Blog

Singers/Bands I've seen live!

Frankmusik (6th August at Westfield Shopping Mall - London)
Kele Le Roc (4th July 2009 at London Pride)
Scooch (4th July 2009 at London Pride)
Heather Small (4th July 2009 at London Pride)
Rihanna (7th March 2008 at the o2 - London)
David Jordan (7th March 2009 Rihanna's supporting act)
Britney Spears (3rd June 2009 at the o2 - London)
Ciara (3rd June 2009 Britney Spears' supporting act)
Kate Nash (October 2007 at Shepherds Bush Empire)
Scouting for Girls (24th August 2008 at the Visa London 2012 Olympic Party)
Bel's Boys (August 2007 at Thorpe Park)
Ronan Keating (4th November 2000 at Crystal Palace Park Firework Display)
Billie Piper (4th November 2000 at Crystal Palace Park Firework Display)
Shola Ama (25th May 1998 at Wembley Stadium - Charlton V Sunderland)

Please join my group if you like the music that I like, thanks!

Recently seen and upcoming confirmed concerts:
COLDPLAY - Tuesday 16th December 2008
The O2 Arena, London, United Kingdom
Coldplay
Jon Hopkins
The High wire

KEANE - Thursday 12 February 2009
The O2 Arena, London, United Kingdom
Keane
Frankmusik
Katzenjammer

SNOW PATROL - Saturday 14 March 2009
The O2 Arena, London, United Kingdom
Snow Patrol
Fanfarlo
Animal Kingdom

READING FESTIVAL - Friday 28th and Saturday 29th August 2009
Little John's Farm, Richfield Avenue, Reading, United Kingdom
Fake Problems
Little Boots
The Aggrolites
Jack Peñate
Florence + The Machine
Kaiser Chiefs
Kings of Leon
The Rakes
Eagles of Death Metal
Patrick Wolf
Them Crooked Vultures
Ian Brown
You Me At Six
The Maccabees
White Lies
Glasvegas
Arctic Monkeys

COLDPLAY - Saturday 19th September 2009
Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom
Coldplay
Jay-Z
Girls Aloud
White Lies

ABSOLUTE RADIO'S FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY - Sunday 27th September 2009
Regent Street, London
Madness
Newton Faulkner

UNCLE DAVE ALBUM LAUNCH - Friday 31st December 2010
DPC Studios, Berkshire
Uncle Dave

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Travis x6 (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008x3)
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Keane x5 (2004, 2005x2, 2006, 2009)
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Coldplay x4 (2005x2, 2008, 2009)
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Snow Patrol x3 (2005x2, 2009)
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Kaiser Chiefs x2 (2008, 2009)
Kelly Jones x2 (2005x2)
White Lies x2 (2009x2)
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ABBA Arrival (2008)
Aled Jones (2005)
Amici Forever (2004)
Animal Kingdom (2009)
Annie Lennox (2005)
Arctic Monkeys (2009)
Badly Drawn Boy (2005)
Bob Geldof (2005)
Brand New Heavies (2000)
Brian McFadden (2005)
Brinkman (2007)
Bros (1988)
Camera (2005)
Captain (2006)
Charlotte Church (2005)
Cilla Black (2004)
Cliff Richard (2004)
Club Smith (2008) (Was the Hair)
Craig David (2005)
Dido (2005)
Eagles of Death Metal (2009)
Elton John (2005)
Embrace (2005)
Eric Clapton (2005)
Fake Problems (2009)
Fanfarlo (2009)
Feeder (2005)
Florence + The Machine (2009)
Frankmusik (2009)
George Michael (2005)
Girls Aloud (2009)
Glasvegas (2009)
Goldie Lookin' Chain (2005)
Heather Small (2005)
Ian Brown (2009)
Jack Peñate (2009)
Jay-Z (2009)
John Roderick (2006)
Jon Hopkins (2008)
Jools Holland (2005)
Joss Stone (2005)
Katherine Jenkins (2005)
Katzenjammer (2009)
Kim Wilde (1993)
Kings of Leon (2009)
La Fanfare En Pétard (2009)
Late of the Pier (2008)
Lemar (2005)
Let Loose (1993)
Liberty X (2005)
Little Boots (2009)
Little Britain (2005)
Louchie Lou & Michie One (1993)
Lulu (2005)
The Maccabees (2009)
Madness (2009)
Madonna (2005)
Manic Street Preachers (2005)
Mariah Carey (2005)
Morning Runner (2005)
Ms. Dynamite (2005)
Newton Faulkner (2009)
Palace Fires (2008)
Patrick Wolf (2009)
Paul McCartney (2005)
Pete Doherty (2005)
Peter Kay (2005)
Pink Floyd (2005)
Raghav (2005)
Razorlight (2005)
R.E.M. (2005)
Richard Ashcroft (2005)
Ricky Gervais (2005)
Robbie Williams (2005)
Rod Stewart (1998)
Scissor Sisters (2005)
Snoop Dogg (2005)
Stereophonics (2005)
Sting (2005)
Supergrass (2005)
The Aggrolites (2009)
The Hair (2008)
The High wire (2008)
The Holloway Brothers (2005)
The Hot 8 Brass Band (2009)
The Killers (2005)
The Rakes (2009)
The Republic Tigers (2008)
The Who (2005)
Them Crooked Vultures (2009)
Toyah (2007)
U2 (2005)
UB40 (2005)
Uncle Dave (2010)
Utah Saints (1993)
Velvet Revolver (2005)
You Me At Six (2009)
Youssou N'Dour (2005)

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Lots of these were at festivals such as Live8 and Tsunami Relief Cardiff in 2005, and the Reading Festival in 2009.

