Music Television 5

Al Jazeera World: Songs of the Gulf
An interesting look at some popular works from Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Iraq. Two became soccer anthems, and one was taken for a political work.

Marty Wilde - Born to Rock and Roll: The 50th Anniversary Concert
From May 2007, the old-time rocker opened and closed with some old-time rock, and the middle bit gave spotlights to his two daughters, Roxanne and Kim, and guest spots with Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch and Justin Hayward. Probably his bits were the more interesting, he got through Endless Sleep, Rubber Ball, Jezebel and brought everyone back on for a finale of Roll Over Beethoven.

Video Killed The Radio Star: Elbow
Guy Garvey talked through several of their notable works like The Bones Of You and New York Morning. Gentle Storm was a stylistic redo of Godley & Creme's seminal Cry.

Top of the Pops: All Saints
A brief repeat from 1999 which put together 4 of the girl band's performances, including both sides of a double-A-sided single.

Top of the Pops: The Story of 1997
In some ways, it's like life flashing before my eyes slowly. No mention of Puff Daddy's 6 week run at #1, and why bother when the story of Fun Lovin' Criminals involves interviewing someone who made a lot of the right friends at the time. Chumbawamba were a big success until the new producer subverted them by getting the crowd to do a silly dance along to it. Aqua have very clearly had the last laugh. Finley Quaye and Placebo were other middling acts free to relive their 15 minutes of fame.

Tune: Nina Nesbitt
She's got a new album and agrees that Scotland has influenced her, and she did a couple of numbers from it.

Top of the Pops: Big Hits 1997
Hanson and No Doubt were #1 acts to get some recognition here, but also room for Beck, Shola Ama, Gala, Ultra Nate, Bush, Eels and the one-off duet from Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.

Top of the Pops: Eternal
A collection of their appearances from 1993 to 1997, from their first 3 albums. They were a bit bland, really.

The The: The Comeback Special - Live at the Royal Albert Hall
From 2018, and dedicated by Matt Johnson to his late father Eddie. A good long show, even with some songs I knew.

Back Together: Michael Ball & Alfie Boe
From March 2020 at the O2 in London, so quite possibly a super-spreader event, this lengthy show highlighted the vocal qualities of both men, and the second half saw a number of segments on shows like The Lion King, Les Miserables, Grease and perhaps Bohemian Rhapsody or whatever the Queen musical was called. Shaun Escoffery was a special guest in the Lion King section, not that it was noticeable.

From The Vaults: 1989
A 3rd series linked by Guy Garvey, and nice to see some lesser-regarded American output, from Sonic Youth and Ice T to They Might Be Giants and 10,000 Maniacs. Also of course some familiar British faces, from Inspiral Carpets and Stone Roses to Neneh Cherry.

Classic Albums: Anthem to Beauty
Probably took me most of the thing to realise the title referred to the show covering 2 albums, to whit Anthem of the Sun and American Beauty. Shot in 1997 and featuring quite a lot of the band (even "genial" Jerry Garcia) and a few extra characters, Warners' Joe Smith also rocked up on the one for Black Sabbath's Paranoid, whom he seems to have found more amenable. The Dead story seemed partly one of indulgent drug-led rambles, compromised mildly by an acoustic overload.

Cymry ar Gynfas: Rhys Mwyn
From the series with Bryn Terfel and Max Boyce, I must have missed this earlier as I had no idea who this guy was. He was in Yr Anhrefn, a guitarist and latterly art collector, including some by his portraitst Luned Rhys Parri, who worked in a more 3-dimensional fashion. He liked her creation, which was a quirky hat-wearing ensemble.

The Art of Architecture
Kjetil Thorsen and his Snohetta team had built the new Oslo Opera House, the Operaen, which embodied his principle of thresholding, amongst other things, encouraging passers-by to be able to walk all over and inside the building, which begs a few questions. The team also did a stage for the Kongsberg Jazz Festival, known as Tubaloon (!) and have been commissioned to do (or redo) the Grand Opera House in Shanghai. 

