This week's song has been in my head for the simple reason that, on Thursday, I'm 'leaving home' for two months. Not off to some handsome young paramour (sadly!) but off to a country I love with a passion - America. Traversing the nation seeing friends and doing volunteer work will be such a great experience I'm sure, but fear not dear readers as I'm going armed with my laptop and my music collection on a back up drive so I'll never be far from the net or from the music!
'She's Leaving Home' by The Beatles appears on their album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' and was the first track not to be arranged by George Martin.
Inspired by a story in the Daily Mail about a teenager, Melanie Coe, who had disappeared one night aged 17 the actual lyrics of the song were not based on any facts - though later Melanie said that it hadn't been too far from the truth.
The lyrics are written from the perspective of the parents unable to understand why their young daughter would just up and leave. At the time the song was written young girls, like Melanie, running off and leaving with men they'd fallen for was fairly common place as it was a period of time where young people were beginning to feel more liberated and the old traditions of staying at home til you were married were becoming less relevant to the younger generation.
For me it's always been one of the Beatles songs that I've loved as, even as a young child, I could picture the song in my mind. I could see the visual interpretation like a movie in my head. I still feel it's one of the most 'visual' songs they ever recorded.
As for me, I'm looking forward to my adventure and I hope you enjoy this week's song! See you Stateside!
The Beatles - She's Leaving Home
Wednesday morning at five o'clock as the day begins
Silently closing their bedroom door
Leaving the note that she hoped would say more
She goes downstairs to the kitchen clutching her handkerchief
Quietly turning the backdoor key
Stepping outside she is free.
She (We gave her most of our lives)
is leaving (Sacrificed most of our lives)
home (We gave her everything money could buy)
She's leaving home after living alone
For so many years. Bye, bye
Father snores as his wife gets into her dressing gown
Picks up the letter that's lying there
Standing alone at the top of the stairs
She breaks down and cries to her husband Daddy our baby's gone
Why would she treat us so thoughtlessly
How could she do this to me.
She (We never thought of ourselves)
is leaving (Never a thought for ourselves)
home (We struggled hard all our lives to get by)
She's leaving home after living alone
For so many years. Bye, bye
Friday morning at nine o'clock she is far away
Waiting to keep the appointment she made
Meeting a man from the motor trade.
She (What did we do that was wrong)
is having (We didn't know it was wrong)
fun (Fun is the one thing that money can't buy)
Something inside that was always denied
For so many years. Bye, bye
She's leaving home. Bye, bye
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 22nd September '10 - Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow - Shame
Trying to finalise plans for a 2 month trip to the US, including booking all the flights, a mere 13 days before flying out is a tad stressful as I've discovered. The thought, therefore, of doing a blog just made me want to scream but I'm calm now. All is booked, I have somewhere to stay for my first week (I didn't until 2 days ago!!) and I am now calm...I hope!
In the early 90's in the UK Take That were THE boyband of choice for almost every girl in the country. They had catchy, yet well written, songs and their energetic performances. Add to that the obligatory 'boys that all the girls want' styling and they were the perfect boyband package. Of the boys it was baby-faced Mark Owen and the cheeky 'baby' of the band Robbie Williams that garnered the most attention.
All was going so well - in the period between 1991 & 1996 they sold over 25 million records - until 1995 when, after having several run-ins with band members and management due to his escalating drug problems, Robbie quit. This would be the last time they would all be in contact with Robbie for 12 years. After he left the rest of the members fulfilled already sold-out tour obligations before disbanding in February '96.
Main songwriter for the band Gary Barlow. baby-faced Mark Owen and the black sheep Robbie Williams all went on to have solo careers. While Gary and Mark had moderate success, Robbie's career just went through the roof seeing him perform to massive sell-out audiences and selling over 55 million records worldwide.
Over the years Robbie made his animosity towards Gary Barlow and former manager Nigel Martin-Smith well known through not only interviews but song lyrics too. This helped to keep the walls up between them and let the feud ripple on.