Saturday 12 December 1998 - ROD STEWART, Earl's Court, London
Saturday 20 March 2004 - TRAVIS (Keane support act), Rivermead, Reading
Sunday 25 July 2004 - CLIFF RICHARD (Cilla Black, Amici Forever support acts), Leeds Castle, Maidstone
Saturday 22 January 2005 - TSUNAMI RELIEF CARDIFF (Eric Clapton, Snow Patrol, Keane, Manic Street Preachers, Feeder, Craig David, Embrace, Charlotte Church, Lemar, Goldie Lookin' Chain, Liberty X, Lulu, Brian McFadden, Aled Jones, Midge Ure, Katherine Jenkins, Heather Small, Jools Holland, Kelly Jones, Raghav, Camera), Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Monday 27 June 2005 - COLDPLAY (Supergrass, Morning Runner support acts), Crystal Palace Sports Arena, London
Saturday 2 July 2005 - LIVE8 (Paul McCartney, Coldplay, The Killers, U2, Pink Floyd, R.E.M., Madonna, Snow Patrol, The Who, Keane, Elton John, Robbie Williams, Dido, Travis, Scissor Sisters, Sting, Snoop Dogg, Stereophonics, Razorlight, Mariah Carey, George Michael, Velvet Revolver, Joss Stone, Annie Lennox, UB40, Ms. Dynamite, Youssou N'Dour, Pete Doherty, Bob Geldof), Hyde Park, London
Saturday 21 October 2006 - KEANE (Captain, John Roderick support acts), Rivermead, Reading
Sunday 27 May 2007 - TRAVIS (Brinkman support act), Reading Hexagon, Reading
Friday 8 February 2008 - TRAVIS (Palace Fires support act), Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Wednesday 8 October 2008 - TRAVIS (The Republic Tigers support act), Astoria, London
Monday 13 October 2008 - TRAVIS, Hard Rock Cafe, London
Thursday 16 October 2008 - KAISER CHIEFS (Late Of The Pier, The Hair support acts), Rivermead, Reading
Tuesday 16th December 2008 - COLDPLAY (Jon Hopkins, The High Wire supports acts), The O2 Arena, London
Thursday 12 February 2009 - KEANE (FrankMusik, Katzenjammer support acts), The O2 Arena, London
Saturday 14th March 2009 - SNOW PATROL (Fanfarlo, Animal Kingdom support acts), The O2 Arena, London
Saturday 27th June 2009 - BRACKNELL BIG DAY OUT (The Hot 8 Brass Band, La Fanfare En Pétard), South Hill Park, Bracknell
Friday 28th and Saturday 29th August 2009 - READING FESTIVAL 2009 (Fake Problems, Little Boots, The Aggrolites, Jack Peñate, Florence + The Machine, Kaiser Chiefs, Kings Of Leon, The Rakes, Eagles Of Death Metal, Patrick Wolf, Them Crooked Vultures, Ian Brown, You Me At Six, The Maccabees, White Lies, Glasvegas, Arctic Monkeys), Little John's Farm, Richfield Avenue, Reading
Saturday 19th September 2009 - COLDPLAY (Jay-Z, Girls Aloud, White Lies support acts), Wembley Stadium, London
Sunday 27th September 2009 - ABSOLUTE RADIO'S FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY (Madness, Newton Faulkner), Regent Street, London
Friday 31st December 2010 - UNCLE DAVE ALBUM LAUNCH (Uncle Dave), DPC Studios, Berkshire


Events that I have been to

Today I found the first Queer as Folk Soundtrack in my postbox, freshly imported from the US. About one week ago I finished watching the first season (poor Justin oO!); I hope the next season will be released soon ^^ So, for the time being, I can at least listen to the Soundtrack =)

• 
  
• Queer as Folk Soundtrack:
  Greek Buck, Barry Harris, Full Frontal, Heather Small, Kristine W., Alcazar, Jay-Jay Johanson, Mint Royale, B-U, Antiloop, Love Inc., Katty B., Carole Pope, Touch and Go
• 
  

I hold a five day lyric meme/competition in my Livejournal every month, and then upload my favourite songs once the artists and titles have been revealed.

Perhaps annoyingly, I crosspost the music blather here, but the music downloads available here in my LJ for anyone that's interested.


01. Talking Heads // Creatures Of Love
i can laugh or i can turn away, well, i've seen sex and i think it's okay.
Eee. I love TH’s Little Creatures album SO MUCH. I love their older, edgier stuff – tight musical arrangements, new wave, funk, African rhythms, synth/electronica – but this is wonderful laidback pop music. And as ever, the lyrics are always quality – part quirkiness, part existentialism, part fun.

‘Creatures of Love’ is deliciously sweet, catchy, country-pop (twangy guitar ftw), with slightly goofy, life-affirming lyrics. But it’s still not overly sweet, with David Byrne’s mid-range, slightly tired vocals balancing things out.

06. The Velvet Underground // I’ll Be Your Mirror
when you think the night has seen your mind, that inside you're twisted and unkind - let me stand to show that you are blind.
Such a lovely, mellow, love song. It took me while to warm to Nico’s voice, but recently I’ve been on a hunt to find some “interesting” female vocals – I adore Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant et al, but sometimes they’re a bit too perfect and soaring – vocals that are that bit husky, deeper and richer in tone. Nico’s isn’t exactly like that, but she certainly sounds different.

10. Heather Small // Proud
so, i step out of the ordinary, i can feel my soul ascending, i am on my way.
Ohhhhh. This is one of the best cheesy, uplifting dance-pop songs ever. It’s one of those songs you play at the last assembly of the school year for the oldest kids, the leavers. Heather Small (of M-People fame) has the biggest mouth ever a HUGE voice.

