Hands-Up!
I'm ever so excited!
I have a few favourite fellows in my life: The Boy, Mr. The BoyandMe and a certain chap from CBeebies. No, not Alex (although we do like him lots), but Justin Fletcher. Every parent should realise the magic of his talent. He seems to be able to weave wonders with children; engaging them, teaching them and giving us parents just twenty minutes of sanity once a day! We've got several DVDs of his and pages and pages of 'Something Special' on our Sky+ planner.
So the reason that I'm ever so excited is because we've been sent his new CD to review, eeek!
It's available to pre-order here for £8.99.
I'll be reviewing it properly in a few weeks time, once we've had a chance to listen and enjoy this new CD. In the meantime, you can keep up to date with all Justin's news on Facebook and twitter.
Music As Therapy
One of my favourite bloggers, who just happens to be one of my best mates, wrote the other day how she used Music as Therapy. How she listened to it as a 'drug' of choice before her little AddyWoo was born, and how it can cut through all the crap and get straight to the core of her being.
And so the inordinately amazing MammyWoo (did you know by the way that she is not only MAD New Blog of the Year winner, but also one of the Guardian's Hottest Five New Bloggers. Not as in saucy, although she is rather, but as in fresh & new!) has requested that I identify three songs that get to me. The three songs that can epitomise my mood or change how I'm feeling within three minutes and four seconds. I don't get a chance to listen to my music nowadays very often, The Boy prefers Zingzillas.
They're not very cool, in fact probably far from it. However these three songs really get to me, and into me. I listen to these, without interruption and they get right into my core. Unlike MammyWoo, these songs aren't all about the lyrics, they are about the music, the crescendo, the kick-arse 'sod you' in them.
Daniel Powter: Had a Bad Day
This one is the song that gets put on the car CD-player when I roll out of school. It used to get played a lot before I was pregnant, now I don't have time to find the track because I just want to get home to my son; he has the same effect.
These are the lyrics that get me:
You're faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces everytime and I don't need no carryin' on
or these…
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day, the camera don't lie
and these…
Well, you need a blue sky holiday
The point is they laugh at what you say
Kenny Loggins: "Footloose"
This song gets my feet going every time and raises my mood probably above every other song. My husband knows that he mustn't make a sound when it's on, and just let Mr. Loggins do his work.
I've got this feeling
That time's just holding me down
I'll hit the ceiling or else I'll tear up this town
Tonight I gotta cut loose
and I love these too
And you're playing so cool
Obeying every rule
I dig a way down in your heart
You're burning, yearning for some
Somebody to tell you
That life ain't passing you by
I'm trying to tell you
It will if you don't even try
You can fly if you'd only cut loose
Oh, they're going! The feet are moving!
And here it is, my final song. It's so completely uncool that I think it is cool just by default. Who doesn't love a spot of Babs?
Barbra Streisand: "Rain on my Parade"
Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter
Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade
Don't tell me not to fly, I simply got to
If someone takes a spill, it's me and not you
Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade?
So there you go, my three songs that get me going, that help me kick-arse and feel like I can do this and don't need to listen to anyone else who wants to make me feel rubbish!
Can you tell I'm down in the doldrums at the moment?
And so I now tag these bloggers to share their top three Music As Therapy songs:
- The Crazy Kitchen
- Mummy Mishaps
- The Real Housewife of Suffolk County
- SAHD and Proud
- Reluctant Housedad
- The Moiderer (she'll never do it)
- MotherVenting
- Diary of a Lagos Mum
- Multiple Mummy
- NotMyYearOff
Go on, have a go!
TRU Review: Sing-a-ma-jigs
The Boy is currently playing Hide and Seek. He usually plays it with Mr. TheBoyandMe, but he's found some new friends to play it with. Thing is, they're almost as rubbish as him at it, because just when he's looking for them, one of them chirrups "bye-bye!" and gives the game away.
Trust inanimate objects to not know how to play properly!
Before I introduce his new friends to you, let me explain that I hate noisy toys. Hate and detest. And so when I heard that TRU were sending me three such toys, I almost wept. And then I reached for a very strong coffee.
What are they?
They are The Sing-a-ma-jigs.
Weird looking things aren't they?
However, they are one of the hottest toys for Christmas and within thirty seconds of getting them out of the box I completely understood why, and all three of us have fallen in love with them. Yes, even Mr. TheBoyandMe. And I don't know if it was some coincidence that TRU sent us three, but it's just as well because we have one each. Mine's the one on the right.
