thisispop

Help! (Film)

I'm sorry, but if you are going to do that, then you have to listen to all the songs. If you have to listen to all the songs = you might as well have a big final. :lol:

Whoever wins has their version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow released on iTunes on Sunday. Now that is what I call a motivation to vote on Saturday.

I will miss this fantastic show. Hopefully there will be a 4th series.

... Indeed. :D 7sjCcg123Y8 Featuring vocals by Alexandra Burke's mum.

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You were spot on. I'm glad you really liked it. England Track 1: Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen. One of the most controversial songs in the UK and started the punk rock movement to what it is today. It still doesn't get old for me, after listening to it on daily basis back in the day when I discovered who the Sex Pistols were. Is there really anything bad that can be said about this piece of music history? 10/10 Of course - this UK#2 from 1977 in time for the Queen's Silver Jubilee that was famously stopped from being allowed to be #1 in the official charts due to the disqualification of a number of independent retailers. Hopefully the team responsible for RATM beating X-Factor to #1 last Xmas, will try and ensure this is UK#1 in 2.5 weeks time. Track 2: Reminds me of a psychedelic rock song that'd great to hear live, maybe from the late 70's? I like the vocals but that one vocal-instrument (can't remember what it is?) does become a little annoying as the song progresses, this is still quite good. 7.5/10 Pink Floyd - Corporal Clegg. Written by Roger Waters from their 2nd album 1968's Saucerful of Secrets. It was the proto Radiohead's first lyrical mention of war in one of their own songs. The annoying vocal instrument is the kazoo. Track 3: I really enjoy the back & forth male/female vocals on this song and the production seems pretty basic, allowing for stipped down instrumentals and giving the song a moody/haunting tone to it. 8/10 Kate Bush - Army Dreamers. This near acoustic folk UK#16 1980 anti-war single taken for the first ever studio album (Never For Ever) by a UK female artist full of original material to top the UK album chart. Little wonder Smash Hits magazine nicknamed her "The Mighty Bush". Track 4: Happy pop/rock of the mid-60's, it always lifts my spirits! Great sing-along-song that is catchy as hell. Nice melody and pleasant-sounding vocals. Seems like it could be a solo male heart-throb, but with actual credibility! 8.5/10 Bluetones - Keep The Home Fires Burning. This very melodic and tuneful UK#13 single in 2000(!) taken from Mark Morriss' Brit-Poppers third album Science & Nature. One of my favourite underrated UK acts. Track 5: Another mid-60's track, I'm thinking this is The Kinks?! I've heard this before on oldies radio. The chorus seems like it's a mouthful, but this was typical during this era. This is pretty darn good. 8/10 The Kinks - The Village Green Preservation Society. Title track of the 1968 seminal double concept album about life in the English Countryside, that flopped at the time, but is now regarded as Ray Davies' band's best album. The accompanying single to it was "Days". And both this track, "Picture Book"; and "Starstruck" have been used in adverts in the last decade. Track 6: Early 60's pop group perhaps? Curious to know who these are, I love this track! Talent-wise, these guys must be up there cause this is pretty amazing. Excellent vocals/harmonies and snappy lyrics. Even the added quirky voices after each chorus is a nice touch. Perfection. 9.5/10 The Who - Dogs. This 1968 UK#25 hit single is one of their least well known singles. The lyrics of Dogs are a loose Pete Townshend narrative centering on romance and beer at a Greyhound racing track (a quarter of a century before Blur did it). The recording features mockney vocals from Roger Daltrey in tribute to friends and fellow mod rivals ............ Track 7: Pure instrumental track, feels very hypnotic. Must be pre-Pink Floyd, as the production is less refined and it has that 'hippie' feel. This isreally, really good, much appreciation for a song that uses little technology to create a trippy song like this. 9/10 ... The Small Faces - Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake. This is the psychedelic instrumental title track of the 1968 UK#1 (for 6 weeks) concept album by the Steve Marriott & Ronnie Lane led mod outfit ("All Or Nothing; Itchycoo Park; Lazy Sunday; Tin Soldier; etc") released shortly before they split. Track 8: This song just doesn't go anywhere for me. Vocals are fairly monotone and difficult to decipher what is being sung, but I do like the piano nature of the song. Maybe the song is more lyric-driven than anything else; I haven't figured it out yet. 5/10 Nick Drake - Northern Sky. This legendary folk singer/songwriter known for his sombre pieces. Although he failed to find a wide audience during his lifetime (he committed suicide at the age of 25 - having long suffered depression which is symptons are consistent with Aspergers syndrome which Joy Division's Ian Curtis also suffered), Drake's work has gradually achieved wider notice and recognition; he now ranks among the most influential English singer-songwriters of the last 50 years. Taken from his second of three albums 1970's Bryter Layter. Track 9: Lyrically this song is a little bit out there, the repeative line "if wishes were horses" doesn't make sense or seem witty (unless she's saying something else). But the song does get points for being plenty catchy and having a great instrumental ending. 7/10 ???????? - ?????????? A very possible Nonsuch BJSC 27 entry. This demo (posted on her ThinkSpace) was co-written and recorded in March 2010 by an English North-Western female singer/songwriter/pianist/keyboard player at the studio of a former guitarist/tunesmith from a seminal 1990s BritPop band; whom in the last five years is now an Ivor Novello award winning songwriter & BRIT award winning producer. The former whom blogged that she had a sore throat at the time, so it does not quite sound like her, as she clearly sounds husky and loses it a bit vocally at the top end, does some wonderful Rick Wakeman meets Abba piano flourishes; as the latter does a hybrid guitar riff that Mick Ronson and Dave Gilmour would have been proud of. Both songwriters have known what its like to be overhyped, then watch as less talented acts go on and have far greater success. In March this year this female singer/songwriter said her 2nd album "will be rawer and a bit more down-to-earth. It'll still be magical, but quite dark and spooky at the same time." She added that she has drawn inspiration from the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe .... and listening to one line in the song an ALW BBC1 talent show! :lol: Track 10: This track sounds like it could be Rancid, if they were a band back in the 70's! Love this song, happens to be just the right amount of odd vocals and laid-back instrumentals that pulls this together so nicely. I feel I need to discover who this band is, I'm sure I'd enjoy their catalog. 9/10 The Clash - Guns Of Brixton. Taken from the punk rockers third album, London Calling, released in 1979. It was written and sung by bassist Paul Simonon, who grew up in Brixton, south London. The song has a strong reggae influence. "The Guns of Brixton" bass line became famous when Norman Cook (a.k.a. Fatboy Slim) sampled it for Beats International's hit 1990 UK#1 hit "Dub Be Good to Me". Track 11: This track feels a kinda silly and light-hearted, and that's definitely not a bad thing. The lyrics are just plain fun and it seems like a good song to sing when you're drunk! I also really enjoy the organ/synthesizers on this track. 8/10 The Specials - Friday Night, Saturday Morning. Penned by Terry Hall (who went onto Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield; etc). This was the b-side of the Specials 1981 UK#1 hit Ghost Town. The last single released by the original line up. Track 12: Guitar riffs? Yes please. Incredible song, I'm sure I must've come across this over the years, as this seems like it could've been a staple for British-punk in the 80's. The bridge of nah-nah-nah's into the chorus screams punk! 9/10 The Jam - Saturday's Kids Taken from the post-punk trio's third album 1979's Setting Sons. This is a brilliant stab of youthful suburbia by the legendary Paul Weller. Track 13: Another instrumental, but it's not a sleeper and is quite good. Normally I wouldn't think of a saxophone/piano combo being that interesting, but this is surprising. It's got enough jazzy melody to keep it going, without coming off cheesy. 8/10 Madness - Walking With Mr Wheeze. B-side of their only UK#1 hit single 1982's "House Of Fun". I fondly remember Radio 1 DJ Peter Powell using this track as an instrumental bed to talk over. Track 14: Lily Allen - Chinese. Now we jump a couple of decades to my second favourite track (Everyone's At It is #1) from Lily Allen's It's Not Me, It's You. Vocals and lyrics are tight on this, simply amazing, how does she do it! Really hope Lily isn't retiring from recording music, she's one of the few young, authentic female artists out there! 