Jean-Jacques Goldman

 Bonjour mes lecteurs!

 It's about time I did a blog entry on Jean-Jacques Goldman; after all he is one for my favourite singer/songwriters and I also owe a lot of the French I know to him!

 Firstly, if you don't speak French, please don't be put off listening to his music. There is a strong case for music being THE universal language. Whilst the lyrics are important, there is also so much of the song in the voice, the emotion, the melody and the instruments. And if you can understand the lyrics, that's a bonus, especially with Jean-Jacques Goldman because his lyrics are generally very beautiful.

 I will share with you some of my favourite Goldman songs and why I love them, and I will quote and give my translation of some of my favourite Goldman lyrics.

 I discovered this singer through my brother; and I am very grateful to him for leading me to this musical genius. It came about because my brother and I often listen to a French compilation CD we have, named "Platine 45," after the Jacky TV music show of the same name that ran in France in the 80s. The compilation contains songs of the time mainly from France but with a few British or German additions. One of the French songs is "Je Marche Seul," by Jean-Jacques Goldman.

 I had never listened to this song; I don't know why. Many of the songs on that CD I have only discovered recently, because I once had the somewhat cowardly tendency to stick to the English language songs that I understood. More recently that has changed completely and now I listen to French music as much as English; maybe more if I'm in a particularly French sort of mood.

 Anyway, at the time I discovered Jean-Jacques, I had listened to and enjoyed a few of the French songs on the CD, and then my brother suggested listening to this. I did, not expecting much because I arrogantly thought I had already sniffed out all the good songs on the CD.

 However, within a verse's worth of Je Marche Seul, I was in love. Well, maybe not quite yet, but I certainly thought it was a very good song.

 I then went away and forgot about it. Then, a bit later, I was on YouTube and I decided to find it. I did, and I enjoyed it so much I set to learning the words to it, which I managed pretty quickly. I still know them to this day.

 The first video here is the version I first saw and fell in love with. The second appears to be the official video, but I find it a bit odd. It might help if I understood Russian (if that's what language it is).

 Having discovered this, I searched YouTube for other Jean-Jacques videos, and came across several similarly up-tempo songs such as Encore Un Matin (which taught me how to form possessive pronouns in French). 

 These songs I liked, but it wasn't until I found Famille that I realised I had been missing out on the other side of Goldman; the side I would come to love so dearly. Besides the writer of catchy and powerful pop/rock songs, there is also the tender, gentle side, who writes beautiful, inspirational, moving and emotional songs. I honestly don't know now how I lived before I discovered his music.

 Famille is just stunning; so beautiful. He plays piano gorgeously, and he sings with such emotion and love. The lyrics are beautiful, although admittedly at one point not very politically correct. But the overall sentiment of this chanson is just adorable. I love it. One of those songs you can always, always listen to, and that you can listen to again and again without getting tired of it for one minute.

 From this song, I discovered On Ira, in the list of associated videos at the side on YouTube. This has become perhaps my favourite Goldman song, and even one of my favourite French songs (and I listen to a lot of French music nowadays, so that is a strong accolade!) It is just so incredibly beautiful. 

 I searched in vain for a long time to find out who the actress in this video is; eventually it transpired it is Elodie Navarre. I had thought she seemed familiar to me, and looking up Navarre I found out she was in a French film I saw a few years ago called, "Jeux d'enfants" (Love Me If You Dare seems to be the English title). That might explain the familiarity, although I don't think I can really remember her character. 

 Anyway, I think she does a really good job in this video, although I don't by any means condone rude hand gestures. But basically, I think this song is amazing.

 "Oh belle, on ira, on suivra les étoiles, et les chercheurs d'or, 

Si on en trouve, on cherchera encore!"

 "Oh my beautiful, let's go, we'll follow the stars and the gold-diggers,

And if we find them, we'll keep searching!"

 But every line of this song is amazing and so moving. It will always be one of my favourite songs in any language.

The next JJ Goldman song I came across was Au Bout de mes Rêves. 

