Phil W
14 Feb - Freezing in Moscow
Stepping out onto the hotel room balcony and I'm immediately hit by the blast of every last sub zero degree of coldness that they promised for today in Moscow. Its a dry cold, quite unlike I've experienced before. A quick photo of the Moscow river - which is freezing before my eyes with large clumps of frozen ice slowly sailing southwards down the river and gathering on the slowmoving corners - and I'm back in the warm room with a morning cuppa tea. They've promised minus 8 today, dropping to minus 18 by the weekend!
I've been in Moscow since Sunday and will travel home tomorrow (Friday). Theres a food exhibition over here and I've had a series of meetings during the past few days. Talking the usual shite.
The exhibition is like any other food expo - hundreds of stands promoting everything from bread rolls to cashewnut apple juice (a first apparently and it tastes pretty good!). The only noticable difference here in Moscow is that there are entire halls devoted purely to Vodka. Simply thousands of square metres with every conceivable producer of vodka from Russia.
And each stand - in the neauveu Russian way - tries to outdo the others by having models (girls) wearing as little as possible and dancing in a whole manner of provocative ways.
If its a Moscow vodka, they are normally dancing to pumping techno, if its from the Ukraine its normally regional folk. What doesn't differ is that they are all just under 6 foot tall, weighing in at a maximum 60kg, and have the longest legs and shortest skirts in the business. At first I thought it was hilarious. Completely over the top and almost grotesque, but funny in the least. After a couple of hours though, you realise that its almost like seeing the dancing bears on the tourist trails of eastern europe. Only these girls are obviously being paid for it in roubles and not fish. However I imagine the deal isn't much better.
I was going to take a photo to post up here, but I felt a bit pervy, so decided against it. You'll have to take my word.
This is now the second time I've been travelling for an extended period of time within a month. I don't get paid any extra to be away from home, and to be honest I've had somewhat of an epiphany whilst being out here. It happened the other day when I was two hours into a four hour meeting about the growth potential of liverpaste. I was sat in the meeting, and had an almost out-of-body, seeing-myself-from-above moment. There I was, thousands of miles from home, argueing the whys and wherefores of whether to introduce bacon or creamy flavour, and I just thought - what the f**k am I doing here?? Shouldn't I really be at home enjoying the company of my girlfriend, having a laugh on the training pitch with my football mates, or running around the local lake in the fresh danish winter air? I'm sat here argueing about mashed up pig liver.
It was definately a healthy epiphany to have. Sure, I get to see places (from the back seat of a car normally) which are normally only ever seen in brochures (or CNN!), but when it comes down to it, I don't get much more out of it than a posh 3 course meal and small talk to a stranger. And the occaisional photo opportunity.
I think that when the enjoyment and excitement goes out of the job, then its time to maybe look elsewhere. I don't think its the type of job I have - I love marketing, and I'm pretty good at it. But I find it increasingly hard to care about the products I work with. I need to find something new to work with. And with a job which doesn't take me away from the things that I love for extended periods of time. I think I just want to be home for a while and be able to enjoy the fruits of my labour and the one I love.
On Valentines Day, these things tend to take on even more importance
11 ½ Feb 08 - Count To Ten? More like 10 out of 10.
So, Count To Ten was released in the UK last week to slightly less of a fanfare than it got in Denmark, however the reviews have been just as positive.
I must admit that I wondered whether it would receive such as glowing reviews as it got in Denmark. The UK is a melting pot of new music... some would call it a symphony... and new releases from artists which aren't backed by primetime tv adverts or championed by drivetime DJ's do tend to get lost in the noise. Just pick up a copy of the monthly music magazine Q, and you'll understand what I mean. There are simply hundreds of new releases, rereleases, remixes and boxsets released every month. A new album from a relatively unknown girl from Scandinavia could be easily lost.
However, not so this time. Thanks possibly to a good PR team, plus a great "product", Tina has managed to make a positive impression this time around.
Here are some of the comments from the UK press:
The Sun: ...... her folk/acoustic-style pop isn't a world away from Sheryl Crow... there are lots of dark moments in Tinas music... but you cannot fault her strong, emotive vocals, definately worth giving her a whirl. (3 out of 5)
Glamour (girl magazine): A bit of low level girlie-angst. Tinas moody but not miserable brand of acoustic pop is just the ticket - the guitar driven sound is a pleasant surprise from someone who's made her name in electronica. (3 out of 5)
Rock n Reel: ...Tina and Dennis Ahlgren have created a perfect sonic balance in which restraint - less is more - holds marginal sway.... CT10 has an epic quality, big sentiments on small canvasses.
Q Magazine: ... barreling down the middle of the road into the heart of Americana, CT10 wears its country-tinged earnestness on its sleeve to such an extent that Dico (sic) often sounds like a teetotal Sheryl Crow. Much of it works, particularly Open Wide. (3 out of 5)
Boyz Magazine: ...Tina Dico has a clarity in her poetic voice that you just don't hear much today. (she has) just melodic folk songs about people, places and circumstances. Count To Ten is the album title, but for me, it could have been called 10 out of 10.
