Song title: Not Giving In
Artist: Rudimental
Year: 2012
Why I like this song:
I'm a sucker for a real motivational anthem - and what makes this special is singer John Newman selling it like there's no tomorrow.
Also one can't underestimate the power of the chorus: "This time I'm gonna be stronger I'm not giving in". In fact whenever I do something major, i want a choir to barge in going: "This time I'm gonna be stronger I'm not giving in"
Original video located here. Accessed 23rd December 2012
Song title: A Christmas Duel
Artist: The Hives and Cyndi Lauper
Year: 2009
Why I like this song:
Another Christmas favorite. It's a bizarre combination of the Hives and Cyndi Lauper but the end result is just priceless. Granted this is a very, very WRONG Christmas song but that's what makes it so special
Original video located here. Accessed 21st December 2012
Song title: Black White and Blue
Artist: Ladyhawke
Year: 2012
Why I like this song:
So I finally got a hold of Ladyhawke's album Anxiety.
I will admit that yes it seems to be following the same formula as her first but hey, what works: The bombast and the synths seem to be working for Pip so good for her.
Original video located here. Accessed 2nd May 2017
Song title: Morning Raga
Artist: Ravi Shankar
Year: 1956
Why I like this song:
R.I.P. Ravi Shankar
Original video located here. Accessed 12th July 2012
Song title: Rope
Artist: Foo Fighters
Year: 2011
Why I like this song:
Lately I've been listening to the Foo Fighters' Wasting Light album.
Some say this is the best one Dave and co have done. I feel compelled to agree.
The last few Foo Fighters albums have been a bunch of songs to accompany the big singles but this sounds like a winner all the way through. Something worked so here's hoping it continues.
Song title: Time
Artist: Sekiria
Year: 1998
Why I like this song:
This song was used in a scene for the anime Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040, which i saw back in 2001 during my University years. The use was brief so to hear the whole thing in it's entirety is something else. I was particularly taken in by the anguish expressed in the guitar playing - so much so, it became the theme I'd listen to when looking up my results and expecting certain doom.....
Original video located here. Accessed 3rd December 2012
Song title: Heart of Glass
Artist: Blondie
Year: 1978
Why I like this song:
This year, Hobart was blessed with a triple bill and a half: Blondie with support from the Stranglers and the Saints.
Definitely a revival of late 1970s goodness but no matter: I'd be a fool to miss it so I went and saw it.
First up was the Saints. Unsurprisingly, their material came from the post-Ed Kuepper period of the band but they still delivered. Like Fire Would was great live and Chris Bailey still had a stage presence, both singing and playing bass.
Then came the Stranglers. They played their hits (Golden Brown, Always the Sun, Peaches, No More Heroes) and they gave it their all. Of particular note was seeing Dave Greenfield doing his thing - he was hiding behind a battery of keyboards but I could still pick out a big smile on his face.
And finally there was Blondie: Roaring into life with an excellent set. True there were three remnants of their seventies heyday - Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke - but they still put on a great show. Funny thing: of the afore-mentioned three, it is interesting to note that Burke was the most energetic out of all of them, going all out on his drumkit.
So in the end this was a great show: Three veteran acts that delivered and proved they are no slouch in performing live. Yes they may have had plenty of time to perfect their live act but they still showed up a lot of younger acts and proved untarnished by age.