What are you listening to right now?

[Blackleaf]

A-ha - "The Living Daylights" (1987)

The Norwegian band, famous for their 1985 global megahit "Take On Me", performed the theme tune to the 1987 Bond film "The Living Daylights", the first with Timothy Dalton playing Bond, and the 15th Bond movie.

The song reached No1 in their native Norway and No5 in Great Britain.

A-ha lead singer Morten Harket, 65, is a supporter of Stoke City FC and now lives in London.

 

[Blackleaf]

A-ha - "Take On Me" (1985)

Just in case you've never heard it, here is the Norwegian band's 1985 megahit.

Did you know that Norway has sent Britain a huge Christmas tree every year since 1947 as a gift to thank Britain for her support for Norway in World War II when she was invaded by the Nazis? Each tree stands proudly in Trafalgar Square until 6th January each year.

 

[petros]

Uh-Uh...noooope.

The down tuning of the Martin to D is killer.

I put three rounds into Kate McCannon...

 

[petros]

Uh-Uh...noooope.

The down tuning of the Martin to D is killer.

 

[bill barilko]

Skankin' inna Saudi stylee!

 

[bill barilko]

 

[Blackleaf]

Korn - "Here To Stay" (2002)

The Bakersfield, California, nu-metallers reached No12 in the UK and No72 in their native US with this.

As a 43 year old it brings back fond memories of listening to this countless times in my youth.

 

[Blackleaf]

Slipknot - "Wait and Bleed" (1999)

The debut single from the Des Moines, Iowa, heavy metallists famous for having three drummers.

They eventually became one of the biggest bands in the world.

Lead singer Corey Taylor is an avid Anglophile. He's a fan of English folk music and references British TV shows in his lyrics. He loves British accents and he's a fan of Doctor Who - and he's even appeared in an episode.

Meanwhile, the band's turntablist Sid was born in Des Moines but to two British parents. He still visits his grandmother in Portsmouth every year.

 

[Blackleaf]

Kelly Marie - "Feels Like I'm In Love" (1980)

The song was written by Ray Dorset, the lead singer and guitarist of the British band Mungo Jerry - famous for their 1970 hit "In The Summertime" - for Elvis Presley.

However, Elvis died in 1977 before recording it.

The song was then picked up by the British singer Kelly Marie, who made it into a disco song - all the rage at the time - and she scored a No1 UK hit.

She performed the song on the long-running Sunday afternoon BBC show "Top of the Pops" with a couple of cool dancers. They were the days.

And yes, that is British and Australian actress Olivia Newton-John alongside Tony Blackburn as he introduced the song...

 

[Blackleaf]

Squeeze - "Cool For Cats" (1979)

The London punk band had a No2 UK hit with this.

Nowadays, keyboard player Jools Holland, 67, is famous in Britain for his annual live Channel 4 show "Jools' Annual Hootenanny" which welcomes in the New Year with a plethora of musical artists of various genres.

The song featured in a 1993 British TV advert for milk.

 

[Blackleaf]

Madness - "My Girl" (1979)

Released on 21st December 1979, the London ska band, fronted by Suggs and who are still going today, reached No3 in the UK with this

 

[Blackleaf]

The Troggs - "I Can't Control Myself" (1966)

In the year that England won the World Cup, this hit from the Andover, Hampshire, band was banned on radio in the UK, US and Australia for its sexually suggestive lyrics. I can't imagine that happening nowadays.

Still, it reached No2 in the UK.

What a decade the Sixties was. The country was just recovering from the hardships and sacrifices of World War II and there seemed to be a national mood of optimism with great music springing up everywhere.

 

[Blackleaf]

Limahl - "Never Ending Story" (1984)

Hailing from Wigan, Greater Manchester, Limahl was the lead singer of Kajagoogoo - who had a No1 UK hit with "Too Shy" in 1983 - before going solo.

In 1984 he had a No3 UK hit with this, the title song of the 1984 fantasy movie of the same name...

 

[Blackleaf]

Alestorm - "Killed To Death By Piracy" (2025)

The new single from the British pirate metallers...

Taken from their upcoming 8th studio album "The Thunderfist Chronicles", to be released 20th June...

 

[Blackleaf]

Gloryhammer - "On A Quest For Aberdeen" (2025)

The brand new single from the British power metallers...

 

[Blackleaf]

The Kinks - "Lola" (1970)

The London band who helped invent punk had a No2 UK hit with this.

The song details a romantic encounter in a Soho bar between a young man and Lola, who is possibly a trans or cross dresser. In the song, the narrator describes his confusion towards Lola, who "walked like a woman but talked like a man", yet he remains infatuated with her.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

When the Yanks finally figured out what the song was about, they threw an absolute FIT! Most radio stations refused to play anything by the Kinks for years after.

Fucking imbeciles.

 

[Blackleaf]

The Beatles - "Strawberry Fields Forever" (1967)

The Beatles are the most successful musical artists in history.

The Liverpool band only reached No2 in Britain with this but they still topped the charts in many countries.

Not only that, but the video is widely regarded as the forerunner to the music videos we have today, which only came around in the late 70s/early 80s.

Shot in glorious technicolour and looking so modern, it's hard to believe the video is from 1967...

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

View attachment 29315

The Beatles - "Strawberry Fields Forever" (1967)

The Beatles are the most successful musical artists in history.

The Liverpool band only reached No2 in Britain with this but they still topped the charts in many countries.

Not only that, but the video is widely regarded as the forerunner to the music videos we have today, which only came around in the late 70s/early 80s.

Shot in glorious technicolour and looking so modern, it's hard to believe the video is from 1967...

We'll see if they have the longevity of Ludwig Van.

Actually, no, we won't.

 

[Blackleaf]

We'll see if they have the longevity of Ludwig Van.

Actually, no, we won't.

Beethoven's first hit - "Symphony No. 1 in C major" (1800) - actually failed to chart anywhere in the world, unlike The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields."