Metronomy - She Wants VERSUS Japan - Halloween

METRONOMY - She Wants

JAPAN - Halloween

I've met Gary Numan

 

Shame about my look on that evening, back from the gym, NOT a good look!

On my way to Charing Cross Rail Station, I walk past this odd looking man with his family. I didn't recognize him straight away but I thought I knew him from somewhere. Next thing I know, I started walking the other way and saw him stop. My hands started shaking, I couldn't believe it! My heart started to beat faster and faster. Oh-My-God! This is Gary Numan! GARY F**KING NUMAN!
I don't remember much, I was absolutely starstruck! I've asked if I could take a picture and he gently said yes. Bingo!
His wife was lovely, she asked if she could take the picture and actually took a few of them. Even their kids wanted to be on the picture so we posed all together (but I'm keeping this one for myself). We shared a joke and went our separate ways.
I was so excited, I couldn't stop talking about it for weeks. But I wish I had a proper chat with him. Ahhhh! Nevermind!
Next music hero I would like to meet would be: John Foxx, Siouxsie Sioux, Alan Wilder, Peter Hook....

DIRE STRAITS - So Far Away

THE SMITHS - What Difference Does It Make vs VIOLENS - The Dawn Of Your Happiness

The Smiths have been influencing the most powerful bands of the 90s but it doesn't end just there. Catchy tunes and Marr inspired riffles, Violens are the latest disciples of The Smiths. Listen to that track below!



You'll find more similar tunes on my Spotify playlist: Soho in Sept 11

9/11: NEVER FORGET! - DEPECHE MODE - Enjoy The Silence (atop the World Trade Center)

Rediscover Talk Talk - The Party's Over

Playlist:
1 - Talk Talk
2 - It's So Serious
3 - Today
4 - The Party's Over
5 - Hate
6 - Have You Heard The News
7 - Mirror Man
8 - Another World
9 - Candy

Release date: 1982

Spotify link: Talk Talk – The Party's Over

Additional information: Wikipedia

Heaven 17 LIVE on BBC iPlayer

Heaven 17's first album Penthouse and Pavement released in 1980 was a landmark in UK pop history combining electronica with pop hooks. Due to technological constraints the band were unable to perform the album live at the time of its release. However, to celebrate its 30th anniversary and with the advances in technology, the album was performed for the first time to a sell-out gig of over 2000 people at the Sheffield Magna Arena on 6 March 2010. Along with their hits Temptation, Let Me Go and Come Live With Me they perform Penthouse and Pavement in its entirety. 

For all UK residents, please CLICK HERE!

I don't want to spoil anything but there's a lovely surprise in it.

Enjoy!

The Police - Walking On The Moon > The Official Video!!!

Sting, my hero!
I've always loved The Police from an early age. My dad would often play their albums in our car. And I've always like Sting.
Now that I'm learning to play Bass Guitar, this is one song that I've learned quite quickly. It's easy, simple and catchy!
The video is also really cool, you've got the late US 70s look and it was shot at the Kennedy Space Center! I love all that Nasa stuff. Enjoy!

Depeche Mode - Stripped & Never Let Me Down Again (101 Live) > The Videos!!!

I have discovered Depeche Mode when I was a teenager. My sister and I were watching a German music TV channel called Viva Zwei and they were playing the "Everybody Counts" live video from 101. I remember saying to my sister: "Hey! I really like that song!" and she replied "why don't you go get their album called 101?". I instantly wrote that number on my agenda. A couple of days later, my dad took me to a record shop and bought me the 101 double CD album. I was in heaven!!! I couldn't wait to get back home and listen to it. I didn't wanted to hear it in the car just in case... It could have spoiled it!!!
Once at home, rushed to my bedroom, never came back out! I was in DM heaven. Never heard anything like it in my life. It was powerful and still very complex for a live album. It was as if they were playing for me. I had found my thing and it was called Depeche Mode.
I asked around at school if anyone had heard about that band and no one did. They were way too much into girls bands and boys bands!
Still researching about that new sound, I went back to that record shop where I've found the 101 album and there it was, on the video section, 101 by D.A. Pennebacker.
At home, rushed to my parents bedroom to watch the VHS on my own, never left the room (up until they wanted to go to sleep).
I was more and more sucked into the music and having the images that goes with it, I just couldn't move away from the screen.
When they played Never Let Me Down Again, it was such a shock that I cried!
Call me Emo, call me Geek, call me whatever the hell you want, I couldn't care less.
Depeche Mode had just became my thing.



I just hope that you'll like it too.

Duran Duran - Girls On Film (Uncensored Version) > The Naughty Video!!!

Aaaaaaaaaaaah! What a great track!
The video is a bit naughty but hey! they needed exposure and they got it!
Although TV channels refused to play it, clubs were the only places which accepted it with open arms.
Nevermind the video, the single is an instant hit in 1981!

God, I miss Duran Duran!

Roxy Music - Avalon > The Video!!!

"Avalon" from Roxy Music is one of my dad's favourite song. This video is a classic. You've got it all there: Brian Ferry's charisma, the glamorous image that Roxy Music always projected and the lovely sound that put them all together.