In late 2005 ITV broadcast a documentary about the band where all the members were interviewed. For Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen & Gary Barlow it was the first time they'd all been in a room together in many years. Robbie, however, declined to attend though he did do an interview on video which was played to the rest f his former band mates where he was apologetic about how he'd behaved in the past and saying how he'd swap all of his fame and fortune for the happy family life Gary now had. While not bringing him back into the fold, it did start to thaw the ice.
2006 saw Take That reform as a four piece with a new album and new sell-out tour. The band were as popular as ever, if not moreso. Robbie, meanwhile, saw his album 'Rudebox' flop (by his previous sales standards) and retreated to a rehab clinic in early 2007 for addiction to prescription drugs and, bizarrely, Lucozade while his former bandmates picked up their first Brit award since they'd split over a decade earlier.
It was during 2007 that Gary & Robbie started to communicate again. They've said in recent interviews that they just sat down, talked over all the things that caused the problems between each other and both apologised genuinely for any of the things they'd done in the past to hurt each other. This prompted the moves towards a full reconciliation of the original line-up of Take That (they've a new album out in November this year and a tour for next year, though dates haven't been announced yet) and now Robbie & Gary are closer friends than they ever were before all of the falling out.
However, prior to all the Take That reunion fun, is this single. It's a touching ballad-esque song with Robbie & Gary singing about all their 'lost' years as friends and if the song didn't give it enough emotion for you then the video will. You can just tell they don't need to act the emotions on their faces and that's what makes it so moving.
This song more than deserves to be a huge success, even my Dad said it's the best thing either of them have done in their careers and he thinks quite highly of both of them as it is.
I hope you enjoy it!
Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow - Shame
Well there’s three versions of this story mine, yours and then the truth
And we can put it down to circumstance, our childhood, then our youth
Out of some sentimental gain I wanted you to feel my pain, but it came back return to sender
I read your mind and tried to call, my tears could fill the Albert Hall, is this the sound of sweet surrender?
What a shame we never listened
I told you through the television
And all that went away was the price we paid
People spend a lifetime this way
Oh what a shame.
So I got busy throwing everybody underneath the bus
And with your poster 30 foot at the back of Toys-R-Us
I wrote a letter in my mind, but the words were so unkind, about a man I can’t remember
I don’t recall the reasons why, I must have meant them at the time, is this the sound of sweet surrender?
What a shame we never listened
I told you through the television
And all that went away was the price we paid
People spend a lifetime this way
And that’s how they stay
Oh what a shame.
Words come easy, when they’re true
Words come easy, when they’re true
So I got busy throwing everybody underneath the bus
And with your poster 30 foot at the back of Toys-R-Us
Now we can put it down to circumstance, our childhood then our youth.
What a shame we never listened
I told you through the television
And all that went away was the price we paid
People spend a lifetime this way
And that’s how they stay
Oh what a shame.
People spend a lifetime this way
Oh what a shame
Such a shame, what a shame
In the early 90's in the UK Take That were THE boyband of choice for almost every girl in the country. They had catchy, yet well written, songs and their energetic performances. Add to that the obligatory 'boys that all the girls want' styling and they were the perfect boyband package. Of the boys it was baby-faced Mark Owen and the cheeky 'baby' of the band Robbie Williams that garnered the most attention.
All was going so well - in the period between 1991 & 1996 they sold over 25 million records - until 1995 when, after having several run-ins with band members and management due to his escalating drug problems, Robbie quit. This would be the last time they would all be in contact with Robbie for 12 years. After he left the rest of the members fulfilled already sold-out tour obligations before disbanding in February '96.
Main songwriter for the band Gary Barlow. baby-faced Mark Owen and the black sheep Robbie Williams all went on to have solo careers. While Gary and Mark had moderate success, Robbie's career just went through the roof seeing him perform to massive sell-out audiences and selling over 55 million records worldwide.
Over the years Robbie made his animosity towards Gary Barlow and former manager Nigel Martin-Smith well known through not only interviews but song lyrics too. This helped to keep the walls up between them and let the feud ripple on.
In late 2005 ITV broadcast a documentary about the band where all the members were interviewed. For Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen & Gary Barlow it was the first time they'd all been in a room together in many years. Robbie, however, declined to attend though he did do an interview on video which was played to the rest f his former band mates where he was apologetic about how he'd behaved in the past and saying how he'd swap all of his fame and fortune for the happy family life Gary now had. While not bringing him back into the fold, it did start to thaw the ice.
