Jul 19: Chris Obehi

“We are not fish, we are humans…”

I came across Chris Obehi's music from his appearance in the film 'The Welcome Table'.

He lives in Palermo, Italy.

In the film, he describes his experience of crossing the Mediterranean Sea as a migrant from Nigeria.

He was on a raft with 70 other migrants and was adrift at night. He befriended a boy who was travelling alone and said he would help him. When the raft encountered another boat who tried to take the passengers on board, he and the boy were taken on board before the raft then sank and many on board drowned. He feels that the boy saved him as much as he saved the boy.

While in Palermo, he became a musician and came to the attention of people and now makes his living from it.

The name of this song translates as "We are not fish". It is a powerful Afro-pop song and album by Nigerian musician and activist Chris Obehi, who wrote the track in Italian. The song shares the emotional story of migrants crossing the Mediterranean, asserting their humanity.

Jul 19: 1991

In 1991, I saw a band called 'This Picture' at the Sheffield University Union. They were supporting the band 'Runrig'. I was impressed with them, and ended up collecting a lot of their CD and 12" singles. This is one of my favourite tracks of theirs from an EP.

1991 was a busy year work wise and I remember trying my best to go to concert as often as possible.

Rush released 'Roll the Bones' and I saw the 'Roll the Bones' tour at the Sheffield Arena. I wore the t-shirt for climbing - which I did quite a bit back then - and it didn't fare very well.

The track from the album 'Bravado' is being used while a montage of Neil Peart plays during their R50 tour which is currently playing to great acclaim across the USA.

It Bites were a big part of this year for live music, as they had been through much of the late 1980s.

What were your favourite albums from 1991?

Jul 18: 1990

1990 saw the release of Gabriel Yacoub's 'Bel'. 

It's a wonderful album.

I have another few posts about Gabriel, who sadly passed away last year, elsewhere on the blog.

Here he is performing a rather fine song....

One of my favourite tracks from this year was a single from the Propaganda album '1234'.

It's a track called 'Heaven give me Words' and was remixed by William Orbit. The album was not as good as 'A Secret Wish' (it would have been hard to be better).

What other memories do you have of music from 1990?

Jul 18 - For the Record - Episode 9

I've mentioned this web series before. It's produced by the Cosmic Shambles Network, and presented by Charlotte Ritchie. 

It promises to tell the history of music. Early reviews have been very positive. 

I'll post links to the episodes here to increase exposure.

This is the final episode.

Part Nine: Tomorrow 

In a world of streaming and AI, what does the future hold for music? We look at some of the more recent phenomena in the world of music including raves, electronic music, the Broadway musical, crowd funding and musical therapy. 

We speak to astronauts and space legends about why music is so important we sent it into outer space and how the power of live music can never be understated.

Part nine includes exclusive interviews, rare archive and performances from Ann Druyan, Chris Hadfield, Kelley Jakle, Charlotte Church, Robert Smith, Kate Nash, Dean Burnett, Martin James, Suzi Gage and many more!

This series is an entirely independent production made possible by fan support on Patreon and Substack. 

Episode 9 is here:

I will post a review of the series when I've had the chance to watch and also add links to the episodes. 

Jul 18: J Willgoose Esq

Last week it was the first PTI Geography Symposium down at the RGS. 

The event organiser John Wilkinson had selected a diverse range of speakers.

One of them was a musician he loved, and coincidentally so do I. I've blogged quite a few times about Public Service Broadcasting here on the blog.

Here's an early promotional film, just ahead of the single release of 'Everest' - from 2012. 

It was about this time that I first started listening to them and saw them live for the first time shortly after.

John had persuaded J Willgoose Esq from the band to talk about the influence of people and place on the music that he had produced.

It was great to meet him in person and sit next to him at the evening meal.

