All posts by Steph

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Band Aid – 25 years on

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Tom Dunne just did a little feature on Do They Know It’s Christmas on Newstalk. Apparently it was 25 years ago today that the infamous Xmas hit was recorded. Here’s a more facts on the tune:

  • Recorded on Nov 25th 1984, released on Nov 29th of the same year
  • Co-written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure
  • When released it became the fastest selling single of all time in the UK
  • It sold over 3 million copies on release
  • It is currently the UK’s second best-selling single of all time behind Elton John’s ‘Candle In The Wind’
  • Geldof took on and ultimately won over Margaret Thatcher and the British government who originally insisted on taking taxes on sales of the record

Artists on the recording:

Adam Clayton (U2), Queen, Phil Collins (Genesis, solo), Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), Chris Cross (Ultravox), John Taylor (Duran Duran), Paul Young, Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet), Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17), Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran), Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats), Marilyn Keren Woodward (Bananarama), Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Jody Watley (Shalamar), Bono (U2), Paul Weller (The Style Council), James “J.T.” Taylor (Kool & the Gang), George Michael (Wham!), Midge Ure (Ultravox), Martyn Ware (Heaven 17), John Keeble (Spandau Ballet), Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Roger Taylor (Duran Duran), Sarah Dallin (Bananarama), Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama), Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats), Francis Rossi (Status Quo), Robert ‘Kool’ Bell (Kool & the Gang, whose members were the only Americans to participate), Dennis J. T. Thomas (Kool & the Gang), Andy Taylor (Duran Duran), Jon Moss (Culture Club), Sting (The Police), Rick Parfitt (Status Quo), Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran), Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats), David Bowie, Boy George (Culture Club), Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood), Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings), Stuart Adamson (Big Country), Bruce Watson (Big Country), Tony Butler (Big Country), Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)

It may not be your typical happy shiny Xmas tune but it’s a good tune all the same and those few opening bars still give me a little shiver when I hear it. Or maybe I have some kind of soft spot for it as it was at number 1 and blasted out over the radio the day I was born? Either way, now that I’ve heard it for the first time this year, I think I’m ready to start getting festive. Mince pies are on the menu this weekend :)

Adam Clayton (U2), Queen, Phil Collins (Genesis, solo), Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), Chris Cross (Ultravox), John Taylor (Duran Duran), Paul Young, Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet), Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17), Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran), Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats), Marilyn Keren Woodward (Bananarama), Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Jody Watley (Shalamar), Bono (U2), Paul Weller (The Style Council), James “J.T.” Taylor (Kool & the Gang), George Michael (Wham!), Midge Ure (Ultravox), Martyn Ware (Heaven 17), John Keeble (Spandau Ballet),
Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Roger Taylor (Duran Duran), Sarah Dallin (Bananarama),
Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama), Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats), Francis Rossi (Status Quo), Robert ‘Kool’ Bell (Kool & the Gang, whose members were the only Americans to participate), Dennis J. T. Thomas (Kool & the Gang), Andy Taylor (Duran Duran), Jon Moss (Culture Club), Sting (The Police), Rick Parfitt (Status Quo), Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran), Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats), David Bowie, Boy George (Culture Club), Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood), Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings), Stuart Adamson (Big Country), Bruce Watson (Big Country), Tony Butler (Big Country), Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)
News

Coincidence?

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250,000 public servants from various unions are out on strike today including teachers, Gardai, hospital staff, courts staff, prison staff and others.

The Irish Times is reporting how the ASTI are defending their 90-minute picket this morning.

From AA Roadwatch just now:

*MAIN TRAFFIC* *A1/DOWN* Approaching Newry on the A1 there are reports of approx 6km delays from the Dublin side.

* M50 northbound traffic is busy but moving at J5 Finglas and J4 Ballymun off ramps. (That’s Ikea for those who don’t know.)

Random

Dolly mixture, Nov 24

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Wisdom tooth infection *finally* subsiding, normality to resume real soon.

In the meantime…

Etsy goodness
Etsy goodness

Awesome calendar/wall planner thing from Etsy (above).

37 Signals bring you Haystack – “Find the right web designer for your next project.”

Want to avoid silly unwanted gifts this Xmas? Try making a wishlist at Wishlistr.

It costs €20m to build 1km of road in modern Ireland.

Sexy aprons.

“It’s like getting slapped against the cheek by a dry leather glove with each finger being made of a mini-glove.”

Happy protest day. Will be posting all sorts on here and here throughout the day.

Random

Linder Gallery painting a clue to Lost season 6?

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During the week, a rather bizarre email arrived via the Linder Gallery website, mysteriousmasterpiece.com, pointing out how the painting had been featured in a teaser video for the final season of Lost.

So how did I come across this? The Linder Gallery website is a project we launched at X Communications a few weeks back. The painting is a fascinating work created almost four hundred years ago by an unknown artist although there are many theories and ideas being explored.

Here’s the video that was sent over:

You can read an excerpt of the email on the Linder Gallery blog. I’m not sure what to make of it, particularly since my interest in the TV series died around about season 2. Why that painting? And who was able to identify it, if indeed it was ‘spotted’ by the fans? Is it all a hoax?

Mysterious masterpiece indeed :)