Chav World

On Saturday evening hubby and I went with friends to see The Everly Pregnant Brothers at Sheffield City Hall. Lisa asked where they got their name and I have to say that I can only hazard a guess and say that the majority of them have big bellies and could look "Heavily Pregnant"! Having said that at least 2 of them are on weightwatchers diets!

The city hall is a gorgeous building. It has a large concert room at the front, a smaller venue around the back, and a ballroom in the basement. There is usually something fab on offer.

Photography is usually banned, but the brothers (not real brothers) had managed to get the restrictions for photography lifted, so I managed to get a great shot of the wonderful ceiling in the main hall. It reminds me slightly of the one that everyone went crashing through in The Poseidon Adventure - or the Titanic!
The hall was refurbished recently and it is a lovely place for a concert - its nowhere near as big and impersonal as an Arena. It has seating on ground floor level and 2 balconies. Ive seen a fair few bands here in my time.
The brothers were great. The songs that they sing would mainly appeal to Northern audiences I think, and for some, you really need to know Sheffield , but one of my favourites that could be understood by most is Chav World - click on the link to enjoy (but note there are swear words.)

Time Travel

Hubby and I had a great time at the weekend - bobbing off to various events - just the two of us. He had chosen a 4 CD Compilation of music from the 1980's to accompany us in the car. Our vehicle turned into a time travel machine.

Now I loved the 1980's - I breezed through it in a fog of Elnette hairspray, hand knitted mohair or cotton tops and fabulous white stiletto heels (they made my Ibiza tanned legs look amazing!). Look at me here - I'm modelled on Sheena Easton's "Modern Girl" !! I loved that electric blue colour in the 80's and have been thrilled to find it back this summer!

So we bopped away in the car to Wham, Culture Club, Rick Astley et al.. By the second CD we were thoroughly" back in the day" and I was remembering all the carefree times.

But then this played - and instantly I was transported back to the mid 80's - Friday teatime and watching the news when they used to show that horrid map of the UK with little factories on it and huge figures illustrating which works had been closed down that week and how many hundreds - sometimes thousands- of people had been made redundant . It stopped me in my tracks and gave me a knot in my stomach.

Music can totally take me back in time and evoke very powerful emotions .

A Love Song

I have nothing to blog about today. The painting of the kitchen is like the Forth Bridge now that I have more units, and so will be taking up my time for a while. So I thought I would play you a love song. One of my favourites. Turn it up loud and sing along.

Morningtown Ride

When I was was little, I used to listen to the radio much more than I do now - something I will have to redress. I used to spend a lot of time with my Grandma, Grandad and Great Grandad - I loved their house and their company. We used to listen to "Junior Choice" which played songs requested by children for children. Tony Blackburn was the DJ at one point - in fact at the point when his wife left him and I remember him sorrowfully going on about missing his son - I even remember him weeping at one point!! I think they axed the show shortly after that! I think its sad that children don't listen to songs like these any more - Ive selected you a few of my favourites, and if you click on them, you will be transported back to Saturday mornings in the 1960's. What were your favourites?

A mouse lived in a windmill

3 Wheels on my waggon

My brother

Camp Granada

Puff the magic Dragon

Gillygilly Ossenfeffen Katzenellen bogan - by the sea

Jake the Peg

The Ugly bug ball

The Kings new clothes

Alex baby!

February is just starting to get to me - thank goodness its only 28 days!! What I hate most of all about the dark nights is not being able to get a walk in after work - so no bloggy photo opportunities either.

And so once again I am subjecting you to one of my musical memories! Back to the late 80's and my favourite "getting ready to go out" LP (LP's remember them?) was Criticize by the very Handsome Mr Alexandra O'Neil.
I still have all my LP's in a box in the garage!

Musical History

Look what I found in (as Michael McIntyre would say) the "man" drawer. Its a piece of musical history.

For Christmas 1973 saw Santa bringing the 13 year old Diane a cassette tape recorder - can you remember the type? It had a microphone attached to it and to record anything, you stood the microphone in front of the TV or Radio. The sound quality was as you can imagine - interesting. I thought it was great. I couldn't afford to buy records, but now I could tape them straight from the charts (new charts came out on Tuesdays, but the charts played in its entirety on Sundays!). The only annoying thing was that you got Diddy David Hamilton, or Mike Rieds voice on too. Anyway, fast forward to the Eurovision song contest 1974. I thought it would be great to record it ALL! And so, I tried to make my family sit in complete silence for the whole of the evening - not easy. There is a great bit on the tape when my Mum (who's knitting needles can be heard clicking all way through) forgets I am taping and decides to put the kettle on - asking loudly if Dad wants a cuppa, only to be met by sssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. She kicks off big style - and I halt the taping until she has stopped ranting. When taping resumes, she can be heard making the said cuppa in the kitchen (noisily as she has a mardy on!) but peace is almost restored. We can be heard singing along quietly to Olivia Newton John - Long live Love - and the winner that year was of course Abba with Waterloo. Its a priceless piece of nostalgia

The Sound of Sheffield

We are justifiably proud here in Sheffield, of our music heritage. Whilst City's across the Peninnes have also had there fair share of musical talent, I love our home grown singers and bands just that little bit more.

