Wednesday Album RecommendationAlain Chanone: Il nous faut de l´amour

Foto: album cover of: il nous faut de l´amour by Alain Chanone,

Yes, I know its Sunday, but as I never managed to keep up my Wednesday album recommendations regularly (there is something called work often interfering...) I can as well post it today. 

A few days ago I wrote about the film Quand jétais chanteur, and the singer Alain Chanone was in fact the inspiration for this film, his new album is out now, you can book him and his orchestra, his web site is trés charmant, and I wonder where I could get the album in real, it is definitely not on itunes, and I could only hear the examples on Alains website, écouter - I knew that from the first steps in the French language course...... but already these bits of the music convinced me: this music is really enjoyable.

Recommended for the summer....

Lest! Bücher für 1 Euro

Photo von jokers.de

Jetzt gibt es keine Ausreden mehr, wie etwa: zu teuer, langweilig etc. Für 1 Euro kann man solche Schätze wie A Great Silly Grin bei der Firma jokers.de erwerben, und für ein wenig mehr ebenfalls famose Biografien (Ariel Scharon 3,95 Euro) und Romane (The sorrows of an American 5,99 Euro) kaufen. 

Und, das Stöbern in diesem umfangreichen bargain bookshop lohnt sich bei den deutschen Titeln, den englischen und bei den Filmen. 

Viel Spaß, und Lesen ist workout für die eigene Phantasie!

Morrissey Columbiahalle Berlin 12.6.09

It was too full, that this is my main memory to the concert last Friday. A crowded Columbiahalle with 3000 guests packed into the main hall and the balcony, people were very rude pushing through all the time, I do not know what it is with people who go to concerts and start to become hiking enthusiasts there and then.

One time a bear grapped me by the shoulders lifted me and passed through, another time a woman shoved her full beer plastic glass into my neck etc. etc. I have been going to concerts since 25 odd years now, but this was awful, the sound was lousy and the show rather reduced.

What I did see of the man himself was of course great and a Morrissey concert is a Morrissey concert, glad to have been of course, shirt swap and all.....

But the rather aggressive stage appearance combined with whenever you turned around you looked on a monitor showing images of poor slaughtered or tormented animals (PETA tried to recrute followers, I am no longer a supporter, just google them and you will get your own impression), a terrible smell in the hall (I wish people were allowed to smoke again) etc. etc. I was glad to after a 75 mins show to be out of this moloch into the garden of the columbiahalle where surprise surprise the beer was out.... what a surprise a sold out concert and people want to drink beer imagine that, what a wonder, well, we left soon and found somewhere else to spend our money....

Anyway, no grudges - Morrissey is great!!!! Maybe next time in another venue?

Wednesday Album Recommendation

And now for something completely different..... Since quite a while I am watching many French films now on and again, one of them Quand jétais chanteur (The Singer is the English title, Chanson d Amour the German) 

It is such an enchanting film about a 50+ year old singer who falls in love with a young woman, the setting is in the Auvergne one of the most beautiful parts of France and the whole film has such a coninuous feeling of melancholy without being in the least depressing, no, au contraire as Del boy would say, it is very entertaining. That of course is also due to the brilliant actors who carry the plot. Gerard Depardieu as the singer and Cecile de France as the young woman.

Depardieu also sings all the songs himself and gives even these light chansons something special. The atmosphere in the clubs and other venues where this Alain has to sing but where he also enjoys his work most and finds his loyal fans is so perfectly captured, a great film in a great setting with great actors. 

Therefore, the soundtrack to the film is my album recommendation of this week, I do not know if you can enjoy the music without having seen the film but both are easily available so, check it out if you like, for me the music is already one of my favourites for this summer.

A bientot.

There is a light that never goes out

Photo from http://www.itsmorrisseysworld.com/

Morrissey / The Smith - There is a light that never goes out

Take me out tonight
Where theres music and theres people
And theyre young and alive
Driving in your car
I never never want to go home
Because I havent got one
Anymore

Take me out tonight
Because I want to see people and i
Want to see life
Driving in your car
Oh, please dont drop me home
Because its not my home, its their
Home, and Im welcome no more

And if a double-decker bus
Crashes into us
To die by your side
Is such a heavenly way to die
And if a ten-ton truck
Kills the both of us
To die by your side
Well, the pleasure - the privilege is mine

Take me out tonight
Take me anywhere, I dont care
I dont care, I dont care
And in the darkened underpass
I thought oh god, my chance has come at last
(but then a strange fear gripped me and i
Just couldnt ask)

