On the way to work today and had the iphone plugged into the car and the third song to hit the airwaves was Elvis Presley’s “I’m falling in love tonight”. The song, taken from It happened at the world’s fair (1963), is a beautiful romantic song and one I have always enjoyed listening to.
It’s a great film and a wonderful soundtrack – I believe the film introduced Kurt Russell to the acting world as a precocious kid who kicks Elvis in the shin for money!
Hope you enjoy the video!
I’m not quite sure what made me think of this song by Gilbert O’Sullivan but it evokes so many memories for me of my dad and growing up – he used to play this song in the car – on cassette (yes the song is old!) – I haven’t heard it for a while and I tracked it down on youtube earlier and it’s still the great song I always thought it was!
Quite often, early memories are clouded when you get a little older, things always seemed better in the good old days – children’s tv always seemed better and the films and programmes you watched as a teenager were better than the offerings today. That rule doesn’t always apply and it freaks me out when I catch an old programme I used to love growing up and now think “how the hell did I like that as a kid”?
I digress! What could be nicer (Mum the kettle’s boiling) is an example of the former, I loved it then – perhaps because mum and dad loved it so much, and I love it now. So many fond memories come flooding back of road trips and quiet moments in the house listening to Gilbert’s melodic songs.
You don’t hear much about him any more, time to do some investigating and find out what he’s up to, if he still performs etc! I’ll update this blog with info on him if I find any – in the mean time if anyone who reads this knows anything or this song evokes fond memories of growing up then drop me a line!
The Lyrics !
Mum, the kettle’s boiling
Daddy what’s the time
Sis, look what you’re doing
Can’t you see the baby’s crying
Tell your Uncle Tony
Helen wants to know
Did he get the letter
That she sent a week ago
All in all what could be nicer
Than two people young at heart
[ Gilbert O'Sullivan Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]
Looking forward to the future
That together they will start
When you think of all those people
Who are left out in the cold
All because they never dreamed
That they’d be written off as old
Mum, the kettle’s boiling
Dad, ‘ere what’s the time
Sis, look what you’re doing
Can’t you see the baby’s crying
Can’t you see the baby’s crying
I was taking a look around youtube today and came across Michael Buble’s “Save the last dance for me” video and it’s another great offering from the Canadian crooner. While watching the video I am positive the dancer he teams up with in the ballroom class is none other than the beautiful Flavia Cacace (part of the Vincent and Flavia partnership). Anyone reading this confirm that it is indeed Flavia ? I hope someone can help – it’s doing my head in !
Thanks to the guys at Digital Spy, I’ve found out that the youtube video is no longer available. here’s another version!!
Sitting here watching a delayed showing of American Idol and I thought I’d make notes as the evening went for the final three. Jordin opened the show with a great performance one that oozes class. I preferred this version to the original “Wishing on a star”. Simon Cowell liked the performance but didn’t like the arrangement.
There’s no doubt the three best singers are left in the semi-final and it’s going to be hard to chose the final two from these talented singers!!! Blake’s up and singing a police classic “Roxanne”. Blake has a magnificent delivery and yet again makes the song his own with a faultless performances, very reggae!!! He ends the song with a slide towards the judges – no beat boxing ! Again Cowell keeping it real comparing with Sting’s rendition.
Now then this will be very interesting, Melinda is going to sing Whitney Houston’s “I believe in you and me”, one of my all time favourite Whitney songs!! Not the greatest offerings from Melinda but it was polished and she made it her own. It sounded a key lower than Whitney’s version and not as “sweet” but it was still a cracking attempt. After the first round I’d probably have Jordin and Melinda as the finalists.
Jordin kicks off round two with a Donna Summer number, “she works hard for the money”. A very confident song but I didn’t think it was as good as the first song of the evening. Very feisty though. The crowd loved it! Oh wow, Blake gets to sing Maroon 5’s “This Love” – this will be interesting. Welcome back to Blakesville ! This is more his music – cracking blend of beat boxing and singing – I really enjoyed this, he’s back in the game. Judges agreed with me for a change!!
