Anyone else notice Mourinho's damaged hand at the end of tonight's big game?
He appeared in front of the TV cameras with a freshly taped up & swollen right hand.
I wonder what [or who] did he punch after the final whistle?

I was driving around today when Cat Stevens came on the radio.
The song was "[Remember the days of the] Old School Yard"
I've never cared much for it and was again reminded of one of the truly dreadful lyrics in popular song -

"When we had simplicity
And we had warm toast for tea"

Ouch!!

This is from the same person who wrote

"Taking time to check the dial

And the Lillywhite
I never knew her name
But she'll be passing my way sometime again.

I raise my hand and touch the wheel
Of change
Taking time to check the dial

Thank the Lillywhite
I never knew her name
But she'll be passing my way sometime again.
But she'll be passing my way sometime again."

Now, I accept that sometimes lyrics can seem at best simple and at worst down right bad, but sometimes a little insight can transform an apparently average lyric into something more substantial. The lyric to Lillywhite is a good example of a lyric that can be elevated by a little background info from the writer but, no amount of insight is going to save "When we had simplicity And we had warm toast for tea" - It's just bad.

So we get to the point of the post.

There have to be other examples of otherwise respected lyricists who have strayed from the path into the equivalent of rhyming 'simplicity' with '..toast for tea'. Or conversely, an otherwise average lyricist who managed to surpass themselves and transcend the ordinary.

Anyone?

Where I am, today has been a beautiful, sunny, bright, crisp Spring day and It's left me feeling good.
To celebrate I thought I would post this clip & ask that you reply with a suitably Spring-ish clip or recommendation of your own.
And if tomorrow it should rain, at least we had today.

Today would have been his 78th birthday.

http://open.spotify.com/album/031KSjw6O1fBuldRI1rK5A

Wonderful free track from their new album - described on this blog as "McCartney-esque". [May also contain traces of XTC]

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/them-that-do-nothing-single/id355603696...

How did I miss this guy?
If like me, you managed to go this far without hearing his music, have a listen to this.
It's beautiful.

Delighted to see that Field Music have a new album due next week. This is the first single and it's a cracker. Enjoy.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002U33GU6/ref=s9_simi_gw_p15_i1?pf_r...

It deserves your attention
Wild Beasts - 'We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues'

http://open.spotify.com/album/6Eoj1zHUY3VYUocKZVCawO

Found myself singing along to this more than once in the car recently [Radio 2].
No deep reason for posting other than I was surprised how much I enjoyed it!
Top pop!

Click the link for details.
http://www.joshritter.com/sorunstheworldaway/

Free Yeasayer track here

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Yeasayer/track/ONE

"Will.i.am remixes My Generation to benefit Haiti
The Black Eyed Peas mastermind has reworked the classic Who song, with proceeds going to the Haiti earthquake relief. Expect references to Twitter, Obama and 'lady lumps'"
[Presumably, the line 'Hope I die before I get old' has been removed]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jan/29/will-i-am-my-generation

What's next? Which classics would benefit from a bit of a modern twist?
We've already had the Soulwax remix of You Can't Always Get What You Want. Unlike that, maybe this will be good.
Anyone looking forward to hearing it will only have to wait until Sunday.

Terry Pratchet put it better than I could ever hope to, but I have always believed in the right to have a 'Death Worth Dying For' and that conviction grows ever more resolute with each passing year. As it's a debate which is finally entering the public consciousness I wonder whether you would care to share?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8481751.stm