George Michael will perform two Australian concerts in February, and the first will be in Perth.                                                          

Rumours had been rife that the Too Funky star was headed down under, and today his Australian trip has been confirmed.

Heading to Australia for the first time since 1988, the Wham! star and solo pop vocalist will perform at Member’s Equity Stadium on February 20.  He will then perform in Sydney at Sydney Football Stadium on February 26.

He will perform tracks from the early days, Wham! and his latest material.

Promoter Paul Dainty said it was thrilling to bring Michael back to the country following his Faith tour in the 80s.

“He is a consummate performer and will deliver a stunning show to his fans who have waited 22 years to see him perform in Australia,” Dainty said.

Michael has performed for more than 2 million fans on this 25 Live arena tour so far. More than 350,000 people flocked to his London performances alone.

Michael has sold more than 100 million pop albums, had six American number one singles and won plenty of awards for tunes including Faith, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Careless Whisper, One More Try, Freedom, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me and Too Funky.

Tickets will go on sale through TicketMaster on December 8.

Source  :  www.watoday.com.au

X-Factor this week was very eventful! We had Susan Boyle performing her new single of her new album, and Also we had to re-appearance of Mariah Carey! Unfortunately we don’t have the video of Mariah’s performance because X-Factor hasn’t uploaded it on YouTube but Mariah’s performance was SPECTACULAR! But here is Susan Boyle’s. Her track is called “Wild Horses”

The remaining contestants sang “Wake Me before You Go” which made all the male contestants look very… Homosexual (iTried to make it sound professional as possible!) The skinny jeans was just a NO! The X-factor Stylist needs to go back to Fashion school. If all the contestants could dance iThink this performance would be a great High school Musical moment!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE X-FACTOR COMPETITION CAN NOW BEGIN!

Moving swiftly on to the Bottom two announcement, and iWas HAPPY! It was Olly & John and Edward! Can Someone shout Hallelujah!? John & Edward was in the bottom two, and iKnew they was going home, because Simon’s act was in the bottom two and once Simon’s act is against John & Edward they are bound to go home! I did say Olly would be a bit vulnerable this week. His performance was slacking something! But let the battle begin!

So Satan and his demon performed first: They performed BoyZone – No matter What. And they was DREADFUL! and iWas waiting for John & Edward to sing a Ballad for the public to see how dreadful they r! And they did! and it just proved to the whole nation that they are absolutely SH*T! They are Tone Deaf! and they just need to go home!

Olly was next and he performed “Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton” This performance by far was better than John & Edward’s Vocally! If Olly went home after this performance it would be an uproar! Because he was better than John & Edward by far!

The result judges had come to a decision and here it is: 

Well done Olly for defeating Satan and his Demons! It was about time John & Edward was sent home! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE X-FACTOR COMPETITION CAN NOW BEGIN!

X-Factor this week was “Wham! week” With a touch of George Michael. There was a lot of press circling a certain contestant this week on X-Factor, but all that will be revealed as the blog goes on. I Was kind of excited to see who will sing what this week. My favourite song by George Michael is Faith, and iWas very anxious to see who will sing it, and if they will sing it good.

First to open the show was Lloyd with my favourite song by George Michael. Yes – he performed Faith, and surprisingly he sang it well! It was in his vocal range. Lloyd also done something to his hair which made him look a bit better, he also had fake tan on him (which iDidn’t see the need for) But this performance was okay! Lloyd does need a MASSIVE improvement though!

Next to perform was Stacey, she sang “I Can’t Make You Love Me – George Michael”. She looked stunning, but iDo think she should do more than singing ballads! It was a bit pitchy as well. But Stacey is a brilliant singer and she could be in the line to win, but last week’s performance was better than this week’s performance. I felt the emotion with last weeks performance, this week it was just all about her vocals which was kind of on point. Stacey would defiantly get far. However iDo think Stacey looks like Leona Lewis!

Then it was John & Edward to do their Weekly exercise (aka jumping and down on stage). It was very predictable that John & Edward was going to perform a Wham! song. They can’t sing ballads which we all will see later. What was up with JEdwards Skinny Jeans! They was too tight! They looked like they was entertaining Simon though,  But here is the dreadful performance

This week the Press was surrounding Danyl, because he ran out of the X-Factor studios throwing a tantrum because Simon wouldn’t let him sing the song he wanted to sing (which he ended up singing in the end anyway) also Danyl threaten to quit the show. Danyl you must learn you are not a Diva yet! You cannot be throwing Tantrum’s because your not getting your own way! U haven’t even won the show yet and ur throwing unnecessary tantrums! And the thing about u quitting is RIDICULOUS! It’s a once in a life time to be on X-Factor, do not take that for-granted Son! The public could take that from u at any moment in time! Going back to his performance Danyl was trying to hard in the song and he went a bit off tune, without a doubt Danyl can sing, but iThink he needs to tone it down. But iDo agree with Cheryl Cole his image is on point!

Olly was after Danyl, and sorry to say it, Olly was a big threat to be in the Bottom 2, this week. Also it was predictable that He was going to sing “Faster love” I personally want to hear Olly sing a Ballad. I do want him to slow it down a bit. Olly is dancing week in week out. iActually want him to do a Stacey and stand still and sing But yes iWas fearing that Olly would be in the bottom two this week.

The winner was next to perform. Yes the WINNER! I’ve found my winner! Joe McElderley to WIN! However – during the video of Joe going home to see his family and College friends, Joe was walking like Beyoncé in the video… Joe that is a big No No! Tone it down! Do not get to feminine! Scariest thing is – He actually knows how to do the Beyoncé walk… Moving on! This performance Was Brilliant! Joe has a good voice! And He can SING! His performance touched me and was a good way to end the show! Joe McElderley to win X-Factor by far! He is brilliant! Joe turned me into a big fan! I do agree with Louie It was the best performance of the night!

Well I know it’s a bit late and virtually everyone in the entire world knows what happened on last Sunday’s The X Factor so just for those people who have been living under a rock for the last few days, this is a mid-week X Factor update.

On last Saturday’s show it was Wham! week, and all of the finalists sang their socks off to try and avoid the dreaded ‘bottom two’ in the results show.

Unfortunately for John and Edward they found themselves there once again, with probably the biggest surprise of Sunday night’s show, Olly who was also in the bottom two.

Now if I know The X Factor, and I think I do, this will simply been the result of everyone thinking that they don’t need to vole for Olly because he is safe and everyone else will vote for him. When this happens, the ’safe’ act finds themselves in the bottom two and singing for survival.

Olly and John & Edward find out who will be sent packing

John and Edward were voted off by Simon, Cheryl and Dannii, and thank goodness! There were cheers of joy in my house as Dannii said she would be sending them home!

