Music

Top 12 Beatles Songs

Posted on by Hayley Beasley Dye

Last night I popped to the cinema by myself and plonked myself down with a glass of wine the size of my head to watch the new Ron Howard film The Beatles: Eight Days a Week, about the band’s touring years. Those years where girls screamed so loudly whilst they were playing that not only could nobody in the audience hear the band, but the Beatles couldn’t hear themselves play. Ringo used to have to watch John’s body movements closely, so he knew whereabouts they were in the song. The film was fascinating and was an excellent reminder of the band’s genius.

So as my feet couldn’t actually, physically stop tapping throughout the film, I thought now was as good a time as any to talk about my love for the Beatles and list my personal favourites.

The Beatles

London, July, 1968

My love for the Beatles was set in stone from the very beginning. I had no choice as like many people my age, my Mother was a superfan during the 60s (Paul was her favourite. Of course). I remember poring over my Mum’s vinyl collection of the Beatles and discussing with her our favourite Beatles songs (when I was a child it was Ticket to Ride). I also remember the horror I felt, when my Mum told me that in the late 70s she decided it would be a good idea to burn all of her copies of the Beatles magazines from the 60s that she owned (and of which she had every single copy) as they had no room for them in the new house. I sense this is something she quite regrets these days.

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Then my love for Whitney, Madonna and all things Stock, Aiken & Waterman took over from my interest in the Beatles. Never fear, When I was 14 years old, my love for them was reignited when me and my group of friends became obsessed with them and their music. We all had a favourite. Paul was the most popular, but I myself carried a flame for Ringo. Yes that’s right. I was a 14 year old with a crush on Ringo Starr. So much so, I used to faithfully, regularly watch Thomas the Tank Engine and even went to see him play live at the Hammersmith Apollo (Ringo that is. Not Thomas). Also, our choice to go to Henley College to do our A-levels may have some how been influenced by the fact that the college was situated right next door to George Harrison’s mansion. If we were lucky we could catch a glimpse of him driving through the large gates of Friar Park in his limousine. During these dodgy-crush years, I did develop a serious love for their music that I still carry with me now. So sit back and have a listen to my top 12 (sorry I couldn’t narrow it down to ten) Beatles songs, in order.

12. I’ve Just Seen a Face (1965, album track, Help!)

11. Dear Prudence (1968, album track, the White album)

10. Penny Lane (1967, no.2, Magical Mystery Tour)

9. Lady Madonna (1968, no.1, non-album single)

8. We Can Work it Out (1965, no.1, non-album single)

7. You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away (1965, album track, Help!)

6. Come Together (1969, no.4, Abbey Road)

5. Here Comes the Sun (1969, album track, Abbey Road)

4. A Day in the Life (1967, album track, Sgt.Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band)

3. Norwegian Wood (this bird has flown) (1965, album track, Rubber Soul)

2. Help! (1965, no.1, Help!)

And my all time favourite Beatles song is…

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1. Blackbird (1968, album track, the White album)

Don’t forget to tell me your favourite Beatles tune below.

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For other musical artist top tunes click on the link:

Björk  Blur  The Cure  George Michael  Kylie Minogue  Madonna  Prince  Pulp  Suede

Tori Amos

 

 

Good News! Cheery News! Non-depressing News!

Posted on by Hayley Beasley Dye

I won’t dwell on it too much, but 2016 has thus far been a right bastard of a year. It has been an annus horribilis for everyone. From the multitude of unthinkable terrorism, plethora of celebrity deaths and now the fall out post-EU referendum, 2016 can well and truly suck my dick. If I had one. I find myself firing up the BBC News website with one eye closed in fear of what horrific news I will come upon. It seems to be a free fall of bad news after even more bad news. So, in some kind of pathetic attempt to try and vaguely cheer us all up, I welcome you to a news page of a different kind. One that will only deliver good news. News that doesn’t make you want to give up on humanity. News that may even bring a smile to your face. Now make yourself a cup of tea, take a deep breath and be assured that it’s not all bad shit going down right now.

Love is in the Air!

Oh yes it is indeed. Not one, but two policemen got down on one knee and proposed to their boyfriends at last weekend’s Pride celebrations in London. Luckily they both said yes. Here’s a heartwarming clip of one of the proposals. All together now. aaaaahhhhhhh.

Christmas is Finally Here!

Well it is for the folk of Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire anyway. Do you remember the devastating floods that happened over Christmas 2015? And do you remember that in particular, the town Hebden Bridge was affected by these floods in ways that were unimaginable? This meant that nobody in Hebden Bridge got to celebrate Christmas last year as their homes and businesses were completely flooded and inhabitable. Well, I’m pleased to tell you that the folk of Hebden Bridge have finally had their Christmas. On the 25th June, they had an “alternative Christmas” where residents had a sit down Christmas meal, drank mulled wine and partied to Christmas tunes on the street that had been turned into a river 6 months previously. Many businesses that have been shut since Christmas, officially reopened too letting everyone know that Hebden Bridge is indeed back up and running. Hooray!

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English Sport CAN be Celebrated.

Ok, so we didn’t exactly ‘dominate’ the UEFA European Championship (to put it mildly) this year, BUT did you know that whilst we shook our heads at missed goals, actual passion etc our England rugby team were OWNING it during the Australian test series, by winning it 3-0. If anything, it should give the optimist in us, some hope for English football (bear with me). As you may recall the English rugby team gave a shameful performance at last year’s World Cup, not even making it past the group stages, but this year and with the help of new coach Eddie Jones they have completely turned it around and won both the 6 Nations and now the test series in Australia. Congratulations to the England rugby team.

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This Otter Eating Food

This adorable, squealing otter eating cat food with his little paws makes me desperately want to have a one as a pet. He’ll be fine hanging out in my bath, won’t he? Everything that’s right with the world is in this clip. I LOVE HIM.

Coldplay Perform Moving Tribute to Viola Beach

So, musically I’m not your biggest Coldplay fan, but I was moved by their tribute to British band Viola Beach during their headlining performance at Glastonbury festival last Sunday. Viola Beach were the British band who, along with their manager all tragically lost their lives when their car plunged 80ft off of a bridge into a canal in Sweden. Coldplay allowed Viola Beach to headline Glastonbury for one song, playing their music video on the big screens and playing along with the track. It was nothing short of beautiful and must have been an emotional, but wonderful moment for Viola Beach’s families.

Beautiful Children Being Beautiful

Many kids dread their sports days, especially if like me, you always came last in the races (look I’m more of long distance runner than a sprinter, OKAY!). One boy in particular dreaded his sports day this year. Daniel has cerebral palsy and told his Mum he didn’t want to join in sports day this year as he was worried that people would laugh at him for coming last again. Unbeknown to him and his Mum, all the boys in his race slowed down at Daniel’s pace and ran along side him and allowed him to cross the line first. According to his Mum, he was so happy he’d won, he burst into tears and ran for a hug with her and has been full of joy ever since. If that doesn’t go some way in restoring your faith in humanity, I’m not sure what will. Children are our future and all that. You can watch the beautiful video here.

And Lastly, Idiotic Goats

Oh we love a good goat video, don’t we? Watch these goats talking back and having a proper go at someone. This should get you smiling again.

Top 10 Prince Songs

Posted on by Hayley Beasley Dye

I’m probably the 10 millionth blogger to write up their favourite Prince songs today, but I couldn’t help but stick my oar in too. So, farewell our Purple Prince. Thank you for leaving us with the most wonderful music.

10. Manic Monday by the Bangles

Album: Different Light

Year: 1986

Chart Position: 2

Whoa, so the first track I choose isn’t actually performed by Prince? It’s a Prince song nonetheless, written under the pseudonym Christopher.

9. Take Me With You

Album: Purple Rain

Year: 1985

Chart Position: 7

8. Diamonds & Pearls

Album: Diamonds & Pearls

Year: 1991

Chart Position: 25

7. 7

Album: Love Symbol Album

Year: 1992

Chart Position: 27

6. Money Don’t Matter 2 Night

Album: Diamonds & Pearls

Year: 1992

Chart Position: 19

5. Sometimes it Snows in April

Album: Parade

Year: 1986

Chart Position: 193 (it didn’t chart in the UK until after his death in 2016)

