Walking through Barnes & Noble the other day, I heard an awful sanitized version of this tune. Here’s the original and still the best.

Have a nice one, come snow or rain or sunshine, and enjoy this nice cover version of the Pogues “Fairytale of New York,” sung by Christy Moore. Let’s hope for lots of improvements in 2010!

I posted this video last year, but this is easily the greatest version of the song on the internet. RIP Kristy MacColl.

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!

Today I am going to post my favorite Christmas songs. Beware. I am not a normal human being.

Father Christmas, by the Kinks:

‘Zat You, Santa Claus?, by the one and only Louis Armstrong:

A Charlie Brown  Christmas, by Bela Fleck (no seriously, he plays it on a banjo):

Aaaand, Grace’s #1, top favorite most-beloved Christmas song of all time—A Fairytale of New York, by the Pogues:

Enjoy!

I don’t carry many family traditions, but our Christmas celebrations have turned from annual routine to cherished memories, recreated each year. A soundtrack plays along with the season, songs linked with history, each fondly retold between each other. Here are just a few

I think if there is a child who was not sung this in a school choir at Christmas, they have missed out a small piece of Christmas. Recently, I got to accompany my friend’s choir in a school on guitar with this song, bringing all those memories flooding back.

When I was a child, my sister, my mother and I would make the annual trip to Blackpool to see the illuminations along the front. On the front was a massive building turned into some type of indoor market. One year, there was a CD and tape store. Both me and my sister bought a cassette with Christmas songs on it. Kim’s were all carols (she wasn’t best pleased), and mine was all pop songs. On it was this, and every year, this tape became the thing we listened to as we travelled to Blackpool. This song was on it, and became something of a favourite. Maybe just because it was a bit more dramatic than the rest.

One might assume that this would be Fairytale in New York as it’s my first in the city, and I am indeed a massive Pogues fan. But none of this quite fits into my parallel life – the one happily enslaved to everything Japanese. [Though it should be mentioned that The Pogues have always enjoyed success in Japan, and one of my favorite Japanese groups, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, cited them as an influence. And the accent rather lends itself to Shane MacGowan's vocals.]

The song that I’ve decided best accompanies the snowbanked, twinkling, nighttime streets of NYC is Geometry 246 by Yusaku Matsuda (please excuse my soppy comment on the video). It hits that emotional pitch between passion and woe that everyone I speak to about this city has felt. It’s like lonesome claustrophobia, yet somehow feels just right. The live performance has that raw, ephemeral sensation, and out does the recorded version in my opinion. There is definitely a similar connection I have with this song at Christmas as there has been for Fairytale of New York. Both have that doleful self-reflection on a life that is drifting into free fall, quietly suffering a panic attack, and weeping over lost chances or lost love…all at once.

That’s how they make me feel, anyway. 物の哀れ (mono no aware) is a quality I’ve come to know more intimately in studying Japan. Though it is widely held that as a foreigner I will never truly grasp the concept, it is equally viewed as imperative for me to try. I suppose that in itself could be mono no aware: despite the certainty of failure, I will forever have to try and understand.

Almost any route of Japanophilia will likely have lead to one of the Matsuda clan, with the spirit of Yusaku-san at it’s cultural apex and holding a constant relevance in Japanese movies and music. My knowledge of his work is still more based on what I read than his acting and music; though he and his kin have sort of become a Polaris in my studies.

Well, best wishes from me for the holidays and upcoming New Year. I hope this track is a balm to any other worried, dazed souls out there.

Merry Christmas, blog reader. I hope the festive season brings you nothing but joy and happiness. Unless you hate me and the blog – which of course begs the question as to why you’re reading it anyway.

With regard to the Christmas lights issue which I raised last week, I don’t have any objection to people putting some bright decorations on the outside of the house. It’s just that some go way beyond the acceptable boundaries of taste and respectability.

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Utterly chav-tastic

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I was in B&Q the other day and a lady in front of me in the queue was buying a Christmas tree. The shop assistant said: “Are you going to put this up yourself?”

Before allowing her to answer, I said: “No, she’s going to put it in the lounge…” Neither the lady or the staff member was sharp enough to appreciate the humour.

