Hospital Radio: A choc full of hits

Fed up with chocolate following the Easter break?

I know I am. That said, it is a favourite subject for songwriters and singers alike, so I thought I would take a look at some of the songs that have tickled our taste buds over the years. The advantage of a song about chocolate is that it has no calories, but you can keep going back for more. So, let's dip in and see what there has been.

Let’s start in Scotland with a little classic by Deacon Blue, Chocolate Girl. Released in 1987, this has certainly stood the test of time, with a smooth mix of guitar and synthesiser which certainly captures the late 80s vibe. Basically, it’s about a rich guy and a spoiled girl and how their relationship breaks up. Not exactly a cheerful subject, but the song works. It only reached number 43 in our charts, so you would be forgiven if you missed it, but it is worth a listen.

Next up, how about some Crowded House? Chocolate Cake is a strange offering from the Aussie/Kiwi rock band. I have listened to this many times, and I am still not sure what the lyrics mean. It did even worse than the Deacon Blue song, reaching only number 69, which goes to prove odd lyrics don’t help if you want a hit. It’s catchy all the same, but if you ask me “if I want another piece of chocolate cake”, I think I would pass.

Okay, let's go a bit more mainstream, something that you will know. Sweet like Chocolate by Shanks and Bigfoot hit the top of our charts in 1999. It was also a big international hit; the lady singing was Sharon Woolf, whereas Shanks & Bigfoot were a British duo of UK music producers, Steven Meade and Danny Langsman, who mainly produced tracks under the garage genre, which was/is essentially electronic dance music. The single went on to become Britain's eighth-biggest selling single of 1999.

We should not forget the song Chocolate by Kylie Minogue, in which she talks about opening herself up to a new romance despite past hurts. It is kind of dreamy, and critics claim that it remains a relevant classic. I am not sure it is a classic, but there is no denying it has an infectious beat, sharp lyrics, and captivating sentimentality, so if that is what makes a classic, I guess it qualifies.

To finish with two specific types of chocolate songs come to mind. Firstly, the Mars bar. Yes, there is a song about the delicious combination of nougat and caramel, all coated in smooth milk chocolate. In this case it is by The Undertones, with the fabulous Feargal Sharkey on lead vocals; it wasn’t a hit single – no, it was hidden away on an album. But according to the band, the Mars Bar is superior. They tease, “Who still eats Twix?” For them, Mars bars help them “work, rest and play”. Great fun.

So, my final offering was again never a single. But anyone who knows the Beatles will have come across “Savoy Truffle”. This was written by George Harrison and appears on side three of the White Album. The lyrics list various chocs from Mackintosh's Good News chocolates and serve as a playful warning about the consequences of overindulging. Many of the lines came directly from the varieties of chocolate in the box, although Cherry Cream and Coconut Fudge were Harrison’s own inventions. This chocolate assortment was launched by Mackintosh’s to rival Rowntree’s Black Magic chocolates in 1960. But it never lasted the test of time and was discontinued in 1988.

Well, that’s enough talk about chocolate, but it just goes to show you can write a song about almost anything. If you have a chocolate obsession, why not give it a bash? See you next time; maybe we’ll try fruit next time!