Ahhh I so do not want to like this song. I have a serious hatred for anything N-Dubz and yet I can't help myself. In this circumstance it could be due to something programmed inside me that means I have to love everything Queen/Brian May has ever done. Or it could be that this song is actually good. Maybe both. I don't like to watch the video because it means I have to look at Dappy's face, and there just isn't enough Brian May. But I do like the song, and their live lounge together yesterday was also really good, much as I hate to say it. Even the cover of We Will Rock You (I'm obviously ignoring the weird rap bit in the middle).
In honour of it's five academy awards last night, my record for today is from the soundtrack for The Artist. I can't even explain how much I loved this film - it has me written all over it. It's funny and sad and perfect in all ways (plus as I've been saying a million times - Uggie is possibly the cutest thing ever to be seen on the big screen. EVER). The soundtrack is absolutely authentic and even has a bit of Duke Ellington thrown in there to add a little more awesomeness. It was mostly written by Ludovic Bource, along with samples and extracts from other famous scores (such as Hitchcock's Vertigo written by the impeccable Bernard Herrmann). Bource had only written for small French films before this soundtrack which so far has gotten him 7 major awards, including an Oscar, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe. I will never be able to sing enough praises for this movie so have a listen to this and if you haven't seen it yet, (and are most likely judging it by the fact is a silent movie and you're like sooo not into that) SHAME ON YOU.
Record of the Day: George and Peppy (Finale of the film) - The Artist Soundtrack (Ludovic Bource)
You know there's some songs that have such vivid memories that when you listen to it, it's like you're actually where you were when you first heard it? Well, weirdly, this song is like that for me. It's not even a particularly exciting memory but it's so so clear that I can't think about anything else when I listen to it. This is from Fall Out Boy's second studio album (but first full length release) in 2003 which is when I heard it so I think I was about 13 or 14 (I know, I'm a foetus). The very first time I heard it I was working in my dad's office in the summer packing about a thousand letters in envelopes and a friend I had at the time called Eddie had added to my ipod the day before but I hadn't listened to it yet. I listened to it on repeat for the entire day, which is probably why the memory is so ingrained in my mind. Strangely it's not just that I remember what I was doing, it's more that the song actually makes me feel what it felt like to be 14 which is pretty refreshing these days. I really didn't have any cares or worries, even though I thought I did, and this song, even though I'm aware it's an odd choice, kind of brings me back down to earth when I let the cares and worries take over. So that's why I chose it as my record of the day...
Record of the Day: Fall Out Boy - Grand Theft Autumn/Where is your Boy Tonight? (from the album Take This To Your Grave, 2003)
I always get quite excited when the Brits come around every year, mainly because it's the only music awards show I can watch that doesn't even staying up until 4am streaming on my laptop from the states. And I always feel a bit sorry for them. In true British fashion, they never seem to have the same seem less gracefulness that the Grammys and the Oscars and even the Bafta have. And of course last night's was no exception. It felt the whole way through that the producers were rushing to get through everything, made even more evident by cutting Adele's speech for the biggest award of the night (soooo awkward). There was some pretty good performances (Bruno, Florence, Ed) and some really really not so good performance (Olly Murs - eek, that weird Noel Gallagher song consisting of just 3 words). But nothing could have prepared me for the disaster of Blur who closed the show. I know some people believe it to be sacrilege to bad mouth Blur, and don't get me wrong I'm not denying their success - I actually really like them, but that performance was just strange. Unfortunately Damon Albarn is 43, not 23 when all the music they played last night was released and it really showed. Their performance of Parklife with Phil Daniels speaking was like watching two drunk men wandering around in Slough on a Saturday night after the Rugby. I suppose in a way it was quite British in this way, this would absolutely never happen in the US...
So my point is, after the Blur catastrophe I actually went through my music collection, found the old Blur albums and listened just to remind myself of how good they once were! They really were so good...
And so my record of the day is: Blur - Song 2 (from their fifth studio album Blur, 1997)
I seem to be having a dreary folk band weeks (Smiths, Belle & Sebastian) so I thought I'd just go with it. I just love this band and not just because it's Zooey Deschanel's (althought that makes me very happy). I know I've talked about them before but they're just so good - this song in particular I could fall asleep to every night. All of their songs are simple and quaint, with some on the album Volume One even doing a little throwback to the 50s and 60s (Sweet Darlin' and I Was Made For You). Her voice is original and probably not to everyone's taste but if you like the whole folk-turned-mainstream thing people seem to have going on at the moment (Mumford, Laura Marling etc) then you'll enjoy this.
