Elvis Presley - Amazing Grace

The spiritual commitment of rock/pop stars never ceases to fascinate me. The journey of Bob Dylan, the struggle of Marvin Gaye, the tragedy of Britney Spears, the resolve of Johnny Cash – these little sound-bites you get from time to time. I consume them with great interest.

I’m moving away from judgement and heavy criticism, but taking it all on board reminds me of the nature of this song. It’s about the force of God in grace rescuing me. This insinuates that I’m not in a position to save myself and am not in a position to keep myself rescued. So I need to remember that and keep that at the front of my life in remembering who I am and in engaging with others with a true spirit of grace.

I just wish that would be the case for all who love the themes in these songs so that we were singing our reality and not just a pleasant, inspiring melody. Enjoy.

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Spiderman Unmasked!

Please give this some time. Really, you won’t get it the first time. Or the second. Maybe not even the third. It’s worth the wait, honestly. I mean the point behind it is true – you don’t have to put on a mask but you can be accepted as you are when you go to a church service, that’s assuming you’re in a proper church of real people who are at various stages of being comfortable without a mask. Trust me, this message works. Honest. Enjoy.

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Al Pacino Plays Devil's Advocate

There is a profanity in this clip. Usually I wouldn’t allow it. I don’t condone it. I know it is common in the world we live in and few people can escape its reach, but that doesn’t make it right at all. I only post it on this entry because it plays its part in a great speech from a great performance in a great film.

If you ever get the chance I highly recommend you watch this film, with clear warnings. Like Godfather don’t watch it with the nippers. Unlike Godfather, I would seriously do some heavy protective praying before watching it. This film has some serious scenes that may cause offence and an upset stomach – it does not go easy in being graphic.

For all that the reason why I love the film is encapsulated in this speech. You don’t have to be a genius to guess the character that Al is playing and his argument is one genuinely spouted by those who would not claim to have any allegiance with the character. Some people genuinely hold to these views and think its OK. I genuinely believe holding those views puts you in sympathy with this character and on a slippery slope to a place you really don’t want to go.

In any case this speech is great, the film is great and the actor is great. Enjoy.

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Brazil 1970 World Cup

I was born in 1977. That’s seven years after this World Cup. I have not watched and analysed each game played by Brazil in this competition. I haven’t even seen the final in full. All I do know and I’m happy to buy into is that this football is the best ever seen by any collection of players in a competition or game at any time recorded and known to man. It is simply beautiful to watch. Enjoy.

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Spitting Image - Thatcher Winding Up speech

This one makes me laugh. I was looking for something about her resignation in 1990, but didn’t find the one where she can’t hold back the tears as she departs Downing Street one final time as Prime Minister. This one more than makes up for it and highlights the power of speeches not really for their content in as much as they can serve the appropriate style and charisma to keep your supporters onside and give opponents the impression that even if the content doesn’t stand up to much it won’t matter because the force of will brings about victory anyway. For all my opinions on the woman there is no doubting that the number of people who want a leader like her in charge would have risen considerably in the light of recent developments. Enjoy.

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The Fourth Doctor Regenerates

I’m all for change. No, really I am. Only last night where usually before retiring to my bedroom after a night out with the Understanding Islam seminar I might have a sumptuous meal involving beans, a beanburger or some sausage rolls with a lovely Linda McCartney country pie, last night I satisfied myself with just the Linda McCartney country pie. That was different. That was change. That was also a lovely pie, thanks Linda.

Despite that, there are some changes that in retrospect prove to be more hassle than they’re worth. For reasons beyond the control of the programme, once Tom Baker left the role it’s almost as though the channel didn’t take the character as seriously anymore. Not so much with Davison who was a good antidote to people used to Tom, but a lack of true investment in the programme churning out quality episodes supporting the actor in the main role it would not be until a generation later with the portrayal by David Tennant that you felt the character was given what it’s worth. Still, Tom had set the bar pretty high and it would take something extraordinary to meet that standard. The guy himself may hold some opinions on which we severely differ, but he’s still my favourite Doctor and as necessary as it was for things to change, I was still sad that it happened. Enjoy.

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Real Benny Hill Chase

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Benny Hill has a lot for which to answer. Back in the golden days of being brought up by my loving television I have clear recollections of seeing this in the 1980’s. Now Mr. Hill was a funny guy, a very funny guy, but there’s no denying that part of his humour was that of the seaside naughty postcard variety. Did that ever come back to haunt me. For all of that, one of the best bits of the show was the chases and that is why I’m posting this. Enjoy.

