Thursday, 31 March 2011
The Beatles.
Last night on YouTube, I watched several Beatles clips. In fact, make that rather a lot of Beatles clips. After I watched and heard the first one, I just had to watch and hear another... and another... and another... and so on.
What a magnificent body of work they created within the space of 10 wonderful years. It must have been a big event every time The Beatles released a single or album back in the 60s. From recording 3 minute bubblegum pop songs through to the musical progression of their later more intricate work, they went on one huge musical journey, becoming the biggest and greatest band the world has ever seen.
To this day, in my opinion, they are still the greatest musical act of all time. Back in the 60s, far more music was released by artistes than today, and The Beatles released a new album every year in their existence. That's how prolific they were. It's not about quantity, though. It's quality that is the most important factor. And their whole body of work was of top quality.
Incredibly, I only have two "best of" compilations of their catalogue on cd in my collection. For years, I have intended on buying a box set of their complete works, but have never actually did it. Of course, I will have to correct that in the not too distant future. It's ridiculous to think the band I regard as the greatest ever, I don't have any of their original studio albums! Shocking.
We will never see their like again, sadly. Not even close. Music being recorded today comes nowhere near the standard of The Beatles. Sometimes I wish I had been born a little earlier, so that I could have fully appreciated the massive impact and universal popularity of The Beatles and their music. Obviously, nothing I could have done about that!
Picking my favourite Beatles song is very difficult, though, because they recorded many classic tunes. Paperback Writer has to be up there, though. The video (or promotional film as it was called in 1966) is absolutely wonderful. It captures the band halfway through their career, looking happy, relaxed, and cool! Great song as well, of course.
I've included it among three clips that I've posted here in my blog. Each and every one a genuine classic. Enjoy.
What a magnificent body of work they created within the space of 10 wonderful years. It must have been a big event every time The Beatles released a single or album back in the 60s. From recording 3 minute bubblegum pop songs through to the musical progression of their later more intricate work, they went on one huge musical journey, becoming the biggest and greatest band the world has ever seen.
To this day, in my opinion, they are still the greatest musical act of all time. Back in the 60s, far more music was released by artistes than today, and The Beatles released a new album every year in their existence. That's how prolific they were. It's not about quantity, though. It's quality that is the most important factor. And their whole body of work was of top quality.
Incredibly, I only have two "best of" compilations of their catalogue on cd in my collection. For years, I have intended on buying a box set of their complete works, but have never actually did it. Of course, I will have to correct that in the not too distant future. It's ridiculous to think the band I regard as the greatest ever, I don't have any of their original studio albums! Shocking.
We will never see their like again, sadly. Not even close. Music being recorded today comes nowhere near the standard of The Beatles. Sometimes I wish I had been born a little earlier, so that I could have fully appreciated the massive impact and universal popularity of The Beatles and their music. Obviously, nothing I could have done about that!
Picking my favourite Beatles song is very difficult, though, because they recorded many classic tunes. Paperback Writer has to be up there, though. The video (or promotional film as it was called in 1966) is absolutely wonderful. It captures the band halfway through their career, looking happy, relaxed, and cool! Great song as well, of course.
I've included it among three clips that I've posted here in my blog. Each and every one a genuine classic. Enjoy.
Monday, 28 February 2011
Wrong Decision.
With the benefit of hindsight, it is easy to look back and see where you have made a wrong decision. Of course, at the time, I thought I was making the right decision, because I usually think the circumstances out long and hard beforehand. However, in December 2009, I made a bad career decision which I now regret.
I left a secure permanent job to go to a temporary job. I was under the impression the temporary job would lead to a permanent position, but alas, it did not turn out that way. After several months, the contract ended, and I became unemployed. It was only then I realised I had made a wrong decision to leave my permanent job.
I haven't made many mistakes in my life, but that was the biggest mistake of my life, and hopefully will be for the remainder of it. I suppose we all learn from our mistakes, and I have certainly learned from that one.
At the moment, I am still hurting from that wrong decision and going through an uncertain period of my life. I am hoping events in my life will take a turn for the better soon and the wrong decision will be easier to live with. Time will tell.
I left a secure permanent job to go to a temporary job. I was under the impression the temporary job would lead to a permanent position, but alas, it did not turn out that way. After several months, the contract ended, and I became unemployed. It was only then I realised I had made a wrong decision to leave my permanent job.
I haven't made many mistakes in my life, but that was the biggest mistake of my life, and hopefully will be for the remainder of it. I suppose we all learn from our mistakes, and I have certainly learned from that one.
At the moment, I am still hurting from that wrong decision and going through an uncertain period of my life. I am hoping events in my life will take a turn for the better soon and the wrong decision will be easier to live with. Time will tell.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Andy Gray and Richard Keys.
I have to say I am disgusted at the departure of Andy Gray and Richard Keys from Sky Sports. The giants of football punditry... probably the best at what they do. I am disgusted at Sky Sports for the way they have handled the whole sorrowful matter.