If you're in London this July, Roxy Music will be playing the LoveBox Festival.

Chris Isaac - Wicked Games > The Video!!!

Chris Isaac, Helena Christensen, the beach, in black & white, can it even get better than this?

Grace Jones - Walking In The Rain > The Live Video!!!

Grace Jones, "feeling like a woman, looking like a man". "Walking In The Rain" is to me the song that defines Grace Jones. The music sounds like it could have been Serge Gainsbourg's.
Not her most famous song but it is one of my favourites! Enjoy!

Valentine's day songs, can't find any really...!

I have been looking for that Valentine's Day romantic kind of songs but wasn't really inspired.
What really inspired me was the Smashing Pumpkins's "Ava Adore". But with the intro "It's you that I adore, You'll always be my whore", I thought that my boyfriend might not like it. Even though the song is brilliant: the guitar is loud, the lyrics are good. You really feel something. It's just that intro that might turn him off (and probably Billy Corgan's voice as well).

Then I thought about "Today", again from the Smashing Pumpkins. Not bad but not my first choice for a cuddle. At least I didn't fall for Daniel Beddingfield's cheesy "If You're Not The One" song that might have been played over and over again at weddings. Or even Robbie William's "Angel" over-played at funerals!

Then I thought, let's go 70s with 10CC's "I'm Not In Love" but what if Boyfriend thinks I don't love him anymore? A little bit further in time was "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometimes" from Korgis. It's nice, relaxing but again, damn cheesy!

Scissor Sisters have a couple of great songs on their first studio album called... ermm... Scissor Sisters. Songs like "It Can't Come Quickly Enough"; "Laura" and "Return to Oz" are musically awesome but the lyrics are far from being romantic. For example, their song "Return to Oz" is about drug abuse within the Gay community.

And just before dark, then came a briliant idea: ZERO7! Why haven't thought about it earlier???? Their whole abum When It Falls is a triumph of love. Perfect for a romantic night in with Boyfriend. Ending the album with Morcheeba's "The Sea" and then Groove Armada's "My Friend", this is going to be a great night!

If there is ONE song I would recommend for that type of "evening", this would be Zero7's "Over Our Heads". This songs is really special!

What is your favourite love song of all time?

The Cure - Watching Me Fall (Underdog Remix) > from the American Psycho original sound track!

Great movie with the great Christian Bale! Great soundtrack!

John Foxx > there's a life after Ultravox (which is bloody fantastic as well!) > Underpass, the video!

John Foxx & Gary Numan

Meet John Foxx. His music had a real impact on me and made me dig deeper in the sound. His best album, to me, is Metamatic (1980). Best tracks "Underpass", "He's a Liquid" and "Burning Car" (reissues only).

Below his 1980 video for "Underpass".
You may not like it straight away but give it a go and listen it all. This track surprises me everytime!

Falco, one of the best thing that Germany gave us after Nena, VW and Bratwurst!

This track reminds me so much of this summer in Basel, Switzerland. That guy Falco, he's not gorgeous or anything and this video is pretty shit but I've seen him a couple of times on German television and he has got a lot of charisma.

Men Without Hats - Safety Dance > Good old 80s music!!!

Such a great tune! The video is completely wrong for this song. I would imagine something more like Devo but hey! Times were tough and only Duran Duran could spend much money on videos (or it seems like it).

Stand up, wear your safety hat and do the safety dance! ENJOY!

U2 - The Unforgettable Fire >>> The Video!

U2 - THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
Uploaded by huntylch. - See the latest featured music videos.

I have a sister who's 10 years older than me and she is/was a U2 fan. She used to have a big poster of the band in her room and one day, pointing towards that poster she asked me "who do you prefer?" and I pointed Larry Mullen Jnr and then she says "bad answer. That one!" pointing her finger towards Bono.
After all these years, I still think that Larry Mullen Jnr is absolutely gorgeous and I stand firm on it. Check out the video above. It's "The Unforgettable Fire" from the album called erhmm... the same. It was released in 1984 while the track was released in April 1985 (when I was born).
The album was produced by Brian Eno (ex-Roxy Music) and Daniel Lanois. Recorded at Slane Castle (Ireland), you can follow the recording, writting and everything in the documentary called... erhmm... again... The Unforgettable Fire.

Phil, I know you like U2 but do you like that one?

Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" is back in the UK Charts???

Ranked at the number 28 in the UK Top 40 at this very minute is Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'". Surprising isn't it? Recently, Joe McElderry, a contestant on UK's X-Factor, sang this song on their live show which probably appealed to every single one "small town girl living in a lonely world". Imagine you're a 13 year old girl, watching TV and see this sensitive gorgeous young man singing this, it might come as a revelation: "Oh My God! This is so me!!! I need Itunes NOW!!! Arrrrrhhhh!!!" Pure craziness!
But this isn't bad at all. If I had a child and if he or she wanted to buy this track, I'd be more than happy to buy it. At least I would be sure this is a positive track unlike so many tunes you can find featuring a pathetic guy like Akon saying "Heeeeey hooooo sexy b***h!".