Dearest Whitney

It isn't often I am moved so much by a popular song but Whitney Houston singing "I look to You" really stirs my heart, particularly since her sad and sudden passing not long ago.  We all know Whitney's big hits and this was perhaps a lesser one in it's day but I think it is one of her very finest.





Hope you enjoy it as I do.

Freddie Star Floors Muhammad Ali

"Float like a butterfly!
Sting like a bee!
There's no way on Earth
Yer gonna get me!
'cause I'm the greatest!"

Well that may have been the case  because no-one ever did get Ali, formerly known as the great Cassius Clay, arguably the greatest boxer the world has ever produced. Our Henry Cooper nearly caught him with his well known lethal left hook which floored him in a world title fight. But Ali survived every attempt . . . . . until . . . . . until.

Our Freddie Star who is much more cunning!! Just watch this clip from a Michael Parkinson interview - one of my favorites.


See what I mean? LOL

Dick Emery - He Still Rules

Ahh!

I am so pleased I found another Dick Emery clip I can share with you.

This chap is an absolute riot and was for many years the funniest man on British television.

Enjoy!

Another Dave Allen Treat

Hi Folks!

It has been a while since I posted here but feel the time has come to have another laugh.
There is so much dreary news out there in the big bad world - bad, cold and miserable weather and bad news it seems everywhere - all very depressing so I think I will nominate Dave Allen to come to our rescue.

Here he is again, one of my favourite comedians - enjoy:

Flash, Bang Wallop! The Most Surprising Proposal and Wedding

Gosh! What about this for the most fantastic proposal I certainly have ever seen, and probably you too.


The action, and reason for the girl throwing the water over the guy will become apparent in due course but just get a load of the action in this video.  I wonder how many bucks that lot cost. Of course the flash mob element really appeals to me - so funny and absolutely fantastic . . . . . . BUT . . . . . some would argue they left someone out. Obviously there will be others who disagree.

But back to flash mob dancing.  At first I thought the guy was fabulously wealthy and had spent mega-bucks on this surprise.  However, it is not the case at all - the whole thing was arranged by a flash mob outfit.  I have found a full video which shows the entire concept from start to finish, ending of course with a re-run of the first video.  This time, though, it includes rigth at the start more of the sequence of the long black haired lady with green eyes (I think) throwing a cup of water over the guy and shouting, "Screw you!"  - all part of the act, of course, since she was pretending to be a former girlfriend to wind up his current lady friend.  This bewildered girl, although initially upset, was later literally swept off her feet by 1017 flash mob dancers and of course her selfless boyfriend, as she describes him..  At first he looked manipulative and controlling - but apparently not so.  One thing is sure - she will never forget that day.



It's a bit lengthy but well worth the viewing.

Mendelssohn Octet in E Flat Major, Op. 20

Now here is one of my absolute favourite pieces of music.  It has particular significance in my life and I played it many times whilst commuting back and forth to the North of England about 25 years ago.  I intend writing a post about this on my other blog at some stage.

This music is quite extraordinary because it was written by a 16 year old genius - non other than Felix Mendelssohn himself.

I have found a good quality performance of the first movement. The work is in four movements. The third is by far the most well known but I like this first movement which I think is wonderful. Enjoy with cheese and crackers.




Since posting a dear friend of mine has found an amazing rendition of the first movement with a double bass adding even more beauty to this masterpiece. Also the performers deal with pizzicato passages superbly. So I am adding this version for those interested (in two parts).





To me the music itself conveys alternating moods of joy and sadness. It seems that way and about three quarters through sheer desperation gains prominence until just before the end when the tempo picks up again the mood changes for the last time to a feeling of hope and joy. Well that's how it affects me. Hope you like it.

Two Funeral Sketches Not To Be Missed

Now we all agree that funerals should be sad and sombre events. We have all attended them and we have all shed tears. Yet somehow, when out of context, I detect some funerals can be vehicles for amusement - that is when things go wrong or when something occurs completely out of the ordinary.

This Dick Emery sketch caught my eye recently and I could not help but laugh! Hmm! sorry!!



And, of course, my mind is cast back to the famous Dave Allen funeral sketch, which I posted over a year ago. I am repeating this so those who missed it have another chance to share the fun.