For me, it's an over reaction to Gray and Keys' behaviour on the part of Sky Sports. What was said between the two of them is banter that takes place in pubs and workplaces everyday all over the country. Their dialogue was not broadcast on air - it was a private conversation off air. Yes, what they said was sexist, but not sufficient to merit a sacking.
The fact this off air conversation was made public means somebody at Sky Sports wanted them to pay for it. Or else this would never have seen the light of day. The same goes for the video clips that were released soon after, obviously again by an employee or employees of Sky Sports. Why did they want Gray and Keys out? Jealousy and envy spring to mind. Or perhaps they are ageist and want younger personalities to take their place. Whatever their reason is, it's sad and pathetic behaviour.
Of course, it would not be surprising if it's the same person or people who decided to sack Andy Gray. Apparently, a reprimand was as far as it was going to go until the video clip of him asking Charlotte Jackson to "tuck him in" was released by a Sky Sports employee. It's absolutely ridiculous Gray was sacked because of this clip. Incidents similar to this occur all the time. We would have thousands of men sacked every day if that's a sackable offence. Sky Sports were obviously looking for a reason to sack Gray, and the first little chance they had, they took it. I certainly hope Gray is successful with his plans to sue Sky Sports for £3 million.
What annoys me is how Gray and Keys have been treated differently by many people. Gray is made out to be the bad guy while Keys is looked upon as being led astray. Why? It was Keys that initiated the conversation about the lineswoman. It was also Keys that had a go at Karren Brady. So why do journalists like Henry Winter and Oliver Holt and many other people portray Gray as this seedy figure, but look upon Keys as still a great presenter? I cannot see what Gray has done that is worse than Keys. Surely not that incident with Charlotte Jackson? Come on. Keys made sexist remarks in a video clip where he is referring to an ex-girlfriend of Jamie Redknapp. I can't understand why Sky Sports did not sack Keys if they thought they were justified in sacking Gray. I would love to know their explanation of this, but emailing them will not produce a reply, I'm afraid. Someone or some people at Sky Sports obviously had it in for Gray more so than Keys.
I disagree that the views of Gray and Keys are "prehistoric." As I wrote earlier, views or banter like this happen all over the country every day. The problem is we love in a world that has became increasingly politically correct. Yes, politically correct gone mad. You can't say anything without some killjoy complaining of you being sexist, racist, or homophobic. We have to be extra guarded about what we say, because some humourless person will complain and report it if it falls slighty into the three categories I just mentioned. Lighten up, people. Stop taking everything so seriously. Have a laugh. The world has become too intense, uptight, and humourless.
An example of this is Rio Ferdinand. He tweeted "prehistoric banter, no place for it." Richard Keys was correct when he referred to it with, "Are you telling me it does not take place in the Manchester Utd dressing room? My information is that it does." Ferdinand is a hypocrite, just like Henry Winter and Oliver Holt. Footballers are the last people on earth that should have a right to be critical of a person's morals.
For me, Andy Gray and Richard Keys were and are the best at what they do. Presenting and the analysis of the best of English football. They have been doing it for almost 20 years and it's a great shame they are not being allowed to continue doing so. I will miss them a lot. I would like to think they will be given the opportunity to work for another television broadcaster in the future. If I was the boss at ESPN, I would sign them up as soon as possible. Give them a weekly show so they can continue to give us the highest standard of football presenting and analysis.
Maybe I'm dreaming about that, but it's hard to accept they will never appear again on our screens in the capacity they were working in so well.
For me, it's an over reaction to Gray and Keys' behaviour on the part of Sky Sports. What was said between the two of them is banter that takes place in pubs and workplaces everyday all over the country. Their dialogue was not broadcast on air - it was a private conversation off air. Yes, what they said was sexist, but not sufficient to merit a sacking.
The fact this off air conversation was made public means somebody at Sky Sports wanted them to pay for it. Or else this would never have seen the light of day. The same goes for the video clips that were released soon after, obviously again by an employee or employees of Sky Sports. Why did they want Gray and Keys out? Jealousy and envy spring to mind. Or perhaps they are ageist and want younger personalities to take their place. Whatever their reason is, it's sad and pathetic behaviour.
Of course, it would not be surprising if it's the same person or people who decided to sack Andy Gray. Apparently, a reprimand was as far as it was going to go until the video clip of him asking Charlotte Jackson to "tuck him in" was released by a Sky Sports employee. It's absolutely ridiculous Gray was sacked because of this clip. Incidents similar to this occur all the time. We would have thousands of men sacked every day if that's a sackable offence. Sky Sports were obviously looking for a reason to sack Gray, and the first little chance they had, they took it. I certainly hope Gray is successful with his plans to sue Sky Sports for £3 million.