 It is more bouncy and upbeat than the previous two songs I have highlighted, but I find it is also very beautiful and the lyrics are very good if, like me, you like analysing songs, because I find them a bit ambiguous and therefore interesting to look into, not to mention pretty and poetic. 

 Plus, the musicianship in this song is just amazing, and the song itself is so happy! It can really make you feel better if you're not in too good a mood. It makes me smile :)

 And in the second video, I think the way they put a music note in the middle of their "Melody" channel logo is quite clever. (Not very relevant, but I thought I'd mention it!)

 I then found, "Là-Bas." Need I say more? I don't think any words can do justice to such a beautiful, wonderful song. Here it is:

 The beautiful, talented woman who sings in this is called Sirima, and I think she is simply amazing. 

 So beautiful, such a good voice - and an unusual voice - and plays the part of her character in this song and video so convincingly and with such raw, tender emotion. 

 She would have been a superstar, I know it. But sadly she died two years after Là-Bas was released; murdered at the age of twenty-five. I cannot believe what a waste this was; of life, of talent; and even if she hadn't been a talented singer, ending anybody's life at twenty-five is just horrendous. 

 Although it is little consolation, at least we have this song and video to remember her by. 

 For those who can't understand the French (although I think a lot of it is illustrated well in the video) this is a song about emigration. Well, that is how it appears to me. Goldman's character ponders leaving their rural home to try to find a better life in an unknown place referred to only as "Là-Bas" - "over there." Meanwhile, Sirima, playing the role of his girlfriend/fiancée, begs him to stay because she wants to marry him and start a family. She worries that;

"N'y va pas; il y a des tempêtes et des naufrages.

Le feu, les diables, et les mirages.

Je te sais si fragile parfois,

Reste au creux de moi."

"Don't go there; there are storms and shipwrecks,

Fire, devils and mirages

I know you to be so fragile sometimes,

Stay here close to me."

 Words cannot describe how much I love this song ♥ It's almost humbling to listen to; it's so stunning and... just perfect. You couldn't ask for more in a song. This is in serious contention with On Ira for the title of my favourite JJ Goldman song. It is so beautiful.

 Also, because of the time when I discovered it and first listened to it a lot, it is connected to certain memories and sentiments for me personally. Just hearing the beat can transport me to another place and time. I hadn't anticipated this happening, but it does, and it's yet another thing to make me love this song.

 I mentioned this song and how much I liked it to my French teacher, also a Goldman fan, and she recommended that I listen to Puisque Tu Pars (Since You Left), a Goldman song on the same album as Là-Bas. I gave it a listen, and I have to admit that the first time I heard it I wasn't that keen on it. However, the second time I listened to it, I fell in love with yet another Jean-Jacques Goldman song.

 Listening to it now I can't believe I didn't realise straight away how astoundingly good it is. So beautiful and heartbreaking. The video as much as the song. Both are so simple, yet work so perfectly to convey their message, and both are so moving and can make me feel quite emotional.

 The next (and penultimate) JJG song I wanted to share with you is Il Changeait la Vie. 

 Another song that I didn't like the first time for some reason but I loved from the second listening onwards. I think it forms the bridge between Goldman's softer, gentler songs, and the more up-tempo, high energy anthems. This song is tender and emotional and the lyrics are so touching; whilst the beat is fast and catchy and I love it.

 It tells the story of how ordinary people can really make a mark on somebody's life; he highlights a cobbler, a teacher and a saxophone player. I really like the tune, but with this song it is certainly les paroles - the lyrics - that make me love it.

 About the saxophone player:

"Et il mit tant de temps, de larmes at de douleur;

Les rêves de sa vie, les prisons de son cœur."

"And he put in so much time, so many tears, so much pain;

The dreams of his life, the prisons of his heart."

 I love it ♥

 The final JJG song I wanted to tell you about is Juste Après - Just Afterwards. 

