It's Amazing What You Can Find on YouTube

Thanks to the tedium that is the ever-present World Cup coverage on TV, and P's great interest in anything football-related, I've had to devise new ways to entertain myself during matches. 

By chance the other evening I read a review in the Evening Standard about a concert in memory of Kate McGarrigle (one half of the Canadian singing sisters Kate and Anna McGarrigle.)  I hadn't heard any of their songs in YEARS so I decided to have a root round on YouTube where indeed there were plenty of McGarrigle songs to choose from - Entre La Jeuness et La Sagesse  being my favourite. 

This led me on to thinking about Loudon Wainwright III (ex-husband of Kate and father of Rufus and Martha Wainright.)  I used to really enjoy Loudon Wainwright's music but again hadn't heard any for YEARS and YEARS.  I've quickly become re-acquainted with the fabulous, and still highly relevant, Hard Day on the Planet.  I've become somewhat obsessed with this song in the last few days and have played it so many times I'm now practically word perfect.  The wonderful saxophone playing in it made me then think about Andy McKay's wonderful sax playing in Rock Follies and Rock Follies of '77. 

I had the music from both these TV series on cassette (stashed away somewhere in the loft at the moment) and wondered if there were any clips available on YouTube.  Indeed there were and I spent a very happy half hour or so immersing myself in memories from my youth.  Check out the opening sequence here with the old Thames TV intro - blimey, that took me back.  Anyone else remember these series about a struggling female rock group and starring Charlotte Cornwell, Rula Lenska and Julie Covington? 

Since then I've been all over the place on YouTube.  Checking out a very ancient Aviance Perfume advert which oddly always stuck in my memory, the title sequence to The Virginian (I always loved the old Wild West photos they used,) and then moving bang up to date with the quite extraordinary video by Lady Gaga for her song Alejandro (don't watch this one if you're easily offended!) 

While P is being deafened by the sound of vuvuzela's from the TV, I'm really enjoying searching for long-lost memories on YouTube.  At this rate I'll be sorry when the World Cup is all over!!   

Comments

[maureen]

I loved Rock Follies. I wonder what happened to Julie Covington? She had such a great voice.
The McGarrigles reminded me of Nick Cave, they did perfect backing for his songs and Rufus Wainwright leads me to my all time favourite Leonard Cohen who I shall be seeing her in Christchurch New Zealand. Saw him first in 1978 then again in 1984. Never thought I'd get another chance.
Thanks for taking me down memory lane again:)

[Ponytail]

My mum loved Rock Follies - I don't think I was allowed to watch it at the time. