I’ve been through the alphabet twice now, this time ending with the sublime talent that was Luther Vandross. Inspiration to many, loved by all.
So many to choose from:
1. Never Too Much – an all time classic
2. Give Me The Reason
3. Stop to Love
4. So Amazing
5. Dance with My Father – will always be emotional as it was the last single whilst he was alive
More Luther Vandross here
I’ve thought quite a bit about this one as I think everyone knows I love a huge variety of music. I’ve looked to the extremes: hip hop, heavy metal, just heavy, opera, choral, punk and glam rock but I don’t think anything will be a revelation. I settle for out and out boy-band pop!
I love love love 5ive!
This should be added to my list of tracks that keep me going which is why it’s featured here instead of another 5ive classic, If Ya Gettin’ Down. It’s been an age since I’ve heard this stuff!
I hear this track (that they wrote) sold nearly half a million copies, wow!
First one that comes to mind is Irene Cara – Flashdance (What a Feeling)
Guilty because I don’t care for the film (never managed to get through it) but the song is one of my three ‘inspirational songs’ that make me feel I can do anything.
Hate is a very strong word but let’s go with it for Robbie Williams.
I do like this track No Regrets but it is the genius Neil Tennant from Pet Shop Boys on backing vocals so I should be forgiven. (Although I thought it was written by PSB, has their stamp all over it)
Well I have three favourite bands and Cherry Ghost probably fit in this category best.
I’ll go with 4AM because it fills me with a lovely memory of listening to it on the flight back from San Francisco after a gorgeous break. It was probably 4am UK time.
There isn’t a song that makes me fall asleep, they only serve to keep me awake, good or bad.
If I was to think of a song that was soothing it will be from the country/folk genres so I pick one of my all time favourites.
Also one of my favourite lyrics of all time.
I had a delightful email the other day following on from my Cherry Ghost post, from another Manchester band, City Reign. Because of their proactivity and because they sound pretty good, just want to give you a little taster. I’ve promised we’ll all support them when they play a gig in Brum so hope I can count on you!
This one is easy; there are thousands of songs that make me happy, in fact the vast majority of music makes me happy.
However, this one, makes me stop what I’m doing, dance around the room with a huge grin; no matter where I am in the world.
It’s always been a childhood memory song (1975) but now also reminds me of my first Christmas in New York on my own in 2005.
Having, treated myself to a couple of nights of pretending to be a Park Avenue Princess at the Waldorf Astoria, I’m staying the rest of the week at the then regular Chelsea Star Hotel. The film that’s being heavily advertised is this one, with the track constantly being played. Of course I have to see the film and I love the scene (but not all of the film) where the song is featured. It sums up how I feel about it PERFECTLY.
More than a handful of times I’ve gone into Urban, my almost daily coffee shop and in the last few weeks, not been able to get a seat.
Two Saturdays in a row I’ve popped in, not seen a seat and walked out, which is such a pain when I’ve walked all the way with my little laptop which I then I have to carry around me while I a) run errands b) do my M&S shop and then try to find a seat somewhere else.
I thought with two Urban coffee shops now open this would not happen but it’s actually got busier in both!
Of course it’s all my own doing.
When I was a mere young thing, I’d get into the latest band, tell everyone how great they are and I’m thrilled when everyone else recognises their talent. Next thing I know, everyone else has discovered them, bought their records and I see Orange Juice on Top of the Pops. Then their records start selling out and I have to get to the shop first thing in the morning to be in with a chance of bagging one.
It’s a bit like that.
Back in my day, the charts really mattered and just to break into the top 40 was a big deal, to go top 10 was really special and to get anywhere near the echelons of the top was a rare, career altering, achievement.
Tuesday lunchtime was about being huddled around my radio listening to the brand new chart run down.
All those songs you think made number one in the 1980s didn’t (Duran Duran’s, ‘Save A Prayer’ (No 2), one of their best known ‘Rio’ (No 9) and Wham’s ‘Young Guns‘ (no 3) but that didn’t mean they weren’t huge and still classics now.
