oafish blue tutu is quite baffling.

"The oafish blue tutu" was an anagram...

The Beautiful South - Good As Gold (Carry On Regardless)

5. June and July, in the calendar.

J&J. Cale is in the calendar.

JJ Cale - Carry On

4. Woodhill Bay and Kilkenny Bay.

Woodhill Bay and Kilkenny Bay are also known as Portishead Beach.

Portishead - We Carry On

3. Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben.

Otherwise known as...

The Fantastic Four - I'm Gonna Carry On

2. Dr. Julius Strangepork.

Piiiiigs in spaaaaace!!!

Spacehog - Carry On

1. Crime Scene: New York.

CS: NY...

Crosby, Stills & Nash - Carry On

OK, you an carry on about your day now.

Snapshots will carry on next Saturday...