So now let’s look to the future and talk about this coming weekend’s show. There will be two major differences from now in on The X Factor. The first is that each of the remaining acts will have to sing TWO songs from now on, which means twice the pressure. It also means less time to practice your song so anyone who can still deliver polished performances is obviously putting in a lot of hard work. This week the final five acts will be singing songs by Elton John and Take That.

Alicia Keys

The second difference is  that the judges can no longer decide who goes and who stays from the bottom two – that’s right, it’s all down to the public vote now which means that if you like someone, you really have got to vote for them.

This week’s theme is Elton John & Take That! Whoohooo! When I found this out a very big part of me hoped that Take That would be performing on the results show but alas it is not meant to be, and instead Rihanna and Alicia Keys will be singing!

Rihanna

So that’s all for now folks, don’t forget that The X Factor is on Saturdays and Sundays at 8pm on ITV1.

Das geht ja gar nicht, planmäßig hätte ich es schon gestern hören müssen, beim dekorieren. Nun also hier Last Christmas für alle!

Und bevor hier jemand nörgelt: Ich liebe dieses Lied und kann gar nichts dafür! Frühkindliche Weihnachtserinnerungen sitzen tief und unverrückbar….

HEUTE: 12.42 Uhr kam DAS Lied, das immer Weihnachten ankündigt mir zum ersten Mal dieses Jahr zu Ohren.
Und jetzt ALLE: Last Christmas, I gave you my heart …

Somehow they were given the perfect song. Looking like a pair of bubblegum sticks and singing an 80s bubblegum song, John and Edward channeled Wham! to fun, upbeat results while delivering still controversial? messages about choosing life.

Their singing was definitely more in tune than previously and they seem to be managing to take on the choreography a bit more effortless, and that’s where it’s sort of waning down for me.  The fun of watching them was because of their mistakes, their off-key singing, which somehow made them go out and try things a bit more in your face and with complete abandon, now they are sort of “safe”, domesticated even.

As our weather only now begins to dip into below zero temperatures, it gets me thinking about cute leisure outfits on a lazy Sunday afternoon.  Canadians kill it when it comes to warmwear, especially when dressing for snowy weather. What can I say?  We’re on our A game always. 

Underneath that down parka and tightly wrapped scarf is a casually chic outfit, layered with luxurious texture. And on our tooties, the best indoor/outdoor footwear for climbing snowbanks and dancing our living rooms on a bearskin rug. *haha*  During this time leading up to the holidays, it’s always fun to have friends over for a warm mug of spicy apple cider, decorate sugar cookies and listen to Wham’s “Last Christmas” (I gave you my heart and the very next day, you gave it away.  This year to save me from tears, I’ll give it to someone special…) on repeat.

Here are my current slipper obsessions for Winter Leisure/Chalet Chic Fashion.  Oh yes, there is such a thing!

• Cable knit leggings or slipper socks – ‘Tis very Ralph Lauren meets Whistler ski bunny.  My sister and I had a ten minute discussion on cable knit leggings.  How sweet are these in pale pink or a winter white?  I also adore the giant wool, cable knit slipper socks with pom-poms.  Slap a pom-pom on anything and it’s ‘Adorable!’

Pom-Pom A-go-go: These cable knit socks would make me want to dance.

• Mukluk moccasins – On the 3rd floor of the Bata Shoe Museum, there is an exhibit devoted entirely to Native Indian footwear.  The plethora of styles can be seen on stylish feet all across this fair city – from fringed lace up booties, to fur trimmed suede and beaded Minnetonkas and Mongolian hair space boots.  Wild I say. Wild.

Mukluk Moccasins: Loving the turquoise embroidery and fur balls. Makes me want to catch my dinner.

• Fair Isle – You know grandma’s home made sweaters and socks you receive as stocking stuffers?  Fun fact:  This is the Fair Isle print which is named after the island in Northern Scotland where the knit pattern originated.  The print has taken on new and exciting colour combinations which will ignite any slipper fetish. 

Lurve it: Fair Isle Mukluk sock interpreted in chocolate brown and white.

And because I couldn’t help myself, a final slipper to keep you warm at night and make you dream of sherpa and log-burning fireplaces.  Makes you want to book a week at the chalet, doesn’t it?

Better than an Ugg: Sheepskin Mocassins. Dreamy!

We’ve been keeping an eye on Cheryl’s X-Factor look for a while now and we’re sure you’ll agree she’s doing very well at keeping her reputation as a style icon.

She looked stunning in her custom made Giles Deacon pink bodycon dress, which fitted into the WHAM! theme night perfectly and would look great as a Christmas outfit.

She also bought home the Minnie Mouse bow look, sported by many a celeb back in the 80s.

Source

¯¯ Do They Know It’s Christmas Time? ¯¯

Aufgenommen am 25. November 1984 von dem britischen Popstar-Projekt Band Aid

Band Aid - Do They Know It’s Christmas?

Weihnachtslieder gibt es wie Schneeflocken in einem verschneiten Wintermärchen. Zumal sich in der Vorweihnachtszeit stets Hunderte von Künstlern aus allen Musiksparten dazu berufen fühlen, “Jingle Bells” und “Stille Nacht” in ihrer personifizierten Version für die Nachwelt zu verewigen. Doch zwei Titel aus dem Jahre 1984 stehen so sinnbildlich für das neuzeitliche Weihnachtsliedgut, wie keine weiteren und beide behaupteten sich auch die letzten 25 Jahre lang gegen sämtliche Neuerscheinungen: das eine lautet “Last Christmas” von Wham, welches streng genommen noch nicht mal ein Weihnachtslied ist und seit der Veröffentlichung großzügig die Taschen des einstigen Bandmitglieds George Michael füllt; das andere heißt “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?” von Band Aid – ein Hilfsprojekt britischer Pop-Größen für die Hungerhilfe in Äthiopien. In diesem Wortgeflecht… sorry, Notengeflecht geht es um die Hintergründe zu “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?” sowie um deren Initiatoren Bob Geldof und Midge Ure. Und für die Freunde von “Last Christmas” gibt es auch noch ein paar Zuckerl… oder sollte man zu dieser Jahreszeit sagen: Platzerl!?

Die Story hinter “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?”

Kann ein Lied hungernde Bäuche füllen? Zumindest, wenn dieses Lied zum Hit avanciert und man den Erlös zeitnah in Brot verwandelt. Solche Gedanken schmiedet der irische Sänger Bob Geldof wohl in einer schlaflosen Nacht im Oktober 1984, nach dem ihn die schockierenden Bilder einer Fernsehreportage über die Hungersnot in Äthiopien nicht mehr loslassen. Jedoch: so ein Lied mag schnell geschrieben sein, aber wie wäre garantiert, dass es auch wirklich die Hitparaden stürmt – und zwar am Besten weltweit? Die Idee: Man braucht eine echte Hymne und singen soll sie jeder, der in der britischen Pop-Szene Rang und Namen hat, dann ist für jeden Fan auch sicher etwas dabei.