Fine words indeed.......
11 Feb 08 - The Viking Invasion.... chapter 32
Could this be the biggest Danish invasion of the British charts since Aqua last pumped out their purile pop?
Alphabeat are riding high on the wave of radio popularity with a playlist position on both BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, alongside veterans like Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keys, Kylie and Westlife. Having a playlist position on BOTH of these stations is huuuge - it crosses the divide between the pop/indie culture of 15-25 year olds which Radio 1 caters for, and over to the 25-45 age group (or there abouts) and mass market of Radio 2.
I've seen the band live a couple of times now (last at SPOT 07) and have always predicted they could make a splash in the UK charts. I think their timing is perfect - EMO is slightly on the wane, and the music lovers are looking for a little fun-loving pop kitch. That's what Alphabeat are all about. They're awesome live, and are really radio friendly - they will be loved across teenybopper to indiekid and mainstream. I have no doubt that the likes of Scott Mills (Radio 1's resident camp influential trendsetter) will be naming them as his favourite new band very shortly. Plus, NME, the indiepop magazine (Bible) has called them the best Scandinavian band since ABBA... and that's some comment from an otherwise rather stuffy indiepop media.
My prediction is that the first single "Fascination" will go to the top of the download chart when it gets released later this month.
Will their anticipated success pave the way for a second Danish invasion (remember Aqua opened the door for the likes of Junior Senior and Mew)?
Only time will tell... I have a feeling that given some decent PR work, Tina might be able to get some decent play on the likes of Radio 2, the reviews (more about these later - of CT10 have been very positive).
Don't expect to see much of the Alphabeat on Danish soil after this April, I reckon they'll be moving to London and putting all their efforts into breaking the big time in the UK. So if you haven't done so already, try and see them live in the coming months.... before they go stratospheric.
Check out BBC Radio 1 - the worlds best music station
30/01/08 - Watch your pockets now girl...
My final full day in Bucharest, and I'm still yet to see anything of touristical merit. Although thats my own fault, as I've been locking myself away in meeting rooms discussing the price elasticity of luncheon f***ing meat.
However I have to say, (after taking a cab around) I understand now why, during communist times, they called this city the Paris of eastern Europe. It has some wonderfully huge boulevards and roundabouts - and even a copy of the Arc de Triumph. Many of the boulevards are tree lined, and I'd definitely want to come back and visit the place during the spring.
Romanians get a lot of stick in the rest of the EU. You only need to watch the 6 o'clock news to hear about how they are picking the pockets of Copenhageners or selling their naked wares in the brothels of London. Everyone's looking for a culprit, and unfortunately at the moment it's the Romanians.
A visit here would show you that - in my experience so far at least- they're nothing like the gypsy thieves they are painted to be. But are actually a fascinating people with stories which would make you fall from the edge of your perfectly formed Arne Jacobsen seat. It's only a two hour flight from Copenhagen.... And I'll definitely be taking it again to explore more.
However tomorrow I'm coming back home. And I'd like to wish an enjoyable evening to those of you lucky enough to be seeing Tina in the coming days. I have - rather embarrassingly - left it too late to book tickets for any of the places local to me. To be honest, I didn't think she'd sell out. :ob
Make good use of the "Ønsk et nummer" prompt. As I can see a number have done for the first night of the tour in Esbjerg.
Try and wish for a song which is either so far back in her catalogue that she's bound to have forgotten it, or one which is actually a cover that she'll have to practise hard for. Post up the chords for her too!
28/01/08 - A lamb with a red collar
F**k me I'm knackered. But the buzz of the inroom aircon is just about doing enough from preventing me from being able to sleep in that annoying way in which only aircons can manage. Not quite enough volume to call the local noise police, but annoying enough to bury itself into your brain. Like manufactured tinnitus.
My day started at 5am, and all I've seen then are the insides of Billund and Copenhagen airports, the inside of a small jet airplane, the arrivals hall at Bucharest airport, and the inside of a meeting room. And the inside of my fridge. I travel two hours across Europe and open the room minibar to find a choice of either Tuborg Gold Beer, or Carlsberg. That's globalisation for you. And heres the photo. Depressing eh?
However, I must say that my mood lifted slightly when at Bucharest airport - just land side after bag reclaim - on entering the public arrivals hall (with the throngs of dodgy taxi cabbers and awaiting chauffeurs) I was greeted by the sight of a woman proudly holding in her arms her pet baby lamb. Waiting on an arriving family member (I assume). The lamb was rather resplendent with its immaculate white woolly coat, and a leather collar with a name tag. Welcome to Romania!
