My sister's university thesis had been about language – specifically, the way it is used as lyrics in pop songs. 'Pop' was used explicitly in its original meaning of popular, rather than what it signifies today – an endless repetition of the same phrase, or syllables that have neither rhyme nor meaning. I'd typed it out for her on our manual typewriter, because lupus made her joints ache. I was so proud of the fact that although I was younger she trusted my judgement implicitly when I suggested a couple of recordings to include as examples. Read next feature >