Record of the Day: She & Him - Take It Back (from the album Volume One,2008)
Belle & Sebastian are my go-to band when I was really beautiful music - for me they are The Smiths of the 1990s. They're indie pop at it's best, and although they've never been super commercially successful, they are very important to me in terms of the development of folky pop over the last decade or so... This song in particular is really 142 seconds of pop perfection! The song is sweet and funny and with lines like "when the first cup of coffee tastes like washing-up" you really can't go wrong. I suggest you go and listen to a few of their albums and see how much better you feel about life!
Record of the Day: Belle & Sebastian - She's Losing It
I’ve been searching for a while for just
the right cover for my iPhone 4S I got before Christmas and when I saw this
Andy Warhol case in the Apple store this week it practically said my name! I’m
not sure if I’ve explained about my passionate love affair with New York City
previously, but to reiterate it is quite literally my FAVOURITE place on the
planet. I love absolutely everything about it and that combined with my love
for old black and white photographs meant this cover was made for little old
moi.
I got it at the Apple store (here) for
about £35.00. Perhaps a little pricey but it’s pretty sturdy and protective so
a good investment in my opinion!
Say Anything (as I've previously disclosed) is one of my favourite movies and it contains one of my all time favourite scenes. It's pretty iconic for those who know Cameron Crowe and 80s cinema in general - when Lloyd is standing outside Diane's bedroom holding the boombox over his head with THIS song playing. This was the first time I really became aware of Peter Gabriel's music (although I had stolen my parents Genesis vinyls at a young age...) and I fell in love. With Lloyd and the song. Here's THAT song to a little montaaage of the movie (which if you haven't seen I suggest you don't do anything else until you have).
Record of the Day: Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes (from the album So, 1986 - GREAT album!!!)
Sunday is by far my favourite day of the week, especially when I'm at home in the countryside. Nothing is open (in the country anyway) so you don't feel guilty for staying in all day and, particularly in the winter, it's a perfect excuse to make something yummy and curl up with the pup in front of the fire. And today's yummy treat came in the form of rice pudding! Not the old school food kind but my kind - creamy and delish. I have 5 people in my family and conveniently we all like ours differently so here's how I make mine three different ways: Plain, with jam and (my personal favourite obviously) with raisins and RUM!
1. If you're making with raisins and run soak 80g raisins in 2 tablespoons of dark for about 20 mins.
2. Boil 100g of white basmati rice and half a teaspoon of salt in about 350 ml of water for about 8 or 9 mins.
3. Stir in 100g of granulated sugar, 500ml of milk and 200ml of single (or double if you're feeling fancy!) to the rice. I know it seems like A LOT of liquid but it'll boil down. Simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring often.
4. When the liquid is almost gone and the rice is super soft, stir in 1 beaten egg and cook for another minute.
5. Take the pan of the heat and add 1 and a half teaspoons of vanilla extract.
You can serve it plain like that (how my dad likes it, with a pinch of cinnamon)...
Or school dinner style with a spoon of strawberry (my brothers' personal preference) jam...
Or you can serve it the way my mother and I (and all other women I've asked) prefer it. After leaving the raisins to soak, pour them in the pudding with any left over rum and heat for another 2 minutes. Perfect for a winter eve :)
It may be because it’s the week of luuurve
or perhaps I’ve been watching too much sappy TV (omg for this week’s episode of
Cougar Town) but I thought I’d share one of my most loved songs about L.O.V.E.
This song has been covered a million times and sampled a few times but
absolutely nothing competes with the original. Otis has the most gorgeous
voice, full of soul, and this song puts me in the best mood.
Record of the Day: Otis Redding – Try A Little Tenderness.
I've had a bit of a love affair with Boyce Avenue for going on four years now. For those of you uneducated people, Boyce Avenue are a YouTube band - they have been uploading since 2007 and are the second most searched band on YouTube. Mainly they do covers of everything and anything, but they also write original music of their own which is just YUM. They have over a million subscribers on YouTube and fb and their most watched video (a cover of We Found Love) has over 15 million hits! This is all even more marvellous because they're not signed to a record label at all and have managed to use the Internet to develop an international fan base which has allowed them to tour the world multiple times (I've seen them myself twice already - like OMG they were amazing, I was screaming like a 12 year old at a Beiber concert). They managed to sell 1.2 million records on iTunes just by using social media, which I think is pretty damn impressive - they should probably give some people at my office some pointers... They began their own record label, 3 Peace Records, and now release their material through that. In 2010, they joined together with Universal Republic to release their first major studio album, which they had financed and recorded entirely themselves before signing. They left Universal Republic last year to continue managing themselves and are constantly touring and posting new videos for their fans.
I feel that they're important to show that sometimes all you need is a really great voice and really great songs for people to pay attention. With over 500 million views on their channel, there must be something to be said for just playing great music in your living room with your brothers. There's often a lot of smoke and mirrors involving in the making of pop music but these guys remind me what pop music is really all about. I have some pretty serious respect for these guys for not following the stereotype and really giving me the feeling that they're in this because they love music more than anything - which is pretty much all I could ask for.