Anyways. Heres a view from my hotel room. I have no idea what it is. It was dark when I arrived. It'll be dark when I leave in the morning to be picked up at 7.30am and taken around a dozen or more supermarkets. Someone please send me cyanide... room 1122, Best Western, Bucharest.
27/01/08 - It's Monday, so its Romania......
The next couple of days I'll be spending time in the land of Vlad the Impaler (aka Vlad Dracula). My job affords me the privilege of visiting places I never thought I would visit - and frankly, sometimes places I never really wanted to visit anyway. But to knock it would be sacrilegious. This world is for exploring, with delights around every corner, and if someone else is picking up the bill, well.... Its rude not to enjoy it!
I fly out to Romania's capital (Bucharest) tomorrow morning, and have four days to meet business contacts, do research, and try and find out as much as I can about the canned meat market as possible. Rock and Roll eh? Needless to say, after discussing the inner details of a tin of luncheon meat for eight long hours a day, I'll try and get as much out of the night as possible. Remembering my garlic just for safe measure.
My travelling companion - lets call him Mr B (also the name of my Scout leader when I was 12 incidentally) is a nice enough fella, but about as much fun as haemorrhoids when it comes to getting the most out of these trips. He tends to take himself and his job (a seller of canned meat) far too seriously, and is generally incapable of talking about anything other than work. It can all get too much - and sometimes I pray that he'll be ordering room service rather than joining me for a roam around whichever city we happen to be in. A barrel of laughs Mr B isn't.
So we'll see how this trip goes. I'm looking forward to it actually. Apparently Bucharest has a huge problem with stray dogs - 200,000 at the last count - just roaming the streets. Ok, so maybe its not a tourist attraction in itself, but I am kinds curious to see it for myself. That and Ceausescu's palace of course.
I'll try and report back in here every couple of days and upload photos. I've no doubt I'll need the break from Mr B's intense monologues about price positioning of tinned wieners.
23 Dec 07 - And so this is Christmas (long blog... sorry!)
Blimey, I almost didn't see it coming. I know the signs have been there since the second week of October, but I guess my denial kicked in and saved me from the worst of the over commercialisation which seems to have become the essence of Christmas.
But now it's finally upon us, and I can crack open a can of Christmas Beer without feeling I'm being a hypocrite. My shopping has been done mostly online, saving both time, queues and the all important CO2 footprint! Plus it saves me struggling with the sticky tape and gift cards - Amazon even wrap the buggers for you. Class.
I've not been back to the UK now for about six months, and I have to say that the last couple have been a little harder than usual. In the two years I've been in Denmark, I've normally found myself back on home shores once every eight weeks or so... so six months is a long time. Plus I ran out of tea bags several weeks ago, and it's important not to underestimate how vital these are for maintaining a certain quality of life. Coming home to a cup of coffee just doesn't cut it. Tea it needs to be. And proper tea. From Twinnings.
So I've been missing the old place, and I'll miss the opportunity of walking (slowly, due to the crowds!) around Regent Street and Piccadilly in the pre Christmas rush, the smell of chestnuts being sold on the street corners, and the gawdy Christmas lights which are supposed to be an attraction in themselves, but frankly are just trailorpark trash in their cheapness. I won't of course miss the 10 million people all walking in the wrong direction and trying to get on the next tube home to Cockfosters.
One thing that bemuses me in Denmark is your huge enjoyment of pre-Christmas festivities... then when it comes to the occasion... you only spend 8 hours on it! Whats that all about?
Weeks of planning come down to a solitary mid-afternoon/evening of enjoyment. It starts at 2pm on the 24th, and it's all over come midnight.... And that's it! Bit of an anti-climax if you ask me.
I much prefer the English way....... The 24th is spent running around manically buying the last of the presents for Aunt Aida (normally something from Boots), but by 4pm you're ready to chill.
Gather with the family at 6pm to have something to eat, then get up to the pub for 8pm to enjoy the first of several drinks - together with friends and family and frankly, half the town. By about 11pm, when you're all ready to rock, a visit to the local Church (for the only time that year apart from Uncle Albert's funeral) for midnight mass and some carolling. "Once in Royal Davids City" always sounds better after a few sherries.
And then comes what I'm talking about.... The 25th..... a WHOLE DAY of Christmas!
Wake in the morning to a good old English breakfast, open the presents around the tree (that's if Santa has been during the night... this is another thing wrong in DK... there's no point in Santa if he can't come whilst you're asleep).... And by 1pm you're ready to sit down to a good four course Christmas lunch with all the trimmings!
By 3 o'clock you're all stuffed and the turkey is decimated. The Queen makes her Christmas speech and everyone gathers around the tv.
A nap. A brisk walk around the neighbourhood... and you're ready for the evening festivities! Another quick bite to eat (normally Turkey sandwich.... Turkey becomes a bit of a theme for the following week!) and everyone's back up the pub to share a pint and laugh at the variety of crimes to fashion which are being sported. It goes on until at least midnight....
