TOTW12: Gabrielli Cilmi – On a Mission

I actually decided that this must be TOTW on Monday, whilst cranking up the stereo to full blast driving through the town centre. Gives you that bit of “Get up and go” you need…

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Guilty Secrets

I’m a Gleek.

I watched the pilot probably a few months ago now, just because it was on the telly. And whilst I didn’t immediately leap to it and say it was brilliant, I didn’t dislike it in the same way as a lot of American programmes.

But, a bit later, I knew a lot of people were talking about it, so gave it a second chance.

And now I can’t get enough of it.

Glee - don't Stop Believin' from Mira on Vimeo.

Take this clip, from the same said pilot. It’s a great cover of a great tune.

The entire show is feelgood, and the music is well sung. The characters are actually characters and not 2-dimensional droids, especially my favourite demonic PE teacher Sue Sylvester ably portrayed by Jane Lynch.

It got a brilliant review on the Radio Times website for the same reasons that I like it.

I love Glee because it's proper escapism; you can switch on and get lost in happiness before emerging, blinking, into the light, realising you've just passed an hour watching a piece of TV fiction that didn't send you spinning into existential despair. And if it makes you want to wear glitter eyeshadow, then what's wrong with that?

-Alison Graham

OK, I don’t end up wanting to wear glitter eyeshadow. But I do want to get up and have a daft dance. It doesn’t stretch your intelligence at all – but telly doesn’t need to. It’s just a good bit of fun. Which is what “entertainment” is all about.

TOTW11: Goldfrapp - Rocket

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TOTW10: Nerina Pallot – I Don’t want to go out

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Gabrielli Cilmi – On a mission

Goldfrapp – Rocket

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Unsung: The Kid Jones

It’s been a long time since Unsung had made a feature, but about as long since The Kid Jones first sent me an e-mail saying hello.

Now I can definitely talk about them though as their first single Juliet is out next Monday. It’s a good catchy number with electronic roots and a chorus that we can all sing. I particularly like the random dreamy bit about two-thirds through… A nice twist on the usual generic indie stuff.

The other songs on the standard myspace listing are also pretty good. Greenlight is the slow and moody guitar one, Mario Sings is the rockier one.

Listening whilst doing other things, it’s proved to be brilliant background music. And, I imagine they’d be a great live band. I might not, just yet, buy any album – but I’ll listen to them again, which is a good thing after a first listen only.

TOTW9: Johnny Cash – For the Good Times

This might be the first ever posthumous TOTW. But, such a brilliant singer, it’s not surprising. Is it going to worth finding time to go to HMV to buy American VI: Ain’t No Grave? Definitely.

Sadly, I can’t find any version of this track available online, even non-embeddable. The BBC can offer a sneak preview, but that’s it.

Instead, I’ll offer you another of his truly emotive covers. Hurt was originally done by Nine Inch Nails, and recorded with this Grammy award winning video in 2003 immediately before Cash’s death.

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Goldfrapp – Rocket

Foreigner – When it comes to love

Paloma Faith – Upside Down

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TOTW8: Leona Lewis – I Got You

I’m surprising myself with this one. Thing is, it is a good pop song. Well sung, energetic, catchy. OK, it’s no JEdward, but I’ve heard it enough times over the past week for it to get stuck in my head.

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Michael Bublé – Cry me a river (What an opening)

Mumford & Sons – The Cave