 I must warn you now that the video is very graphic and contains scenes which you might find upsetting. It is centred around a baby being born not breathing, and the medics' attempts to save the child. It is very moving but also, as you would probably imagine, very scary, graphic and could be upsetting. So proceed with caution.

 The video may not be watch-able for certain people, but I would recommend the song itself to anyone. It is just so beautiful. I would just love to be able to play it on the piano. 

 His guest singers, whom I believe to be Michael Jones and Carole Fredericks (although I would appreciate this being in the YouTube video description! They don't even credit Sirima in Là-Bas on YouTube), are brilliant too, and I think the three of them singing together is what elevates this from a very good Goldman song to a stunningly beautiful celebration of human life.

 It is so haunting, yet so positive and hopeful at the same time. I have truly never heard another song quite like it.

 I haven't been trying to put these songs in the order of when they were released; it's more the order in which I discovered and inevitably fell in love with them. However, I've realised that by chance the first and last song of this blog entry were released a decade apart - not only showing that JJ Goldman was on the French music scene for a long time, but a sign, I think, that Goldman's music and way of writing songs will never get old. It is timeless. 

 Yet another contender for my favourite Goldman song! I don't know if I'll ever be able to decide for sure which is my favourite. I'll just accept that they're all amazing. One thing is for sure, Jean-Jacques Goldman is sans doute - without doubt - my favourite French singer and I know I will always listen to and appreciate his music. 

 So merci tellement to my brother and my teacher for helping me discover and learn more about this wonderful artist whose music has made me so happy over the year or so since I first found it.

 I hope that you, my reader, enjoy his music too. 

 Merci d'avoir pris le temps de lire cet article.

 Liz x

Songs: 

Je Marche Seul - Jean-Jacques Goldman - 1985

Famille - Jean-Jacques Goldman - 1985

On Ira - Jean-Jacques Goldman - 1998

Au Bout de mes Rêves - Jean-Jacques Goldman - 1983

Là-Bas - Jean-Jacques Goldman - 1987

Puisque Tu Pars - Jean-Jacques Goldman - 1988

Il Changeait la Vie- Jean-Jacques Goldman - 1988

Juste Après- Jean-Jacques Goldman - 1995

Alison Moyet

 Hello my dear readers (whom I love very much),

 I am currently in the middle of a busy exam period at college, so I have been doing lots of work and revision. But I have also tried to find time to listen to some music as well, to help me stay as relaxed as possible and not get too stressed by all the extra work.

 At the minute I am listening to a lot of music by Alison Moyet; I have already mentioned her in this blog a while back because her song "Is This Love?" is one of my favourite songs of all time.

 It is just so happy and can always make me smile, and the video is lovely as well because it is a group of people having a really good time together (in Cornwall apparently; I've just looked it up) without too much of the melodrama, acting and posing that you get in a lot of music videos, especially ones from the 80s which was when this song came out. (I do love the 80s though! And 80s videos. I just like this one particularly for daring to be a bit different.)

 Another song of hers which I adore is "Invisible." I first heard this on the radio and was surprised when at the end they said that the song was by her - I had thought I would have recognised her voice, but I just hadn't. I'm not saying it doesn't sound like her; I just didn't make the connection.

 The first twenty seconds of this record are so exquisitely beautiful - the musicianship is amazing, and it justs sounds sublime. One of those musical moments that has been toned absolutely perfectly. Just fantastic. And the song goes on to be lovely as well - a very sad story, with a bitter-sweet melody; they just match so well while managing to still form quite an upbeat song. 

 "Like a merry-go-round, I'm going up; going down..."

 I must also mention "Only You," a gorgeous song she sung as one half of the duo Yazoo (the other half being Vince Clarke, who wrote the song). There was also a famous cover by the group, The Flying Pickets, which was sung a capella, and is truly amazing. But I still prefer the original, because I adore Alison ♥ 

 There are various versions; I like this orchestral one but there are more synth-based versions so I would give them a listen to as well.