That's a whole day. Almost 24 hours of celebrations. Surely after all the months of planning, fretting and wrapping, you deserve to enjoy more than 8 hours of it??
I love many things in this fair Danish land. But you've really got to sort out your Christmas!!
;oD
10 Dec 07 - Sleepless in Serbia
This was supposed to be a visual representation of my current situation, compiling a series of photographs describing (and sparing me a thousand words!) my next few days travelling in a wonderful region which has spent its time in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons during the past decade.
However, things often don't turn out as planned.
Rather than spending the next four days driving through the beautiful Serbian countryside and down into Macedonia, I'll be back on the first plane home tomorrow morning.
My host, who I was due to be spending the rest of this week with had a death in his immediate family at 2.30 this morning. Macedonia will have to wait. Having breakfast with a friend who lost his mother in the early hours of the morning, kind of puts life into perspective. Regardless of your culture, creed or religious beliefs, we are all the same when it comes to loss.
As for those photos. I lost my camera in the back of a cab today. Under the circumstances, I'm not bothered.
Kiss the one you love tonight.....
27 Nov - New things on the net
This isn't really a blog entry..... its just a JibJab.
Don't you just love it.... click on the link.
21 Nov - I just can't get enough.....
My names Phil, and I'm an addict.
My rocky road to dependance started about 2 weeks ago. I thought I could control it, I thought the monkey would be off my back after I'd tried it a few times and grew tired. But the monkey kept asking for more, more, more.
Now I'm just feeding the monkey, and the more he eats, the more insatiable his appetite becomes. He's chewed his way through a buffet of possibilities, but still wants dessert. And after dinner mints.
Ok, so maybe I'm being mellowdramatic. But a couple of weeks ago I discovered the feast of cds which my local library has... from Bach to Blur through ZZTop.... and I've just been gorging on it. I'm up the library (we actually had a pub called the Library next to my University, which was great when the parents asked where we'd been all day? In the Library - met with smiling parental approval. But I disgress)....about three times a week at the moment, taking eight or nine (i do limit myself... its just overdose otherwise!) cds home with me and ripping them to my already overstuffed digi music collection. I am, quite literally, addicted.
I get SUCH a huge buzz when I'm in between the racks of musical possibilities... its quite a rush. I've managed to update long-since-abandoned collections (Level 42 and Huey Lewis and the News, anyone?!) - and I've also got hold of brand new stuff which I never dared to splash the cash on for fear of being disappointed (Tori Amos, Ryan Adams, some very weird but funky Jelly Jazz stuff!).
Seriously, if you have as big an appetite for different music as I do, and you haven't done already, get down to your local library and fill your boots! And get to know the librarian, they're ace at keeping the good stuff to one side!
Right, I'm back up there again in a minute.... swap my Blur, Rufus Wainright and Kaiser Chiefs for some Athlete, Neds Atomic Dustbin, and I Got You On Tape.
(by the way, I need a bigger capacity Ipod... so if anyones selling one... let me know!)
12 Nov - Can I have your vote tomorrow?
Theres now less than 24 hours before the voting posts open for the Danish general government election, and for a recently arrived foreigner (me) its all a little confusing to be honest. There are so many parties - it seems that the entire qwertyuiop(å) keyboard is being used - and some initials have no relevance to the name of the party!
Why does Enhedslisten have an "Ø" for their initial??
All very strange. I'm used to a system in the UK where theres only really three main political parties.... and even then its hard to figure out where they differ.
Just in my Danish town there are 10 different groups standing. Go figure.
Unfortunately I don't get to "figure". Despite having moved here over 2 years ago, and been a contributor to the state tax system of 50% of my working wage ever since, I don't actually have a choice who that money should go to, and what it should be used for. And it pisses me off slightly.
Unless I give up my UK citizenship, I won't have a say in the running of my country of residence at any point. Isn't that crazy? I also think its a little crazy that i CAN however, vote in the UK elections..... so I can have a say in a country's politics where i DON'T live or pay tax.... but I can't voice my opinion in the country where i DO live and pay (too much!) tax. And giving up UK citizenship isn't something I'd consider. For one thing it gets me into more places without a visa than having an equivalent passport from Denmark, for another, I'm not Danish.
So, seeing as I can't vote tomorrow, I ask you to make sure that you do. The right (and obligation) to vote is something you shouldn't take lightly. I've only just come to realise this - I'd always taken it for granted before. Now I see that its absolutely vital that you use your voice. And vote for the party that you believe best represents your politics. Don't vote out of fear - don't vote out of tactics - vote for the party which shares your views. Vote for "yourself".
10 Nov - Jamie Scott & The Town (thank you)
Firsly, welcome to Tine W (no relation!). A wonderful first blog. It's not actually as easy as it looks to get started. But you're off to a flyer.