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4. Little Red Corvette

Album: 1999

Year: 1983

Chart Position: 2

3. Raspberry Beret

Album: Around the World in a Day

Year: 1985

Chart Position: 25

2. When Doves Cry

Album: Purple Rain

Year: 1984

Chart Position: 4

1. Purple Rain

I think you have probably worked out what is my number one is, but just in case, at the top for me is the outstanding Purple Rain. In fact it is one of my all time favourite songs. I can sing this song word-perfect and I think most of you can too (especially after a few shandies- amirite?). It also won the Oscar for best original song score in 1985. It’s another one of his more emotive tracks and there is something about it that makes me feel emotional no matter what mood I am in. That there, is talent. I’ll leave you with these lyrics from Purple Rain:

“If you know what I’m singing about up here
C’mon raise your hand
Purple rain, Purple rain”

(You’re singing it now, aren’t you?)

Album: Purple Rain

Year: 1984

Chart Position: 6

The one that almost made the list: his version of Nothing Compares 2 U

Please let me know in the comment section below which is your favourite Prince song.

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For other musical artist top tunes click on the link:

Beatles Björk Blur The Cure George Michael Kylie Minogue Madonna Pulp Suede Tori Amos

Top 5 Christmas Songs

Posted on by Hayley Beasley Dye

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As if you’re not sick to the back teeth of all the Christmas tunes regularly being pumped into your ear holes already, here’s my top 5 Christmas songs for you all. I’ve also put an extended Spotify list of all of my favourite Christmas songs at the end, in case you can’t get enough of the Christmas cheer.

5. Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses

The Waitresses were an “experimental post-punk band” (not my words, but Wikipedia’s) from Ohio, USA. This song was originally released in 1981 and did you know fact fans, it was covered by the Spice Girls in 1998 as a B-side to their “bye Gezza we love you” track Goodbye. Anyway, I love this song. It makes me do bad dancing and the vocals are so spectacularly ordinary it makes it very fitting that it was eventually covered by Posh et al. Even though the Waitresses singer, Patty Donahue, sings about wanting to miss Christmas this year, it never fails to make me feel all Christmassy.

4. Winter Wonderland by Darlene Love

All together now “Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?” Well are you? It would be hard not to. Winter Wonderland is all over the shop every Christmas and rightly so. This song was written in 1934 and has been covered over 200 times. So pick a version, any version, but my particular favourite is this jolly one by Darlene Love. It reminds me of my Mum singing and making our Christmas dinner as I run into the kitchen for the 999th time that day to ask when dinner will be ready. And for that reason alone, it’s in my top 5.

3. Fairytale of New York by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl

From the age of about 16 years until a few years ago, this would have come top of my Christmas song list, but after over playing it myself and hearing it every time I walk into a pub every year from end of November until the beginning of January, it has now been relegated to number 3. Yes it is still a great song, yes we all love Kirsty’s vocals and yes of course I can recite all of the lyrics even when I’ve had one too many Snowballs (“you’re a bum, you’re a punk, you’re an old slut on junk”- aah Christmas), but it ain’t my number 1 and you’re just going to have to deal with it.

2. All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey

Mariah! All hail Queen Mariah. Oh Mariah, how you must have loved (and enjoyed the $50 million in royalities from) this being used in everyone’s favourite Christmas movie Love Actually (look I’ve tried to resist this being my favourite Christmas film for so many multi-layered reasons, but I’ve finally succumbed- I bloody love it). So as a Christmas pop tune my conclusion is thus: there is nothing wrong with this song.

1. Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy by Bing Crosby & David Bowie

It is only in the past couple of Christmases that I’ve finally realised that this is actually a very lovely Christmas tune indeed. Not only are Crosby & Bowie’s vocals divine, but you have the wonderful, cosy accompanying video of Dave just casually popping round to Bing’s gaff for an eggnog & sing song around the old Joanna (sorry, but I can’t say Bing’s name now without hearing Chandler BING! If you’re a Friends fan- you’ll now) . Also, singing about peace on earth seems sadly far too apt at the moment. This also wins my number one slot due to the best Christmas joke around:

David Bowie bought Bing Crosby a pom-pom for Christmas.

Not just any pom-pom.

A proper pom-pom.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS Y’ALL

For seasonal playlists for other times of the year, click below:

Valentine’s   Spring/Easter  Summer   Halloween   Bonfire Night