Live Long

You Could Be Happy - Snow Patrol

You Could Be Happy lyrics

You could be happy and I won't know
But you weren't happy the day I watched you go

And all the things that I wished I had not said
Are played in loops 'till it's madness in my head

Is it too late to remind you how we were
But not our last days of silence, screaming, blur

Most of what I remember makes me sure
I should have stopped you from walking out the door
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/s/snow-patrol-lyrics/you-could-be-happy-lyrics.html ]

You could be happy, I hope you are
You made me happier than I'd been by far

Somehow everything I own smells of you
And for the tiniest moment it's all not true

Do the things that you always wanted to
Without me there to hold you back, don't think, just do

More than anything I want to see you, girl
Take a glorious bite out of the whole world

The Gaslight Anthem - Bring It On

Benjamin Francis Leftwich

Amazing Horse

This is simply weird!

Totem - Cirque du Soleil

It's January so it is time for the annual tour to the Royal Albert Hall by Cirque du Soleil.  This year they have brought Totem.  I nearly didn't buy us tickets.  Well how stupid would that have been!

I think this was our 6th Cirque show.  And it by far eclipsed any that we had previously seen.  There was real innovation and uniqueness to this show.  It all passed us by much too quickly.  It was spell binding, mesmerizing.  Cirque manage to be so much.  The music as ever wonderful, the costumes stunning, the acts jaw dropping.  And it isn't just the acts themselves, even the way they bring on and remove the props is part of the story, done with care and beauty.

Am I being rather effusive, yes.  Do they deserve it, yes!

The clip below is of the trapeze acrobats.  It is a fine example of what makes Cirque different.  It isn't just a circus act.  Here they have choreographed two lovers coming together, the shyness, the pretence, the fooling.  And it is done with some very dangerous acts which are incredible to watch.

Your Song - Ellie Goulding

I don't normally like covers, and especially not when one of the great somgs of our time. But, well listen and see what you think -

Your Song - Elton John

It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

Bitter Boy - Kate Rusby

There was a boy, a bitter boy,
Who's golden heart I saw gleaming,
I thought I'd win the heart within,
But now I know that I was dreaming.

Chorus:
But I will rise, and I will sing,
Until the day I can't conceal it,
Because I hold the saddest song,
And wish to God I cannot feel it.

Then the boy, the bitter boy,
He came to me for rest and healing,
He reached in his chest, deep in his breast,
Held out the heart for me still gleaming.

Chorus.

Then the boy, me and the boy,
We walked for miles through stormy weather,
Hand in hand, we roamed the land,
And held the gleaming heart together.

Chorus.

Then the boy, the bitter boy,
He came to take the gleaming treasure,
He reached in my chest, deep in my breast,
And took the gleaming heart forever.

Chorus

OK Go - End Love

Saltimbanco - Cirque du Soleil

A wonderful afternoon spent watching Saltimbanco. Cirque du Soleil never disappoint. This is one of their older shows and it shows in that it is less overt, but it is none the worse for that. It is beautiful, more beautiful than any of the other shows we have seen, with the possible exception of Allegria.  And it is the simplicity that makes it such a visual feast.  I was enthralled by it all.  If you get the opportunity to see it, then don't miss it.

U2 Vertigo

OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - Rube Goldberg Machine version

Biffy Clyro - Bubbles

OK, it's not the best of quality, but I used to love gigs at the Barrowlands.

Ben and Una

Ben Foden, when not playing as full back for the Saints, is going out with Una Healy from The Saturdays. What do they get up to? Well, it appears, singing:



He has got a lot of flack from this. I think that is the little geen monster kicking in for some people. He actually sings better than most people on the X Factor!

Who'd Have Known - Lily Allen

My Love - Steeleye Span

Fireflies - Owl City

Biffy Clyro - The Captain

I can't decide if I like Biffy Clyro or not

Kate On Tour

I've just got back from seeing Kate Rusby at the Warwick Arts Centre. Absolutely wonderful. She's singing carols, but not those that you'll hear in church, these are ones she has grown up singing in yorkshire pubs. Or so the story goes, and I'd like to believe her.

It was wonderful but also slightly weird. Weird in many ways.

First, it felt weird to all be sitting listening to this fantastic music. I couldn't stop my feet tapping anyway but I wanted to be up dancing. Sittting listening to classical is one thing, but this was demanding movement, and singing along, but we couldn't (well ok maybe I did some singing along).

Second, Kate herself is a bit weird. Weird because in between songs she almost seems like a nervous teenager. She has a makes southern Yorkshire accent. She talks as though you are in her living room. She stands holding her hands together. You could almost believe it was her first time. And then, and then she sings. And this ethereal beautiful voice soars out into the auditorium. And it is just something else. This is not a voice that needs a mixing desk to get it right. This is a pure, breath taking sound from the angels.

Thirdly, concert over. I decide to use the gents before drivng home. I do so and am washing my hands when a voice says something along the lines of "well if it isn't insert-my-name-here". I look up and it is the past president of a work association. Now I must admit I am not good when caught by surprise. Even by friends. I am even worse when the thoughts running through my head are "I can't shake hands necause mine are wet - I didn't shave before coming out - I'm not in my work suit - last time I spoke to him he was trying to get us to sponsor something" etc etc.

All in all a great but slightly surreal night.