Can I just say THANK YOU to the person who sent me a copy of Jamie Scott & The Town's cd "Park Bench Theories" last week. It arrived on my doorstep in a jiffybag without a note or explanation. No real sign of who it came from apart from an Århus postmark.
Its a BRILLIANT album. The best album I've heard in a long while and completely my cup of tea. Wonderful compositions, thought provoking lyrics and real quality songwriting.
I'd only ever heard the single "When will I see your face again" on the radio - (BBC i think) - but the who album is crammed with classics. If you haven't heard of him, check him out now. And if do know of his existence, but have yet bought the album. Do it today. Now. Before the shops close. And buy an extra copy and give it to your best friend for Christmas.
Thank you to my mystery Santa. (can you drop my a line at pwi@tulip.dk and let me know who you are!?).
Go out and buy Jamie Scott & The Town. You can thank me later.
http://myspace.com/jamiescottandthetown
1st Nov - Is Count To Ten any good?
So, this might be my final post. Who knows.... (so let's make it one about Tina!)
Tonight sees the start of a mini 3 city tour for Tina and her faithful band of merry men (and girl). If you are lucky to have a ticket to one of Odense, Århus or Copenhagen I'm sure you're in for a special treat. Tina seems to improve as a live act every time she takes to the stage and now seems to be comfortable in whatever environment she finds herself.
This wasn't always the case. I remember seeing her a few years ago in Århus, and she didn't seem to fill the stage at all. There was a definite lack of stage presence - which is absolutely key for any "solo" musician to really be able to deliver in a live set and engage the audience.
Fast forward a few years to the present, and she's able to totally command her surroundings - whether it be a small smoky club in the province, or a huge air-conditioned opera house in the capital. And that's not always a natural improvement - it takes time and bloody hard work.
There's been a recent debate on the TD Forum as to whether the latest album "Count to Ten" is as good as the previous releases. I always find these discussions fascinating, as it gives an insight into the varying aspects of what appeals to different people.
My take on it is this:
I discovered Tina's work by being handed a copy of Notes back in May 2004 - I'd asked the record store guy in Århus to sell me a copy of his favourite local artist. It could have been Thomas Helmig, or Poul Krebs..... and I guess I just got lucky that he had great taste in music! (tip: you should try this wherever you travel - its a great way of discovering new artists).
Notes was (and still is) an outstanding piece of work - with some tunes and lyrics which totally captured the moment. "Break of Day" and "Room With a View" are modern classics - which as impactful songs, will be hard to beat no matter what she should later produce. Notes also contained areas of mediocrity. It's a fairly "skippable" album. By this I mean you find yourself skipping songs..... from #3 Warm Sand to #7 Lets Get Lost..... and so on.
So although Notes will often be seem by purists as her single most outstanding album - my take is that although it contains diamonds, it also has a fair few bits of glass in there.
In The Red (ITR) is an album which needed to be made. It's basically a mainstream pop album, produced in a radio friendly way. A compilation of the best bits of two previous albums pimped up a bit and packaged nicely with an airbrushed photo. Absolutely typical of many other albums produced to propel the musician into the mainstream publics' consciousness. It's also full of pop gems. Nobody's Man, My Mirror and Warm Sand were obvious singles - and the album did exactly as requested. Tina became a mainstream artist at home in Denmark, and also secured airplay across the world - not least on the worlds biggest radio station BBC Radio 2. (This Radio 2 fact shouldn't be overlooked... its a HUGE thing to be play listed there).
ITR was easy to love. And easy to play. And it was played everywhere. Your car, my car, your grandparents' summerhouse, the local clothes shop. You couldn't get away from it. It's still being played now in my local Bilka!
But I felt that it didn't really show much of a progression from previous works. Yes it was shiny and pretty - but did it really capture the essence of Tina?
And so we come to my take on Count To Ten (CT10). How to better the commercial success of ITR..... well, that couldn't be done, so there was almost no point trying. Then she shipped a truck load in the first week!!
My first listen to CT10 was in my car. And unlike ITR it's not as transportable. Like good Guinness, it doesn't travel well. CT10 requires a good stereo, or a good headphone set and a nice lazy chair. You can't listen to it in the gym.
My second listen was on a flight between Denmark and the UK. An hour and 15 minutes where I could lean back, close my eyes and really listen to the new album repeatedly. And it blew me away.
Gone are the overproduced pop sounds. It's back to basics - but in a more mature way. The sound is richer than Notes, but that's not at the detriment of the content. The tunes are still catchy, but not bubblegum like some on ITR. It captures the essence.
It's a proper body of work. It's a proper music album. From start to finish it's an entire piece of work, and it should be listened to from start to finish. It's VERY rare that you'll find albums like that nowadays. Most have three/four singles and then a load of d-sides. CT10 has no obvious singles, but 11 stories.