2006 saw Take That reform as a four piece with a new album and new sell-out tour. The band were as popular as ever, if not moreso. Robbie, meanwhile, saw his album 'Rudebox' flop (by his previous sales standards) and retreated to a rehab clinic in early 2007 for addiction to prescription drugs and, bizarrely, Lucozade while his former bandmates picked up their first Brit award since they'd split over a decade earlier.
It was during 2007 that Gary & Robbie started to communicate again. They've said in recent interviews that they just sat down, talked over all the things that caused the problems between each other and both apologised genuinely for any of the things they'd done in the past to hurt each other. This prompted the moves towards a full reconciliation of the original line-up of Take That (they've a new album out in November this year and a tour for next year, though dates haven't been announced yet) and now Robbie & Gary are closer friends than they ever were before all of the falling out.
However, prior to all the Take That reunion fun, is this single. It's a touching ballad-esque song with Robbie & Gary singing about all their 'lost' years as friends and if the song didn't give it enough emotion for you then the video will. You can just tell they don't need to act the emotions on their faces and that's what makes it so moving.
This song more than deserves to be a huge success, even my Dad said it's the best thing either of them have done in their careers and he thinks quite highly of both of them as it is.
I hope you enjoy it!
Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow - Shame
Well there’s three versions of this story mine, yours and then the truth
And we can put it down to circumstance, our childhood, then our youth
Out of some sentimental gain I wanted you to feel my pain, but it came back return to sender
I read your mind and tried to call, my tears could fill the Albert Hall, is this the sound of sweet surrender?
What a shame we never listened
I told you through the television
And all that went away was the price we paid
People spend a lifetime this way
Oh what a shame.
So I got busy throwing everybody underneath the bus
And with your poster 30 foot at the back of Toys-R-Us
I wrote a letter in my mind, but the words were so unkind, about a man I can’t remember
I don’t recall the reasons why, I must have meant them at the time, is this the sound of sweet surrender?
What a shame we never listened
I told you through the television
And all that went away was the price we paid
People spend a lifetime this way
And that’s how they stay
Oh what a shame.
Words come easy, when they’re true
Words come easy, when they’re true
So I got busy throwing everybody underneath the bus
And with your poster 30 foot at the back of Toys-R-Us
Now we can put it down to circumstance, our childhood then our youth.
What a shame we never listened
I told you through the television
And all that went away was the price we paid
People spend a lifetime this way
And that’s how they stay
Oh what a shame.
People spend a lifetime this way
Oh what a shame
Such a shame, what a shame
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 14th September '10 - David Bowie - Magic Dance
The last few days have been tough beyond belief, hence the severe lateness of the blog.
This week's song is one that will always remind me of the special bond between myself and my friends daughter.
I was seven when 'Labyrinth' came out in the cinemas. I went to see it and, though I wasn't fond of Bowie the rest of the time, really loved the movie and the songs. The film and its music became something I still loved as years went by. So when babysitting my friends then 2-year-old daughter when both me and her had colds it seemed a no brainer to put 'Labyrinth' on to see if I could keep her entertained without much running around.
The plan worked and now, almost two years on, it's still the one thing she always wants to watch. She knows most of the script and all the songs off by heart. To sit and watch her singing along is just a joy.
Sadly her mother has decided to move several hundred miles away which means my friend, her father, and the rest of us will not get to see her as much anymore. Suffice to say hearts are aching right now and it will take time to ease the pain.
I hope you enjoy the song and that it puts a little light in your life!
David Bowie - Magic Dance
You remind me of the babe
(What babe?)
Babe with the power
(What power?)
Power of Voodoo
(Who do?)
You do
(Do what?)
Remind me of the babe
I saw my baby, crying hard as babe could cry
What could I do?
My baby's love had gone
And left my baby blue
Nobody knew
What kind of magic spell to use
Slime and snails
Or puppy dog tails
Thunder or lightning
Then baby said......