The Sing-a-ma-jigs are soft toys about eight inches high. When you press their tummies, they change the shape of their mouths and 'sing'. And they really do appear to sing a range of musical notes, each Sing-a-ma-jig is at a different pitch. There are three functions (which are changeable by pressing their left hand); singing a song, chatter (jibber-jabber) and harmonising with each other. I don't know how that one works, but it does appear to!
We love them and even though I hate noisy toys, I love these. After all, they're not noisy; they're musical!
For more reviews by the Toys R Us Toyologists, click on the image below.
We were provided this free of charge to review. My opinion is, as always, honest.
Plenty Of Calm, But No Storm.
Since The Boy has turned two, I've realised that life is hurtling along in a voyage of transition! This summer I set myself six tasks: I've done one of them. However it is the most important one of the lot and we've pretty much achieved it. Potty-training.
Last week, we went to the cinema and my mum babysat The Boy. Coming home, I discovered that she'd had a hell of a time getting him to sleep, so this is the next thing that needs to change. At present his bedtime routine is good: no television from 5pm onwards, quiet play for half an hour before bed, bath (every other night), milk, brush teeth, potty, pyjamas, book, then mobile on and lights out. It's what happens when lights out is the problem. We've always cuddled him to sleep, and for me he goes quickly. However, for hubby it can be more than an hour of fussing, as it was for my mum last week.
Now clearly, at the age of 26 months this has to stop. Therefore when I was contacted and asked if I'd like to review a new bedtime CD ofclassical bedtime music I was more than happy to type the words "yes please" as quickly as my three typing fingers would allow. (Yes, I have all 8 fingers and 2 thumbs, but can only type with three of them!)
Mixed Blessings is a relaxing and magical CD full of specially written piano compositions. The very talented Sheena Coote created these classical musical pieces to help her own children relax into slumber, unwinding from their day and helping them slip away on the cloud of sleep. The CD is 25 minutes long and contains delicate and soothing music enabling calm and pleasant thoughts.
I'd already bought a CD player for The Boy's room, as it has always been my intention to have him listen to soothing music or a story tape, either before bed or as he is falling asleep. He loves his mobile, but we've found that he's developed almost a Pavlovian response to 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star'! We've added Mixed Blessings into the bedtime routine, he listens to it when he is having his milk now, and he's very fond of the music, particularly tracks 4 and 10. Mr. TheBoyandMe has found that he is calmer to get to sleep now, and understand that he must be quiet and listen to the music.
We've had a fraught few weeks: holidays, overnight trips away combined with days out, potty training and another weekend away. Now that we are home for the forseeable future, and that The Boy is secure and comfortable with his potty training, I will be looking at adjusting the order of his bedtime routine so he isn't reliant on cuddles from mummy or daddy to help him get to sleep.
Mixed Blessings was released by Red Red Admiral Records and is available now from, iTunes, Amazon, Tesco online, emusic and we7. One thing is for certain, £6.99 of 79p a track is hardly going to break the bank, and what price can you put on a quiet and quick bedtime?
I was provided with a copy of Mixed Blessings for review. My thoughts and opinions are, as always, honest.
Listography: Top Five Bands I'd Like To See Live
The lovely Listographer extraordinaire that is KateTakes5 is currently being a rock-chick in Sunny Spain and has therefore set us the challenge of:
Top Five Bands I'd Like To See Live.
Unfortunately, I am nowhere near as the cool cat that is Kate, and my musical preferences lie more firmly in the middle of the road. I've been to some great gigs (nope, not cool enough) concerts, nearly all well before The Boy. Robbie Williams just before he hit the commercial bigtime, when his angst-ridden performance of No Regrets involved the images of the 'TT' symbol burning on a projector in the background and a gravestone featuring the symbol were not to be forgotten. Not least of all because he was supported by the marvellous Divine Comedy, who then actually joined him on stage for their bit. Oh, and he rode around the stage on a motorised toilet. Texas was great, Stereophonics made me embrace my inner rock-chick temporarily, although one of the best was Catatonia in Margam Park, supported and accompanied by a Welsh male voice choir. I stood in the mud in my leather coat and alternated between feeling a) thoroughly 'with it' and b) worried for the state of my boots.
Without further ado:
- Take That
Never saw them first time around, although I spent plenty of time watching the videos of their concerts. A few of the tapes may have worn through where my friend and I rewound a few bits. Especially the bit where Gary performed Smells like Teen Spirit bare-chested in leather jeans. I couldn't see the Circus tour as The Boy had been born 3 weeks before and for some reason hubby wouldn't let me go. This tour I chose not to go because I felt I couldn't justify the cost. If they do another tour, sod the cost; I'm going!