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Sir Winston Churchill Speech - We shall fight them on the be

Freedom. In about six weeks time men and women around the country will wear a poppy to commemorate the millions of people who died to defend this country and maintain its freedom.

Now I could go on a whole philosophical and spiritual rant about whether it was really freedom they were fighting for. However, on this occasion I want to highlight how events of great adversity and warfare bring out some of the best in people who at least on the surface are committed to the principles of freedom. This is seen in no greater figure than the leader of Britain during the last World War.

This post is put up then in tribute to those who from their heart fought so bravely to uphold that ideal of freedom. Let us hope today that people will still be ready when it comes to the opponents of freedom to fight them on the beaches … and never surrender. Enjoy.

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Bucky O'Hare and the Anthropomorphic Question

I’m not sure if I’ve posted my reflections here or elsewhere on the anthropomorphic tendency creative types have in turning creatures into beings that relate very much like humans. Or even making up creatures and giving them human tendencies. It’s a baffling exercise and tendency and particularly pronounced in children’s cartoons and other programmes – ducks, bunnies, cats, canaries, pigs, bears, dogs, frog, rats, roosters, chickens … no animal is safe from becoming a human as we understand it and yet for all the attention we pay they always remain animals incapable of saving the universe, engaging in wise-crack conversations or offering advice as to how to defeat the evil forces of (insert villain’s name here).

Still, when I was growing up at home to my loving television these tales kept me amused and even if I didn’t remember the stories themselves I remembered the theme tunes. Enjoy.

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Stevie Wonder - Smile Please

It should be abundantly clear by now that I am a big Stevie Wonder fan. From 1995-2002 I made it my lifelong ambition to accumulate as much Stevie stuff as I could and particularly between 1996 and 2000 I was hot on the brother. I consider my time on the Stevie Wonder listserve as one of the best times of my life and meeting online such generous, loving and considerate people from around the world is an experience I will never forget. One of the things I enjoyed doing as an initiation for those new to the list was to ask for the best album opening track. This was my answer and remains to this day. I cannot think of a better track to open an album with and the theme and mood of it is some enchanting and captivating that I reckon it remains one of Stevie’s most underrated songs – ever! Enjoy.

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The Death Of Ase

I played the cello for about ten years. I never got better at it that much because I didn’t practice it. It was too cumbersome for me to lug home so I avoided it whenever possible. I never took any grades and yet the good graces of the school I went to allowed me to carry on playing until the end of my GCSE’s. I played with the school orchestra. Thankfully for the majority of that time I was surrounded by brilliant performers like Suzanne Cole, Tom Chapman and Karen Carr – names that will mean little or nothing to you unless you were at Wrenn School at the time, but they meant plenty to me.

Anyway, as a performer in the orchestra I got to ‘play’ some interesting compositions. This one never leaves me for all the years since I’ve left the orchestra, it has a haunting quality that I absolutely adore. It conjures up that image of what the death and funereal and funeral march and feel must have been like. During particularly dark times in my life, this tune actually gives me hope that one day I will die and all of this will be over and so it’s actually worth making the most of it and those I love before this tune will be apropos in those situations.

Now, the reason for putting this particular version of a number of YouTube clips up, is because the tune is appropriate for such a journey. It’s all well and good watching an orchestra perform it, but as you go on the journey and notice that like life there is an inevitable end to it which may not always be full of joy and the sentence of death that hangs over our head, then it is understandable why some opt to end the journey early. I maintain, however, that a life well lived is worthwhile and it is that which is always mourned over the most. May our lives be so lived. Enjoy.

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Hamlet Act3, Scene1 Soliloquy

I loved English at school. I love the English language. I love reading and I love writing. I love hearing the English language used well – and by that I don’t mean grammatical perfection I mean the way it is able to connect to the spirit in a being and affect it. People make a big deal of Shakespeare as though the brother was the first one to come across using the language in such a way. Whether he is as good as that is for others to come to a conclusion. What I can say is that Kenny Branagh’s portrayal of Hamlet is brilliant and I’d edge this version ahead of Mel Gibson’s effort – just. Sit back and watch this thespian at work on a famous speech. Enjoy.

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The Best FU Moments

So we go from the inspirational Martin Luther King dreaming of time of peace and harmony to a more cynical and manipulative approach to politics. Michael Dobbs can die happy knowing that he’s made a great contribution to fiction in the works of Francis Urquhart. I absolutely loved this series highlighting the nature of the system and what happens when a man has enough balls to want to take over. Now some people think that government is actually like this! You may well think that, I couldn’t possibly comment. Enjoy.