 I remember being set a task in art at high school; to produce a piece of art based on a piece of music; as Kandinsky did a lot. I chose this song, and my picture was a pastel drawing of circles and dots and swirls of pink and blue and red. I just find the sound so magical, yet peaceful. I love it. The bit where she sings, "And I need you..." and she sounds like she really means it. That's my favourite lyric.

 So, I hope this has been nice for Alison Moyet fans to reminisce - and also to celebrate her, as she has until recently still been producing new material, so she is by no means a singer of the past. She is a singer of the past, present and maybe of the future - and certainly her songs are timeless and the themes in them - mainly different views on love - will always be relevant. 

 And if you are new to this singer and her music, I hope I have provided a good introduction to her, and that I have done her justice. The three songs I have chosen to highlight are only the tip of the iceberg; she has so much great music out there, so I recommend you have a listen and see what you think. You may find you have a new favourite singer.

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz x

Songs: Is This Love? - Alison Moyet - 1986

           Invisible - Alison Moyet - 1984

           Only You - Yazoo - 1982                                 

♥ Martika ♥

 Ciao,

 It's April and I have been listening to all kinds of music since I last updated this blog - in fact a lot has happened in my life since I last updated this blog. For one thing, I am 18 now!

 I have also been to France and back twice, once to Paris and once to Montpellier. These cities are both amazing, but are so different. Paris is so busy and vibrant and full of life, and you really feel as though you're in the middle of it all when you're in Paris; the middle of the universe. You're where everything is happening!

 Montpellier has a much more relaxed feel, and is absolutely beautiful with some magnificent architecture and palm trees lining the streets, and as it has three universities it is full of students and the nightlife is... pretty good, to say the least.

 I love both cities for different reasons, and I really couldn't decide which is my favourite. They're both wonderful.

 I'm also very happy because I've had an article of mine published in a national magazine: Your Cat magazine. The article is, surprisingly enough, about my cat. He is called Murphy, and it is lovely that this beautiful, gentle and inspirational creature can now be recognised as the hero he is. He is a survivor, and the best pet I could ever wish for. I love him and I hope the readers of the magazine will too ♥

 Anyway, as I said I have been listening to lots of different music recently, especially Nanci Griffith, Joan Armatrading and Martika. Nanci Griffith and Joan Armatrading are both fantastic artists of whom I have been a fan for a long time, and both will probably have a blog post dedicated to them in the near future. However, Martika, aka Marta Marrero, is someone I have discovered more recently, and whose music I adore, and this blog post will be about her.

 I am listening to her music right now, and singing and dancing along - I literally cannot help it. The beat is so infectious, and the passion in her voice - she clearly loves what she does, and I find that when an artist clearly loves their music, it is easy for me to love it as well.

 When I say I discovered her recently; I was familiar with Toy Soldiers, which was without doubt her biggest hit and is still her best known song, especially since Eminem sampled the chorus in his 2005 song, Like Toy Soldiers (which I remember seeing on Top of the Pops when it came out and thinking that the chorus was the only good bit - obviously I was going to grow up to be a Martika fan!)

 I then heard the original Toy Soldiers at the gym (where I first heard a lot of my favourite songs - they had good musical taste at that gym) and later I found it on YouTube and fell in love. When I found out that the song is supposedly about drug addiction, I liked it even more, because I like it when a singer and/or songwriter chooses to tackle a difficult subject - and in this case, she got a massive number one hit out of it; thus spreading the awareness of a global problem.

 I know I probably say this a lot, but I really think Toy Soldiers is a song like no other: deep, haunting and powerful, it can really send chills down your spine. And it is so beautiful. Her voice is amazing, and you can tell that every word has an emotional significance for her, from the way she sings it. She is amazing ♥ and this song is without doubt a classic.

 The next Martika song I want to tell you about is "Water," which I discovered only the other day - like I said, I had always known Toy Soldiers, but it is more recently that I have started to uncover the rest of Martika's sensational back catalogue. And there is some pretty amazing - and unbelievably underrated stuff in there! Water is just fantastic - and I love how she sings in Spanish as well as in English. The passion in her voice in both languages is just so powerful, and her voice itself is sublime. If Martika had never become a singer, it would have been a huge loss for the music industry.

