Sir Michael Philip Jagger has turned down an invitation to partake afternoon tea in Davos, Switzerland with ‘Call me Dave’ Cameron and Boris Johnson among others. The meeting was allegedly set up to help promote Britain and British industry. However Sir Mick has claimed that inaccurate comments and suggestions have been made about his political allegiances. This is the reason he has subsequently declined the offer.
The whole thing smacks of hypocrisy to me. Why take a knighthood in the first place if you are not prepared to be a tool of the highest order for the government, the royal family and associated flunkies? What has happened to the anti-establishment, rebellious nature of rock n roll? Would Mick argue that he is trying to change things from within? Maybe, but turning down a chance to imbibe warm milky drinks and crust free sandwiches with a bunch of toffs is not that rebellious is it? It’s hardly like depicting the Queen with a safety-pin through her nose or emptying an ice bucket over John Prescott.
What happened to the Stones of old? What about some “Sympathy For The Devil” or “Gimme Shelter” instead of ‘Sympathy For The Coalition’ and ‘Gimme Earl Grey’. Mick you chose to wear the ermine robes you must have known this kind of thing would happen. Keef would never have found himself in this position he remains a true rock n roller who would almost certainly publicly turn down a royal award if it were ever offered!
Does rebellion still have a place in rock music? I believe it does, what do you think? In the meantime click here to read more about it on the BBC site.
Now I am really not the kind of person who is favour of formal attire in fact I dislike formal wear immensely. I suppose that this comes partly from having to wear a suit and tie to work every day for most of my working life. Even now in our supposedly modern and enlightened world I still have to wear a tie to work. Why is this? What is the purpose of a neck tie? As far as I can tell it’s just a coloured or patterned piece of material that is tied around the neck for decoration. Does it keep my shirt buttoned? No. Does it keep me warm? No. Does it increase my intelligence? No. Does it sometimes act as a bib and catch food spillages when I eat my lunch? Actually yes it does!
Anyway I hear that the organisers of Royal Ascot are introducing more stringent dress codes for this years event. Click here to read the story on the BBC website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-16607875 I won’t bore you with all the details as there is only one part that really interests me. You may know that I am a dedicated fascinator hater. I just don’t understand the purpose of those pathetic arty farty constructions that women plonk on their head. Either get a proper hat or wear nothing on your head. Ladies fascinators make you look simple and stupid. (In my opinion at least). well the good news is that fascinators will be banned from the royal enclosure this year, however women must wear a hat. Men must wear a waistcoat and tie, cravats will not be permitted. But let’s face it cravats are a little poncey aren’t they?
So whilst I am pleased that Royal Ascot has banned the fascinator in the royal enclosure I am disappointed that they haven’t banned it completely. aside from that would I really want to attend a function that is so rigorous about telling me what I can and can’t wear? Not particularly. When I attend the likes of the Reading Festival I can wear whatever the hell I want; A Dead Kennedys T Shirt, a Cheeky Girls hoodie, a Prince Charles mask, a Doctor Doom badge or shorts with ‘fuck you, you fucking fuck’ emblazoned across the back. (As an aside here’s a competition for you, I have in fact once worn one of those items at the Reading Festival, can you guess which one? Mr Horslen you’re not allowed to enter as you were with me at the time)
So now I have had my formal wear rant and spread the good news about at least a step in the right direction with regard to the fascinator how about some music? This is a music blog after all isn’t it? So I thought I would choose some fascinator songs and artists for you. I must confess that I’ve heard none of these tunes before now. I hope that you enjoy them and feel free to suggest others.
I was picking random pages in a big joke book earlier today and I chanced upon a list of supposedly real country music song titles. There are some real corkers out there although I can’t find some of them on-line and some of them are clearly parodies, surely! I have picked out five of the best for your amusement. I think my favourite is “I’d Rather Hear A Fat Girl Fart Than A Pretty Boy Sing” I’d love to know if you have any that don’t feature on the list below the videos. I borrowed the list from bored.com
The List (click here to visit bored.com for the full list)
All I Want From You (Is Away) All My Exes Live In Texas
All the Guys that Turn Me On Turn Me Down
Am I Double Parked by the Curbstone of Your Heart?
Are You Drinkin With Me Jesus?
Are You on the Top 40 of the Lord?
At the Gas Station of Love, I Got the Self Service Pump
Bubba Shot The Jukebox
Bubba’s Inconvenience Store
Can’t Get Over You, So Why Don’t You Get Under Me?
Cow Cow Boogie (Moo Moo My Love)
Cow Cow Strut
Did I Shave my Legs for This?
Billy Broke My Heart at Walgreens and I Cried All the Way to Sears
Come out of the Wheatfield Nellie, You’re Going Against the Grain
Do You Love As Good As You Look?
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor On The Bedpost Overnight?
Don’t Believe My Heart Can Stand Another You.
Don’t Chop Any Wood Mother, I’m Comin’ in With a Load!
Don’t Come Home a-Drinkin’ With Lovin’ on Yo-mind
Don’t Give Me A Plastic Saddle ‘Cuz I Want To Feel That Leather When I Ride
Don’t Know Whether To Kill Myself Or Go Bowling
Don’t Squeeze My Sharmon.
Don’t Strike A Match (To The Book Of Love)
Drop Kick Me Jesus (Through The Goal Posts Of Life.)
Four on the Floor and a Fifth Under the Seat
Get Off the Table, Mabel (The Two Dollars is for the Beer)
Get Your Biscuits In The Oven And Your Buns In The Bed
Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth ‘Cause I’m Kissing You Goodbye.
