Adele

I've never been to Glastonbury and have no desire to spend four days in mud. I watch it and I think, "don't you people realise that it's all on TV and accessible from your clean, dry, warm sofa without all those other people around you?"

This year was different. For a start the country is in despair post Brexit and it rained and rained. We all needed cheering up and there, in a field in Somerset, the stars did their best to cheer us up. I found myself glued to Glasto this year. Normally I watch the Legends act and that's that. This year I tuned into Adele and wow. I've never really got Adele before. The songs are a bit samey and I'd rather listen to Streisand. To be honest, I'd always rather listen to Streisand.

But can the lady sing or what? I found myself spellbound as she belted out her songs note perfect and with such power. She's properly talented. Why did none of you inform me of this? I know I've been quiet on here of late but you know, there are ways to let me know.

Also, she's funny. Sweary, proper funny. The bit when she said someone in the crowd looked like Brian Harvey had me laughing for about five minutes. To connect with the crowd when there's just you is no mean feat and she pulled it off and looked really emotional. Hell, I was really emotional. I finally understood why people go to Glasto because singing along with 100,000 other people is an experience like no other.

Hello Adele. I am now listening to you with an entirely new perspective.

Upcoming post-Glasto posts include the wonders of ELO and how have I not covered them yet. Plus Coldplay: maybe not as terrible as I've thought for the past 16 years? Maybe. Glastonbury changed me and I didn't even have to eat a lentil burger and stand in wellies.

Prince

This year my blog is going to be about people who have died. Because 2016 SUCKS. Stop dying. Stop it.

I am more upset about Prince than Bowie because I have loved Prince pretty much non-stop since the 80s. A fact I talk about here and here.

I have no more words to add except I am quite devastated and I plan to listen to all his albums this weekend from beginning to end and weep a bit. Read this and cry with me.

RIP Glen (and others)

January was a horrible month. David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Glen Frey and Terry Wogan. OK, Terry looks a bit out of sorts in this list but he was a legend and I shall miss him.

I don't think I can add much to the millions of words written about Bowie. I don't claim to be a mega fan of his but he was unique and I love many of his songs. Some people you can't imagine dying and he was one of them.

Alan Rickman is like a kick in the teeth. He was a national treasure and I've loved him since Truly, Madly, Deeply, a film for incurable romantics everywhere. Alan was cool, he looked like he'd be top company and he was wonderfully British. Much too soon for him to leave us.

But Glen. Oh Glen. I think we all know how much I love the Eagles. I've watched documentaries, listened to Glen, read Glen talk about the band and finally saw Glen a couple of years ago in New York. I am now so grateful that I did because basically that's the Eagles over forever. It's the end of an era and that's what makes me so sad about Glen.

Famous people that I like need to stop dying now please.

Legally Blonde

I love everything about Legally Blonde. The title, the premise, the clothes. I am rewatching it (it's on Netflix) and it really is utterly ridiculous. This is a film that relies entirely on the charms of Reese.

She is adorable. I honestly think the film would have been a flop without her but somehow she manages to be cute, perky and funny.

And let's not forget Bruiser.

The bend and snap, the music montage when Elle decides to take Harvard seriously, Elle's room (both in LA and at Harvard) Jennifer Coolidge. It's perfection on film and I think you all need to watch it again (I assume it's again) immediately.

Also, whatever happened to Selma Blair? And, Raquel Welch!!

Oasis

I liked Oasis on the basis of Wonderwall, a song I never tire of. I think it's beautifully romantic and lovely and ignore the fact Noel wrote it for Meg Mathews.

I like a band to argue and be explosive. That's rock and roll. They have a responsibility to behave badly and be petty because if you're in a band, you are a rock god (or goddess) and behaving like a bunch of accountants is boring. We don't want everyday life. We want drama, drugs, wrecking hotel rooms and enough anecdotes to entertain us in your autobiography.

Enter Oasis. God, they were such fun. The songs were heavily influenced by The Beatles and not musically complicated but they had passion and I don't think any band sums up the 90s quite like Oasis. Noel Gallagher is a hoot, if you don't believe me then listen to his Desert Island Discs. The fighting and rivalry with Blur (urgh as I call them) was probably the last great pop rivalry we'll witness. Liam is clearly a moron but who cares? He had swagger.