What I feel has improved - hugely - is Tina's ability to write strong lyrics. She's always been a fine musician, but sometimes words have been a little simple. CT10 is full of "killer lines" - ones which shoot you down when you first hear them - and then make you sing out loud when you hear them again.
There are some absolute classics in there..... "Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to go slow..", "far away is a place inside yourself....." and "underneath the cover, we're all as frail as each other".
Tina has really improved in this area - and having listened to the A Beginning EP which may well be part of the foundations of the next long player, she'll continue to improve and enthral.
Of course, whilst lavish in my praise, the albums not perfect! It's a little too melancholy in places, and I find myself becoming frustrated that there aren't as many "up" songs as there are "down" ones. I'd also like Tina to explore more with lyrics which are less neurotic. The uninitiated might hear CT10 and think she needs to cheer up a bit. And although her improvements are really apparent with the lyrics, there's one moment on the album where I recoil as if hearing fingernails down a blackboard - "When everyone I know are in bed" - from Night Cab....... It's a simple grammatical error.... But its HUGE! (and actually the correct grammatical version flows just as well!). Needs fixing for the international version that Luv! (am I being too picky here?).
So, is CT10 better than ITR and Notes?
They say that music really only comes alive when you hear it played live. So for those going to see Tina in concert this week - maybe you will be the best judges of that question. Maybe you can let me know. And have a great time.
30 Oct - The mama pyjama rolled out of bed.
It's strange how sometimes musicians and bands disappear off your radar for years, and then like a bolt from the blue, they make an re-entrance and you wonder why they were banished in the first place.
This has just happened to me with one of the greatest songwriters of all time, someone I grew up with playing on my parents record player, and someone who they took me to see live in concert at a very early age for my own education (for which I will be eternally grateful!).... and someone I emplore you to spend some more time with.
You may only know Paul Simon through the 80s Mtv of "You Can Call Me Al" and possibly through the south american drum beats of "Obvious Child" - but, I challenge you to find a better songwriter/performer/artist in the last generation.
I know that its trendy to name the likes of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, Joni Mitchell et al..... But that's all the usual shit, right? Try to be honest with yourself, and not cower to the Gaffa/Q mag contingent.
Paul Simon is often left off the list of "most influential" artists of the last century, yet he's produced a more generous serving of classic pop/folk than all the above combined... and its about time we acknowledged it!
If you're into real music - music which touches every aspect of your soul - do yourself a huge favour and download his Greatest Hits album as a start. Then delve deeper. Even his most recent work pisses on most other johnny-come-latelys of the charts.
If you're trying to write a clever pop song, first listen to the masterful "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" - and try and better that. It sets a pretty high bar!
And if you're looking to dance your ass off, and sing along to the catchiest song of all time - try to resist "Me and Julio down by the school yard".
And this is even before we start mentioning the work he did with his mate Art Garfunkel!
So, this week is "Discover Paul Simon Week". You can thank me later.
(Oh, and by the way Tina..... any one of his songs as a cover request please!)
26½ Oct - OH MY GOD! Simply Red to "split".
Ok, I'm on a roll here.
Have you seen the news that Simply Red are going to go their separate ways after their 2009 tour. Mick Hucknall is quoted on their website as saying "I've kind of decided that 25 years is going to be enough,".
You're not the only one Mick. 3 minutes of your whining is enough, 25 years has been a life sentence for most of us.
And how is it that you "split" with yourself anyway?
As you can see from the bands website gallery, the other members of the band look gutted at the news.
(Something tells me that ticket's weren't exactly flying out the door for the gigs. Hence the non-story).
The Ginger Whinger's website....
26 Oct - They've taken her!
Bit off an off-topic entry this..... but thought it worth sharing.
You have probably heard of the case of the alledged abduction of Madeleine McCann from the family's holiday apartment in Portugal back in May. The story goes that her parents went out to eat with friends at a nearby restaurant, leaving their three young children alone in the locked apartment - and on checking back later, found their eldest daughter had disappeared.
The police seem to have had very little to go on... and the parents Gerry and Kate McCann have been official suspects for several months now. Today the police released a sketch of a man they think was seen carrying a child that evening. Theres no sketch of the face though - as the witness didn't see that. Not much help then really, eh?
Without a face its just a sketch of a random Portuguese bloke..... not exactly narrowing it down.
What is interesting, is a rumour doing the rounds..... and for legal reasons, I'm sure this isn't true ;o)
Apparently the well educated and wealthy McCann parents are members of a Swingers club - and the friends that they were having dinner with that evening are part of the local Praia da Luz swingers association. The McCanns apparently owed money to a local "Swingers Mafia" - who kidnapped Madeleine as punishment - prompting the now infamous initial outburst from Kate McCann "they've taken her".... and the man they initially arrested is known locally as head honcho within the swinging community..... what has since happened to the poor child is anyones guess.
It's alledged that all the newspapers know about this, but they're keeping it a secret.
