Mr O’Brien is also the father of soulful UK chanteuse and Brit School alumni Katy B. Given the family connection maybe we should ask her to represent the UK at next years contest. “Sing Sang Song” finished in 15th place in a year where the UK actually won. The crown was taken by Brotherhood Of Man with “Save All Your Kisses For Me“; not one of my favourite songs!
Here’s a rather amusing pop music related joke for you. What was Whitney Houston’s favourite type of coördination? Hand Eyeeeye. Do you get it? Do you like it? Feel free to contribute your own music jokes!
Did you know that a bully was partly responsible for providing Arcade Fire with their name? A bully at Win Butler’s old school spoke constantly about an old arcade that burned down resulting in the death of a number of children.
Whilst we are on names Win Butler’s name is not as simple as you might think. His full name is Edwin Farnham Butler the Third. That sounds almost royal doesn’t it?
When I read the headline I assumed that Morrissey was ready to release a cover of the Archies “Sugar Sugar”. But then I read it again and I realised that the story was in fact about a potential appearance by our Mozza in the long running BBC radiosoap operaThe Archers. I can only assume that he’ll be playing himself and that he will try to air his militant veggie views.
Usually the most entertaining part of the Eurovision Song Contest is the voting and checking how many countries hate us Brits and show it by giving us nul points. But this year I really feel that we are in with a shout. Molly’s “Children Of The Universe” strikes me as classic Eurovision. I wonder how the votes will be split between Russia and the Ukraine? Anyway I should warn you that I am typing this post as I watch the show. So let’s get on with the 59th Eurovision Song Contest shall we?
Ukraine are up first with a typical Euro song title; “Tick Tock”. Why is there a bloke in a hamster wheel on stage? Singer Mariya Yaremchuk looks good and the song, in spite of its title is not too shabby. Belarus are up next represented by Teo with “Cheesecake”. He has a monster quiff does that Teo. It’s an ok kind of song with some good synchronised dancing in the performance, but no hamster wheel.
Azerbaijan are next and they are trying to “Start A Fire” as sung by Dilara Kazimova. While there is no hamster wheel there is a trapeze. What is that all about? Anyway in my opinion this is a bit of a dirgeful ballad with a singer who seems a little too earnest for me. In Dilara’s favour Catwoman likes her dress. Pollaponk are representing Iceland and one of their backing vocalists is an Icelandic MP. Their suits are all primary colours but as the song says let’s show them “No Prejudice”. The song is a little pop punk with more emphasis on the pop. I’ll probably be wrong as usual, but I think this could win.
Carl Espen is trying to whip up a “Silent Storm” for Norway. He is not an established singer and keeping it in the family the song was written by his cousin. Not my kind of song. It strikes me as a bit forgettable. Paula Seling and Ovi are hoping for a “Miracle” as they sing for Romania. This song can’t make up its mind as to whether it’s a power ballad or just another piece of Euro Disco. It does feature a round piano though.
Armenia are putting up a comedian called Aram MP3 with “Not Alone” which didn’t sound particularly funny to me. Have I missed the punchline. I also felt his voice was a bit flat and out of tune at times. It definitely sees itself as an 80s power ballad though. Montenegro are the first country tonight that are singing in their native tongue. The singer is Sergej Cetkovic with “Moj Svijet”. It sounds like classic mid table Eurovision fodder to me, which given my track record probably means it’ll win. It is backed up with a roller skating dancer, why? Don’t ask me.
We are Slavic washerwomen
“We Are Slavic” is the Polish entry and is sung in English and Polish by Donatan and Cleo. Is it really a feminist anthem? Why are they all dressed as milkmaids? Greece are about to “Rise Up” performed by Freaky Fortune featuring RiskyKidd. The Kidd is actually a rapper from London. It strikes me as the first song of the night to really get the place rocking. Not a hamster wheel in sight, just a bloody huge trampoline.
Now it’s Austria with a bearded drag artist, Conchita Wurst singing “Rise Like A Pheonix”. He/ She looks a little scary to me. It’s a good song but the whole appearance puts me right off. Germany ask “Is It Right” with a female trio called Elaiza. It features an accordion and has a bit of an oompah feel about it. I really don’t like this song!
Can Sanna Nielsen“Undo” the competition for Sweden 40 years after Abba won the contest? Possibly as it is this years favourite. Actually it’s a bloody good sung and Sanna has a great voice. If a ballad wins this year it might be “Undo”. TWIN TWIN perform the French entry “Moustache”; a song about a man who can’t grow a moustache. The singer can certainly grow a cartoon comedy haircut though. I can only assume that France don’t want to win. This song is shit!
TWIN TWIN – you cocks!
The Tolmachevy Sisters have interlocking hair and they are singing “Shine”. Their hair has come undone, well at least that will make going to the toilet easier. But wait now they’re on a see saw; why? It was ok but they’re hardly Pussy Riot. Emma sings in Italian for Italy with a rocking little ditty called “La Mia Citta” a.k.a “My City”. The costumes are a bit Roman Empire. Not a bad song though.