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Go on. Speak. Me? How?

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Although I’m not working at Pussycats on Christmas Eve, I will be there quite a bit over the festive season:

Sat 26th Boxing Day Fun

Sun 27th Costas’ Birthday Bash

This should be lively as Monday is a Bank Holiday and therefore most people will be out on the lash as they won’t be working the next day.

Thu 31st New Year’s Eve 2009 into 2010

Fri 1st Jan New Year’s Day

Sat 2nd Jan as normal

See the latest photos in the gallery at the world famous dj wanker website and see the official club pictures here.

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Is that a pearl necklace?

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Get into the festive spirit with these Christmas videos

From 1984, one of my all time favourite records – The Power of Love by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. I still have the 7″ vinyl in a gatefold sleeve. It was £1.50 well spent.

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Three years later, this wonderful collaboration made number two in the charts. The late, great Kirsty MacColl joined The Pogues in producing the spine-tingling Fairytale of New York. “You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot, Happy Christmas your arse I pray God it’s our last.”

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I’ll be surprised if I get one present this Christmas but I’m cool with that. I never know what to ask people to buy me and, in all honesty, I prefer to give than receive. In terms of presents, that is.

So what would be a nice treat from Santa??

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Santa opens his sack once a year

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I didn’t have a football match to report on last Saturday so just chilled out in the afternoon at my weekend retreat in Telford. The landlord was in charge of the remote control so we got a random selection of programmes…

* Have I Got News For You – very funny
* Chuckle Vision – what the f***?
* Friday Night with Jonathan Ross – excellent
* Live At The Apollo – decent
* EastEnders – wrist slashing rubbish
* An Audience With Freddie Starr – retro classic

I would’ve had Sky Sports Soccer Saturday on if the choice had been mine but the landlord doesn’t like football.

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Just found out that an Elvis impersonator used to live in the house. That’s true actually. I’m sure I saw his ghost in the living room one night. I was all shook up.

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There's no ghost, just your suspicious mind

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The Facebook Bit.

Status update of the week:

“Cnt wait 4 new year new start new me fuck the dickheads who ave hurt me this yr bt u aint keepin dwn i stand up n im proud ov wat i ave n got my dawta my fam n gd mates men cum n go my Princess fam n mates r 4 lyf”

People who read the blog who are unfamiliar with Facebook (there can’t be many) have asked if these status updates are genuine. Sadly, I have to admit, they are 100% genuine.

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Da kidz spk lyk dis. Init.

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I’ve changed the names on this status update because *Peggy* reads the blog and is a bit touchy… only joking *Peggy* you old goat!

Sat in McDonalds with Leah. Woman sits down next to us with her food alone. She had a large Big Mac meal, double cheeseburger, nine chicken nuggets and some of those cheese melt things!! She was about a size 12, so god knows where she stores it! Leah says in her very non subtle, non quiet voice ‘look how much food that lady has to herself and she hasn’t even got any kids with her, that’s greedy isn’t it mummy?’

Someone replied:

You should have said ‘Yes, Leah, she’s a greedy fat twat.’

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One of my FB friends went on a bit of a frenzy and joined loads of groups and fan pages on the same day – why she did this I really don’t know and I really don’t care. Although I care enough to share the information with you, obviously. She joined…

* “Why do I bother with you?”
* “Ignoring me? Two can play that game.”
* “Even though I hate you, I’d still shag you.”
* “Just because I like your status it doesn’t mean I like you.”

The nonsense continued…

* “Stop fucking around and just tell me how you feel.”
* “Tell me why you’re upset? I can’t – the reason is you.”
* “When I push you away, don’t leave – it’s times like that I need you to stay.”
* “I can switch from happy to psycho in less than two minutes … don’t go there.”

I really hope she’s not reading the blog – or if she is, she doesn’t realise I’m laughing at her. Oh, here’s some more she joined…

* “I love knowing you bitch about me then watching you be nice to my face.”
* “It still takes me ages to get to sleep on Christmas Eve.”
* “I’ve just got over liking you and then you text me and I’m back to square one.”

And then there was one more…

* “N Dubz are better than Linkin Park.”

