Oh no, not me, we never lost control

This article in the NME got me thinking about cover versions. Some of these truly are terrible, although I haven't been able to face the Take That one. It also reminded me of when I was much younger, I bought Paul Young's album No Parlez and on that was a cover of Love Will Tear Us Apart. I was blissfully unaware of the original at that point, never mind any of the surrounding story, so didn't quite understand when I would read people lambasting it. Of course, once I did hear it, I understood. A song of such bitterness and regret just doesn't sound right being crooned.

So, I started thinking about good covers or ones which might even be better than the original.

My starter for ten? Nirvana's version of Bowie's Man Who Sold The World. Now I like the original well enough, but I prefer the version without the washboard and slightly ghostly vocals (to be honest, I think I even prefer the Lulu version, with Bowie on backing vocals). Nirvana's version is rawer, but infinitely superior. The classic performance is from their MTV Unplugged appearance, where Kurt gets the words wrong, and Krist Novoselic looks superbly goofy.

When they did it live on stage, it was that bit faster, that bit rawer and Kurt yelled the guitar part at the end as well as playing it.



Utterly awesome.

Boys living next door Are never what they seem

This week's film for my dad was What Just Happened. He likes Robert de Niro as an actor, although normally in tougher roles than this one. But it seemed to get the thumbs up, but perhaps not over enthusiastically so. He found it "a mildly amusing look at Hollywood, but there's not much else I can say about it. It was mildly funny. Not worth a guffaw. There were some people who were guffawing away, but I think that's just for patter and to make it seem like they were getting a message that no-one else was. And D is quite perceptive and he couldn't see what those folk were guffawing about either".

Guffaw really is an underrated word, don't you think?

Shake your hair girl with your ponytail

Film reviews from father and daughter this time

Firstly, father. His most recent sojourns to the cinema have been to see Burn After Reading and Body of Lies. Since I've seen Burn After Reading too, we were actually able to have a bit of of a discussion about it (rather than me just saying "Why did you go and see that?"). And he enjoyed it. Thought it was funny, than John Malkovich was particularly good in it, thought begrudgingly that George and Brad were quite good, but that the guys playing the CIA agents (or whoever they were) were the best. I did have to warn him beforehand that the film was improbable, but that that was the point. He got it - he's a smart guy, my dad.

Body of Lies also met with his approval. Well-acted and enjoyable, although he was somewhat bemused the Leonardo di Caprio's character was able to travel in and out of various Middle Eastern countries undetected, when he looked so much like a Westerner.

He's taken to phoning me up to check what films are on at his local cinema, so I can warn him which ones he should avoid. He's still amazed that Mamma Mia is on.

So, my turn. I unexpectedly watched Flashbacks of a Fool, starring Daniel Craig, earlier this evening. The film is about a washed up English actor, living in Hollywood, and we see his the last few weeks of his life in England through a flashback. I'm not going to say any more about the plot, as that's lazy. It was really superb - the cast were great (lots of really good British actors, including an Archers actress), it was beautifully shot, there were some apposite injections of humour, and it used music brilliantly to set the mood. It could so easily have picked the easy road at the end (and perhaps a less well-made film would have), resulting in an unsatisfactory ending. But it didn't and it made for a rather moving film.

It's Christmas time and there's no need to be afraid

While channel flicking, I happened upon the new Glasvegas video. It's for Please Come Home and is from their mini Christmas album. Needless to say, it rocks the big one, and I think that Last Christmas may have some serious competition for "best Christmas song ever".

Bring on the album.

Hey Joe! I got the news tonight

I was in Liverpool recently and took the chance to walk down past the Cavern Club. I didn't go in, but spent some time looking at the outside. It gave me a real tingle, imagining what it must have been like to have been there in the 1960s, being in the midst of all that was happening. Every generation has their version, but this must have been like witnessing something unique. It had never really been done before.

They have a wall of fame outside the Cavern now, with bricks of artists that have played there, past and present (I didn't notice the Beatles one, but I suppose it must be there). Interestingly two of the bricks have been removed, and replaced with one of Liverpool's own, as you can see from the pictures.