Bob Geldof übernimmt für seinen Einfall sofort die Initiative. Zunächst sucht sich der Ire einen geeigneten Mitstreiter für dieses Projekt, er findet ihn in Midge Ure, dem Hymnen-erprobten Bandleader der Bombast-Waver Ultravox. Die beiden machen sich sofort an die Arbeit, um den Titel “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time” zu schreiben. Zeitgleich gilt es, möglichst viele Kollegen für dieses Projekt zu begeistern, damit diese dann dem Hilfsprojekt ihre Stimme schenken.

Und der Zuspruch ist überwältigend, die Teilnehmerliste der damaligen Popgrößen liest sich fast wie das Rock-Lexikon der 1980er, als da wären: Phil Collins, Paul Young, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Paul Weller, Marylin, Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood), Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet), John Keeble (Spandau Ballet), Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran), John Taylor (Duran Duran), Roger Taylor (Duran Duran), Andy Taylor (Duran Duran), Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran), Sting (The Police), Chris Cross (Ultravox), Johnnie Fingers (The Boomtown Rats), Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats), Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats), Boy George (Culture Club), Jon Moss (Culture Club), George Michael (Wham), Freddie Mercury (Queen), Rick Parfitt (Status Quo), Francis Rossi (Status Quo), Keren Woodward (Bananarama), Sarah Dallin (Bananarama), Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama), Jody Watley (Shalamar), Bono (U2), Adam Clayton (U2), Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17), Martyn Ware (Heaven 17), James “JT” Taylor (Kool & The Gang), Robert “Kool” Bell (Kool & The Gang), Dennis Thomas (Kool & The Gang), Annie Lennox (Eurythmics), Stuart Adamson (Big Country), Bruce Watson (Big Country), Tony Butler (Big Country), Mark Brzezicki (Big Country) sowie natürlich die Protagonisten Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats) und Midge Ure (Ultravox) selbst.

Am 25. November 1984 versammeln sich all diese Stars im SARM-Studio in Notting Hill (London) und spielen unter der Produktion von Midge Ure und Trevor Horn (Produzent u. a. von Robbie Williams, Spandau Ballet, Genesis uvm.) an nur einem einzigen Tag den Titel “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?” ein. Auf den Markt kommt die Single dann am 10. Dezember 1984 und gilt bis heute mit 800.000 verkauften Stück innerhalb einer Woche allein in Großbritannien als die schnellstverkaufteste Single der Musikgeschichte. Selbstredend, dass der Weihnachts-Hit sofort die Spitze der Charts im vereinigten Königreich erklimmt, dies gelingt “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?” noch in zwölf weiteren Ländern, darunter auch in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. Insgesamt soll allein die Single einen Reinerlös von rund 12 Millionen Euro eingespielt haben. Doch motiviert von diesem phänomenalen Erfolg wird Bob Geldof am 13. Juli 1985 noch eins draufsetzen und das weltumspannende Mammut-Konzert “Live Aid” organisieren – mehr Infos dazu findet Ihr auch in der 420 Jahre Tonträger-Geschichte Teil 2.

Unterdessen ist das britische Hilfs-Projekt eine Initialzündung für Pop- und Rockgrößen vieler weiterer Länder, die daraufhin ebenfalls ein akustisches Hilfspaket für Afrika schnüren, darunter die USA mit “USA for Africa – We are the World”, Deutschland mit “Band für Afrika – Nackt im Wind” und Österreich mit “Austria für Afrika – Kinder”. Anno 1989 und 2004 holen Bob Geldof und Midge Ure das Band-Aid-Projekt unter den Namen “Band Aid II” und “Band Aid 20″ (zum 20-jährigen Jubiläum) nochmals aus der Schublade, um es teils mit Wiederholungstätern der ersten Formation als auch mit neuen Superstars wie etwa Robbie Williams, Katie Melua, Snow Patrol, den Sugarbabes oder Chris Martin von Coldplay erneut gegen den Hunger in Afrika einzuspielen. Abgesehen von Großbritannien können die Neuauflagen aber nicht mehr an die Erfolge des Originals anknüpfen und auch im Radio und auf praktisch jedem Christmas-Rock-Sampler findet sich stets die Urversion von 1984 wieder. Möge sie uns noch durch viele Weihnachtsfeste musikalisch begleiten!

Kurzbiographie von Bob Geldof

Der irische Rock-Musiker Bob Geldof heißt mit richtigem Namen Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof. Der am 5. Oktober 1951 in Dún Laoghaire (Irland) geborene Junge muss bereits 1959 den Tod seiner Mutter hinnehmen. Seine ältere Schwester schickt ihn schließlich auf das katholische Internat “Blackrock College”. Als sich Bob Geldof mit 18 aus dem Internat verabschiedet, schlägt er sich unter anderem als Englisch-Lehrer, Lastwagenfahrer und Straßensänger durch. Schließlich verdient Geldof bald sein Geld als Journalist für diverse Musikmagazine, wo er erstmals auf Stars wie Elton John oder Little Richard trifft. 1975 schließlich will er endlich selbst Musik machen und gründet in Dublin die Band “The Nightlife Thugs” – stilistisch ausgelegt auf Rythm and Blues. Inspiriert durch die Mitte der 1970er Jahre aufkommende Punkszene orientiert sich die Band neu, siedelt schließlich nach England über und benennt sich um in “The Boomtown Rats”.

Abgesehen von der Insel schaffen es die Boomtown Rats eigentlich nur auf zwei nennenswerte Hits: die Arbeitnehmer-Hymne “I don’t like Mondays” (von 1979, eigentlich ein Lied über einen real passierten Amok-Lauf) sowie den Reggae-Song “Banana Republic”.

Bob Geldof in Äthiopien

Ab 1986 geht Bob Geldof dann eigene Wege ohne seine Ratten. Solo veröffentlicht er zwischen 1986 und heute sechs Alben, wobei es kein einziges in irgendeinem Land in die Top 10 schafft. Bob Geldofs größter Hit würde aber ohnehin sein soziales Engagement gegen Hunger und Ungerechtigkeit bleiben. Nach Band Aid und Live Aid organisiert er 1989 Band Aid II sowie 2004 Band Aid 20. Außerdem kämpft er seit den 1990ern zusammen mit Bono von U2 für den Schuldenerlass von Drittwelt-Ländern. Im Jahre 2005 organisiert er als vorläufigen Höhepunkt das Live-8-Konzert: ein Live-Spektakel am 2. Juli an zehn Orten gleichzeitig als größte Musik-Party der Welt – mehr dazu findet Ihr auch in der Geschichte des Tonträgers Teil 2. In Folge dessen schlägt Königin Elisabeth II. den Iren Bob Geldof  sogar zum Ritter, auch wenn er den Titel “Sir” als Ire offiziell nicht verwenden darf.