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Martin Luther King, Jr.: I Have a Dream

With Black History Month about to start it’s a good way of getting a head start on things with arguably one of the most famous speeches of the 20th Century. I think Dr. King has done better speeches but his contribution to the cause of freedom for all people will never be forgotten.

I’m also looking for October to be themed on Freedom for the work that I do and this speech is a great point to refer to in that journey.

Indeed as he says 4 minutes into the post, now is the time. 44 years later the time is still now for me and my generation to fight for true freedom beyond racial to the great human cause of freedom from that which keeps him a slave to greed, pride, fear and other areas of great evil. Enjoy.

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Fred Hammond-Praise Belongs to You (Live)

I post this for two reasons. First it’s one of the first gospel tracks I came across on YouTube and it was one of my favourite songs on the album. I love this track and this version.

The second reason for posting it is because of all the YouTube clips I’ve come across, this remains the most annoying, frustrating and irritating for the time it takes to load and play. I’ve been through three tracks of songs on the album in real time before the thing is finished. Still, it is worth the wait, he’s a top artist is our Fred. Enjoy.

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The Godfather Part II Trailer

This film is brilliant. Not sure if it’s better than the first in the series but it’s as good. I wouldn’t recommend it for the children, but if I wanted someone to see family relationships and what happens in the pursuit of power I cannot think of a better film and for storytelling brilliance there’s few that can match it, The trailer ain’t too bad either. Enjoy.

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John Barnes - England's Greatest Goal? Hardly

I thought the goal was alright, but look who it was against. Surely the term Brazilian defence is an oxymoron up there with Newcastle United’s stability, Conservative compassion, American intelligence and Great Britain. Enjoy.

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ORIGINS of IRON MAN, HULK, CAP

I found these fascinating to get them straight from the writer’s mouth. Enjoy

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yah mo b there - james ingram and micheal mcdonald (jellybean club mix)

This is a great duet and this remix does the job as well. Enjoy.

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God Only Knows

Great track and the first part of today's 31 Challenge - see the blue blog for more!! Enjoy

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Stevie Wonder ~ Superstition chilling style

This song is played so often at Stevie concerts and anything mildly to do with Stevie that by now he should be able to do it behind his back with his eyes closed. Hold on a minute … eyes closed thing … not funny? Not funny? Keeping it in? Keeping it in.

Yeah, so the brother is such a consummate performer of this one of his most popular decent tunes. On Talking Book it’s not even the best track on the album in my humble opinion, but there you go. Where others scramble around for a hit, this brother can come up with a gem like this. If he did songwriting classes I would recommend anyone serious about music to attend.

Now there are nuff versions of this track online and on YouTube that you may wonder why choose this one. I like this one cos it’s not so much bothered about funking it down as it is about chilling and jamming the song through, which is cool with me. Enjoy.

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Omar Live Performance - Ghana Emotion

I'm posting this really because of my sister who's in Ghana at the moment and maybe for some time to come, but I love her and miss her. Enjoy.

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Omar Live Performance Essensual

Love it. Enjoy.

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omar this is not love

For the sake of the argument here's the album version of the track before. Still sweet and check Syreeta's vocals, angelic indeed and greatly missed. Enjoy.

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Omar Live Performance - This Is Not A Love Song

So I bought the album of the same name, so to find the live version of the title track is a find. I think I gave the CD away eventually, but that’s not a slight on the brother at all. It’s a quality album from a quality artist indeed. On the album the song is done with the backing vocals of the late great Syreeta Wright formerly wife and co-writer of Stevie Wonder – that’s the calibre of the brother to attract quality like that – take this brother seriously because he is mad talented, if you haven’t heard. Enjoy.

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Omar Lye-Fook - Last Request

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned that this brother is mad talented. Have I said that before? If I haven’t let me say it right here. This. Brother. Is. Mad. Talented.

Love this lots it’s old school in so many ways, and yet it’s got a twist that makes it something that tastes of its day as well. Listen to the way the brother goes about vocalising this track and I defy you to tell me he is just mad talented.

He’s like Frankenstein without the monster, thankfully (although one or two tracks have sucked), and just using all that creative talent to put forward some musical gems like these which I’ve heard for the very first time today.

Quality stuff. Enjoy.

