Some Christmas Songs

I thought I'd share some of the Christmas music I'm listening to at the moment:

Siouxsie & The Banshees: ' Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant'
Marvin Gaye: 'Purple Snowflakes'
Kirsty MacColl & The Pogues: 'Fairytale Of New York'
Leigh Nash: 'Maybe This Christmas'
Eurythmics: 'Winter Wonderland'
Martha Wainwright: 'Merry Christmas And Happy New Year'
Kate Bush: 'December Will Be Magic Again'
SLADE: ' Merry Xmas Everybody'
Greg Lake: 'I Believe In Father Christmas'
John & Yoko: 'Listen The Snow Is Falling'
Wizzard: 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'
Darlene Love: 'Marshmallow World'
Sufjan Stevens: 'C'mon! Let's Boogey To The Elf Dance!'
David Essex & Friends: 'I'm Goin' Home'
Essential Logic: ' Do You Believe In Christmas?'
The Ronettes: 'Frosty The Snowman'
The Polyphonic Spree: 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)'
Showaddywaddy: 'Hey, Mr Christmas'
The Waitresses: ' Christmas Wrapping'
The Jackson 5: 'Up On The Housetop'

Plus, of course, Bing, Andy, Frank, Dean, Sammy, Rosemary and all the easy chums with those classic songs of yesteryear. So many great songs, sentimental, sad, happy and plain daft, and I love 'em all!

Noddy's Chuffed and Jim's Judging

The Lord of Noize himself, Noddy Holder, is getting his own star in Birmingham's Walk Of Stars. There's an article and video of the great man at a press conference the other day - love the coat and hat, Noddy! It's nice to know he still has his own style. And I love the idea of the 'glam rock barge' as part of the celebration today.

Jim Lea, Nod's partner in Noize, has been in the news this week too, judging a contest at the Robin2 (where his live album was recorded). It's nice that he's getting out and there's always the possibility of a gig...

And, of course, I'm seeing Dave and Don next Friday on the Merry Xmas Tour at Croydon. I'm *so* looking forward to that!

'Astronaut' by Amanda Palmer

One of the track's from Miss Palmer's new album due out next year. Magnificent as ever.

More Trees

It's very handy having a camera in my phone since it means I'm always ready to take a photo or two. Leaving work last night gave me the opportunity to take some more pics of festive trees, or rather, one festive tree with different backgrounds depending on where I stood.

This is the Tree outside the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre just opposite Westminster Abbey, so here we are with the Abbey in the background...

... and with Westminster Central Hall in the background (that was the first meeting place of the United Nations General Assembley as a plaque on the wall proudly notes).

I then wandered up a strangely empty Whitehall to see how the Trafalgar Tree had settled in now that the rain has stopped and it was getting chilly. Firstly, an attempt at an arty shot with one of the Grrr Lions in the foreground...

... and one with Nelson's Column (I like the cloudy sky) with a tiny Big Ben in the distance.

After doing some shopping on Tottenham Court this rather nice holly wreath on the front of this building caught my eye - I've no idea what the building is (and wasn't sufficiently interested to go over to look for signs) but I approve of the owners entering into the spirit of things.

Lights And Trees

Continuing my reporting of Christmas in London I thought I'd go to the ceremony in Trafalgar Square for the grand lighting of the Christmas Tree. It doesn't matter when the shops start putting up their Christmas decorations, the Trafalgar Square Tree is the start of the festive season.

Every year since 1947 the people of Oslo have gifted a tree to the people of London as a thank you remembrance for support during the Second World War. The King of Norway and the government spent the war years in exile in London while Norway was occupied. It's a nice gesture from one country to another and it's still going on. It always seems to be a tall, thin tree.

The guest of honour at the ceremony was the Norwegian Prime Minister who made a short speech reaffirming the thanks of his country for the support during the War. The lights were switched on by the Mayor of Oslo. The Salvation Army brass band played carols and the choir of St Martin's sang, Trafalgar Square was packed with tourists and it was all very nice - except for the constant drizzle. It's been raining all day and it continued this evening, which is a shame.


After Trafalgar Square I went for a wander and was lured into Leicester Square by the gleam of lights and stumbled on the fun fair set up in the square. I like fun fairs and I like the way that most of the rides are the same as when I grew up - dodgems, carousels - with something a bit more techy to prove it's the 21st Century. Candy floss, sugar dummies and all the rest.

Beth Rowley

Pssstt!

Pop over to iTunes to download 'Nobody's Fault But Mine' by Beth Rowley for *free* (it's the single of the week this week). I've downloaded the whole EP and I'm loving it - loving her voice. My favourite is 'I Shall Be Released'.

I saw the lovely Beth at the IndigO2 when she was on the Bedford Bandstand bill supporting Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri a couple of months ago. Here's a photo I took of her that evening.

Go on, download it - it's *free*. Then buy the EP.

The Three Ages of Man

I met colleagues from the Family Matters Institute today and one had a seasonal story I will shamelssly nick about the Three Ages of Man.

You believe in Santa Claus [boy]
You don't believe in Santa Claus [man]
You are Santa Claus [dad]

At which point in the meeting I caressed my luxuriant Christmas beard and lightened the mood with some laughter. Beards are very useful things.

Important News From MaximoLand

'What could it be?' I hear you wondering. Is it news about the new single? Are they touring again? Have they won another award?

The Important News so far this week, unsurpassed by everything else is that MAXIMO PARK HAVE THEIR OWN BEER!

Now, that's what I call news!

