TitP 2010 fast approaches...

The first headliner act for T in the Park was announced on Thursday, with Kasabian being unveiled as one of the acts that organisers hope will put the (s)park back into T in the Park….see what I did there?

I think its fair to say that the last couple of T’s have been lacking a certain….I don’t know what.  Will the news of the Leicester indie lords’ apperance make me excited at T again?

In a word; no.

T in the Park has become staler than a loaf of bread in a student’s cupboard, and here’s why; zero imagination.

I’m imagining this is how the booking meeting goes at TitP HQ;

• Boss; “Right troops, who’s popular in the music world?”
• Minion; “Well, Snow Patrol have just released a greatest hits album…”
• B; “Sign them up.”
• M; “The thing is they’ve already played here for three years running…”
• B; “Who’s next?”
• M; “Erm, well, Blur were well recieved last year…”
• B; “Get them onboard.”
• M; “Eh, they’ve kinda split up for good now…”
• B; “They have?  Ach well, push Paolo Nutini up the bill.”
• M; “But…”
• B; “What’s Sandi Thom up to these days?”

There is just no variety in the acts that are booked for T.  I never bought a ticket last year beacuse I refused to pay nigh on £200 to see Kings of Leon for the third year in a row, or the Killers or Snow Patrol or zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz….sorry, just the mention of those acts playing again sent me to sleep.

And what have the boys at T done this year?  Exactly the bloody same.

Summer 2009 and Kasabian have just released their impressive third album, they play second top of the bill at Glastonbury, they are undoubtedly the biggest act in Britain, so you think T would have booked them for TitP ‘09, at the height of their popularity, aye?

Naw.  They book them a year later.  Once they’ve already played the biggest festivals.  Once they’ve already played a stadium tour with Oasis and their own arena tour.  Once every man and his dug, and his dug’s cousin has already seen them.  Once they lose their appeal as major headliners.

"Buckie? Check. Shellsuit? Check. We're ready for T."

I’m sure the Kasabian boys will take over Oasis’ mantle as Nedrick’s favourite band (“They ur puure fuh-kin qual-i-ty by the way min”), and T’s resident ned population, around 3 million each year, will lap up yet anouther uninspiring line-up.

Ticket sales are down on last year, which were already down on the year before.  But hey, what do I know?  I’m championing Deacon Blue to play…. 

Get them on the Main Stage Ellis, you know it makes sense.

From the first day I ever had to listen to this lousy song on some radio station I always wanted to write something about this piece of crap. I know this’ll be just my personal rant which absolutely will run into nowhere, because noone will even care about this as much as I do. And I know that people will just tell me to not even bother because it’s just some crappy piece of shit music, but then again I simply hate those stupid mainstream songs about subcultures. What am I talking about? Well, take a look at this first and give it a listen:

Sandi Thom - I Wish I Was A Punkrocker

Alright, recovered from your shock yet? The first thing that stuck with me was that stupid chorus line “a punkrocker with flowers in my hair”. What the heck?! I admit, I always have alarm bells set when I come across words like “punkrock” and so forth in the mainstream media. It’s toned done a bit over the past few years, mainly because the exposure of such words has been so frequent with the rise of all those bands from the underground scene. Maybe I react so heavily to the use of such words in such surroundings because I am really fond of what the “scene” (whatever the heck that’s supposed to be) gave to me when I was young. So just like some gang member I don’t like it when people make fun of things which are dear and precious to me. Sounds pathetic? Well, it might be, but I just can’t help it.

So, what do we have here. A girl singing about how she wants to grow up in a time when “revolution was in the air”. That’s tough. I know the grass is always greener on the other side and that from a point 30-40 years on in time things tend to have a certain glow to it. But hey, to me punkrock and hardcore always meant not to get stuck in the past but to move on and change the things you see in front of you. There’s no need to cry about spilt milk.

But here we are and poor Sandi is frustrated because she “was born too late into a world that doesn’t care”. Honestly, did people care more back then? Just because we know the pictures and TV documentaries doesn’t mean that was a mass movement. Which reminds me, a German coffee producer ran a commercial a few years back in which a young teenage girl talks to her grandmother about how she went to a festival and how cool that was and that they were crawling in mud the whole time. To which the grandmother replied that she did the same when she was young, only that she and her friends were naked while doing that. That’s fascinating and shocking at the same time. Shocking because the advertising industry finally is running “alternative” messages for conservative products such as coffee. Fascinating because the generation of grandparents isn’t the pre-war generation anymore. My grandparents had no relation to the music or the lifestyle I adopted while I was growing up. I always had to explain what things meant (and still mean) to me. The teenagers of today, so it seems, have a far stronger connection to their predecessors making it easier for them to talk to them. So much for “a world that doesn’t care”.