Confirmation if confirmation was required… she’s mental.

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I did get an invite to join one group which seemed appropriate to me…

“I look at the menu for ages then just order what I always have.”

…but in the end I didn’t bother.

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It wasn't a kiss I wanted her to blow

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This is what we pay our taxes for.

Leicester Mercury:

“A hairdresser was caught smoking in the doorway of his salon when a council environmental health officer drove past. Matthew Charles Bates, of Michael Charles Hair Salon in Cross Street, Blaby, was fined £100 and ordered to pay £320 costs after the on-duty officer, waiting at traffic lights, looked out of her car and saw him having a cigarette in the doorway of his business.”

This salon is near where I live and the pavement by the business doesn’t attract many pedestrians as it’s not in a busy area. I doubt anyone was actually troubled by this guy having a fag outside. He’s now £420 worse off. I’ve even been into the salon and given the bloke a pack of fags and bottle of wine. I don’t know him but just wanted to show some support.

It’s typical of our over-zealous nanny state with people in jobs for the sake of being in a job and spreading misery. From what I can gather, the environmental officer was an officious jobsworth cock of the highest order. I hope she has a grim Christmas.

Health and Safety, my arse.

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Here’s another, erm, festive-ish video worth checking out… it’s Avid Merrion’s Proper Crimbo from 2003.

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Miley Cyrus was on the telly with Alan Carr last week. She’s still a spoilt, showbiz brat – not quite in the Jordan and Katona oxygen thief envelope but give it time.

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Not as good as her dad

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Tiger Woods is taking time off golf to work on his marriage. He’s been asked to appear in a pantomime – but they’ve had to rename the show.

“Woods in the Babes.”

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Why are con men called con men? They’re usually quite good so surely they should be called pro men.

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Michael Jackson fans.

Ensure you win the BBC3 show ‘Move Like Michael Jackson’ by lying very still in a box.

I suppose given the standard rate of decomposition, now is the perfect time for a Thriller comeback tour.

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I'm a bad-ass dead motherfucker cha'mone

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Have you noticed how contestants on reality shows like X Factor and Big Brother talk about going on ‘a journey’? Let’s hope that journey takes them back to where they belong – stacking shelves alongside the other non-entities in Asda.

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Top Tips from Viz magazine:

“Cat and dog owners – your pets have no concept of Christmas. Don’t buy them a card or present. It’s just silly.”

While the Top Tips page from Viz is deliberate sarcasm, there is actually more than a jot of truth in that.

I don’t put “Merry Christmas to Johnny, Clare, the kids and Rover the dog” in my Christmas card to you – so don’t put a fucking paw print in mine.

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Separated at birth – The footballer Theo Walcott and Marvin from JLS

Theo ?

Marvin ?

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And finally…

Remember this – a dog is not just for Christmas… with any luck there’ll be some left over for Boxing Day.

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Cheers for now,
Geoff / DJ Wanker

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“They got cars big as bars, they got rivers of gold,
But the wind goes right through you, it’s no place for the old,
When you first took my hand on a cold christmas eve,
You promised me broadway was waiting for me.”

Pogues, Fairytale of New York, 1987

And so, the final two days of work for 2009 are upon me. I am almost impressed by how my “to-do” list is shrinking at a pace, it is quite theraputic. Both days will be based in Portsmouth at my base location so no unecessary travel is required, which has the dual benefits of giving me good, long days at the desk to get work finished while not suffering any weeather related, commuting nightmares that seem to be affecting all sorts of people. Having said that, I did manage to spin the car in the little cul-de-sac where I live, on Monday evening:  Rain + Freezing Cold Road – Salt and Grit = Ice Rink. I won’t try that again in a hurry. Christmas preparations also continue and I now know pretty much where I’ll be and who I’ll be meeting all the way up until Christmas evening. Having said that, I still have about a dozen cards to write and I was reliably informed that I have now missed the last posting day… that’s my lunchtime sorted then. Before my little spin as I arrived home, I had been to Tesco to stock up on alcahol and drinks for the season but failed to buy any spirits believing that I had a cupboard full at home. However, we had the parents over for pre-Xmas drinks last night and found that the whisky had comepletely run out (both the Jamesons and the Jack Daniels), so another trip is required. All in all, a quiet an uneventful day and for that I am extremely thankful. Today’s list is the results of a recent poll to find out the most popular Christmas songs (but where are “Let It Snow” and “Winter Wonderland”?)…

