Tim Garratt's Blog

As the clock ticks down to my Isle of Wight trip I was thinking about music. It plays quite a big part in my life. I love watching live music and have really lost count of who I have seen (I keep promising to write myself a list!). I also use music when I am working – it helps me concentrate in my open plan office – it also gives other people a clue that I am concentrating (thus would prefer not to be disturbed…)

I heard someone remark on the radio about where people where when things happened (notably Kennedy’s Assassination – which rocked various Nations). The next item was about schools and I wondered if the schools and places I had been to had particular songs attributable…

So here goes!

Firbeck Infants and Junior Wollaton Nottingham – Long Haired Lover from Liverpool – Little Jimmy Osmond
Arnold Hill Comprehensive Nottingham- Abba Waterloo
Ainsdale Comprehensive Southport – Ca Plane Pour Moi – Plastic Betrand
Southport Technical College – Blondie – Sunday Girl
Bilborough College Nottingham – The Boomtown Rats (generally!)
Basford Hall College – Ian Dury – Reasons to be Cheerful (Part 3)
Trent Polytechnic (1st time) – The Jam – Going Underground
Trent Polytechnic (2nd time) – New Order – Blue Monday

I will put my thinking cap on for workplaces and music…

p.s. I didn’t say I liked all the above songs!

Following in the footsteps of my Little Boots post there was a request this week from one of my mates at the squash club. He was getting some music together for his wife’s ipod. The only issue was it had to have a ‘birthing’ theme.

These are not all my suggestions, but some are really quite good… Some I couldn’t publish! Here’s the top twenty though…

1. Salt ‘n’ pepper – Push It
2. Diana Ross – I’m Coming Out
3. Squeeze – Up the junction or Pulling Mussels
4. Queen & Bowie – Under Pressure
5. Maximo Park – Apply Some Pressure
6. Oasis – Go Let it Out
7. Killers – Smile Like You Mean It
8. Ladyhawke – Back of the Van
9. Stranglers – Peaches
10. Paolo Nutini – Pencil Full of Lead
11. Berlin – Take My Breath Away
12. Gina G – Ooh Aar Just a Little Bit
13. Guns n Roses – Sweet Child of Mine
14. Portishead – Glory Box
15. Feeder – Pushing the senses
16. Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire
17. Automatic – Monster
18. Elvis Costello – Pump it Up
19. Isaac Hayes – Shaft
20. Razorlight – Which way is Out?

Any others to add?

I saw Little Boots in New York in September at the excellent Bowery Ballroom. Since that time I have been following her on twitter – and she has certainly travelled around. But over the last few days she has been inviting fans to put forward a menu on twitter using music as the basis. And the very funny menu is:

STARTER

Black Eyed Pea Soup
Notorious B.L.T.

MAIN COURSE

Calvin Haggis with Susan Boyled Potatoes and Paris Stilton
or
Madonna Kebab with Hot Chips
or
Cod Stewart with Lady Gagalic bread
or
Roast Pjork with Cheryl Coleslaw

DESSERT

Cake That with Ginger Spice
Pavlova Faith with Peaches
Jelly Furtatdo topped with Bon Bon Jovis

Lionel Rich Tea / Hot Chocolate

It made me smile! The power of collaboration!

ps She can sing too – here she is on Youtube with a great acoustic version of Earthquake – if you get the chance go and see her! And if you are ever in New York, look up the Bowery and see what’s on, it too is a great venue.