Tuesday, 7 January 2025

Namesakes #119: Blondie


Blondie was a newspaper comic strip turned into a successful film series (28 movies were made between 1938 and 1950, starring actress Penny Singleton in the title role) created by artist Chic Young.

Whether it inspired the naming of any of the bands below is open to debate. The most famous of these apparently chose the name because of "comments made by truck drivers who catcalled "Hey, Blondie" to [the lead singer] as they drove past".


BLONDIE #1

Let's start in 1952 today with the Bernie Roberts Orchestra, and Bernie's sister Violet, AKA Blondie, on trumpet and vocals...

Bernie Roberts & Blondie - Wisconsin Polka

BLONDIE #2

From 1970, here's some authentic Jamaican reggae from a different Blondie... 

Blondie with Barrington Williams and The Aces - Festival Time Again

BLONDIE #3

There can be only one winner this week...

Surely?

Blondie - Atomic

BLONDIE #4

From 1984, here's funky South African singer Blondie Makhene. As they say on the tube of you, "This is Blondie one of the many best songs to date." He was also a member of the duo Blondie & Pappa.

Amazing, Blondie Makhene has featured on this blog before... in a post promoting Martin's book!

Blondie - Communicate

BLONDY #5

Romanian pop duo, active between 2000 & 2005. They may be two blondes, but you still have to question their choice of bandname by this point in proceedings...

Blondy - Dansez

BLONDIE #6

From 2006, here's a Blondie on guitar with Polish punk band Pogotowie Seksualne. Dobre!

Pogotowie Seksualne - Grzech

BLONDEE #7

German electronic DJ type who arrived on that scene just over ten years ago and clearly liked his Es.

Blondee - Moment

BLONDIE #8

Sadly, I couldn't find this particular Blondie's 2016 EP Power Dogotronic anywhere online, but I wanted to include them anyway because I liked their picture on discogs.

BLONDI #9

Also from 2016, some Albanian pop from Blondi & Bubulina. Blondi is the bloke. Who doesn't appear to be blond.

Bubulina & Blondi - Sa Mir Po Dukesh


Do I even need to ask the questions?

Surely even the professional contrarians among you can only reach one conclusion this week...?


Monday, 6 January 2025

Listening Post #17: Red Sky In The Morning


On one of the last working days of the old year, this was the sky that greeted me on my journey to work. Doesn't bode well for the New Year and whatever might be waiting for us after January 20th. 

But while we wait for the end of the world, it's back to work for a lot of us today. My commiserations if that leaves you with a feeling of dread...


In a postscript to my year end countdown, I wanted to take a moment to revisit the record at #14, Who Will You Believe? by the Pernice Brothers.

Songwriter Joe Pernice was a huge fan of The Smiths when he was growing up. He even wrote a novel (published as part of Continuum's 33 1/3 series) about growing up in thrall to Morrissey. 

So when I heard the following lyrics, I had to wonder...?

I remember when you spoke with gravitas, with care and eloquence. 
It’s so embarrassing to hear you now. 
It’s so embarrassing to hear you now. 





Sunday, 5 January 2025

Snapshots #377 - A Top Ten Carry On Songs


We watched the movie Carry On starring Jason Bateman and Elton John over Christmas. It's basically a PG version of Die Hard II. Even worse, there's no sign of Babs, Kenneth, Jim Dale or Sid...

Here are ten Carry On songs... 

10. Disorder in newborns.

Babyshambles - Carry On Up The Morning

9. Superman grew up in a right state.

Superman grew up in Smallville, which is in Kansas...

Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son

8. The Beach Boys sang about them three times.

The Beach Boys sang Fun Fun Fun...

Fun. - Carry On

7. Policeman stuck in a freezing watering hole.

Bobby Caldwell - Carry On

6. The oafish blue tutu is quite baffling.

"The oafish blue tutu" was an anagram...

The Beautiful South - Good As Gold (Carry On Regardless)

5. June and July, in the calendar.

J&J. Cale is in the calendar.

JJ Cale - Carry On

4. Woodhill Bay and Kilkenny Bay.

Woodhill Bay and Kilkenny Bay are also known as Portishead Beach.

Portishead - We Carry On

3. Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben.


Otherwise known as...

The Fantastic Four - I'm Gonna Carry On

2. Dr. Julius Strangepork.


Piiiiigs in spaaaaace!!!

Spacehog - Carry On

1. Crime Scene: New York.

CS: NY...

Crosby, Stills & Nash - Carry On


OK, you an carry on about your day now.

Snapshots will carry on next Saturday...

Saturday, 4 January 2025

Saturday Snapshots #377

This is Bruno Mars. He's got nothing to do with this week's link, but all the celebrities who did... well, they were too obvious. Is that a clue? Not really.

Who are this lot and what connects their songs?


10. Disorder in newborns.

9. Superman grew up in a right state.

8. The Beach Boys sang about them three times.

7. Policeman stuck in a freezing watering hole.

6. The oafish blue tutu is quite baffling.

5. June and July, in the calendar.

4. Woodhill Bay and Kilkenny Bay.

3. Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben.

2. Dr. Julius Strangepork.

1. Crime Scene: New York.

Answers tomorrow morning. Now off and be about your business!


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