Now I’m not saying that everything’s nice and beautiful today, but it’s a lot different from what it was like back then. Which, to a certain extent, makes it way harder to rebel. When parents and children have contradicting opinions it’s far easier to have an argument than talking to caring and understanding people who’ve been through the same stuff before.

But let’s get back to the song at hand. The verse lyrics are just hilarious and show that there must have been some corporate songwriting slave behind this. Little Sandi is complaing about the advance in technology, the dictatorship of commerce and how video killed the radio star. She’s even sad that there’s no vinyl anymore. C’mon, have you been to a record store lately?! And I’m not talking about those big media outlets. But I guess what pisses me off the most is that she’s (or whoever is responsible for this crap) mixing up the 1960s and 1970s. To my humble knowledge punk exploded onto the scene because it was an answer to the lovey-dovey hippie shit which came before it. There’s only a slight connection between both subcultures in that they both want to change the world. But that’s it. The approach in doing that is completely different. Punk to me was always more interesting because there was violence and a force behind it. I never felt touched by the peacefulness of hippies. Heck, I was even sporting a Sex Pistols patch on my jeans vest saying “No Hippies”. I guess that’s what’s driving me crazy the most. “Punkrockers with flowers in their hair”. Get real!! There might be those occasional drunkards who just for the fun of it do stuff like that, but it just doesn’t have any meaning! It’s two different things…

Interestingly enough while doing some research about Sandi I came across two quotes on her Wikipedia entry. Robin Hawkins (The Automatic, some band I don’t know) said:

“If she was a punk rocker with flowers in her hair she’d get the s*** kicked out of her by other punk rockers, for having flowers in her hair. [...] I haven’t found anyone who’s told me they like that song and bought it.”

Well spoken. And media commentator Charlie Brooker (who I don’t know but who makes a good point here) adds:

“I’ve not heard that Sandi Thom single all the way through yet, but I’ve seen the TV ad about six billion times, and the short, poxy burst on that is more than enough to convince me that if her sudden rise to stardom WASN’T the end result of a shrewd marketing campaign, the implications are terrifying. Because to believe the official story – that thousands of people voluntarily subjected themselves to this shit online, then recommended it to their friends – is to lose your faith in mankind completely.”

That’s exactly how I felt when I came across this piece of garbage for the first time. Thanks for your attention.

The one billionth purchase from Apple’s online music service iTunes was Coldplay’s “Speed of Sound”. It is the perfect song to illustrate how fast music is currently moving, with the help of the Internet.

iTunes alone is regularly used by around 14% of active internet users. Music downloads have quickly overtaken CD sales. In the US, 618.9 million albums were sold in 2005, down from 762.8 million in 2001. Downloads have become so popular that they have become instrumental in deciding the number one in the British singles charts. The trade association said download sales had already topped 23 million this year, a 400% increase on last year and now accounting for about 70% of weekly singles sales.

This fast moving medium has also allowed new bands to get their music to a wider audience and, therefore, to get a record deal faster than if they had simply sent off demos to every record company under the sun, gigged at every run-down village hall and prayed every night. One band to benefit from this is Arctic Monkeys, who were virtual unknowns a few years ago. They blasted onto the music scene with “I bet you look good on the dancefloor” from their album “Whatever people say I am that’s what I’m not”, and they even managed to crack the US top 30.

Sandi Thom has also harnessed the power of the internet to advance her career. She started out by performing for free using a webcam to broadcast live on the internet from her Tooting flat.

At the time her audience was reputed to have reached 250 000, enough to fill Wembly Stadium three times over: “We thought: ‘Surely there must be a way you can gig and not leave the house?” said Ms Thom.

One band that probably wouldn’t have been given a second glance by record companies is Nizlopi. A double bass and guitar folk combo, their ballad about the drive home from school in a JCB digger was serious competition for the Christmas number one in 2005. In the end, they missed out on the top spot because of the hype surrounding that year’s latest manufactured idol, Shayne Ward, a man so famous that most people can’t remember who he is. The same can be said of Gareth Gates, Michelle McManus and Steve Brookstein, all of whom have faded into relative obscurity following their success in TV talent contests and the subsequent number 1.

Exhibit A, M’lud. TV. It was instrumental in the death of the longevity of the modern band. Once the life expectancy could be around 30 or more years. Now thanks to the voting public that life span is considerably shorter, a few years if you are very lucky.

The internet and manufactured singers have ensured that the modern music lover is quite fickle, liking what they are told is cool by those who control what song it released, and by whom. It is too early to tell if all those who have made their name on the Internet will suffer the same fate, although is has to be said that Nizlopi have not been heard of since the JCB Song.