We heard about:

• the support that he had from the BFI to use their footage
• the process of turning footage from the 1953 Everest expedition into a song called 'Everest' 
• the changing nature of the band's work over the years - although they 
• the focus on the local and the 'human' and dare I say it the everyday in their work - for example on the 'Every Valley' album they didn't mention Margaret Thatcher and Arthur Scargill, but told stories of families, women and others... 
• the joy of working with James Dean Bradfield from the Manic Street Preachers
• the importance of connecting with place and people
• the fact that he got some of his guitars from Ely
• that he studied 'A' level Geography

He didn't mention two EPs that I really like on contrasting themes: the building and launch of the Titanic, and a Dutch ice-skating race...

PS: Since then, J Willgoose Esq has posted this interesting piece on Patreon describing the creative process with respect to the use of SUNO... an AI tool I have mentioned before... He also describes the creation of 'Spitfire'.

Jul 18: K-Pop 'conquering' North Korea

An interesting article on the BBC News website about the power of BTS.

"North Korea is a place where the whole system is set up so that there can only be one celebrity, one idol - Kim Jong Un," says Hannah Oh, a 25-year-old defector.

But as it turns out, North Koreans have discovered other idols, like BTS and Blackpink, and before them, Girls' Generation, Teen Top and 2PM.

BTS's Korean name Bangtan Sonyeondan has even become a part of everyday slang in the North, one defector says: "People say things like, 'Have you tried on a Bangtan vest?' or 'Have you worn a Bangtan backpack?'"

More on this here.

And check out Carl Lee's earlier guest post on the power of K-POP.

Jul 17: 1989

Some memorable sounds were released in 1989.

There was Peter Gabriel's soundtrack for 'The Last Temptation of Christ'. Some excellent world musicians added textures and unusual instrumentation. I had the LP of this album and it sounded great.

And the church bells ringing out at the beginning of Kate Bush's 'The Sensual World' complete with the voices of the Trio Bulgarka.

I had an instrumental version of this track on a single for a while... which was great...

1989 also brought Bob Mould's first solo album following the break up of the band Hüsker Du.

Hüsker Du had been famous for short songs which were fast and furious - check out 'Celebrated Summer' for a typical example.

Workbook was more varied, and featured some angry songs as well as moments of calm such as Sunspots.

1989 also saw the release of one of the finest albums of all time: 'Hats'.

This album deserves its own post...

We also had some controversy this year when Jethro Tull won the Grammy for 'Best Hard Rock and Heavy Metal' album for 'Crest of a Knave'. Metallica were odds on to win... 

Tull didn't even turn up...

Ian Anderson said:

The hot ticket was Metallica, in this newly introduced category of Hard Rock/ Metal. I was told by our record company, by the then-head of Chrysalis in the USA, not to bother going, which is a euphemism for: “We’re not going to pay your air fare or get you a hotel, because we don’t think you’re going to win.”

July 16: A Scottish Isle - Ossian's legacy

This is a wonderful piece of music, composed by William Jackson, one of the members of Ossian.

The music conveys the atmosphere of different elements of the Scottish landscape, and ends with a suite of pieces named after islands including Iona, Islay and Jura.

They were another band I was introduced to while at Huddersfield Polytechnic.

It can be found on many of the usual music streaming services.

William (Billy) Jackson was a key member of Ossian.

Ossian were a superb band, and one of the finest of their era.

They released five excellent albums with a mix of traditional tunes, and I have listened to them for over 40 years.They were another of the bands that I wish I had seen play live.

Two of the members later recorded an album called 'The Misty Mountains' which has some rather beautiful pieces too...

Some live performances for you to savour as well:

 

and 'The Working Man' from 1990.

Finally, here's the late Tony Cuffe and George Jackson performing 'Jamie Raeburn'.

A search for Ossian will also bring up a very different band with the same name...

Jul 16: 1988

1988 was the year when I started teaching in full time roles rather than part time.

In January, I started my first term's contract, which was at John Flamsteed School in Denby (where there was a pottery - sadly now closing down...). I lived with the school secretary who rented me a room, in a house above the Amber river. It's very tucked away but I managed to find the end of the drive on Street View.

I took some of my music with me.

Talk Talk released 'Spirit of Eden', Eberhard Weber released 'Orchestra'.

