One of the funniest gags in the Mel Brooks classic Blazing Saddles (and there are plenty to choose from) must be the running joke about the character Hedley Lamarr – that’s Hedley, not Hedy! Supposedly, the Austrian-born actress took exception to the unauthorised use of (almost) her name for the Harvey Korman character and threatened … Continue reading
Category Archives: Pop
Funk / Jazz / Lyrics / Music / Pop / R&B / Songwriting / Soul / Uncategorized / Writing
Lining up for summer jazz
Two of the summer’s big jazz festivals have announced their 2014 line-ups – here’s Pink Pie’s look at what’s in store at Brecon and Love Supreme. The 30th anniversary Brecon Jazz Festival is headlined by Burt Bacharach, who opens the event on Thursday 7th August. I’m not being disrespectful by saying Burt was never the … Continue reading
Cardiff / Comedy / Film / Jazz / Music / Pop / Songwriting / Theatre / Uncategorized / Wales
The musical that rains supreme
It doesn’t have much of a plot, its songs were mostly recycled from earlier productions, and the star was suffering a fever when he had to film the title song-and-dance routine, getting soaked to the skin in a shrinking wool suit. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it? But this was Singin’ in the … Continue reading
Music / Pop / Rock / Songwriting
More Leigh-on-Sea than LA, meet the Essex Steely Dan
Much of Steely Dan’s music oozes California sunshine. Which is odd because Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are born-and-bred New Yorkers. But here’s something odder – jump a further 3,000 miles east and you find a new bunch of Dan-alikes, who are actually more Leigh-on-Sea than LA. I say “bunch”. Actually, I don’t know how … Continue reading
Film / Funk / Jazz / Lyrics / Music / Pop / R&B / Rock / Songwriting / Superheroes / Television / Uncategorized / Writing
If you’re seeking a pop-inspired philosophy, be a driver, not a rollercoaster rider
Maybe pop songs aren’t the best place to seek your philosophy of life, but if that’s where you’re looking, may I recommend you pay more heed to the acid-jazz/funk of Brand New Heavies than to the pop-pop/pop of Ronan Keating? Ronan told us in 2000, “Life is a rollercoaster/ Just gotta ride it” and I’ve … Continue reading
How about it? A summer anthem of love, peace, harmony
Here’s my nomination for the summer anthem of 2013 – Shaun Escoffery’s Nature’s Call is a timely antidote to the hatred on our streets and social channels in recent weeks. Continue reading
Cardiff’s greatest star? A Hitchcock leading man and songwriting genius
My adopted home town of Cardiff, Wales has produced plenty of famous names in sport (I know – I contributed to a book about it) and the arts, but I doubt any could be considered greater than Ivor Novello. Continue reading
Who’s holding whom? My problem with a song lyric
Songs aren’t just tunes, are they? As someone who’s made his living with words, the lyrics really matter to me. I’ve always been uneasy when a lyric doesn’t quite make sense or say what it’s supposed to. Toto’s Georgy Porgy, for instance. Continue reading
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