Face to Face: Mal Pope
Adrian Masters talked to a child whizz who found himself doing a session for the legendary John Peel, whereafter he was signed by Elton John to his Rocket Records label. The music career didn't take off, and he became a broadcaster instead. However on learning that fellow label-mate Judie Tzuke had got her masters/publishing given back by Elton, he asked if he could have his back too, and he could. He recently had a song called So Sad, which has been a hit in the Heritage Chart Show as well.

Perry Como
A musical special from the early 70s, probably around the time he did It's Impossible, He mentions it being his first UK shows in 11 years. He does some banter between songs, praises the Beatles, but really defines what understated means. He finished on O Holy Night too, so it might have been a seasonal show too.

From The Vaults - 1976
Again some refreshing stuff with Tom Waits and KISS, rare sightings of Bebop Deluxe and Albert Hammond, the Arrows doing their original version of I Love Rock N Roll and a latterday spot from Procol Harum.

Top of the Pops - The Story of 1998
A somewhat ordinary year, but nice to hear from All Saints and Air about their big years, Keith Allen relating the story of Fat Les, and half of B*Witched too.

Trace Talks To: Duvall
He's worked with Sam Gray, and was also a part of Disciples. Enjoys touring, and has a Youtube channel with Joe O'Leary, as well as a podcast, 'Planet B'. After all that, I'm not sure he plugged any music.

Top of the Pops: Big Hits 1998
Jay Z came to town, as did Madonna, Cher, Pras Michel and friends, LeAnn Rimes, Celine Dion, Usher and Green Day. Oh, and Robbie Williams.

Inside Classical: Women's Words and Voices
Bramwell Tovey conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra through a programme either by female composers, or inspired by female works. This included work from films like Wilde and Shadowlands.

Our World: Eurovision: Ukraine's Victory
Viktoria Zhukan follows the Kalush Orchestra as they prepare for the Eurovision Song Contest despite the ongoing crisis in their home country. As expected, they won.

Liam Gallagher - 48 Hours at Rockford
He's got a new album out, and took his sons Gene and Lennon to an old stomping ground as he got in some band rehearsals for a summer of promotion and festivals. Some of the new songs sounded good. He threw in oldies like D'You Know What I Mean? and Supersonic.

2Tone: The Sound of Coventry
Jerry Dammers and Neville Staple of the Specials, plus Pauline Black and Neol Davies of the Selecter, plus local Dj turned record producer Pete Waterman looking his age for once.

From The Vaults - 1986
Again refreshing for seeing the less familiar names like Furniture, Kurtis Blow and the Cramps, also spirited acts like Billy Bragg, Chaka Khan and Cameo, and a weird performance from Erasure which I've either seen before on shows like this, or else maybe I saw it originally.

Radio 1 Big Weekend - Coventry 2022 - Saturday Highlights
A fun round-up with Ed Sheeran, Mimi Webb, Sam Fender, Tom Grennan and headlining from Calvin Harris.

MTV Unplugged: Lenny Kravitz
From April 1994 and repeated to mark his birthday recently, this kicked off in New York with his high-rocking Are You Gonna Go My Way? and pottered along nicely to end with Let Love Rule.

A Jubilee of Music
A whimsical repeat from, if I understood it correctly, New Years Eve 1976, as Vera Lynn fronted a musical celebration of the previous 25 years. Vera did a couple of medleys with the Young Generation, whilst star performers ranged from Matt Monro to Helen Shapiro. Val Doonican, Ken Dodd, Lulu, Max Bygraves and even Norman Wisdom all came along too. Cliff Richard, easily the biggest name, did his current single Hey Mr Dream Maker which history doesn't otherwise make much of. Maybe Devil Woman (his bigger hit is 1976) would have been inappropriate? Given some of the other choices made, it might have been an improvement.