Git Up Off’n the Floor Hannah (a Bitter New Year’s Eve)
Going to Hell in Your Heavenly Arms
Guess My Eyes Were Bigger Than My Heart.
Hate Every Bone In Your Body Except For Mine
Heaven’s Just A Sin Away.
Her Body Couldn’t Keep You Off My Mind.
Her Cheatin’ Heart Made A Drunken Fool Out Of Me
Her Only Bad Habit Is Me
Her Teeth Was Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure.
Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)
High Cost of Low Living
Hold On To Your Men..’Cause She’s Single Again
How Can A Whiskey That’s 6 Years Old Whup A Man That’s 33?
How Can I Get Over You if You Won’t Get Out from Under Me?
How Can I Miss You If You Won’t Go Away?
How Can You Believe Me When I Say I Love You When You Know I’ve Been A Liar All My Life?
How Come Your Dog Don’t Bite Nobody But Me?
I Been Roped And Thrown By Jesus In The Holy Ghost Corral.
I Bought the Shoes that Just Walked Out on Me
I Can’t Get Over You, So Why Don’t You Get Under Me?
I Can’t Pass the Bar, and There’s One on my Way Home
I Changed Her Oil, She Changed My Life.
I Don’t Care if it Rains or Freezes ‘Long as I Have My Plastic Jesus Sittin’ on the Dashboard of my Car
I Don’t Do Floors
I Don’t Know What Came Over Me (When I Came All Over You)
I Don’t Know Whether To Come Home Or Go Crazy
I Don’t Know Whether To Kill Myself Or Go Bowling.
I Don’t Want Your Body If Your Heart’s Not In It.
I Fell for Her, She Fell for Him, and He Fell for Me
I Fell In A Pile Of You And Got Love All Over Me.
I Flushed You From The Toilets Of My Heart.
I Gave Her My Heart And A Diamond And She Clubbed Me With A Spade
I Gave Her the Ring, and She Gave Me the Finger
I Got In At 2 With A 10 And Woke Up At 10 With A 2.
I Got Tears In My Ears From Lying On My Bed Crying On My Pillow Over You.
I Got the Hungries for Your Love, and I’m Waitin In Your Welfare Line
I Got Through Everything But The Door
I Guess I Had Your Leavin’ Coming
I Hate Every Bone In Your Body Except Mine.
I Just Bought A Car From The Guy That Stole My Girl, But The Car Don’t Run So I Figure We Got An Even Deal.
I Keep Forgettin’ I Forgot About You.
I Knew I’d Hit Rock Bottom When I Woke Up On Top Of You.
I Like Bananas Because They Have No Bones
I Liked You Better Before I Knew You So Well.
I May Be Used, But Baby I Ain’t Used Up
I Meant Every Word That He Said.
I Only Miss You On The Days That End In ” Y ”
I Sat Down On A Beartrap (Just This Morning)
I Sent Her Artifical Flowers For Her Artificial Love
I Still Miss You, Baby, But My Aim’s Gettin’ Better.
I Wanna Whip Your Cow.
I Want a Beer as Cold as My Ex-Wife‘s Heart
I Wanted You To Leave Until You Left Me
I Was Looking Back to See If You Were Looking Back to See If I Was Looking Back to See if You Were Looking Back at Me
I Went Back to My Fourth Wife for the Third Time and Gave Her a Second Chance to Make a First Class Fool Out of Me
I Wish I Were A Lesbian
I Wish I Were A Woman (So I Could Go Out With A Guy Like Me)
I Wish I Were In Dixie Tonight, But She’s Out Of Town.
I Would Have Wrote You A Letter, But I Couldn’t Spell Yuck!
I Would Kiss You Through the Screendoor but It’d Strain Our Love
I Wouldn’t Take You To A Dog Fight Even If I Thought You Could Win.
I’d Rather Have A Bottle In Front Of Me Than A Frontal Lobotomy.
I’d Rather Hear A Fat Girl Fart Than A Pretty Boy Sing
I’d Rather Pass a Kidney Stone than Another Night With You
If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me, Her Memory Will.
If Fingerprints Showed Up On Skin, Wonder Whose I’d Find On You.
If I Ain’t Got It, You Don’t Need It.
If I Can’t Be Number One In Your Life, Then Number Two On You
If I Had a Nose Full of Nickels, I’d Sneeze Them All Atchoo!
If I Had It To Do All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You
If I Had My Life to Live Over, I’d Live Over a Delicatessen
If I Had Shot You When I Wanted To, I’d Be Out By Now.
If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me?
If I Were In Your Shoes, I’d Walk Right Back To Me
If I’d Killed You When I Wanted To, I’d be Out of Jail By Now
If It’s Got To Be Later, How ‘Bout Later Tonight?
If Love Were Oil, I’d Be A Quart Low.
If My Nose Was Running Money, Honey, I’d Blow It Al On You
If My Nose Were Full of Nickels, I’d Blow It All On You
If She Hadn’t Been So Good Lookin’ I Might Have Seen the Train
If She Puts Lipstick On My Dipstick, I’ll Fall In Love.
If the Devil Danced in Empty Pockets, He’d Have a Ball in Mine
If The Jukebox Took Teardrops I’d Cry All Night Long.
If The Phone Don’t Ring, Baby, You’ll Know It’s Me
If Today Was A Fish, I’d Throw It Back In
If Whiskey Were A Woman, I’d Be Married For Sure.
If You Can’t Be Good, Be Bad With Me
If You Can’t Be Good, Son, Be Good At It
If You Can’t Bite, Don’t Growl.
