What is the Eurovision Song Contest? Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is telecast in both English and French – is open Continue Reading
Music
Now this is music #66: Grandchildren, Daithí & Sinead White, Fellow Creatures, The Wet Secrets, Brave Shores
Life is full of moments when we have to take pause and ask ourselves some tough questions. Who are? Where have we come from? And why do I have an overwhelming craving for jam jelly donuts at 3am? OK may not that last one but the first two questions Continue Reading
SMOOTH … Sesame Street seamlessly delivers a stunning rendition of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s “Tha Crossroads”
Sesame Street has always been way up to the minute and astutely hip to the groove. And now thanks to Adam Schleichkorn, who previously gave us the mash-up gem of The Muppets performing the Beastie Boys’ “So What’cha Want”, they just got even more street cred thanks to his Continue Reading
Now this is music #65: Alice Ivy, Eskimeaux, Drinking Flowers, Lontalius, Hans Island
Life is a busy place. Lots to do, think and feel and keep track of – thank goodness for talented artists like the following five who channel their pinpoint accurate observations of life and the human condition, and give us songs that allow us to pause, think and feel Continue Reading
The road to Eurovision 2016: Everything you need to know
Hello! Bonjour! Guten Tag! ¡Hola! Ciao! Hej Hej! We’re only 66 days away from the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 so rather than thinking about saying “Hello” in the languages of the Big Six countries at the apex of the event – UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain Continue Reading
Now this is music #64: DAWN, Phebe Starr, Sarah Borges, St. Lucia, Sunflower Bean
Can you dance and think and feel all at the same time? Hell yeah you can! These five immensely-talented artists from across the globe emphatically prove that you can pour your heart and soul into astonishingly catchy, amazing tracks that please the ears and instruct the soul. It’s a Continue Reading
CDs vs. LPs: 1985 news reports takes us back to the technological future
It’s always fascinating to look back at the way items we take for granted today such as the compact disc were viewed when they first came on the market. Like any new invention, there are detractors and advocates but in the case of this Detroit TV news report from Continue Reading
A Headful of (Driving) Dreams: Chris Martin (Coldplay) joins James Corden for Carpool Karaoke
James Corden is a thoroughly lovely, engaging guy. Which is a very good thing indeed since as the host of The Late, Late Show on CBS, which airs at 12.35am when many people are not at their most awake – the viewers, not the participants who tape the show Continue Reading
Now this is music #63: Flume feat. Kai, Bayonne, Archy Stranger, Hudson Mohawke, Bob Moses
We’re always told honesty is the best policy but knowing that and acting on it can often be two completely different things. But as these five artists demonstrate in different ways, being honest, both with yourself and others, before and after the fact, can have profoundly necessary consequences. It’s Continue Reading
Now this is music #62: The Dandy Warhols, EKKAH, Lady Bee, KEØMA, PANKHABILLI
“Love is a many-splendored thing” observed Frank Sinatra and while that is still as true as the day he first sang it, there’s also a lot about it that isn’t so wonderful. Well at least when it’s in its death throes anyway. Kinda gloomy to focus on you might Continue Reading