Yet there are still artists out there doing thing the old fashioned way. KT Tunstall has made her way in the music world with just her acoustic guitar and the trusty effects pedal she calls “Wee Bastard”. Kate ‘KT’ Tunstall was getting used to disappointment. The dreams she had dreamt since the age of 16, of making a living from her music, of having people like her songs, were not exactly bearing fruit.  She was 30 before she got her big break (a geriatric in music terms), with her debut album Eye to the Telescope becoming the biggest-selling album by a female artist in Britain as well as gaining widespread critical acclaim.

KT also picked up several accolades including a Brit award for Best British Female Solo Artist and fulfilled her dreams with a Mercury Music prize nomination: “I used to lust over a Mercury nomination as a busker on the dole.”. Before that she had been reduced to touring with her trusty guitar, doing every gig going, living the life of a penniless musician.

The Arctic Monkeys may have had swift success, but they will lack the intense feeling of personal satisfaction that Ms Tunstall must have gained by doing the groundwork by herself. She found her fans instead of letting the fans find her.

Time will tell who lasts longer but it may be premature to simply assume that the old ways will be killed off by the internet.

În ultima vreme industria muzicală a devenit prea comercială şi zgomotoasă pentru gusturile unui bătrân ca mine, dar cine ştie, poate că am eu standarde prea înalte sau pur şi simplu nu mă pot adapta cu noile concepte muzicale care sunt “la modă”. Nu mă plâng prea tare pentru că, din fericire, mai există şi excepţii de la rigorile impuse de obilitatea numită “modă”:

Mika – One foot boy

The Killers – Human

The Script – Breakeven

Kings of Leon – Use somebody

Coldplay – Viva la vida

Am păstrat ce am considerat eu mai frumos şi mai bun pentru la urmă … ca un desert :

Sandi Thom – I wish I was a punk rocker

By Alexander Lawrie

SCOTS rocker Sandi Thom has been left devastated after her favourite guitar was stolen.

The Wish I Was a Punk Rocker singer-songwriter has been frantically calling friends and family to see if she has left it anywhere, but after an unsuccessful search is now convinced the 12-string Duesenberg has been nicked.

Sandi’s mum Josephine admitted her daughter is “frantic with worry” about losing the prized guitar, which she has owned for around six years.

The stunning black-and-white instrument is seen on the cover of Sandi’s second album, The Pink and the Lily, and Sandi revealed her distress over the theft in a Twitter entry yesterday. (Wed)

Mrs Thom said: “Sandi is absolutely frantic with worry about the guitar. She has been calling friends and family asking if she had mislaid it anywhere, but is now convinced someone has stolen it.

“I’m still not so sure about that and I’m holding out hope it will still turn up somewhere. But Sandi’s got it into her head it’s gone forever – she can’t think straight because of the worry.

“I think only a musician will know what she is going through. It’s her favourite electric guitar and she’s so proud of it it appears on the cover of her second album.”

New album

Sandi, who celebrated her 28th birthday last month, has taken to playing lead guitar while playing live and the guitar features on many of her recordings.

The Macduff-born singer is currently choosing the tracks for her third album from around 40 tracks she has written since the turn of the year, and is looking forward to appearing on stage with the newly-reformed Beautiful South in the next couple of months.

Earlier this year the Homecoming Scotland star was left in tears after the death of her beloved cat, Toots. It is believed a local farmer was responsible but as yet no charges have been brought.

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

By Cara Sulieman

NEW LIGHT has been shed on the friendship that has blossomed between Sandi Thom and Alex Salmond.

After recommending her second album to Sir Sean Connery, the first minister has shown himself to be a staunch supporter of the Banff-born singer and has even sung a duet with her.

The letters reveal a mutual respect between the pair, and they heap praise on each other with Salmond describing the singer as a “leading light in Scottish music”.

In October 2007, the first minister wrote to Thom apologising for not being able to meet her at a performance by the National Theatre of Scotland in Los Angeles.

“Sorry”

He wrote: “The increasing prospect of a UK general election means that I am unable to join you.

“I hope that you will still take up the tickets reserved for you. Again, I am sorry that I cannot be there to enjoy it with you. However, I look forward to meeting you on another occasion.”

And a letter from the singer to Salmond the following month was as equally gushing.

She wrote: “I hope next year I can do my bit for Scottish music and I pray that it is a great year for Scotland, I’m sure with you at the reigns it will be.”

“Please”

It is at this point that the prospect of Connery receiving a copy of her second album is brought up.

