I know I consider myself a bit of a history geek. What can I say? Every week my dad would bring both Sean and myself down to the library where I would insist on borrowing all the non-fiction, historical books. I don’t think I actually read a novel until I was in my early teens.
I don’t have just one era I delve into; I love it all. From Dinosaurs to the Celts, to the Iron Age to the Middle Ages, right up until present day. Well actually I tend to draw the line at most things past the 1990′s. That may be “history”, but to be me it’s news, as the major stuff that happened I would have seen on the News or heard second hand from conversations while growing up.
And that is somewhat my problem – I limit myself. History I love. Politics I hate. And to understand recent history you need to know about politics. Ick! How very droll! Read the rest of this entry »
I haven’t done one of these in a while – focusing mainly on hating. (It’s cold and we can’t afford the heating on for long so I’m trying to keep warm however I can.)
She’s one of those artists that I think more people should know, but I’m selective who I tell about her because I love having her like my own little secret. Not so secret, I know, her songs have been used in Top Gear and adverts and when she plays here in Dublin the tickets go like gold dust. I’ve yet to have to honour of seeing her live. Really sad about that!
I don’t really like many female singers, those I do tend to be of the old persuasion i.e. Doris Day, Shirley Bassey. I like smooth female vocals, not this vocal acrobatics of Whitney Houston and her likes. When I was told to listen to Bat For Lashes by a friend, I didn’t. She so very sweetly sent me the album and all but I put it aside and continued with my John Frusciante albums. Even though she said “I know you don’t like female singers, but listen to her. You’ll love it. She’s amazing” (actually I think she used the phrase “amazeballs”) I still put it aside and didn’t open the .zip file. Shame on me! Read the rest of this entry »
I would be lost without BBC4. It is quite simply the best television channel. And true to their fabulous nature they had aired the Chopin 200th Anniversary Gala on Friday just gone.
I sadly missed the beginning because I had promised my sister I’d go to IKEA with her. But luckily I didn’t miss it all. I would have cried if I did.
Of all the composers out there there is something extra special about Chopin to me. He can break and heal your soul in the fewest of notes. No other composer has the kind of hold over me as Chopin. The lightest of touch yet it lacks nothing passion wise.
I think he’s most famous piece is the Ballade No. 1 in G minor as that was used in the movie The Pianist (2002) which won some Oscars for it’s stars and pervy, rapist director Roman “flee the country and get away with statutory rape” Polansky.
Either way. It is quite a sad scene in the movie. The haunting piece by Chopin’s making the scene all the more powerful. But my favourite piece has to be the Nocturne, Op 72
I love film! Oh how I love film! The magic of escaping for a few hours is…magic. The joys of escaping into a book is just as good, but sometimes you just want something quick. That is where a films story comes into play.
But this isn’t a I love film post. It’s all about the cinema. In my humble, honest little opinion, the best place to catch a movie, old or new.
Perhaps it’s the delightful smell of popcorn (and always the nicest popcorn. The stuff you make yourself, or buy in a bag never measures up. Especially if they happen to be really salty and slightly burnt. Oooh nom nom nom I could come just thinking about it. OK, no, I wouldn’t go that far…*looks innocent*) or the large coke, but it’s my favourite way to catch up with friends and while away a few hours.
Hell in my teenage years I thought working in one would be the snizzle. It wasn’t. I didn’t even get past the fourth day. Once they showed me how they cleaned up the sick, I was gone like a lighten bolt. Well actually it was the fact that there was a fuck up with organised lifts home. Basically, they were non existent so to get home after my shift would have cost a taxi. Which in turn would have been more than my wages.
So that went for a Burton!
But back to the cinema. The trick is to get that back row! No annoying little fuckers kicking the back of your seat. Hate that! So it’s generally always back row with a good spot and no big head’s in your way. Or so you think. There’s always nice guy who swaps seats with his girl friend over something or another. And he always has the biggest head!
But this are little things. Once the lights go out and your sorted comfy style in your chair and the movie begins…oh, heaven!
There is no perhaps about it, it is most definately because that was my parents era. They danced in the dance halls to the British bands who played. They sang to bands like Manfred Mann, The Hollies, The Animals etc The music of the 50′s hold a special place in their hearts, 40′s songs too, as the family parties always turned into sing-songs, they still do. But the 60′s was their time!
With regards my time. It was as a child growing up listening and loving. Saturdays and Sundays in our house were always filled with ‘Bee-Bop Gold’, the oldie station. Espeically as my parents got ready to go out for their Saturday night out. And then Sunday mornings, getting ready for tweleve mass, and then back home again as the roast dinner was cooked.
My Mam’s taste are the female singers like Helen Sharpio, Shirely Bassey, Doris Day. My Dad’s is the bands; The Searchers, The Beatles, The Troggs. For good measure they both love The Everly Brothers, (My mothers claim to fame – she called one of them an ‘eejit’ once) Frank Sinatra. Throw a whole lot more like Matt Monro, Marty Robbins, Del Shannon and dozens of others into the mix for what is now, my most adored music in this world! And that’s what takes up most space in my CD collection.
I’m currently trawling youtube listening to some of my favourite songs of that decade.
Top of the list has to be Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues. Perhaps I’m too young to know what songs I want for my funeral, but I’ve always known. (Otherwise they might play *shudder* Boyzone for me or something.) And this is the song I want played!
So heart breakingly sad. Stunning, eerie and heart felt. I love it!!!!
Some other favourite 60′s songs
Can’t say how much of an EPIC song this is House of the Rising Sun, The Animals It’s been recorded by many, but its owned by Burdon and the boys!
It’s hard to choose just one of their songs, I love this band so much. Especially Love Potion No. 9 but I can’t help but dance each time I hear this song Needles and Pins, The Searchers
OK, this one I wasn’t going to put in as it’s a guilty pleasure of mine, loving this song as much as I do, but to hell with it. It’s a great song Where do you go to my lovely, Peter Sarstedt
And finally, because I would be her all night if I don’t draw the line somewhere, another favourite band of mine with an absolute favourite song – it hooks you from the opening chord – For Your Love, The Yardbirds (Sorry about the screaming 60′s girls. Seriously I would have thumped them!)
I’ve come to the realisation that I, Ashling Cranford, am a hideously cranky person. I am never happy. Never. Perhaps it’s due to the depression I’ve battled against for a lot of my life, but even the things I adore most in the world – I can’t help but find fault with.
To try counteract this I decided that at least once a week I will write a post under my newest tag, the ‘I Love…’ tag. I will focus on what I love and will say absolutely nothing negative about what I’m loving…no matter how hard I want to criticise it. I will firmly have my rose-tinted glasses on!