If You Can’t Feel It (It Ain’t There).
If You Can’t Live Without Me, Why Aren’t You Dead?
If You Don’t Leave Me Alone, I’ll Go And Find Someone Else Who Will
If You Don’t Leave Me, I’ll Find Someone Who Will
If You Ever Get the Feelin’ I Don’t Love You, Feel Again.
If You Got the Money, Honey, I Got the Time
If You Leave Me I’m Gone
If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?
If You Really Loved Me, You’d Leave
If You Want to Keep the Beer Real Cold, Put it Next to My Ex-Wife’s Heart
If You Want Your Freedom PDQ, Divorce Me COD
If You’re Gonna Do Him Wrong Again, You Might As Well Do Him Wrong Again With Me!
If You’re Gonna Do Me Wrong, Do It Right
I’ll Get Over You As Soon As You Get Out From Under Him.
I’ll Marry You Tomorrow, But Let’s Honeymoon Tonight.
I’ll Tennessee You In My Dreams
I’m Drinkin Christmas Dinner (All Alone This Year)
I’m Gettin’ Gray From Being Blue.
I’m Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home.
I’m Gonna Put a Bar in the Back of my Car and Drive Myself to Drink
I’m Havin’ Daydreams About Night Things In The Middle Of The Afternoon.
I’m Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail
I’m In Love With A Capital U
I’m Just A Bug On The Windshield Of Life.
I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I’m Gonna be a Diamond Someday)
I’m Not Married But The Wife Is.
I’m Quittin’ Wild Turkey Cold Turkey
I’m So Miserable Without You, It’s Like Having You Here.
I’m The Only Hell Mama Ever Raised.
I’m Under The Table Over You
Is It Cold in Here, or Is it Just You?
It Ain’t Easy Being Easy
It Ain’t Love But It Ain’t Bad.
It Don’t Feel Like Sinnin’ To Me.
It Only Takes One Bar (To Make A Prison)
It Takes Me All Night Long To Do What I Used To Do All Night Long.
It Took a Helluva Man to Take my Anne, but it Sure Didn’t Take Him Long
It’s Not the High Cost of Living, It’s the Cost of Living High
I’ve Been Flushed From The Bathroom Of Your Heart.
I’ve Been Roped And Throwed By Jesus In The Holy Ghost Corral
I’ve Got $5 And It’s Saturday Night
I’ve Got a Cowboy In The Saddle, and Another One’s Holding My Horse
I’ve Got Four On The Floor And A Fifth Under The Seat!
I’ve Got Red Eyes From Your White Lies And I’m Blue All The Time.
I’ve Got Tears In My Eyes From Lying On My Back In My Bed While I Cry Over You.
I’ve Got the Cob, If You’ve Got the Corn
I’ve Got The Hungries For Your Love And I’m Waiting In Your Welfare Line
I’ve Heard that Tear Stained Monologue You Do There by the Door Before You Go
Jeremiah Peabody’s Polyunsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green and Purple Pills
Jesus Loves Me But He Can’t Stand You
Jim, I Wore A Tie Today
Just Bought A Car From A Guy That Stole My Girl,
Keep Forgettin’ I Forgot About You
Last Night I Went to Bed with a “10” and Woke this Morning with a “2”
Lay Something On My Bed Besides A Blanket
Learning To Live Again Without You Is Killing Me.
Legendary Chicken Fairy
Liked You Better Before I Knew You So Well
Make Me Late For Work Today.
Mama Get The Hammer (There’s A Fly On Papa’s Head).
May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose.
Meet Me In the Gravel Pit, Honey, Cuz I’m a Little Boulder There
Mommy, Can I Still Call Him Daddy?
My Every Day Silver Is Plastic.
My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, And I Don’t Love Jesus.
My John Deere Was Breaking Your Field, While Your Dear John Was Breaking My Heart
My Lips Want to Stay (But My Heart Wants to Go)
My Phone Ain’t Been Ringing, so I Guess it Wasn’t You
My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend, And I Sure Do Miss Him.
Nashville Rash
Ned Nostril (and his South Seas Paradise, Put Your Blues on Ice, Cheap at Twice the Price Band, Icky Icky Ucky Ucky)
No Way, Conway (I Ain’t Gonna Twitty Tonight)
Occasional Wife
Oh, I’ve Got Hair Oil On My Ears And My Glasses Are Slipping Down, But Baby I Can See Through You
Oh, Lord! It’s Hard To Be Humble When You’re Perfect In Every Way.
Our Love is Illegal, Cause Our Names Ain’t the Same
Out Of My Head And Back In My Bed.
Overlonely and Underkissed
Pardon Me, I’ve Been Pardoned
Pardon Me, I’ve Got Someone To Kill.
Phantom Of The Opry
Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Pick Me Up Or Let Me Down
Please Bypass This Heart.
Poultry Promenade
Queen Of My Double-Wide Trailer
Red Necks, White Socks, and Blue Ribbon Beer
Redneck Martians Stole My Baby
Refried Dreams
Run for the Roundhouse Nellie (He Can’t Corner You There)
Saddle Up the Stove Ma, I’m Riding the Range Tonight
She Broke My Heart, I Broke Her Jaw
She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed Anytime
She Feels Like A New Man Tonight.
She Got The Gold Mine And I Got The Shaft.
She Got The Ring And I Got The Finger.