 I can't believe that, according to Wikipedia anyway, Water was not released as a single in the US, and it only reached number 59 in the UK. It is simply beautiful and should be top 10 at least, in both countries!

 She sings with such genuine love and passion, and the song is brilliant - technically an excellent song, and so full of raw emotion. From many singers, all the water imagery might get a bit tiresome, but from Martika... You could never get sick of it because you can tell that she means every word, and it makes perfect sense. I love her!

 Finally, More Than You Know. An 80s classic! Upbeat, bouncy; a happy tune despite the slightly bittersweet lyrics... You just want to get up and dance. Correction: you just have to get up and dance, and sing along too! As with Toy Soldiers, there is a Spanish version too, and as I love the Spanish language, this is something I am pleased about!

 I love how the official video version of this song is a rather self-indulgent 6 minutes 13 seconds! Luckily there is a shorter version if you don't have 6 minutes to spare. Yet every second of the full version is fantastic, and I recommend listening to it at least once and watching her amazing dancing - I think she moves like a cross between Prince and George Micheal - but better than either of them!

 More Than You Know is up there with the big anthems of the 80s, but sadly I had never heard it until a few months ago. Martika needs more love! She is amazing and so genuinely underrated. She is one of the true stars of the late 80s/early 90s, along with my other musical heroes, Roxette.

 Spread the Martika love! She has so many great songs that you never hear on the radio; find her on YouTube and enjoy the Martika beyond Toy Soldiers (although Toy Soldiers is amazing. But she has so much more wonderful music!)

 Martika is amazing; I am so glad I discovered her fantastic, evergreen music, and I look forward to enjoying her music and her beautiful voice for many years to come ♥

 Liz x

 Songs: Toy Soldiers - Martika - 1989
            Water - Martika - 1990
            More Than You Know - Martika - 1988
            Como Un Juguete (Spanish version of Toy Soldiers) - Martika - 1989
            Quiero Entregarte Mi Amor (Spanish version of More Than You Know) - Martika - 1989

Memories ♥

 Hellooo,

 Have been listening to this...

 ...and reminiscing about good times - hearing this for the first time on the radio while eating in a supermarket café and wondering what it was; looking it up and finding out it was Gloria Estefan and being pleased because I like a lot of her music; then listening to it a great deal on YouTube in the next few weeks, maybe even the next few months.

 This was all in my early days of college, so hearing the song always brings back very strong and distinct memories; for example sitting in the language lab at lunchtimes on Fridays because I'd had a lesson there before lunch, and listening to music calmly and happily for an hour and maybe doing a bit of homework, before going to biology in the afternoon. This is how I would generally end my college week, and it was a pleasant ending, and this song brings it all back very clearly. Thank you, Gloria! ♥

 Also I can't mention those early college days without this song, which for a while I simply could not get out of my head: 

 More good memories! Particularly of bus rides home - the scenery near our college is quite nice and, much as I love college, it was always nice to be going home after a hard day's work for a well-deserved rest : ) And, as I've said, I couldn't get this song out of my head. So thank you Amy Grant too ♥ And I think it's adorable that she wrote the lyrics of this song for her baby daughter.

 That's probably enough reminiscing about college for the time being; I should probably get on with my homework; but I hope maybe you've enjoyed these songs too, and that this blog post has inspired you to consider which songs have a special significance for you. 

 Merci de lire,

 (that means thanks for reading!) 

 Liz x

 Songs: Don't Wanna Lose You - Gloria Estefan - 1989

            Baby Baby - Amy Grant - 1991

Happy New Year!

 Hi and happy new year to all my amazing blog readers : )

 This year I am determined that I will update this blog more regularly, with the music I have been listening to, both new and old, and my favourite songs and lyrics, as well as hopefully doing some spotlight features on certain artists who I particularly admire or whose music and/or lyrics I feel is especially relevant to that moment in time.