Leaving aside whether or not they should have been removed, it seemed to miss the point slightly by putting up a plaque explaining it.

Those rosey days are few

As I walked into the pub tonight, the Jam's Town Called Malice began to play. And of course, I couldn't help but walk in time to the music, as I walked over to my friends.

Everyone should have an entrance song. A few songs later, Girls On Film came on. To be honest, this would have been even cooler.

Another ringer with the slick trigger finger

I've been to see Quantum of Solace at long last. I'm a big Bond fan and had heard mixed things about it, so was keen to see for myself.

And I did enjoy it, for the most part. But the plot did seem a little thin. Or was I just not concentrating? I did find some of the dialogue a little hard to pick up. I'd already been warned that the first 10 minutes of the film might be a little hard to pick up, unless I'd seen Casino Royale recently (I hadn't, but I could just about remember what happened, although I didn't realise until much later on that the action took place quite so soon after the end of Casino Royale. And car chases? Well, I have never found them terribly exciting.

I do, however, think that Daniel Craig is a good Bond. Much had already been written about how he is back to the Bond of the books. This is true, but I think this does Timothy Dalton a huge disservice. The film kept me engaged, but it wasn't vintage. I didn't get lost in it, but wasn't sure why not. When I was talking with a couple of friends about it (both also huge Bond fans), they made a couple of very pertinent points which led me to the conclusion that maybe it just didn't seem like a Bond film. It didn't have lots of the familiar elements. There is no real romance to speak of (well, not in the classic Bond way), no casino scenes, not gadgets (I don't find this especially vexing). One even went so far as to say "What I wouldn't have given for a raised eyebrow". Well, I wouldn't go that far.

Is this what is boils down to? I'm not sure. Bond films have to adapt, so they can compete with the likes of the Bourne franchise. Audiences seem to like bigger and better. And it is in this that it loses a little of the magic; a little of what makes Bond great. It is perhaps telling that my favourite Bond film is From Russia With Love. What will be particularly interesting is the next one. As far as I know they have pretty much exhausted the Ian Fleming back catalogue (save a few of the short stories) and of course, Sebastian Faulks has recently published Devil May Care, which is set in the 1960s.

Would they dare?

I remember this

Today at work they had a short service to dedicate the new war memorial at work, followed by the customary 2 minutes silence to remember people who have given their lives in conflict. It was particularly poignant today as it is 90 years since the end of the First World War. I always find these moments moving - my great grandfather fought in the Somme and came back alive, and although he died before I was born, I always find myself thinking of him on Armistice Day. And hearing the Last Post always brings me out in goosebumps.

My friend remarked to me that there was a good turnout for the 2 minute silence. She was right, but I found that faintly depressing. I think everyone should turn out for such things and not everybody had. It is the least we can do really; give up 2 minutes for people who gave up everything.

I guess it makes me smile

I read something today which really made me laugh. It came from the mouth of Roger Federer of all people. He's playing in the Masters Cup in Shanghai, and Rafael Nadal is not playing there. Apparently a reporter asked him if he was missing Nadal. To which Federer answered "We're not dating, so no!"

I really hope he did say that.

Here in the streets of American nights

This week's film review had an interesting beginning, given that my dad couldn't remember the name of the film he had gone to see (we don't worry too much about the names of the films we see, just whether or not we like them or not is the important thing). Once he told me that Colin Farrell was in it, we managed to work out that he had gone to see Pride and Glory. His verdict this time? "Pretty brutal, but our kind of film. Never seen a film with so much swearing in my life. It was eff this, mother eff that. Bit gratuitous. But I enjoyed the film. The acting was quite good, Jon Voight was good."

Apparently the film "got a turkey in the Daily Mail", but never let it be said that my dad takes notice of everything he reads in the Daily Mail. Unless it is about Russell Brand.

When worlds collide, said George Pal to his bride

I was listening to the Archers last night when one of the characters remarked to another "Forgetting Sarah Marshall!" (one had got a DVD for another).

See, there's always room for Jason. Even in deepest, darkest Ambridge.

Can't believe you're taking my heart to pieces

Number five of an occasional series.