Tinkara Kovac is singing “Round And Round” for Slovenia. Sung in Slovene and English in a rather shouty way with added flute. We’re hoping for “Something Better” from Finland from Softengine. They sound a bit like a discofied Aha.
Ruth Lorenzo once came 5th in the X Factor and she is singing her own composition for Spain. It’s called “Dancing In The Rain”. Knowing my luck a former X Factor contestant will win it. It hurts terribly to admit it but the song is alright, not great just alright. The shouty bit at the end kills it a bit though. Those perennial neutrals Switzerland have a song called “Hunter Of Stars” by Sebalter. It has far too much whistling for my liking with a backing track that sounds like a speeded up “Duelling Banjos“.
Andras Kallay-Saunders is “Running” for Hungary. He runs around the stage a bit too. A good pop song methinks. Malta are “Coming Home” with Firelight. Two siblings in the band have a mother from Yorkshire. But the song is so Mumford it hurts. Is that style popular across Europe? I don’t know and frankly I hope not! But just to provide a balanced view, Catwoman likes this song apart from the female vocals.
Next up is “Cliche Love Song” by Basim singing for hosts Denmark. Blimey is he miming to Bruno Mars? This is possibly one of the best entries of the night. The Danish TV executives must be shitting themselves. It costs a packet to put this show on. After Denmark the Netherlands provide the “Calm After The Storm” as song by the Common Linnets. Who knew that the Dutch do Country and Western? They can though and it’s quite a good song.
San Marino are the penultimate country with “Maybe” sung by Valentina Monetta. It sounds like the theme song to a late 60s James Bond spoof. Was that meant to be a giant sea shell behind her? Finally it’s time for the UK entry which is “Children Of The Universe” from Molly. I really do think she’s in with a chance. Not sure about her boots but for me Molly nailed it!
Before the scoring starts my tips are Sweden, Denmark and the UK and I reckon France ought to finish last. Now for the scoring which as you might have guessed featured all the usual political voting. Molly came 17th out of 26th so not as bad as many UK entries. The runaway winner was Conchita Wurst from Austria a.k.a the bearded lady with “Rise Like A Phoenix”. I really don’t get it, although to be fair on second hearing the song isn’t too bad! As for my tips; Sweden were third and I was right about France who finished last!
The only reason for this post is that one of my connections on LinkedIn posted the picture above. Therefore I thought let’s have a bit of Blondie shall we? Also it might help us erase any nightmares of Wand Erection singing it! These are three of my favourite Blondie tracks, what are yours?
Blondie at International center, Toronto 1978 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
American rock bandKiss are tailor-made for appearing in comics and they have on many occasions. But did you know that their first ever appearance in a comic was in a 1977 issue of ‘Howard The Duck‘? Has anyone got a copy of that comic? As well as appearing in their own comic book series the band have also appeared on the Simpsons as themselves.
Elvis was the King and to many he still is, but I thought that maybe his crown might have amounted to more than just a tooth. a crown that was made for Presley’s teeth by former Memphis dentist Henry J Weiss. The crown was recently bought for $11,000 by Michael Zuk, a collector of celebrity teeth. Are there any more weird collectors than that? He also recently bought one of John Lennon‘s teeth and is planning to clone Lennon from that tooth!
Anyway if you are desperate to see Elvis’ crown it will be making a tour of 12 UK dentists to feature in their Elvis Days. This is to promote awareness of mouth/ oral cancer. As well as seeing the crown there will be music, costumes and a model of Elvis’ teeth. I don’t think I’ll be going. It’s hardly Bowie at the V & A is it? Click here to read the full story on the NME website.
Imagine how different music history might have been if Brian May had left Queen in 1974 just a short while before things really began to take off for them. It might have happened, during 1974 Queen were supporting Sparks in London and Ron Mael took the opportunity to ask Brian to become guitarist for Sparks. I wonder what direction each band would have taken had Mr May said yes? What do you think?
Now that the dust has settled on the excitement of the sale of tickets to see Kate Bush on stage after all these years (who’d have guessed that was going to happen?) I thought that it would be appropriate to entertain you with my top 10 Kate songs. As for those profiteers who have bought tickets with no intention of using them; may the fleas of a thousand camels infest in your arse and raise generations of flea families there. I also hope that said fleas make the arses of anyone associated with Viagogo and other so-called ticket exchange sites an urgent infestment priority. This is not the rant of a disgruntled punter without a ticket, I have mine. This is the rant of a music lover who believes that there should be no room in the world for ‘ticket exchange’ organisations who are in fact nothing better than licensed touts. They are the pay-day loan companies of the entertainment industry. Demand for these tickets was always going to exceed supply but for companies to be selling these tickets at such a massive premium sucks Satan’s cock in my opinion.
OK take your mind off of that whole issue and listen to Billy’s top 10 Kate Bush songs.
Azerbaijan
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 