9.5/10 Yep. My 2nd favourite track (behind f*** You) from the Ivor Novello Award winning artist's second album. Track 15: This sounds like a slice of mid 90's pop. Even though this is my first time hearing this track, it sounds like it could've been a big Hot AC radio hit back in the day, a la Donna Lewis/Sophie B. Hawkins, which is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. 8/10 Cathy Dennis - West End Cab. This Brit Pop influenced 1996 UK#25 hit was written by the future top songwriter for hire, with another future songwriter for hire ... Guy Chambers. It was her final UK Top 40 hit as a performer. Track 16: I love songs that tell stories. The ability to convey a story into a song and actually have the song be bearable is a bit of a rarity. I do like this quite a bit, more so for it's lyrics rather than the structure of the song. 7.5/10 Kirsty MacColl - England 2 Columbia 0. Tragically taken from her final album in 2000 Tropical Brainstorm, the same year she was killed in a speedboat incident in Mexico. This track is crying out for some hurt WAG who runs off to PR parasite guru Max Clifford to get paid £100K from the tabloids to cover. Track 17: This must be a singer-songwriter of the 90's. Vocals sound quite vulnerable and innocent on this track. Quite good, I may have possibly heard this on radio way back in the day, but there's so much great UK talent that doesn't get beyond their own shores, unfortunately. 8/10 Dubstar - St. Swithin's Day. This Newcastle based Indie Dream Pop band featuring future Client vocalist Sarah Blackwood's cover of an old Billy Bragg song. Taken from their quite brilliant debut album 1995's Disgraceful. Track 18: I want to know who this is. Smooth female vocals, reminds me of early 90's alternative dance-pop, with that whole tranquil/calming feel to it. Almost 8 minutes long, I never once wanted to skip. A song must be pretty damn good if you'll stick around that long! 9.5/10 St. Etienne - Avenue. Formed by former music journalists Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs; and featuring the divine Sarah Cracknell on vocals. Whom combined the grooviness of Swinging Sixties London with a post-acid house backbeat. This epic 1992 single only reached UK#40. A true lost classic IMHO. Track 19: A hip pop-folk record, I love the simplicity of this song. It isn't bogged down by production and over-done vocals. And a nice chorus to hold it together. You know you've created a great song when anyone with an acoustic guitar could play and sing it. 8.5/10 Squeeze - Maidstone. Another non album B-side of the 1991 Sunday Street single which failed to reach the UK Top 75. This formmer 1970s New wavers Difford & Tilbrook penned track features a member of The Levellers on Mandolin; and Elvis Costello's pianist Steve Nieve. Track 20: Everything about this song is divine. It has everything going for it. The right formula of electric guitar, synthesizers and vocals put together. I will be listening to this quite often, me thinks. Brilliant. 10/10 kJS7ZeD0Ihs David Bowie - Buddha Of Suburbia. The theme song to the BBC TV series (written by fellow Bromley pupil Hanif Kureishi about his life growing up in the 1970s/early 1980s intermittent with characters based on fellow Bromley Contingent schoolmates including Siouxsie Sioux; Billy Idol; Steve Severin & Adam Ant) of the same name, released by David Bowie in 1993. This title track is taken from IMHO his best album he has released since 1980s Scary Monsters. its nostalgic lyrics were matched by a sound that was something of a pastiche of Bowie's past work, while retaining a fresh sound. Two places in the song there are references to older Bowie songs, the guitar break from "Space Oddity" and the line "Zane, zane, zane, ouvre le chien" from "All the Madmen". Track 21: Sounds 80's new-wave to me. The song keeps building towards a climax, but never gets there. Plus the vocals on this are too layered and all over the place. Logical tells me that I should like this song, it just doesn't hold up as well against other music of this time. 6/10 XTC - Chalkhills and Children. There's no place like home! Title track of the biography written about Swindon's finest band. This trippy Andy Partridge track is the closing track from their 1989 album Oranges & Lemons. "I`m skating over thin ice, while some nonsuch net holds me aloft..."