Random information: This was used in Queer As Folk (US), and my Mum’s going to an M People concert sometime soon. I lol’ed so much when she told me.

So, what have you done today to make you feel proud?

11. The Libertines // I Got Sweets
well, i know some cats, and i know some rats, and i know rude boys, i know scallywags.
Carl Barât, I can’t tell what the fuck you’re saying half the time, but I still love you. Catchy, acoustic-stripped down – it’s almost scat-bebop, but he mostly sounds like he’s both still drunk and mumbly hungover.

16. moosebutter // Harry Potter
"if you were a dementor, what would be your name?" "pete." "and if you were pete, what would be your favourite garden vegetable?" "i would love the squash, because i could squash them on bad people!"
If you’re a HP fan and don’t have this song then you’re just… stupid.


A cappella and to the tune of Roy Orbison's 'Pretty Woman'! (And the 'British-ish' version is also hysterical, involving hideously put-upon "posh" and "cockerney" accents. And one that sounds suspiciously Beatle-esque. And what I assume is supposed to be a mishmash of Snape/Stephen Cowell "critiquing" them at the end.)

18. B*Witched // C’est Le Vie
"some people say i look like me dad!" "what?! are you serious?!"
Best. Song. Starting. Blather. Ever. (Second place goes to ‘Rollercoaster’ and the fairground noises and, "oi can’t believe oim doing this!!") This song makes me miss my friend Andrew, probably the only person who find this as hili-AR-ious as I do.

21. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah // Upon This Tidal Wave Of Young Blood
now they are child stars… with the sex and the drugs, and the rock and rock and rock and rock and roll.


I think Alec Ounsworth’s distinctive trembling nasal (and I mean nasal) tenor is fucking wonderful, but I’ve found that when it comes to CYHSY people either hate them with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, LOVE them, or love them but found it all to be a rather acquired taste. (I go for number three) I think they’re excellent. Indie pop-rock-electronica, with interesting musical arrangements.
Additionally, I would like to stab the next person that makes comparisons of them with Talking Heads.

33. Sarah Bettens // Someone To Say Hi To
it's been wonderful and crazy knowing you, and i hope that i can always see the teenage girl in you.
Apparently she’s the ex-lead singer of K’s Choice, who I know nothing about. This is one of those songs that’s been hanging around my hard drive for a couple of years that I’ve never listened to. It's actually quite sweet, very simple, very mellow; just Bettens, a guitar and some subtle percussion. It’s one of those (girly) "you’re my best friend and i’ll always be there for you" songs.

37. Ani DiFranco // In Or Out
i say, i've got spots - i've got stripes, too.
This is Ani’s "bisexual anthem" (but it’s more a "fluid sexuality" anthem).


Have I ever mentioned how amazing I think Ani DiFranco is?

41. Shirley Ellis // The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)
three-six-nine, the goose drank wine, the monkey chewed tobacco on the streetcar line; the line broke, the monkey got choked and they all went to heaven in a little row-boat!
60s music = ♥


So catchy it will MAKE YOUR HEAD EXPLODE. Playground clapping songs! Oh, the memories.

46. Ryan Adams // Magnolia Mountain
will you lay me down till i'm heavy like the rocks on the riverbed that my saviour made.
asdfghjkl; Ohhhh, Ryan Adams, the things you do to me. Alt-country-twanginess-verging-on-rock (steel string guitars, how I love). Such a beautifully weary, tired soldier of a song.

we burned the cotton fields down in the valley and ended up with nothing but scars, the scars became lessons that we gave to our children after the war.

(lie to me, sing me a song.)

Quip’s 250 Absolutely Essential Songs: Everything from Fanny Brice to Feist, and the Soweto Gospel Choir to the Sex Pistols, with notes as to where, when, who, why, and how they landed up here. You mileage may vary. Contents may settle during shipping. Wear clean underwear and call your mother already.


1. A Change Will Do You Good - Sheryl Crow

2. A Little Respect - Erasure

3. A Love That Will Never Grow Old – Emmylou Harris (from the Brokeback Mountain soundtrack, the song that should have been nominated for Best Song at the Oscars)

4. Adelaide’s Lament – Vivian Blaine (from the Broadway musical Guys and Dolls, sung by the original “Adelaide”)

5. Afer Ventus - Enya (I find this an exceptionally soothing, meditative song)

6. Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent - Gwen Guthrie (Preach it, sister!)

7. Akanamandla - Fjedur (From my Lutheran youth group days, South African freedom music)

8. All I Ask Of You – Barbra Streisand (a cover of the Phantom Of The Opera tune, but with a COMPLETELY different feel, sunlight where there was darkness. Easily my favourite Barbra Streisand song from her extensive repertoire)

9. All That Matters – Mark Weigle

10. All Things (Just Keeping Getting Better) - Widelife with Simone Denny (The Queer Eye For The Straight Guy TV show theme)

11. All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down – The Mavericks

12. American Triangle – Elton John and Rufus Wainwright

13. And If Venice Is Sinking - Spirit of the West (Part of a trio with the Iris and Drops of Jupiter)

14. Angel - Sarah McLachlan and Josh Groban (from last year’s Live 8 Concert)

15. Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In – The 5th Dimension (an early favourite)

16. As I Lay Me Down - Sophie B. Hawkins (This is just a beautiful song)

17. Bad Timing – Blue Rodeo

18. Beautiful - Christina Aguilera (Now if she could just cut down on the ostinato a little bit)

19. Beautiful Life - Ace of Base (I bought the CD single; the song just makes me so happy)

20. Being Boring – Pet Shop Boys

21. Biggest Part of Me - Take 6 (I’m a total a cappella whore :-)

22. Bop ‘Til You Drop – The Nylons

23. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel (Oh like I *WASN’T* gonna put this one in :-)