Take me out tonight
Oh, take me anywhere, I dont care
I dont care, I dont care
Driving in your car
I never never want to go home
Because I havent got one, da ...
Oh, I havent got one

And if a double-decker bus
Crashes into us
To die by your side
Is such a heavenly way to die
And if a ten-ton truck
Kills the both of us
To die by your side
Well, the pleasure - the privilege is mine

Oh, there is a light and it never goes out
There is a light and it never goes out
There is a light and it never goes out
There is a light and it never goes out
There is a light and it never goes out
There is a light and it never goes out
There is a light and it never goes out
There is a light and it never goes out
There is a light and it never goes out

RIP John Weller

Sad news, deepest heartfelt condulences to Ann, Nicky, Paul and the rest of the Weller family

Schock am Abend

Es war fünf Minuten vor der Zeit die ich mir als Ende meines Arbeitstages gesetzt hatte. Ich wollte nur noch einmal sehen welche Aussenstände in der Buchhaltung aufgelaufen sind. Die Buchhaltung läuft auf einer FileMaker Datenbank, diese hatte sich den ganzen Tag mit einer Startseite geöffnet die ich nicht wollte so ging ich unter Dateioptionen und änderte die Startseite. Aber was war das ? Über diesem Befehl gab es das Feld Datei mit Kennwort öffnen, hab ich ja noch nie gesehen, also schnell das Häkchen ausgeklickt. Und mit diesem Klick war mein Feierabend gestorben. Denn: ich konnte die Datei nicht mehr öffnen das System fragte mich nach einem Password das es garnicht gab. Horror, Herzklopf, Internet Durchsuch etc. 

Die erste Recherche ergab: FileMaker Datenbanken die kein generelles Passwort hinterlegt haben, haben automatisch diesen Befehl : Öffnen mit Admin Passwort (leeres Feld) angeklickt. Das zeigte sich auch in allen meinen anderen Datenbanken. OK, also geben wir Admin und kein Passwort in die Abfrage ein, nix tat sich. Heute morgen, nachdem mein support mir hilfreich zur Seite stand versuchte ich es noch einmal und da schau an, es ging, die Datenbank ist wieder offen und funktioniert. Einige graue Haare später ist alles wieder im Lot. Mein Rechner ist nicht mehr der neueste und hat anscheinend so seine Macken. Aber wie auch immer falls das jemanden in seinem FileMaker auch mal auffällt, nix ausklicken, könnte zu einem verlängerten Abend/Morgen vorm Computer führen....

Dateioptionen: Anmelden mit Admin ohne Passwort ist regulär hinterlegt

-wenn man das ausklickt, frägt das System beim nächsten Öffnen nach einem Konto und password -

Admin und ohne Password eingeben, sollte eigentlich funktionieren, oder öfter probieren, siehe oben.

Neustarts und Stecker ziehen hat nix geholfen

Happy Working!

How to say cheers

A friend discovered this page by accident and we laughed a lot reading the translations how to say cheers worldwide, the comments were at least in the German section even more funny 

Check it out and be prepared worldwide

How to say cheers

your Perrier drinking Ingrid (lent)

Shout to the top

Can you dance through the 7.42 min version of Shout to the top by The Style Council? And I mean, really dance not just moving your arms 80s style around ?

Here is the original but shorter video, enjoy, and about the dancing let me know .....

Beste Pralinen von Welt

Valentinstag ist eine feine Sache, da kann man sich Schokolade schenken lassen und wenn die Lieblingsconfiserie nun auch ins norddeutsche Ausland per online Bestellung verschickt ist das natürlich ganz famos. Elly Seidl München - Pralinen zum Verlieben oder für Verliebte oder einfach für Sich etwas gutes Tuende.....

Wednesday Album Recommendation

Oh, its Wednesday again, so here is my recommendation 

Morrissey - years of refusal

it is devine. I love it.

Berlin Mitte

Berlin Mitte = Faszination des Grauens

eine melange der mittelmässigkeit gepaart mit ungepflegtem trendy-sein und überheblichem ich- bin-mutter (noch schlimmer vater im erziehungsurlaub) lass-mich-hier-durch gebaren. die filzbastler basteln immer noch ihre ach so kreativen filzbasteleien, in galerien hängen neuerdings erstklässler zeichnungen und die ackerhalle ist ab 15 uhr definitiv zu meiden. lächele nie, es bringt dir bestimmt einen grimmigen blick ein, oder, sei nie freundlich wie man das in meiner altersklasse doch öfter ist, du bringst sie zu durcheinander, sie wissen nicht wohin schauen, stolpern über das vom schokoladeverschmierten junior gesteuerte einkaufs cum blödcartoonstyle auto für kids, der tag ist gelaufen. sei also cool und grantig. (mach ich aber nicht, ha!)

der schnee dämpft alles ein wenig und, in berlin wäre vielleicht noch gerade das viertel um die marienstrasse friedrichstrasse etc. eine alternative zum wohnen und arbeiten, aber auch nur vielleicht. wie gesagt, es ist und bleibt eine faszination des grauens. ich bleib erstmal wieder drin......