Option 4: I'd rather play with matches - A good time to get my work's (Football) World Cup Predictions organised. :lol: But seriously I'd rather see Option 5: Get someone on the chartshow who actually seems like they care about the show, rather than wondering in half asleep out of a hot summer's afternoon to present the show with little enthusiasm apart from saying how great all UK Urban music acts are; and how awful all those Glee records are; and talking complete random bollocks that has nothing to do with the charts to guests/listeners who phone in. In short bring in a Bruno Brookes/Mark Goodier type host when the Sunday Chart Show was the most listened to show on Radio in Europe, rather than some half-arsed "argh do we have to do this" type of show with less than a quarter of the listenership of Chris Moyles.

I know its a viral campaign for Puma, tying in with the World Cup. But I just think its inspired. :lol: From reading the BBC Radio 2 forums: A few weeks back she appeared on Terry Wogan's Sunday Radio show, where she revealed that her record label Dramatico offered her services to represent the UK at Eurovision in 2010. No more specifics were made (as to whether it was just for the single The Flood or whether it would be a Song For Europe type thingy for tracks from her album The House, and when the offer was made). However, as the BBC is the same organisation which recommended getting rid of their most unique Radio Station (Radio 6Music) which has increased listenership by 59% over the past year; turned down Jonathan Ross' request (much to his annoyance) to have one of his Friday night Chat shows dedicated just to the actors who appear in the US monster TV/music crossover hit Glee; and allows Radio 1 to treat the national Sunday chart show as a joke ... then I reckon an offer from Pete Waterman would be more highly regarded than an offer of a Guy Chambers penned song performed by a very successful UK singer across Europe. As most people in the UK streets would probably regard That Sounds Good To Me as being more Eurovision friendly than The Flood due to having an outdated concept of what the contest is about. Rather the BBC turning it down because they thought it could actually win in Norway, (and hence the cost to host in 2011). :( PoVIXtVOHMk ... And she's not exactly rubbish at performing live .... Currently on European iTunes charts its: #09 Norway #16 Switzerland #53 Luxembourg #68 Italy #75 Belgium #83 Netherlands #103 Spain #137 Finland #158 France #188 Germany #191 Ireland

That is fukkin brilliant. :rofl: So much better than the original.

I'm mystified as to what is Indie, Alternative and Specialist about this P!nk/Avril Lavigne type pop rock song?

I wanted Steph to make the final on Saturday so I could make this post: :nocheer: Oh, well for the Final I'm in the anti-Sophie coalition; whoever out of Lauren or Danielle is in the last two with the ginger haired warbler I'll be voting for. As quite frankly I don't think Sophie is close to the quality of talent that Danielle; Lauren; Steph; Jessica and my favourite Stephanie had. But Sophie seems to have the core Welsh vote rapped up;and if she wins she will be easily the least talented winner of an Andrew Lloyd Webber BBC1 show to date IMHO.

So do I. But I guess I prefer Goldfrapp channelling David Bowie, to reheated Erasure channelling Abba. All The Lovers is just not doing it for me; and she has had 7 #1's on my Personal Chart over the past 25 years - ranking 6th in my artists.

IMHO. The expanded Points system works when you have the expanded number of songs to vote for. But if we agree on ESC style Semi's & Final format; then that (old) points format should stay as you are voting between 15-20 less songs than in a straight to the Final format. But if this vote is too close to call, then maybe the answer to alternate between the old and new formats every other contest. So the "Odd - 27, 29, 31, etc" Contests are the "old Semi's + Final + vote for the best 10 songs format; and "Even - 28, 30, 32, etc" Contests are the "new straight to the Big Final + vote for the best 15 songs format. That way everyone will know in advance of that contest (including the host) what format is going to be used, rather than letting the host decide (and get the flack for not selecting the option half the participants prefer).

Part 4: ON THE WRONG AND WINDING ROAD Paul McCartney is praying he doesn't have a Spinal Tap moment when he walks on stage at Hampden. The superstar hopes he doesn't suffer a momentary mental block and shout: "Hello Edinburgh." That's what happened when Macca played one of the biggest shows on a US tour. He said: "One of my most pear-shaped moments was when I played a baseball stadium in Pittsburg. When you appear in such massive venues instead of walking on stage and saying, 'Good evening everybody,' in a normal voice, you've got to make everything bigger and shout it. "I usually call out the name of each city which always gets a big cheer. But my voice had gone during the soundcheck and I was worrying if it would hold up. "When I did my big stadium announcement and I shouted, 'People of Detroit.' Normally I'd have got a huge cheer. "But there was nothing. It all went quiet. My heart stopped. "My mind started racing as I frantically thought of a way to get out of it. "So I said, 'People of Detroit you are not. But people of Pittsburg you are.' "Next day, a review in the local paper said, 'Oh, the old wacky wit is still there.' While I was thinking, 'If only you knew'." BEST YET TO COME He's written some of the greatest songs in pop history. But at the age of 67, Paul McCartney hopes his finest composition is still further along the long and winding road of his career. The ex-Beatle can count Yesterday, Let It Be and Eleanor Rigby among the jewels of his back catalogue and he wants to add to that incredible list. "I have hobbies including painting and photography but my day job is music and that's what I love doing best. So I've still got dreams," revealed Paul. "I'm always trying to do better music. I don't know if I've written my best song yet. That's the big question. It doesn't stop you trying. "There's a scenario when I could look at The Beatles' career and think, 'Wait a minute, we are talking Eleanor Rigby, Blackbird, Hey Jude and Let It Be. I've probably written my best song so you've got to give up.' "At that point you say, 'Thank you very much,' and go on a long holiday'. "But I love music too much. There's always this thought in the back of my mind that... well, you never know. "I might just come up with something else really good. That keeps you going. "My recent album, Memory Almost Full was a good record with some nice tracks and I was singing well. So you keep at it as long as you think you're doing well." As interviews go that is a brilliant interview IMHO.