She wrote: “Please could you do me the biggest of favours! Could you, if you get the chance, pass a copy of ‘Pink and the Lily’ to (redacted). I would be so happy to think he could get a sneak preview of my next album.

“Have a fantastic xmas and a great Hogmanay and if you need anybody to play your New Year party just give me a shout!”

The recipient of the CD was blanked out, but previous correspondence between Salmond and Connery reveal that it was the Bond actor who got the album.

“Greatly enjoyed”

The first minister passed it on to Connery with a letter that read: “Sandi Thom has very kindly sent me an advance copy of her new album which will be released in the spring.

“I have greatly enjoyed listening to Sandi’s album, so I am forwarding it to you in the hope that you will too.”

But despite the praise from the first minister, Pink and the Lily was a flop when it hit shelves in 2008.

The most flattering of Salmond’s kind words came at the end of 2007 when he wrote and thanked her for a St Andrew’s Day gig she played in Edinburgh.

“Leading light”

Salmond wrote: “As usual, you gave a first class performance and continue to be a leading light in Scottish music.”

The first minister defended his correspondence with the 27-year-old, with his spokesman saying it was expected of him.

His spokesman said: “The first minister writes to people from all walks of life thanking them for their efforts in promoting Scotland, and congratulating them on their achievements.

“It’s what the people of Scotland would expect from their first minister.”

Oh silly Guava Lovers… what rebels you are… have to do something just because I specifically told you not to do it... heehee… reminds me of someone I know…

Anyway… glad you all enjoyed the giant onion as much as I did… and since you did I thought I should let you know that our favorite Snowy Vegan sent us ALL an open invitation to come up to view the gargantuan vegetables that often make appearances at Alaska state fairs… plus she said she would feed us and we could pet Lily… teehee.. okay not really but we could probably pressure her into letting us come over for a Vegan Cupcake baking party!  Whuddya think Tara??? **Guava batts eyelashes**

Yes, you’re right, I am stalling as I feel like I don’t have much to show for WIP Wednesday this week.  I’ve been super busy crafting but mostly it’s been top secret computer crafting with Izzy.  So to make up for it a little musical inspiration…

and the crafting that I have done… the pictures aren’t blurry… they’re artistic… hehee…

My Delta Dawn Headband… teehee.. well anything I make with roses I generally want to call, “Delta Dawn what’s that flower you have on?  Could it be a faded rose from days gone by???” That’s right my musical interests are far and wide reaching… not constrained by genre or quality… timeless if you will.

Blue Bird Hair Comb… since we’re going with a musical theme.

And last but not least… the ever impressive… ever rebellious… free spirit of the group…

My Piccalilly Headband

Named after this guy…

I’m pretty proud of Piccalilly… I don’t know why probably because I just like her name so darn much.  Plus, she’s sassy and vibrant and pretty much begs to be noticed!  In fact during my little jaunt at Renegade someone took the time to send her a compliment… my little Piccallily… with all the other gorgeous headpieces and handmade goodness!!  Of course, Piccalilly and I are both much shyer than we seem and continued to kick ourselves for not taking advantage of the unexpected self-promotion as all we could managed was an incredulous, “Why, thank you, thank you very much!”

Oh well, add it to my list of self-improvements I need to work on.  Ha!

FTP (hint of crafts to come… want to take a guess at what it stands for?),

Guava

]]> http://electropup.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/mark-johns-and-andy-ward/ Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:05:27 +0000 electropup http://electropup.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/mark-johns-and-andy-ward/

If you’re into Goldfrapp you’ll go for ‘Fantasy‘ by Mark Johns and Andy Ward. It’s very very similar to ‘Strict machine’ and ‘Number 1′ in synth and vocal style. The surprising thing is it’s also sung by Sandi Thom (I wish I was a punkrocker…. folky singer). I found it on audionetworkplc.com

Dave James also sounds like he might be worth listening to.

A cantora Miho Fukuhara foi uma das grandes revelações do ano passado. Seu primeiro album “Rainbow” atingiu a #2 posição da parada de albums da ORICON e conseguiu vender pouco mais de 93 mil cópias, um bom número para uma iniciante. Nesta última quarta-feira, dia 17 de junho, a cantora lançou o single “Hanabi Sky”, o quinto single major de sua carreira. Este single contém além da faixa-título e de sua instrumental, a b-side “La La La Fighters” e uma versão acústica da música “I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Head)”, que é uma cover de uma cantora escocesa chamada Sandi Thom. Em sua versão limitada acompanha um DVD contendo o PV da música “Hanabi Sky”.