She Looks Good Through the Bottom of My Shot Glass
She Made Toothpicks Out Of The Timber Of My Heart
She Offered Her Honor, He Honored Her Offer, and All Through the Night It Was Honor and Offer
She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy
She Walked Across My Heart Like It Was Texas
She’s Actin’ Single….. I’m Drinkin’ Doubles
She’s Got Freckles On Her, But She’s Pretty.
She’s Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)
She’s Out Doing What I’m Here Doing Without.
Slap ‘Er Down Again Paw
Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim’s Gettin’ Better
Swing Wide Your Gate Of Love.
Tennis Must Be Your Racket ‘Cause Love Means Nothin’ To You.
Thank God And Greyhound She’s Gone.
Thanks To The Cathouse, I’m In The Doghouse With You
The Alcohall of Fame
The Bridge Washed Out and I Can’t Swim and My Baby’s On the Other Side
The Last Word In Lonesome Is “Me”.
The Man That Came Between Us (Was Me)
The Old Home Fill ‘er Up and Keep On Truckin’ Cafe”
The Pint Of No Return.
There Ain’t Enough Room in my Fruit Of The Looms to Hold All My Lovin’ For You
There Ain’t No Waste In My Baby’s Love Canal.
There’s A Tear In My Beer
They May Put Me In Prison, But They Can’t Stop My Face From Breakin’ Out.
This Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad
This White Circle on My Finger Means We’re Through
Tight Fittin’ Jeans
Timber… I’m Fallin In Love
Touch Me With More Than Your Hands.
Trainwreck Of Emotion
Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother
Velcro Arms, Teflon Heart.
Waitin’ In Your Welfare Line
Walk Out Backwards Slowly So I’ll Think You’re Walking In
Warm Beer and Cold Kisses
Warm Beer Cold Women
We Used To Kiss On The Lips, But It’s All Over Now
Welcome to Dumpsville, Population Me
What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me).
When the Lightning Struck the Coon Creek Party Line
When We Get Back To the Farm (That’s When We Really Go To Town).
When You Leave Walk Out Backwards, So I’ll Think You’re Walking In
When You Wrapped My Lunch in a Road Map, I Knew You Meant Good-Bye
Who You Gonna Believe, Me Or Your Lying Eyes?
Who’s Gonna Mow Your Grass?
Who’s Gonna Take The Garbage Out When I’m Dead And Gone?
Who’s Makin’ Time with the Time Keeper’s Daughter, when the Time Keeper’s Keepin’ Time?
Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
Why Don’t We Get Drunk and Screw
Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For?
Would Jesus Wear A Rolex On His Television Show?
Wouldn’t Take Her To A Dog Fight, Cause I’m Afraid She’d Win
Yard Sale
You Ain’t Much Fun Since I Quit Drinkin’
You Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog (‘s Leavins’)
You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man
You Can Lock Me Up in Jail & Throw Away the Key, But You Can’t Keep My Face from Breaking Out
You Can’t Deal Me All The Aces And Expect Me Not To Play.
You Can’t Have Your Kate And Edith Too.
You Can’t Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd.
You Changed Your Name From Brown to Jones, and Mine From Brown to Blue
You Done Stomped On my Heart (and You Mashed That Sucker Flat)
You Done Tore Out My Heart And Stomped That Sucker Flat
You Goodbye
You Hurt The Love Right Out Of Me.
You Were Only A Splinter As I Slid Down The Bannister Of Life
You’d think my Bed was a Bus Stop, the Way You Come and Go
Your Negligee Has Turned To Flannel Nightgowns
Your Were Only A Splinter As I Slid Down The Banister Of Life.
You’re A Cross I Can’t Bear.
You’re a Hard Dog To Keep Under The Porch
You’re Going To Ruin My Bad Reputation
You’re Out Of Step (With The Beat Of My Heart)
You’re Ruining My Bad Reputation.
You’re The Hangnail In My Life, And I Can’t Bite You Off
You’re The Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly.
You’re The Ring Around My Bathtub, You’re The Hangnail Of My Life
You’ve Already Put Big Old Tears In My Eyes, Must You Throw Dirt In My Face?
You’ve Got Sawdust On The Floor Of Your Heart
You'd think that Satan might adopt a better disguise wouldn't you?
Someone has accused Lady Gaga of taking part in a Satanic ritual in London last summer. A worker at the Intercontinental was reportedly quoted as saying that Gaga was ‘bathing in blood as part of a Satanic ritual’ Although there appears to be no mention of any other Satanic or ritualistic paraphernalia. The hotel employee allegedly added that Lady G left ‘large amounts of blood in the suite during her stay’
So that proves what exactly?
Mysteriously this was supposedly reported to the Concierge who told the worker to put it out of their mind. Very strange indeed, what explanations could there be;
It was ketchup after a room service spillage
A leak from a sanitary bag
The decorators spilled red paint
Gaga likes her steak blue
Lady Gaga dyed her hair red and didn’t tidy up
Her new album will include Norwegian death/ black metal cover versions
Ms Germanotta was auditioning for a new vampire movie
Or finally perhaps it’s all a load of PR bollocks (This is what I believe anyway)
What do you folks think?
I have found out what one person on-line thinks; they think that Gaga is one of the Illuminati with Masonic connections. Which for me suggests this story is complete bollocks (But I wonder what David Icke thinks of it). Anyway here is the Gaga is an Illuminati video.
She may or may not be a Satanist but she definitely has at least one skeleton in the closet
And finally see what Satanic imagery in the video for “You And I”, oh such fun. It beats Farmville at least!