24. California Dreaming - The Mamas & The Papas (One of my favourite songs, I listen to it over and over)

25. Can You Feel The Love Tonight? – Elton John

26. Canadian Railway Trilogy – Gordon Lightfoot

27. Caribbean Blue - Enya

28. Carry You - Amy Grant (I would play this on an endless loop on really bad days)

29. ’Cause Cheap Is How I Feel – Cowboy Junkies

30. Collide - Howie Day (Don’t remember how I came across this gem, but it was via the net)

31. Country Road – James Taylor

32. Covered In Punk – Portobella

33. Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen (If I had to pick one Queen sone, this catchy tune is it)

34. Crucified – Army of Lovers (via my friend Brian)

35. Cruel Kindness (Italian Reprise) - InsideOut

36. Crush – Jennifer Paige

37. Dance With Me - Orleans (“Dance with me, I want to be your partner” :-)

38. Days Are Numbers (The Traveler) - The Alan Parsons Project (From my brother’s music collection)

39. Days To Dust – Grey Eye Glances (discovered from one of the fanmixes posted to the Wranglers group on LiveJournal)

40. Deacon Blues - Steely Dan (From my brother’s music collection)

41. Don’t Be Cruel – Elvis Presley

42. Don't Give Up - Peter Gabriel (The words speak to me in my worst and loneliest moments)

43. Don’t Let Go – Bryan Adams and Sarah McLachlan (from the soundtrack of Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, a recommendation from my sister-in-law)

44. Don’t Tell Me You Do – Rockapella

45. Dos Gardenias – Buena Vista Social Club

46. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac

47. Drops of Jupiter - Train (part of a trio with And If Venice Is Sinking and Iris)

48. En Fliant Ma Quenouille – Madrigaïa

49. Evergreen - Barbra Streisand (Oh like I *WASN’T* gonna put this one in :-)

50. Everybody Hurts - R.E.M. (This is my “everything’s gonna be all right” song)

51. Everyday Is a Winding Road - Sheryl Crow (More good advice from Sheryl)

52. Everything Possible - The Rainbow Harmony Project (My chorus performing in a Dec. 2004 concert, of a song I just love)

53. Falling - Julee Cruise (That haunting song from the soundtrack of Twin Peaks)

54. Feel – Robbie Williams (the only song of his I like, but I really like it a lot)

55. Feels So Good – Chuck Mangione

56. Filthy/Gorgeous - Scissor Sisters (I just cannot get enough of this song or this group)

57. Floating - Lorraine Bowen (From the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre and Winnipeg Folk festivals)

58. Footloose – Kenny Loggins

59. Fragile - Sting

60. Friends - Michael W. Smith (This is a classic song from my Lutheran days)

61. Genius - The Murmurs (From the people who lived in Plain Layne’s comment box)

62. Gipsy Woman (She’s Homeless) – Crystal Waters

63. Glory of Love – Peter Cetera

64. God Save The Queen – The Sex Pistols

65. Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys (A classic)

66. Harder to Breathe - Maroon 5

67. Harvest Moon - Neil Young (If I had to pick one Neil Young song, this classic is it)

68. Head Over Heels - The Go-Go's (Great 80s, from the soundtrack of the movie 13 Going On 30)

69. Heal The Pain – George Michael

70. Heaven Must Have Sent You – Bonnie Pointer (what can I say? I like the doorbells :-)

71. Hey Jude - The Beatles (Oh like I *WASN’T gonna put this one in :-)

72. Hey Ya! – OutKast

73. High - Lighthouse Family (Introduced to LF’s music by my best friend Brian)

74. Holiday Road - Lindsey Buckingham (from the 1983 Chevy Chase movie Vacation)

75. How Long? - Ace (“Well your friends with their fancy persuasion / Don't admit that it's part of a scheme….”)

76. Hung Up – Madonna

77. Hurt – Johnny Cash

78. I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash

79. I Can’t Make You Love Me – Bonnie Raitt

80. I Could Have Danced All Night – Julie Andrews (from the original stage version of My Fair Lady)

81. I Don't Know You Anymore - Savage Garden (“How do you redefine something that never really had a name?”)

82. I Feel Fine - Halfday (From HalfMoon’s radio.blog)

83. I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye (Classic Motown; of *COURSE* I had to put it in)

84. I Only Want to Be With You - Dusty Springfield (Another classic I had to include)

85. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2

86. I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston (Always part of a pair with Never Gonna Give You Up)

87. I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles (I was born the week this song hit #1 in America)

88. I Will Be Here for You - Michael W. Smith (This is a classic song from my Lutheran days)

89. I Will Remember You - Amy Grant (This song is now forever associated with my Grandma Elizabeth)

90. I Will Survive (a capella) – Chantay Savage (I first heard this on last.fm and I was so staggered by this woman’s voice and the power of this arrangement that I actually bought the extended CD single via Internet.)