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Omar Lye-Fook - Music

Something I love about music is that you get to hear stuff you’ve never heard before and fall in love with it – or at least like it heaps. That’s the case with this track – I like it heaps and heaps. Definite for me collection! Told you – mad talented. Enjoy

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Omar - Outside

Ah this is a reason why I love the guy. The make-up of the track, its compositional bounce and ease of vocal style almost fitting the lyrics around the voice, I loved it. I still love it. He didn’t have to do mainstream for me, and was at least not so out of whack as D’Angelo was able to be. Each to his own, you get me, but Omar was a flavour I could dig more often than not and this track is a great reason why. Enjoy.

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Omar: There's Nothing Like This

This guy is mad talented. I remember hearing his stuff and event buying the album This Is Not A Love Song and thinking to myself this guy is mad talented. I wonder if he ever felt he fulfilled his potential. I don’t mean necessarily going down the ‘sold millions and won numerous awards’ measure of success, that’s a sham, I’m talking about that sense of having stretched yourself and made the most of the opportunities put in front of you to maximise your talents. I wonder if he did that. I hope he did. He is mad talented.

This is of course the track that most people remember about him – perfect music for chilling. Enjoy.

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Curiosity Killed The Cat - Down To Earth

When I think of Curiosity Killed The Cat I usually think of either Name and Number or this one. I loved this track back in the day and I believe it was the one that got me into the band in the first place. Now this was back in the day when the only thing I followed carefully was football so I didn’t know that much about the band, but when you hear a decent song from them, then you want to keep up with what’s going on with them. They did alright in the 1980’s which goes to show that the decade wasn’t a complete waste of time culturally. Enjoy.

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Curiosity Killed The Cat - Name And Number

I wasn’t even aware of the answerphone back in the day. I had no idea what the lyrics were referring to, so it must have been cutting edge, right? Right?

Anyway this is a track that has lasted to me, it’s still a fun track to listen to and the video ain’t horrendous either.

Right, I’m trying to remember the name of the dude in the cap/beret/hat get up without wiki, I think it’s Ben. Let’s see … ahhh yeah, the old Dryden memory is still working. Enjoy.

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Misfit - Curiosity Killed The Cat

I was a pop kid back in the day you know. I only became a snob when I hit the mid teens, before then I was a sucker for everything from Bros to Brother Beyond and everything in between. I never went the whole hog of getting Smash Hits and plastering the bedroom with Kylie posters and the like but I watched Top of the Pops every week and that kind of rubbish. I don’t regret it either, it continued my love of music that was a bedrock of family life and the church world.

Curiosity Killed The Cat were one of my favourites before I had sense, especially the dude in the beret, I thought that was the height of style back in the day. They did music I liked back then. Listening to this now, it’s not horrendous, but … anyhow enjoy.

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Paula Abdul - Straight Up

I think I fancied Paula Abdul back in the day. Not in a heavy way of being infatuated with her, but I reckon I liked her, if you know what I’m saying. In fact even if you don’t and you probably may not, I know what I mean and that’s the main thing. I remember this and the other tracks as basically the only decent contributions she made to the pop industry.

Still it’s good that she was evidently more than a singer and that talent has seen her do well in dance and now with the whole American Idol thing. Good for her.

Don’t think I fancy her now as much, but that’s fine, tastes mature as we get older. Enjoy.

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Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract

So I’m here with my daughter Deborah on a Monday afternoon. Downstairs is out of action as a friend is decorating, so rather than have to do the TV thing I get to teach my daughter the finer things in life – like this smart song and neat video. Enjoy.

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Oscars 2004 The Return Of The Host

Billy Crystal is probably the best MC since Bob Hope and on a show like the Oscars he is definitely the best host over the last 20 years. I think he is very funny and this is a good reason why. Enjoy,

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Dean Martin roast Bob Hope pt 2/2 end

This roast thing is a good idea. It would be good to see if it could be modified and amended for the modern era a bit like the love meal, but with some sort of entertaining aspects as well. Got to be done. But watching Bob Hope rips into his guests well shows just how talented he is. Good stuff. Enjoy.

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Dean Martin roast Bob Hope featuring Billy Graham?

I am a Bob Hope fan. Not because he was particularly funnier than any other man on the planet in history. Because he had a flair about him as an entertainer that I laughed at, I thought he was very good at what he did. Even if a film was bad and he was in it, he made it tolerable. I especially loved his MC skills and along with Bob Monkhouse I looked to these men as examples in how to entertain which is all about basically how to keep people enthralled by what you have to share with them.

Anyhow, I would have left this alone and not blogged it were it not for the remarkable appearance of Billy Graham on this roast. Billy Graham, as in the same hombre who is one of the world’s best loved evangelists on a roast for Bob Hope among the less than evangelical crew of Ron Reagan, Dean Martin and Jack Benny. I was surprised and not amused. Not in a prudish, just because his joke wasn’t funny and if you’re gonna tell a joke, make sure it’s funny. (What do you mean pot calling the kettle black?)