 So, watch this space : )

 I will leave you with Happy New Year from ABBA, which I used to think people had sadly forgotten as I didn't hear it very often - however, the festive season just gone I seem to have heard it a huge amount, so perhaps I stand corrected and it is appreciated as much now as it ever was.

 I certainly hope so.

 It's an amazing song - beautiful and sweet with a very important message: it is crucial that we see the new year not just as a chance to party and enjoy ourselves but as a an opportunity to make a real fresh start, to try and better our ways and make the world a safer and happier place.

 That is a message which will never lose its importance, and which we must never forget.

 So, here is the song and I hope you enjoy it.

 I used to wish my hair looked like Agnetha's does in this video : D

 Happy new year everyone ♥

 Liz x

 Song: Happy New Year - ABBA (1980)

R.E.M. and Paul Young

 Hi

 I know you may be wondering what R.E.M. and Paul Young have to do with each other; the answer is: not a lot, really, except that I've recently been listening to and enjoying music from both of them.

 When I first heard that R.E.M. had split up, it didn't really mean a lot to me. I wasn't really familiar with R.E.M.; the only song I could have named as being by them was Everybody Hurts.

 However, I quickly found out that they were the ones who sung Losing My Religion; a song that has gained special significance for me this summer. And further investigation revealed that they were also the band behind Bad Day, the iconic video for which I had seen once on TV; I had enjoyed the song since but never really knew who it was by.

 So, it turns out I have enjoyed R.E.M.'s music for a long time without realising it. Bad Day, I am so happy to have rediscovered. It is what it says on the tin really; just the perfect song to listen to when you've been having a bad day.

 And I still find the video really impressive. It is one of those where you keep spotting new things everytime you watch it. I would post the official video if I could but it seems you can't post it on Blogger : ( So you will just have to YouTube it, I'm afraid.

 Losing My Religion I first heard properly on a minibus on the way to a Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition in the Lake District. It therefore stuck in my head the whole time I was there; trekking through forests, scrambling over walls, fighting my way through ferns taller than me which made me feel like a fairy or a pixie.

 The group I was in were really lovely, and so were the places we walked through. But the weather was terrible the second day, and I was slowly losing the will to live and wishing I could go home, and this song was in my head, playing over and over, the only bit I really knew...

 "I thought that I saw you laughing,
I thought that I heard you sing,
I think I thought I saw you try..."

 Except I thought the last line was, "I think I thought I saw your smile."

 And those few lines became the soundrack to that D of E expedition for me. It has a special significance for me now. I don't know what the supposed religious connotations are; I haven't listened to the whole song enough for that, nor seen the video properly. I listen to it because of what it means to me. It gave me hope and it kept me going. It will always be special to me now.

 I also like Shiny Happy People, which I discovered through Bad Day, and I really like it and especially the female singer(Kate Pierson?)'s voice, which I think is beautiful and adds so much to the song.

 Now for Paul Young... I was listening to Senza Una Donna, which I have enjoyed since I was a child, even before I understood what the Italian lyrics meant, and I saw in the related videos Everytime You Go Away, which I was pretty sure I had heard once on the radio in the car, and which I had liked. 

 So, I listened to it, and yes, it was the same song, and yes, I did enjoy it - even more, in fact, now that I heard the intro, which I think is one of the the most beautiful intros to a song that I have ever heard (it also reminds me of Love and Regret by Deacon Blue), and which epitomises the very best of the synth sound of the 80s. It is a simply beautiful song.

 So, this week I have discoevered - or re-discovered, a great deal of good music. It's just a shame that it took R.E.M. breaking up for me to realise how good they were, and how much I had always enjoyed their music without even knowing who they were.

