Sweet Home Alabama: Lynyrd Skynyrd

I know nothing about this band, I had no idea what they looked like until I Googled just now. My main impression is there is a lot of them. I know there is controversy about this song being racist but you know what? I am hot, I've had a long day and I don't care. I know I should care but I don't. I just love the riff on this and I never tire of listening to it.

Don't be tempted to watch the Reese Witherspoon movie of the same name. You won't ever get those two hours back and even she can't save it.

This makes me want to go to a state fair in the deep south and drink beer.

Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me

We come to one of my favourite songs from the 80s. If you've ever wondered who Rockwell was (and let's face it, who hasn't?) I can tell you he is the son of Motown CEO Berry Gordy. Which explains quite a lot and how he got Michael Jackson to sing on his one and only hit. Wikipedia tells me they were childhood friends.

The best thing about this song is the line, "I wonder who's watching me now, who? The IRS!" It's at 2:40 and it makes me giggle every time I hear it. Which is not nearly enough because it's a great song.

 

90s songs: Ini Kamoze, Here Comes The Hot Stepper

This is the very definition of an earworm, I heard this at the weekend and I've been literally singing it to myself constantly since then. I don't mind though because it's fantastic. I had forgotten all about this song but once I heard it, I hot-footed to iTunes to buy it and added it to my workout playlist. It's pretty much perfect and impossible to sit still to. Before you click below, ask yourself: Are you prepared to have this in your head on repeat for the next week? Click carefully my friends.

90s songs: Mark Morrison, Return of the Mack

Writing about The Beatles poses a key problem - what to write about next? From the sublime to the ridiculous, I am going with Mr Mark Morrison who had a giant hit in the 90s with Return of the Mack. I should hate this song by rights but actually I don't. Whats more, I like it. I really like it. It's the definition of bling in music format and sometimes you just want blingy music.

I heard this yesterday for the first time in years and it transported me back to 1996. It's amazing how music can do that. Capital Radio used to play this all the time. I used to listen to Capital Radio, it's unlistenable now - not sure if that's me getting older or the station getting worse.

Anyway, here he is. This would be a great workout track but I am not sure I can bear to actually buy it.

Summer songs - La Dolce Vita, Ryan Paris

There is nothing like a summer song to make you feel at one with the world. Today was a glorious sunny day (except for the thunderstorm that hit later on this afternoon).  To mark the rare occasion of a sunny and hot Easter weekend, I am starting a new series of classic summer songs. And I start with this little gem. Some may have forgotten it but not me. I still love it. Over 235,000 have joined me in watching it on YouTube. God bless you one and all.

Enjoy! And here's to a long hot summer.