The stand out album was 'Once around the World' from It Bites.

Here's 'Old Man and the Angel' live in Tokyo the year after.

Anthony Phillips - an early member of Genesis, released 'Tarka' with Harry Williamson telling the tale of Tarka the Otter, by Henry Williamson. I had this on vinyl.

Here's Part 1, with some visuals from the film that was made, which ended up using different music apparently.

This was followed by another term in Eckington School on the edge of Sheffield: which required a bus journey as I hadn't yet passed my test. An interesting period in my life.

That summer, I discovered the Blue Nile - who have featured on the blog a number of times. By then, only 'A Walk across the Rooftops' had been released - back in 1984.

In September I started my first full time teaching job. I didn't know it, but I would spend the next 20 years at King Edward VII School in King's Lynn - then, the old grammar - the best school in West Norfolk and with some excellent colleagues....

Jul 16: World Cup playlists #10: Country choices T - Z

The New York Times released a list of the country choices of music from the World Cup.

Here are a few samples:

Tunisia

Signature song: Sidi Mansour (DJ Nabil)

Warm-up: TIRI TIRI (JenJoon)

Goal music: Sidi Mansour (DJ Nabil)

Post-match: Grinta (Si Lemhaf)

Turkey

Signature song: Ceddin Deden (Mehter); Bir Oluruz Yolunda (Tarkan)

Warm-up: Adımız (Murda & Mero); Turkiyem (Mustafa Yıldızdogan); Plevne (CVRTOON)

Goal music: Bir Oluruz Yolunda (Tarkan)

Post-match: Memleketim (Ayten Alpman)

USA

Signature song: Won’t Stop (Safari Riot Trailer Remix)

Warm-up: TV Off (Kendrick Lamar); X Gon’ Give It to Ya (DMX); Ruff Ryders’ Anthem (DMX)

Goal music: Free Bird (Lynyrd Skynyrd); Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes)

Post-match: The Show Goes On (Lupe Fiasco); Win (Jay Rock)

Uruguay

Signature song: Cielo de un Solo Color (No Te Va Gustar); Mi Seleccion (Jotape)

Warm-up: Descolgando el Cielo (Enzo y la Sub 21); Sangre Charrua (Catherine Vergnes & Vanesa Britos)

Goal music: Cielo de un Solo Color (No Te Va Gustar)

Post-match: Cielo de un Solo Color (No Te Va Gustar)

Uzbekistan

Signature song: Ulugimsan (Sevara Nazarkhan); Mendirman (Ozodbek Nazarbekov)

Warm-up: Mendirman (Ozodbek Nazarbekov); O’zbegim (Shoxrux)

Goal music: Yor Yor (King Macarella & Aleesher); O’zbegim (Shoxrux)

Post-match: Topnitep (DJ Piligrim)

Jul 15: World Cup playlists #9: Country choices Q - S

The New York Times released a list of the country choices of music from the World Cup.

Here are a few samples:

Qatar

Signature song: Elsaab Qatar Signature Track

Warm-up: FOOG FOOG

Goal music: Ana Say Aha

Post-match: Hena Maak (Al Majmouaa)

Saudi Arabia

Signature song: Medley (Naghm Algharbia); Watani Al Habib (Nationalisms)

Warm-up: Allah Ya Montakhabna (Talal Salamah); Foq Ham El Sahab (Mohammad Abdu); Medley (Naghm Algharbia); Ya Salami Alaykom (Rashed Al Majid)

Goal music: Foq Ham El Sahab (Mohammad Abdu); Medley (Naghm Algharbia); Ya Salami Alaykom (Rashed Al Majid)

Post-match: Allah Ya Montakhabna (Talal Salamah); Watani Al Habib (Nationalisms)

Scotland

Signature song: Loch Lomond (Runrig); Yes Sir, I Can Boogie (Baccara)

Warm-up: Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes); Freed From Desire (Gala); Loch Lomond (Runrig)

Goal music: 500 Miles (The Proclaimers); Bits + Pieces (Artemesia)

