Tag Archives: singing

Turn Off Your Mobiles

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A good piece in yesterday’s Guardian (20 August 2014) about the mania for using smart phones at concerts and other similar events to record and/or photograph proceedings rather than, as in times gone by simply immersing oneself in the activity. Perhaps the pendulum has swung too far and people have lost the capacity to simply enjoy an activity without feeling the need to photograph and record it to death. I, sadly have my doubts but, as is so often said only time will tell. For the article please go to http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/20/kate-bush-transcendence-v-smartphones

The Splintered Ukes

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On Saturday 21 December I went with my mum and her partner to listen to The Splintered Ukes, a Liverpool group who perform cover versions of other group’s tracks, http://www.splinteredukes.com/. Despite the terrible weather (it poured down for much of the time) I very much enjoyed the performance which took place in Liverpool’s Clayton Square. I had heard The Splintered Ukes perform once before in Liverpool’s Sefton Park and as with the band’s previous performance I was impressed by the group’s abilities. I ought to declare an interest as my sister is friends with several of the group. If you are in Liverpool I would recommend checking out this band.

The Girl Who Got Away Dido

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I am a huge fan of Dido and own all her albums. I recently purchased Girl Who Got Away and there is, as always a lot on it which gives tremendous pleasure. I particularly like The Day Before We Went to War, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4THzaCrMht4. The sound of the birds at the start and end of the music are evocative of peaceful times as is Dido’s singing but the song of the birds can be contrasted with the planes flying overhead.

On balance my next favourite track is Happy New Year which is sung in such a sad and beautiful manner, (for some reason I am unable to copy the link to this video. You can, however find it on Youtube by searching for “happy new year Dido”. As always a great album by a talented artist.

Prime Minister’s Questions

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The Leader of the Opposition

“Can the Prime Minister tell the House “how much is that doggy in the window?””

The Prime Minister

“The one with the waggerly tail?”

The Leader of the Opposition

“The Prime Minister knows full well which specific canine I am referring to”.

The Prime Minister

“my civil servants have made extensive enquiries and I am advised that, that doggy is not, in fact for sale. I do, however understand from my right honourable friend, the Foreign Secretary that “In Rangoon the heat at noon is just what the natives shun, but mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid day, out in the mid day, out in the mid day sun””.

The Leader of the Opposition

“I have a little cat and I’m very fond of that but I’d rather have a bow, wow wow”.

The Prime Minister

“Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition could put  a doggy on his Christmas list, who knows what Santa might bring him. If the party opposite had handled the public finances more wisely when they where in office then more men and women would be able to afford to own a bow wow” (The Commons dissolves into laughter and Prime Minister’s Questions is suspended).

The Blackbird

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Yesterday evening on the way home from a restaurant , with my friend Jeff, he and I where delighted by the singing of a blackbird. There he sat atop an urban chimney in the heart of Crystal Palace singing fit to burst. His singing filled that busy street with music and he made me feel life coursing through my veins. Beauty in the heart of the city.