Of course, this is probably ridiculous.......... you don't get swingers as good looking as Kate McCann ;ob
10 Oct. - The future is here (and its free)?
So Radiohead have just released their latest album ("In Rainbows") on download only format - and you don't have to pay a thing for it. Not a dime. You can get it for free.
Or you can pay £99.99 if you want. They quite literally leave it up to you to decide. Whats it worth to you?
They can do this because they don't have a major record label breathing down their neck, taking a huge slice of the revenue; and with digital download format they have no extra physical production or distribution costs.
So they put faith in their fan base - which is sure to increase as people can explore them for free - and just ask you to pay what you deem is right.
That's an ethical dilemma I like.
I've never been a huge Radiohead fan, although I've found the recent Thom Yorke solo album (The Eraser) to be the perfect travelling partner on my iPod when I'm transiting airports (won't explain here, but its great for drowning out other ambient noise!) - but I am curious to hear the new album. The release of which would probably have passed me by, had it not created such a stir in the media by being released for a negotiable fee.
So I logged onto the webpage... and sat for several minutes pondering what I should pay for this piece of art. Eventually I settled on £5. (55kr) I can't really explain why - I guess that normally I'm willing to pay 80kr at iTunes, and as I know all the money will go into the bands pockets, thats probably about the cut that they get after sale anyway (can anyone confirm this? Tina?). So 55kr sounded fair to me. And I felt cheap paying any less.
I think its an ingenious way for artists to make their music available - and I have faith that us humans are a decent bunch on the whole, and will probably pay a fair price for the goods (what is fair and affordable is of course different for all). The bands will be able to distribute their music to a much wider group of people - and of course they'll continue to make money through other revenue streams (concerts, special edition boxsets, merchandise etc).
Whether or not this is the new future of music distribution is yet to be seen. and whether or not In Rainbows is worth the money (which is a matter of taste) I'll find out later.
Pay something or nothing for In Rainbows...
6. Oct - Answering prayers
Most people who have carried a love of music throughout their lives generally have a band, or a couple of bands/artists who changed their world at a very early age, and whom they have since followed - almost religiously ever since.
Its difficult to explain to anyone why and how you feel the way you do about "your band" - in much the same way as Christians can't really explain their love for Jesus, theres no real rational justification in it, it's just a connection which has been made with a bond stronger than superglue.
One of my biggest regrets is that I never got to see "my" band live. Despite having all of their recordings, knowing all of the lyrics and the birthdays of their mothers, I never got around to buying a ticket to one of their UK gigs - there was always "next tour". And I still remember as clear as rain where I was when I heard over the radio, in June 1996, that the band had split up and gone their separate ways. I still recall the sick feeling in my stomach that my chance had gone. And at the very same time I learnt a lesson - do today what you can put off until tomorrow. Because sometimes tomorrow doesn't afford you that chance.
Run the clock forward 11 years, and in January of this year I almost pissed my pants in excitement / relief when the message came through that my band were reforming. And not just for a grab-the-money-and-run tour, but for real. To make music and complete some unfinished business. My silent prayers has been answered.
On Monday (and Tuesday!) evening next week, I get to complete MY unfinished business, and go to pray at the alter of Crowded House. And I have never been so nervous/excited/relieved in all of my life. My band is coming to my backgarden...... and we're going to rip up the daisies.
I won't try to convert you, because faith is not something which can be taught, but I would like to invite you to a sermon or two. This weekend, download some lesser known Crowded House tracks (try "Fall At Your Feet", "Better Be Home Soon", and "Locked Out").... and maybe you'll start to see the light......
See the great new video for "She Called Up"
Phil Collins is a hairy monkey.....
Just a quick one this, but something I needed to share:
Is this the best use of Phil Collins (love him or hate him) music you've ever seen?
It's a new advert in the UK for... well, you have to wait until the end to see what its for. (and even then you might be a bit in the dark if you don't know the brand).
Credit to the creatives at whichever agency put this one together (and got it through the suits at the comissioning company). Pure genius.
You need the sound up full...
The best advert this year.... so far.....
27. Sep - Facebook rools!
I always felt a bit of a fraud having a MySpace page. I could use the argument that I used it to gain information (gigs, news) on my favourite bands, but there was so much "interference" from other artists and bands that it has become a bit of a chore to file through all the messages and crap. So I don't.
MySpace is really for people with something to promote. People either with a talent (musical mostly), or with silicon breasts who want to solicite casting agents or punters. And I have neither.
Having "friend" requests - or collecting friends (lets face it, more than half are not even aquaintences) always got a bit awkward. Do you: A, say "no" as you don't have a clue who they are; B, say "yes" and then get bombarded with their useless music demos which are so bad they don't even make good ashtrays; or C, ignore them... and then feel even more guilty about the procrastination?
So, thank God for Facebook!
3 months ago I hadn't even heard of this place. And now I'm addicted. No wonder they call it "Crackbook".
