Northumberland and the Noughties

 Hello!

 A belated Happy Easter!

 I'm still on my Easter holidays and am enjoying having some rest and relaxation. Last weekend I went with my family to Northumberland for a few days, and I wanted to tell you about the trip, through, as always, music.

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 Firstly, the way there was as much an adventure as the stay itself: the scenery was beautiful and an unexpected road diversion meant we had to go a very long-winded route that brought us even more moody views of mountains, lakes and heathland. It was very atmospheric.

 We listened to two different compilations of 00s music. Here are some of the highlights:

This song always reminds me of a friend's birthday party I went to when I was young. Very nostalgic!

I remember Pop Idol being the first talent show I ever experienced, when I watched the last few shows and the final. I wanted Will to win and was so glad when he did.

I also did a post about Westlife's song Flying Without Wings.

This has inspired me to do a whole post about Dido, so watch this space!

 Ah, the memories!

 We also listened to the radio and this song played.

 It is so typically Coldplay. If asked to identify the band you wouldn't hesitate a minute. While I'm not completely bewitched by it (see what I did there) I do find it quite pretty, and it will now always remind me of our journey to Northumberland.

 I also found out through research for this blog that it was released on my 20th birthday!

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 When we got there, we explored Kielder Water and the surrounding woodland - it's very scenic and peaceful. We also did some stargazing as the skies were dark and clear, and the moon was incredibly beautiful.

 The first line from Annie's Song sprung to mind on more than one occasion.

"You fill up my senses, like a night in the forest."

 For a while this was the only line I knew in the song, and I was almost disappointed when I heard that the song consists of similar analogies. For me, that one analogy was enough. "A night in the forest" on its own is such a powerful, evocative, lustrous image that I don't see the need for any others, although I do find the rest of the song very lovely.

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 We also visited a bird of prey centre, where we saw some amazing owls and falcons. Let me share one of my favourite songs about flying. I hope to do a whole blog post about flying songs soon.

 A talented singer performed this song at my school talent show; that was the first time I heard it and I immediately liked it. It remains one of my favourite songs.

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 We saw lots of birds in the wild - chaffinches, a siskin, ducks and crows - as well as a red squirrel, rabbits - lots of rabbits -, deer and wallabies. Yes, wallabies.

 We visited a castle, got lost in a maze and sat in a giant artwork.

The artwork

 Our trip finally ended, and we drove home, going through Scotland this time. This song came on the radio. At the time, I thought I'd never heard it before, but now I think I may have done; I have a bit of déjà vu.

 I really like it; it's very simple but I love simple love songs. It goes without saying that Heather Small's voice is amazing.

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 Our weekend was brilliant and really refreshing, and one I'll always remember. I hope we can return to Northumberland in the future.

 Thanks for reading,

 Liz x

Songs: 

Push the Button - Sugababes - 2005

Evergreen - Will Young - 2002

World of Our Own - Westlife - 2002

All You Want - Dido - 2001

Magic - Coldplay - 2014

Annie's Song - John Denver - 1974

On The Wings of Love - Jeffrey Osborne - 1982

Just for You - M People - 1997

Flying Without Wings

 Hello!

 Last night I stumbled upon Flying Without Wings by Westlife. 

 From what I had heard of this in the past I used to find it cheesy in the extreme, but listening to it properly I... I really like it. The lyrics aren't mindblowing but are very pretty...

"Some find it sharing every morning,

Some in the solitary night..."

 I especially love the last verse:

 "For me, it's waking up beside you,

To watch the sunrise on your face..."

 Cheesy and not very original, I know, but I really do like it and would love to sing this song at karaoke one day... Maybe I will if I can get someone else to sing it with me as I think it would work wonderfully as a duet.

 And what's my special thing that helps me fly without wings? I don't know if I can pinpoint one thing. Maybe simply the beauty of this earth. My family, friends, my cat, the stars, the sea, sunset skies, the cool breeze in the evening, that smell when it's about to rain...

 And I call the song cheesy!

 What helps you to fly without wings?

 Thanks for reading,

 Liz x

Song: Flying Without Wings - Westlife - 1999

Eurovision 2012 Countdown: A short history of Spain (in Eurovision)

 ¡Hola!

 Spain has certainly had a colourful Eurovision history, from their stage invasion in 2010, to the unforgettable "Baila el Chiki-chiki" in 2008, to their 2011 entry "Que me quiten lo bailao," by Lucía Pérez which I love and which has to be one of the happiest, bounciest Eurovision songs ever ♥

 I personally think that in the last few years they have been one of the more consistent nations when it comes to entering if not amazing then certainly very good songs - songs that have potential, either to win or to become Eurovision legend - as in the case of Baile el Chiki-chike.

 When I think of Spain in Eurovision, one of the first songs that come to mind - after Lucía Pérez - is "I Love You Mi Vida," by D'NASH.

 When I first saw this and my Spanish wasn't as good as it is now, I genuinely thought they were saying they loved their life. In actually fact, "mi vida" is a term of endearment and means, "my dear" or "my darling." I kind of like it more now that I know it is a love song than I did when I thought it was just one of those typical shouty Eurovision party anthems (although it still isn't that far from being the latter!)

 I was surprised to see this was from 2007 - in my memory it was an earlier competition. But hey, I must be wrong. It is up there with Krisse Salminen as one of the things that made the 2007 competition great (although I still think Krisse MADE that Eurovision!).

 The next year, however, we were subjected to... Baile el Chike-chike. It was, let's say, an unusual song. But it kind of had its place in the competition, I felt. Sometimes you need something a bit different. (WARNING - strobe lighting in the video below)

 I do think the dancing arrangement is somewhat sexist, with the man ordering the women to do his dance moves, and then him seeming to inspect their performance, and the general lack of clothes on the women. That's one side of this song that I do not approve of.

 Otherwise... I think there's room for a few novelty songs each year; in fact I'd be disappointed if there weren't any.

 In 2010 - one of my favourite Eurovision years - there was the famous stage invasion during the performance of "Algo pequeñito" - "Something tiny."

 The first video is the performance uninterrupted; the second includes the stage invasion.

 The song was performed by Daniel Diges, with support from an array of toys/circus characters, I'm not sure which. Whatever they are, I personally find the song and performance a bit weird and almost scary... no me gusta mucho.

 I have to admit, disrespectful as it was to the performers, I did enjoy the stage invasion - especially as it looks at first as though he's supposed to be there! I didn't realise he was an intruder until security chased him off!

 Last year, in Düsseldorf, Spain's Eurovision offering was Lucía Pérez with what is quite possibly my favourite Eurovision song ever and certainly one of the happiest and most upbeat songs I have ever heard. This is "Que me quiten lo bailao." I will warn you that this version of the video - the only decent version Blogger will let me embed - has some rather psychedelic stuff going on with the graphics from about 0.08 to 0.14.

 I love her voice, her joyful, bubbly persona in the video and the song itself, as well as the chance to get a glimpse of the Carnival celebrations in Sitges, Catalonia. It looks like an amazing fiesta!

 Whenever I hear this song, I just want to dance. It's brilliant ♥

 ¡Gracias por una canción maravillosa!

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz x

Songs: I Love You Mi Vida - D'NASH - 2007

Baila el Chike-chike - Rodolfo Chikilicuatre - 2008

Algo pequeñito - Daniel Diges - 2010

Que me quiten lo bailao - Lucía Pérez - 2011