Month: September 2014

Significant Songs (41/42)

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Funeral music

I am getting to that time in life when you start to think about what music might be played at your funeral. To be very honest, I have thought about this topic for some years now, so it is nothing new. I have one song that is constant, and the second song keeps changing. I am still not certain, as I type this, if both songs will make the cut, but I like them enough to get them published as a post, and one will never change.

(Grant My) Last Request

The title alone almost guarantees Paolo Nutini’s song a place at my internment. It helps that it is also very good; a great pop song, sung well, in a great voice. It is haunting too, also appropriate, and has that timeless feel, suitable for the ceremony. The young Scot hit the headlines with his debut album ‘These Streets’, in 2006, and this track was a big hit at the time. Although the song is about the ending of a relationship, we will gloss over that, and regard it in the context of the ending of a life.

This is the video from the USA, to promote the single.

Someone To Watch Over Me

I think we might all agree that it would be nice to have someone to watch over us? This song has been around a long time, since 1926 to be exact, when it was written by George and Ira Gershwin. It is best known as one of the signature songs of Ella Fitzgerald, but that version is not my choice on this occasion. Little jimmy Scott, lately just known as Jimmy Scott, sadly died this year. He was born with a syndrome that made him unable to reach puberty, and also stunted his growth. Luckily, this also endowed him with one of the most unusual singing voices ever heard. If you didn’t see him singing, you could be forgiven for thinking that you were listening to a female vocalist. I was lucky enough to see him perform late in his life, on two occasions at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in Soho. I feel privileged to have seen the man beloved of Billie Holliday, and many more of his peers. He first recorded this song during the 1950’s, and made many later versions too. For me, the definitive funeral song, and without doubt, the best version too. This is one of the older recordings. I would use the one from the 2003 album ‘Falling In Love Is Wonderful’ but I can’t get a clip of that.

That’s my funeral music sorted. Give yours some thought. You’ll be glad you did.

Significant Songs (40)

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I Get So Lonely

Between 1997-2000, I was in the middle of an upheaval in my life. I had separated from my second wife, and moved across London, to the west. I was renting an unattractive flat, in an unfamiliar area, often questioning my own actions, and wondering what was going to become of me, at the age of 45. After a warm summer, mostly spent in the large garden of the flat, drinking wine and listening to music, autumn arrived, bringing darker evenings, and quieter streets. I was less enamoured with my move by then, and I was spending far too much time on my own.

Because of the success of her brother Michael, Janet Jackson has spent much of her life in his shadow. I had always preferred her voice, and although she frequently emulated his style, I thought that there was enough about her to appreciate for its own sake. Around the same time, she had been going through an emotional and psychological breakdown. Coming out the other side, she released a new album of songs, and called it ‘The Velvet Rope’. I heard a few tracks on the radio, and bought a copy soon after. It contained a strange mix of pop tunes, dance music, and some songs with darker lyrics.

One track seemed to sum up my own mood at the time. It showcased Janet’s voice and style perfectly, yet had an overwhelming sadness to it, that I could easily identify with. I played it often, occasionally buying into the sadness it contained; and later, when times were good, remembering how I had once felt when I listened to it. If you have ever been very low in your life, feeling that you had perhaps chosen the wrong path, I am sure you will be able to immediately identify with the emotions in this song. Seventeen years after I first heard it, it still packs the same punch for me today.

Here are two versions of the song. One is a production number, the second a simple live rendition. You choose…

Mole Wars: Update

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The mole is still eluding the traps. It has gone tantalisingly close to them, leaving a molehill just inches from one.  The patio still seems to be providing sanctuary, as smaller hills chart the progress around the edge. When I cut the grass this week, I had hoped to tempt it out onto the lawn, but it isn’t playing my game. The history of man versus mole is a long one, and has existed since we have cultivated crops, and prepared lawns to relax on. Despite advances in technology, and numerous tips on the Internet available, they don’t appear to be any easier to catch now, than they were in the days of Queen Victoria.

