Birthday week! A shorter working week and a trip out of London (which I'll write up separately). But this week's observations: World's Gone Crazy: At a time when we should be very concerned about melting polar ice caps and global warming all contributing to climate change, I find myself slapping my head at the stupidity… Continue reading Mad, motivation, music (48.2021)
Tag: Music
Blast from the past (11.21)
I can't believe I forgot to talk about cassettes last week, as the world marked the death of Lou Ottens, the inventor of the cassette tape. Cassettes were a big part of the music culture of my youth. Yes, you could buy an album by your favourite artist in cassette format, but more likely you… Continue reading Blast from the past (11.21)
The benefits of listening on repeat
At various times throughout this year I've become obsessed with a particular song or artist or album and listened to it on repeat. My Spotify 2020 stats reflect this, with my number one most listened to song for 2020 being Song of the Volga Boatmen. I think there were only a few days earlier this… Continue reading The benefits of listening on repeat
Kirsty MacColl
It's been 20 years since we lost Kirsty MacColl. The most talented singer songwriter that most people have never heard of. It's ironic that the song of hers that gets played the most on the radio is her cover of Billy Bragg's "A New England". Any list of my favourite songs would have to include… Continue reading Kirsty MacColl
Song challenge #4
Some of these songs were difficult to choose, and quite possibly on another day I would have chosen something different. But for now, for today, this is what it is. A song that makes you think about life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2gy1Evb1Kg You need to believe in yourself. Don't let anyone make you believe you're you're not enough… Continue reading Song challenge #4
The heatwave breaks
After so many days of breathless heat, rainfall sounds like music. The first drops like strings introducing the melody, then the full orchestra joins as the rain becomes a downpour, with thunder like timpani rolling wildly overhead. And when the performance ends the dripping and trickling sounds like applause and the footsteps of an audience… Continue reading The heatwave breaks
26.20 – the middle of the year
We are crossing the midway point of the year - the longest day has been and gone. It's strange to think the days are getting shorter, especially when the evenings still feel so long, and the hot weather of the past week means the nights also feel long. This week's exercise: Walking Yes, we're back… Continue reading 26.20 – the middle of the year
Song challenge #3
Part 3 of the song challenge - my choices of song from a series of randomly selected categories. 13. A song you like from the 70s - Crazy Horses - The Osmonds This is a great song! When this song comes up on one of my playlists, people ask "Who is this?" and are often… Continue reading Song challenge #3
Instruments
I grew up in a house with a piano, so I knew that eventually I would have piano lessons. Both my sisters had had piano lessons, and my middle sister went on to study music, that's how good she was. My brother instead had guitar lessons - for a while - but apparently he didn't… Continue reading Instruments
Morning music
I don’t usually do poetry but here is my attempt at haiku. I started to draft this in bed this morning. You’ll understand when you read it. Four thirty. Bird song. It wakes me. It is Sunday. I should be sleeping. Six a.m. Cat sings, Jumps on bed, paw in my face. Might as well… Continue reading Morning music
Tales from Tobhamhor 