The first video I've added is a little video background on the band. Just to warn you, if you go to their channel you will definitely end up flicking through their hundreds of videos so make sure you have some free time on your hands ;) The second video is my record of the day, an original Boyce Avenue song. At the bottom of the blog I've included my Boyce Avenue Spotify playlist with all their best musical gems - go have a listen. They're literally awesome in every way and I love them. <3
The Boyce Avenue Story:
Record of the Day: Boyce Avenue - Find Me (from the album, All We Have Left, 2010 - Universal Republic)
It is a travesty of the most extreme that Beyonce's album 4 was not nominated for any Grammys this year. It hurts my brain that an album like Loud (no offence Rhianna...) would be nominated and they could overlook 4. And blah blah, everyone loves Adele, and yes it's marvellous she's got the voice back (although am I the only one who thinks there was more emotion in her songs when she was using the belting raspy voice that incidentally destroyed her throat?) BUT come on now. Just so you know, I'm about to get a bit excited. Beyonce is the queen of all. Seriously, in my eyes she can literally do no wrong. Not only is she one of the greatest performs and singers in the world (and possibly ever) but she's not a drug addict nor does she have any major issues (parental, childhood, romantic or otherwise related), she is graceful and poised (take note Adele...) whilst still be the definitely of FIERCE and FABULOUS and is generally an example and role model to all women. She has it all, the career, the man, the new babe and she absolutely goes to show that if you work hard enough and have the right positive attitude you really can have it all. I often attempt to channel Beyonce when I need to particularly fabulous (more than my normal level of fabulosity obvs).
This particular performance is of my favourite song from the album from Glastonbury last year. Oh.My.God. If you haven't watched the full hour and half performance (it's on YouTube so there's no excuse - I've now seen it 12 times) then I suggest you buy something yummy, make sure no ones in the house so it has your undivided attention and WATCH. I want that sparkly jacket more than anything. Also go listen to 4 (spotify playlist at the end of the blog). Perfection.
My record of the day: Beyonce - End of Time (from her fourth studio album 4, 2011 - Columbia Records)
Warning: if you click play you will be listening to country music. I'm totally ADDICTED to country music it's ridiculous and in particular Miranda Lambert. I wish country more than anything was more popular in UK and I feel I will eventually be forced to move over to the US of A where I will wear wranglers and boots without fear of being chastised and meet a male country lover who will wear a cowboy hat and call me darlin'. Yep.
So the record of my day is called Nobody's Fool by Miranda Lambert from her fourth studio album Four The Record (2011). The song wasn't even a single but it's my favourite on the album for some reason - plus it's written by the country and bluegrass singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton who I just LOVE (go listen to The SteelDrivers if you wanna listen to him...) Miranda's other three albums are also worth a listen if you feel so inclined...
Ahh Valentines Day. That gooey day of year when everyone seems more in love with each other than the other 364 days of the year, when Nicholas Sparks DVDs sell faster that chocolate covered crack and when those who are single feel more alone than ever but try and cover themselves with their "I hate men/women" campaigns by going out and getting hammered. You'll be pleased to know I fit into neither of these categories (although I am going out with girlfriends and may indeed by hammered by the end of the eve...). I am not in a couple HOWEVER I'm certainly not a bitter singleton! And if there's one thing I do love, it's a fantastic love song. Today's record of my day is my ultimate cheesy wedding song ;)
So for all the coupled up peeps - go have fun and shag your faces off. And for all the fellow singles...Remember: "Love comes to those who still hope even though they've been disappointed, to those who still believe even though they've been betrayed, to those who still love even though they've been hurt before". And also V-day's no different to tomorrow or yesterday!
I don't think I need to say much about Whitney. Anyone who appreciates music can recognise one of a kind talent when they hear it. Unfortunately, it has always seemed that the most talented and most unique leave us too soon - Whitney, Michael, Amy, Freddie, Heath, James Dean, Janis, Tupac, Kurt, Jim Morrison... Entertainment is a difficult industry with temptation everywhere and sadly it's too much for some of the brightest stars.
Here the Record of My Day, my favourite Whitney song and a video of her singing live (in 1986) at a happier time:
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know (1985, from her debut album Whitney Houston) <3
I CANNOT CONCENTRATE TODAY. I have these days about once a week (normally on Fridays), where I am fully aware of the billion things I have to do at work but for some reason I just can't bring myself to do any of them them. I blame this on having a lot of ADHD in my family as well as the invention of Facebook, blogs and YouTube. I know I'll regret it on Monday when it all catches up with me but for now it just feels like creating Spotify playlists or watching interviews with Tom Brady on YouTube (YUM) is a much better way to spend my time . It baffles me how anyone managed to procrastinate before we had computers... Anyway, instead of doing something useful for the past hour I made a list: Top 5 Records to daydream to and here they are.