Predictable choice from the producers for Melinda “Tina Turner” !!!! Never been a fan of Tina but this was a great vocal performance. She has really grown in stature during the series and a cert for the final after this rendition. Brilliant. Best I’ve seen her move on stage. So after round two Melinda still out front but Blake has come back on par with Jordin.
Jordin once again kicks off the final round with “I who have nothing” – good performance but it wasn’t outstanding but for two notes towards the end. Jordin has been amazing throughout and only time will tell if she makes it to the final. Blake’s up with yet another kick ass effort, this guy’s album will be awesome winner or not !!! I think after this performance he did enough to make the final two with Melinda. Very confident performance. Randy is talking through his big “bleep” !!! He really has no idea what he’s talking about.
Melinda closes the final round with “I am a Woman” – very sassy performance, the crowd loved it and America will love it !!! All round it was Melinda’s night and I stand by my earlier prediction that Melinda and Blake will be in the final although I’d be gutted to leave anyone out !!!
So this is it, we are down to the results and following emotional home visits it comes down to the viewer votes ! You have to love Blake’s father !! The first one to go through is ……..Jordin. I didn’t see that coming. Surely this means Melinda will claim the other spot making it an all female final………….. Oh My God…… Blake makes it into the final, the place is in shock. I guess we all know that Melinda will make it in the real world – Melinda we salute you!!! Fox’s interview with Melinda Here
Every now and then you come across a song that you can’t switch off and before tonight’s drive home from work it was Tim McGraw’s “My Little Girl” from the movie Flicka. About five minutes into the drive tonight the cd flicked over to Michael Buble’s “Lost” – track six from his album “Call Me Irresponsible”. The haunting words and awesome delivery from Buble had me in awe and as soon as the track ended I hit return and the pleasure began once again.
He co-wrote “Lost” with another promising Canadian singer Jann Arden, and pianist Alan Chang. If you’d like to check out the music then why not visit the wonderful youtube for a fan’s version of the video, set to stills. I’ve no idea if Buble will release this song as a single but I hope he does just so I can see how he sees the video !!! Youtube Video Here
I can’t believe it’s over
I watched the whole thing fall
And I never saw the writing that was on the wall
If I don’t land
Days were slipping past
That the good things never last
That you were crying
Summer turned to winter
And the snow it turned to rain
And the rain turned into tears upon your face (I love these three lines, very simple, very clever !)
I hardly recognized the girl you are today
And god I hope it’s not too late
It’s not too late
‘Cause you are not alone
I’m always there with you
And we’ll get lost together
Till the light comes pouring through
‘Cause when you feel like you’re done
And the darkness has won
Babe, you’re not lost
When your worlds crashing down
And you can’t bear to fall
I said, babe, you’re not lost
Life can show no mercy
It can tear your soul apart
It can make you feel like you’ve gone crazy
But you’re not
Things have seem to changed
There’s one thing that’s still the same
In my heart you have remained
And we can fly fly fly away
‘Cause you are not alone
And I am there with you
And we’ll get lost together
Till the light comes pouring through
‘Cause when you feel like you’re done
And the darkness has won
Babe, you’re not lost
When the worlds crashing down
And you can not bear to crawl
I said, baby, you’re not lost
I was watching an episode of The Ghost Whisperer (Ghost Bride) the other night and right at the end of the programme, during a wedding ceremony a song was used (post production) and it immediately struck me that I had heard it before, but from where? It turned out it was sung by Ella Fitzgerald and the track was “Do I Love you”. I absolutely love this song and although I’ve heard it before a few times, I’ve never been in a position to do any searching while it was fresh in my head.
The song led me to Ella’s renditions of classic Cole Porter songs spread over two albums, volume 1 and 2. I’ve heard and can easily recognise a lot of Porter’s songs but I was shocked to hear so many new ones in the collection. I certainly didn’t realise Cole had written the classics “In the still of the night”, “Too darn hot” and “Beguine the Beguine”. He truly was a master of his craft.