Morrissey Years of Refusal Tour 2009

The Tourplan

Years of Refusal Details


Super !!!! Check out the videos there and JUST GO to the concerts!

Wednesday Album Recommendation #7

Inspired by J.L.T.´s comment and as it is Wednesday today here comes another album recommendation from me,  a record I have been listening to very much lately :

The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement

Very british laced up with wonderful arrangements, sometimes by the London Metropolitan Orchestra. Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys has got together with Miles Kane from The Rascals to form this splendid band. Really enjoyable music, not too much leaning on the Britpop side, very individual but not unbearable as e.g. Feist or something similar hilarious (imho)....

Promise, I will post more recommendations soon, but I am very busy at the moment and still on my time saving scheme, time saving for reading, going for long walks, looking out of train windows, talking to the plants and similar things the computer holds me off from too often .....

Wednesday Album Recommendation #6

OK it is Thursday and it is even getting worse - a repeat recommendation

22 Dreams by Mr. Paul Weller

the friend was right, who said, keep listening it´s a grower. But, to not bore you with recommending this album again, here is the link to the fabulous zoo sessions appearance of Mr. Weller at absolute radio. It is great, enjoy watching.

There is e.g. an accoustic version of Sea Spray (a shame the guitarist who does back vocals cant sing but never mind) and the audience is just crooning in.... !!

Here is Absolute Radio´s promotional text for the video
Paul Weller joins Absolute Radio at One Golden Square to help celebrate Christmas in the Absolute Radio Zoo. Includes the tracks 'All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You,)' 'Sea Spray,' 'Why Walk When You Can Run,' 'What A Day For A Daydream' (Lovin' Spoonful cover,) and 'That's Entertainment'

Photo collage courtesy of Dave from Weller Exclusives!
Peace and SOUL, brother.

original photo © Absolute Radio, I suppose

Wednesday Album Recommendation #5

It has been a while and I did not keep up with my Wednesday Album Recommendation due to so many other things in life. But, today here it is, one of my newest records

Grace Jones - Hurricane
So she is back, and with a really recommendable album. Of course it is far off any 2008 music, no britpop, no killers, no soul repro. it is purely her, her instantly recognisable voice with the Jamaican drawl - supersexy and very catching, still. Creative, likeable, well produced, expectations more than fulfilled.




I hope I can write in my blog again soon, also on my cooking blog....

Wednesday Album Recommendation #4

Ja, also dieses Mal ein deutschsprachiges Album:

Peter Maffay - Ewig

Jetzt, ein Aufschrei geht durch die Leserschaft - was dieser Schlagerfuzzi? Was ist denn jetzt los?
Ich sehe Maffay durchaus kritisch aber dieses Album ist ihm wirklich gelungen. Überzeugende Balladen und rockige Songs finden sich auf EWIG. Wobei der "sanfte" Teil überwiegt und der fast 60jährige Peter es schafft hier weit ab von Schnulze sauberen Rock hinzulegen, zusammen mit einer erstklassigen Band. Der Titelsong Ewig ist halt was für die Mädels, Schnee der auf Rosen fällt hat fast eine alpenländische Gitarrenmelodie ohne in den volkstümlichen Kitsch zu verfallen sondern erinnert eher an eine gelungene Kombination aus Chiemgauer Gitarrenmusi und spanischer klassischer Gitarre. Der Mensch auf den Du wartest, Im Himmel, Meine Welt - alles sehr beeindruckende und durchaus hörenswerte Songs.

Wenn er vielleicht nicht gar so als Gutmensch auftreten würde, nähme man ihn ernster. Ich weiß es nicht, wahrscheinlich klebt das Schlagerimage einfach zu stark. Immerhin sind seine Konzerte in kürzester Zeit immer restlos ausverkauft und das Publikum das sich dort findet rekrutiert er nicht, wie vor kurzem in Berlin selbst am Rande miterlebt, aus der tätowierten Solarium gebräunten Fraktion, nein man wähnte sich eher beim Treffen der Sachbearbeiterinnen, der kurzärmelige Hemden tragenden Herren in den Mitfünfzigern die Tags darauf wieder ins Amt spazieren und beim Morgenkaffee rufen: Was war es rockig. Ein paar versprengte echte Rocker in Hells Angels Kluft hinten im Saal wo auch ein paar Journalisten und sagen wir mal etwas frischere Zuschauer standen, waren dann schon sauer, als zwischen jedem Lied erstmal wieder eine längere Ansage von Peter Maffay kam - wir waren ja nicht für ein Hörspiel zugunsten irgendeiner Stiftung gekommen. Gutmensch eben, wie gesagt.