- Kaiser Chiefs
I've seen Keane and they were brilliant, but the Kaiser Chiefs would feature more hilarity and less pompousness. Are they even still around?
- Queen
I know I'm only 33, but wouldn't they be excellent? Can you imagine the buzz from the crowd when they started singing Radio GaGa? I've seen clips of LiveAid and Mr. Mercury worked that crowd for all he was worth. I bet they'd have been amazing live. Anyone got a time machine?
- George Michael
I have always maintained that this is my utmost got-to see artist. Only I think he's had a farewell tour now? Mind you, he could be like Cher who has been having a farewell tour since 147BC, in which case I might still get to see him! But he'd have to lose the attitude, and quite possibly perform Club Tropicana or I wouldn't be interested.
- Michael Jackson
I know I need another time machine for this one, but surely this is the one man that all the others emulate? How can the meek and mild near-skeleton of a man turn into that complete giant who oozed testosterone at every crotch-grabbing, finger-snapping, moon-walking move? Justin Timberlake can try, Justin Bieber can stop trying to dream it because Michael Jackson was one of the most amazing dancers, and therefore stage performers ever.
Who else is up for a little gravity-defying dance with me?
—
Pop over to the linky and check out the other entries using this widget
Flashback Friday: Musical Prodigy
It's coming up to The Boy's birthday and today, with my little boy feeling poorly and needing a lot of cuddles, I've come over all reflective of when he was a tiddler.
Every Monday during term-time we go to Monkey Music. He adores it, loves the group leader and gets quite a lot out of it; which is just as well because neither of us are musical. I've got a piano in the dining room and yet it sits there unplayed, just waiting. It's waiting for The Boy to play it and it's very patient.
I bought the piano from the school that I work in six years ago; it was the old infants piano that was used when I went to that school. They were having a reoganisation of the pianos in the school, and that one was destined for either the tip or to be bought by the piano-tuner and reconditioned. Mwha ha ha, I got in there first! My old headteacher sold it to me £100 which I consider a real bargain. We spent the best part of a week sanding it down in the evenings, teachers are terrible creatures for leaving coffee-mug rings.
I didn't start this post with the intent of waffling on about my piano, bear with me; I've gone off on a tangent.
Oh yes, so when I was feeling nostalgic earlier about my little baby I found this video. It was taken around about this time last year and the change in The Boy since then is immense.
—
Now pop over and check out the other Flashback Friday entries on Cafebebe's linky
Music I Want my Children to Listen to: The Stereophonics
Continuing my theme of flying the Welsh flag (Manic Street Preachers a few weeks ago, it'll be Catatonia, Duffy and Martin Joseph next!) I am choosing one of my favourite 'Cool Cymru' bands to listen to. They are especially good on a sunny Spring or Summer day, with the windows down and when everything is right with the world!
The Stereophonics really remind me of being in university and discovering my identity as a young adult. I did my teaching degree in Newport and there were quite a few people either from Cwmamon (the 'Phonics home-town) or a nearby village. There was a real sense of local pride in the local boys that were 'doing good'.
The music that they released in their first few albums is my preference, although I'm partial to any of it; I adore Kelly Jones' husky and soulful voice. What was surprising about their debut album, Word Gets Around, was that although it instantly charted at number six, the three main songs from it that are now probably some of their most famous failed to reach the top twenty in the charts: Local Boy in the Photograph, More Life in a Tramps Vest and A Thousand Trees. The 'Phonics became more popular and successful in the charts with the release of Performance and Cocktails, and its raucous The Bartender and the Thief. As far as I am aware, their only number one has been 2005's Dakota.
I've seen them in a number of venues, the last time was in Cardiff, and I'll confess to thinking that Kelly Jones looked like he'd sold out. We didn't stay for the encore, both feeling a little disappointed. I've wiped it from my mind really, preferring to remember them in their prime of the early 2000s.
On that note, I shall leave you with my personal favourite:
Music I Want my Children to Listen to: Barlow/Williams/Owen
Have you connected the names together yet? Yes, it's Gary, Robbie and Mark. Sorry Jason and Howard, you don't get a look in. While the latter may be doing a bit more singing nowadays, to me they will always be the tall break-dancers who make the others look good.
The reason I have specified these names rather than Take That is because I am including their combined song-writing ability with their individual work. I own every TT album (old and new), Gary's solo CDs, all of Robbie's collections (aside from the God-awful Rudebox, did anyone buy it or listen to it more than once?), and yes, I own Mark's album too. What's more I liked it. So nurgh!