91. I’ll Hear Your Voice – Rockapella (from the album Lucky Seven)

92. Insensitive – Jann Arden

93. Inside And Out - Feist

94. Into Each Life A Little Rain Must Fall – Ella Fitzgerald and The Inkspots

95. Into the Groove - Madonna (If I had to pick one Madonna track, this is it)

96. Iris - Goo Goo Dolls (Part of a trio with And If Venice Is Sinking and Drops of Jupiter)

97. It’s My Life – No Doubt

98. I've Been Thinking About You - Londonbeat (I could play this song FOREVER...)

99. Jabula Jesu - The Rainbow Harmony Project (My chorus performing in a Dec. 2004 concert)

100. Jesus To A Child – George Michael

101. Just Another Day - Jon Secada (Catchy little angsty number, what can I say)

102. King Of The Road – Dean Martin

103. Kiss From A Rose - Seal (Great male vocalist, I think)

104. Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer (This song charmed the pants off me; NOT literally ;-)

105. Kyrie – Mr. Mister

106. La Bamba - Ritchie Valens (Catchy, catchy, catchy party tune)

107. Lady - Little River Band (Another classic tune)

108. Lean On Me - Bill Withers (Oh like I *WASN’T* gonna put this one in :-)

109. Leaving Las Vegas – Sheryl Crow

110. Lessons to Be Learned - Barbra Streisand (Her CD Higher Ground was a light in a dark period of my life)

111. Let's All Chant - Michael Zager Band (Goofy fun song)

112. Let's Talk About Sex - Palast Orchester mit Max Raabe (This is a MUST-HEAR 1920s-Big-Band-style cover of Salt-N-Pepa;s hit)

113. Let's Talk About Sex - Salt-N-Pepa (“Spinderella cut it up one time...”)

114. Life in a Northern Town - The Dream Academy (Hey, I *LIVE* in a “northern town”: Winnipeg, Manitoba)

115. Lift every voice and sing - Linda Tillery & Cultural Heritage Choir (You wouldn’t recognize this 1899 hymn!)

116. Lifted - Lighthouse Family (Introduced to LF’s music by my best friend Brian)

117. Loloye - Angélique Kidjo

118. Longer – Dan Fogelberg (another classic)

119. Losing My Religion - R.E.M. (One of my all-time favourite songs ever; as soon as the mandolin starts they've got me)

120. Lost In Love - Air Supply (If I had to pick one Air Supply song, this is it)

121. Love Can Build A Bridge – Cher, Chrissie Hynde, and Neneh Cherry

122. Love Child – Diana Ross and The Supremes

123. Love Is A Battlefield - Pat Benatar (Great 80s, from the soundtrack of the movie 13 Going On 30)

124. Love Of The Common People – Paul Young

125. Make Your Own Kind Of Music - Mama Cass (soundtrack to my favourite scene in the movie, Beautiful Thing)

126. Maniac – Michael Sembello

127. Meet Me In The Dark – Melissa Etheridge
128. Michael – Franz Ferdinand. (something from the Plain Layne days)

129. Minnie The Moocher – Cab Calloway (he first recorded this song in 1930)

130. Missing - Everything but the Girl (One of those haunting songs that you just can’t forget)

131. Monday, Monday - The Mamas & The Papas (This one and California Dreaming are my faves)

132. Moondance - Van Morrison (If I had to pick one Van Morrison song, this is it)

133. Move – Pele Juju

134. Moving On Up – M People

135. Mrs. Worthington – Noel Coward (“Don’t put your daughter on the stage, Mrs. Worthington”)

136. My Girl - The Temptations (Another classic)

137. My Immortal - Evanescence (Just had to buy the single for this one, loved it so much)

138. My Sharona – The Knack

139. My Man – Fanny Brice (her signature song, sung on Broadway at the Ziegfield Follies, 1921)

140. Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley (always part of a pair with I Wanna Dance With Somebody)

141. Neutron Dance – The Pointer Sisters

142. Never Let Go - Josh Groban (Another song I hold on to during the bleaker times)

143. Nothing Else Matters – Metallica(the only Metallica song I like)

144. Nothing Wrong With You – Finn Brothers (another great “pick yourself up and keep walking” song, found via a Brokeback Mountain fanmix on Wranglers)

145. O Siem - Susan Aglukark (Canadian Inuit singer, a little more CanCon = Canadian Content :-)

146. O Happy Day - San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (GALA Choruses VIIe Festival, Montreal)

147. Old Park Bench - InsideOut (Based on just 4 a cappella songs, I bought all 5 of their CDs!)

148. On A Saturday Night – Michael Kaeshammer

149. On The Street Where You Live – Leonard Weir (from the stage version of My Fair Lady)

150. Only Time - Enya (I’m a big Enya fan, and I agitated to get her music up on Last.fm)

151. Only Yesterday - Carpenters (laugh if you want, but Karen Carpenter had a GREAT voice)

152. Only You -- Flying Pickets (My friend Larry introduced me to this vocal group)

153. Orinoco Flow - Enya

154. Over The Rainbow – Judy Garland

155. Pata Pata - Miriam Makeba (from Doctor T’s Last.fm profile :-)

156. Peaceful, Easy Feeling - The Eagles (If I had to pick one Eagles tune, this is it)

157. Piano Man – Billy Joel

158. Pour Que Tu M'aimes Encore - Céline Dion (I think she sings much better in her native French than she does in English)

159. Prayer of the Children - InsideOut (From my friend Larry, a gift CD included this song; our chorus has performed it and I just love this piece; I went and bought all the CDs put out by this Utah a cappella group. The story behind the writing of this song is just heartbreaking,)

160. Predatory Wasps Of The Palisades Are Out To Get Us – Sufjan Stevens

161. Proud - Heather Small (From the Queer As Folk soundtrack; our choir has performed this)

162. Question Of Faith - Lighthouse Family (Introduced to LF’s music by my best friend Brian)

163. Rainy Day People - Gordon Lightfoot (Introduced to GL’s music by my high school friend Tim)

164. Relax – Frankie Goes to Hollywood (this song always got me on the dancefloor at those Transcona socials)

165. Return To Pooh Corner – Kenny Loggins and Amy Grant (this is just a beautiful, beautiful song, and Amy Grant singing backup is a bonus)

166. Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac

167. Rock The Casbah – The Clash

168. Save the Best for Last - Vanessa Williams (A great romantic song)

169. School Night – Ani DiFranco

170. Search For The Hero – M People

171. Searchin’ My Soul – Vonda Shepard

172. Shambala – Rockapella (a great cover!)

173. Shh – Frou Frou (“darling what are you doing…we don’t have time for this”)

174. Silver Thunderbird - Marc Cohn (My other favourite song from the album Walking In Memphis)

175. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding (Oh like I *WASN’T gonna put this one in :-)

176. Siyahamba - Fjedur (From my Lutheran youth group days, South African freedom music; also a song my chorus has performed onstage)

177. Sleepsong – Secret Garden (the loveliest lullaby I’ve ever heard)

178. Sleeping to Dream – Jason Mraz (another find from a Brokeback Mountain fanmix on Wranglers)

179. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

180. Smooth – Santana feat. Rob Thomas

181. Snow – Grey Eye Glances (another track from my new favourite group, discovered via the Brokeback Mountain fanmixes on Wranglers)

182. Soltarlo – Claudia Gomez (from A Putumayo Blend: Music From the Coffee Lands)

183. Somebody Loves You – Eels (my favourite Eels song, again a song I first discovered through a contact on last.fm)

184. Something Pretty – Patrick Park (“At the most I’m a glare, I’m the hopeless son who’s hardly there. I’m the open sign that’s always busted. I’m the friend you need, but can’t be trusted.”)

185. Something So Strong - Crowded House (Rediscovered this favourite from Doctor T’s last.fm profile)

186. Something to Talk About - Badly Drawn Boy (From the music blog fluxblog)

187. Song For A Winter's Night - Gordon Lightfoot (I was introduced to GL’s music by my high school friend Tim)

188. Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin

189. Stand Tall And Be Happy - Linda Tillery & The Cultural Heritage Choir (Winnipeg Folk Festival)

190. Stumbling Through The Dark - The Jayhawks

191. Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine (In my opinion this is a better version than the one by The Postal Service)

192. Such Great Heights – The Postal Service (But I have to admit this version is catchy)

193. Sunrise - Norah Jones (If I had to pick one Norah Jones track, this is it)

194. Supreme - Palast Orchester mit Max Raabe (WAY better than the Robbie Williams version)

195. Tainted Love – Soft Cell

196. Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair) - Sheena Easton (Forever associated with my friend Patricia Lucki, who was killed by a drunk driver. She gave me this song as a birthday present)

197. Tequila - The Champs (Catchy, catchy, catchy party tune)

198. The Blower’s Daughter – Damien Rice

199. The End of the Innocence - Don Henley (Road music from my summer working for AECL in Pinawa, Manitoba)

200. The Heart of the Matter - Don Henley (I love the message just as much as I love the song)

201. The Lady Is A Tramp – Lena Horne

202. The Last Time I Felt Like This - Johnny Mathis (A Little Something from the Schmaltz Vaults :-)

203. The Logical Song - Supertramp

204. The Prayer – Josh Groban and Charlotte Church

205. The Rainbow Connection – Jim Henson (Kermit the Frog in The Muppet Movie)

206. The Wings – Gustavo Santaolalla (the Brokeback Mountain theme)

207. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out - The Lucksmiths (a hilariously earnest song from the wonderful blog Trout Fishing in South-Central Wisconsin)

208. These Eyes - The Guess Who (One of Canada’s best bands, and from Winnipeg to boot)

209. Three Ways To Vacuum Your House: Pat I – Madrigaïa (a fun song performed by Manitoba’s seven-member female worldbeat a cappella group, which I first discovered at the Winnipeg Folk Fest; I’m a big fan)

210. This Will Be Our Year - The Beautiful South (a beautiful, hopeful song from the blog Trout Fishing in South-Central Wisconsin)

211. To Where You Are - Josh Groban (This song is now forever associated with my friend Scott, at whose funeral service I first heard this song)

212. Total Eclipse Of The Heart – Bonnie Tyler

213. Trouble Sleeping – The Perishers (from a Brokeback Mountain fanmix posted to Wranglers)

214. Turn a Square - The Shins (from the blog Trout Fishing in South-Central Wisconsin)

215. To Beds and a Coffee Machine - Savage Garden (The lyrics and mood just catch me in the throat: "Another ditch in the road/Keep moving/Another stop sign/Keep moving on/And the years go by so fast/Wonder how I ever made it through")

216. Un Garcon Pas Comme Les Autres (Ziggy) - Céline Dion (A little gay CanCon = Canadian Content ;-)

217. Under The Boardwalk – The Drifters

218. Up The Ladder To The Roof – The Nylons

219. Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles (It was 1980, I was 16, and this was *MY* song; I ripped an MP3 straight from my original 45 single :-)

220. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Angélique Kidjo

221. Vuma – Soweto Gospel Choir (another group I first heard on last.fm)

222. Walking in Memphis - Marc Cohn (“Ma’am, I am tonight” :-)

223. Waterloo - ABBA (If I had to pick one ABBA track, this is it; my best friend Brian would KILL me if I didn't include at least one)

224. Walkin’ After Midnight – Patsy Cline

225. Walkin’ On The Sun – Smash Mouth

226. We Rise Again – The Rankin Family

227. Weightlifting - Trashcan Sinatras (from the blog Trout Fishing in South-Central Wisconsin)

228. Welcome to Heartlight - Kenny Loggins (What can I say, his music just pulls me in and hugs me)

229. What A Fool Believes – Doobie Brothers (I love the sound of Michael McDonald’s voice)

230. What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

231. What Beauty Really Is – Jeff Staflund (one amazing song, written and performed by someone whom I know)

232. What I Like About You - Lillix (Great 80s, from the soundtrack of the movie 13 Going On 30)

233. What You Waiting For – Gwen Stefani
234. When Will I See You Again – The Three Degrees (“Are we in love, or just friends? Is this my beginning, or is this the end?”)