I’d like to thank my friend Stuart O’Hara for suggesting the theme of this post. Edwyn Collins once said ‘too many protest singers, not enough protest songs’. Strangely that was a lyric from his 90s hit “A Girl Like You” which doesn’t seem to be a protest song itself. That dear reader is the thrust of this blog post; where are all the protest singers and protest songs? The world economy is collapsing, riot and revolution is rife, wars and indiscriminate bombings are commonplace and UK politics is at best inept and the USA is trillions of dollars in debt and dancing with the idea of electing an idiotic republican candidate far more stupid than even Dubya was. So where are all the protests from the music world?
Aside from the fact that a legitimate protest song would probably not get played on mainstream radio and would need to ‘go viral’ on-line, where the hell are they? Where are this generation’s Woody Guthries, Pete Seegers, Bob Dylans and Billy Braggs? OK I know there have been a few good attempts since the Specials summed up Britain in song in 1981 with “Ghost Town”. Notably “Killing In The Name Of” from Rage Against The Machine and perhaps “American Idiot” from Green Day. But what happened to the establishment/ ‘the man’ being scared of rock music? It’s all become too corporate and bland.
U2 and Coldplay have tried to use their muscle to protest against various wrongs in the world, but frankly are their hearts really in it? Radiohead have supported the free Tibet campaign amongst others, but could they do more? Dylan is getting too old, Bragg doesn’t have the fanbase size required (but is still flying the flag), Springsteen and Weller have been quiet of late on the protest front and Marvin Gaye, Marley, Lennon and Strummer are sadly no longer with us.
The environment must be right for a new movement to shake up the old order just like punk did in the 70s and rave and grunge did in the 80s and 90s. The charts are stuffed full of manipulated, impresario created pop muppets; Little Mix, Matt Cardle, Olly Murs etc. It is time to stand up and be counted good people of the blogosphere. We need some strong protest songs to unite all those fighting for freedom and change. Let’s shake up that complacent bunch of career politicians in Westminster and political ivory towers across the world. Frank Turner, Show Of Hands, Neil Young you can do this we need you now! Will somebody please step forward?
In the meantime here are some classic protest songs. I would love to hear your opinions of protest songs and singers;
Now that the wind had changed direction Matt's face would remain like that
It’s that time of year when we reflect as individuals on the highs and lows of our year and more importantly we decided what the best album and song of the year was. Many publications take part in this annual festivity and my newspaper of choice, the Guardian, is no exception. I expected to see the top 2o albums and songs of 2011 as voted by Guardian readers (including me) to show a similar profile to the lists of other publications and possibly of the critics employed by the newspaper.
Matt sold all his clothes to buy votes in the Guardian poll
However thanks to what I would call (rather begrudgingly) and excellently executed piece of guerilla voting by all of Matt Cardle‘s fans which must number in the high hundreds (ok that was wishful thinking on my part). They have managed to succeed in voting him into first place in both lists. Regular readers of this blog will know the general disdain I show the X factor and all it spawns and for me Matt Cardle is no exception. I find him insipid, limp, lacking charisma and at best an ok karaoke singer. Before the devout fans get on their high horses let me say that I have listened to his album before forming this opinion. I am not like the Christian Fundamentalists in the USA who burned Harry Potter books without having the good grace and common sense to read them first.
Being beaten by Matt Cardle had hurt Polly very deeply
Fair play to the Matt Cardle fans, but in my humblest of opinions his stuff shouldn’t even be close to the top twenty for the year or even the top 50 for the year, unless of course we are talking about the turkey awards. The number two slot in the albums list was taken by Polly Harvey‘s ‘Let England Shake’ and for the songs it was the sublime “Video Games” from Lana Del Ray. Click here to read the Guardian report on what I will refer to as Cardlegate.
The full lists are shown below. I have 11 of the albums and 12 of the songs if you’d like to begin to understand my own eclectic tastes. My own favourite song for the year is “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People, which is in the list and my favourite album is ’50 Words For Snow’ from Kate Bush. The latter sadly isn’t in the list;
Regular readers of this blog know that I really do despise the X Factor and all it stands for. I chose not to watch it this year and a couple of people said to me “you have to watch it, you write a music blog” my response was “that is true, but first and foremost I am a music fan, not a Saturday primetime TV karaoke fan”
Anyway the festival for those of limited talent is over for another year and has launched a whole troupe of pop muppets on the world in the shape of Little Mix. Their first single is a truly awful cover of Damien Rice‘s “Cannonball”. But the good news is that it is not the current favourite for UK Christmas number one. That honour sits with “Wherever You Are” by the Military Wives Choir the new choir project put together by the immensely talented Gareth Malone. Whilst this is not my favourite type of music it is a really beautiful song and vocally it’s a million times better than Little Mix.
The next two favourites across the UK bookmakers are Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and Damien Rice with the original version of “Cannonball”. So I think you know what to do don’t you? Go and buy the Military Wives song and if you must buy Little Mix make sure you buy Military Wives as well. Anyone who is a music fan should do whatever they can to keep the X Factor muppets from the Christmas number one spot. I hope I can count on you to do this!
I’m sure that you’ve heard Katy Perry’s new single “The One That Got Away” which is clearly yet another slice of perfect perry pop and a great radio song. But what intrigues me about it is the line about making out in the lyrics. It reads ‘We make out in your Mustang to Radiohead’. Firstly we get Katy Perry mentioning Radiohead, which I feel makes for quite strange bedfellows. Secondly, does anyone actually make out to Radiohead? I love the band but they wouldn’t be my choice for a sultry, seductive night in with Catwoman! I would prefer a bit of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ album.
