Monday 31 December 2012

The End of 2012



So, that’s it. 2012 officially over and done with (as of midnight tonight). And I think it’s been a pretty awesome year! What with the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee, the new films and music that have come out… 2012 has been a roaring success if I may say so. Seriously though, the Olympics were AMAZING. I watched dressage. And rowing. And taekwondo. All these sports I’d never had the slightest bit of interest in, yet London 2012 drew me in and had me hooked. And Mo Farah… AARGH! I could watch him doing his final laps a million times over… you can’t buy moments like those!

As for writing, I think this year has gone OK for me. I don’t find myself really trying to impress anyone other than myself anymore when I write and that’s the whole point isn’t it? So I may be poor and never sell a single book but at least I’m going to be pleased when I write ‘THE END’ after a particular story.
But while Britain may have been having a sporting, multicultural, musical success of a year, there are other things that we maybe shouldn’t be ignoring. Like the people dying every day in Syria, the natural disasters, and the hostility between certain countries. But I don’t know if these things will ever even be resolved. Will we ever have an entirely peaceful world? Will countries EVER be fair and just to one another? Call me a cynic, but I don’t think that it is EVER going to happen. So, what’s my point? Well, I don’t really have one. All I know is that by watching the news every day and seeing unprovoked attacks and shootings isn’t making people very happy. I mean, I talk about how people should get on and be nice to each other but I’ve fallen out with a fair few people myself this year.
So, what will 2013 be? The year where the power of love overcomes the love of power? The year when the world will know peace? I don’t think so. I mean, I HOPE so but you can’t blame me for being dubious.
Anyway. On a happier note, HAPPY NEW YEAR. I have a new year’s resolution to lose 4 – 7 pounds. Wish me luck!

Monday 17 December 2012

Music Crime of the Century



OK, so award for the most neglected blog of 2012 goes to… well, not me! Maybe I haven’t updated this thing in a couple of weeks… but I’ve seen worse!
Well, I was watching 4Music this weekend (as you do when you have no immediately imminent exams to worry about!) and I saw the biggest music crime of the century. It came in the form of One Direction and a song they sang called ‘Little Things’. Now this song, when you hear it, isn’t one of the average ‘pop’ songs out there. It has a very distinctive style which you immediately associate with Ed Sheeran. You know, Ed, he’s the down-to-earth ginger dude.  Look that’s him, down there;



BTW, did you know he’s from YORKSHIRE?! Seriously, I was born in the most talented county ever! Ahem.
Anyway, Ed Sheeran’s biggest hits are songs like ‘The A Team’, ‘Lego House’, ‘You Need Me, I Don’t Need You’…etc. Now, I’m presuming you’ve heard these songs before, but if not, go check out YouTube! Like… now! I'll post the most popular one here;



 Thing is, you might think, ‘Oh, these are well crap!’ but they grow on you. It’s a simple kind of music that Ed Sheeran generally makes, with his guitar as the main instrument.
But for some absolutely RIDICULOUS reason, he wrote a song, or gave one of his songs (I don’t know exactly how this crime came about) to One Direction. I mean WHAT?! ONE BLOOMIN’ DIRECTION! Those BOYS who are like the epitome of crappy-poppy-teenage-girl-attracting… ok, I don’t know how to finish that line but whatever! I’m seething! Ugh, it just makes me cross! When someone is as original and as distinctive as Ed Sheeran, they shouldn’t just let their songs, their heartfelt lyrics, be sung by talent-show manufactured boy bands. It’s just plain wrong!
As a general rule, I don’t usually have a problem with people writing for other artists. I mean, The Script’s ‘Live Like We’re Dying’ was originally given to some American dude but that was OK because the song was quite mainstream and it was cool no matter who sang it. But this is like Adele giving away a song to… Little Mix! It’s not right! When a singer/songwriter is not conventional, when they push the boundaries out with lyrics that are unpredictable and can only be associated with them, no-one else should be given their songs.
Dear oh dear, I need a cuppa tea.