235. When You Say Nothing at All - Alison Krauss (My God does this woman have an incredible voice!)

236. When You Wish Upon A Star – Cliff Edwards (Jiminy Cricket in Disney’s Pinocchio)

237. When You’re Gone – Bryan Adams and mel c

238. Whenever I Call You 'Friend' - Kenny Loggins (Like I said, his music just pulls me in and hugs me)

239. Where Do I Begin? – Jill Sobule (this song describes my life and my housekeeping to a T, folks; found this gem via last.fm)

240. Where The Streets Have No Name – U2

241. Who The Hell Are You – Madison Avenue

242. Wicked Little Town – John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch)

243. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler (Yes, I cried at the end of Beaches)

244. You Are - Lionel Richie (Re-heard this classic via Cool Jazz COOLFM99.1)

245. You'll Be In My Heart - Phil Collins

246. You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) – Dead or Alive

247. You're So Damn Hot - OK Go (From the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy soundtrack)

248. You're The Inspiration - Chicago (If I had to pick one Chicago song, this wonderful song is it)

249. You've Got a Friend - James Taylor (If I had to pick only one James Taylor song, this is it)

250. Your Song – Elton John

*whew*

Gig #1:
Wembley Arena 5th November 2004.
The Departure - pretty sweet band - going on to bigger and better things
Har Mar Superstar - humourous, but should NOT have been supporting Placebo, and certainly not above the Departure
Placebo - awesome. thats all I can say. Brian the tiny pixy on top form. And they did Nancy Boy.

Gig #2:
Brixton Academy 23rd November 2004
Can't remember support. Not that memorable.
The Darkness - pretty good, but not on the crest of their wave any more.

Gig #3:
Tsunami Relief, 22nd January 2005
Keane, Stereophonics, Snow Patrol, Feeder, Manic Street Preachers, Embrace, Badly Drawn Boy, Goldie Lookin' Chain and Heather Small were the notable artists of the day, all very good, and great value for money - even better cos we went in a mini-bus!

Gig #4:
Koolhaus, Toronto, ON, Canada, 13th February 2005
The Redwalls - alright, but trying too hard to be the Beatles
The Zutons - pretty awesome
Keane - sooo amazingly close (two rows from front) and just amazing.

Gig #5:
Molson Centre, Barrie, ON, Canada, 14th February 2005
Can't remember support. Not that memorable.
Sum41. We shall not talking of this monstrosity. Never again.

Gig #6:
Brixton Acadamy, March 6th 2005
Absentee and one other band. Absentee were good, but missed the other band.
Embrace - much better than I thought. Much much better.

Gig #7:
Brixton Acadamy, April 1st 2005
Can't remember support. Not that memorable.
Feeder - good, but just stood and played songs - nothing too special.

Gig #8:
Oxford Zodiac, May 19th
Fans of Kate and someone else supported, quite good though not great.
Dogs Die in Hot Cars - quite possibly one of the best gigs so far. Amazingly electrifying, and brilliant atmosphere. On front barrier.

Gig #9:
Hyde Park, July 2nd 2005
Live 8. Awesome, but couldn't see much - one big crush. Long day, but well worth it, Robbie Williams, Razorlight, Coldplay, REM and U2 stole the day for me.

Gig #10:
Hyde Park London, July 16th 2005
Jonathon Rice - okay, but too small on a big stage
Idlewild - Brilliant effort, great set.
Feeder - not as good as Idlewild, okay, but just stood there and played.
REM - Awesome. Michael Stipe is a complete ledge. Brilliant setlist, Brilliant lightshow, loved it.

Gig #11:
Shepherds Bush Empire, October 16th 2005
Can't remember support. Not that memorable.
The Magic Numbers - blew me away. on Front barrier, brilliant live, though few dodgy tracks in the middle. Love Me Like You rocked.

Gig #12:
Koko, February 28th 2006
This was the first recording of Channel 4's Album Chart show, featuring Rifles, Delays, Editors and Sugababes. Whilst I wasn't keen on Sugababes nor Rifles, but Delays were awesome and Editors were brilliant, much better than I thought they would be

Gig #13:
Shepherds Bush Empire, March 7th 2006,
Supported by Nightmare of You and Captain, both very good.
Delays - amazing, just as good as I thought they would be. not the most talkative, but still brilliant. On was my highlight, but each track was brilliant, not a dull moment! On front barrier and got great pics.

Booked Tickets to see Placebo on 11th April 2006 at Alexandra Palace, and Editors on 30th May 2006 at Brixton Acadamy.

Here are my top 100 songs of 2005! I started with about 180/190 and got it down to get my top 100!
It'd be too hard to rank them, so here is my top 100 songs of 2005 in alphabetical order...