So I've clumped them together for the purpose of this selection because I think they are a rather talented bunch. Between the three of them as solo artists and as a group they have:
- sold over 100 million albums worldwide;
- won over 20 Brit awards between them;
- won 5 Ivor Novello awards;
- and one of them has been voted the greatest British songwriter of all time.
So here are my favourites:
Old Take That song;
- Everything Changes But You (cheeky and lively; love the video)
New Take That song (pre-Robbie);
- Rule the World
New Take That song (post-Robbie);
- Kidz
Gary Barlow solo song;
- Open Road
Mark Owen solo song;
- Four Minute Warning
Robbie Williams solo song;
- I will talk and Hollywood will Listen.
The songs are good, old-fashioned, middle-of-the-road, songs with good melodies and rousing lyrics. I like them and am unashamed of it*!
(*Ok, I possibly feel the need to excuse my choice, but admit it you've got a favourite Take That song too!)
Movie Meme: Films of the 21st Century
Following Kate's Listography of our favourite films last week (I stand by my choice of 'The Breakfast Club'), it highlighted just how much we all love a good film; be it a weepie, a cheesy '80s dance film, a black and white classic, a thriller or a film of mystery and intrigue.
The rather lovely and fabulous Metal Mummy has harnessed our, and her, love of 'movies' to create this new meme which I'm quite looking forward to. Her choice for this week is Films of the 21st Century which is a lovely broad topic. Only problem is that we're only allowed to choose one. This has caused much consternation for me for the last hour or so, but I kept coming back to the one film that hubby was shocked I hadn't chosen in my Listography. At the time I told him that I didn't love it as much as the others, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about it ever since. I may have to dig it out later and watch it.
For my choice I present you with:
Love Actually
I adore this film! Sitting here and trying to pinpoint why has launched me into a deeply analytical mood.
The Cast:
Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Rowan Atkinson, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy: British Film Royalty! Wow! What an absolute achievement to get that many stars together for a film. But they're not the only ones, consider them the senior royals if you will. We are then graced with the Wills and Harrys, Zaras and Peters of the acting world: Martin Freeman, Kiera Knightley, Kris Marshall, Joanna Page, Andrew Lincoln, Martine McCutcheon, and little Thomas Brodie-Sangster. The ensemble is amazing, no doubt! The fact that they are all British is even better! Good on you Mr. Curtis!
However, aside from the show of national pride that is exhibited in this extravaganza, the reason I like it is because I feel it is the epitome of the big cast film. There have been several in the past decade or so: Crash, 2012, and of course the Harry Potter films. To me though, this was one of the first films where there weren't names chosen for impact or to draw in the crowds, the actors were chosen because they fitted together so well. And the clearly established relationships that some of them have is endearing to watch. When Emma Thompson bumps into her 'brother' Hugh Grant back-stage at the school play, I liked to think the warmth was at least slightly realistic.
The Music:
I know it's mostly Girls Aloud and The Sugababes but there were other groups in there too: Kelly Clarkson, Dido, Maroon 5, Eva Cassidy, Norah Jones, Texas, Joni Mitchell, Otis Redding and Craig Armstrong. The talent is immense! The music perfectly matches the mood of so many scenes; who else could have got Hugh Grant wiggling his bum so provocatively, or accompanied the tears of Emma Thompson so well? And I'm sorry but the passion of 'Too Lost in You' gets me every time!
The Meetings:
All the different ways that the different story-lines meet up, interweave and flow seamlessly are intriguing and get me drawing an imaginary mind-map every time. The wedding, the reception, the play, the airport. It's so damned clever.
The Scenes:
I have three favourite scenes that I have to watch every time.
- Hugh Grant dancing to Girls Aloud. Classic, hysterical, and oh so embarrassing!
- Hugh Grant kicking arse with Billy Bob's arrogant American President! Yeah you tell him what every person in this country wanted Tony Blair to tell George W. Bush! And yeah! It's because of a girl, even better! Hugh Grant for Prime Minister!
- Emma Thompson listening to the Joni Mitchell CD and crying. I will always sob when I watch this. Her husband has bought her what could be the most romantic Christmas present ever, a CD of her favourite artist despite hating the music. The only problem is that she knows that the expensive necklace that she saw him buy the other day is therefore for another woman then. How bittersweet? He's been romantic, but to another woman. Such a heartbreaking moment.
The ultimate Christmas Eve film!
Have you seen it in another light? I hope so.
Now pop over to the linky and see which other films you can be persuaded to watch!
