With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

“I feel so extraordinary, something’s got a hold on me” July 31, 2020

Filed under: Obituary — justwilliam1959 @ 3:08 pm
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Picture by Pete Smith (see note below)

Denise Johnson sadly passed away earlier this week at way too young an age. In my opinion she was one of the finest vocalists Britain has ever produced. Many of you might not know who she was as often she was seen as just a backing singer for the likes of A Certain Ratio and Primal Scream. She was an essential part of the Manchester music scene and a big fan of the blue side of the city (that would be Manchester City for those of you unfamiliar with football). I was a fan of Denise from her time with Primal Scream and I saw her on stage with them a couple of times. She was preparing to launch her first solo album, ‘Where Does It Go’ on 25th September and I know that she was very excited about it. Click here to pre-order it. I had a few chats with her on Twitter about getting hold of an early copy for review. She was also working on an email interview of a set of questions that I sent her about a month ago. I never met her in person, but she had an incredibly positive presence on social media. She was by far one of my favourite people on Twitter. The world has lost not just a very talented singer, but also a first class human being.

Picture by Pete Smith (see note below)

A Certain Ratio’s Martin Moscrop said this of her “It wasn’t only artists; it was everyone who liked Denise. The outpouring of love for her when her death was announced yesterday just goes to show how well she was respected by everyone, not only as an amazing singer but as a person. She was the perfect all-rounder because she was so talented, but along with that talent she was such a caring person. At the end of every gig we always had to wait for her because she had to go and personally thank everyone involved, the bar staff, the bouncers, the people cleaning up, the promoter, the ticket person and the technicians. That’s a measure of the type of person she was.” Click here to read the rest of his comments on the NME site.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up for her funeral, click here to access it and contribute if you can

Denise Johnson – Legend! R.I.P.

I confess that I “borrowed” the pictures from the NME site. The photographer was Pete Smith. Pete I run this blog out of a passion for music, so while I can’t pay you I would be happy to promote you via a link to your site. Alternatively I can remove the pictures if you want me to.

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“Swimming through sick lullabies, choking on your alibis” November 26, 2017

Filed under: Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 9:07 am
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Like many bands the Killers considered many names before finally settling on the Killers. At one point they apparently considered the Genius Sex Poets. I don’t know about you, but for me that would have been so much better. I can even picture it on a T Shirt. The reason they chose the Killers is thanks to New Order. It was the name of a fictitious band on the drum kit during the video for “Crystal”. Which was released the year Brandon and the gang got together; 2001. You can watch that video at the end of this post.

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While we are speaking of the Killers, did you know that “Mr Brightside” has appeared in the UK charts every year since its release in 2003. This includes 35 consecutive weeks from July 2016 to March 2017. But it has never made it any higher than number 10 to date. Interestingly and rather surprisingly they have never had a UK number, well up to now anyway. But “Human”, “When You Were Young” and “Somebody Told Me” all made the top 3. But to make the band feel better all five of their studio albums hit the top spot over here in dear old Blighty.

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“Catch me if you can cos I’m the England man” August 21, 2017

Filed under: Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 7:00 am
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There haven’t been many good football (that’ll be soccer to my American readers) songs in my opinion. But there are a few exceptions; “Back Home” by the England 1970 World Cup Squad, “Three Lions” by Baddiel, Skinner & the Lightning Seeds and the 1990 New Order song “World In Motion”, yes even with that John Barnes rap!

Anyway New Order’s song which was England’s official 1990 World Cup song was originally titled ‘E for England’. At least it was until the FA realised the name might be misconstrued as a reference to drugs and rave culture! Really? was it that obvious?

For me those three songs represent some of the best England performances we have ever had from 1970, 1990 and 1996. Is that coincidence? Maybe you have some favourite football songs, what are they?

 

PARENTZ – “Single” August 14, 2017

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 9:00 pm
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Oakland, California’s PARENTZ recently released a brand new single on Popgang Records which is imaginatively entitled “Single”. I wonder if their album will be called ‘Album’? Let’s hope not as Public Image Limited got there first with that one. Anyway “Single” is a shimmering slice of electro pop with great earworm potential. At times it flows across your senses like you would imagine a chill out album from New Order might. Also a big thank you to those delightful folks over at Noisy Ghost PR for giving me the opportunity to hear about the rather splendid PARENTZ. Also if you want to hear more from PARENTZ click here to check them out on Soundcloud.

 

 

“Confusion in her eyes that says it all” September 21, 2015

Filed under: Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 8:01 pm
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I’m sure that the majority of you are by now familiar with the classic image used on the cover of Joy Division’s album ‘Unknown Pleasures’. It certainly seems to be making an appearance on plenty of items lately; mugs, t-shirts and such. Some of you will also know that the image depicts the radio signature for the first pulsar ever discovered, which was rather unimaginatively named CP1919. Well I say unimaginatively, but it’s not too far from R2D2 is it?

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In a recent interview Bernard Sumner off of Joy Division, New Order and Electronic said “Lots of people know that a pulsar is a collapsed star but not everyone knows that pulsars rotate”. He then went on to say “This one goes round at 45rpm” Bernard sometimes wonders if the universe is taking the piss. I certainly think that the universe appears to be voting for a return to vinyl!

