Come take a break and go Mallorca

So sang Loft in their 1996 single “Mallorca”. Loft a German band founded by two Jamaican brothers Courtney and Richard Williams had a number of chart hits with their earlier singles but this one unfortunately didn’t but became a club favourite. However as we grow older we start to appreciate a different side to Mallorca. …

Lights out.

The new Formula One season is almost upon us. After last season’s dramatic end conclusion, things are gearing themselves up to a really explosive year of racing. We have looked at Formula One destinations previously, but today we are off to Montreal for the Grand Prix du Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve from Friday June 17th …

Imagine

This posting is unusual in that we are going to focus on just one very small area in the world. Specifically Central Park in New York City. The song was intially composed in the UK but completed in New York where Lennon had lived since 1971 and it was there that John Lennon was fatally …

It Always Rains in Wuppertal

No words or video in today’s track. Everything is in the title. Pyrolater aka is a German musician and record producer. . Wuppertal is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany located in the Wupper Valley. east of Dusseldorf. It is best known these days for its suspension railway or Schwebebahn as it is known locally, …

The White Rose of Athens

The song “The White Rose of Athens” was based on a traditional Greek song which translated as “When you whistle three times”. The song was originally adapted into German as “Weiße Rosen aus Athen” for Nana Mouskouri to sing for a soundtrack on a German documentary called “Greece, land of dreams”. For most people that …

It was in Prague not so long ago

So goes the opening line of 1965 released song Prague by Rika Zaraï, an Israeli singer who not only sang in French, but English, Hebrew, Spanish, Italian and German. Rika lived most of her life in Paris where she made a career as a singer, songwriter, musician and author. Prague is a great place to …

Songo ‘e nato

This song by Mario Abbate was realeased in 1969. Mario Abbate is one of a long line of singers who follow in the tradition of a long line of artists who perform “Canzone Napoletana”, songs sung in the Neopolitan language typically by a male singer. In 1830 at the Festival of Piedigrotta an annual song …

Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair.

The title of today’s post is from a 1967 song sung by Scott McKenzie. The full title of of the song is neither “San Francisco” or “Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair”, but both. The song was produced and released by John Phillips (who also wrote the lyrics) and Lou Alder to promote …

P’tite fleur aimée

P’tite fleur aimée (“Little beloved flower”, also known as P’tite fleur fanée, “Little faded flower”), is the best known song from the island of Réunion . It is considered the unofficial local anthem. Being technically part of France its national anthem is La Marseillaise. Flying from Paris to the island of Réunion you are undertaking …

It’s the same from Auschwitz to Ipswich

So go the lyrics from the track “Auschwitz to Ipswich” by Jarvis Cocker from his “self titled” solo album. Its quite difficult to find songs with Ipswich in the lyrics that are positive about the town. We debated hard and strong on whether to include Ipswich Town football chants or go for a bit of …