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby, make him free
I saw my baby, trying hard as babe could try
What could I do?
My baby's fun had gone
And left my baby blue
Nobody knew
What kind of magic spell to use
Slime and snails
Puppy dog's tails
Thunder or lightning
Then baby said....
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby, make him free
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that baby spell on me (ooh)
You remind me of the babe
(What babe?)
The babe with the power
(What power?)
Power of Voodoo
(Who do?)
You do
(Do what?)
Remind me of the babe
Dance magic, dance, ooh ooh ooh
Dance magic, dance magic, ooh ooh ooh
Dance magic
What kind of magic spell to use
Slime and snails
Or puppy dog tails
Thunder or lightning
Something frightening
Dance magic, dance
Dance magic, dance
Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump
Jump magic, jump
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby make him free
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic
Slap that baby make him free
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
This week's song is one that will always remind me of the special bond between myself and my friends daughter.
I was seven when 'Labyrinth' came out in the cinemas. I went to see it and, though I wasn't fond of Bowie the rest of the time, really loved the movie and the songs. The film and its music became something I still loved as years went by. So when babysitting my friends then 2-year-old daughter when both me and her had colds it seemed a no brainer to put 'Labyrinth' on to see if I could keep her entertained without much running around.
The plan worked and now, almost two years on, it's still the one thing she always wants to watch. She knows most of the script and all the songs off by heart. To sit and watch her singing along is just a joy.
Sadly her mother has decided to move several hundred miles away which means my friend, her father, and the rest of us will not get to see her as much anymore. Suffice to say hearts are aching right now and it will take time to ease the pain.
I hope you enjoy the song and that it puts a little light in your life!
David Bowie - Magic Dance
You remind me of the babe
(What babe?)
Babe with the power
(What power?)
Power of Voodoo
(Who do?)
You do
(Do what?)
Remind me of the babe
I saw my baby, crying hard as babe could cry
What could I do?
My baby's love had gone
And left my baby blue
Nobody knew
What kind of magic spell to use
Slime and snails
Or puppy dog tails
Thunder or lightning
Then baby said......
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby, make him free
I saw my baby, trying hard as babe could try
What could I do?
My baby's fun had gone
And left my baby blue
Nobody knew
What kind of magic spell to use
Slime and snails
Puppy dog's tails
Thunder or lightning
Then baby said....
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby, make him free
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that baby spell on me (ooh)
You remind me of the babe
(What babe?)
The babe with the power
(What power?)
Power of Voodoo
(Who do?)
You do
(Do what?)
Remind me of the babe
Dance magic, dance, ooh ooh ooh
Dance magic, dance magic, ooh ooh ooh
Dance magic
What kind of magic spell to use
Slime and snails
Or puppy dog tails
Thunder or lightning
Something frightening
Dance magic, dance
Dance magic, dance
Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump
Jump magic, jump
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby make him free
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic
Slap that baby make him free
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Monday, September 6, 2010
Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 06th September '10 - Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Once upon a time I was a member of David Bowie's online community Bowienet. It was a fairly active little community of Bowie fans from around the world and, every so often, the big man himself would grace us with a post or two on the message boards. One such time was in late 2004 when he proclaimed the next greatest thing in music was a Canadian band called Arcade Fire.
After that quite a lot of the Bowie fans instantly went for their music and just seemed to adore it while I took a stand-offish view of not bothering to give them a try as I wasn't about to buy into the hype. Still, when someone I knew at the time had a spare ticket to one of their shows in London the following March I decided to go anyway.
Now in my opinion the ULU in London has the worst sound of any venue I've ever been to so I left the gig somewhat impressed by the visual performance but not overly fussed by the music. However, in the days that followed I just couldn't stop humming the songs and I ended up snapping up the album by the end of that week.
In the five years since then they have gone on to have a great deal of critical acclaim and, while not having the mainstream chart success with singles, they have had big sales for their albums - their second album 'Neon Bible' peaked at number 2 in the US & UK and their third and most recent album 'The Suburbs' topped the album charts in the US & UK.