Top of the Pops: 1999
More from Steps, the brief heyday of Terrorvision, the sudden zenith of Travis, and paydirt for Moloko, Phats & Small, and Artful Dodger. Whitney Houston and Macy Gray were fawned over too.

Top of the Pops: Big Hits 1999
A wider range than the above, encompassing Ricky Martin, ATB, Vengaboys and Armand van Helden, and a belated sign of Westlife and Blondie.

From The Vaults: 1981
A few typical faces of the time, like Kim Wilde and Toyah, an infamous live performance of Adam and the Ants, a feature on Stiff Records, plus chats and music from Soft Cell and Depeche Mode. Plus Toni Basil encouraging kids in a cheerleading routine to "Mickey" which wouldn't be a massive hit until the following year.

On Broadway
An overview of the past 50 years, how success rose and fell, how the Lloyd-Webber successes annoyed the Americans because he wasn't, how different segments of the audience came through with hit shows, and how high ticket prices seemed an unwelcome factor.

Platinum Party at the Palace
Marking the latest Jubilee, a mammoth concert which ranged through old and new, theatre shows, a bit of opera and ballet, and some very weird song choices. Duran Duran's Girls On Film is hardly appropriate but they did combine it with a segment on fashions. Rod Stewart was clearly narked at having to sing Sweet Caroline. Headliner Diana Ross needed help to reach the centre of the stage, which doesn't bode well for her Glastonbury appearance at the end of the month either.

Black Eyed Peas - United We Stand
This 2011 (?) low-budget effort related how they reached the chance to do the Superbowl half-time act. Taboo apparently shares my birthday. Fergie came in for some unfair (and possibly untrue) criticism for changing the nature of the band to being almost her backing band. They've never really returned to the I Gotta Feeling heights.

Music Legends: Dusty Springfield
Dusty was a tomboyish nickname. She spent time in the Springfields before making it big as a solo act, even in the USA. But the 70s were less successful. She made a staggering comeback in the late 80s, but health issues overtook her in the end.

Ghosts In The Ruins
A special from Coventry Cathedral, marking its 60th anniversary of reconsecration, and also one of the later events of the ongoing City of Culture year. Nitin Sawhney did the music, which was partly choral.

From The Vaults - Britpop
The 3rd series ends with a bit of a mish-mash, which may be a bad sign. Nice to see features on less remembered acts like Marion and Longpigs, less loved acts like Dodgy and Echobelly, and brief looks at big names like Pulp and Suede.

Hollywood Greats: Judy Garland
Made in 2000, but repeated as the 10th of this month marked her centenary. Archive from Judy, Liza Minnelli and Dirk Bogarde helped relate amongst chatter from Mickey Rooney, Tony Bennett, Artie Shaw and even Sid Luft. Another child star ruined by fame.

Old Grey Whistle Test
A somewhat random choice, with Roberta Flack and Mike Absolom live in the studio, archive of Cream, live footage of the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys, and an interview with Buck Ramm of the Platters. A fun curio.

Ellen - Final Season - Bruno Mars
Her penultimate show (though others guest hosted afterwards), and she chatted to Bruno Mars. He first appeared back in April 2010. Silk Sonic got 4 Grammys. Ellen replays the awful parody she did of "Leave the Door Open". He came on to do "Uptown Funk" in early 2015 which is a popular Youtube clip. He directs his own music videos.

MTV Unplugged: Twenty One Pilots
Very much plugged, in fact, though they did admit that they were more trying to turn in a unique show all the same. They sampled crowd noises for some songs, and the crowd were keen.

Isle of Wight Festival 2022: Lewis Capaldi
He headlined Day 1 on the main stage, so sure enough the coverage ran to around half an hour, including chatter about how it was one of the greatest days of his life.

Isle of Wight Festival 2022: Craig David presents TS5
He also talked to the crowd and didn't get much coverage. But he did fit in stuff marking his 20+ years in the business, including an excellent fast-rap opening section which got faster and faster to an incredible degree.