Aber egal, das Album ist gut - reinhören lohnt sich und es ist mein heutiges Mittwochalbum. Echt.
Und eine Harley kostet 8000 Euro - da war ich positiv überrascht.......



Peter Maffay - Ewig

Bar Beer Beatles - Musikerklause Berlin

Klaus, the owner of the bar Musikerklause (Musicians Snug/Boozer/Pub) in Berlins trendy Mitte district has dedicated his life to music and the running of his bar. Being an avid Beatles Fan himself he has decorated the small pub with Beatles memorabilia all through. From a Bravo Starschnitt from the 60s, (a kind of poster puzzle you collected from the famous German youth magazine and which came for almost every more or less famous band or singer) up to a large collection of vinyls, posters, autogrammes, paraphernalia and so much more. The bar has been there since GDR times and was always family owned, nowadays it has developed into a combination of the old style Berlin pub around the corner and a place where a lot of young people hang out too. As hostels have spread around the area like weed, a new group of guests has turned up too. Australians, New Zealanders, of course a lot of English folks and Italians, Greeks, you name it. They all enjoy the in itself unique atmosphere, smoking is allowed at least now, music is good, beer is cheap and there is always the chance to see some characters hanging around there you would never meet in a "normal or trendy" bar around this manor. You can play billiard for a small fee and if the bar is full enough they stay open late as Berlin does not have any regulated closing time for bars and restaurants. Sometimes there is life music and Klaus is open for any suggestions or enquiries from bands who have at least a small following already. Public transport stations are close by so there is no need to bring the car, you would not find a parking place anyway and if you did they are quite expensive.

So, check out the myspace page and come to the venue whenever you are in Berlin ..... they are open daily except Sundays.

Musikerklause Berlin

Wednesday Album Recommendation # 3

For todays Wednesday Album Recommendation I have selected one of my all time favourites

ABC - The lexicon of love

Its an 80s cracker and as ABC is back in the charts with their new Traffic Album. I wanted to bring back this classic. I rememember quite well how I always loved, and still love, their exceptional sound, these synthesizer orchestral details and of course lead singer Martin Frys outstanding voice that gave the whole ABC music its hallmark.

Shoot that poison arrow to my heart ......
Who broke my heart - you did you did

and that sung with all the verve and heartfelt emotion - I love it.

Also, they made quite elegant outstanding videos then, ahead of their time but with a period approach somewhere in the 1930s, 1940s.

ABC is always classified as a band from the New Romantics, but somehow it seems to me that these category appeared at least for them later than the band. For me, they alwys were a very good band, outstanding, more classy than e.g. Spandau Ballet, and with an edge to their music. New Romatics is for me lace-trimmed shirts and too much make up on boys faces - something I do not equalise with ABC.

The album is available on itunes or here on Amazon:

Their new album Traffic is also already available through the same sources.

The Look of Love original video

Poison Arrow Video (love it)

Paul Weller 07.10.08 Columbiahalle

Clips by Edward B. Gordon

Paul Weller Berlin 07.10.2008 Columbiahalle

Here are some photos, from last night. Enjoy.
all photos © Edward B. Gordon

The Changing Man

Last night, Columbia Halle Berlin, Paul Weller in concert

A not too full venue, the support group already finished when we arrived, seemed like a good start for last nights entertainment.
Around 9 pm the man himself was already visible behind large speakers preparing to go on stage after the always at Weller concerts busy guitar adjusters left the stage. One would think he has got his guitars in tune already, but never mind. He started with one of my favourites: Wild Blue Yonder.