Kurzbiographie von Midge Ure

Midge Ure: Bandleader der Gruppe Ultravox und der wahrscheinlich genialste Musiker der 1980er

Midge Ure, der geniale Gitarrist, begnadete Songschreiber und Sänger mit der einprägsamen Stimme ist der wahrscheinlich überragendste Musiker der 1980er. Als Bandleader der Formation Ultravox führt Midge von 1979 bis 1987 die bedeutendste Gruppe der New-Wave-Szene an, welche wiederum den 80ern ihren unverwechselbaren Stempel aufdrückte. Zu den wichtigsten Hits zählen unter anderem “Vienna”, “Passing Strangers”, “All stood still”, “The Voice”, “The Thin Wall”, “Hymn”, “Monument”, “We came to dance”, “Reap the wild Wind”, “Visions in Blue”, “Lament”, “Dancing with Tears in my Eyes”, “One small Day”, “Heart of the Country”, “Man of two Worlds”, “Love’s great Adventure”, “Same old Storys” und “All fall down”… und das sind nur die Hits mit Ultravox! Solo und in anderen Projekten zählen zu Midge Ure’s Hit-Vita unter anderem noch “Fade to Grey” (mit Visage) sowie “If i was”, “That certain Smile”, “Just for you”, “Dear God”, “Sister and Brother” (Duett mit Kate Bush), “Cold, cold Heart”, “Breathe” oder “Move me”. Man könnte die Liste an Top-Liedern aus seiner Feder noch endlos weiterführen, doch soll dies erst einmal als Beweis für seinen hohen Stellenwert in der Musikszene genügen – klingt leicht nach Fan-Aussage, aber das musste an dieser Stelle jetzt einfach mal gesagt werden!!!

Zur Welt kommt Midge Ure als James Ure am 10. Oktober 1953 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire in Schottland. Seine Kindheit verbringt James in einem Vorort von Glasgow. Mit zehn Jahren bekommt er von seinen Eltern eine gebrauchte “Fender Stratocaster” geschenkt, eine Gitarre mit echtem Kultfaktor. Zwar macht James Ure noch eine Lehre als Schlosser, doch am liebsten spielt er eigentlich mit seiner Gitarre, so dass er die Ausbildung mit 19 abbricht, um sich vollends der Musik zu widmen.

James Ure’s offizielle Musikkarriere beginnt ab 1972 bei Bands mit zum Teil recht unterschiedlichen stilistischen Ausrichtungen. Unter anderem spielt er als Sänger und Gitarrist der Teenpopgruppe Silk, wo er wegen einer Namensgleichheit auch seinen Namen James in Midge ändert. Mit Silk schafft er 1976 das Kunststück, mit dem Titel “Forever and ever” den ABBA-Song “Mamma Mia” von Platz 1 der Hitparaden zu verdrängen. Weitere Stationen sind in den 1970ern außerdem die Bombastpopper “The Rich Kids” sowie ein Gastspiel bei der befreundeten Hardrockformation “Thin Lizzy”, als Midge Ure den abwanderungswilligen Gitarristen Gary Moore für eine Tournee und eine Plattenaufnahme vertritt. Mit dessen Band-Leader Phil Lynott zusammen schreibt Midge Ure 1980 außerdem das Stück “Yellow Pearl”, das für viele Jahre die Erkennungsmelodie für die englische TV-Popsendung “Top of the Pops” darstellt.

Ultravox in einem ihrer typischen Outfits

Anno 1979 kreuzen sich die Wege von Midge Ure mit den Bandmitgliedern der Punkgruppe Ultravox. Dessen bisheriger Sänger John Foxx verließ die Truppe, um Soloprojekte zu verwirklichen, zumal Ultravox zu dieser Zeit ohne Geld und ohne Plattenvertrag dasteht. Midge Ure verpasst Ultravox einen neuen akustischen Anstrich aus Synthesizern und Gitarrenriffs. Nebenbei wirkt er zusammen mit seinem Ultravox-Kollegen Bill Currie noch bei der Popformation Visage mit und schreibt dort unter anderem “Fade to Grey”, der international zu einem absoluten Top-Hit avanciert.

Für Midge Ure und Ultravox ein absoluter Glücksfall, da sie aus den Einnahmen mit Visage die Gruppe Ultravox weiter finanzieren können. Die Durststrecke für Ultravox endet Mitte 1980 mit dem Album “Vienna” und der gleichnamigen Single. Was folgt, ist eine sechsjährige Erfolgsgeschichte mit zahlreichen Top-Hits wie zum Beispiel “The Voice”, “Hymn” oder “Dancing with Tears in my Eyes” (siehe auch oben).

Bereits während seiner aktiven Zeit bei Ultravox beginnt Midge Ure flügge zu werden. Nach dem Band-Aid-Projekt anno 1984 und dem Welthit “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?” zusammen mit Bob Geldof konzentriert sich Midge Ure im Folgejahr hauptsächlich auf seine Solokarriere. Ultravox-Fans trösten sich mit dem gemeinsamen Auftritt bei Live Aid, einem Best-Of-Album mit der Single-Auskopplung “Love’s Great Adventure” und dem genialen Solo-Album “The Gift” von Midge Ure. Mit der ersten Single des Albums “If I Was” gelingt zudem, was ihm mit Ultravox immer haarscharf verwehrt blieb – ein Nummer-1-Hit in den Charts. Dieses Kunststück glückt ihm erst wieder 1998 mit dem Titel “Breathe”, der mit kräftiger Unterstützung der Swatch-Uhr-Werbung in Italien und Österreich die Spitzenplätze erklimmt. Zwischen 1985 und heute spielte Midge Ure insgesamt sechs Alben sowie diverse Best-Ofs, Live-Aufnahmen und sogar einen Soundtrack (Went to Coney Island) ein. Für sein soziales Engagement und seine Verdienste um die Afrikahilfe erhebt Königin Elisabeth II. Midge Ure in den Adelsstand und ernennt ihn zum “Officer of the Order of the British Empire”.

Auf seinem letzten Album “10″ von 2008 covert Midge Ure ältere Lieder, die ihm persönlich sehr am Herzen liegen – eine für den Fan ungewohnte aber recht interessante CD. Derzeit tourt Midge Ure mit der Ultravox-Originalbesetzung der 1980er durch ganz Europa. Ob daraus mal mehr wird oder gar ein neues Ultravox-Album entspringt, steht noch in den Sternen – aber man soll die Hoffnung ja nie aufgeben!

Zugabe! 10 wissenswerte Fakten zu “Last Christmas” und “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?”

1, “Last Christmas” ist eigentlich gar kein Weihnachtslied, sondern ein Song über eine unglückliche Liebe.

Alle Jahre wieder in den Plattenläden: Wham und "Last Christmas"

2, Ursprünglich sollte “Last Christmas“ an Ostern 1985 unter dem Titel “Last Eastern” auf den Markt kommen.