Listening to the album I re-discovered the song “Miss Otis Regrets” and again like “Do I Love You”, I had no idea it was written by Cole Porter. The song is a melancholy song written about the love of a woman, her fall from grace which led to her committing murder and her eventual death by execution. Not a song you’d ever think as romantic but sung by one of the greatest singers of all time, Ella transforms the song and delivers a tragic tale in her own imitable style.
Although very little background information is available for the song, the song was used in the stage production “Hi Diddle Diddle” in 1935. It has been suggested that Cole wrote the short song for friends but this is unconfirmed. Many artists have covered the song notably including Bette Midler, Fred Astaire, Kirsty MacColl and Rosemary Clooney to name but a few.
According to the linear notes from the Cole Porter collection, he was inspired while dining in a restaurant overhearing a waiter give a fellow diner his apologies “Miss Otis Regrets, She’s unable to lunch today”. How accurate this is we may never know – I do hope someone out there has better information!
And to the song … Porter may have started out with the waiter’s words ringing in his ears but it soon took on a whole new angle. Each verse describes different excuses why she (Miss Otis) can’t meet her luncheon date begining with her dalliance with her lover in lover’s lane and ending with her death, hanged in front of an angry mob. The very name Miss Otis reminds me of a black woman from the south and her velvet robe suggests she is of a certain social standing, well to me it does. Taking the gun from her robe she kills her lover and all hell breaks loose! The angry mob take her from her jail cell (no mention of a trial here!) and she is hanged.
Miss Otis regrets, she’s unable to lunch today, madam,
Miss Otis regrets, she’s unable to lunch today.
She is sorry to be delayed,
but last evening down in Lover’s Lane she strayed, madam,
Miss Otis regrets, she’s unable to lunch today.
When she woke up and found that her dream of love was gone, madam,
She ran to the man who had led her so far astray,
And from under her velvet gown,
She drew a gun and shot her lover down, madam,
Miss Otis regrets, she’s unable to lunch today.
When the mob came and got her and dragged her from the jail, madam,
They strung her up on the old willow ‘cross the way,
And the moment before she died,
She lifted up her lovely head and cried, madam…
Miss Otis regrets, she’s unable to lunch today.
Great to see Beyonce has made it to number one in the official UK charts, knocking Shakira and Wycleff off the top after three weeks. Beyonce’s Deja_Vu, recorded with her boyfriend Jay-Z was hotly tipped to shake the Colombian Goddess from her perch following positive midweek sales. Hips Don’t Lie has seen a resurgence in Shakira’s pop career.
Deja Vu is taken off her new album B-Day which is released next week (5th September) in the UK and US. Interestingly, Justin Timberlake saw his first single in three years, Sexyback, enter at 13 on download sales alone. It goes on general sale on Monday.
Meanwhile in the Album charts sexy Christina Aguilera’s amazing album has been knocked off the top spot by Snow Patrol’s Eyes Open. Possibly the truest reflection on quality and song writing ability sees socialite Paris Hilton entering the charts at a high 29 in her first week. The album isn’t worth the money and if you had to choose, pick either Christina’s album or the new Beyonce album.
Ten days ago Beyonce hit the headlines for her weight busting Maple Syrup diet, read more in an eariler blog !
Great news for Tracy Lawrence and country music fans alike. Together with his brother and manager Laney Lawrence, the Multi-platinum recording artist has launched Rocky Comfort Records (RCR), to be based in Nashville. The label will operate as a joint venture with CO5 Nashville (a division of CO5 Music) and has secured an exclusive retail distribution agreement with A2M Distribution. As president of RCR, Laney Lawrence will oversee the operation of the label, while Tracy Lawrence will direct A&R. His first single, “Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” will be released to radio August 21 with his first studio album on the RCR/CO5 Nashville imprint scheduled for release in early 2007.