I confess to a grudging admiration for the determined creature. I thought that moles were rodents, but research tells me that they are not, and they belong to a different order of animals. They are nothing if not industrious. It took me a considerable time to shift buckets of disturbed soil this week. The small mole must be powerful indeed, to have excavated such piles. Scale up that level of work and industry to our size, and a man could easily dig a substantial tunnel by lunchtime.

I have a niggling feeling that this is a war we are not going to win. The oblivious mole, intent on feeding, blissfully unaware of the disturbance to our aesthetics, has no idea of the contest raging above. It is just going about its business as it always has, with little regard to the clumsy creatures that also inhabit its world. The tiny animal has humbled us, and a part of me thinks that this is the way it should be. The other part wants to catch the thing, naturally. ‘Beaten by a mole’ is hardly a desirable epitaph.

Significant Songs (39)

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You And Me Song

Sometimes, it is the simple things that have the biggest impact. Uncomplicated lyrics, a catchy chorus, and basic instruments are all that are needed. Add a theme that anyone can identify with, and you have the ingredients of a massive hit record. Leave aside your musical snobbery, cast out your pretentiousness, and just allow a little sentiment to eventually overwhelm you.

If you have ever really cared for anyone, ever thought that you were in love, and that it would last forever, you will understand.

In 1994, Swedish popsters The Wannadies released this record. Since then, it has been re-released, used on a successful film soundtrack, in several TV advertising campaigns, and as background music in some TV series too. Despite the suicidal name of the group, this is truly a life-affirming song, and potentially appeals to anyone anywhere, as long as they can understand English. Many will recognise it immediately, and be very familiar with the tune. However, they might not know the name or the origins of the band that recorded it, as they did not really go on to greater things, and broke up in 2009.

I never understood why this song did not achieve more fame around the world. There is little to criticise about it, and everything to like. To me, it is a modern ‘standard’, and a song I will always love to hear. It puts me in a good mood, and makes me feel great about love and relationships. It can work for you too. You just have to let it.

This is not an official video. It was made by some students, and really captures the mood.

A Blogging frame of mind

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Do you ever feel that you are not in the right frame of mind for blogging? There is no shortage of ideas. I have three posts in draft, and a fair bit going on to write about. There is also a long list of ‘Significant Songs’ waiting to be written up, and plenty of themed ideas to send to external film websites for publication. But it just isn’t happening.

Maybe it’s the changeable weather. Storms one minute, sunny afternoons the next. Perhaps it is because I have finally got busy in the garden, and managed a few jobs out there, all of which have either made me feel worn out, or given me muscle pains. I can’t blame it on lack of time though. After all, I am sitting here now, writing this. Does Blogging require a certain feeling, a positive approach, and some structure? Or is it as it should be, written fast as the ideas come, all from the heart, not the head.

I have experienced a kind of seasonal malaise in the past. That time after summer, anticipating winter, with Christmas in between. It is a strange time, only exceeded in strangeness by the doldrums of January and February. Grey skies and rain, seemingly not conducive to anything productive. I am at the keyboard, the ideas are there, the experiences awaiting description, recollections and tales fill the mind. Yet nothing appears, save a post about not posting anything.

Is it just me, or do we all feel like that sometimes?

Significant Songs (38)

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Venus As A Boy

Ever since the band The Sugarcubes split, and she began her solo career in 1993, Icelandic singer, songwriter, and actress Bjork has divided peoples’ views about her, and her music. To say that she is hard to define or categorise, would be an understatement. She has covered almost every musical genre, and invented a few of her own along the way. Her persona has swung from appealingly cute, to outright irritating, with a fair portion of pretentiousness in there too. Even her most ardent detractors would have to admit she has talent, whether they like the result, or not.

Her vocal range stretches from a throaty roar, up to a glass-shattering shriek, and her image fluctuates accordingly, from endearing gamine, to completely bizarre. She is a show-woman, of that there is no doubt, adding theatrical elements to her concerts, and dressing in an eclectic range of outfits. Her Icelandic heritage appears on occasion, but she is very much an international music star, with a legion of avid followers. Her adventures in acting have shown that she has talent in that area too, so I am left wondering if there is anything that she cannot turn her hand to.