Duran Duran have written some amazing pop songs. But their best ever song I think is Come Undone. Although it got to Number 13 in the UK when it was released, it is arguably not one of their most famous songs (at least amongst the uninitiated).

I has a gorgeous swirly guitar hook and one of best vocals Le Bon has ever done. Any lyrically it is just beautiful (apparently it was written for Yasmin as a birthday gift). It's one of a small group of songs that can bring me out in genuine goosebumps.

I've always thought it suffers as the lesser relation of Ordinary World, as that was their big comeback single. But I think this is even better - it's much more understated and therein lies its strength. Sheer perfection.

And we call this making history

I stayed up until 4am this morning (or last night, whatever you prefer) watching the US election results coming through (helped along with the way with some Jim Beam). I don't live in the States; I don't have a vote there, but I felt like I was part of history, something pretty momentous. It reminded me of the 1997 election in the UK, where there was just this great surge of hope, that things were about to change for the better.

When the states started to be called, it became clear reasonably quickly that something amazing was truly going to happen. Even although the polls had indicated this outcome, it wasn't until I saw it with my own eyes that I could believe it. Polls have been wrong before (2000 anyone?) and it felt like if I went to bed before the end result, then somehow I would wake up and it would all have gone horribly wrong.

Which is why I was determined to stay up to see it with my own eyes. At about 4am (my details may be a bit sketchy here; I'd been up a long time), California came through and then Washington, taking us through the magical 270. History had been made and I could go to bed for a few hours.

My head hit the pillow when McCain gave his speech once the result was clear. Before sleep overtook me, I was struck by how incredibly gracious he was. There is a very interesting article in the times online about him.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article5084049.ece

Of course, it meant that I missed Obama's victory speech, but I read the text this morning (it gave me goosebumps) and that's what You Tube is for.

All in all, quite a night. And worth feeling slightly gritty and sleep for the whole of the next day. When people inevitably ask "where were you when Obama won", I can answer.

Because he's too cool for school He comes alive oh, when the sun goes down

NME have just published their Cool List for 2008. It's full of lots of the usual suspects, most of whom wouldn't know cool if it came up, introduced itself and handed over a large slice of cake.

http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=10&title=nme_cool_list_2010&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Still, at least the man who is quite possibly the coolest guy to walk the earth is on there, albeit at a lowly 33. And I love how they have described him. "The desert-rock James Dean possesses a classic charisma that ensures he'll always be a Cool List contender".

Now, that's what cool is all about.

Old as ancient skies, I've had these wandering eyes

I had the inevitable phone call at the weekend from my parents about the whole Russell Brand/Johnathan Ross debacle (I was amazed they had waited as long as they did). Safe to say they aren't fans, but know that I am. So they wanted to know what I thought of it all, and to tell me how disgusting/crude/unfunny they think they both are and what they would have done had it been my grandfather they had called.

Leaving aside any rights and wrongs (and I think far too much has been written about it already, so no need for me to add my thoughts, apart from it did make me wonder if his old mate Jason has got in touch to offer his support), it got me wondering about humour. Clearly it has nothing to do with genetics - neither parents thinks Russell Brand is at all funny, whereas he has me laughing out loud most of the time. My mum was trying to get me to tell her what was funny about him and I couldn't. This doesn't mean that he isn't funny, it just means that comedy is not something that can really be explained. You laugh or you don't.

And that's it.

He has a powerful weapon, he charges a million a shot

My dad went to see Quantum of Solace on Friday. I wasn't expecting him to like it (he went because his mate wanted to); he hasn't liked a Bond film since Sean Connery gave up, and even then we'll be talking about 1960s Bond rather than Never Say Never Again.

My suspicions were correct. He spent the first 10 minutes trying to work out what was going on (apparently seeing Casino Royale recently would help), and the rest of the time he was just a bit bored. "It doesn't have much of a plot, and how come he can take on 4 bodyguards in a lift and win with ease, yet he has trouble just after with one person, who isn't quite as brawny" (I suggested he might be tired after all the business in the lift".

Bottom line is he just doesn't think Daniel Craig is a very good actor. However, he was most impressed with Judi Dench and Tim Piggot Smith, so all was not lost.

I'm hoping he sees something he likes soon.