Well, when I say the lads have their own beer what I really mean is that the Newcastle Brown Ale beer label will be redesigned for a Maximo edition available from 15 December. There's an article about it here. No wonder Paul's smiling.

I have a sudden yearning for beer...

Barbara Cook & Friends

Last night Chris took me to see Barbara Cook at The Coliseum. It was a World AIDS Day benefit concert with Barbara and some of her friends putting on a show which also coincided with her 80th birthday - and she's looking good on it. Now, Chris is the fan and the expert and if you want a proper, informed review, head over here. If you want my impressions, keep reading...

I don't know much about Barbara and I was only introduced to her a few years ago on her last concert shows in London, so I'm a novice, but I like her voice. She has a very pure voice and a simple singing style, no bells or whistles, no diva up and down the scales for the sake of it, and that might be one reason why she is such a good interpreter of songs - she lets the song tell its own story and we all sit rapt with attention listening to her voice as the song unfolds. I was so impressed with her voice when I first saw her that I had to go out and get her latest CD at the time, a collection of Broadway standards. And that's what we got last night as well, a lot of show tunes interspersed with Barbara's calm chatting inbetween songs, telling us about the songs or why she likes it or where she was when she first heard it.

Barbara came on to do some songs and then started introducing her friends for them to do turns. We'd already heard the voice of Nicholas Parsons as the compere and the first guest was Sian Philips who proceeded to do a comedy number (a Noel Coward song, I think) which was quite amusing. Others came on afterwards, most of whom I've no idea who they are despite being introduced by Mr Parsons as West End stars, one and all.

Daniel Evans came on and did a song - he has a nice voice and presence and is opening on Broadway shortly in 'Sunday In The Park With George' (which I saw him do at the Chocolate Factory). Unfortunately I also associate him with the run of nasty plays I saw earlier this year in one of which he was an unrepentant wife-beater. On the plus side, he was also a central character in 'Grand Hotel', a wonderful musical Chris introduced me to at the Donmar Warehouse in 2004.

The other 'name' was Elaine Paige who had the honour of two songs. The first one was ok (I think it was originally a duet with Barbara Dickson?) but then she did 'Cry Me A River' which didn't work at all. She did the big overacting thing in an attempt to wring emotion from it and, to my ears, fell totally flat.

As for the others, they were quite entertaining but I have no idea who they are. I also suspect that 'friends' is something of a misnomer - I wonder how many had even met Barbara before the afternoon rehearsal? There was a fun 'Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend' and a couple of big song and dance scenes with lots of leaping around. I got annoyed with her pianist a couple of times since he was also the conductor and kept leaping to his feet to wave his arms around and I found that rather distracting.

Barbara closed the show with one last song, just her and the piano and no microphone. At first I thought she'd forgotten to bring the mic when she came back on stage but no-one came running out with it. Just her voice in that large space, everyone silent and listening to the lovely sound she makes when she opens her mouth. That was a definite highlight. I hesitate to wonder how many of the others on stage that night could have projected their voices so effortlessly?

Then, of course, everyone came on for a final round of 'Happy Birthday' for the great lady with the audience on its feet joining in. Including me.

Maximo Park - 'Karaoke Plays'

'Karaoke Plays' is the new single from Maximo Park, released on CD and vinyl tomorrow (Monday 3 December). Of course, if you're clever, you go to iTunes and download it today.

Tracks available for download are:

Karaoke Plays (Radio Edit)
George Brown
Jean Baudrillard
Jonathan Cole
Karaoke Plays (Live at 1Live)

So that's three more 'obituary songs' to add to those from the other singles this year - on a first listen, I prefer 'Jean Baudrillard' with Paul's voice sounding good (the tender yearning of 'the more energy we burn the freer we become'). I wonder if we'll get them all collected together as an album at some point? 'Missing Songs' is the collection of 'b' sides from the singles from the first album.

I'll head up to HMV tomorrow to pick up the physical CD which also includes their magnificent version of 'Like I Love You', an 'Our Velocity' ringtone and other online content! In the meantime, feel free to watch and listen to the single here:



The lads' site gives full details of the single:

Released on 3rd December, the formats include 3 brand new Maximo Park tracks, the band's version of Justin Timberlake's 'Like I Love You' PLUS exclusive content on the CD and extra special numbered 7"s with silver print, coloured vinyl and free posters.

The obituaries series of b-sides continues with French philosopher Jean Baudrillard, 50's calypso singer George Brown and English painter Jonathan Cole.

The white and silver 7inches are very limited, numbered and come with free posters featuring handwritten lyrics – in fact they’re so good they’ve fallen foul of the chart rules! There’s also an enhanced CD to look out for.

The package is intended as a bit of a thank you to fans for the support in 2007. It's been a very busy year since OEP was released in April and the aim is to round off the year with something a little different!

KARAOKE PLAYS SINGLE FORMATS:

Enhanced CD 1. Karaoke Plays (Radio Edit) 2. George Brown 3. Like I Love You Exclusive Enhanced Content: Karaoke Plays Video, Animated Lyric Booklet, Our Velocity Ringtone

7inch 1 (Numbered White Vinyl) A. Karaoke Plays B. Jean Baudrillard + Free Poster

7inch 2 (Numbered Silver Vinyl) A. Karaoke Plays (Live at 1LIVE) B. Jonathan Cole + Free Poster

Digital Exclusive 1 (Recordstore Bundle Only) 1. Karaoke Plays (Acoustic Version)

Digital Exclusive 2 (Recordstore Bundle Bonus Track) 1. Karaoke Plays (Live at 1LIVE)