She shies away from nothing. Her songs have included big-band arrangements, unusual instruments, electronic music, and she has even recorded political songs, to support various causes. She is still working hard to this day, and also embraces Internet technology, with music apps, and has participated in musical art installations. There really is nobody quite like her. Singing in English, she has a delightful accent, which is both familiar and strange at the same time. Hard to explain.

I decided years ago that I didn’t like her very much. I had no reason for this, except that I found some of her music grating, and I was also irritated by some of her videos to promote the songs. However, she kept getting awards, and the industry obviously though that she was doing something right. So, I did something that I rarely do. I gave her another chance, and listened again to her first solo release, ‘Debut’. It contains this track, which I have listened to many times since. See what you think.

It changed my mind.

Significant Songs (37)

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Chasing Pavements

Following her arrival on the music scene in the UK in 2006, Adele Adkins has become a household name here, and an international star to boot. This singer-songwriter from a South London suburb is only 26 years old, and is already assured a place in the record books. She has won six Grammys, two Brit awards, and a host of other accolades and plaudits. She has sold millions of her recordings, either on CD or download, and has equalled or exceeded many statistical records, even those of The Beatles. She has even been awarded both a Golden Globe, and an Oscar, for her James Bond theme song ‘Skyfall’, and her career appears to be unstoppable.

Her talent is undeniable. She doesn’t trade on unusually good looks, or a slim figure, like so many of her contemporaries. Her success is based on a wonderful vocal range, and amazingly memorable songs, that appeal to all ages, and different groups of fans. If you live in the UK (or perhaps even the USA) you cannot fail to have heard one or other of her songs played on the radio. She has only released two albums so far, called ’19’, and ’21’, after the age she was at time of recording. The second CD contained the huge hits ‘Someone Like You’, ‘Rolling In The Deep’, and ‘Set Fire To The Rain’. Her style has been variously described as ‘Jazzy’, ‘Bluesy’, and even ‘Country’. Most of her songs are about heartbreak, failed relationships, and disappointments in life. Perhaps that is why everyone can relate to them, wherever they are from.

My selection is the second single release from her debut album. I heard it on the radio, saw the video on TV, and was immediately impressed by this talented newcomer, with her English accent, and ‘ordinary’ looks. I bought the CD the next day.

Autumn comes to Beetley

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Despite the unseasonal weather, (it was 24 C here today) it is more than obvious that Autumn has arrived. I spent a fair amount of time this week collecting the first fall of leaves and twigs from the oaks, as well as attempting to shift some of the many acorns. Another good few hours were spent trimming the leylandii hedges that shelter two sides of the garden. I had neglected them last year, and paid the penalty for this, with hard work. Standing some ten feet high, and almost five feet deep, this is not a job to be tackled lightly, or in bad weather. Most of the difficult bits have to be got at from the top rung of a ladder, with almost all of my body at full stretch, perched precariously on the bulk of the hedge, as I reach across. The thickest branches had to be dealt with by sawing, and each remainder would have made an acceptable Christmas Tree, for an average room. The unexpectedly good weather allowed me to get on with this job, which I could no longer put off. The end result is a satisfyingly neat double row of hedge, and more light allowed into the gardens of the neighbouring houses. I also have the scars to show battle was done, with marks from twigs, the strange redness of an allergic reaction to the pine needles, and muscles aching all over my legs and wrists.

It is getting foggy in the mornings, and dark earlier. By 7.30 in the evening, our lights are on, and by 8, it is completely black outside. The fields nearby are being ploughed, and at times the smell of the manure, and other fertilisers, is all-pervasive between here and Dereham. The leaves are turning; gold before brown, some pale and lifeless. Walking with Ollie today in the afternoon heat, we wandered in the direction of Gingerbread Corner. The vast acres of blackcurrant bushes have now been harvested; the fruit that was rejected by the farmer now fought over by hundreds of starlings. They in turn are mobbed by dozens of crows, swooping down from high nests in the Poplars lining the Holt Road, their cry of ‘caw-caw’ building to an unpleasant cacophony. Squirrels are much in evidence, rapidly gathering nuts to store against the coming winter. So many are scurrying around, Ollie is unsure which one to chase first, and just stands and cries in frustration.