3, Die Einnahmen an dem vermeintlichen Weihnachtslied kommen allein George Michael zugute, der diesen Titel schrieb. Sein Partner Andrew Ridgley von Wham! geht leer aus.

4, “Last Christmas” war noch niemals in irgendeinem Land Nummer 1 der Hitparaden. Die höchste Chartplatzierung gelang im Veröffentlichungsjahr 1984 in Großbritannien mit Platz 2 – die Spitzenposition hatte damals ein Lied namens “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?” inne. Dafür kehrt der Wham-Song regelmäßig jedes Jahr zu Weihnachten wieder in die Verkaufslisten zurück.

5, “Last Christmas” gilt in Großbritannien als der meistverkaufte Titel, der niemals Nummer 1 war.

6, Das Video zu “Last Christmas” wurde in Saas Fee in den Walliser Alpen der Schweiz abgedreht.

7, “Last Christmas” wurde bereits x-mal Opfer einer Cover-Version, unter anderem von den Backstreet Boys, Ashley Tisdale, Crazy Frog, Travis, den deutschen Bands The Boss Hoss und Madsen sowie jüngst im Duett von Sido und Mario Barth.

8, Der Name “Band Aid”, dem Star-Ensemble hinter dem Hit “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?”, ist ein Wortgeflecht beziehungsweise Wortspiel, denn “Band” steht sowohl für Musikgruppe als auch für ein Heftpflaster.

9, “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?” bleibt in Großbritannien fünf Wochen lang die Nummer 1 und verkauft sich in dieser Zeit rund 3 Millionen Mal. Insgesamt mutiert “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?” zur meistverkauften Single aller Zeiten.

10, Seltsam: Ausgerechnet in den USA erreichte “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?” nur Platz 13.

© Andy Ilmberger, November 2009

• Yay….Jedward have gone…and give them credit …they lads took it with dignity…but at the end of the day…Louis chose a crap song that left them wide open…previous songs have been so pacy it masked their crapness. No Matter What is a ballad and they were unmasked at last
  

Before all the burning questions could be answered and the remaining finalists could find out if their dreams were to continue there was the weekly group performance to tackle. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go was the high-energy number chosen to kick off proceedings… and what a way to start! The final six, more than aware that his could be one of their last appearances on the hallowed X Factor stage, bounced along to the Wham! Classic in their 80s-tastic white and neon outfits like there was no tomorrow. Next we were treated to a performance from another talent show success story in the familiar form of Susan Boyle. Her stirring rendition of The Rolling Stone’s Wild Horses was followed by a standing ovation from the panel and the entire audience. Once Dermot could be heard it was time to anounce the appearance of one of the greatest female singers of all time and for the audience to go wild once again for Mariah Carey. The curvaceous diva performed her unique vocal gymnastics on the classic love ballad I Want To Know What Love Is. Finally, it was the moment we’d all been waiting for. It was time for the finalists to line up and hear their fate. With fewer names to read out the wait between each seemed endless, until the unlucky two that would be singing for survival were announced… John and Edward and to everyone’s clear surprise, Olly Murs. Singing for survival for the third time in a row the twins sang a heartfelt, if off-key, version of Boyzone’s No Matter What, followed by Olly singing You Look Wonderful Tonight. Next, it was back to the judges to give their verdicts and once Simon, Cheryl and Louis had given theirs, one more vote for Olly would mean deadlock once again. Unfortunately for the twins Dannii just wasn’t won over by their charms and John and Edward were the seventh act leaving the competition.

More X Factor

Mariah Carey Spent all this…and then mimed on the X Factor…Which is supposed to be a show all about live singing

Mariah Carey spends four days in London… and £750,000

Mariah Carey’s four-night trip to London last week is said to have cost £750,000 – lavish even by her standards. The bill included first-class flights for the 40-year-old singer,  £200,000 for bedrooms on the entire top floor of The Dorchester and £12,000 to hire a Rolls-Royce and a Bentley. Topping it all was a bash at Jalouse nightclub in Mayfair on Thursday to promote her new album Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel.

Guests drank £1,200-a-bottle champagne while watching her music videos on a big screen. ‘Mariah wanted a VIP area complete with white flowers, cupcakes, a white carpet and an £85,000 diamond-encrusted ice bucket,’ says a minion. ‘There was £250,000 worth of Angel champagne on the tables.’…No matter how rich….I find this very distasteful

Stories like the one below make the Maria story even more disgusting

Just five bullets for each soldier: Iraq inquiry leak reveals how British troops went in woefully unprepared

British military operations in Iraq were so badly resourced that some soldiers went into battle with only five bullets each, secret documents have revealed. Troops were put at ’significant risk’ on the front line as they struggled with an ‘appalling’ shortage of rounds, and radios which collapsed in the heat. The kit revelations are among the most shocking contained in hundreds of pages of classified papers leaked in advance of Sir John Chilcot’s inquiry into the Iraq war, which begins on Tuesday.

Leaked Iraq inquiry documents revealed British soldiers had just five rounds of ammunition and insufficient body armour

The reports also suggest that Tony Blair misled MPs and the public in the run-up to the invasion. And they provide damning evidence of Britain’s failure to prepare for the rebuilding and reconstruction of Iraq after the toppling of Saddam Hussein. Incredibly, the Foreign Office unit tasked with planning the post-war country was not established until February 2003 – three weeks before the war started.

The details were contained in two ‘overall lessons learnt’ reports and classified transcripts of one-to-one interviews between military commanders returning from the warzone and Ministry of Defence officials. The documents raise serious questions over Labour’s failure properly to equip soldiers heading for the conflict because of the then Prime Minister’s desperate desire to conceal plans to invade Iraq from a sceptical public. Troops were put at ’significant risk’ during the war because they were ‘lacking in resources’, according to one paper. It said: ‘There were significant shortcomings… critical stores and equipment did not arrive in time. ‘There were significant shortages of small arms ammunition in some units as they began operations. All this represented significant risk.’ One commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel M.L. Dunn of 9 Supply Regiment, Royal Engineers, said soldiers going into action ‘only had five rounds of ammunition each, and only enough body armour for those in the front and rear vehicles’.