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“Come on you England, you noble Englishmen” June 13, 2014

Filed under: Observation — justwilliam1959 @ 2:16 pm
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The football (that’ll be soccer to my friends from across the big pond) world cup has begun and as an English man so has the pain of supporting my team for however long they last in the tournament. At least this time around it seems like the expectations on the England team are far less than they have been for many years. They could never play any worse than they did in South Africa in 2010 either could they? Brazil, the hosts, won the opening match 3 -1 last night against a very, very unlucky Croatia team. Can England do the same to Italy on Saturday night? I hope so, but having mostly painfully watched England in the World Cup (and European Championships) since those heady days of 1966 I worry! is football coming home? Perhaps not but let’s at least hope that it gets’ a very late bus. sadly I have a small bet with someone at work that England will fail to get past the group stage this time around. I would love to lose that bet. anyway to celebrate before England play their first game here are a few England and Football related songs for you. The first one is from Rik Mayall who sadly died earlier this week. My thoughts go to his family, friends and fans.

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If you would like to read my post on England relating to the 2010 World Cup click here.

 

“But if it wasn’t for your misfortunes I’d be a heavenly person today” March 7, 2014

Filed under: Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 2:00 pm
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new orderNew Order’s classic single “Blue Monday” remains the biggest selling UK 12 inch single of all time. It is also one of the longest singles ever to chart in the UK as it clocks in at more than 7 minutes. Did you know where the song’s title came from? Apparently it came from the title of an illustration in Kurt Vonnegut’s book ‘Breakfast Of Champions’. The title of that illustration was ‘Goodbye Blue Monday’ and it referred to how the invention of the washing machine had improved the lives of housewives so much! So obviously it never changed the lives of us men much then did it?

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goodbye blue monday

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“We’ll fight until the whistle goes” June 24, 2012

Filed under: Observation — justwilliam1959 @ 3:47 pm
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It may have passed some of you by but we are in the middle of the European Football Championships, better known as Euro 2012. Against the majority of expectations my national team, England have not only progressed beyond the group stage they actually won their group as well. Putting France into second place and eliminating one of the host nations, Ukraine.

Later today England play Italy for a semi final place where the winners of todays game will play Germany. I believe that England can win today. However recent history says that if we do and then go on to play Germany in the semi final the game will go to extra time and Germany will win the penalty shoot out. Just like at the Italia ’90 World Cup and on our home turf in Euro ’96. Obviously I would love for ‘football to come home’ and for us to beat the Italians, the Germans and whoever awaits us in the final. But it’s now 46 years since we won a major tournament. Is this our time? Well my fingers are crossed and so far the team have been light years better than their disastrous showing at the South Africa World Cup back in 2010 so who knows.

How many of you can actually remember this? I can, but I was only 7 at the time

So let’s cheer the team on with the first hit England song, the most heartfelt England song and in my opinion the best England song. All three of which went to number one in the UK charts. ENGERLAND, ENGERLAND, ENGERLAND….. repeat until you lose your voice!

 

“Yet there’s still this appeal that we’ve kept through our lives”

Filed under: News — justwilliam1959 @ 3:19 pm
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Many of you will already know that the NME celebrates its 60th birthday this year. It was first published in March of 1952, it was later that year that it also published the first ever UK singles chart based on sales. That was in November 1952 and featured Al Martino‘s “Here In My Heart” at number one.

As part of their birthday celebrations the NME has published a list of the top 100 songs since the paper has been around. I’m sure that there will be plenty of debate about what is in and what isn’t in the list. I was particularly surprised that there are no songs from the 50’s included. How about Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” that was pretty damned ground breaking. Incidentally the spread of songs from the other periods are;

60s = 22

70s = 16

80s = 19

90s = 19

00s/ 10s = 24

Why not cast your vote in my favourite decade poll below 🙂

My favourite song of all time; Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” reaches number 86 and Mr Bowie has “Space Oddity” at number 39 and another song in the top 5 (more of that one later). The Beatles have three entries in the top 100. Thankfully Westlife, Cheryl Cole and their ilk are nowhere to be seen in this list.

So without further ado and in traditional reverse order here is the top 5;

5 “Blue Monday” – New Order

4 “Good Vibrations” – Beach Boys

3 “”Heroes”” – David Bowie

2 “Common People” – Pulp

1 “Love Will Tear Us Apart” – Joy Division

If you’re interested click here to find the top 50 (I haven’t been able to find a site that shows the whole 100)

 

“Arrivederci it’s one on one” February 27, 2012

Filed under: News,Rants — justwilliam1959 @ 9:20 pm
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As always there will probably be a glut football songs to go with England‘s likely embarrassment in the Euro 2012 tournament in Poland and the Ukraine this summer. But whilst this bunch of millionaire losers fail on the fields of eastern Europe there will at least be a, possibly, credible anthem to listen to while you mock them. According to the NME New Order (without Hooky I assume) may be re-recording 1990’s “World In Motion” with Tinie Tempah and Dizzee Rascal.

Finally Lampard felt comfortable in the midfield hole

Nothing is certain yet, other than perhaps England falling flat on their rich pathetic faces. Unless of course they bring in ‘Arry. But I have always liked the song. As footie tunes go it’s top class. I presume that Tinie or Dizzee will fill the slot where the original John Barnes rap was. The alternative would be to get one of the players, many of whom can barely string a conversation together, to do it. John Terry for example ‘I’m over the moon cos I’m on football tune. I’m a racialist and I like to get pissed. I’ve shagged Wayne Bridge‘s bird and I like dirty words. That disabled space is mine and I won’t pay the fine. I’ve played real crap and I really can’t rap. I’m Captain of Engerland and I’m………. errr no I’m not anymore am I? Oh bollocks!’

In the meantime enjoy the original version and click here if you want to read the story on the NME.

John Terry tries to tell the world he's a right tit, but he can't get that right either!

 

 
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