Miho Fukuhara é uma ótima cantora e possui uma voz um pouco diferente dos padrões das cantoras japonesas. Gostei muito dela e esse novo single, “Hanabi Sky” é ótimo, recomendo a todos. O PV também é muito bom, foi muito bem editado e acho digno uma nota 4/5 para ele.

Abraço e até a próxima!

By Michael MacLeod

HAVING claimed to be a “punk rocker” in her debut pop song, Scot songstress Sandi Thom has finally proven herself as a bit of a rebel.

The Banff singer has launched a filth-ridden tirade on her local newspaper’s music critic for having a dig at her dulcet tones.

Using the f-word 13 times, the hate filled rant, titled “Ode to Learmonth,” left her young fans stunned.

She was tipped over the edge by Aberdeen music reviewer Andrew Learmonth, who said he hated her “awful” music.

So in response, Thom penned, recorded and uploaded the expletive-packed song for fans to download for free from her website.
The country-style clip, complete with Thom’s customary faux-American accent, includes the lines: “This song ain’t pretty, in fact it’s pretty sh***y, but if you don’t like it f*** you.

“F*** you if you don’t like it. F*** you if you don’t hear things the way i do.

“F*** you is such an easy way to say I know a little more about me than you do anyway, and if you don’t like me, f*** you.”

Yesterday, subject of the song Learmonth said: “It’s one of the best songs she’s ever written.”

He landed himself in Thom’s bad books after publishing details of the one time the pair met in a supermarket.

He said: “In my column I was incredibly nasty and may have said that Sandi Thom was responsible for killing Myspace and music.

“She gave me a wee smile as we passed each other in the bakery aisle.

“I felt like a complete hypocrite. I had been nasty about this person who was nice and friendly.

“I went home and dug out my copy of her latest album. Perhaps, I thought, I need to give her another chance.

“I listened, and it was awful. Sorry, but it really was.

“I feel like a horrible person but as nice as she was in Asda I don’t think I can ever get over my hatred of her music.”

Learmonth opinions sparked an online response from Thom.

She said: I came across an article published in February by some dude called Learmonth who rubbishes me in the title and proceeds to waffle on about a few new bands he’s seen at the Tunnels, a venue in Aberdeen, and his now cancelled radio show being a beacon of musical prophecy.

“Not until the very end of his column does he actually attend to topic by rubbishing me and my music some more but never really answering the question of the title which was “my problem with Sandi Thom” and provides no convincing link to what’s previously been written.

“So, I decided to compile a little response to Learmonth in the form of a musical ditty… and while I’m at it this one goes out to all the journalists that use me as a s*** shoe shiner and think my music sucks.

“Next time you’re looking for a hook for your drivel mate, take a cheap shot at someone else.”

A disclaimer accompanies the song, stating that listeners may find the lyrics offensive.

Yesterday Learmonth, 28, said: “It is a bit of an over-reaction but I think it is one of the best songs she has written.

“She is someone who deliberately goes out to get as much press attention as possible, and if you want to do that, there will be some people who might say that you are not actually doing very much.

“I think Sandi hasn’t quite realised that.

“It’s not like I don’t like her, I just didn’t like her album.”

After blasting to the top of the charts in 2006 with “I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker”, the internet sensation flopped and her most recent album, The Pink and the Lily, was mauled by critics.

She subsequently quit record label RCA, pledging to record her new album independently.

By ALEXANDER LAWRIE

SCOTS pop singer Sandi Thom has spent the last month in Los Angeles trying to crack Hollywood.

The I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker singer is all set to appear in an, as yet, un-named movie performing the ballad Ungrateful Heart, which is taken from her second album.

The MacDuff-born songwriter was spotted playing the track by the film’s director at a recent US gig and was immediately snapped up to star in the movie.

Thom is due to fly out to LA next month to record the scene.

The singer, who recently lost her pet cat Toots to an alleged shooting by a farmer, has also been playing in front of  top film and television executives in an effort to have her songs included in future projects.

She is hoping to have several tracks from her second album, The Pink and the Lily, snapped up by Disney before its official US release.

Showcase for executives

The 27 year-old star, who shot to number one with her debut single in 2006, is also working on “a corker” of a third album with some “amazing” musicians, but admits she is suffering from homesickness.

She said: “Last week I went to Disney/ABC to showcase to all the top exec’s. The plan is to get a few tracks from the second record on a couple of Disney movies and ABC shows before it is released Stateside.

“Apart from that, I’ve been working really hard on the third album with some amazing people and I think judging by the sound of it so far its set to be a corker of a record.

“I’m really chuffed with the way things are going and it’s been nice to get out of the UK for a bit, but I’m missing it now. I wanna go home.

Anyway, I’m excited to say that I’ll be making an appearance in a movie soon performing a ballad from the second album called ‘Ungrateful Heart’.