(P.S. I'm trying a new thing - I've added the spotify playlist of all my Top 5 songs at the bottom of the post, so have a click and a listen!)
5. The Champs - Tequila
I listen to this and I am immediately at the house party in Breakfast at Tiffany's. I'm not sure why because this isn't even the song playing in that scene! BUT nevertheless that's where I am. I always say I was born in the wrong time because I should have been at parties like those, wearing amazing outfits and smoking cigarettes on long cigarette holders with white gloves on. If it was 1965 now that's where I'd be and it would be FABULOUS.
4. Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train
Just to explain - I'm a bit of skitzo when it comes to my daydreams. Moving out of 1965 glamour, during this song I'm in 1980, Lycra-clad, cock-rocking it out with that ridiculous guitar solo. It makes my brain ache listening to it.
3. Kim Wilde - Kids in America
I chose this because it's a song from the soundtrack to Clueless (yeah another social faux pas maybe but whatevs). I bloody love that film, and this song makes me want to wear knee high socks and mini skirts and drive around in a convertible jeep..."Like, Ew! Whatever!" The version on the soundtrack is by The Muffs but I like the original better ;)
2. Miranda Lambert - Gunpowder & Lead
Deep down under the surface of Grace (let's be honest, it's not that deep...) is a serious country music lover... I know I'm living in completely the wrong country for this to be socially acceptable but I don't care! And on that note is my number 3. I love Miranda (and her husband Blake - yummy) and I get all feisty and, honestly, a bit violent after listening to this. Oh to live in a land where shooting your ex-boyfriend because he was a dick is the norm...
1. Jim Jamison - I'm Always Here
YAH this is the theme tune to Baywatch! It's becoming a sort of club anthem in my ever so classy hometown of Newbury and in the club, we do exactly what I do in my head when I listen to this. WE RUN!
Throwback to the late '70s today. MAN I love Pat Benatar. And I absolutely adore this song. Great for a day when you're feeling like a bit of a feminist or you want to yell at a stupid man. Put this bad boy on and jump around your room/office (giant afro hair optional but preferable). Enjoy!
Record of My Day: Pat Benatar - Heartbreaker (From In The Heat Of The Night, 1979 - Chrysalis Records)
My department put out a charity Record a few weeks ago for Amnesty International. It was 3 Cd's of Bob Dylan by a bunch of fab people like Johnny Cash, Diana Krall, George Harrison along with a couple of strange ones thrown in there like Kesha and My Chemical Romance. It's definitely worth a listen - something I didn't do until yesterday when one of my colleagues put on this little gem. YEAHHH I KNOW it's by Miley Cyrus - I'm not particularly a fan nor do I hate her, I'm fairly indifferent on the whole. But seriously, this is a really good cover and it really doesn't sound anything like her. So have a listen and go buy the album - it's for charity and all.
Record of My Day: Miley Cyrus- Lonesome When You're Gone (From Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan, Honouring 50 Years of Amnesty International, 2012 - Fontana International)
Everyone is a bit sports crazy these day, my twitter feed seems to be full of all this Superbowl and Olympics chat. Indeed, I've jumped on the bandwagon having joined my local gym last week (ahem...) and so I thought I'd share my ultimate running machine song. I won't deny it, I definitely imagine myself winning some kind of marathon when I'm running listening to this song. By the way I refuse to believe other people don't envision themselves as Rocky in the dumpyard with a sledgehammer or with Mickey the trainer cheering him them on whilst they rock out a little Eye of the Tiger.
So here's my gym song: The Who - Baba O'Reiley (1971, from Who's Next)
Soooo, yesterday Mark Hoppus from Blink 182 came into my office and I turned into a ridiculous 15 year old for the day. It's always a bit weird when you see people you watched from afar for so many years and this is not the first occasion when I failed massively on the coolness scale (the most notable occasion being when I called Harry Connick Jr SIR when I met him in New York...). Often seeing them can be a little disappointing but in this case he was definitely as cool as I'd imagined! Consquently I've spent the last 24 hours listening to Blink 182 on repeat. There's so many good ones, but this song really feels like a kind of anthem of my teenager years, when me and my friends used to have parties in one of our friends shed where we'd drink cider and smirnoff ice and make out with each other in the fields (oh the good old country...)
Here's my record of the day: Blink 182 - What's my Age Again? (From the album Enema of the State, 1999 - their third studio album with MCA records which was part of my very own Universal Music Group and is now part of Geffen Records just FYI...)