1. ‘Fairytale Of New York’ – The Pogues
2. ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ – John & Yoko
3. ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ – Slade
4. ‘White Christmas’ – Bing Crosby
5. ‘I Believe in Father Christmas’ – Greg Lake
6. ‘Last Christmas’ – Wham!
7. ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ – Mariah Carey
8. ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ – Band Aid
9. ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’ – Wizzard
10. ‘Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)’ – Darlene Love

TV Watched: James May’s Toy Stories

Tweet Count: 4

Countdown: 350 days

Work Days vs Play Days: 11 – 5

Consecutive Days of Blogging: 16 (including this) I’ve impressed myself

Well, like we were talking about today, Shanoah, Jesus could be one hell of a stage magician. Hell, he’s got the long hair already. Just throw on some black eyeliner and an ankh necklace and voila! Criss Angel.

Anyway, we’ve had the Pogues’ Fairytale of New York on the blog before. But, see, we haven’t had it during Christmas (I think), so it’s cool.

This is from a live performance in 1988 on Saint Patrick’s Day. And, hey, Shane McGowan sounds like he’s completely potted. What a surprise. In case you’re having trouble following him, you can always follow along with the lyrics at the Pogues’ site here.

Keep in mind, this song is Christmas for more people than you’d care to think.

Courtesy of niceandeasy. 

“Oh, it was Christmas Eve… IN THE DRUNK TANK!”

Yesterday was the ninth anniversary of Kirsty MacColl’s death, and it came poignantly less than a week after Kirsty’s mum, the redoubtable (and now 86-year-old)  Jean MacColl, announced that she is dropping her famous campaign for justice for Kirsty. The Mexican judicial system has proved too hard a nut to crack, and there is nothing more that can be done to bring the supermarket magnate whose boat killed her to justice. It’s a huge shame. Her mother is determined to keep doing what she can privately, but she says that “it felt dishonest to go on, to keep asking for money, when we don’t feel we’ve got a chance.”

I know, I know. I know tons of people who leave the room if you so much as say “Shane McGowan” – including one guy who used to live above him or something and if you mention his name starts swearing so badly he makes McGowan himself sound like Mary Poppins’ maiden aunt. But this is a great song, and you have to admit he’s something else. And Kirsty’s lovely. And the video is like a time machine. And it really is like Christmas, this song.

As for Jean, she says: “when I hear those words: ‘You scumbag, you maggot’, I’ll think of that man.”

……for dodgy Christmas music to be played wherever you go. Mind you there are some classics that you don’t mind hearing…..

…..Like Slade (THE Slade Jimmy Saville wtf…?)….

………the great Robert Earl Keene giving us a Texas Christmas….

……and the stone-classic that is the Pogues most famous song……

………of course the King in all his glory…..

……. and ’cause Christmas is all about rock’n'rollin’ dancing girls….

………and glam rockers dressing up & releasing seasonal songs…..

…..and cause Christmas is all about the kids……oooof!

Natasha Rampley dishes out the low down in our weekly round up of what’s hot and what’s not in the UK charts.

Just one week shy off a month in the number one spot, Peter Kay’s Animated All Star Band Medley for Children In Need has been knocked off the top spot by Lady Gaga and her Bad Romance…and about time too I say.

You may hate Lady Gaga, but it’s difficult to deny the way in which she has burst onto the music scene and rooted her songs in our brains. Bad Romance is what a number one should sound like. It’s catchy, it’s different, yet it still gets you singing and dancing along as Gaga tells us she wants our love. Well Gaga, now you’ve definitely got mine.

As for the rest of the chart, I’m surprised resident Christmas anthems “Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” are so low down. Neither of them are in the top ten as they should be, given it’s the week before Christmas (and they are possibly the best Christmas songs). At least they’re higher up than Westlife’s cover of Daughtry’s “What About Now”. What a travesty that cover was! Newcomer Ke$ha has climbed into the top five with “Tik Tok”, and it’s infectious chorus which stays with you all day after one listen. As for the top three, it’s a mixture. I’m still undecided on Rihanna’s latest contribution “Russian Roulette” and as I’ve already hinted, I dislike the current number two Children In Need track.