Radiohead announced the release of their album yesterday, not to be released in the spring or next month as with most new announcements, but this week. The news included the fact that their previous albums had reached number one but really, does that matter anymore?
My idea is that perhaps at the start of the year, we should start a ‘year to date’ chart based entirely on sales so far. Therefore, a track may come out in June but if it sells more than everything that preceded it, it will become number one until another single sells more. This is much truer test of what’s popular (these are the ‘pop’ charts after all) and it will hopefully discount whatever is popular on X Factor or with those pesky Glee kids in any particular week.
If these pop pretenders still end up at the top of the heap, well I won’t like it but I may attention to the charts once again.
Similarly, the BRITS were about what’s popular, right at the top of the charts and familiar to your mum and your kid brother alike. Nowadays, there’s always some act I’ve never heard off, or at least not heard the music. Call me middle aged but isn’t the Mercury prize for uncovering new talent, the BRITS used to be to recognise what’s already at the top of the tree.
It was going this way when still with the BBC but moving to ITV ensured it was all about the glitz and not about the music any more.
Still, I’ll watch it – and record it – religiously every year and disagree with every win, just like my Dad would have done thirty years ago.
With the BRIT Awards today, it got me thinking, why do we still have weekly charts?
Ok it’s not Gratitude for December this month mainly as I was uncharacteristically ill over Christmas and while I was in one of my top three favourite countries, Italy. Hey ho.
So let’s give some love to all of 2010 instead.
Writing
I finished my very first draft of my very first book. I have lots to do now but I have adored working on it and look forward to organising it and rewriting it, possibly into two books.
For this I’m grateful to my school English teachers, Mr Thomas and Ms French, Rosa Guy, Kimmi, my writing tutor in New York, AA Gill, India Knight, Jeremy Clarkson and lately Matt Rudd of the Sunday Times and loads of authors, brilliant ones and ones I haven’t enjoyed for inspiring me one way or another. Finally I’m grateful to Marsha Moore for her advice and encouragement.
Mostly, I’m grateful to Zoe Heller who inspired me to write articles when she was a Sunday Times columnist based in New York, way before she became a novelist.
Music
A few highlights of 2010
Birmingham Jazz Festival. I fully embraced and loved every second of it and can’t wait for this year. I think I’ll be taking a few days of during that week.
Brumnotes Christmas Party
Tom Peel. I saw twice for which I‘m grateful to Lyle Bignon for the heads up. I still owe this man a drink.
And the absolute highlight, seeing my favourite band of the last few years not once but twice, Cherry Ghost. A massive bonus was that on one of the occasions they supported the rather excellent, The Coral.
Travel
I didn’t get my three trips abroad this year just because I was so busy but this will be rectified in 2011 with at least two trips to Canada. I did get to see Scotland for the first time for a few book writing jaunts so I appreciate Bean Scene in Glasgow and Peters Yard in Edinburgh. Thanks for the coffee.
I did make a return trip to Milan and Verona at Christmas. I was ill to start with but definitely perked up when I got to Verona, prettier than I remember it from 11 years ago.
Books
I went to my first and only book signing, Dara O’Briain to sign one of favourite books of the year, ’Tickling the English’.
Work stuff
Grateful to Springboard for giving me lots of lovely projects to work on (and some horrid ones but makes me appreciate the lovely ones more).
On that note, I’m grateful to Kiss Me CupCakes who lent me spare car to run events across the country.
Social
I’m grateful to have the friends I have known for 5, 10, 15, 20 + years but also to MeetUp for all the new ones I have made this year with whom I’ve had so much fun, frolics and shared new experiences.
Talking of social, each year I’m more grateful for the Twitterati. You know who you are
Of course I’m grateful for Urban, for the friendliness and particularly for opening a long awaited second coffee shop 10 minutes walk in the other direction from my house.
It’s been lovely to visit some new to me restaurants this year, the gorgeous Opus from which I have developed a serious risotto addiction, the friendly and value for money Syriana and of course the luxurious Purnells for the birthday dinner. I am indeed truly blessed.
Footie
The World Cup; I love World Cup years and I’m contented with Spain winning.