In the sixties we had the gravel voice of the soulful Mr Joe Cocker and trying to find his way home to Amarillo was Tony Christie - who could often be seen clogging the roads around Ecclsall Road in his white rolls royce with his "TONIO" personalised reg.

The 80's was oh so big for music around these parts. The legend that still is Phil Oakey (alas with no hair these days, but very handsome) brought us the Human League. As well as appearing on Top of the Pops, they could often be found playing at "The Crazy Daisy" night club (what great names night clubs had in those more innocent times - no "Hedonism" in our day).

And then the most gorgeous Mr Martin Fry in his gold Lame suit in "ABC" - Lexicon of Love" still played on a frequent basis in this house.

I remember the first time I saw the video (which was a new fangled addition to music ) for "Temptation" by local band "Heaven 17. I was in "Berlinz" Bar (a "Bar" was also a new fangled idea around these parts too - up until then it had been "the pub " then " a nightclub"). The video was considered to be very naughty - but so tame by today's standards.

Then we gave you Jarvis Cocker and Pulp. I wasn't too keen on Jarvis back then - I was too "mature" for his student looks and music, but I love it now, and find it amusing how he is getting "cooler" as he is getting older.

Recent times have produced some great bands. I love John McClure and Reverend and the Makers (Heavy Weight champion of the world is a great tune).


And I'll leave you with my favourite song from the awesome Artic Monkeys - I love the way they mix modern urban poetry with truly great music (so great that when its used on TV etc on its own, without the words, it is still amazing).

This tune reminds me of when I was young and being a right mardy bum with my boyfriend!




So what musical talent has your town or city given to the world? I am afraid to say that Rotherham only gave the world "Jive Bunny" (hangs head in shame).

Stars fading - but I linger on dear

And finally - my karaoke tune. Of course, I dont sing it this good(except if Ive been on the Gin!), but I do know all the words!

Ive loved doing my music posts, they have cheered me up on what has been a grim weather week.
In answer to a few questions, I didn't think too much about which songs to put on here, I have millions of musical memories so I just picked the first that came into my head. They are not my favourite songs (my fave top 3 are Layla by Derek and the Dominoes, Careless Whispers by George Michael and Piano in the Dark by Brenda Russell). The first record I bought was "Band of Gold" by Freda Payne (but I bought it 2nd hand -sign of things to come!!- from someone in the village selling her singles). I don't mind if you borrow the idea, I'd love to see what you come up with.

Now all grab your hairbrush and join in with the one and only Mama Cass....

I like it

And whilst still on the subject of hot men and dancing......
Now I don't recommend slinking off out with Mr Iglesias if your boyfriend/girlfriend/hubby etc is out of town like he suggests, but he's giving me a look with his eyes!!!!! If only I were 30 years younger - but then, there's always his dad!!! This is my current fave tune to have on in the car.

Last one tomorrow!

Actual Dirty Dancing (not the film!)

Moving on to more modern times - this one always makes me want to grab a hot man and dance!!! and tomorrows tune will feature a very hot (and very young)man indeed!

La lala!!!! lalalalalalalala lalalalalalala

Youve probably guessed by now, that my taste in music is pure "pop". I think I get this from my mum. I have her collection of 45's, all Beatles and Elvis,Cliff,Cilla, Dusty, Frank Ifield, The Batchelors, Monkees, Dave, Dee Dozy Beaky Mick N Titch, Kenny Lynch(!) etc etc. This is still one of my favourites. Turn it up loud and have a twist!!!

We are coming slightly more up to date tomorrow!

Mandy

I used to listen to Radio Luxembourg under my pillow when I was a teenager. And then one night in 1975, Radio Luxembourgs record of the week (which meant that they played it on the hour, every hour)was Mandy by Barry Manilow. I saw him on American Idol recently, and the advice he gave to the young man singing was " make them fall in love with you - then break their hearts" Mr Manilow how could you!! Through out the late 1970's, he dragged me through every emotion - he may not be a looker, and I know he's not everybodies cup of tea, but his concerts were show stopping.

(Something for the over 60's tomorrow - I promise!!)

Breaking Hearts

Of course, sharing my affections in the early 1970's was Donny Osmond. David and Donny made falling in love look and sound so happy and appealing - one line of the song goes "No broken hearts for us ..." and yet Donny broke my heart every time he sang!!

Ive been to see Donny and the Osmonds a couple of times in recent years, and he is still a beautiful boy! At one concert, he stopped by the end of our row - grabbed my sisters hand hand and sang "If" to her! IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!!!! She was a Little Jimmy fan!

Falling in Love

Ive decided to do a few musical posts. The weather is foul, and I currently have no motivation to do anything but vegitate. So come with me this week on a musical tour and listen to the tunes that shaped my life.

One of my first loves was David Cassidy. This track appears to feature Hearsay too, but I don't mind as the photos of David are just how I remember him - 100% dreamboat.

Turn up the volume and sing into your hairbrush!!!!!!!