Pearl Jam - New York City - Live at the Garden
Back to July 2003, and a monster turn from Eddie and the band.

Isle of Wight Festival 2022: Happy Mondays
Somehow they survive, here shown briefly playing three of their most famous hits. The same show also included one from Heather Small and two from Sea Girls.

Glastonbury: 50 Years and Counting
Michael and Emily Eavis, and many others, recall the lows and highs that developed the regular Worthy Farm shindig into the colossal multi-media experience it is today. A great many musicians and supporters were willing to express their love for the place and what it stands for.

Isle of Wight Festival 2022: The Charlatans
Tim & co did a few of their best, in a show which also had a couple from the Kooks.

Isle of Wight Festival 2022: Griff
Nice to see her getting a fairly lengthy spot to show her stuff.

Isle of Wight Festival 2022: Pete Tong Ibiza Classics with Jules Buckley
The so-called Essential Orchestra have been going for 7 years, and were here augmented at times by Jessie Ware and John Newman. An interesting format experiment that seems hugely popular.

Stormzy: Road to the Pyramid Stage
Largely in his own words, the story of his three Glastonbury appearances, in 2016 and 2017 and then the big headline slot in 2019. He befriended Katy Perry and Coldplay's Chris Martin on his early turns, hence Chris joining him during his big moment. He had respect for Emily Eavis too. His main memory seemed to be issues with his in-ears equipment.

Isle of Wight Festival 2022: Shaggy
Entertainingly, he seemed to feel no pressure to give a hits-friendly show, though he did finish with his version of Electric Avenue and his 2001 monster It Wasn't Me.

Inside Classical: Life, Love and Tchaikowsky
Georgia Mann returned for this very occasional series, as Marta Gardolinska conducted the National Orchestra of Wales at Cardiff's Hoddinott Hall, through a short programme of works by Berlioz, Mendelssohn and the titular Tchaikowsky choice.

A London Dream
From the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, London, a musical and dance-based version of Mendelssohn's work based on A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The Smile - Forget Everything You Knew... A Concert Debut in London
Radiohead's Thom Yorke has a new side-project, and here it was. Pretty good stuff.

Charli XCX: Alone Together
How she made a lockdown album in 5 weeks, with help from her online Angels. She shared her creative process from writing to singing to making videos.

Glastonbury 2022: Crowded House
They ran through many of their many hits, with some help from a very junior Finn family member. Their turn at Pineapple Head did drift into a bit of Sunny Afternoon too.

Glastonbury 2022: Haim
In fact, only 3 songs from the ace trio, and then stuff from Leon Bridges, Ghetts, Paolo Nutini and others.

Glastonbury 2022: Declan McKenna
A decent half hour set, even with some songs I knew and liked.

Glastonbury 2022: Koffee
Again, decent enough.

Glastonbury 2022: Sam Fender
Popular with the crowd, and again a solid set including big hits and my fave, Hypersonic Missiles.

Glastonbury 2022: Blossoms
They managed to get Mel C in for a joint bash at Spice Up Your Life, but their own tracks were more appealing, especially the closing Charlemagne.

Glastonbury 2022: Saturday afternoon round-up
Probably more interesting for the chance to see less familiar acts like Nebdo, Gabriels, Yves Tumor, Cimafunk and Katharine Priddy, besides the familiar likes of Joy Crookes, Skunk Anansie, Self Esteem, Holly Humberstone, Metronomy and more.

Glastonbury 2022: Angelique Kidjo
Bless her, she did a cover of Talking Heads' Once in a Lifetime, among her own stuff.

Glastonbury 2022: JARV IS...
Ex-Pulp frontman still indulged regardless.

Glastonbury 2022: Burna Boy
A short but welcome showing, maybe his star is on the rise here.

