The worst songs ever.....what are yours?

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:37 pm

Harry & Lena - like many others on here, you never cease to amaze me with your fantastic range in your musical taste! Sounds like you had a great time at Milton Keynes. I saw Robbie 3 years ago and it was certainly a memorable event. marred only by the appearance of the very foul mouthed Kelly Osborne throwing a huge tantrum on stage! She's certainly her fathers child!

Paul, its always interesting to hear other peoples views, particularly when they are totally the opposite to ones own! I know that its difficult to be impressed with someone elses cover of a song, and we all have our own favourites. One of the questions I always get asked when I say I love 'easy listening' is 'but how can you - its all so old!' I do often ask myself why do I as an under 40 year old, prefer music that was recorded before I was even born! And so I guess hearing the likes of Robbie, and Michael Buble, Jamie Cullum and Harry Connick et al singing standards allows me to 'validate' or endorse my taste in music. That may sound an odd explanantion, and it doesn't mean that automatically enjoy all of the new covers. But it reassures me that I have got good taste!

I think 'Swing when you're winning' is a great album, with the exception of 'Hollywood listens'. His duets with Jane horrocks, Nicole Kidman and Jonathan Wilkes were great, with (to the untrained ear) faithful arrangements of the originals. Yes, he may of thrown in a few silly lines here and there, but nothing that made me wince too much. And the little bit at the end when of 'Things' with Jane Horrocks comparing her to Kylie and June Whitfield made me chuckle!. The highlight of it for me, was 'Well did you ever!', again with a fantasticlly lush sounding orchestra behind it that had had great depth. Robbies vocal talent is, I think, tremendous. Its his recent material that is dubious. As for his ego, well, thats a tricky one. When I saw him at Knebworth 3 years ago, he had the whole 100,000 audience eating out of the palm of his hand!

Ahh - the cheeky boys of Westlife. They should be sooo bad, but in fact they are a very talented vocal group. I've seen them live a couple of times and they are very entertaining. Yes they are well managed and a bit contrived, and I am amazed that they have lasted thus far to be honest, and I expect they will have to do more and more mature music as they chase a maturing audience. Their songs are catchy and unpretentious. They have never let indivdual egos overtake them, and seem to realise that they are stronger together than they would be apart. I suspect that they will end up appealing to the same market as Daniel O'Donnell - if Marians comments are anything to go by

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:59 pm

Hi-it was actually my sister who got me into Westlife--she is quite a lot younger than I am, and she is a really big fan.She has only been to see them once-but that was a big step for her, because she suffers badly with claustrophobia. So through listening to her cds I got to realise that some of Westlife's music is very good. I am not sure about them appealing to the same audience as Daniel O' Donnell---they are both hugely popular at the moment , but to different audiences I would say.

Marian

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:33 am

Mike we weren't at the Robbie Williams concert, sorry we should have explained, it was partly a report from our evening newspaper.
We think he's got talent and his Sinatra show that was televised some time ago went well, until an associate of his bounded on stage using foul language introduced himself and Robbie still immature and not wishing this moron to think that he had reformed joined in with him.
As far as Jane Horrocks, not quite sure what she does, but it's little for me to rave about, and although there is no nicer instrument to listen to than a piano, Jamie Callum bashing the hell out of those keys ruins my day.
Mike it's surprising how manyof the younger set enjoy the easy listening music. There are and have been several younger people posting on this forum. Singer Gary Williams has admitted only ever enjoying this kind of music. and so too has Peter Grant. Michael Buble and Harry Connic are superb and so are some of Westlifes music not all of it though.

Hilary · Post by **Hilary** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 10:02 am

Hi Mike, Marian, Lena and Harry,

Yes, Easy Listening music is VERY popular with the younger generation too! My friends also enjoy this style of music and it is because quality music like good old home cooking, is what we all want. So many artists today just don't deliver the goods I'm afraid and when you listen to them you feel let down by their style of music.

Believe it or not, I have seen Daniel O'Donnell in concert TWICE now!
The press don't really do him many favours when they say that he is the housewives "bit of crumpet!" Nothing wrong with that of course but when we went too see Daniel in concert the audiences varied greatly, from little kids to teenagers and yes, the older ones too!

Sometimes I think that maybe others laugh, because they believe what they read in the newspapers when in fact they would be very surprised if they just took a chance and went along to the show to see what it is all about.