Pretty in Pink (the girlie stuff)
Grateful for India Knight for introducing me to the Babyliss hot brush. I had a hot brush years ago and was not impressed and have only thrown it out a couple of years ago but on her say so, I buy this new one. It’s the ceramic coating that makes 100% difference. I don’t compare washing my hair to the nightmare of being locked in a room with Cheryl Cole and/or Robbie Williams now. In fact, I quite look forward to ‘doing my hair’.
For my hairdresser of two decades (even when I was in New York) Franco Russo in Bedford for introducing me to the wonder product that is Argan oil; sounds horrid but is a dream. Between these two introductions, no more bad hair days
Birthday
I’m truly grateful for another year on this fine planet and to celebrate by visiting another new city; Milan.
Birthday cards & flowers
All my choices are from way back when:
1. Food for Thought
2. One in Ten
3. King
I’ve been around the world, well around most of America and Canada, some of England and Scotland and all of northern Italy to be precise, always searching for the perfect coffee shop.
Everyone knows that in Birmingham, my regular ‘home from home’ is Urban Coffee Company but if I can combine the ‘best bits’ from around the world, this is what my coffee shop will include;
Mugs
Small and large. Let’s save cups and saucers for tea and cappuccino. North America does this so right.
Decent coffee
Urban make it and it’s obvious really. An option to have it in take-out cups as it keeps my coffee warm and is less fiddly. I once got refused a takeout cup to have inside a coffee shop in Edinburgh as it’s ‘against policy’. I went back to that shop nil times.
Oh and eggnog offered as standard in coffee during December.
Desks
I love a comfortable chair and sofas too so a mix is great but sometimes a desk helps us workers focus. And a big table means we can fit a lot of solo workers’ chairs around it, working away without taking up the sofas.
Lots of seating
Sofas for the socialites, desks for the workers.
Bagels
Just with cream cheese is fantastic. Scrambled eggs or salmon is a huge bonus. Again, standard in North America.
Cake
(Kissme) Cupcakes absolutely! Also a small assortment of other cakes and pastries each day. Love the mix at Peter’s Yard in Edinburgh.
Music
I love live music in coffee shops. It’s simply the most civilised way to listen to music. Probably not AC/DC, they are better in an outdoors stadium setting but music of the singer/songwriter type is just gorgeous in coffee shops.
At other times, soft music in the background or radio 2 is perfect. If it was my coffee shop everyone would have to stop at 10.30 to do #popmaster BeanScene in Scotland are passionate about their music.
Real Hot Food
Panini’s are great but I love soup, slices of pizza work and my absolute favourite is a bowl of hot chilli. And bagels! What’s a coffee shop without toasted bagels?
Bean Scene in Glasgow always have a warming chilli bowl ready for me.
Friendly staff
“Where everybody knows your name”.
No matter how good the coffee is I will go back only if there is a warm welcome and great service. It’s sooooo easy, ask Urban.
A view
Now I’m getting into the luxury territory but a room with a view is wonderful.
Warmth
It’s very hard to work in the cold.
Posters
If the coffee shop is the hub of a community, it’s good to know what’s happening in said community with posters, flyers, cards etc. Let’s spread the word and help each out. Bean Scene are great at this which is good for me, the out of towner.
Late Opening
8pm is fantastic (Urban), 10pm is divine (thanks Bean Scene!) 24 hours is a little crazy but handy (New York)
Goodies to take away
Not for me but if a coffee shop is all this then I love it if the out of towners can take a little piece of it back home with them. Just like this bag that I picked up from the heavenly place that is Peter’s Yard in Edinburgh.
Italy Well in Italy I’m guaranteed a perfect cup of coffee EVERY time, EVERYwhere. The only thing is I can’t linger; I can’t work or read but balanced with the many pavement cafes, the view is always superb. In any case, I’m very grateful that they have escaped the terrible chains that the rest of the world has embraced, except for the rather handy, cheap and tasty McCafes. I guess they must have made it government policy not to let them in. Thank heavens.
1.Reward
2. Treason – although I love hearing this more because it’s so rarely played on the radio
3.Passionate Friend – ooh ditto!