“The director [of the movie] saw me play it at a gig and thought it was perfect for the scene, so I’m back out here in June to film that.”

Sandi has just recently been confirmed as a headliner at this year’s Royal Variety Performance to be held in Glasgow in October.

… with flowers in my hair!

My sister gave me this song from a Scottish musician, Sandi Thom:

The video isn’t that great, and I think the soundtrack is off sometimes, but I just love the song!  It’s not something I would normally listen to, but for some reason, I find it really catchy.

I tried to find some of her other music, but apparently some of her other videos on YouTube are “not available in [my] country.”  Seriously?  Also, iTunes has basically nothing for her.  Oh, it’ll return with a few search results, but if you actually try to click on any of them, it will also tell you that it is unavailable.  Conspiracy!

Well, not really.  But still.  It’s bad form to have search results and then not have them available.  If they’re not available – don’t show them in the search results!

But, back to my happy place.  Sandi Thom is awesome!  And she needs to come to America and make her music available!  Please?

Also, I love that her first album is titled “Smile… It Confuses People”

‘Sandi Thom is said to be “devastated” after reports that her missing cat has been shot dead.’

Dorian Gay would like to announce that they are firmly against the wave of slaughter that has taken place recently, with the target missing cats.

When we stated in our smash hit ‘Your Missing Cat Is Dead’ that your missing cat was in fact dead, we did not intend to encourage acts of violence against cats, more point out that in all liklihood, a missing cat is missing for a reason.

‘EXECUTED’

With the highly publiscised execution of Punk Rock starlet ‘Sandi Thom’s’ beloved cat, this crimewave has been rocketed right to the heart of public conciousness and we feel the time is right to end our silence on the matter. We do not wish to condone the killing of a cat as reasonable regardless of who the car is owned by and whether they are famous for making the worst, most nonsensical song ever or not.

All in all ‘freckly armed star’ Sandi put it better than we ever could.

‘ILLEGAL’

”Writing on her website, the singer said: “The police have confirmed it is illegal to shoot a cat. However, to enable them to make an arrest we have to find wee Tooty’s remains, or this sickening person will get away with it.”

‘SPINACH’

So true.

As ever, to find gripping, important and reliable news, look no further than MSN.

http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/music/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=16063383&GT1=61501&ocid=today

Pop star Sandi Thom was said to be “devastated” after reports that her missing cat had been shot dead.

Pop star Sandi Thom was said to be 'devastated' today after reports that her missing cat, Toots, had been shot dead Photo: PA

The musician launched a hunt for her pet Toots after it disappeared near her mother’s home in Edzell, Angus, six weeks ago.

She called in pet detectives from Animal Search UK to hunt for the cat, which features in this year’s PDSA celebrity calendar.

The detectives said they were tipped off that the animal had been shot by a local person and disposed of along the banks of the West Water in the area.

They are now trying to gather more information which may lead them to the body.

Thom, who shot to fame with the single I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker, was said to be “terribly upset” at news of her pet’s death.

Writing on her website, the singer said: “The police have confirmed it is illegal to shoot a cat. However, to enable them to make an arrest we have to find wee Tooty’s remains, or this sickening person will get away with it.”

In a statement on the same web page, a close friend, who did not give a name, said Thom is “absolutely devastated at the news of her beloved cat’s cruel and wrongful death and can’t believe that anyone could be so cold-blooded and heartless to shoot a defenceless animal”.

The statement adds: “All Sandi wishes for now is that justice be done and that, if at all possible, the whereabouts of her precious little cat’s remains be revealed so she can be taken home and laid to rest in the dignified manner she deserves – and we can name and shame the criminal.”

The cat had lived with the musician in London but moved to Thom’s mother’s home in Edzell.

After she disappeared on February 27, posters were put up around the village asking for information and urging people to call Animal Search UK if they knew anything.

Last month the singer, whose latest album The Pink And The Lily was released last May, wrote of the cat: “She means the world to me and my family.”

Tom Watkins, the former police officer who set up Animal Search UK, said he is convinced the cat is dead and added that investigations are continuing to trace the alleged killer.

“It is good information we had, it’s pretty firm evidence that Toots has been shot,” he said.

He added: “Sandi is devastated and has not really been able to think about anything apart from Toots since she found out. She is terribly upset.”

.

This is just awful! I hope the bastard who did it is caught and brought to justice!!!!!