The question is, will Gaga reign supreme next week or will the X Factor’s Joe McElderry topple her with his rendition of “The Climb”? I sincerely hope not, maybe number two for you Joe but not number one.

(Above: “Fairytale of New York” may be the best modern Christmas song of all time.)

By Joel Francis

There aren’t many Christmas songs set in jail, but dang if songwriter Shane McGowan and the Pogues don’t turn lockdown sunny side up during the four and a half minutes of “Fairytale of New York.”

“Fairytales” opens famously on Christmas Eve in the drunk tank. As an old man sings and mourns his last Christmas, the narrator’s mind drifts to a Christmas Eve with the love of his life.

McGowan paints a vivid picture of that day in the New World with “cars big as bars,” “rivers of gold,” and a wind that “goes right through you.” After exploring the Big Apple together, the pair stumbled into a place where

“Sinatra was swinging,
All the drunks they were singing.
We kissed on a corner,
Then danced through the night.”

Irish composer Fiachra Trench’s string arrangement captures perfectly the hope of the moment and excitement of a new life in a new world. During the subsequent verses, love fades and is replaced by drunkenness and addiction. But even as the couple exchanges insults, they keep returning to that Christmas Eve when the choir sang and the bells rang out.

Guest singer Kirsty MacColl appears as the woman in the story. Her melodic voice is a nice counterpoint to McGowan’s gruff brogue. MacColl’s part was originally written for Pogues bassist Cait O’Riordan. That plan fell through in 1986, when O’Riordan absconded with Elvis Costello, who was producing the band’s second album.

When the group hired Steve Lillywhite to produce their third album, he suggested MacColl, his wife at the time, to sing guide vocals on a demo until the band could find a replacement. McGowan liked her part so much she was asked to sing on the record.

Released in December, 1987, “Fairytale of New York” has become a holiday staple. In 2005 the song was re-released as a single, to benefit “Justice for Kirsty,” a crusade to uncover the truth behind MacColl’s 2000 death in a controversial boating accident.

“Fairytale of New York” has been covered numerous times, but never improved.

Keep reading:

Classic Christmas Carol: “In the Bleak Midwinter”

Classic Christmas Carol: “Greensleeves”

Classic Christmas Carol: “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”

One of the odder effects of the economy running away has been the death of the weekend. There was a time when people slaved non-stop from Monday to Friday and then got paid. Younger readers may find it difficult to imagine such a world, but I assure you; it really happened.

The obvious effect of all this work was an unnatural interference with people’s natural desire to spend all day, everyday, drunk. This is something that most employers frown upon which leaves people with two options, stay sober for five days a week or find a job that where being drunk constantly is acceptable. However there is a limit to how many people can be lead singer of The Pogues, or Minister for Finance, so weekday sobriety became the unhappy norm.

This pent up desire to get trashed would finally be satisfied on a Friday night, which would quickly turn into a painful Monday morning, with nobody having any idea of how one lead to the other, or where all the money went.

Lately, though, the weekends have gotten quiet. The real action is on a Tuesday, when dole is paid. I visited my local last night for the once a week opportunity to catch up with friends and hear their tales from the job hunt.

not that it’s ever as exciting as the term “job hunt” implies. Hunting is fun, and if it could actually lead to employment we’d all be better off. All you’d have to do is get up early, walk down to the nearest watering hole with a spear in your hand, and wait for a herd of jobs to arrive and drink their fill, or wallow in the cooling waters.

The brave job hunter would select a juicy young job and pounce once it’s mother was distracted. The job would put up a fight, but our hero would prevail, plunging his spear deep into the creature’s side. Then he’d skin the job and carry its plump flesh back to the village in time for the feast.

Instead you have the the debasing experience of sending a two page summary of your life to some moron in a cheap suit who doesn’t understand the position he’s trying to fill. Last night a friend told me about going for a job as a web designer. The employer was offering a whopping €22,000 a year, but insisted that he was looking for someone with at least fifteen years professional experience. He was shocked that he had no suitable applicants, but apparently couldn’t be persuaded that this was because there were no professional web designers in 1994.