Oasis songs I love: Wonderwall, Champagne Supernova, Live Forever, Don't Look Back In Anger and She's Electric (my friend walked down the aisle to this, wonderful).

Yes, I like Oasis. I am starting a revival, right now.

The Police - Every Breath You Take

How have I not written about this yet? I'm in the sixth year of this blog and no mention of this masterpiece. I am just watching something I recorded last month about the top 10 richest song and I simply can't believe I've missed talking about this.

David Hepworth (I trust my discerning readers to know who he is) says: "this song is a masterpiece!" and I agree. I love it so much and I never tire of hearing it. If it comes on the radio, I do a little yay to myself and turn up the dial.

I know Sting annoys people. He's up there with Bono in the ranks of pompous, worthy ageing rock star but I like him. His voice is one of my favourite singing voices and he's hot.

 

This is by far the best song The Police every produced. The lyrics are clever, it's catchy and it sounds timeless, it's not obviously from the 80s.

David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Glenn Frey in the same week. Trust me, I am not ignoring them but I am not ready to write about it yet. 

RIP 2015 - I forgot someone

Back in January, Anne Kirkbride died. Otherwise known as Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street. I forgot about her when doing my round up because to try and remember who died in any given year, I use Google. And it gives me all the Hollywood deaths but tends to overlook the home grown soap stars.

Coronation Street is the program that I have watched the most consistently in my life. I grew up with it, my mum watched and therefore so did I. I stopped watching in the mid 90s for a while but I came back to it about 10 years ago and I am so glad I did. I record it and tend to start my weekend with breakfast and a Corrie catch up. It's got some of the best writing in television, I frequently guffaw with laughter at the lines. The acting is brilliant and it can be very touching. I love that it keeps the old school characters like Rita, Ken, Emily (although she's just gone to Peru for six months - come back soon Emily!) and until she died, Deirdre.

Deirdre was always a favourite. I post this picture to prove she was beautiful. Look at her! Anne was a wonderful actress and I loved all the storylines involving her. When she died, I was quite upset because she'd been in my living room for 40 years.

And then, just when we thought 2015 was all wrapped up Lemmy died. Now, I don't claim to be a Motorhead fan. I know the same song everyone does, Ace of Spades. Lemmy is a legend. He's cool and funny. I live with a massive Motorhead fan. He live streamed the funeral from LA and stayed up to watch it. He declared January to be the month when we only listen to Motorhead (pity me readers). He's in deep mourning. Bye bye Lemmy, thanks for the rock and roll.

As if this wasn't all too traumatic enough, yesterday Bowie died. That's a subject for another post but I think we can safely say we're not just listening to Motorhead in January now.

RIP 2015

Another year passes and we lose some more legends. Let's remember them.

Al from Happy Days. I actually can't believe he was still alive but bless him.

Edward Hermann. He died in December last year. Very upset about this. Everyone's favourite grandpa.

Leonard Nimoy.

Jackie Collins. Outpouring of grief at Teen Towers over Jackie. Look at her. Legend.

Ben E. King.

BB King. 

Christopher Lee.

Omar Sharif.

Life is short. Eat another mince pie.

Taylor Swift

I am amused by Taylor and her girl squad. Her perfect pop. Her perfect hair and her perfectly toned body. She's 26 so I guess she's allowed to be pretty perfect. I consider Blank Space to be her masterpiece. Every time I listen to it I think how clever it is and the video is hypnotic.

It's her birthday today so I thought I'd do a little post to say that I may be in my 40s but I truly am a perennial teenager because I love Taylor and my friend gave me a Taylor colouring in book (Colour me Swiftly) which is just the best thing ever. My creative work can be seen above.

Happy birthday Taylor!

Bull Durham

Bull Durham is on Netflix and I watched it again for the first time in years. A film about baseball that is most enjoyable. This is the ultimate sexy Kevin Costner film. At one point Susan Sarandon says to him "God, you're gorgeous" and one can only agree. He is divine in this.

Susan is, naturally, also wonderful and Tim Robbins is perfect as the oafish young player. I was interested to note it was rated an 18 when it came out in 1988. I think now it would barely rate a 12. 

Anyway, if you've never seen it or not seen it for a while then I am here to tell you it's still excellent.