The main ‘lessons learnt’ report concluded: ‘Never again must we send ill-equipped soldiers into battle.’ Some Royal Marines from the crack 3 Commando Brigade were deployed to war on normal civilian airlines, taking their battlefield equipment as hand luggage. Astonishingly, some heroes had ‘dangerous’ items, including weapons, nail scissors, lighters and penknives, confiscated by officious airport security staff. Commanders also suffered shortages of light machine guns, armoured tanks and equipment. Tanks had only six hours of protection against chemical and biological weapons. Only 10 per cent of the Army’s vehicles were fitted with decontamination systems to safeguard against such weapons. Morphine was also ‘not available to scale’ which meant some injured soldiers could have suffered unnecessarily. There were also shortages of body armour and desert boots. Communications equipment was plagued by ‘very serious’ difficulties. One commander said the long-distance Ptarmigan radio ‘tended to drop out at around noon because of the heat’. The reports reveal that orders for kit ‘were placed with factories too late for equipment to reach the front line in time’. This life-threatening error came about because then Chancellor Gordon Brown had ordered the Ministry of Defence to reduce stockpiles of weapons and hardware ‘to achieve cash savings’. Training was also short-circuited. The documents say there was ‘very little time’ for in-theatre preparation, which allows troops to grow used to climate, terrain and culture in a foreign land. Shadow Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: ‘The accusation that British troops may have died because equipment was not ordered as part of a deliberate political act of deception is one of the most serious charges that could ever be levelled against a Prime Minister and his government. ‘It is essential that the Iraq inquiry uncovers the truth.’ Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey said: ‘It now seems Tony Blair misled Parliament about the Iraq war from the very start. ‘These revelations that Blair ordered a secret preparation for war shows an appalling level of incompetence not previously known. As his orders were so secret too few people were able to begin to adequately prepare.’ Sir John Chilcot warned that no one should attempt to lie to his inquiry, which will begin examining its first witnesses in public tomorrow. Tony Blair is expected to be called, but not for many months. Sir John said: ‘Because we have so much documentary evidence, a witness who sought to hold something back or misdescribe something would be on a loser because we already have all the factual underpinning.’

Blair’s war denials held back kit supplies

Britain had been planning the military mission in Iraq since February 2002 – despite Tony Blair’s repeated insistence that conflict was not being considered. The leaked documents appear to confirm that the then Prime Minister misled MPs and the public about the UK’s readiness for going to war. The need to conceal these plans from Parliament and all but ‘very small numbers’ of officials hindered planning for the invasion.

Consequently, this was ‘rushed’ and ‘lacking in coherence and resources’ which caused ’significant risk’ to troops. During most of 2002, Mr Blair stuck to the line that while military action against Iraq could not be ruled out, no decisions had been made and no preparations for an invasion had been put in place. On July 16, 2002, he was asked by Labour MP Donald Anderson, then chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, if Britain was ‘preparing for possible military action in Iraq’. ‘No,’ Mr Blair replied. ‘There are no decisions which have been taken about military action.’ Two months later he published a dossier which wrongly detailed Iraq’s ability to deploy weapons of mass destruction, but said: ‘In respect of any military options, we are not at the stage of deciding those options.’ But actually, according to the secret papers, ‘formation-level planning for a deployment took place from February 2002′ – 13 months before the invasion. And in June 2002, the UK attended a special Iraq planning conference on the war with the U.S. and the other coalition partner Australia. Mr Blair’s desire to keep this secret meant that military equipment could not be ordered and reconstruction planning begun until December 23, 2002 – a matter of weeks before operations started. Because of this, the documents state, ‘the planning and preparation for this operation was more rushed than should have been the case’.

But At Least 10 Guys Were Definately Not Firing Blanks

Ten pregnant soldiers sent home from Afghanistan after breaking ‘no sex’ rule

A hundred pregnancy testing kits rushed out to Afghan frontline as pregnancy rate among soldiers doubles

Ten servicewomen have been flown home from Afghanistan after falling pregnant. The women were evacuated under strict military rules which bar expectant mothers from frontline service. There is a strict “no-touching” rule which all 700 women and 8,500 men serving in the warzone are warned of on arrival. Those caught having sex usually face a dressing down from their commanding officer or more serious disciplinary action, depending on the rank and position of those involved. Army sources say that since April, women squaddies have asked for more than 100 pregnancy test kits and 10 came out positive – double the number of the previous six months Last night our source said: “The troops have been joking,  saying that maybe it’s something in the water.” Having “significant” numbers of women serving alongside men has been a new phenomenon for the British Army during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. No women served on the frontline during the Falklands or Korean wars. Although women are banned from frontline infantry regiments, many combat units have female medics or doctors who will go out on patrol or be flown to the scene of an injury and they have often ended up in firefights. Women also serve in significant numbers in the Royal Logistics Corps supplying frontline bases with food, water and ammunition. Last night former Army commander Lieutenant Colonel Robin Matthews said: “You now have large numbers of women serving on the modern-day battlefield in a way that is entirely new in our military history. “Together, both servicemen and women face an uncertain future and, as those bonds of war strengthen, inevitably relationships will develop. “It’s a fact that commanders are steadily learning how to deal with it effectively and they have a Code of Conduct to guide them. Women play a vital role in the Armed Forces and they are certainly here to stay. “Incidents will occur, but their overall effect is minimal. Isolated together in intense circumstances when the next day you could be dead, these figures should not be a surprise. “Perhaps what is shows above all else is that our brave men and women facing the Taliban are really very human.” Surprisingly, those women who do become pregnant while on operations are not held in breach of rules. Our source said: “Pregnant troops are sent home for their own welfare and that of an unborn child. Although they may have broken the ‘no- touching’ rule, little would be achieved by disciplining them.” An MoD spokesman confirmed: “Between April 31 and October 31 this year 10 female service personnel were aero-medically evacuated from Afghanistan because they were pregnant.” The spokesman added: “All personnel are expected to behave within the code of conduct. “If women discover they are pregnant they are returned to the UK at the first opportunity for their own well-being.”

Demi Moore in airbrushing controversy after magazine erases chunk of her hip on cover.

When Demi Moore appeared on the December cover of W magazine, she drew admiring glances for her slender figure and flawless skin. But while most readers are used to a little airbrushing and touch-up on the covers, it appears the 47-year-old has fallen foul of an over-enthusiastic Photoshopper. A chunk of her thigh appears to have been digitally removed from the cover between her hip bone and a casually draped sarong.

There is a good chunk missing from what was her left thigh (our right). Underneath the sarong, the thigh continues but appears to be bulging out an inch more than the photoshopped area.

The mistake was pointed out by eagle-eye commentators and has been the subject of hot discussion on the internet. According to Jezebel.com, W magazine claimed any retouching was done in-house by the staff of photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. And a spokesperson added the photographers ‘did not do anything unusual or out of the ordinary on Demi Moore for the photo on the cover of W. ‘Demi is an extraordinary beautiful woman and we feel our cover reflects that.’ The actress, who is wearing a Balmain metal mesh and leather dress, was labelled a Demi Goddess in the accompanying article. And, as many internet bloggers and commentators have pointed out, Demi looks so slender on the red carpet that there has been speculation that she had gone under the knife. So why the designers cut out a section of her hip remains a mystery.

Customers furious as water firms rake in £700million

Fat cat water companies will provoke renewed fury when they announce their bumper profits on the back of sky-high bills. Four of Britain’s biggest suppliers – with nearly 19 million customers between them – have made half-year profits totalling over £700million. In April, typical household bills shot up 4.1 per cent to £344 a year. But industry bosses still want bills to rise by an average £31 before inflation over the next five years. Consumer watchdogs and unions have attacked the proposed price rises and say suppliers should be forced to hand back “excessive” profits in the form of lower  charges.