Sir Paul McCartney interview part 3: I can't believe I'm now in history books of the 20th century May 17 2010 By Billy Sloan WHEN Paul McCartney was a pupil at Liverpool Institute, he couldn't wait to leave school to start a rock 'n' roll band with mates John Lennon and George Harrison. Now, music legend Macca can't believe children are being taught about his phenomenal career in class as part of their studies. "I've got a funny little paperback book at home called Who Were The Beatles? Oh my God ... can you believe that?" said Paul, relaxing in his London HQ. "Imagine trying to teach five-year-old kids about us. If children are studying the 20th century, I'm in their text books." But the superstar is not consigned to the history books and is limbering up for a gig at Hampden Park in Glasgow on June 20... his first concert in Scotland for 20 years. He's planning a 40-song set including Beatles classics All My Loving, The Long And Winding Road, Eleanor Rigby, Lady Madonna and Hey Jude. The 67-year-old singer admitted he views archive footage of the Fab Four being mobbed by screaming girls with mixed emotions. "I watch that stuff with a mix of pride and sorrow that those days are gone. I think, look at us there ... we were just lads. It's like seeing an old home movie. "Then I get a feeling of sadness we've lost John and George. "The further away you get from the heyday of The Beatles, the more amazing it becomes. It's grown in stature. At the time, we thought we'd be lucky to last for five years." Macca will hit Hampden two days after celebrating his 68th birthday. The legend who sang "Will you still need me when I'm 64?" has NO plans to slow up. If anything, he wants to do even more big gigs, stage an exhibition of photographs and pursue his passion for painting. "I think the pop industry is still a young man's game. But for me still to be doing it... how can I say that? The early days of rock 'n' roll were dominated by young people," said Paul. "In the 1960s, something else started to happen. You got groups like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones who became so big but only because they were good. "Now when I go on tour, I've got an incredible audience with me. "The Stones also still have a huge following. Mick Jagger leaps around like a crazy dude. And Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts are playing great too. So it's NOT a young man's game any more. "When Led Zeppelin reformed in 2007, it was the most sought after ticket of that year. "Now you're getting older bands and as long as they can still play - make a good noise - it can be a great show." His massive stage set will be shipped to Glasgow in a fleet of trucks by a 150-strong road crew. Paul will slip into the city unnoticed... and he might even arrive at Hampden by train or bus. His £475million fortune has him fifth on the Sunday Times list of musical millionaires but he goes to great pains to live as normal a life as his fame allows. "I didn't need grounded in Liverpool when I was growing up. I was trying to do the opposite, I was hoping to get into clubs and they were chucking me out," said Paul, laughing. "Once fame arrived, it was decision time. What do I do if I don't like this over-attention? I'm gonna have to get out. But I liked what I do too much not to do it. "I devised a strategy for dealing with life. I thought ... I'm gonna go on the bus and see what happens. "People would notice you but nobody would jump on you or go crazy. So I've always used the tube in London." On a recent trip to New York, however, Paul had a funny moment on a Manhattan bus. He told me: "New York is a big town for me. It's all 'Hey Beatle' on the street. I got on the bus, paid my fare and knew the passengers had noticed me sitting on my own. "A black lady sitting up the back shouted. 'Hey, are you Paul McCartney?' I replied, 'Yes I am.' She shouted back, 'What you doin' on the bus?' "I could see other people's shoulders going up and down as they were laughing. So I said, 'I'm going Uptown just like you are but don't go shouting across the bus ... come and sit here beside me.' "I wanted her to know I was just an ordinary person like her. We had a good chat." Paul added: "I hate the idea of success robbing you of your private life. "If I get asked for an autograph in the middle of a meal, I say, 'I don't do that when I'm eating. I hope you understand. I'm out with my girlfriend or my mates'. "And most people do. They get it. I just have a few ground rules like that. Fans respect you for it." To buy tickets for Paul McCartney's gig at Hampden on June 20 call: 0844 481 1222 or log on to www.ticketsoup.com.

Part 2: WE WOULD HAVE JUST CREAMED X FACTOR Macca reached a TV audience of 20 million when he made a guest appearance on X Factor. He appeared on the show last year along with star-struck hopefuls Joe McElderry, Olly Murrs and Jedward. But how would John, Paul, George and Ringo have fared if they'd tried to kick off their aspiring pop career on the TV pop talent show? Paul said: "I think we'd have won it. Seriously. Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh would have been all over us like a wet washcloth. "If you're talking of The Beatles on Love Me Do - there's doubt. But if you're talking of when we'd developed some of our better songs ...we'd cream 'em." Paul admitted that initially he hated X Factor but grew to like it thanks to his kids. He said: "On Saturday night, they'd all dive into the living room shouting: 'X Factor.' I started to watch it through their eyes and thought it was very good television. I'm not gonna put it down." He is now an avid X Factor viewer and thinks the show can uncover genuine music talent. Paul said: "To give the show it's due it does throw up acts like Leona Lewis, they got a great winner there. "You also get things like Jedward which is just pure entertainment - even if there's also a lot of rubbish inbetween. "But if young kids love X-Factor who's to say they're wrong? It's not my cup of tea but it's a great, family show."

Sir Paul McCartney intervew part 1: The Beatles would have reunited one day May 16 2010 Exclusive by Billy Sloan, Sunday Mail PAUL McCARTNEY ushers me into his London office and apologises for running late. But there's something cool about being kept waiting by rock's most celebrated composer. In the ex-Beatle's hectic schedule, our interview is sandwiched between an appointment with a US film crew and a meeting with legendary producer Sir George Martin. As soon as our chat ends Paul has to dash off to Abbey Road studios to oversee a mixing session for a remastered version of clasic Wings' album Band On The Run. His office is a cosy clutter. There are bronze Ivor Novello songwriting awards on the shelves and pictures of his favourite comic character Rupert The Bear adorn the walls. Lying on the sofa is a store assistant's apron for DIY warehouse B&Q complete with Paul McCartney name badge - a gift from the company after the singer let slip in an interview he got asked for an autograph while buying nails at his local store. It's reassuring to know if writer's block ever set in Macca is guaranteed a job selling fitted kitchens or cutting plywood to size. McCartney, 67, has agreed to a rare interview to preview his concert at Hampden Park in Glasgow on June 20. When he takes the stage it will be almost 20 years to the day since he last played in Scotland and his anticipation is palpable. He said: "It's always good to get back to Scotland because I've got a special affection for the wee place. "I've never done Hampden before and it's legendary. "The country is a very special part of the isles we live in. It's had a kind of romantic thing for me since I first went there with The Beatles. "Our tour manager told us: 'You've got to watch out. You'll see wee people there.' We said, 'What do you mean, midgets?' "But he said: 'No, people - only smaller.' Sure enough, the first two people we spotted were a couple of old folks - a wee Glaswegian man and woman. "Now, I've got loads of Scottish mates and the crowds are always great." McCartney's Hampden gig will feature a 40-song set comprising of classic Beatles' and Wings' hits with a handful of solo tracks mixed in. The superstar who once famously said: "Will you still need me when I'm 64?" admits to a renewed hunger for live shows 41 years after the Fab Four last played together. He told me: "Playing live was great then - and it's great now. The big difference is you can hear what you're doing. "It was more like a football match in the old days. We were all part of some big celebration. "Now with modern stage equipment, good sound and video screens it's much easier. I remember going to see Genesis at Wembley Stadium and I couldn't see who was on stage. All I saw were these little matchstick people miles away. "I couldn't tell which one was Phil Collins. It was like...where is he? "So I developed the idea that if somebody was right at the back of the venue they'd still be a part of my show. "I enjoy playing live more now. I'm a lot more comfortable with it. "When you start off in the music business you have the idea people are gonna hate you. You think, 'I'm no good and they're gonna boo me off.' "I've now got to the stage where I think, 'The tickets are sold out so these people probably want to see me.' "Treat the audience like they're your mates. I feel like I'm playing to family." Paul admits to a mix of affection and sorrow when he watches archive footage of The Beatles being mobbed by screaming girls in their 1960s hey day. It's hard to believe John Lennon has been dead for 30 years and George Harrison passed away nine years ago. Paul says he thinks about them every day and revealed he's even "visited" by John when writing new songs. He said: "John and George were real mates. I have a huge fondness for them. "They were both part of my life and who I am. There are little reminders of them all the time. "Today, somebody brought me a new book by 1960s photographer Duffy and I saw a picture of John in it. "Now, if I write a song, I'm always cross-checking in my mind, 'Would John have let me write that line or is it just too soppy?' "Sometimes, I just think, 'Too bad, it's my song.' But I'm always cross-checking with him." In recent years, Led Zeppelin, Cream and The Police have been tempted out of retirement to play together again. So does Paul think The Beatles would have reformed? "It could've happened," he said, forcibly. "We were asked to do reunion gigs shortly after we broke up. "There wasn't any point. It was like... we've just split. I also had Wings so I was a bit busy doing other things. "It wasn't really a good idea then but I think if this much time had elapsed, I could easily see it happening. "Somebody would have said: 'Oh, go on. Just for a laugh.'" What would it have taken to get John, Paul, George and Ringo back on stage or into a recording studio? "Loadsa money," joked Paul, "I've no idea. The truth is it could have been a charity thing. Or it could have been because we just met up and said: 'Let's do it'. You never know. But it's not to be so sadly it's all just conjecture." But could there be another Beatles - a pop act who would become a musical, social and cultural phenomenon? Paul said: "That's a difficult question. My immediate answer is no. Just because of the time, place and circumstances - and the talent in The Beatles. "The combination of those four guys was pretty interesting. We weren't together that long but think of the work we put in. Every album was different. Album after album, single after single beat the last one. "The nice thing now is I don't have to be modest about The Beatles any more. I can call them great because it's over. There was something very special about The Beatles." To buy tickets for Macca's Hampden gig call: 0844 481 1222 or log on to: www.ticketsoup.com