Glastonbury 2022: Olivia Rodrigo
2021's new face, she did an Avril Lavigne cover and sang her praises, did her big hits, and seemed mutually glad to be there.

Stereophonics - Live in Cardiff - We'll Keep a Welcome
Marathon "homecoming" gig at the Principality Stadium, marking their recent album, and getting Tom Jones in for their mutual version of Mama Told Me Not To Come. They ended on Dakota. A good show.

Glastonbury 2022: Sunday afternoon highlights
George Ezra was a surprise booking, rather than being talked of as a future headliner. Nubya Garcia, Cate Le Bon and Declan McKenna were among the few who got a bit of air-time, along with Suzanne Vega, Yola and Herbie Hancock.

Glastonbury 2022: Diana Ross
The Sunday afternoon "legends" spot saw a Motown legend belt through some Supremes numbers and plenty more from her solo career. She recently put out a new album, but at least looked steadier here than at the Platinum Party a month back.

Glastonbury 2022: Celeste
She played the West Holts stage on Saturday. Will she be in the legends spot in 30 years? She did a good enough set here, so maybe.

Hansh - Yn Cyflwyno - Hunan Hyder
Marged Sion is the daughter of Delwyn, and currently a backing member of rising stars Self Esteem. She's had more than her fair share of troubles (being raped at 21), then a spell of drug and alcohol dependency, and a nervous breakdown. But she's two years sober, and in a good band now, so hope for better tomorrows.

Glastonbury 2022: Sunday evening round-up
Somewhat less hit & miss than other shows, with several from Elbow, ditto Jack White, and finally Years & Years.

LGBTQ+ Hits at the BBC
Missed this last month, so glad of a repeat. A mix of the familiar and maybe a few more obscure names, and some curious song choices.

Glastonbury 2022: Little Simz
She was the Friday night headliner at the West Holts stage, and got to turn in a good long set in the process. Cleo Sol came on to help toward the end.

Glastonbury 2022: Highlights
Overall compilation from the 3 days, and this a chance to catch the folks not previously mentioned, such as St Vincent, Primal Scream, Jessie Ware, and so on. Structured chronologically too, so ending with Kendrick Lamar and then Pet Shop Boys.

Queen Victoria - My Musical Britain
Royal-watcher Lucy Worsley relates how Victoria was quite the music fan, something that brought her closer to her beloved Albert, and then brought some light into her later years.

Glastonbury 2022: Holly Humberstone
She got quite a long set on the Saturday, even though I could think of bigger names to mention.

Glastonbury 2022: Glass Animals
They were on the Other Stage on Saturday and the crowd really loved their US #1 hit. Whether they will build on it remains to be seen.

Tafwyl 2022
A Welsh festival at Cardiff Castle, with a plethora of otherwise less-familiar acts like Tara Bandito, Swnami, Mellt and Yws Gwynedd.

Glastonbury 2022: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
He was on Saturday night before Paul McCartney, and seemed in good spirit. He made playful reference to "the bucket hats" when bringing up Oasis material. He plugged that he'd have a new album out in 2023, and afterward chatted to Jo Whiley about how he was staying on to see some acts, naming Jamie T, and the Pet Shop Boys.

Glastonbury 2022: Megan Thee Stallion
Saturday night headliner on the Other Stage, making her debut. She ran through a lot of songs, called her fans "hotties", gave her thoughts on the recent US Supreme Court rule with the phrase "my body, my choice", and judging from her costume choice, had seemingly not come across the phrase "you'll catch your death" 

HARDtalk: Semyon Bychkov
Stephen Sackur taled to the chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. He was born in Leningrad, but spent time in New York and elsewhere, and had been a US citizen for a long while. His father was a scientist. He felt nationalism in music was a good thing. He was in London to conduct some Mahler.

TRNSMT (Friday)
Glasgow Green had a three day festival. The first day saw Sam Fender gets quite a bit of coverage, but not so much as Paolo Nutini, back with his first new album in many years.