Having listened to the song again though it got me thinking about some of my favourite songs that mention bands or singers. You can enjoy five of them below. Let me know what your favourite songs that mention other artists are;
“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” – Vampire Weekend – mentions Peter Gabriel
“Destroy Rock n Roll” – Mylo – mentions a cast of thousands including Michael Jackson, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, David Bowie, Van Halen, Madonna, Huey Lewis and the News, The Cars, Herbie Hancock, Bonnie Tyler, Stevie Nicks, Men at Work, ZZ Top, Paul McCartney, Weird Al Yankovic, Cyndi Lauper, Pink Floyd, Pretenders, Billy Joel, Billy Idol, Elton John, Neil Young, Sheena Easton, Patty Smyth and Scandal, Fashion, Big Country, Morris Day and The Time, John Lennon, Apollonia 6, REO Speedwagon, David Gilmour, Rolling Stones, Pat Benatar, Hall and Oates, Wham!, Rebbie Jackson, Adam Ant, Bananarama, Christine McVie, Queen, John Cougar Mellencamp, U2, Fleetwood Mac, The Alan Parsons Project, Rick Springfield, Thompson Twins, Missing Persons, Duran Duran, Police, Eurythmics, Culture Club, Boy George, Band Aid, Stevie Wonder and Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
“White Man In The Hammersmith Palais” – The Clash – mentions Dillinger, Leroy Smart, Delroy Wilson, Ken Boothe and the Four Tops.
“God” – John Lennon – mentions Elvis and the Beatles
“Punky Reggae Party” – Bob Marley and the Wailers – mentions the Wailers, Maytals, Damned, Jam, Dr Feelgood and the Clash
“All The Young Dudes” – Mott The Hoople – mentions T Rex and is easily my favourite song that mentions other bands or artists.
OK folks I am proud to announce (cue fanfare) that this blog has now received its one millionth hit! It’s taken just under three years and frankly I am completely blown away. My expectations when I started it back in February 2009 were that it would be superb to achieve maybe 50 or 60 visits a week. However it wouldn’t have happened without all the regular commentators, subscribers, followers and those of you that chanced upon it through some random search. Let me tell you some of those were very random indeed!
Some of you I already knew before the blog began and some of you I have met (albeit in the blogosphere) along the way. If you like my blog you really should check out the links on my blog roll. There is some great stuff out there and I am honoured to be linked with some of it. I recently sent an e-mail to my regular contributors and subscribers to ask for their one favourite song for inclusion in this millionth hit celebration. So here they are, in the order I received them, with some reasons why they are favourites. Thank you and enjoy!
Jane from Berkshire is a subscriber and strangely she also went to the same school as me in Hillingdon; Bishopshalt! She says “Corny but mine is George Benson ‘Never Give Up On A Good Thing’. A couple of times over my 24 year marriage when things have been a bit tough this song has been played and the lyrics have hit home. I have LOADS of favourite songs – but this probably just tips it”
It may be corny but I like it too, my favourite track from Mr Benson is ‘Breezin’
Next up it’s Mandy from Leeds who I worked with at GNER a few years ago. I discovered that like me she is also a fan of the great Johnny Nash, but he doesn’t feature in this post. Mandy says “Great idea! I must have 100s of favourites so really difficult. There is one very special song that for me is timeless and I always feel amazing after listening to it, no matter where I am or what I’m feeling. I first heard it when I was very young as my mum had the album (she liked the picture on the front cover!). I played that album to death and was mortified when it was lost in a house move just a couple of years ago after holding onto it for over 30 years – it was like losing my photo album, heart wrenching. I have the CD and digital versions and they don’t have the same scratches or jump at the same time as the original – so there are a few words I didn’t know existed until a few years ago! From the album ‘Let’s Get It On’, my all time favourite song is ‘Come Get To This’ by Marvin Gaye”
I think that Marvin was a genius; I would never be without a copy of the wonderful ‘What’s Going On’ album.
Simon from Bramham is next (is this beginning to sound like a local radio request show or what?) He lives almost on top of the site of the Leeds Festival and here is what he says about his choice. “My favourite song ever is ‘In Between Days’ by The Cure. A great twanging guitar and bass line with crashing drums make it the ultimate Indie foot-tapper. Always makes me smile when I hear it even though the lyrics are rather disturbing by themselves! It has a great video too especially with the ‘Frightmare’ make-up. It reminds me of being a teenager”.
I am not a big fan of the Cure but I do love the more poppy stuff like ‘Love Cats’ and ‘Friday I’m In Love’
Now it’s time for someone from my town, York. It’s Tom who I met when I did some volunteer work at York Hospital Radio. I was lucky enough to sit in on a few of Tom’s excellent Wednesday night shows. Tom was also the brains behind this blog’s Lily Allen naked experiment, so I’d like to thank him once more for that. If you’d like to know more about the experiment just let me know. Anyway here is what Tom has to say about his choice of favourite song of all time. “Congratulations on reaching this milestone, I read all the blogs and enjoy them all. I also learn an awful lot and find myself waiting for the next one to come through!! As far as my favourite song goes, it is such a hard question to answer, but it has to come from one band really; the Beatles, but this doesn’t make it any easier. If I had to say one that stands out from the rest it would have to be ‘All You Need is Love”, the title alone says so much. I think the lyrics are simple but powerful, it’s easy for everyone to enjoy and relate to. The message that it encapsulates defines the Beatles themselves and for that reason it is my favourite Beatles song. I would like to add that my brother had it as his first dance song at his wedding, the little git! He has totally nicked my idea. But at the wedding, seeing everyone enjoying the song and joining in, it reaffirmed the power of the song. People of all ages, backgrounds and musical tastes were singing along and enjoying it. I also now have new memories of this song as my little brothers first dance as a married man and it adds another level of enjoyment to it. To summarise, I can put this song on, at anytime in any mood and I always end up getting lost in it and feeling totally at ease with everything after the 3:48 piece of genius. What more could I ask for from a song? I hope that this is useful Bill and don’t forget: All You Need is Love!”