Its much better than "Friends Reunited" - you don't pay for one thing - and you really only link into the people you actually knew existed, or have some kind of... well, friendship relationship with.
I've been lucky to have travelled a fair bit, and have also moved house more times than I care to remember (although 11 times in 7 years was the last count)... and being a bit of a hobo its been a little tough to keep up with old friends and mates. Google searches often came up with links to names, but re-contacting people was always a bit of a shot in the dark.
Facebook solves all that. Its like shooting fish in a barrel.
And I have no problem rejecting linkage with people I either don't know, or didn't like when I met them. So no guilt there.
I don't think Facebook is that widespread in Denmark yet..... So get on the bandwagon now before it starts rolling out of control.
However once it does, it does so without any brakes. You have been warned!
22. sep - The Royal Family
So, tomorrow night Tina is onstage taking part in the (this is hard to translate!) Danish Crown Prince's & Princesses' Culture Prize - (try THAT when you're drunk! It's actually no easier in Danish) "Kronprinsparrets Kulturpris".
That's some achievement - to be asked to perform in such a high profile event must be quite flattering. Four or so years ago I bet she would have been forcibly removed by the police for busking outside the opera house.
And now she's standing on the stage - and infront of national tv cameras - and all the royals. Must be weird.
I've always like the Danes attitude to their Royal family - and the Royal familys attitude to their place in society. They don't seem nearly as removed from reality as the British Royal family, who lost the plot generations ago. I still have doubts about whether maintaining a monarchy in a real democracy is the right and proper thing to do. But then there's a debate as to how democratic our democracy really is anyway.
The thing I like best about the Danish Royals is their "normalness". All the members (apart from that French fella) seem to have a purpose, and a skill (Prince Joachims is downing a pint in 3 seconds allegedly).
Although for a woman who is often responsible for costume design at the Royal Ballet Queen Margrethe shows an incredible lack of fashion sense in her clothing choices. Half the time she looks like she's got dressed in the dark. Who the hell lets her go out like that?
I do have a theory about that.... You've never seen the Danish Queen and Dame Edna in the same place have you? Ever wondered why.......? ;oD
Why is my radio playing such crap?
Can someone please explain this to me:
Why is Danish radio so crap?
With the exception of Danish Radio P3 - which normally plays quite a decent eclectic mix - the rest of the stations are just unforgiveable in their selection of music. And not just that they play rubbish disposable pop which should be restricted to childrens birthday parties only (and even then only between the hours of 2pm and bedtime at 8pm) - but their choice and timing of music is, simply appalling.
Take this morning. I'm on my usual 45 minutes commute north to work, and unfortunately its not my car, so I don't get to pick the station. We're tuned into 100FM - a countrywide modern pop station.
The morning radio (drive time) hosts have the task of waking up the nation, and putting us in a good mood (even though we're on our way to work, and its pissing with rain outside).... It's Friday for gawds sake - they can hardly fck it up can they? Just stick on some happy tunes, read some funny tabloid stories, and crap on about something not too deep.
So, in my 45 minute listen (torture), what do you think they played to bring me into that Friday Feeling?
The Bangles - Manic Monday (.... It's Friday guys)
Celine Dion - It's coming back to me now (wooooo.... That gets me up and going)
James Blunt - 1973 (ok, I'll give them that its at least under 20 years old)
Phil Collins - Against All Odds. (THE most depressing song written)
I kid you not.
Now, their job is to get you in the mood for the weekend. How many people do you reckon were dancing into their workplace after that lot? Phil Collins... for fck sake!!!!!!!! I've NEVER been ANYWHERE in the world where music stations play Phil Collins so bloody much as here in DK. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy?
Please, someone explain to me. When it comes to radio stations, am I missing something, or are they all (bar P3, which has its crap moments too)... absolute tosh?
The first blog....
Ok, so the first Blog. I guess I should have prepared a little for this, Google'd some advice, Asked Jeeves, Yahoo'd myself to near exhaustion.
But I haven't, and I apologise if its all a little non-standard, or about as easy to understand as a Pogues lyric with Shane McGowan at the mic.
If I make spelling mistakes, I apologise. If my grammar goes awry, blame my english teacher, and if I ever insult you, please don't take it personally, and put it down to my ignorance. Ok. That's enough apologising upfront, I think I've covered my back.
Ok. Let's go.
Quick intro.. which will help to explain or at least make excuse for, my future rantings. I'm from the UK, but I live in Denmark, and have done for about 2 years. And I like it here. For the most part.
I speak Danish to a decent level, but that doesn't mean I necessarily understand what's going on around me. But being a foreigner - (or I would be classed as "immigrant" if I wasn't white northern european ;o) - gives me an excuse to non-conform on occaisions. And to question the unquestionable. Like - Leverpostej - why? Why don't you just go and buy some decent French/Belgian paté instead of that grey liver sludge which smells and tastes, of wet dog.
