I'm bound to be on my own with this blog!
It doesn't matter how many recordings are made of Hallelujah, I just can’t seem to like the song.
Yes, I know that it has great popularity all over the world but I’ve always had a problem with the single from the moment I heard it. Now, pending the release after Alexandra Burke’s well deserved X Factor win, I still don’t like it. I know a lot of people will disagree with me when I call it over-rated but I find it boring and very lyrically repetitive - the continuous air-play doesn’t help either; whether it’s yet another cover or just a piece of non-diegetic music.
Hate me if you wish, but I do hope it doesn’t get a Christmas number 1 - purely for the song choice.
Another Way To Die - got that right
I HATE the Alicia Keys/Jack White collaboration. What's worse, I seem to be the only one.
A realisation
You know, I’ve never actually realised how much of an effect a piece of infrequent music can have on you, especially when played in certain surroundings. I’m not talking about a sober visit to a karaoke bar either, I’m talking about the classics us biased dub as not modern enough for everyday listening. Maybe ‘timeless’ is indeed, a very apt word after all.
Ok, let me explain myself. I’ve just returned from Las Vegas; possibly my favourite place to be in the whole entire world. My hotel for the week was the amazing Bellagio – renowned for its dancing fountains; complete mechanical masterpiece’s. I actually had a birds eye view of these every time I looked out of my window. Ok, this is verging on bragging now, so here’s my point.
The fountains dance frequently, to about 20 different pieces of music and having a lake-view room like I did, I must have listened to every single one. Ranging from classical to Elton John, these songs are certainly diverse and to be honest, I’ve barely listened to them, but being in the middle of the desert; sun glistening, gallons of clear water being blasted up into the air, you just listen - senses alive.
I’ve never understood the phrase ‘timeless classics’ but I guess in within a particular atmosphere, the term became apparent. I definitely know that when I hear it again, I’ll know exactly what they mean. Mesmerisation. Excitement. Awe.
My first, and rather late blog
It's taken me a while to enter the domain of the blog - largely due to the fact I have nothing interesting to say, or if for a moment I feel that I do, I refuse to believe it would be of any interest to you. Yet, even with these doubts at the front of my mind, I feel myself conforming to yet another new technology because by my own admission, I’m a slave to all things media related. So, here I go. You have my permission to run a mile.
After just returning back from London to review and interview A Silent Film, my first blog is going to be slightly biased towards such a great band. To be honest, I didn’t really know who they were until I chose to review their latest single, but within a short space of time I was hooked and, when the chance came up to go see them live and talk to them personally, I jumped.
Being from Wales, the journey was pretty longwinded – you know the kind: rushed, tedious and as basic as it gets. This wasn’t economizing; this was having no consideration for my own comfort. Nevertheless, when I arrived at Barfly all unpleasantries I had experienced the previous day went out the window. ASF were absolutely brilliant live – I’d possibly go as far to say that they were just as great as one of their CDs. Obviously the atmosphere was much more intense with everyone around me were astounded by the clear energy the band possessed. A highlight for me was their infamous Born Slippy ‘Underworld’ cover – an unexpected part of the set that raised the roof.
After the gig the interview was pretty unconventional. I firstly couldn’t find Dan their PR despite both wandering aimlessly and being on the phone to him at the same time. Then, after Robert (vocals and piano) announced that he was hungry we ended up doing the Q&A in Nandos. Spencer (drums) wasn’t too happy about being so unprofessional but it made it much more relaxed and down to earth. Not many people can say they went to Nandos with an up and coming band – a claim to fame right there. The interview was great, albeit a little noisy, but Robert and Spencer were very chatty and had no problem divulging information. Unfortunately I didn’t get to speak to Lewis and Ali much, but it didn’t really matter. After the last question I think we were all a bit relieved – I was their second interview of the night and I had never interviewed before, but luckily it went well. My only problem is that I have far too much of a high-pitched twang to ever be recorded on a Dictaphone in future, but that’s something I’m just going to have to grin and bear.
Following the interview, we joked for me to plug them but I’m actually going to do it. It seriously takes a lot for me to praise something to a massive extent, and I think it’s safe to say I’ve been gushing in this blog. For those of you who don’t know their music, their debut album ‘The City That Sleeps’ is out next moth and I urge you to listen. For those of you who do, you should know they deserve to be more recognized than they currently are and should be already planning on getting the album.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just a shrill sounding girl that took 3 trains and a megabus to London – not my finest idea ever.