Their live performance is something worth experiencing and it has been known in the past for their tickets to trade for anything up to £1,000 a ticket for a smaller venue gig. Their next tour of the UK is taking in big arenas, such is their popularity, and they have already sold out one night at the 25,000 capacity O2 Arena in London with the second night looking close to selling out too. If you want to see them these days you have to be hot out of the blocks (and if anyone reading this is in the LA area and either has a spare ticket for the 7th October Shrine gig or knows someone who has one give me a shout!)
Last weekend they headlined the Reading & Leeds Festival here in the UK. They played an outstanding and magical set that gave me goosebumps just watching it on tv. 'Wake Up', in particular, has always had that effect on me and the performance last weekend was just magical, especially with the sound of the audience singing along.
Sadly the great footage of it that was on youtube has been taken down so this week I have to put up footage of them performing recently in Madison Square Garden. However I have found a video on youtube that someone filmed from the audience. The sound isn't the greatest and the camerawork leaves a lot to be desired but it does give you the overwhelming sound of the audience all singing in unison and so is still worth watching.
I hope you all enjoy this weeks song and I recommend that, if you don't already, go buy their albums! And if you have Google Chrome then check out their site http://thewildernessdowntown.com/
Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Somethin' filled up
My heart with nothin',
Someone told me not to cry.
But now that I'm older,
My heart's colder,
And I can see that it's a lie.
Children wake up,
Hold your mistake up,
Before they turn the summer into dust.
If the children don't grow up,
Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up.
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms turnin' every good thing to
rust.
I guess we'll just have to adjust.
With my lightnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am goin' to be
When the reaper he reaches and touches my hand.
With my lightnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am goin’
With my lightnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am, go-go, where I am
You'd better look out below
After that quite a lot of the Bowie fans instantly went for their music and just seemed to adore it while I took a stand-offish view of not bothering to give them a try as I wasn't about to buy into the hype. Still, when someone I knew at the time had a spare ticket to one of their shows in London the following March I decided to go anyway.
Now in my opinion the ULU in London has the worst sound of any venue I've ever been to so I left the gig somewhat impressed by the visual performance but not overly fussed by the music. However, in the days that followed I just couldn't stop humming the songs and I ended up snapping up the album by the end of that week.
In the five years since then they have gone on to have a great deal of critical acclaim and, while not having the mainstream chart success with singles, they have had big sales for their albums - their second album 'Neon Bible' peaked at number 2 in the US & UK and their third and most recent album 'The Suburbs' topped the album charts in the US & UK.
Their live performance is something worth experiencing and it has been known in the past for their tickets to trade for anything up to £1,000 a ticket for a smaller venue gig. Their next tour of the UK is taking in big arenas, such is their popularity, and they have already sold out one night at the 25,000 capacity O2 Arena in London with the second night looking close to selling out too. If you want to see them these days you have to be hot out of the blocks (and if anyone reading this is in the LA area and either has a spare ticket for the 7th October Shrine gig or knows someone who has one give me a shout!)
Last weekend they headlined the Reading & Leeds Festival here in the UK. They played an outstanding and magical set that gave me goosebumps just watching it on tv. 'Wake Up', in particular, has always had that effect on me and the performance last weekend was just magical, especially with the sound of the audience singing along.
Sadly the great footage of it that was on youtube has been taken down so this week I have to put up footage of them performing recently in Madison Square Garden. However I have found a video on youtube that someone filmed from the audience. The sound isn't the greatest and the camerawork leaves a lot to be desired but it does give you the overwhelming sound of the audience all singing in unison and so is still worth watching.
I hope you all enjoy this weeks song and I recommend that, if you don't already, go buy their albums! And if you have Google Chrome then check out their site http://thewildernessdowntown.com/
Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Somethin' filled up
My heart with nothin',
Someone told me not to cry.
But now that I'm older,
My heart's colder,
And I can see that it's a lie.
Children wake up,
Hold your mistake up,
Before they turn the summer into dust.
If the children don't grow up,
Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up.
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms turnin' every good thing to
rust.
I guess we'll just have to adjust.
With my lightnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am goin' to be
When the reaper he reaches and touches my hand.
With my lightnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am goin’
With my lightnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am, go-go, where I am
You'd better look out below
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