Hello again good people and also to anyone not in that category! I’ll kick off with some news. Yesterday on BBC Radio 2 Rob Dryden hosted a countdown of the Top 75 songs that have been heard in public places in the UK. So that would include cafes’ restaurants, pubs and the like. The chart was compiled by PPL a music licensing company. The top 10 was as follows;

1. Procol Harum – A Whiter Shade Of Pale

2. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

3. Everly Brothers – All I Have To Do Is Dream

4. Wet Wet Wet – Love Is All Around

5. Bryan Adams – (Everything I Do) I Do It For You

6. Robbie Williams – Angels

7. Elvis Presley – All Shook Up

8. Abba – Dancing Queen

9. Perry Como – Magic Moments

10. Bing Crosby – White Christmas

Some good songs in there, but Robbie…… give me a break! Robbie even tied with the Beatles for most entries in the top 75 with three. I really don’t like that Bryan Adams song either. But fair play to Procul Harum though, “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” is a great song. Anyway if you’d like to see the whole of the Top 75 just click here

They had wanted to record Stairway To Heaven but made do with a Whiter Shade Of Pale

Next some bad news and some good news. First the bad news Phil Spector has been found guilty of murder and will no doubt be held behind something a little stronger than a wall of sound. I suspect that’s the end of Spector’s career now. But then he deserves the punishment if he committed the crime! The good news is that Robbie will not be rejoining Take That according to Gary Barlow. Click on their names for more information

Phil Spector's attempt to escape custody while disguised as a toilet brushed failed abysmally

Some even more sad news is that Sandi Thom’s cat Toots has been shot dead near her parents home in Scotland. Click here to read the story. Toots looks a little like my youngest cat Benny. What sort of person would shoot a cat?

Toots RIP

On a brighter note and yes I know it’s yet more shameless promotion of my son Luke’s band, but they are looking for gigs. They will be playing in Abingdon on 24th April. Check them out on MySpace, give them a gig or go and see them and tell them I sent you! They are called Steal The Smile and they are bloody good!

Give these boys a gig............NOW! You won't be disappointed

On to the usual stuff for today and let’s try and cheer up after all the glum news shall we? Let’s start by wishing a very happy 67th birthday to Tony Burrows today, April 14th. Many of you probably don’t think that you know who Tony is, but if you read on I think you’ll find that you may be somewhat familiar with him. He was lead vocalist for Edison Lighthouse who topped the UK charts with “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” in 1970. He also holds the record for having the most records in the UK top ten at the same time, all under different names. In 1970 in addition to Edison Lighthouse he was also in the Top 10 with “My Baby Loves Lovin’” – White Plains, “Gimme Dat Ding” – The Pipkins and “United We Stand” – Brotherhood Of Man. On one edition of Top Of The Pops in that year he appeared three times, the only act missing that week was the Pipkins, but he did appear with them a week or two later. He was the lead vocalist for First Class in 1974 for their hit “Beach Baby” and he was also a vocalist for the Flowerpot Men on their hit “Let’s Go To San Francisco” in 1967. Here’s one for you fact fans, that group also contained Jon Lord and Nick Simper who went on to become founding members of Deep Purple. Click on the song title to see Tony singing “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” on Top Of The Pops in 1970 and introduced by Jimmy Saville

The Pipkins play human scrabble aor go to a fancy dress party as two "P"s in a pod!

On this day in 1971 the Illinois Crime Commission issued a list of ‘drug-oriented’ records which included Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit”, the Beatles “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” and would you believe it for the second time today, Procul Harum’s “A Whiter Shade Of Pale”. I’m not sure why they issued this list, maybe they were making recommendations as to what to listen to when smoking a joint. Well whatever it was it’s good to know that the ‘powers that be’ are getting their priorities right……………..NOT! How about getting out and catching some real criminals?

Jefferson Airplane's secret giant cannabis tree would not be secret any longer, the Illinois Police had smoked them out!

On this day in 2003 a man was arrested and accused of making up a Bjork concert and then selling tickets. Alex Conate managed to persuade a San diego night club owner that Bjork had a greed to play a show there. He allegedly sold $14,000’s worth of tickets before he was rumbled. He was accused of taking the money and moving to Hawaii which is where he was arrested.

Bjork just wished that everyone would leaf her alone!

And finally for todays ‘onthisday’s in 1975 all the rumour and conjecture about who would replace Mick Taylor as the new guitarist with the Rolling Stones was put to bed. These rumours suggested that Steve Marriott, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Chris Spedding may have been considered. But we know that it was all round good bloke Ronnie Wood. Ronnie’s autobiography is one of the best rock biographies I have ever read, if you’d like to try it for yourself just click here

Ronnie was surprised at how well Keef was dressing these days

And now a proper and finally have you seen the new T-Mobile advert where the babies and toddlers are dancing to “Blame It On The Boogie”? It’s a real fun advert, click here to check it out! Check out the original Dancing Baby by clicking here, this is like the one that used to appear on Ally McBeal.