I totally agree that this song is absolutely superb. If it wasn’t for the fact that the brass refrain at the start was effectively the French National anthem it would have been a contender for my first wedding dance at my recent marriage to the beautiful Catwoman a.k.a. Catherine. Incidentally my favourite Beatles song is ‘Don’t Let Me Down’.
Next in line is Ben who has a band called Reason Breeds Monsters. We used to work together in a garden as Flowerpot Men with Little Weed, actually I just made that up as I am Bill and he is Ben. Although I’m sure I may have been in a garden with a little weed sometime. Anyway enough crap from me, here is what Ben has to say about his choice. “Hi Bill! Congratulations on your million! Thanks for the invite to comment. My answer, based on which song I have listened to most times in my life, is Bert Jansch‘s ‘Blackwaterside’ which was also covered by Led Zeppelin as ‘Blackmountain Side’. On the tree of folk music, it’s a flower on the highest branch. No one’s played guitar with such soul and inventiveness since, and every acoustic guitar player has been at a loss as to what to do. That’s why I’ve listened to it so many times – trying to work it out.
I like the Led Zep version but now Ben’s delightful prose has also turned me on to the Bert Jansch version too.
Andy from Leeds has this to say about his favourite song; “Favourite song: Ahead by a Century by The Tragically Hip. Why? Not sure really – it just ‘hits the spot’ every time I hear it and has reduced me to tears a couple of times watching them live and singing it out very loudly, surrounded in the main by a large group of Canadians. Great band – Canada’s most beloved – and still going strong
after 20 years plus together. ABAC is a beautifully simple song (like all the best ones are) with a typically vague Gord Downie lyric which could be interpreted in almost any way you deem applicable. ‘And that’s when a hornet stung me and I had a feverish dream – with revenge and doubt. Tonight we smoke them out. You are Ahead by a Century – and disappointing you’s getting me down’
Great video too!”
It’s not a song I am familiar with, but I have heard some stuff from the ‘Hip. I do like it though, it may well make an appearance on my iPod very soon.
One of the regular readers is Nicole from Australia who is currently based in Pakistan. She really struggled to select her favourite song of all time, but she got there in the end. Here is what she had to say about it “Hope I am not too late?
The reason why is that I couldn’t decide. I was thinking about London Still by the Waifs (Aussie band singing about being an expat in London – enough said). Then I was thinking about Everybody got their something by Nikka Costa (upbeat motivating song). Then I was thinking 21 things I want in a lover by Alanis Morissette (it has a permanent position at the start of my running mix). Then I was thinking Lighthouseman by the Waifs (Because it gets me through tough times). Then I was thinking Going Somewhere by Colin Hay (because it’s just a great song). Then I was thinking Celestine by Kirsty MacColl (A song that most women should be able to relate too……… well I certainly do :-))
But then I thought – my favourite song is actually Cowboy Take me Away by the Dixie Chicks and I don’t even know why. I just like the sentiment of a simple life I think? Closely followed by Steve McQueen by Sheryl Crow just because it’s fun!”
I like some Dixie Chicks stuff and frankly anyone who can piss off George W Bush in the way those girls did is brilliant in my book.
Catwoman took advantage of the fact that we are married and live together, obviously, and dictated this while I typed! Here is what she has to say. “My song has a bit of a holiday vibe that would go well with cocktails and dancing. I am also a girl who loves her shoes and I have massive amounts of empathy for the character in the song – after all shoes are a girls best friend and they are mostly cheaper than diamonds. My favourite song in case you haven’t guessed is “In These Shoes” by Kirsty MacColl. Coming a close second is “Into My Arms” by Nick Cave which was our first dance at our wedding in September”
Obviously I reckon this is a good choice and a shoe related song from my beautiful wife is highly appropriate.
Now we hear from my good friend Nick from Marlow, who is also my Reading Festival buddy. Here is what he has to say about his choice “I’ve been racking my brains for the best, hadn’t forgotten. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfR_HWMzgyc this is the best online version of my choice! The song that lingers the longest is Kashmir Led Zep, I remember it so clearly the day i bought physical graffiti just as it came out, i also remember it as awesome from Knebworth 1979. For me it just is Jimmy Page and Robert plant at the top of the game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhrghRDkRTc. The song has great rhythm, menacing almost, great vocals, great pace slow and fast, its simple but it deep, orchestral but also there for a rap . The drumming, the screeching, theirs almost a brass feel to it at points, then the mystic east, what can i say, the presence you get when you really listen to it is amazing, can’t think of another song that really draws me in so much. Probably sticks with me coz Knebworth made such an impression on me as a young student http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV7i7eaQtmU.
