Thursday 6 January 2011

Ten Years.

Today I am mostly thinking of a friend, lost ten years ago to this day.

A bright bubbly character, Natasha Liversidge, loved her friends and family, her horses and life in general.  A life that was taken away in a blink of an eye thanks to Meningitis.  She always put others before herself and even after her passing was still helping others.  As an organ donor, she helped change the lives of five others.

Shortly after she died, I created a memorial page on my (now mostly defunct) website.  It is still there, in case any of you wish to see her: Tasha's Page.

For more information on Meningitis and to donate money to the Meningitis Trust, please click HERE.

For further information on becoming an organ donor, please click HERE.

Sunday 2 January 2011

Wulfy's Wonder Year 2010: Music.

In much the same way as I did for 2009, I thought I'd look back on the last year.  This time, though, I shall write a series of smaller blogs on different subjects, rather than just the large music one for 2009.  First in the series will be my soundtrack to 2010.

I didn't really listen to a lot of new music this year.  I did go through a habit of listening to Radio 1 at weekends when driving around the Hampshire and Sussex countryside, so did get more of a pop music intake than I usually like!  And of course there's the continuous barrage of pop and RnB on television too...

Ke$ha:  Rather hot too!
Some artists from the non-rock world have got my attention though, mostly due to my other half.  Although I haven't actually heard the full albums, I have been enjoying the singles released by Lady Gaga, Ke$ha and Tinie Tempah.
Ke$ha's single with Taio Cruz, Dirty Picture (links to YouTube video), was excellent (although the radio edit kinda loses some of it's "charm").  Lady Gaga released the reimagined album, The Fame Monster, at the tail end of 2009 and the singles from it have been very catchy, particularly Telephone and Bad Romance - which have been on rotation in the car's multi-changer.

Obviously, despite the fact I think it's a great big fix, I have been watching the X-Factor again.  The two artists I was following didn't really have a chance of winning though.  Paije Richardson I thought was a very soulful singer, but never really looked the part for the judges.  Aiden Grimshaw (the love of Phee's life), who's versions of Thriller and Mad World were amazingly spooky, was just too weird for most tastes.  Just not generically pop enough!

Anathema's Album of the Year.
Now then, back to the real music!  I did get a few new albums this year... some new releases, some very old. I got Anathema's new album, We're Here Because We're Here, which is good.  I still prefer Judgement though!  I also got one of Porcupine Tree's older albums, Stars Die.  Going old skool, I also got The Very Best of Thunder!  It has all their hits, all my favourites, and a load more!  The other album I bought this year was the debut album by Canadian band Domenica, The Luxury.  Domenica are a female fronted rock band, verging on gothic, quite similar to Evanescence.

Video of the year, although released at the end of 2009, was definitely Pussy by Rammstein.  I shall leave it to you to google it (careful as you go!), but it is definitely NSFW!

Well, that actually is longer than I'd planned!  Still, Wulfy's Music Awards for 2010 are:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR:  We're Here Because We're Here - Anathema
NON-ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR:  The Fame Monster - Lady Gaga
SONG OF THE YEAR:  Pussy - Rammstein
NON-ROCK SONG OF THE YEAR:  Dirty Picture - Taio Cruz & Ke$ha

MOST LISTENED TO ALBUM:  Appetite for Destruction - Guns 'n' Roses
MOST LISTENED TO SONG:  All Along the Watchtower - Bear McCreary

DJ OF THE YEAR:  Kitty Jay