If you’re stuck in this position remember that all is not lost. I have a sure fire scheme to make anyone look more employable. Simply type your name into google. You will quickly discover other people with the same name as you (unless your name is Quentin Wilberforce Stanley 3rd, in which case you don’t need a job because your daddy owns Kent.) Take all the exciting details of these people’s lives and add them to your CV.

With so many qualifications you will certainly get called to an interview for any job. About halfway through the interview the pointless chap from HR will have a brainwave. Leaning forward with what he thinks is a clever look on his face he will ask if it’s really possible for one person to be a pilot, a lion tamer, a qualified surgeon, the ginger one out of Girls Aloud AND the official milliner of the Vatican.

And you reply “Don’t take my word for it. Look me up on Google.”

Now that it’s December, I guess it’s time to pull out my two Christmas albums. Christmas music overwhelms me. I have a hard time figuring out where to go to find good stuff. The other day I tried to type in Christmas as a new station in Pandora but it started playing stuff that I don’t like. How do I filter it? What other keyword do I need to use? Seriously. I don’t know. So I just stuck with the two albums I bought when I was in high school, but this year I got further than the first four songs. In fact, I have now listened to both albums all the way through 2.5 times and found multiple songs that I like! So since I missed Music Monday last week, I thought I’d post two of them today.

This first song was not only one that I really liked on my album, but a friend recommended it to me on Facebook. It does not disappoint.

Waitresses: Christmas Wrapping

I thought this was an unlikely Christmas song until I just read on Wikipedia that it’s frequently voted the number one Christmas song of all time. It starts off a little slow, but at 1:21 it bursts into Irish awesomeness.

The Pogues: Fairytale Of New York

If you have a favorite Christmas song, I’d love to hear it! I might even use it next week.

It’s officially the holiday season. I’m hoping for this to be the first in a series dedicated to Christmas music that isn’t crap.

Just saw Coca Cola advert on television, so therefore it is now Christmas. May only be November 22 but its 5 weeks till Christmas! Preparations have to be done now! I’ve drawn up my Christmas list for who I’m getting prezzies for and I’ve got a grand total of 2 presents so far for 2 friends. And thats not their full present.

I’m waiting until November payday (December 1st) to commence the present-getting, and I am planning most of the things I’m gonna get for people, but for my mum, I’m gonna do the whole “spur-of-the-moment” thing and go round Bluewater, and just get stuff that I know she would like. Ahh Christmas is so much fun. And, I know its not all about presents. I just love it so much. Its the best time of year, everyone’s all happy. Its a time “for all hating and fighting to cease” as good ol’ Cliff once sang quite merrily.

As we speak, I am downloading the best songs in the universe onto my iPod. What are these awesome songs I hear you say? Well, here it is folks, the 20 Most Awesome Christmas songs playlist (for me anyway, I wont include the full thing coz you’ll all get bored but meh!):

1. Kristy McColl and the Pogues – Fairytale of New York
2. Wizzard – I Wish It Could be Christmas Everyday
3. Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You
4. Slade – Merry Christmas Everybody
5. Wham – Last Christmas
6. Mel & Kim/Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
7. Nat King Cole  – The Christmas Song
8. Bobby Helms – Jingle Bell Rock (LOL mean girls )
9. Jona Lewie – Stop the Cavalry
10. Cliff Richard – Mistletoe And Wine
11. Mud – Lonely This Christmas
12. Jackson 5 – Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town
13. Boney M – Mary’s Boy Child
14. Darkness – Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End)
15. Band Aid 1 – Do They Know its Christmas?
16. Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime
17. David Bowie and Bing Crosby – Little Drummer Boy
18. Bing Crosby – White Christmas
19. Bon Jovi – Please Come Home for Christmas
20. Chris Rea – Driving Home for Christmas

Bet that blew your minds. Go download them now, get in the festive mood and be happy That is all for now.