Without it being a song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6oykAkUwCo this at 3 minutes in was just awesome. Self indulgent by todays standards but then we didn’t have them in those days. Id also say it’s probably Kashmir because Physical Graffiti is so awesome, not just as an album but as a double album and I’m never disappointed when i return to it. I LOVE THE COVER, THE FOLD OUT ENVELOPE, EVEN THE LABEL ON THE VINYL, STANDARD LED ZEP. I’m sure there are other songs that I hear on the radio from rock stars and pop stars that I think wow that’s great, I just can’t pick one, not Dylan, Not Bowie, Not Young, Not Radiohead (although Creep will always be up there), not even the likes of Queen or AC-DC or Blink or Foo’s Not Hendrix (oh boy how can i say that with “voodoo chile”) not Lennon, not beatles, not Jackson, not the clash or Johnny Cash, im just having to say all this to convince myself…….. not UB40, not the Kinks, not the Smiths, not Doctor Feelgood……
Bill your question is almost like torture, its been too difficult! If it wasnt Kashmir it would probably be “Immigrant song” or “dazed and confused” thinking about it. Kashmir is all about Page with a big dose of Plant and its never been the lyrics, I thought, but then an opening line of: “ Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream” Followed by: “I am a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been To sit with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen They talk of days for which they sit and wait and all will be revealed” And finishes: “Let me take you there. Let me take you there”
Next up it’s Mr Barton…. Simon to his friends. Here’s what he had to say. “Favourite song? Veeeeeeeery difficult to choose from almost a lifetime of listening to music. When I was a kid my fave was always Bohemian Rhapsody… until I discovered Punk and it became Anarchy In The UK. ( Slight contrast, I know. ) I’ve had many and varied “favourite songs” ever since, from The Band to The Jesus & Mary Chain, from Smokey Robinson to Metallica etc. etc. Although ( at this moment in time ) I’ll probably have to go with Springsteen’s Thunder Road, the ultimate evocation of his nostalgic, cars ‘n’ girls ethos: “It’s a town full of losers / I’m pulling out of here to win…” Still sends shivers down the spine. And then there’s Clarence’s sax solo… Perfection!
( Then again, I could choose Jungleland… or Born To Run… or… )
Anyway, if you’re interested I blog under the name of cerebus660 @http://glasswalking-stick.blogspot.com/ where you’ll find lots of random nonsense about music, films, comics, cats… you know, all the important things in life 😉
I’d be happy if you dropped by some time…” Simon I certainly will 🙂 I also love Thunder Road too
Tom said “Congrats on the impending milestone. I shall be joining you – if my calculations are correct – sometime in April 2026.
Choosing one favorite song is quite a task. However, this morning, Peter Gabriel’s Solsbury Hill popped up and I realized that I could never completely commit to one song has the be-all end-all for me, there is something about Solsbury Hill that gooses my spirit no matter how many times I hear it.
I know some of the song’s lore and the context in which it was released, but none of that intrudes upon on it for me. It’s always a singular listening experience that adapts to what I need at the moment, though the song always returns me to a place of calm and gratitude while offering hope through its resolute tone.
Congrats again. Look forward to reading your stuff for through the next million hits”
This is one of my own favourite songs of all time
Incidentally I once posted about my top 100 favourite songs for my 100th post. If I were to ignore Bowie my top song from that post remains my all time number one. It’s “No Woman No Cry” by the wonderfully talented Bob Marley.
Almost finally here is a list of all those wonderful songs. Once again a big thank you to all of you who contributed and all of you whoe read my blog. I would never have got this far without you all!
Never Give Up On A Good Thing – George Benson
Come Get To This – Marvin Gaye
In Between Days – The Cure
All You Need Is Love – Beatles
Blackwaterside – Bert Jansch
Ahead By A Century – The Tragically Hip
Cowboy Take Me Away – Dixie Chicks
In These Shoes – Kirsty MacColl
Kashmir – Led Zeppelin
Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen
Solsbury Hill – Peter Gabriel
No Woman No Cry – Bob Marley & the Wailers
I couldn’t think of which song to use as the theme for this post, so I settled on the Barenaked Ladies and a clip from someone who shares the same hairstyle as me; Dr Evil. Enjoy! (Well at least they both mention one million!)
I heard in the news this week that there is a radio station, Absolute Radio 60s, that is refusing to play anything by Cliff Richard as they don’t believe he is relevant. Is this a contemporary urban station or a specialist rock or punk station? No it’s a 60s station. Now I’m not a big fan of Cliff but to refuse to play him on a 60s radio station is frankly stupid! Click here to read the story on the BBC.
Cliff prepares for his version of another brick in the wall
In the late 50s Cliff Richard was quite a groundbreaker for British rock n roll. Try listening to “Move It” again, it’s a classic. As for the 60s Cliff had stacks of UK hits including a fair amount of number ones. Many of these were hits across Europe. He may have not had much success in the USA but it’s hard to deny how big he was elsewhere. “Summer Holiday”, “Bachelor Boy”, “Livin’ Doll” and “The Young Ones” to name but a few are classic 60s pop songs. You could also argue that Cliff’s Eurovision runner-up “Congratulations” is also a brilliant pop song, although personally I don’t like that one.
Cliff meets the young, vibrant management of Absolute 60s Radio
I really don’t like his schmaltzy Christmas songs and things like “Millennium Prayer” But that is no good reason to deny how strong his 60s output was. He may not have taken music forward in the way that perhaps his label mates at the time, the Beatles did. But he became a star before they did and perhaps without the likes of Cliff, Tommy Steele, Lonnie Donegan to pave the way the Beatles may not have had the same trajectory.
Cliff threatens to wear this outfit outside the Absolute Studios until they start playing his songs
As for that 60s station refusing to play Cliff Richard, surely if you run a 60s station you play 60s music, specifically 60s hits. Well that’s what I would do and a formulaic operation like that means that effectively your own taste doesn’t really come into it!
"OK Absolute I suggest that you play my songs or you won't like where this finger will be going!"
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 