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz x

Songs: Bad Day - R.E.M. (2003)

           Losing my Religion - R.E.M. (1991)

           Shiny Happy People - R.E.M. (1991)

           Senza Una Donna - Zucchero and Paul Young (1991)

           Everytime You Go Away - Paul Young (1985)

P.S. I hadn't realised they were all from 1991! Must have been a good year for music! But then I guess every year is.

 Liz x

Strictly good music

 Hi!

 Yes, Strictly Come Dancing is almost upon us once more, so I thought I would do a blog post about songs I have discovered through the programme. I watched it on-off for the first few series, then started watching it regularly the year Tom Chambers won. Over the years I've supported Denise Lewis, Colin Jackson, Tom Chambers, Ricky Whittle, Scott Maslen and Matt Baker - as you will probably have noticed if you are an avid fan, my favourites do tend to come second for some reason : (

 Probably the best musical discovery I have made through the show is this song:

 Through this dance:

                                          

 Come on, you have to love it! I would learn to salsa just to be able to do that dance! As for the song, I had heard bits of it previous to it featuring on Strictly, but this was the first time I heard a good amount of it, and I realised it's a really good song - whether performed by Deniece Williams or the Strictly band. And I love the instrumental, and what they do with it in this salsa! Plus, the lyrics are just so sweet.

 Secondly, I discovered this through another of Natalie Lowe's superb dances: her waltz with Ricky Whittle.

 This is so beautiful; I loved this pair and was deperate for them to win (they came second overall). And I love the song, and I think this dance makes perfect use of it. It's truly mesmerising.

 There is also this gorgeous dance - again Natalie Lowe; this time with her professional partner Ian Waite.

 I have seen this pair live and met them afterwards, and they are both lovely : ) This dance is so moving. It also led me to the song, which I am now a huge fan of. And her dress is so stunning! I wish I had a dress just like that! Overall, an amazing song and dance, united perfectly by two brilliant dancers and choreographers.

 This final song is one I mentioned a while ago on this blog as being a real favourite of mine. I discovered it through the Strictly Come Dancing tour, where Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan danced to it. I had never heard it before, and now I don't know how I ever managed without it. It is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever come across.

 So, roll on the new series of Strictly! As a Natalie fan I will have my eye on Audley, and I am also looking forward to seeing Edwina Currie; I have met her and she is lovely. I think Harry Judd and Jason Donovan are my favourites to win. I know a lot of people have their money on Holly Valance, but I don't know much about her, so I will have to wait and see how she dances on her first Strictly show.

 I know how I have to finish this, cheesy as it may be...

 Keeeeep listening!

 (I know, I know.)

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz x

 Songs: Let's Hear It for the Boy - Deniece Williams (1984)

            Kissing You - Des' ree (1997)

            You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand (1978)

            Don't Know Much - Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville (1989)

Hope and Céline Dion

 Hi

 I love this song by Céline Dion; it is such a message of hope; not just in love,which seems to be the main focus of the song, but in life generally. It's a song which tells us not to give up, never to give up. Plus it's a nice song musically too!

 Because Dion does a lot of covers, I thought before hearing this song that it would be a cover of The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby and the Range (which I like), yet it is a completely different song. A very nice song, too.

I quite like how basic and minimalist the video is; in fact I generally approve of Céline Dion videos more than those of similar artists whose videos are often over-the-top and not worthy of the song they are supposed to be showcasing. Yet Céline's videos tend to be sensible and show the song in it's best light - they let the song do the talking instead of distracting from it.

 I love Céline Dion's voice. It is simply amazing. So beautiful and distinctive. She deserves a lot of the credit as she must have spent so long training it and taking care of it, yet to have a voice so unique I believe is something you have to be blessed with. And some people just are: Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Nicks and Marie Fredriksson from Roxette to name a few.

 Anyway, I will sign off for now, and remember, never give up hope.

 Liz x

 Song: That's the Way It Is - Céline Dion (1999)

Roxette and others

 Hi!

 I am back at college after the long summer, and I am enjoying it.

 Recently I have been listening to a lot of music by Deacon Blue, as well as by Céline Dion.