Shane McGowan in London, 1981, by Janette Beckman

Fue mi psicoanalista Pablicto Muñoz el que me enseñó a moverme por el mundo de los sueños. Nos acabábamos de conocer. Estábamos en un bar hablando de sueños, de sueños repetitivos, de sueños impresionantes, y me contó como era posible moverse dentro de un sueño, dominarlo y hacer lo que uno quisiera dentro de el.

No le creí, aunque como siempre me pasa con él, no pude decir que no fuera verdad.

Se repite con mis mejores amigos que, por muchos disparates que me suelten no puedo negarles que no sea verdad. ¿A mi amigo?

Y eso da alas.

No fue cuestión de días sino de años, pero al fin y poco a poco, me he ido dando cuenta de que ese bribón enano, no mentía.

Os contaré una de esas últimas experiencias. Una de las mas flipantes.

Mi destino: Alemania. Una de esas convenciones de la asociación de fisioterapeutas Bobath a Alemania con el fin de subir un peldaño mas en mi carrera profesional, como tiene que ser.

Medio de transporte: Avión.

“Buenos dias les saluda el comandante McFoscar …bribribri…    …horas…    bribri…….     la temperatura       …..blabla….          tatata…..    rororor……  buenviajeGoodmorninladiesandgents….sssssss….hhhh…..rrrrr…   farenheit……fffffffff…..ffffff….      you”

Pero qué mameluco… Es increible como cada vez que te subes a un avión y estás a punto de despegar el “comandante” coge el walkie-talkie y al dirigirse al respetable balbucea con sopor pero a toda hostia unas frases (probablemente) leidas lo peor posible que es capaz.

Hagamos un inciso para analizar los motivos:

*1/ Para que parezca que lo tiene todo controlado, que ha volado 3 millones de horas que está sobrado y tu no eres mas que un puto gusano. Que quede claro que tu vida está en sus manos.

*2/ Que sabe mogollón de ingles y ya casi se le ha olvidado el castellano -como a Martín Lopez Zubero- para hacerte sospechar que quizá vive a caballo entre Manhattan y La Moraleja, cuando probablemente vive en San Chinarro.

*3/ Efectos del alcohol, cocaina y Viagra. Too much triqui-triqui con l@s azafat@s. Jet Lag+Resaca=Hiper-destrucción

*4/ Quizás si fuera alfarero, carpintero o campesino estaría mas satisfecho. Si o si.

El caso es que esta actitud -en mi caso- actua como cápsula somnífera, y el único rato que me quedo dormido en un vuelo es antes del despegue.

Momento en el que empecé a soñar…

Aparecí en un sitio precioso. El valle del Azucar (USA) Un bosque repleto de los colores del Otoño atravesado por un rio que discurria por el fondo del valle. Me hallaba en una vieja casa de madera con un tipo que no se quitó un gorro ruso en los 10 dias que duró el sueño, una tía con 2 trenzas que vestía un pijama de rayas y el dichoso comandante McFoscar. La luz era tenue y acogedora, había lucecitas de esas de Navidad por todas partes y calabazas de Halloween con sus diferentes muecas chinescas. Recuerdo estar bien ahí.

Sentados alrededor de la mesa de una gran cocina charlamos y charlamos. Bueno… el supuesto McFoscar, comandante del avión resultó no tener ni guarra de inglés como intuía antes de quedarme dormido.

Pero si, allí se habló sobre ser un “Misfit”, el sentirse inadaptado, cementerios y niños, discutimos amargamente sobre si la música de Mozart, la música clásica y los Requiems no eran mas que el subproducto de lo que los monarcas e Iglesia quisieron en su tiempo. Y lo contrapusimos a la música de los negros de Africa, esa de la que tanto os he hablado, la que hizo que la musica americana tenga la piel negra. Nos disfrazamos de Góticos siniestros y salimos a dar una vuelta al cementerio del valle junto a un par de cabras amarradas a una cadena. Vimos antiguas películas rodadas en Super 8 de los tiempos en los que en Central Park había un zoológico. Hicimos música en el salón de la casa transformado en un estudio como el que tantas veces había soñado con los ojos abiertos.