Post-match: Yes Sir, I Can Boogie (Baccara); We’ll Be Coming (Tartan Specials)

Senegal

Signature song: Foula ak Fayda (Elage Diouf); Ay Woma Senegal (Assiko Band PA)

Warm-up: Senegal LA (Eljaz)

Goal music: Navetane (Elage Diouf)

Post-match: Ni Ngi And Ak Yeen (Youssou N’Dour)

South Africa (Bafana Bafana)

Signature song: Shibobo (TKZee ft. Benni McCarthy)

Warm-up: Adiwele (Young Stunna)

Goal music: Shibobo (TKZee ft. Benni McCarthy)

Post-match: Burn Out (Sipho Mabuse)

South Korea

Signature song: Burning Up (FIRE) (BTS); Oh! (Pilseung)

Warm-up: GO (BLACKPINK); For Victory (Trans Fiction); REBEL HEART (IVE)

Goal music: JUMP (BLACKPINK)

Post-match: Golden (KPop Demon Hunters); Time of Our Life (DAY6)

Spain

Signature song: Despecha (Rosalia) - she has featured on the blog a number of times now... a great talent.

Warm-up: La Morocha (Luck Ra & BM); Superestrella (Aitana); Cafe con Ron (Bad Bunny); You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire (Jonathan Chiocchio)

Goal music: La Graciosa (Quevedo & Elvis Crespo); Despecha (Rosalia)

Post-match: Despecha (Rosalia); Superestrella (Aitana)

Sweden

Signature song: Leva for alltid (Thomas Stenström)

Goal music: Leva for alltid (Thomas Stenström)

Post-match: Levels (Avicii)

Switzerland - who have made it to the quarter finals.

Signature song: Bring en hei (Baschi)

Warm-up: Carnaval de Paris (Dario G)

Goal music: Freed From Desire (Gala)

Post-match: Freed From Desire (Gala); Celebration (Kool & The Gang)

The remaining teams' choices will be shared tomorrow.

Jul 15: 1987

1987 saw the release of more music that is still being played by me today.

Islands was a release by Mike Oldfield.

This was a time when Mike was trying to cater for two different audiences: those who liked his side-long instrumental pieces, and the shorter songs which could be released as singles, such as 'Moonlight Shadow'.

The Wind Chimes was the long piece... get ready for every 1980s video effect in the book being thrown at this one....

1987 was also the year that 'Hold your Fire' was released. This as featured earlier in the month - when Aimee Mann joined Rush on stage to sing 'Hold your Fire' - remains one of my favourite Rush albums.

The album is very 'glossy' in its production.

The tour for the album was excellent - I saw that several times, including once with my sister.

Meanwhile U2 released 'The Joshua Tree' which was also a very popular album at the time.

An album I have listened to a great many times is Jethro Tull's 'Crest of a Knave'. In the1989 entry, I will post another story about this album.

It included the excellent track 'Budapest'.  I have posted previously about this track and the time I met the band. There had been a gap of several years since their last album as a throat infection had affected Ian Anderson's voice, and over the years since it has declined further...

Here's 'The Waking Edge' from the album.

At this time, Anderson was living on the Isle of Skye as the Laird of Strathaird - in a large house near Dun Ringill and fish farming.

This documentary was shown around this time on Channel 4.

What are your favourite albums and pieces of music from this year?

July 15: The Pass

“The Pass” is simply a masterpiece and lyrically, one of Peart’s best ever efforts. Musically, the mood is captured with the pulse of simple, chorded bass notes that prove counterpart to the melody. There is a feeling of an emotional journey throughout as the second verse changes up the backing rhythm and Lifeson’s slow brewing guitar lead in the mid-section is backed by Peart’s drumming with expert efficiency and precision. Stated by the group on multiple occasions as one of their all-time favourites, the true highlight of “The Pass” is the potent lyric right from the top;


“Proud swagger out of the schoolyard, waiting for the world’s applause / rebel without a conscience, martyr without a cause / static on your frequency, electric storms in your veins / raging at unreachable glory, straining at invisible chains…”

Jul 14: World Cup playlists #8: Country choices M - P

The New York Times released a list of the country choices of music from the World Cup.

