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 …
Category Archives: City
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 …
Granada
“Granada, tierra soñada por mí” or in English “Granada, land of dreams for me” wrote the Mexican composer Agustín Lara in 1932. From the 1940s onwards he became well known in Spain and in 1965, the Franco gave him a house in Granada in appreciation of his songs with Spanish themes. Granada, Seville and Madrid …
We’re all going on a summer holiday.
“We’re going where the sun shines brightlyWe’re going where the sea is blue” So sung Cliff Richard in the film “Summer Holiday” as he drove his No.9 London bus from London to the South of France via Dover and Paris. With the lifting of restrictions on non-essential travel to certain overseas destinations we can all …
Perth is a culture shock
Maybe not so much today, but back in the 1970s it might have felt that way. Along with Honolulu, Perth is one of the remotest cities in the world. “Perth is a culture shock” by the Perth based “The Victims” who were a punk band active from 1977 to 1979. The actual track was not …
Where are we now?
This week we are in Berlin. In 2013 having not released any new material for 10 years David Bowie released his 24th album “The Next Day” on his 66th birthday. The first single to be released from that album was “Where are we now?” and reached no 6 in the UK charts and no 2 …
What’s new, Buenos Aires?!
So goes the first line of the “Buenos Aires” from the musical “Evita” by Andrew Lloyd-Webber and and Tim Rice. Buenos Aires can be literally translated as “fair winds” or “good airs”, but it is the former that gave this alternative long haul winter destination it’s name. Being in the southern hemisphere their summer is …
Oh Vienna
Voted the most popular song to peak at Number 2 in the charts. Vienna by Ultravox takes us of to the historic city of the same name. Written by Midge Ure about a brief love affair in this is often forgotten romantic city. Initially drawn to Vienna by the “Best Ever British Film” The Third …
Love in Hong Kong
No lyrics to this musical track by Bei Bei and Shawn Lee but the haunting sound of the beautiful 21 stringed guzheng draws you to the east. The video was filmed in London where American Guitarist Shawn Lee now lives, in Los Angeles where we can see Bei Bei playing the guzheng and finally in …
Sometimes
“Sometimes” is the last track from the excellent BBC series “Normal People” based on the book by Sally Rooney is a reminder that we don’t always have to travel halfway round the world to have a wonderful short break or a super holiday. Sometimes we don’t have far to go. Just a short flight or …