The Northern Lights are in my Mind

In 2019 we pointed you in the direction of the Northern Lights. In fact in 1978 the group Renaissance were singing about the Northern Lights in their only hit single. The beauty of the song matches the sight of the lights. The Northern Lights or to give them their technical name, the “Aurora Borealis” are …

My girl and I went walking

by the Caribbean sea. So wrote Jimmy Buffett in his track Pre-You. Buffett is multi-talented American singer–songwriter, author, and businessman. His songs often make reference to an “island escapism” lifestyle.  I think that many of us could do with some of that right now. His songs are full of references to various Caribbean islands and …

Cyprus is my island

“Cyprus is my island. When the going’s rough I would love to find you Somewhere in a place like that… ” David Bowie once again provides our musical inspiration for our travel destination this week. The lyrics above come from the track “Move On”. Bowie’s first wife Angie was actually born on the island and …

I Imagine the Country

The song has its origins in the summer of 1989 just prior to the collapse of communism. At a local festival Dežo Ursiny sang John Lennon’s Imagine.  This was followed by a Slovak version written by Ivan Štrpka. The Slovak version became “Predstavujem Si Krajinu” (I imagine the country).  At the time it symbolised living …

Cheira a Lisboa

“Cheira bem, já tem sol, Cheira a lua, cheira a Lisboa” which translates as “Smells good, it’s sunny, smells like the moon, smells like Lisbon”. The song by Belgium born Wendy Nazaré and French singer Pep’s, is about the delights of Lisbon as well as referring to historical events such as the Great Earthquake of …

Rīga, mana Rīga, tevi mīlu es

“Riga, my Riga, I love you”, is a popular Latvian song written based upon the poetry of Aleksandrs Čaks, a famous Latvian poet. Čaks was born in Riga and much of his poetry was written about the wonderful city of Riga and its people. There is a street named after him. Arturs Maskats composed the …

Nostalgia de Milan

Giovanni D’Anzi is the writer of the song that bares the title “Nostalgia de Milan”. He was born in Milan in 1906 and wrote many songs relating to Milan. He is most famous for this song ” O mia bela Madonina“. Written in 1934 as a counter to the songs of the Napolean immigrants and …

I would walk 500 miles

There cannot be a more evocative song from the modern era that transports you to Scotland. As Craig and Charlie Reid sing “I would walk 500 miles” you are instantly taken to the land of castles, whisky, glen, bens and lochs. Starting and ending at Inverness Castle the North 500, is a 516 mile route …

Adieu les tours de La Rochelle

“Farewell to the towers of La Rochelle” sang “Les Binuchards” a French “rock festif” group based in Gémozac about an hours drive south of La Rochelle about a sailor setting out on a voyage. The towers of La Rochelle refer to the three towers that formed part of the towns historic fortifications. The Saint Nicolas …