Spot the Plant

Spurred by the recent Led Zeppelin reunion gig at the O2 Arena last week, I searched for my favourite Zep song on YouTube. I turned up some pretty amazing stuff. In addition to some dreadful footage of the O2 gig from somebody’s camera phone, I found this rendition of “Rock and Roll” from 1979. Pity Plant can’t quite hit the high notes…

Then I played another video and to my delight, Plant was singing it as good as he ever did on record. Simply superb. But wait a minute… something’s not right here…

Yup, it’s a cover band. A bunch of immensely talented guys from the States called Yellow Brick Road. They do a show in Las Vegas called RockShow where they do covers of great rock songs over the years. Vocalist Brody Dolyniuk carries them all off beautifully, but none better than his Robert Plant. He actually outdoes Plant on his own songs.

And that, my friends, is quite an achievement.

Ceol is Creideamh

 Well, guys, I don’t know how many folks are going to be in the tiniest bit interested in this, but I thought I’d let you know anyway that airing today is a new radio series I’ve done called “Ceol is Creideamh” (Music & Faith) for BBC Radio nan Gaidheal.

It charts the changes in christian music over the last 50 years, covering artists like Larry Norman, Delirious, Johnny Cash, David Crowder, 2ndChapter of Acts, Tree 63 and many more. Today’s program covers the 50s and 60s and the birth of christian rock.

It’s all in Gaelic, but the music is pretty cool even if you don’t understand a word I’m saying! It airs on BBC Radio nan Gaidheal today (Wednesday) at 11.30am and again at 10.00pm GMT. You can listen live or, after the program airs use the Listen Again (Eist a-Rithist) feature and select “Ceol is Creideamh”. Let me know what you think!

Singalong Songs…

Argh! Oi bin tagged!!

My friend Karen has decided a kick up the virtual rear is in order for me to get blogging properly, so here goes.

BEHOLD! My list of Happy Fool Singalong Songs!

1: J. Geils Band – Centrefold – I defy anyone to resist singing along to the ‘Naa naa na na na na’ bit.
2: The Shamen – Ebenezer Goode – Yes, sad 90s tat, but I learnt every word when I was in high school.
3: Led Zeppelin – Rock & Roll – Simply classic feelgood driving music.
4: a-ha – The Living Daylights – Being a Bond fan, this one is high on the 007 themes list.
5: Stevie Wonder – Superstition – I always sing this, and I always have to make up the words.
6: James Brown – I Feel Good – If only for the “When I hold you in my aaaaaaaaarms” bit.
7: The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love – Yes I sing this, and yes I can hit ALL the notes!
8: E.M.F. – Unbelievable – Another musical landmark from my youth!
9: Third Day – Still Listening – Raw Southern energy and I love it, although some other TD stuff comes close!
10: Bon Jovi – Wanted: Dead or Alive – the first song I learnt on guitar, I sing it EVERY time and I even sing the solo.

So there you have it. BTW, this does not in any way reflect the contents of my iTunes library. It’s just the stuff I can’t help singing to!

Go on then… let me have your faves too!