Here are a few samples:

Mexico

Signature song: El Rey (Vicente Fernández); Un Solo Corazon (Grupo Frontera); Cielito Lindo (Mariachi Vargas); Esto es Mexico (CORAY)

Warm-up: El Sonidito (Hechizeros); La Chona (Los Tucanes de Tijuana); Esto es Mexico (CORAY)

Goal music: El Son de la Negra (Mariachi Vargas)

Post-match: El Rey (Vicente Fernandez); El Mariachi Loco (Mariachi Vargas); Mexico en la Piel (Luis Miguel)

Morocco

Signature song: Dirou Niyya (RedOne); Mgharba (Asma Lmnawar)

Warm-up: Maghribi Maghribi (RedOne)

Goal music: Dirou Niyya (Official Moroccan Fan Chant) (RedOne) 

Netherlands

Signature song: We’re All Gonna Make It (Jonna Fraser x $hirak)

Warm-up: Freed from Desire (Gala); Back Once Again (Stefane); Links Rechts (Snollebollekes); Still D.R.E. (feat. Snoop Dogg) (Dr. Dre)

Post-match: Wij Houden van Oranje (Andre Hazes); All the Stars (Kendrick Lamar & SZA)

New Zealand

Signature song: I AM (Stan Walker); Wandering Eye (Fat Freddy’s Drop)

Warm-up: Runnin’ (David Dallas); Aotearoa (feat. Ria Hall, Troy Kingi & Maisey Rika) (Stan Walker); Narco (Blasterjaxx & Timmy Trumpet)

Goal music: Slice of Heaven (Dave Dobbyn)

Post-match: Fade Away (Che- Fu); Sun Goes Down (Nesian Mystik)

Norway

Signature song: Alt for Norge (Drillos) - with English translation.

Warm-up: Bønda 2026 (Racer); Levva Livet (Age Aleksandersen); Optimist (Jahn Teigen)

Goal music: Bønda 2026 (Racer)

Post-match: Alt for Norge (Drillos); Henda mot Himmelen (Madelene)

Panama

Signature song: Patria (Ruben Blades)

Warm-up: Ya Ya (Boza); Sube la Marea Remix (Gaitanes)

Goal music: La Papuja (Victorio Vergara); Papa Chan (Jingle Marea Roja)

Post-match: Patria (Ruben Blades)

Paraguay

Signature song: Soy Albirrojo (Los Albirrojos)

Warm-up: El Sapukai (Tierra Adentro)

Goal music: Albirroja Campeon (Rolando Chaparro)

Post-match: Vamos Albirro (Sangre Albirrojo); Fiesta Patronal (Tierra Adentro)

Portugal

Signature song: Tuga ou Nada (Sir Scratch, Gson, Bispo & Papillon)

Warm-up: Tuga ou Nada (Sir Scratch, Gson, Bispo & Papillon); De Portugal Eu Sou (Karetus)

Goal music: Tuga ou Nada (Sir Scratch, Gson, Bispo & Papillon)

Post-match: A Minha Casinha (Xutos & Pontapes)

Jul 14: 1986

Forty years ago, what new music was emerging...

I previously (back in May) shared details of the Peter Gabriel album 'So'. This was a real highlight of 1986 and I still listen to this regularly today.

This was a year when I started training to be a teacher having spent the first part of the year completing a computer science course back in Rotherham. I'd graduated but wasn't sure what to do, and luckily graduated at a time when that was less of an issue than it is for young people

Here's Gabriel's own reminiscences of the album.

And the first track on the album is epic.

The hi-hat really makes this one come to life... from Stewart Copeland of the Police.

Sledgehammer was the real break out hit with its video made by Aardman animation studios.

The dancing chickens were animated by Nick Park, who later won several Oscars. 

I went to the premiere of the latest Chicken Run movie at the London Film Festival a couple of years ago and he walked past me.

The album that I remember most of all from this year though was Bruce Hornsby and the Range's album 'The Way it Is'.

The title track was all over MTV and used as music for several TV programmes. There are some classic tracks on this album, which doesn't really have a duff song on it...

Pierre Moerlen's Gong made a 'Breakthrough'... I had this on vinyl... great percussion as always from Pierre Moerlen...

Steve Winwood has a distinctive voice, and this year he was 'Back in the High Life' again....

What were you listening to back in 1986?

Jul 14: Bastille Day

Jul 13: Power Windows (1985)

I've been revisiting the Rush album 'Power Windows', which was released in 1985. 

It was an album I played a lot when it first came out. It's a good driving album, and I did a lot of driving up and down the A17 between Yorkshire and Norfolk around this sort of time.

The album had a series of songs on the broad theme of POWER, and looking back at it just over 40 years on, this was a fine album.

I saw many of the songs from this album played live several times.

Recording began at The Manor Studios in Oxfordshire, England, where the basic rhythm tracks and keyboards were recorded. I have a blog post about this studio.

In May 1985, the band had relocated to AIR Studios in the island of Montserrat in the Caribbean - another studios with a lot of history to it, and which is also connected to . They had discussed recording at the studio for several years and booked the facility for three weeks for Lifeson to record guitar overdubs.

Neil Peart shared some of the meanings of the songs, and others have speculated about them.

Here's a few of my favourites from the album.

Territories Live....

I bought a book which was written by Leonard Roberto. It's called 'A Simple Kind Mirror: the lyrical vision of Rush'.

It provides an analysis of the meaning of the lyrics.

We'll finish with the final track on the album.

Watch out for the drum kit rotating from an analogue to a synthesised drum kit which is what Neil had during the tours to support this album.

And also the dodgy mid-80s visual effects which every video seemed to have at this time...

'Mystic Rhythms'

Jul 13: World Cup playlists #7: Country choices H - J

The New York Times released a list of the country choices of music from the World Cup.

Here are a few samples: 

Haiti

Signature song: Toup Pou Yo (Barikad Crew); Dekole (J Perry feat. Shabba Izolan)

Warm-up: Ke M Pa Sote (Boukman Eksperyans); Pepeye (Boukman Eksperyans)

Goal music: Alaso (Rockfam); Kool Non (King Posse)

Post-match: Lobey sou Lobèy (Team Lobey); 4 Kampe (Joe Dwet File)

Iran

Signature song: Teammelli (Parvaz Homay)

Lyrics of the national team anthem: 

O my soul, my soul, my body O my boundless love, my homeland In every dress, nation, and language O your eternity, my speech Promotions Iran, Iran Your eternal name We are lovers of your soil We are drunk on the wine of your vine Wherever your name is mentioned, We are soldiers of your pure soil Iran, Iran Your eternal name O the land of Rostam and the lions O the monument of the brave generation The eternal sun of the world The enduring name of Iran

Warm-up: Teammelli (Parvaz Homay)

Goal music: Teammelli (Parvaz Homay)

Post-match: Teammelli (Parvaz Homay)

Iraq

Signature song: Aash Al Iraq (Rahma Riad); El Basrah Deratkom (Hussam Alrassam); Nashhad An La (Nasrat Al Bader Salem); Annan Iraqi (Hamza Al Mhamadawi); Hassouni (Mohamed Al Mddlool); Iraqi Hala Ya Saab (Hussam Alrassam); Farht Shah (Hosam Kamel)

Japan

Signature song: Syouri No Emi Wo Kimi To (Ukasuka-G)

Goal music: Syouri No Emi Wo Kimi To (Ukasuka-G)

Post-match: KESHIKI (JI Blue, JO1 & INI)

Jordan

Signature song: Ennashama Official Tournament Song (JFA Music)

Warm-up: Hez Almalaab (Omar Alabdallat); Min Hon (165 Entertainment)

Goal music: Al Nashama (JFA Music)

Post-match: Al Nashama (JFA Music); Hena Al Orduniyeen (Omar Alabdallat); Watani Mix (Omar Alabdallat)