In the paper today, tales of war and of waste, but you turn right over to the TV page…

Probably the best song of the entire 1980s.

And not a bad song for the end of the year to boot.

Neil Finn, post Split Enz creates Crowded House – a band that turned out more great songs than you probably realize.  If you don’t own at least their greatest hits you are missing out – big time.

They come to build a wall between us; don’t let them win

An outstanding live version in front of a massive crowd in Sydney Australia from their farewell concert in 1996.  (They would reform 10 years later and continue today):

and the original video:

-cj cheetham

I love Christmas Music.  And you can’t go wrong with the classic songs sung by Sinatra, Torme, and Crosby.

Usually if a current singer or band sings a Christmas song, I want them to stay with the classics and not mess with the arrangements too much.   When modern artists try to write new Christmas songs – let’s face it – they are usually pitiful tunes.  It’s almost always a song about cold weather and missing “my baby” – or something along those lines.

Maybe its because today’s musicians are disconnected from Christmas?

Well, here’s a FANTASTIC Christmas song composed and recorded in 2010.  The Florin Street Band, led by composer Leigh Haggerwood, made a decision to write and record a new “great” Christmas song.  And the imagined Victorian England while they were writing it.

Of course – he got no music industry backing.  So he cobbled together local musicians, choirs, and singers and created a beautiful Christmas song that you MUST hear!  It is just a great tune, folks.

The video is also incredibly well done.  Here’s a musical Christmas card for you!

http://www.florinstreet.com/

-cj cheetham

They told you life is hard, misery from the start;

It’s dull, and slow and painful.

But I tell you life is sweet

In spite of the misery

There’s so much more, be grateful

Well, who do you believe…

Enjoy.

-cj cheetham

New Order is a band that could have achieved a level of superstardom on par with any band.  From top to bottom the talent in this band is incredible.  But I don;t think they wanted to be superstars – they just recorded great music.

New Order was born in tragedy when the legendary band Joy Division dissolved following the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis.  But Stephen Morris, Peter Hook, and Bernard Sumner rather than giving up took the core of Joy Division and created a better new band (adding keyboardist Gillian Gilbert) – New Order.

What followed was a series of albums in the 1980s, through the 90s and into a new century that contain a body of work that is tremendous.  Sumner’s lyrics, and quirky voice layered with driving percussion, keyboards and of course the distinctive bass lines of Peter Hook – all created an incredible, gigantic sound.

The last 3 – 4 minutes of this 10:41 long song will blow you away.

-cj cheetham