h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I agree about Francescatti, Jabs. A bit like an Olympic athlete showing off in the local gym.

I liked the Sibelius. I'm woefully ignorant about him, even though I saw his memorial outside Helsinki last summer. I stumbled across him a long time ago through the Nice, who did a blistering version of his Karelia suite, Keith Emerson sticking knives between the keys and all the usual schtick. I couldn't find it on Youtubes, so here's the original:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XtIw5AkUEsE

Nice!

Now that's a quiff to be proud of, too

I'm quite sure I'd prefer it to the Nice version, especially as you describe it.

Jabs

It's on Ars Longa Vita Brevis, if you can get hold of a copy.

This is one of my favourite Beatles songs. It was in Hard Day's Night, but it gets very little airplay these days.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8lGGdtl_-bs

A nice, classic, Beatlepop tune from their earlier, mop-top days.

Thanks Ford.

Jabs

In a similar vein, here's Paul McCartney's Take It Away. It's light and fun, but sadly it's almost forgotten. I used to play the vinyl single over and over again back in 1982.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IfZbg9M2wi8&feature=related

That was a nice change, Ellen. A Paul McCartney song I'd never heard before. Melodic as ever.

Though this is a bit more my style, I must admit:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ls8Mhoafn0

Jabs

We've had Paul and George in their post-Beatles days. Seems only fair to give John a spin.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=njG7p6CSbCU

You can be an international star, but you never forget that it's grim up north.

Mustn't forget Ringo, then.

Didn't young Dhani Harrison look like his dad? (No, not Ringo's dad. Be sensible)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xreK_yMt6PQ

As we're in nostalgic mood, why not some Billy Fury

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuJc-aq9A9U

Here's to anyone who gets out of National Service in the first week by throwing a wobbly

Nice video, Ford.

Jabs

Hey, this is great, watch this!!! Stop motion animation with human actors. It's lovely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HXUhShhmY

Brilliant, JEllen! It did no harm to its chances that it was a pretty girl, either.

I loved it.

J
abs

Good voice, too.

Now that Gordon Brown has accidentally admitted that we're in a depression, how about this to cheer us up? Less relentlessly optimistic than "Happy Days Are Here Again".

Or "Things Can Only Get Better" for that matter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziMXWaDGvQA

My neighbour (sadly no longer with us) told me it was everywhere during the mid 1930s.

I remember old people (people over 20 - you know, retired people) singing this when I was young. Thanks, Infie, it's a pretty song and it has a touch, just enough of a touch, of reality about it.

Thanks for a lovely memory.


Jabs

This song is from the same era. More appropriate for our current weather here in Buckinghamshire.

They've got the original Ruth Etting version from 1929, which is great, but with excellent pictures of the depression. So I'll just recommend it for now.

This one was done later by the Bonzo Dog Dada (sorry, dooh-dah) Band, showing just how good they were. Viv's voice! I particularly like the underwear verse.

Sorry about the video, but oddly perhaps, I find it cheerful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuioHTdW5CE&feature=PlayList&p=ABDFCB4FD154AC28&playnext=1&index=83

This is specially for Ellen and Iffy.

tain't a song folks, but with the weather climate and err financial climate both in disarray


try to keep a straight face with this
http://videos.komando.com/2008/06/04/mans-surprising-laugh/

X-23 did what she did http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK4Ee5rV_JQ