2B - Amar
Aleksandra Pileva - Ne
Allee der Kosmonauten - Dein Lied
Anastacia - Heavy On My Heart
Anastasia Stotskaya - Shadows
Angelica Agurbash - Boys And Girls
Ashlee Simpson - La La
A-Sortie - Keep On Shining
Atomic Kitten - Cradle
Avril Lavigne - He Wasn't
Beverley Knight - Keep This Fire Burning
Black Eyed Peas - Don't Lie
Blissed - You Are The One
Boris Novkovic - Vukovi Umiru Sami
Charlotte Church - Crazy Chick
Chiara - Angel
City - Gorod lyubvi
Constantinos - Ela Ela
Constantinos - She's No Fool
Daniel Powter - Bad Day
Delta Goodrem & Brian McFadden - Almost Here
Dima Bilan - Not That Simple
Eve Angeli - Viens
Feminnem - Call Me
Flash - In Your Arms
Fredrik Kempe & Sanna Nielsen - Du Och Jag Mot Världen
Gary Revell Jr. - You're A Star
Girls Aloud - See The Day
Glennis Grace - My Impossible Dream
Glow - Break The Ties
Glow - Dream
Goran Karan - Bijele zastave
Gracia - Run & Hide
Grupa IF - Groznica me trese zbog tebe
Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
Hanson - Lost Without Each Other
Hanson - Penny And Me
Heather Small - Proud
Helena Paparizou - My Number One
I'Dees - Yeah, Yeah
Javine - Touch My Fire
Jem - Just A Ride
Jem - They
Jennie - Kiss Me
Jessica Folcker - On Natten
Kelly Clarkson - Because of You
Kelly Clarkson - Behind These Hazel Eyes
Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone
KGB - Stop
Kids 4 Rock - Es esmu maza, jauka meitene
Königwerq - Unschlagbar
KT Tunstall - Suddenly I See
Laura - Moonwalk
Laura & The Lovers - Little By Little
Lene Marlin - What If
Linda Bengtzing - Alla Flickor
Lindsay Lohan - Over
Lise Darly - Tout De Moi
Lorena Jelusic - Rock Baby
Lovebites - You Broke My Heart
Lucie Silvas - Breathe In
Lucie Silvas - Don't Look Back
Lucie Silvas - The Game Is Won
Luminita Anghel & Sistem - Let Me Try
M+ - Gränslös kärlek
Madonna - Hung Up
Marian Van de Wal - La Mirada Interior
Mariza Ikonomi - Kur Dashuron
Melanie C - Next Best Superstar
Nanne Grönvall - Håll om mig
Natalia Podolskaya - Nobody Hurt No One
Natalie Imbruglia - Counting Down The Days
Ortal - Chacun Pense A Soi
Place-2-Go - Kissed By A Fool
Pussycat Dolls - Don'tcha
Pussycat Dolls - Stickwitu
Rachel Stevens - I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)
Rachel Stevens - Negotiate With Love
Rachel Stevens - So Good
Rebeka Dremelj - Pojdi z menoj
Rinat Bar - Kmo chalom
Rooster - Staring At The Sun
Sanna Majuri - Just One Kiss
Selma - If I Had Your Love
Shiri Maymon - Ahava Ktana
Shiri Maymon - Hasheket shenish'ar
Son de Sol - Brujería
Soni - Eja në Ballkan
Sugababes - Push the Button
Sugababes - Ugly
Suntribe - Lets Get Loud
TATU - All About Us
Tess -Stupid
The Faders - No Sleep Tonight
Tina Arena - Italian Love Song
Tommi Läntinen - Mitä vaan
Vanilla Ninja - Cool Vibes
Varvara - Letala da pela
Vesa Luma, Rona Nishliu & Teuta - Flakareshe
Walters & Kazha - The War Is Not Over

Well, that was 2005!...

I attended three concerts this year, all amazing (but for different reasons).

Saturday 22nd January 2005
TSUNAMI RELIEF CARDIFF
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

I was lucky enough to be able to get 3 tickets for this concert to help the Tsunami appeal in Asia. This concert was televised live on BBC 1 & 2. The highlights for me was Keane, Snow Patrol, Feeder and the Manic Street Preachers.

Camera
Katherine Jenkins
Keane
Charlotte Church
Raghav
Lemar
Craig David
Aled Jones
Snow Patrol
Goldie Lookin' Chain
Badly Drawn Boy
Embrace
Kelly Jones
Liberty X
Heather Small
Feeder
Manic Street Preachers
Lulu
Jools Holland
Eric Clapton

==========

Monday 27th June 2005
COLDPLAY
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre

Thiw was a really great evening/night out in the sunshine. The highlights were:- discovering Morning Runner were brilliant, and that they come from where I come from, Reading, hearing the return of Supergrass, being not many rows back from the front of the stage so I hade a clear view of Coldplay, and of course the fireworks at the end of Fix You! It was also amazing as it was Coldplay's 1st concert back in the UK for about 2 years! The songs were awesome live!

Morning Runner
Supergrass
Coldplay

==========

Saturday 2nd July 2005
LIVE 8
Hyde Park, London

When Bob Geldof announced this concert, I just knew that I had to try and get a pair of tickets. How lucky was I when I got the text from Sir Bob telling me the good news! The concert was just immense! If I thought that the Tsunami Relief Cardiff concert that I went to back in January was long, then it was good preparation for this one, as it overran until past midnight! This concert was televised live on BBC 1 & 2. The whole world of millions in fact.. (Out now on DVD!) The highlights were:- all of it!!!

Paul McCartney and U2
U2
Coldplay
Richard Ashcroft
Coldplay and Richard Ashcroft
U2
Elton John
Elton John and Pete Doherty
Pete Doherty
Dido
Youssou N'Dour
Dido and Youssou N'Dour
Stereophonics
R.E.M.
ms dynamite
Keane
Travis
Annie Lennox
Bob Geldof
UB40
Snoop Dogg
Razorlight
Madonna
Snow Patrol
The Killers
Joss Stone
Scissor Sisters
Velvet Revolver
Sting
Mariah Carey
Robbie Williams
The Who
Pink Floyd
Paul McCartney
Paul Mccartney and George Michael
George Michael

... let's hope for more in 2006!...