We found this news in Aesthetic Medicine Magazine highlighting the dangers of sunbathing as we start to see better weather. Last year changemyface created an shocking image of the singer Sandi Thom to show how she would look as she aged using sunbeds – and also without. The difference is quite astonishing.

Skin cancer rises among young women 08 Apr 2009 Skin cancer is now the most common form of cancer for women in their 20s. Cancer Research UK, which launched its SunSmart campaign today, released figures that show that a woman within this age range is diagnosed with malignant melanoma almost every day. It has also risen to become the third most common cancer among women in their 30s, after breast and cervical cancers. Cancer Research puts the blame for the rise on an increasing use of sunbeds and “binge tanning” on overseas holidays. However, as well as advising the public to avoid such excessive exposure to UV, the charity’s campaign will emphasise the benefits of regularly using high SPFs in skincare – to protect against both melanoma and skin ageing. “Excessive exposure to UV damages the DNA in skin cells which increases the risk of skin cancer and makes skin age faster,” said Caroline Cerny, Cancer Research UK’s SunSmart campaign manager.

www.cancerresearchuk.org

www.changemyface.com

By Alexander Lawrie

THE PET detective leading the hunt for Scots pop star Sandi Thom’s beloved cat has admitted the chances of finding her are fading fast.

But the star is still clinging to hope that her pet will show, ringing up a potentially huge phone bill calling from Texas for daily updates.

Sandi’s black and white moggy Toots has been missing since February 27, but despite employing Britain’s leading animal search team the puss is still missing.

Toots disappeared from Sandi’s parents’ home in Edzell, near Brechin, and after a widespread leaflet and poster campaign there have still been no official sightings.

Star is devastated

Sandi, 27, currently starring at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, is said to be “devastated” the six year-old cat has not been found.

Former-police officer-turned-pet-detective Tom Watkins said: “We travelled up to Scotland a couple of weeks ago after being contacted by Sandi. It’s a long way to travel but we will do almost anything to find the animal after being employed.

“We’ve put up 50 posters and distributed 500 leaflets, but also contacted local rambling and canoeing clubs as well as the local police.

“But, there is till no sign of Toots. Unfortunately, after about three weeks we tend to find the chances of finding a missing pet gets slimmer by the day.

“That said we won’t give up on our search, and I’ve seen many cases where the pet turns up months later. We can only hope.”

Calling home every day

The Punk Rocker singer also made an impassioned plea on her Myspace blog asking fans to “pray that I find her”.

Josephine Thom, Sandi’s mum, said: “It’s been three weeks now and as each day goes by it seems less likely we’ll find her.

“Sandi has been calling from Texas almost every day, but we’ve still not had any good news.

“It’s really eating away at her, and it doesn’t help she is halfway around the world just now.”

The Homecoming Scotland star has shelled out a small fortune for a specialised animal search team to travel 450 miles from their base in Herefordshire.

Sandi paid for the three-man team’s fuel and for a night’s accommodation at a local hotel in her attempt to find her much-loved pet.

Star upset at snub

The chart-topping star is currently representing Scotland at this year’s SXSW festival, but is upset at not being invited to perform at the official Scottish showcase by the Scottish Arts Council.

Sandi is said to be “hurt” and “upset” at the snub.

Designed to promote the country’s music scene, the prestigious SAC event will see performances by lesser-known Scottish acts such Camera Obscura, Found and The Pictish Trail.

By Alexander Lawrie

Caledonia star Sandi Thom has rushed back to her Scots home after her beloved cat went missing.

The distraught singer left her Brighton home last Thursday and is currently scouring the area surrounding her home in Macduff, Aberdeenshire, for lost puss Toots.

In an impassioned plea on her Myspace blog Sandi, 26, has asked fans to “pray that I find her”.

She said: “Guys I’m totally distraught with worry. My cat toots has gone missing now since Thursday. I’m totally sick with worry.

“She’s a street wise cat but she’s only little. I’ve just rushed home to my house in Scotland where she lives from my flat in Brighton to mount a search.

“My mum, brother and neighbours are helping me to look for her. Please everyone pray that I find her, she means the world to me.”

The Homecoming Scotland star has just completed a sell-out British tour, and is currently preparing to jet off to the States to appear at this year’s South by South West festival in Austin, Texas.

She will be joined at the ‘Showcasing Scotland’ event by fellow Scots Glasvegas, Primal Scream and The Proclaimers.

Designed to promote the country’s music scene, the prestigious event will also see performances by lesser-known Scottish acts such Camera Obscura, Found and The Pictish Trail.