Once at the plum orchards, lack of rainfall, and the cessation of watering by the farmer, shows in the remaining crop. This time of year normally sees many unpicked plums still hanging in plump clusters on the short trees. Today, all that was visible were hundreds of shrivelled and blackened fruits, dehydrated and dead on their stalks. A little further on, there is a pleasant area left fallow this year, home to attractive wildflowers, and recently, scores of sunflowers; not cultivated, just growing randomly. Their huge yellow heads, with the dark centres of seeds, helped to brighten a familiar walk. On inspection this afternoon, they have lost petals, the seeds are dry, and the heads are beginning to droop down, as if the flower is sad, or unwell.

This summer of mixed blessings will soon be just a memory. Clear nights, cold winds from the north, Halloween, Bonfire Night, and other seasonal festivities will replace the joy of light evenings, and wide-open windows. Autumn is here.

Lady Mole Catcher

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The lady mole catcher arrived at midday today. Overnight, three new mounds had appeared at the edge of the patio, underneath the bedroom window. Her arrival was eagerly anticipated, and I was pleased when she turned up as arranged. Louise was a very pleasant lady, and a local Norfolk woman with extensive experience in catching moles. She is the only lady mole catcher around, and her services are in great demand. It is not important to have a lady to catch the moles of course, unless you happen to be a female of nervous disposition, unwilling to welcome strange men onto your premises. If you would like to engage the services of this nice lady, here is a link to her site. http://www.ladymolecatcher.co.uk/

The lady mole catcher had an air of authority, and she certainly talked the talk, mole-wise. She rapidly debunked the various snippets of advice we had received from others, and was able to give me the full lowdown on mole activity, obviously at the top of her game. After an examination of our garden and patio, area, she declared that the outlook was pessimistic. ‘I may have to walk away from this one’, was her initial verdict. She inserted her probe into various places, and discovered that the soil was sandy, and full of gravel. Not ideal for good trapping, it seems. Retrieving her trusty trowel from her small van, she had a good dig around between the sites of the most recent mole activity. The run was located, and I was shown the small tunnel entrance that the mole uses on its perambulations in search of worms. She reluctantly decided to leave two traps, in the hope of catching the mole. I say reluctantly, because she does not expect the mole to enter them, due to the way the runs go under the patio. As she only gets a fee if the mole is caught, it is work that she may end up doing for free, adding the cost of travel to our house too.

The traps were set, and I was shown how to tell if they have worked. She will return on a regular basis to check them. Meanwhile, I got the good and bad news about what to expect, if no mole is caught. There will be one mole, and it may decide to inhabit our garden for up to five years. If there is sufficient food, it will stay where it is. Should it realise that there are not the required twenty worms a day required to keep it alive, it might move to next door, or further afield. If we get rain and damp weather, it is likely to reside longer. They like wet soil, and rain encourages worms too. Overall, it is not looking good for our poor bungalow. I can well imagine that the slabs on the patio will begin to deform if undermined, and there is the constant mess of the discarded soil too. On the plus side, they do not affect drainage, sewage, or anything necessary for the smooth running of the house.

Perhaps we should consider saving up, and getting the whole garden paved over? Update to follow, for anyone still awake.

Ollie’s Gang

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Despite a short holiday in Kent, our dog Ollie is happiest at home. He misses the river, and his familiar circuit around Beetley Meadows, the woods, or Mill Lane. He misses the scent trails of deer, moles, rabbits, and squirrels, and the remembered aromas of his best friends. I could take him to the same place every day, for the rest of his life, and he would be happy. He doesn’t need pastures new, trips to the seaside, or visits to old and interesting places. He is a creature of habit, and that habit suits him down to the ground. When we got home last week, and I took him across to the meadows, he scampered off as excited as the first time he ever went out. It was a pleasure to see him so enthusiastic and happy.

