Blog: Worrapolava

MARBELLA BELLES - ITV1, Tuesdays 10.00pm OMG everything is curling! The cringiest, funniest reality (!) show in ages! I found this clip of the show being reprised on the brilliant Harry Hill's TV Burp. Marbella Belles follows the vacuous lives of five champagne-fuelled, tanorexic, acid-stripped, surgery-enhanced, painted-taloned, coiffeured forty/fifty-somethings in, guess where, Marbella, Spain. And aren't they a joy to behold. One of them, Lisa Johnson, 38 *splutter, yeah right*, doesn't work "'Cos I decided I didn't want to anymowah!". She swears at her son [...]

25 years ago, in Newcastle Upon Tyne, I was 13. Every Saturday I'd tread a well-worn path in my black desert boots between HMV, Virgin, Volume Records and, for the huge bargain bin, Windows Music shop. I'd know where every band's records were. But there'd also be aisles and corners I'd avoid: the Metal section was scary and, strangely, smelt of hippy juice and the punk section just smelt. Probably farts and beer. But 25 years ago, unbeknowst to me because I was too young, Kitchenware [...]

After posting about the gorgeous Faithless track, below, I looked up the vocalist, Cass Fox's other stuff. I had a vague recollection of an album ( Come Here - now only £1.69 snniiiiipp!! ) being released last year, but without much fanfare, and it subsequently passed me by. I think it was probably overshadowed by the monster dance track Touch Me which doesn't sit well on this CD of more chilled, Massive Attack-type stuff. More's the pity, though, 'cos this song is so great: the sentiment is very sweet and the vocals [...]

I ram-raided Columbia Road Flower market yesterday.

Faithless - Music Matters (Axwell Remix) Q: How many Faithless songs have I ever thought, "Hmmm. Quite like this one" A: None Even though it's got another 'worthy' rap from Maxi Jazz, imagine my total shock as I say: "Hmm. I REALLY like this one". *Faints* I'm especially loving the gorgeous animation and the ack-chew-al vocals from Cass Fox of Rui DaSilva, Touch Me fame.

London at night Taken with a Cybershot camera from the moon or something. Doesn't she look all bright and gaudy and fab?

Nah, not really. But according to The Sunday Times today, the 'blog craze' is officially dead . Lindsay Lohan hasn't posted since Freaky Friday (!!??) and, despite there being a blog page, Barbara Streisand hasn't even switched on her computer and done her first one yet. Now that really IS a trend! Apparently several hundred million blogs are being abandoned left right and centre. Hey ho. But there was nothing in the article about how the good blogs are still, [...]

Without going all emo, there are certain songs that bring a tear to one's eye. Over on the wonderful XO's Middle Eight there was a link to the newly-found and equally as wonderful The Modern Music where his 'Goth Subculture Anthems' post got me RIGHT THERE! It was *gulp* The Cocteau Twins . The jangling guitars, gorgeous chords and soaring vocals take me right back to my over-emotional teenage years, *sniff*. And while Liz Fraser sang her gobbledy gook, Robert Smith [...]

Uptown - Pleasure (mp3 download) My new favourite band. There's been loads floating around about Fred Ball and his marvelous music. I love this track and can't wait for the Pleasure 2 cd I've ordered.

Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position Channel 4's T4 is a strange old thing. So-called 'hangover TV' on a Sunday morning when, really, I'd rather see great stuff like this - Patrick Wolf in stack heels and pixie pants - on a weekday night after work. Y'know, something genuinely entertaining instead of some mental woman on Corrie up in court for murdering her fella or Louise Redknapp crying crocodile tears over her size zero tits. Sunday morning TV means America's Next Top Model, Golden Girls and, back in the day, mad soaps like [...]

Not quite as good as the laydeez C4 ad - but at least this one looks like they're all in the studio at the same time. So we have: The Horrors, Bat For Lashes, Unkle Jam, The Noisettes, Jack Peñate and Patrick Wolf. I love how they all try and get their 'personality' into their 2 seconds of spotlight. Fab.

A new Yoko Ono compilation Open Your Box is out on April 23rd and available a little earlier on Amazon . Not quite sure if the world needs 3 versions of Walking on Ice , but here's the superior mix. Obviously. Yoko Ono - Walking on Thin Ice (Pet Shop Boys Electro Mix) (mp3 download)

Mika - Love Today Not that he needs any more blog promos but this is one of my favourites from the album. I thought Lollipop would be a bit more of an obvious choice. Whatever, it'll sell by the truckload. And I love the retro Paula Abdul influence. Straight up!