This morning in Pret a Manger, as I walked out into the street I noticed that there was a young woman sitting in the corner with a MacBook chatting happilly into her phone. Next to her sat a woman whose face was tortured with grief and sorrow – silently screaming if not actually sobbing.
I wonder if the guy serving wished her a nice day as he did me.
Cannot. Stop. Playing. This.
(‘That’s Not My Name’ by The Ting Tings)
GarageBand and a bottle of red wine have a lot to answer for…
The new video feature on Flickr has – predictably – caused a small storm with thousands of users joining a group calling for video to be removed from the site; these are Flickr purists who think the site should just be about the majesty of the still image.
But Flickr’s video is no YouTube – you’re limited to 90 seconds for one thing, which really does make it a forum for small movies that are probably – in effect – animated still images. Like Martin Parr’s BBC film of people’s houses. You’re unlikely to find TV shows or movies in 90 second chunks.
Pleasingly, a group calling itself ‘We Say No to Photos on Flickr‘ has now sprung up to mock the video refuseniks.
One of the things I really miss about Gideon Coe’s daytime BBC 6Music show is his ‘Wednesday Wist Wagon’. So, in homage to it I invite you all to climb aboard my Sunday Sadness Stagecoach. Here are four songs to make your heart ache just a little bit – and here’s the thing: they are all off the same album.
One of the unexpected consequences of having the decorators in (not a euphemism for anything, but now you mention it…) was stumbling upon a 4AD compilation CD from 1995 called ‘Facing the Wrong Way’. I’d forgotten how wonderful this album was. And it’s chock-full of wist.
So here are snatches from:
‘Summer Dress’ – Red House Painters
‘You Sweet Little Heart Breaker’ – Air Miami
‘Love Songs on the Radio’ – Mojave (actually Mojave 3 but this CD must pre-date the change of name)
‘Cheap Cuts’ – Liquorice
I know the Air Miami track is probably too thrashy for most people to consider it wistful but the title alone qualifies it. And the Liquorice track is probably a bit too feisty, but I love the lyrics and couldn’t not include it. And hey, I did drop ‘Valley of the Morning Sun’ by Kendra Smith which is utterly lovely but the lyrics are just bonkers and I have no idea what it’s about. (Aviation. Just looked it up). And it is my list.
LOVE SONGS ON THE RADIO – Mojave 3
She looks just like an angel
When she walks across the room
She shines tonight
Her golden light
Is everything I needLovers all around her
She wears them like her jewels
My friend says she’s all he needs
To feel aliveLove songs on the radio
His sweetheart lies in bed
She’s dreaming of the things he said
She’s hoping that he’s well