Anyhow, this is dated, but there are still some funny bits in it. Enjoy.

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Cuba Gooding Jr.'s ecstatic Oscar® acceptance speech

I’m into being emotional. I come from a background where it’s cool to be cool. It’s cool to be withdrawn and reserved. I make it a habit to be unmoved as much as possible by the event of people trying to impress me.

When Christ really entered my life and I saw what He did for me I couldn’t keep the repose and now it’s not unusual for me to have extreme fits of emotion (mostly tears, sometimes laughter, sometimes bombastic aggressive machismo style thumping and whooping … but mostly tears). It’s as though God says that if I think I can be cool thinking of His grace at Calvary and His forgiveness at Calvary and His mercy at Calvary and His amazing love at Calvary and restoration and reconciliation at Calvary, if I think I can just stay as cool as though someone handed me some salted cashew nuts whilst watching the football, then I have another think coming.

So to an extent I can understand how much it must mean to Cuba Gooding Jr. to win what is often perceived as the highest honour to achieve in Hollywood. I can understand the years, effort, blood, sweat and tears it has cost people to reach that height and then to reach it finally – that must be quite something. Sure it’s a bit over the top, but I don’t blame the brother. You can see, though, that this versus Calvary sees the latter winning every time and three times on the weekend. Still … Enjoy.

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Forest Whitaker winning Best Actor

Now here’s a deserved Oscar winner.

I remember watching Last King of Scotland and thinking that is some serious acting from Forest Whitaker. As in that sets a standard of what it’s like to churn out something of pure gold from real hard graft.

Now sure he ain’t the golden boy that people like Cruise, Smith, Pitt, Clooney, Washington and Di Caprio are, but this brother deserved a large standing ovation. Great acting, great actor, well deserved. It does happen. Enjoy.

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Denzel Washington winning an Oscar® for Training Day

Well I’m off the Poitier trail, but I gotta give Denzel his dues. Well, almost. Were I to take acting seriously as a profession I would want to follow in his footsteps. He’s made some brilliant movies and he’s without doubt one of the best actors of my lifetime.

However, anyone with a shred of intelligence knows that this was a travesty. It’s a travesty in the sense that everyone knows that Training Day was not his best performance by a long shot. There’s a good argument that it wasn’t the best performance among those nominated. Anyone who watched even The Hurricane gave a better performance than this. They were Oscar winners.

Still, the brother can say at the end of the day that not only is he a Supporting Actor winner, but he got the big one. He deserves it (and doesn’t Julia Roberts just love him!). Enjoy

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Sidney Poitier salutes Denzel Washington on his Oscar® win

Yeah, I know, enough of the Poitier tributes already – but this is good, and almost makes up for Denzel’s teleprompting in the last one. Enjoy.

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Sidney Poitier accepting an Honorary Oscar®

You know the saying credit where credit’s due. This is that in action. I feel for Denzel in way, cos it’s so obvious that he’s reading from the teleprompter and that’s a shame. You also wonder if Samuel L Jackson will break into a smile at any time during the tribute.

I’ve been into acting since I was knee high to a grass-hopper, so the movies and these type of things have held sway over me for time. There’s a word for great actors and that word is gravitas. Just that sense of when someone is capable of holding a presence that you take very seriously.

Now the brother Poitier may very well be reading from a teleprompter, but even then he has a poise and a aura about him that would mean you could even have him reading from a telephone book and you’d be mesmerised.

In storytelling this is the style you want to have. If I can convey the reality of my life story and the reality of the gospel in so attractive a form, I’ll be alright. Enjoy.

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Sidney Poitier on winning an Oscar®

Ahhhh fascinating stuff from a notable black actor among black actors. God bless Sidney Poitier. Enjoy.

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Tom Cruise's post 9/11 opening monologue at the Oscars®

I am into movies. I've been into them since I can remember. I've never had a lot of time for Tom Cruise really. I admire the fact that he's good at what he does but I've never really rated him. Then I watched this and it made me think, yeah he's alright. Enjoy.

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Kevin Keegan Loses It On Sky

I reckon this incident has been blown out of all proportion. It is sad still, though. Enjoy?

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You Won't See This On ITV

I love the Irish. I love the accent, I love the stereotype, I love how they defy the stereotype on many occasions. It's brilliant. This stuff would not be found on Sky Sports or the good old BBC and as for ITV? Do me a favour. Did I neglect Setanta ...

Anyway, this level of conversation and interaction is the kind of stuff that almost reminds me of those pub conversations. Quality stuff and fascinating viewing. Enjoy

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Eamon Dunphy-Terry Venables Rant [Part 2 of 2]Nov 2007

"John hold on - these are facts!" Dear heavenly Father have mercy on Eamon Dunphy and Terry Venables!

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Eamon Dunphy-Terry Venables Rant [Part 1 of 2]Nov 2007

How to do a character assassination on television. I'll post the second part as well.

It is breathtaking just how much Eamon Dunphy rips Terry Venables to shreds. I mean I'm not Terry's number one fan, but even I wanted to shed a tear for the brother after Dunphy had finished with him. Enjoy?

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Matt Bianco - What A Fool Believes

Ahhhh Matt Bianco - if I'm not very much mistaken he made an effort in the late 1980's and early 1990's. As I said I could be wrong and I'm not bothering to do research. In any case, I thought the guy was a great deal of fun, but didn't take him seriously as a star or a particularly gifted singer.

For all that I give him props at his own flavour of this song. Not great, but again a worthy effort at a good song. Enjoy.

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George Michael - What a Fool Believes [Live, 1991]

So I'm into covers at the moment as you may have gathered and there are some pretty good ones available.

This is not a great cover of a Mike Mac beauty that he did with the Doobie Brothers, which is surprising seeing as though it comes from George Michael. I'm not his biggest fan by any stretch of the imagination and would probably go for Mike Mac over him on most days, but I have a great deal of respect for George's vocal talent and think that on talent he's worth his position as one of Britain's best vocal talent over my generation.

He doesn't nail it with this cover, but it's a worthwhile effort. Enjoy.

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Stevie Wonder - It Ain't No Use Cover

I was telling the wife - remember her - how much I loved YouTube for things like this. The wife thinks she's over-extended herself with some of the chorus, but I like the effort she puts into it and the group appear to be having fun with the song.

Fair enough, I say.

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Weetabix - If You Know What's Good For You

Well here we are eh? A car I don't drive, a drink I don't drink and now a cereal I don't eat.

I remember this advert so very well because of the whole 'If you know what's good for you' and the 'ok' bit. Classic ad! Enjoy.

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Carlsberg Barbecue...

Ahhhh dear, these ads really play up to a particular version of man, don't they? Still. Enjoy.

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Carlsberg Goal Celebration

This is a good advert. Really, really funny. Can't wait to see who could top that! Enjoy.

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Dream Apartment - Carlsberg

Obviously an Irish version, but this is a beauty. I smell a gospel connection ...

In any case - enjoy.

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Carlsberg Pub Team Advert

So having finished with the stuff for the Mrs I can move onto other adverts that impressed me. I am not a drinker myself ... at all. I do enjoy the occasional recreative Guinness, but I've probably had five or six pints of it in the last five or six years.

Anyway, despite not liking the drink, I've been impressed by Carlsberg blatant advert strategy of modestly claiming to be the best at anything.

This footie one obviously had its appeal. Enjoy.

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citroen c4 running

I think this was worse than the skating one. Running? A car? Running? For what?

Still all for the love of me Mrs. Enjoy.

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Citroen C4 - Skater

Don't get me wrong. I don't drive. Even if I did I wouldn't be the slightest bit interested in purchasing this vehicle. The wife loved this series of adverts, but wasn't too keen on this one for the obvious reason that he doesn't dance, does he? Just skates, and what's the point of a transformer, transforming just to skate?

Still, just to complete me obligations to the Mrs. Enjoy.

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Citroen C4 Transformer

This is the advert that got me wife going in the first place with these kinda adverts. She really gets excited when she sees this transformer get going. She's into dance, see.

So there, Mrs, told ya I love ya. Enjoy.

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Citroen C4 - Staying Alive

My wife reckons I don't love her enough. This is part of the bid to prove how much I really do love her. She's a huge fan of this series of adverts.

So there. Enjoy. (Especially you, Authrine)

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in the night garden songs

• Yeah it’s someone recording, the television deal, but despite all that, this is still cool to see why In The Night Garden is truly The Magic Roundabout for the 21st Century and beyond. What is this teaching our children? Enjoy

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In The Night Garden - The Dance

I am convinced that the people who wrote children’s television did so either under the influence of narcotics or whilst recovering from serious addiction to mind-bending hallucinatory toxins. I mean seriously what mind came up with In The Night Garden? Seriously, who? What on earth were they thinking?

Don’t get me wrong spending quality time with the children I get an insight into these so called children’s programmes and can tell you for sure that they are definitely designed for imparting subliminal messages in the minds of our little ones. Subliminal message one – it’s alright to do we’re dances like this.

Having said all that I’m a big fan of MakkaPakka – what an awesome name. As for the tune for Iggle-Piggle, that too is truly divinely inspired. Other than that – give this baby a wide berth. Now then back to the reassuring tones of Sir Derek Jacobi. Enjoy.

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BIG COOK LITTLE COOK 'Time to Clean and Put Away' song

When I die I will want to have as a request someone starting this song and then blowing it up to smithereens.

I'm not given to violence. I am a man of peace, and it is for peace sake that I make this act for justice.

da man cd

BIG COOK LITTLE COOK 'We Love to Cook' song

Some people are concerned about the evil caused by Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mugabe, Mussolini, et. al. To me that is nothing compared to this travesty.

It's only because my young daughters love it that I don't take action against this 'entertainment'.

da man cd

Sting - If I Ever Lose My Faith In You

No not lyrically something I buy into, but musically this song is one of the reasons I love Stong so much. It's not a shame he does not do these songs any more because it's a sign of maturity that you don't stay where you were, but it's good to have this to bring out every now and then to prove to others that you were actually good at your job. Enjoy.

da man cd

Sting-I was brought to my senses(Live)

It's good to get a live version of this track as well and this does the business in so many ways that it's worth listening to twice at least! Enjoy.

da man cd

Sting - I Was Brought To My Senses

OK so it's not the deluge of Beatles songs and covers that was hinted at, but things took a different turn.

This is a quality track from an artist I admire a lot for his creative output more often than not. I know this is not the version that most are accustomed to, but it is the version I prefer actually. Enjoy.

da man cd

Arthur's Theme

There are those nights when I feel particularly active. This is one of those nights as you may have gathered by the number of posts put up today. And that's not to mention the one done on me blue blog.

Anyway I'm looking to set up a playlist of music videos of stuff I enjoy and whilst trawling through I remember this one and it's a must. This is a good song anyway and Christopher Cross as well as having a cool name has done himself alright with this song, Sailing and my favourite Ride With The Wind that features my current man of the moment Mike Mac.

This is obviously the theme to one of Dudley Moore's better movies and the tune is fitting to what was a fair movie. Enjoy.

da man cd

Dynasty Opening Credits

Like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Like Liverpool and Manchester United. Like John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Like Doctor Who and Star Trek. Epic cultural phenomenons can come in twos and get people choosing which side they'll choose. (For the sake of the argument I'll always go Beatles, Liverool, McCartney and Doctor Who)

In the 80's it was Dallas vs. Dynasty. As far as I was concerned Dallas beat Dynasty every day and twice on a Sunday (ironically when both used to be shown if my memory serves me right). Although I preferred JR to Alexis, like the other combative tensions I respect the fact that the other was OK and worthy of competition - hence this entry - but get it straight, Dallas always beat Dynasty. It's as simple as that. Enjoy.

da man cd

Luke vs. Vader (I am your father video clip)

Ohhhh come on, tell me that this isn't one of the memorable scenes in movie history. If only the brother knew the power of the dark side ... still what a way to find out who your poppa really is. Enjoy.

da man cd

Who Shot JR? No Really Who Did?

Just to balance the scene before, here is the revelation of who shot the dude in question and as we all know it was ...

Enjoy

da man cd

Larry Hagman on Who Shot JR

Now Dallas - there is something that I remember watching avidly. It's the only soap opera I'd watch again and I remember even a while back getting to watch it with Deborah and Kevaughn (now 3-year old daughter and 15 year-old son) and getting to use it to chuckle t the family values in it. It actually helped in getting me to bond with Kev somewhat and I'll always be grateful for that.

Good ol' JR - what a character! Enjoy.

da man cd

Alan Alda on M-A-S-H

I remember catching a bit of MASH many years ago. I heard that it was funny and that was about it. Years later, it is fascinating to learn more about what Alda thought of it. Which is cool cos he was one of the memorable characters for me from what I remember of it. Enjoy.

da man cd

Comedy sketch! George W Bush

Sometimes as a Christian I challenge myself to whether I can really support parody and satire, especially sometimes with it's lack of alternative.

Other times I just laugh at the way figures are caricatured and underneath the laughter there is a little bit of bite in the material. It's all about moderation. Enjoy.

da man cd

Tom Baker Doctor Who Eurostar spoof - Dead Ringers

Tom Baker is my favourite Doctor.