He misses his friends. Since his first foray into the bigger world outside of our house, he has sought the company of other dogs. Luckily, a group of us tend to walk our dogs at the same time, in the late afternoon, so he is usually guaranteed to have some company, at least during weekdays. At times, there can be up to eight of us walking the circuit, all the different dogs running around together, enjoying the short time as a pack, their instinct telling them that this is the natural way. Each dog has its routines, its place in the hierarchy, and its preferred method of play. Some avoid the water, most plunge in happily. Some swim well and enthusiastically; others, like Ollie, just wade. If there is nobody around when we get over there, Ollie will constantly scan the most-used entrances, desperate to see one of the gang arriving. At times, he will actually cry, until another pal appears. As soon as he scents the familiar smell, or sees the owner in the distance, he will tear off towards them, all cares forgotten.

They are an-ill matched group on first sight. Ollie all wrinkles and curly tail, tiny Toby the Jack Russell, a relentless ball of energy, accomplished catcher of anything, and lover of balls or sticks. Oban, the slim, shy black Labrador. Gentle-natured, a little afraid of strange dogs, but always pleased to run with his friends. He is never happier than when he is carrying a huge stick, preferably at the rear of the group, occasionally tantalising the others with it, then running off before they can grab it. He is most definitely Ollie’s best friend, and they are very happy to stay at each other’s houses, or walk together all day. Big Spike, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, though younger than all the others, towers above them, in height and strength. He can knock Toby over with ease, and if he wants a stick or a ball, he always gets it. And keeps it. Ollie tries to dominate the youngster, and if you didn’t know better, you would think that they were fighting. But their tails are wagging; it is just rough play.

This core trio of the gang are often joined by Bruno, the black Pug. He is a great character, snuffling along, fighting for breath, tiny legs that won’t allow him to keep up with the others. So small, he can pass underneath Spike, he is as tough as the others really. At least in his own mind. Buddy the black terrier will usually be around. He is ball-obsessed, and has no interest in walking around with the others. They might get his ball. Buster is a Lhasa Apso with attitude. Smartly-trimmed, alert and ready for action, he has decided he doesn’t like Ollie. As his owners give Ollie small treats, Buster gets jealous, and very grumpy. He doesn’t mind smaller dogs, but he is not happy around the larger animals. So, he doesn’t join in, but he is usually there, to be quickly sniffed, and checked out by the others. Big Rocky, the Newfoundland cross, is a huge dog. He has a nice nature, and loves to play with the others. He can flatten Ollie with one paw, and often does. Unfortunately, he was a rescue dog, so cannot be let off his lead. Nonetheless, he manages to play remarkably well, on a long extension. Bracken the Springer doesn’t concern herself too much with the gang. She is too busy putting up pheasants, and other wildfowl, her instincts overriding any desire to play.

Ozzie the Bedlington, and Millie the Spaniel are always walked together. Their owners are friends, and usually appear towards the end of our walk. Millie loves strokes and fuss, and she has the most wonderfully soft wrinkly ears. Unfortunately, Ozzie has issues with constant barking, and after a while, he can set your ears ringing. Sometimes, he has to wear a special collar that his owner ‘buzzes’, to stop his incessant yaps. Little Lola, the tiny and gorgeous heart-breaker of the group. She is a Shih Tzu, with adorable eyes, a soft curly coat, and a love of strokes and cuddles. The boys are very interested in her of course, but she lets them know when their attentions are not welcome, with a snarl and a snap. There are many others. The twin Poodles, the two Shelties, bad-tempered Duncan the retriever; once a friend, now aggressive and lonely.  New arrivals are frequent. Spock the Alsatian pup, only fourteen weeks old, ready for anything. The nasty terrier, owned by a family recently moved to the area. So angry, it cannot be let off the lead, and snarls and screams at every other dog, from 200 yards away. Poppy the Patterdale, all jumping and friendly, loves everyone, and every dog too.

We have lost some over the years sadly. Barley the Spaniel, who had to be put to sleep after suffering arthritic hips. The little Westie, savaged and killed by a rogue greyhound. Gem, the blind Labrador, moved away to Birmingham, and old Max the Jack Russel, who lived with Toby, finally reaching the end of a long and happy life. Some have to be avoided at all costs. The aforementioned greyhound, now always muzzled. Billy the Terrier, so aggressive he will bite any dog. Stan the Spaniel, who decides who he does and doesn’t like, and attacks accordingly. Generally though, it is a happy gang, and Ollie is sure that it is his gang. We won’t tell him otherwise.