(via Shutterstock) Intangible though it might to say it but many Christmas songs are popular because they feel like the season. And what is that feeling exactly? It’s all kinds of cosiness and warmth, evoked by time with family and friends with snow falling outside – it may do that Continue Reading
Music
On 1st day of Christmas … I decorated my tree with 10 new pop culture ornaments incl. Elio, Up, The Muppet Christmas Carol … and more!
(via Shutterstock) When I bought my first Christmas tree as an adult way back in 1992, I bought some pop culture ornaments but I mostly stuck to the sorts of ornaments and baubles I remembered from childhood. But as time went on, I increasingly bought more and more pop culture Continue Reading
Songs, songs and more songs Christmas songs #1: Sara Evans, Anaïs Reno, Lady A, Thelma & James, Mia McIntosh, Ingrid Michaelson + more … also Christmas releases by Eurovision artists!
(via Shutterstock) While Christmas albums from a wide variety of artists are hardly out of style, what is most remarkable in this year of our festive lord 2025 is how many Christmas singles have made their way out into an tinsel-draped, eggnog-addled world. Maybe there were always a lot of Continue Reading
Wicked: For Good goes full LEGO in this fun featurette
SNAPSHOT“You’re the only friend I ever had…” The final chapter of the untold story of the witches of Oz begins with Elphaba and Glinda estranged and living with the consequences of their choices. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now demonized [sic] as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden Continue Reading
60th birthday movie review: Wicked: For Good #AndyAt60
(courtesy IMP Awards) When your parting gift to audiences at the conclusion of the first part of Wicked is the delivery of the scene stealing, future defining showstopper song “Defying Gravity”, where colours are nailed to the flag (no prizes for guessing which ones) and entreaties are made by both Continue Reading
Happy 60th birthday to me …. my favourite (roughly) 60 songs #Andyat60
(via Shutterstock) I can’t imagine a time when music wasn’t a major obsession. Granted I never took up the guitar or drums and joined a band, and my efforts to learn the piano were dismal at best (right Mrs. Noble?), but as a listener I was devoted beyond all reason. Continue Reading
Songs, songs and more songs #130: INJI, Keli Holiday, Livia Barrell,Em Beihold + Jessie J … plus Eurovision 2026 update
(via Shutterstock) Want to feel good? Or even GREAT? Or freaking brilliant? Then fire up some music, and specifically these five songs from artists who have poured their heart and soul and talent into their music and whose songs give you just the lift you need, especially at the end Continue Reading
He’s found a new home … Paddington the Musical
(courtesy Paddington the Musical) Is there such a thing as too much Paddington Bear? Well, of course not, what a very strange thing to even contemplate! The truth is we can never have enough of Michael Bond’s wondrously sweet and insightful creation who has found heartwarming expression in 29 books Continue Reading
Songs, songs and more songs #129: Georgia, BENEE, Sigrid, Ella Collier + Moyka + ABBA performimg “Mamma Mia” in 1975
(via Shutterstock) There are some months that just reward you with brilliant songs. Songs that, for a whole host of reasons, you play over and over again and which, for this beleaguered commuter reviewer at least, making walking to the train station and back not feel quite so arduous and Continue Reading
Movie trailer x3: Wicked: For Good + Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu + Greenland 2
(via Shutterstock) I love big, sprawling, all-encompassing blockbuster movies. Movies so epic and vast you can lose yourself in, get your escapism hit for the week/day/month and still feel some deep emotional connection and reaction to the character and stories. These three films deliver all that and a whole heap Continue Reading