I've got a lot of time for David Tennant he has definitely impressed me as the current Doctor. I was sad to see Chris Eccleston not take the chance to develop his characterisation in a similar way of disappointment at Paul McGann's chance and to some extent even Colin Baker's go. Hey perhaps Sylvester would have got better if the BBC invested in the character.

In any case for all that, and probably because of that Tom Baker is my favourite Doctor. He was given the opportunity to explore his characterisation and it was so distinctive that people refer to it today.

Hence this particular entry. Jon Culshaw does do a tremendous impression of Mr. Baker and sometimes its funny as well. Dead Ringers was/is a very good spoof impression programme and I haven'tnoticed anything like ti on telly lately. But to be fair, I ain't bothered looking that carefully.

In any case. Enjoy

da man cd

Tuesday Heartbreak

And finally ... for now ... here's a Japanese band tribute to another hidden gem among the many Stevie has written.

The great touch on this one is the wah-wah guitar giving as good an effect as the wah-wah keyboard on the original.

It's a fair effort. Enjoy.

da man cd

Tanja Torvikoski - Tuesday Heartbreak (by Stevie Wonder)

From the established Mike Mac we come across the not so famous Tanja Torvikoski (another blockbuster surname).

I love these acoustic versions which work on simplicity not being flashy or complex but playing it straight and it works well with this version. Enjoy.

da man cd

Michael McDonald - Tuesday Heartbreak

Mike Mac was already in my good books for a great voice and some great tracks. But when I found that he zoomed in on this another of my favourite Stevie Songs - well his stock just went through the roof.

It's not better than the original, but then it would have taken an outstanding effort by any individual to do that - this is ust a faithfully rich and superb effort by Mike Mac. Enjoy.

da man cd

中央フリーウェイ Summer Soft 松任谷由実のカヴァー

So there I was looking for more covers of Stevie's Summer Soft and I cam across this. Gave it a go, didn't understand a word that was being said, but enjoyed the music and thought it was about time to have a bit of unknown culture on the blog. It's a bit like being a connosieur of foreign films without the subtitles as though you're just that arty and smart. Enjoy.

da man cd

Blue Mitchell - Summer Soft

When you're as big as Stevie Wonder, one of the things in your favour is that people will want to do their own versions of your songs. Some will be big and famous and dreadful. Others will be brilliant, small, and hidden away in some FunkyJoce's collection of YouTube videos.

This is the latter as you may have already gathered. I never heard of Blue Mitchell til I searched and I'm glad I know now. It's a cool 70's version of one of the most underrated tracks ever written. Enjoy.

da man cd

Amazing Grace History/

I don't usually put me spiritual stuff here, but I'm putting this across both so you can get a chance to hear where this is coming from.

Fascinating stuff

da man cd

Grover and Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street, 1973

Just in tribute to the fact that my daughter Deborah started school today and in terms of helping her in her educational development here is the programme that helped me more than anything.

Sock it to them Stevie

da man cd

Denzel tells how Frank Lucas became, 'American Gangster'

After watching this interview I’m reminded about what a good film American Gangster was and will see ho much it costs and consider whether it’s worth purchasing.

da man cd

Looney Tunes V1D4 14 Devil may Hare

Bugs versus the Tasmanian Devil - poor TD, never really had a chance. What a maroon indeed.

da man cd

Looney Tunes V2D1 07 The Hare-Brained Hypnotist

This is good for a laugh and obviously heavily influenced me for how to get Authrine to marry me.

da man cd

Looney Tunes V2D1 08 Hare Conditioned

Yeah I'm on a cartoon thing at the moment, but I haven't posted blogs on here for a while and it's a good chance to share some of the positive heart-warming chuckling material that's occupying my time as I do some stuff on t'internet. This be funny.

da man cd

Looney Tunes - 50 Years of Bugs Bunny in 3.5 min.

Bugs Bunny has to be one of my favourite cartoon characters of all time. I was always entertained by his character and it symbolises that time in my life of true innocence. No sense of impurity, just finding something funny because it was funny. Hope you enjoy.

da man cd

Looney Tunes V1D4 10 The Foghorn Leghorn

They truly don't make cartoons like this anymore, which is a pity. Basic plot, fair bit of wit, quick end. What more do you need? (Rhetorical question)

da man cd

Coke Coca Cola Original I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing

Yes indeed - adverts, eh? I always preferred Pepsi Max, but I guess that's what makes us such a people at war.

da man cd