4.When I Dream
5.You Disappear From View – this reminds me of the Coral now
I’ve run out of time to wade through all of Springsteen’s catalogue so will have to run with that next time I reach ‘S’ on #musicmonday.
Having said that, Simple Minds also have a huge back catalogue but here are my favourites:
1. I Travel
2. The American
3. Glittering Prize
4. (Don’t You) Forget About Me)
5. Someone, Somewhere in Summertime
I could pick pick almost every track from ‘New Gold Dream’ which is certainly the Minds best album but also one of the finest collections of music ever made.
Yes I do love ‘Promised You a Miracle’ and remember being so excited when it came out but then the rest of the album came and blew me away.
Similarly I love ‘(Don’t You) Forget About Me’ anyway and then it was included in one of my favourite films of all time’ The Breakfast Club’.
It’s all such a great legacy of work I can easily pick a top 10.
1. Losing My Religion
2. It’s the End of the World As We Know it
3. Don’t Go Back to Rockville
4. The One I Love
5. Can’t Get There From Here
I should say, REM are also responsible for one of my ‘turn it off immediately, if I listen to this, my brain will explode taking my ears with it’, ‘Shiny Happy People’.
1. Love My Way – I just loved loved loved this track when it came out and it never gets played these days. Underrated
2. Pretty in Pink – fantastic coming of age film, fantastic track
3. President Gas – we’ll go with this one this week, could all change next time the ‘P’ comes around
How do I pick from Orange Juice, they’re all so great?!
Here goes with another one of Glasgow’s finest:
I’ve made the effort to see Gary Numan live many years ago but can only think of two absolute classics, for which he is wholly worthy of music monday status:
1. Cars – still amazing after all these years
2 Are ‘Friends’ Electric – one of my first singles
3. Music for Chameleons – for the great bass line, but the third choice can change any minute
As I always say, Madonna is far more than just music but there is an unprecedented choice for this week’s #musicmonday.
There is no way I can select just 5 or even 10:
| Best |
| Borderline |
| Lucky Star |
| Dress You Up |
| Stay |
| Music |
| Get Together |
| Albums |
| Madonna |
| Confessions on a Dancefloor – after all these years of the first album still being the best, this comes along. Perfection |
| With meaning |
| Open Your Heart |
| Express Yourself |
| Keep it Together |
| I love New York |
| Jump |
| Love when I hear again |
| Cherish |
| Papa Don’t Preach |
| Deeper & Deeper |
| Justify My Love |
| Dance |
| Holiday |
| Into The Groove – pure nostalgia |
| Ray of Light |
| Hung Up |
| Sorry |
| Got to love through the video |
| Take A Bow – best Madonna video? |
| Don’t Tell Me |
| What it feels like for a girl |
in the mid 1980s and blew me away. Vocalist Maria McKee is probably my all time favourite female voice although there are not many that I like.
Is it country? Is it rock? It’s both with a mass of other musical influences thrown in.
1 Sweet Sweet Baby (album 1)
2 Ways to Be Wicked (album 1) Co written by Tom Petty who’s indluence is all over Lone Justice
3 Reflected (album 2)
4 I Found Love (album 2) both of these have gospel choir tones
5 Wheels (album 2) a rare slow one for me
The second album was produced by the E Street Band’s very own Steven Van Zandt and I love the big Springsteen-esque sound of it.
Maria McKee of course went on as a solo artist after the band disbanded most totally with ‘Show Me Heaven’ and also writing ‘A Good Heart’ for Feargal Sharkey.
Cherry Ghost : Beneath this Burning Shoreline
The Killers
This week it ‘s K for the Killers and it’s so easy to choose
3. Human – happy memories of arriving in New York in 2008 and it becoming a standing joke to insert any word other than ‘dancer’
4. Mr Brightside – everyone’s favourite
5. Bones – this grew on me
For a while, around 1982, Japan were the best band in the world.
They clearly had a huge impact at the time but looking back, I can only list a few brilliant tracks.
1 Quiet Life – my favourite and I still love it
2 Gentlemen Take Polaroids
3 Life In Tokyo
I think that’s it; any more from anyone?
Japan discography
All roads lead to cake 