Si, claro tambien nos comimos un cocido. Todo el pueblo vino a vernos, iban todos disfrazados, multitud de niños llamando de puerta en puerta pidiendo caramelos, y juntos cantamos canciones de John Prine al calor de una gran hoguera. Aporreé unos bongos hasta sangrar.

Vi una estrella fugaz, e incluso un cerdo volando, señales de boda.

Soñe con gaitas.

Chocamos las manos de alegría por ser los únicos pirados que piensan que Joey Ramone ha sido el “Best singer ever”

Soñe con una gran Luna llena. Soñé con las 12 lunas indias.

En este sueño escuchamos blues muy antiguo hecho por gente de la que no existe siquiera una imagen de ellos.

Mucha furia y mucho barro.

En el pueblo unos skaters se enganchaban a una carreta del año 1800 tirada por caballos, en la que iba una familia entera con los trajes y peinados de esa época. Ay si en los sueños se pudieran tirar fotos…

Pero los sueños sueños son, y las imágenes quedan en mi cabeza, nada mas. Entre la neblina.

Solo puedo compartir unas canciones, las que me pareció escuchar, solo algunas de las que recuerdo. Este disco que regalo es la banda sonora de este sueño.

Solo espero que algún día pueda yo convertirme en tu mejor amigo y confies en mi de manera incondicional. Los sueños se pueden dominar. Porque quién sabe si como me dijo el amigo Segismundo hallándome yo en el diván: “La vida es solo sueño” y… Zzzzzz.

“Es verdad; pues reprimamos

esta fiera condición,

esta furia, esta ambición,

por si alguna vez soñamos:

y sí haremos, pues estamos

en mundo tan singular,

que el vivir sólo es soñar;

y la experiencia me enseña

que el hombre que vive, sueña

lo que es, hasta despertar.

Sueña el rey que es rey, y vive

con este engaño mandando,

disponiendo y gobernando;

y este aplauso, que recibe

prestado, en el viento escribe;

y en cenizas le convierte

la muerte (¡desdicha fuerte!):

¿que hay quien intente reinar,

viendo que ha de despertar

en el sueño de la muerte?

Sueña el rico en su riqueza

que más cuidados le ofrece;

sueña el pobre que padece

su miseria y su pobreza;

sueña el que a medrar empieza,

sueña el que afana y pretende,

sueña el que agravia y ofende,

y en el mundo, en conclusión,

todos sueñan lo que son,

aunque ninguno lo entiende.

Yo sueño que estoy aquí

de estas prisiones cargado,

y soñé que en otro estado

más lisonjero me vi.

¿Qué es la vida? Un frenesí,

¿Qué es la vida? Una ilusión,

una sombra, una ficción,

y el mayor bien es pequeño:

que toda la vida es sueño,

y los sueños, sueños son.”

Demasié bonito

]]> http://buzzandyou.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/pourquoi-la-france-a-peur-avant-de-defier-lirlande/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:47:45 +0000 Zlatan Le Magnifique http://buzzandyou.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/pourquoi-la-france-a-peur-avant-de-defier-lirlande/ http://dougfolkins.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/new-review-for-another-last-call/ Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:10:12 +0000 Doug Folkins http://dougfolkins.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/new-review-for-another-last-call/

This great reveiw was posted by Martin Smit on his site The NBT Review.

Another Last Call – Doug Folkins (Independent Release)

There is something very Nick Lowe/Dave Edmunds about this new collection from songwriter Folkins, something very good, very pure and very in love with good Pop.

The opening track (and single) Calico Girl drifts from the speakers in a breezy Beatles like harmonica, a subtle uncomplicated tune wrapped around lyrics that penetrate deeper into the psyche than realized.

Comparisons have been made to the folkpunk ‘n’ pop of the Pogues and indeed there is that barroom swagger and glee in a lot of the tracks, which added to the vibrancy of the Levellers at their best, let the tragic edges of human behavior colour murk and heart, light and shade to the bounciest of tunes.

And just when the old time pub songs threaten to get slightly too much for modern rock ears, Folkins craftily adds dollops of blues guitar and tiny tinges of modern Americana to his solid creations making this a truly international sounding release.

Find out more here

http://www.dougfolkins.com

And hear trax from this album on the NBT Podcast

http://nextbigthing.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=524299