I’ve not heard this yet but i can’t wait to get my hands on some new material. It has been far too long in coming. “Then and Now“ was his last album to be released back in October 2005. The album was a collection of his greatest hits (and two new ones) and were all re-recorded due to contractual obligations. It was a smash hit with the fans and his new one due out early next year is set to be another hit..
I received an advanced copy of the new Paris Hilton album yesterday, aptly named “Paris”, it left me very disappointed. Not that I expected an Ivor Novello award winning album but I expected more! Without doubt the first single taken from the album “Stars Are Blind” is the best song on the album, full of Caribbean flavour it is a true summer single. Unfortunately nothing else on the album comes close to it, no ballads, no catchy tunes just the same old same old. View the Stars Are Blind Video at youtube
At times I found it difficult to listen to, her voice was monotonously monotoned throughout (not that I could do a better job) and she sang the majority of the tracks as if she was reading from a crib sheet, unaware of what the next lines was. It made the tracks uncomfortable to listen to and even taking into consideration that this album was a first attempt, I’m shocked her advisors let this go through as it did. Maybe I’m being a little unfair, it’s not that bad but it sure isn’t great. The album might be one of those cult albums people buy because it’s Paris Hilton and they want to see what she delivers.
As I mentioned earlier, my favourite track is “Stars Are Blind”, number three on the album. It has a great catchy tune and simple chorus, the video’s pretty good too! Every time I hear the song it reminds me of holidays in Barbados and sitting on the beach drinking cocktails, thinking less about the troubles of life as each drink takes effect! it’s such a shame she didn’t follow this line for the rest of the album. Another gripe with the album is its length, it is very short weighing in at just over 40 minutes and includes 11 tracks.
The album was mixed by Grammy-winning engineers Tony Maserati and Serban Ghenea and was recorded over the course of the last year in Miami and Los Angeles.
The fourth track “I Want You” uses a sample from Grease and I was expecting John Travolta to join in at any minute; it didn’t happen of course! The final song “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy”, a remake of Rod Stewart’s hit doesn’t deliver either, it made me cringe. I think track eight says it all really “Screwed” ! No doubt a lot of people will take pleasure from this album but it left me disappointed unfortunately and I expected better from her producers. After two run through’s I can’t see where her second single will come from, who knows maybe the album is a grower ! I nearly forgot, the album also includes a dvd “the making of”, the album is released on the 22nd August.
“Turn It Up”
“Fightin’ Over Me” (featuring Fat Joe and Jadakiss)
“Stars Are Blind”
“I Want You”
“Jealousy”
“Heartbeat”
“Nothing In This World”
“Screwed”
“Not Leaving Without You”
“Turn You On”
“Do Ya Thnk I’m Sexy”
Want a body like Beyonce ? Simple according to her, just do the Maple Syrup crash diet and you could lose 14lbs in 10 days !!! Following a statement by Beyonce that she used the diet to lose weight for a film have helped sales for Madal Bal Natural Tree Syrup soar! The syrup is flying off the shelves and into the homes of those desperate to lose weight, let’s face it that’s half the population! Aol have an opinion too !
Simply mix the syrup with water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper and you are set to go. You drink the concoction in place of your meals at dinner time. The diet was devised in 1985 by a Swiss company and appeared on UK shores five years ago but it takes a huge (not in body proportions!) celebrity like Beyonce to bring this latest fad to light. If you know of any companies making versions of the Madal Bal Natural Tree Syrup then this is the time to buy into them!!
If Beyonce claims it worked for her there is no doubt that thousands of people will want to try this regime, however let’s not forget she also has an army of trainers and nutritionists to help her through any regime she wants. Azmina Govindji of the British Dietetic Association warned dieters should treat any “miracle” products with caution.
“There is no evidence that detoxing is any better for you than eating a balanced, healthy diet.
“Fasting for that length of time, whether you are having that drink or any other drink, is likely to give you drastic weight loss anyway because it is all about the deficit of calories.
“It is unlikely to have enough calories or the balance of protein, carbohydrates and essential fats and other vitamins and minerals.”
Only time will tell if this works, watch this space to see if it get’s smaller!!!
