Tina - Simply the Best

Tina was a huge influence on my musical tastes, right back from Nutbush City Limits in 1973, and I followed her from then, loving her skillful meld of rock and soul and fascinated by her style, energy and phenomenal performances.

For my 40th, I became Tina at a fancy-dress Halloween party - ran 3 miles, 3 times a week for 3 months to get the legs for it! A couple of my friends bought me a session at Olan Mills and this was the result - nowhere near a match, but I had great fun doing it.

She touched a lot of people's lives, and inspired many women to stand up for themselves, but more than anything, she brought us joy. Rest in peace, Tina - we love you.

In time-honoured tradition, here's my Tina Turner top thirteen.

1. Private Dancer – 1984
2. What’s Love Got to Do with It? – 1984
3. (Simply) The Best – 1989
4. We Don’t Need Another Hero – 1985
5. Nutbush City Limits – 1973
6. Addicted to Love – 1988
7. Steamy Windows – 1989
8. Better be Good to Me – 1984
9. Let’s Stay Together – 1983
10. Proud Mary – 1993
11. Way of the World – 1991
12. Golden Eye – 1995
13. When the Heartache is Over – 1999

She also made a bunch of duets with some awesome superstars:
•   It Takes Two (with Rod Stewart) – 1990
•   Tonight (with David Bowie) – 1984
•   It’s Only Love (with Bryan Adams) – 1985
•   In Your Wildest Dreams (with Barry White) – 1996
•   On Silent Wings (with Sting) – 1996
•   Tearing Us Apart (with Eric Clapton) – 1987
•   River Deep Mountain High (with Ike Turner) – 1966

Top Thirteen from 1940s

The further I go back in time, the fewer songs I recognise. Because a whole stack of Time Kicks Back is set in Bletchley Park during 1940, I'm gonna spend a wee while looking at that decade. I couldn't find enough songs I knew/liked to do more than a single summary for the entire decade.
Here they are:
1. That Old Black Magic - Judy Garland
2. Pennsylvania 65000 - The Andrews Sisters
3. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
4. Nature Boy - Nat King Cole
5. We'll Meet Again - Vera Lynn
6. Deep In The Heart Of Texas - Bing Crosby
7. Pistol Packin' Mama - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
8. These Foolish Things - Frank Sinatra
9. Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland
10. (There’ll Be Blue Birds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover - Vera Lynn
11. Swanee - Al Jolson
12. Whispering Grass - Ink Spots
13. The Trolley Song - Judy Garland


And a few bubbling under:
You Are My Sunshine - Bing Crosby
Lili Marlene - Anne Shelton
Begin the Beguine - The Andrews Sisters
If I Had My Way - Bing Crosby
Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ra! (That’s An Irish Lullaby) - Bing Crosby
Don’t Fence Me in - Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive - Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters
Meet Me in St. Louis - Judy Garland
Saturday Night (is the Loneliest Night in the Week) - Frank Sinatra
Moonlight Becomes You - Bing Crosby
Nancy (With the Laughing Face) - Frank Sinatra

Euro-what?

When it comes to guilty pleasures, you cannot whack Eurovision for splitting the country in the same way marmite does. For the longest while I'd been kinda take it or leave it, but the past couple of years, with proper parties have been such fun. And apart from the love for Graham Norton and a stack of prosecco, the watching of the iconic movie has now become an annual family ritual.
Play Ja-ja Ding-dong!

This year saw us rooting for a number of different acts, including (but not limited to) Cyprus, Spain, Sweden, Czechia, Norway and Lithuania. Others worthy of note were Serbia, Albania, Australia, Belgium and Germany. Unfortunately, the UK entry, although it sounded really powerful on the radio, didn't live up to its potential.
We were happy when the Swedish entry beat Finland's energetic effort - despite nails which looked like they belonged on a fantasy/horror Netflix show, Loreen deserved her second win.

Earlier, we listened to Steve Wright's run down of the top 40 UK. In addition to bringinging back some fun memories, it threw up some amazing facts. Like although we were joint 3rd with 5 wins, the UK have lodged the highest number of 2nd places (16). Here's the top 20:

1. Sam Ryder – Space Man (2022) – 2nd
2. Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up (1981) - Winner
3. Gina G – Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit (1996)
4. Katrina and the Waves – Love Shine a Light (1997) - Winner
5. Brotherhood of Man – Save Your Kisses for Me (1976) - Winner
6. Sandie Shaw – Puppet on a String (1967) - Winner
7. Cliff Richard – Congratulations (1968) – 2nd
8. The New Seekers – Beg, Steal or Borrow (1972) – 2nd
9. Lulu – Boom Bang-a-Bang (1969) - Joint Winner
10. Michael Ball – One Step Out of Time (1992) – 2nd
11. Sonia – Better the Devil You Know (1993) – 2nd
12. Bardo – One Step Further (1982)
13. Scooch – Flying the Flag (For You) (2007)
14. Mary Hopkin – Knock, Knock Who’s There? (1970) – 2nd
15. Imaani – Where Are You? (1998) – 2nd
16. Olivia Newton-John – Long Live Love (1974) – 4th
17. Daz Sampson – Teenage Life (2006)
18. Cliff Richard – Power to All Our Friends (1973)
19. Lucie Jones – Never Give Up on You (2017)
20. Lynsey de Paul & Mike Moran – Rock Bottom (1977) – 2nd

It turns out that Ireland are the the most successful country, first with Dana in 1970, two wins from Johnny Logan in the 80s and an unprecedented 3 years in a row from 92-94 and then again in 96.

Release of Time Kicks Back

Goodness me this one took a lorra, lorra research, but hopefully, I've only included enough to give you an immersive experience and not bored you with all the details which fascinated me.
So much stuff I never knew about Enigma codes and Bletchley Park (I even spent in a day at the place, cramming in as much as I could).
Apart from the memory of the whole family crowded round a tiny, black-and-white TV, I don't remember much about the England/Germany game in 1966. I was only 6 at the time - old enough to know it was a big deal and love the pink wafer biscuits and Corona's "ice-cream soda."

This will give you a flavour of Kev's decidedly dodgy experiences:
Kev buried his demons when he was 22. And dug them up again 22 years before he was born.
Shortly before paranoia sets in, Kev discovers the secret his housemates are keeping from him. The Time Capsule in the attic? It really works. His first time-travel jaunt has him witnessing a historic cup final, courtesy of Georgie, who reveals previously hidden depths.
When they’re paired in a WWII Bletchley Park role-play scenario, Kev sees a different side to her – while she thinks he totally rocks the trench coat and fedora as a 1940s spy. Bonus!
Obsessed with the Jules Rimet trophy-theft, he returns to 1966, where his investigation attracts unsavoury attention, and he has to dig deep for the skills to survive. With nasty side-effects. He didn’t mean for Georgie to bear the brunt, but what is it they say about hurting the one - no, seriously?

Anyway, you can pick up your copy of Time Kicks Back by clicking the link - a steal at £2.99/$3.49 or read for free on Kindle Unlimited. Continue the fun adventures of a bunch of 30-something geeks as they explore their family's pasts with the aid of a temperamental time capsule in the attic. Although it can be read as a standalone, reading the other two first will give insight into the complicated relationships between them.