However, the first 20 minutes were, quite frankly, boring. The voice a bit tired, the new band a bit too "cover band plays Weller songs, pure but just not IT" - and I think he got the drift. Applause was, especially with the new songs from the 22 dreams album rather lets say reserved. And somehow you could tell he was thinking Oh well I am going to show you all I still can do it - I am still Paul Weller after all. And he did, he turned the wheel around and the concert went into a really great performance. OK, of course I am not very objective as he played rather early on Shout to the top and had me dancing to one of my favourite PW songs and for me not much could go wrong after that, but, how did a friend of mine whom I met after having not seen her for a very long time whisper in my ear (Now there is someone happy) - with Butterfly Collector in an accoustic version he almost topped it. I forgive him the 22 dreams mistakes and the sound carpets between songs. OK OK he is now in the angry old man musician turns to the heroes of electric pop stage but it will pass I am sure. After two encores the Berlin audience got them out again on stage for a brilliant third encore, being, you guessed it, Town called Malice - and believe me he did not have to sing the words alone to that one.

On the whole, a very nice evening out, it is always HIM and I hope we will grow old(er) together, and there will be stilll a lot of Paul Weller concerts ahead.

He looked fit, did his Wild Wood Portishead version, dancing on stage without a guitar in front of him, drinking, etc.

Some photos will follow....

So, if you have the opportunity to go to one of the remaining concerts of the tour, do it , it is really recommendable, SHOUT TO THE TOP!!!

As this is Wednesday and I have promised you an album tip every Wednesday, of course it has to be one of Wellers today. And I choose my still favourite of his solo career, his first, aptly titled Paul Weller.

Copycat

Well, I always thought my blog might be read by a few people but, honestly,  not many. That be as it may but today I discovered that someone, lets say, at least was "inspired" by one my blog posts and used the same topic on his blog. As it was there completely out of context it was very obious. But ok, I presume he did not know what to post and at least the subject was ok, well, I wouldn´t have written about it otherwise, anyway....

The END

Another thing: I discovered the truth about the ending of British television series Life on Mars which is a kind of a mystery and not to be lifted (I won´t!!) without watching the last episode of series 2. Life on Mars is addictive. The story of Manchester DI Sam Tyler being transferred into 1973 after a car crash, finding himself in the Manchester police force next in line from DCI GENE HUNT (the most gorgeous TV character -EVER). And while trying to get home into the here and now Sam is working on various cases with a absolutely never PC team, an overweight, alcoholic. foulmouthed, salt of the earth boss. He receives messages through the tv from the operating theatre where they try to keep him in a coma and get him back. In 1973 he meets his mother, dad, auntie, parents of friends he knows in the now. All very cool produced, authentic to the core, great music, ugly cars, worse haircuts and fashion - but, as I said, addictive. I would recommend to look into the first series if you do not know Life on Mars, then to go to the sequel Ashes to Ashes which is set in the 1980s, and then come back to series 2 of LoM. 

Its all available on DVD

Life on Mars Series 1

Life on Mars Series 2

Ashes to Ashes

also, check out actor Philip Glenisters book Things aint what they used to be

out in November

here are a few LoM cuts - but they can just be appetisers, buy the DVD, trust me....

Bavette Rapido

Yesterday evening cooking had to be quick,so while the Bavette were getting ready in the salted boiling water (yes, I admitt, I used the Fleur de Sel for that again, - spoiling us), I chopped the garlic, some mushrooums, small red chilli and fried that in quite a bit of hot olive oil, salt, pepper, sugar, bit of cayenne pepper as the chilis are organic ones and rather mild, herbes de provence, bit of the cooking water from the noodles and then just a few minutes before the pasta was ready chopped spring onions into the sauce and a bit of cream. I got this 50% fat contaninig cream from Bavarian milkery Weihenstephaner. The cream is very good for cooking but it appears one takes more than with the normal stuff. Pasta drained and into the pan to the sauce, so I opted for cooking the pasta very al dente as it gets softer when you stir it with all the other ingredients. Let it sit for a minute or so transfer to prewarmed plates, fresh parmesan, freshly ground black pepper and a drop of olive oil on top and Bob´s your uncle.

To make this delicious dish took around 15 minutes - so no excuse for using readymade frozen concoctions, we seldom do, but of course these special country french fries I have discovered lately - yummy too.

Wednesday Album

I thought I´d post on Wednesdays an album recommendation, lets see if I can keep it up every week. well, there is no shortage on music from my side but often there is no time for writing. but I will try - others paint a painting every day since almost two years so I should manage to post an album recommendation at least once a week.

to start with:

Suggs - The Platinum Collection

Graham McPherson, better known as Suggs, front man of Madness has done quite a few solo projects over the years and most of them are put together in this compilation. There are a few rather awful songs on the album like the Chelsea Chelsea roaring anthem but such gems as  On drifting sand and Camden Town make it worth listening to.

I found it on itunes, on you tube there are a few samples too with video.

Check it out if you like music from Madness, Ska, Reggae influenced, 

More next week, then, promise.