Heaven knows I don't begrudge Len the royalties, but can we have our song back please? Using it to settle a popularity contest with a near as dam it guaranteed Christmas number one. would not have been at the front of Len's mind when he penned it!

Has anyone noticed how the general "mood" of popular song seems to have taken a long swing to the downbeat end of the scale?

I've just this week experienced two school concerts at a secondary School in East London. Some great stuff to behold and its good to see teenage kids having a chance to perform and clearly enjoying the experience.

However, I couldn't help but notice that the song of choice whenever someone gets to sing a solo is typically slow, soulful and absolutely down at heart. In the two hour programme, there were very few foot tappers from the singers on hand. (Although the balance was somewhat addressed by the big band stuff on this occasion).

What has happened to create this phenomenon? Is it the fault of X Factor and the like? Why do young singers instinctively seem to imitate the gospel soul diva techniques of putting in twists, turns and trills as a matter of course in every musical phrase. (Less is always more). Good as she is we don't need a generation of Leona Lewis clones dominating the airwaves do we?

Its not all gloom and doom, but how many emerging artists could we classify as "refreshing"? Has popular music ever played it so safely as it does now?

For gawd sake, somebody sing me a jolly song!

Martin

I know the tour has already been remarked upon but I thought I'd add that Leonard Cohen's gig at the O2 last night was top drawer. A lesson in humility, presence and style.

I'd like to have seen him in a more intimate venue, but my seat was fine and at times you could hear a pin drop. His voice has matured over the years and has a fantastic resonance at the bottom end which is magical. Great band too and the old Cohen trick of balancing his voice alongside the angelic backing singers still works a treat!

Do try and catch him if you can. I'm not aware of any TV appearances promoting the tour (like it needs promoting!) but I was wondering if he was planning a live DVD towards the end of the tour? He seems very careful not to have any official footage of him broadcast. I don't believe his Glastonbury performance was broadcast for instance.

At 75 he may or may not decide to tour again and so we a really ought to make the most of him while we can. That said he has some great energy and so I wouldn't bet against it. One small gripe from me. He didn't play "Closing Time" which is just about my favourite song in the history of favourite songs.

I'd really appreciate some help here.

I'm compiling an audio quiz. Basically the format will be I play or sing the first line of a catchy TV jingle from the past or present and then the teams have to immediately sing back the next line / end line etc.

I thought it would be a doddle to compile butI'm getting a bit stuck. Any memories, nightmares or suggestions from the Word faithful archives would be most welcome. Here's what I have so far. Some of them will work and some wont so I'd really appreciate a few more.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Martin

R White's Secret Lemonade Drinker

A Mars a day helps you work rest and play

Crumbliest Flakiest Chocolate - Cadbury's Flake

Magic Moments - Quality Street

A finger of fudge - Cadbury's

If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit - Club Biscuits

"Nuts, whole hazlenuts, Cadbury's take 'em and they cover them in chocolate

shake and vac to put the freshness back

A million housewives every day pick up a tin of beans and say - Beanz Meanz Heinz!

I’d like to teach the world to sing coke

Boom boom boom boom - esso blue

Everyone's a fruit and nutcase,Crazy for those Cadbury's nuts and raisins

Give yourself a pinch Abbey national

Weebles wobble but they won't fall down

Bran Flakes ("They're tasty, tasty, very very tasty...")

Kwik Fit - can't get better than a quick fit fitter

Penguin - pi-pi-pi-pick up a penguin

Just one cornetto

I wish they all could be Caledonian girls

Birdseye Steakhouse Grills, Hope it's chips, it’s chips…

I heard a track on Jonathan Ross this morning, sounds pretty good to me. I don't think it got a mention in the recent word interview did it? Not seen a review either. Certainly looks to be saving a few bob on publicity.
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=497911

Martin

Without wishing to sound like an old Morecombe and Wise routine, why do they put bums on the back of respectable magazines such as word?

As i was sitting on the train last evening, reading the latest edition, I became conscious of getting some strange looks from the woman sitting opposite. It was only when I was at home in the evening and had left the mag on the table that my daughter pointed out that daddy has a picture of a man's bum.

Martin

There's nobody here in the office to talk to who would understand so I'll just have to use you guys!

Last nights Wembley gig was just about the best thing I've ever seen. I've never been a particular fan of either as individuals, but what a combination. The two hour set just flew by. Plenty of highlights but the Fairportesque version of Matty Groves sealed my evening.

You get a real sense that Robert plant is really genuinely enjoying this phase of his career. Its difficult to imagine why he would want to break it off for a Led Zep tour. There's plenty of material they tackle that's not on the Raising Sands record so I'm hoping that another recording could be on the cards.
I think wembley was the last date on the UK tour, but Mr Plant did openinly promise over the microphone that "We'll be back"

I haven't been this impressed with a gig since...... well... ever really...

Martin

Went to see "Woodstock Legend" Melanie Safka on the first date of her UK tour last night at the Mick Jagger centre in Dartford.
Still has a fantastic voice and if left to her own devices, I'm sure she could hold an audience for the best part of an evening.

The support slot is taken by her son who plays a fairly mean flamenco / classical / gypsy / jazzy guitar style. Good stuff but has more in common with high spirited gymnastics than serious listenable music. Great for twenty minutes but then starts to get on your tits type stuff.

Imagine the horror when his mother took the stage for the main event accompanied by her son. Melanie has a great back catalogue which is more than adequately served by her strumming along to her still stunning vocals. Unfortunately, just about every song was arsed about with by having interjections of a guitar style totally at odds with the material. Don't even get me started on his bloody backing vocals. I felt a few nudges from my nearest and dearest at the points where these were at their most destructive and you could just tell from the audience reaction that family loyalty was being pushed a little too far.

Its fine getting the banjos out when the aunties visit at Christmas, but there should be laws against the shameless pushing of family members similar to the ones that they recently had to cobble together to prevent members of parliament filling their offices with wives, sons and daughters.

So who else is guilty of similar musical crimes against DNA pushing?

Martin

As Word Magazine is sponsoring a stage at Cornbury again this year, would Mr Ellen and his uke be happy to lead a strumalong / singalong sesssion for Word subscribers? I've never been before and so don't know the logistics. Perhaps after hours on the camp site?

Let the vitriolic responses begin!

Martin

As if the title of this wasn't enticing enough, check this compilation video out! I won't admit to what I was searching for but I was intrigued by this title. I absolutely melted with some of the memories on here. I think Judith Durham was my first love. (I would have been about 10)

Martin

Ok, so the advert has been on the front page of this website for some time. I don't recall reading about it in word to any degree. So is it any good? Will it be the new Liege and Leaf? Where is the bloody village anyway?
All these questions sprang to mind as I heard a track on folkcast the other day. It was certainly powerful enough to send me straight to ITunes where I downloaded the entire thing. I have to say that I'm extremely impressed. So much so that i checked the web for tickets to the live event on the south bank for next week. All the good seats are gone. Maybe there'll be a festival or two that features the concept next year.
Any thoughts or visions?