- Apr 30
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
Searching for a theme to marry some outwardly disparate songs together, it’s strange how odd lyrics seem to spring to mind. Today I recalled the classic opener from Black Sabbath’s 1970 hit “Paranoid”: “Finished with my woman / ‘cause she couldn't help me with my mind”. Maybe Ozzy should have dated a psychologist. A year earlier Led Zeppelin (pictured above) unleashed its self-titled debut album including the song “Communication Breakdown”, replete with a trademark Jimmy Page
- Apr 23
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: IT’S A KINDA MAGIC
OK, so we try to bring you a little bit of magic every Friday with a selection of great songs you may not have heard before, largely from artistes who plough a stoically independent furrow. Or indeed furlough to keep things regrettably topical. On with this week’s choices and a particularly magical sound to commence proceedings. South Londoner Toby Juan transitioned from humping bricks to full-time busking after moving to Brighton where he began creating his own music in 2013
- Apr 16
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: AUTOTUNED TO PERFECTION
Did anyone watch I Can See Your Voice, the BBC show where singers are judged on appearance first by a panel of what these days are loosely termed Celebs? It sounds like a concept they might have tossed about on W1A (remember Britain's Tastiest Village?) In fact, it originates from the home of K-pop, South Korea. I was nicely surprised that it was engaging enough to have you soon second guessing the panel and in time will no doubt give rise to the overuse of its own stock phr
- Apr 9
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: UPSIDE LOCKDOWNING
Rubbish. Actually, it’s the most dispiriting thing so far about this gradual easing of lockdown. I’m talking about people trashing the countryside, idiots lighting disposable barbecues in woodland or leaving cans, bottles, plastic and myriad detritus strewn over parkland or beaches, in a mindless quest for what they think is having a good time. My hat is therefore tipped towards Leeds Beckett University student Jack Colmer, who took it upon himself to install a homemade bin b
- Apr 2
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: APRILLE SHOURES
Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote, The droghte of March hath perced to the roote… so begins the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. I could hardly think of a better way to announce the first Friday in the month of April, not that there are any rain showers quite yet. Indeed, I can see blue sky this morning. Not sure where this is going? Neither am I, so on with the music and a belter to begin. Photo of Aimée Steven by Keith Ainsworth I first encounter