Dave Thompson, of the Consumer Council for Water, said: “We think there should be price cuts.” And Dave Prentis of Unison said: “It is disgusting that we are being asked to pay more when these companies are making massive profits.” But water bosses say they need  billions to replace old pipes, maintain sewers and improve water quality. On Thursday, regulator Ofwat is expected to demand price caps until 2015.

I hadn’t planned to go out on Friday but got talked into heading out for last orders. No tea, one pint and a shot of Jager was enough to unleash the Barney Gumble boozehound within. We all ended up going to a dive of a club and dancing to thoroughly horrible music. I was followed around all night by a bloke I kissed a few times when I was 17. He turned out to be a bit of a mentalist and was dropped like a hot potato. However many years on and not a lot has changed. He kept telling me how wonderful I looked and as I was waiting outside for a taxi, he approached me in front of all my mates to ask me out. He actually asked me if it would be inappropriate to ask me out, and I told him it was. Cue a little bit of pleading on his part and lots sniggering behind palms by my mates. He was banging on about it being fate or some other shitty line that I fell for when I was 17. My response? “If it’s meant to be, you’ll work out my number.” Consider yourself kicked to the kerb sunshine.  Still, I got lots of nice compliments from people I haven’t seen since I lost the weight. Schhweeet!

The rest of the weekend was pretty lazy. Had some food and chat with Alex, after he left, I watched films, took the hound out and had my dreams shattered by the outrageous exit of Jedward from X-Factor. I had such high hopes for them showing the the show up for the steaming pile of turd that it is. Gutted. Proper gutted. Little toerags lost me £250 too. 

I found out why Ali didn’t make it over to mine last week. Turns out she was in the middle of being proposed to over a bag of McDonalds. LULZ. If ever there were a sign to NOT marry someone, that would be it. Lets put aside the countless number of times he cheated on her, being shorter than her, collecting Alien airfix models and thinking a long black trenchcoat is groundbreaking fashion… A proposal over a fucking Big Mac? Did he get the ring out of a gumball machine too?!   Next time I see her, I’m going to perform my own rendition of this classic. On repeat until the end of time. Dance moves and all.

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.

I have been a bad boy the past two days. Things I am ashamed to mention or even think about.

I should be spanked

The whole ASLC thing. It is just a course.
Yet, I have been rather negative and down about it.
An example in reply to a friend.

Sergeant? Haha its nothing. Can’t be compared to an officer.

The curious case of coincidence happened today. The friends I’ve met in a very long time, all spoke a word to me about ASLC. Seems like they have been following my status updates and tweets!

Was particularly shocked when Jacky came up to me today. Told me how he did his ASLC and PS course, and that I would be able to do the same.

Wake up your idea Jonathan! Stop being your pathetic self.
And what happened to your dream of a cell group leader and zone guitarist?
Wake up your idea. Do something about your dreams.

Cheryl Cole has crushed rumours her marriage to Ashley Cole is in tatters and insisted their relationship is still full of sparkle.

And to prove her point she flashed her £160,000 wedding ring on Twitter with the message: “3 Words. Diamonds are forever.”

Defiant X Factor star Cheryl told friends she and Chelsea winger Ashley have “never been happier”.

The 26-year-old added: “Everything is just fine, and I feel really, really content right now.”

Cheryl spoke out amid rumours their relationship was on the rocks, after Ashley, 28, allegedly cheated on his wife last year.

The footballer was recently injured and the couple have grown even closer in the past few weeks as she helped him get back on his feet.

A source close to the singer said: “Cheryl has been nursing her man better. The pair dote on each other. They are more in love than ever before.

“She loves it that Ashley is there to support her at X Factor and every step of the way with her solo career too.

“While he has been injured they have been spending loads of time together. They’re as close as ever.”

Cheryl was delighted after Ashley came to support her during the Children In Need gig last week, where she performed a duet with Snow Patrol of Set The Fire To The Third Bar.

An insider said: “She was so nervous to be singing in front of music legends Sir Paul McCartney and Dame Shirley Bassey. But Ashley was there for her.”

Cheryl’s X Factor hopeful Lloyd Daniels will sing 1987 hit Faith in tonight’s George Michael themed show.

Stacey Solomon is doing I Can’t Make You Love Me, Jedward will perform I’m Your Man and Olly Murs has been overheard rehearsing Fast Love.

Danyl Johnson is to sing Careless Whisper and Joe McElderry will do Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me.

Source

01 – Last Christmas.mp3
02 – Last Christmas (Pudding Mix).mp3
03 – Everything She Wants.mp3
1984 7”.jpg
2003 mini CD 01.jpg
2003 mini CD 02.jpg
Wham! – Last Christmas – CD.jpg
Wham! – Last Christmas – Front-Inside.jpg
Wham! – Last Christmas – Front.jpg

http://www.easy-share.com/1908469040/halama.rar

So word on the cyberstreet is that it’s “Wham! week” on the X Factor this weekend…. Really? Do Wham! really have that many good songs?

Sure, Last Christmas, Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, and I’m Your Man are pure cheese classics, but it’s not like all the finalists will be able to select a great song from a deep catalogue of stellar tunes, is it?

I admit, that there’s nothing like “Wham! week” to sort the wheat from the chaff, but I’m not entirely convinced that having the versatility to pull off Wham Rap! is really important when finding a future “pop star”. Rumour has it that Jedward are going to tackle Wham Rap! anyway – but where does that leave the others?

I’ll put money on Joe doing Last Christmas. Olly will probably do something upbeat, like Freedom. Who knows, really?

I really don’t have the burning desire to see Danyl do any Wham! song. Frankly, I think he’s a better vocalist than that. But, maybe he’ll finally get to dance, hey? That might save it from being a waste of time. Ok, I would settle for him doing the ‘96 Remix of I’m Your Man. At least that’s got some soul.

He’ll probably get Careless Whisper, which would be alright, but he wouldn’t be able to show off his moves – again. Wouldn’t you like to see Olly sing a ballad for a change, and see Danyl get to groove?

Maybe if we’re lucky, it will be “George Michael & Wham! week”. Then at least there will be more good songs to choose from.

But why can’t we have “Motown week” (my personal favourite)? Or if it has to be cheesy, something broad like “80s week”?

Grrr…

What do you think? Are you happy about it being “Wham! week”? And what do you think everyone will sing?

Diskussionen om politiska sympatier bland popmusiker dyker upp då och då. För några år sedan lanserade Timbro och PR-killen Erik Zsiga en version i ett desperat försök att framstå som relevanta inför sina bidragsgivare.