My dad wasn't too keen at first to see Daniel in concert.
He even said that he didn't feel well enough to go to the show!
Cutting a long story short, after we carried he into the theatre, (only joking!) he enjoyed the show VERY much and asked when we could go again.

I haven't seen Jamie Cullen live but having seen him on TV playing the piano with his feet

words just fail me. Why can't he play the piano with his fingers!

Michael Buble and Peter Grant are very good too and they are quality entertainers who will be around for years and years!

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 1:34 pm

Hello again everyone!

The way I came to liking easy listening is quite simple - as a child in the 1970s, we lived in Saudi Arabia. My eldest brother was at boarding school and would fly out every few months with the latest Black Sabbath, Hawkwind or Deep Purple album. On the other hand, my parents were listening to The Carpenters, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, Nancy Wilson, Jack Jones and of course some Matt. To me it was a 'no-brainer' - I listened to the songs I could sing along to. And that has basicially remained with me to this day! When we returned to the UK in the summer of '76, punk was just about to kick off, and so I my taste in music became even more biased towards easy listening/pop. In fact, I can now look back at some of the punk/new wave and appreciate some if its raw energy. I also liked many of the Brit pop bands of the early 90s, because many of them had great lyrics. But I much prefer Mike Flowers Pops version to that of Oasis- I will always prefer the tuneful melodies and ability to sing along to them

Of modern pop music, I must admit to liking Kylie, Girls Aloud, Will Young, Scissor Sisters even the Sugarbabes!

Jane Horrocks is mainly a comedy actress, she was 'Bubbles' in 'absolutely fabulous'. But she can also sing quite well, and was in the dark comedy 'Little Voice' with Michael Caine.

Hilary - I thought Daniel appealed even more to the mothers of housewives! Whenever I see him, I am reminded of the brilliant episode of Father Ted where a charicature of Daniel O'Donnell visits Craggy Island for one of Mrs Doyles cup of teas after she wins a competition. The episode then turns into a 'night of the living dead' type thing, with the whole house surrounded by hundreds of grandmas, trying to break in all clutching their handbags

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 6:06 pm

Hi again Mike. Did you mean the film "Little Voice" starring with Michael Caine, in which coincidentaly Michael Caines character mentions once meeting Matt Monro the singing bus "conductor"

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 6:15 pm

Thats what I said isn't it? (Thinks: Will Robert 'Eagle Eyes' spot that I have edited my previous comment?!)

Are you a proof reader Robert? If not, you should be! You can earn lots of money from the comfort of your own home!

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 6:43 pm

Well Robert ...... me,

even us two old London pensioners spotted that.
We just have to sympathise Mike, those sleepless nights are having a bad effect on him.

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 9:21 pm

I think he's prematurely aging! He just needs less sleep these day. I am sure he's up every morning at 5am listening to Radio 4. Loudly

(Thats what my elderly neighbour used to do!)

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:22 am

I just listened to the UK singles chart countdown and heard the worst song of the year and perhaps the entire 2000s: The Rose by Westlife. It's just painful. And it's the number 1 song in the UK. Whoever is the lead singer needs a crash course in singing and proper phrasing by listening to Matt Monro recordings. He breathes in the middle of a short phrase: "an endless (gasp) aching need". It's complete torture to listen to this. Kudos to Radio 2 for not adding this drivel to their playlist.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:00 am

Westlife has got zillions of fans--which is how this record got to no 1 so quickly--personally, I have never liked the song, anyway.

Hilary · Post by **Hilary** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:11 am

Hi Marian, Paul and everyone,

I agree with you about the new Westlife single.
It doesn't matter what they record, their fans will always go out and buy their CD's.

Everything they release seems to go to number 1 doesn't it?!

The boys could sing in another language and no doubt their fans would still go out there and buy their recordings.

I suppose if you are a fan, you will probably know the reason why you like them. I can't see why they are SO popular.
I don't know ANYONE who will admit too buying a Westlife CD!

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 12:40 pm

That includes us too Hilary, there's every possibility that they could ruin some other good songs that are on this CD.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:28 pm

This new cd is apparently all "Love Songs". I do have a couple of their cd's--courtesy of my sister. I like them better when they do not do cover versions.

john · Post by **john** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:20 am

They had a couple of half decent songs out a few years ago, but nothing to shout about recently. I didn't even know they had a new single out, to be honest. Saying this though, I am not a fan.