What annoys me is how Gray and Keys have been treated differently by many people. Gray is made out to be the bad guy while Keys is looked upon as being led astray. Why? It was Keys that initiated the conversation about the lineswoman. It was also Keys that had a go at Karren Brady. So why do journalists like Henry Winter and Oliver Holt and many other people portray Gray as this seedy figure, but look upon Keys as still a great presenter? I cannot see what Gray has done that is worse than Keys. Surely not that incident with Charlotte Jackson? Come on. Keys made sexist remarks in a video clip where he is referring to an ex-girlfriend of Jamie Redknapp. I can't understand why Sky Sports did not sack Keys if they thought they were justified in sacking Gray. I would love to know their explanation of this, but emailing them will not produce a reply, I'm afraid. Someone or some people at Sky Sports obviously had it in for Gray more so than Keys.
I disagree that the views of Gray and Keys are "prehistoric." As I wrote earlier, views or banter like this happen all over the country every day. The problem is we love in a world that has became increasingly politically correct. Yes, politically correct gone mad. You can't say anything without some killjoy complaining of you being sexist, racist, or homophobic. We have to be extra guarded about what we say, because some humourless person will complain and report it if it falls slighty into the three categories I just mentioned. Lighten up, people. Stop taking everything so seriously. Have a laugh. The world has become too intense, uptight, and humourless.
An example of this is Rio Ferdinand. He tweeted "prehistoric banter, no place for it." Richard Keys was correct when he referred to it with, "Are you telling me it does not take place in the Manchester Utd dressing room? My information is that it does." Ferdinand is a hypocrite, just like Henry Winter and Oliver Holt. Footballers are the last people on earth that should have a right to be critical of a person's morals.
For me, Andy Gray and Richard Keys were and are the best at what they do. Presenting and the analysis of the best of English football. They have been doing it for almost 20 years and it's a great shame they are not being allowed to continue doing so. I will miss them a lot. I would like to think they will be given the opportunity to work for another television broadcaster in the future. If I was the boss at ESPN, I would sign them up as soon as possible. Give them a weekly show so they can continue to give us the highest standard of football presenting and analysis.
Maybe I'm dreaming about that, but it's hard to accept they will never appear again on our screens in the capacity they were working in so well.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Unguilty Pleasures.
What exactly IS a guilty pleasure? I mean, you either like something or you don't. Why would you feel guilty about it? What would make you feel guilty to like something? It really is a stupid phrase. What idiot or idiots thought it up?
I ask this because there seems to be a common use of "guilty pleasures" over the past few years. The idiots seem to attach it to something classic from years gone by. For instance, classic musical artists like Abba and ELO have been tarnished with this awful description. Two of the best pop acts of the 1970s. Why do the idiots think it's guilty to like them? Why would they be embarrassed to like listening to their music? Very strange behaviour.
My theory is it is the views of young people who look back upon classic works in the past as "cheesy" and embarrassing to listen to. They are snobs who look down upon the likes of Abba and ELO as if they should only be heard in private, and not shared with the outside world. Why? I guess because these artists are too old and not considered "trendy" enough. Musical snobs.
I also hate the word "cheesy". Once again, it's used to describe things like classic music from the 70s and 80s in a derogatory sense. Again, by the same young people who use the words "guilty pleasures" in their vocabulary. You hardly ever hear older people like myself use "cheesy" and "guilty pleasures" when talking about classic music from the distant past. "Classic pop" and "classic rock" are the perfect descriptions for it. We are not musical snobs because we grew up with music when it was far superior to todays's mediocrity.
Abba and ELO are pleasures not to feel guilty about. They are unguilty pleasures, to be precise. You should never feel guilty about liking something, regardless of when it was produced. And please stop using "cheesy" as a description... it's much better to describe it as "classic".
I ask this because there seems to be a common use of "guilty pleasures" over the past few years. The idiots seem to attach it to something classic from years gone by. For instance, classic musical artists like Abba and ELO have been tarnished with this awful description. Two of the best pop acts of the 1970s. Why do the idiots think it's guilty to like them? Why would they be embarrassed to like listening to their music? Very strange behaviour.
My theory is it is the views of young people who look back upon classic works in the past as "cheesy" and embarrassing to listen to. They are snobs who look down upon the likes of Abba and ELO as if they should only be heard in private, and not shared with the outside world. Why? I guess because these artists are too old and not considered "trendy" enough. Musical snobs.
I also hate the word "cheesy". Once again, it's used to describe things like classic music from the 70s and 80s in a derogatory sense. Again, by the same young people who use the words "guilty pleasures" in their vocabulary. You hardly ever hear older people like myself use "cheesy" and "guilty pleasures" when talking about classic music from the distant past. "Classic pop" and "classic rock" are the perfect descriptions for it. We are not musical snobs because we grew up with music when it was far superior to todays's mediocrity.
Abba and ELO are pleasures not to feel guilty about. They are unguilty pleasures, to be precise. You should never feel guilty about liking something, regardless of when it was produced. And please stop using "cheesy" as a description... it's much better to describe it as "classic".
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