 I also like some of the music that is in the charts at the moment, my favourite songs in the current Top 40 being Set Fire To the Rain by Adele, and The Edge of Glory by Lady Gaga.

 I have started to appreciate the sad but quite beautiful The A Team by Ed Sheeran; I didn't think a lot of it at first, but the I went to a party where I heard it a lot. I'm not complaining; I have really come to like this song.

 And, of course, there is always Roxette. They are probably my favourite band, and I will never grow weary of hearing their amazing songs such as Almost Unreal, Dangerous, It Must Have Been Love, How Do You Do, Neverending Love and Soul Deep.

 There are also the forgotten album tracks that I think are amazing and often better than their big hits.

 These include: Turn To Me, From One Heart To Another and Secrets That She Keeps from their first album Pearls of Passion and Dance Away and Half a Woman, Half a Shadow from their second album (and arguably their breakthrough album) Look Sharp!.

 There is also Small Talk and Perfect Day from Joyride and Bringing Me Down To My Knees from their 2001 album Room Service.

 Here is Turn To Me; probably my favourite Roxette song of all time. It is so chirpy and hopeful, and Marie Fredriksson's voice is stunning, as always.

 It's strange to think that this song was left off the original album of 1986, and was only included as a bonus track when Pearls of Passion was re-released in 1997. 

 I personally believe that Turn To Me is the best song on the album - a strong accolade from me, as I believe this whole album is a true gem, forgotten for too long. 

 It mixes the classic synth sounds and strong beats of the 80s with the unique Roxette sound, and in my opinion it may well be Roxette's finest album.

 That's not to say I don't love the others! Roxette went from strength to strength, and are still doing so to this day. Here is one of their recent songs, wheich I love, especially the official video.

 As you can see, I love Roxette, and I will probably tell their whole story on this blog sometime. For the time being, though, I'll sign off.

 Back to work!

 Adios.

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz 

 Songs: Turn To Me - Roxette (1986)

            Way Out - Roxette (2011)

Two good old love songs

 Aloha!

 I have always been a fan of old songs; to me old songs being anything before 1995. I was brought up on compilation albums from the 80s and 90s, and the late 80s/early 90s country music of Nanci Griffith and of Alison Krauss and Union Station.

 Something; I can't remember now what it was; reminded me of this song, which I first discovered not that long ago; maybe a couple of years ago.

 This is a song I often forget about, but when something reminds me of it I always listen to it and it puts a smile on my face. The rhythm is infectious; it is hard to resist the temptation to clap the beat like the mysterious gloved hands do in the video. 

 It is a nice, laid back song to listen to, which can really put you in a better mood. The story is also told well and with real emotion. I've just looked the song up and found out that it was number one in America for four weeks, which I think was well-deserved.

 For me, it is absolutely impossible to think of Jack and Diane without thinking of this next song, which I discovered around the same time, and which somehow I find to be very similar to it.

 Both songs have the two people the song is about as the title, and both songs are very raw; with quite a basic tune and not a huge number of instruments, and with lyrics that are well thought-out and sung with real passion. 

 In fact, I find this next song to be lyrically one of the most beautiful I have ever heard. Anyway, here it is:

 Every word is carefully chosen and the song is something really quite special - well, I find it to be, anyway. If you're not familiar with this, have a listen and see what you think.

 I also personally love the video; I think it is well-made and very poignant and symbolic.

 My favourite lyric has to be; "When you can fall for chains of silver, you can fall for chains of gold." So poetic. I have my own theory on what it means, but I guess lines like that could mean different things to different people. 

 Also, "I can't do everything, but I'll do anything for you." Beautiful. Although I don't recommend jumping off walls like he does in the video.

 I love it when I come across a decent love song that so clearly came straight from the heart of whoever wrote and sung it. There is so much pretentious rubbish about - but this is a song of real love, and it has won my heart.

 Liz x

 Songs: Jack and Diane - John Cougar Mellencamp (1982)

            Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits (1980/81)