Sir Paul McCartney blames label for Beatles iTunes delay BBC News Page last updated at 10:43 GMT, Friday, 14 May 2010 11:43 UK By Dan Whitworth Sir Paul McCartney says the delay getting the songs onto iTunes has been "crazy" He's one of the biggest rock stars in the world, and it's one of the biggest music sellers in the world. But despite years of negotiations Sir Paul McCartney and iTunes still haven't done a deal to make Beatles' tracks available to download. "To tell you the truth I don't actually understand how it's got so crazy," Sir Paul told Newsbeat. "I know iTunes would like to do it, so one day it's going to happen." Sir Paul has claimed the delay is down to record company EMI. "It's been business hassles", he said. "Not with us, or iTunes. It's the people in the middle, the record label. There have been all sorts of reasons why they don't want to do it." McCartney has long insisted that he wants to make his old tracks with John, George and Ringo available to download. But so far the band's back catalogue, which features some of the most famous songs ever written, has been unavailable to buy online. However, record label EMI insists it's working hard to sort out the situation. In a statement it said: "Discussions are ongoing. We would love to see The Beatles' music available for sale digitally." Sir Paul said he isn't too worried that a younger audience could be missing out: "We get so played and noticed and tributed as The Beatles that I'm not complaining." Yes, I'd like it to happen in my bloody lifetime, as well! :lol:

Paul McCartney's entire back catalogue to be reissued by Concord Music Group The BeatlesBible.com 12.43pm, Wednesday 21 April 2010 It has been announced that Sir Paul McCartney's complete solo and Wings back catalogue will be reissued by the Concord Music Group. The reissue programme, announced to coincide with the 40th anniversary of 1970's McCartney album, will encompass both physical and digital distribution of McCartney's recordings, and will also include his recordings as The Fireman, Twin Freaks and Percy 'Thrills' Thrillington. The first album to be reissued will be the classic Band On The Run, seen by many fans as McCartney's finest post-Beatles album. A special multi-disc edition will include bonus material, remastered audio and enhanced packaging. The move marks a formal end to McCartney's business relationship with EMI Group, which until February 2010 had owned the rights to the majority of his music. McCartney's releases since 2007, including Memory Almost Full and Good Evening New York City, were released by the independent company Concord. Here's the full press release: Paul McCartney's MPL and Concord Music Group, one of the world's leading independent music companies today announced an historic agreement to globally market and distribute McCartney's venerated solo and Wings catalog, which encompass 40 years of cherished, classic material from the most successful songwriter and recording artist in music history. Indeed, the music legend has sold an astonishing 100 million solo singles and 700 million albums world-wide in his unparalleled career. The announcement coincides with the 40th anniversary of McCartney, his fabled first solo album released April, 1970. This exclusive global arrangement, will cover both physical and digital distribution of McCartney's treasured post Beatles catalog including landmark solo albums such as McCartney, Ram, McCartney II, Tug Of War, Pipes of Peace, Give My Regards To Broad Street, Press To Play, Flowers in the Dirt, Off the Ground, Flaming Pie, Driving Rain, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, Memory Almost Full, and Good Evening New York City. The classic Wings albums include Wildlife, Red Rose Speedway, Band On The Run, Venus and Mars, Wings At The Speed of Sound, Wings Over America, London Town and Back To The Egg. The catalog also includes the inventive, highly regarded albums recorded under the McCartney pseudonyms Percy "Thrills" Thrillington, The Fireman and Twin Freaks. The indispensible and remarkably enduring collection of songs represented in McCartney's post 1970 collected works include the gems "Maybe I'm Amazed", "Another Day", "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey", "My Love", "Live & Let Die", "Band On The Run", "Jet", "Listen To What The Man Said", "Silly Love Songs", "Let 'Em In", "With A Little Luck", "Mull Of Kintyre", "Coming Up", "Ebony and Ivory", "Say Say Say", "No More Lonely Nights", "My Brave Face", "Hope Of Deliverance", "Fine Line", and "Dance Tonight" among many others. McCartney fans can look forward to an ambitious and rewarding reissue program beginning in August of 2010 with Band On The Run; Paul McCartney & Wings' classic #1 album from 1973 that spawned the immortal title song as well as the smash hit "Jet". It will be available in a variety of configurations, including a special collector's multi-disc edition with remastered audio, enhanced packaging and rare bonus content. In 2007 Concord Records and Starbucks partnered to form Hear Music whose inaugural release was Paul McCartney's highly successful, critically acclaimed album Memory Almost Full. The McCartney-Concord relationship has since blossomed to include the 2009 release of McCartney's historic multi-disc live CD/DVD Good Evening New York City and now this landmark multi-year global marketing and distribution partnership. "Since the release of Memory Almost Full in 2007 I have had a good working relationship with Concord and enjoyed our mutual love of music," stated McCartney. "I'm looking forward to continuing this relationship with the new catalog campaign. I'm always looking for new ways and opportunities to get my music to people and Concord share this passion." "Working with Paul McCartney, the MPL team and this tremendous catalog is an unbelievable honor," stated Glen Barros, Concord Music Group President and CEO. "To so many of us here at Concord and to millions of people all over the world, Paul's music has formed a big part of 'life's soundtrack'. So to now be a part of representing this amazing body of work is nothing short of a dream come true." Mmmm, I'm very interested in this. But as I have already own all McCartney/Wings studio albums I'm very curious about the extra tracks?

Zoo Gang

Well this is the only game I stand a chance of winning at year end. :lol:

Movers: #12 Alexandra Burke #19 The Squad #28 Glee - Jessie's Girl #36 Nas & Damian Marley #38 Glee - One #40 Katie Melua #44 Glee - The Boy Is Mine #47 Muse #53 Glee - The Lady Is A Tramp #70 Glee - Rose's Turn

A fantastic performance on the Graham Norton show, just now. Let's hope it has a Monday night "Glee effect", and rapidly climbs up iTunes over the next 24 Hours.

Well done to on loan youngster Stephen Darby scoring the winning penalty in their shootout against Charlton Athletic. :w00t: Good to know that at least one Liverpool player will be playing a cup match at Wembley Stadium this season. Anyway after a certain promoted side from the first Division can get a song high up on ITunes; then I reckon a remake of this original hit single (by my local club's manager namesake) would be a worthy Top 40 hit. HJxIblwPKJE