Zsigas metod var att dels med hjälp av diverse hiphop- och punktexter behäfta “popvänstern” med våldsglorifiering, dels skuldbelägga alla som uttryckt den mest försiktiga vänsteråsikt och samtidigt tjänat pengar på sin musik. Borgerliga ledarskribenter som Per Gudmundsson och Peter Wennblad har å andra sidan försökt klämma in så skilda saker som den svenska DIY-scenen, 90-talsindien och Manchestervågen i en högerkontext, med lite olika argument.

Grundfrågan kvarstår dock – olika tricks åsido, varför är så få popband öppet höger? Till och med de glättiga engelska syntpopbanden på 80-talet visade sig vara vänster när man skrapade lite på ytan – Depeche Mode flirtade med socialismen i intervjuer och i naiva texter, Wham! stödde de strejkande gruvarbetarna (men dissade fackbossen Arthur Scargill) och Martin Ware från Human League gjorde socialistisk konceptpop med Heaven 17.

Gary Numan, en outsider redan i småskolan, väckte uppståndelse när han deklarerade att han röstade på Thatcher. Här i Sverige blev Lustans Lakejer utskällda för sin utstuderat borgerliga image, men den känns i efterhand mer som ett sätt att reta upp proggare och punkare i stickade tröjor än som ett äkta politiskt statement. Därtill var det alldeles för mycket verklighetsflykt.

Naturligtvis finns det drösvis med band i diverse subkulturer som integrerat extremhögersymbolik och ibland också -åsikter i sin image – inom black metal, neofolk och vit maktmusik. Men det är ändå något fjärran från den ideologiska liberalism som Zsiga och ledarskribenterna bekänner sig till. I Sverige framstår fortfarande Alexander Bard som en särling i det att han kombinerar en genomtänkt liberal politisk ståndpunkt (och på sistone en politisk karriär i folkpartiet) med en framgångsrik artistkarriär. Men Bard skiljer å andra sidan nuförtiden oftast noga på de två rollerna.

Tanken på ett band som imagemässigt går in för att hylla arvet efter thatcherismen och önska hårdare tag mot fackligt organiserade, arbetslösa och sjukskrivna känns mest som något lika utstuderat som norska black metalbandet Mayhems hyllningar till diktaturerna i Albanien och Nordkorea.

Frågan om popvänstern och avsaknaden av en pophöger diskuterades i P1 senast i dag. Per Gudmundsson, som enligt egen utsago driver en kampanj för att “skriva om pophistorien ur ett högerperspektiv” pratade med Martin Aagård, vänsterintellektuell kulturskribent och medlem i Doktor Kosmos, ett band som i sin studentikost “lustiga” proggighet kan få vem som helst att drömma om att starta det där högersvaret på Mayhem.

Aagard har adopterat popvänsteretiketten på samma vis som homosexuella gjort med sina nedsättande epitet och säger sig vara stolt över att vara popvänster. Gudmundsson efterlyste tydligare politiska etiketter på låtar som i största allmänhet handlar om “frihet” – trots att de bästa brukar ha udden riktad mot sådana som honom. Programledaren lyfte fram en gammal spaning utbyggd till en lång artikel i Bon härom året om att det blivit hippt med borgerlighet bland annat eftersom vissa band anammat en ironisk tennis- och seglarstil och eftersom en ny generation vänsterengagerade ungdomar har bättre klädsmak än man hade på 90-talet.

Inte så värst intressant alltså, och mest småmysigt när det egentligen var upplagt för en ordentlig fight. Är det något som genomsyrat popmusiken de senaste 50 åren så är det passion.

Jag tror dessvärre att utgångspunkterna för diskussionen hamnat helt snett. Per Gudmundsson har tidigare velat se högerdrag i Joy Divisions musik med huvudsaklig hänvisning till att Ian Curtis röstade på tories i det enda val han hann med, vilket naturligtvis är en otroligt banal iakttagelse. Och övriga medlemmar var vänster. I dagens radiodiskussion talades om bristen på plakattexter om skattesänkning och privatiseringar, också det ett banalt sätt att resonera.

Om vi istället betraktar popmusiken på samma vis som Fredrik Edin gjorde med film nyligen finner vi att det självfallet finns mängder av högerinriktad populärmusik: All denna musik som genom att inte på något vis gå emot den rådande ordningen i själva verket blir ett stöd till den. Och då menar jag självfallet inte att det som krävs är vare sig gammal och ny progg eller förutsägbart “arg” musik som Rage Against the Machine eller Atari Teenage Riot – en ljudbild kan också vara politisk, som Tobbe i The Embassy en gång så klokt uttryckte det.

“Popvänstern” skapades genom att Erik Zsiga lyfte fram vartenda förment vänstervridet citat han kunde hitta hos svenska kändisar, inklusive Cardigans-Ninas försiktiga avståndstagande från höga chefsbonusar och till och med högertjejen Linda Skugges krönikor. I själva verket lider Sverige av att popartister talar alldeles för lite om sina politiska åsikter, alternativt är genuint ointresserade. Och det fåtal som öppnar käften tenderar tyvärr att vara olika sorters proggare.

“I’m working class. Give me a gun and I’ll shoot all the Young Conservatives” sade Primal Screams Bobby Gillespie när bandet var som allra störst. Den sortens tydliga ställningstagande för något radikalare än ett regeringsskifte väntar vi fortfarande på att höra från någon svensk artist i hans position.

Mer om Per Gudmundsson, Martin Aagård, P1, proggare, popvänster, pophöger, Wham!, Primal Scream, Bobby Gillespie, Cardigans, Linda Skugge, Erik Zsiga, Peter Wennblad, Doktor Kosmos, The Embassy, Fredrik Edin, Rage Against the Machine, Atari Teenage Riot, Joy Division, Ian Curtis, Mayhem, Alexander Bard, Gary Numan, Lustans Lakejer, Depeche Mode, Thatcher, Human League, Heaven 17

Ja, man wird es mir wohl nicht glauben. Aber ich habe gerade eben vor ein paar Minuten doch ernsthaft Last Christmas von Wham im Tv bestaunen dürfen.

Wir halten fest: Es ist der 14.11.2009, also November und es lag noch nicht wirklich irgendwie viel Schnee, bei uns hat es noch nichtmal den Hauch von Schnee gehabt. Und die Fernseh-Musik-Sender spielen schon das alljährliche Weihnachtsgrauenlied.

Ich muss zwar zugeben das ich Last Christmas wirklich mag, aber eben keine 40 Tage vor Weihnachten in dauer Rotation. Ich hoffe, dass dieses nur ein ausrutscher des wohl lieber anonym bleibenden Senders.

Ich möchte dieses Lied vor dem 1. Advent nicht mehr hören und sehen müssen, weder beim Einkaufen aus den Boxen oder beim Autofahren im Radio oder sonst wo. Danke!!!

Für alle die es nicht abwarten können, hier ein kleiner vorgeschmack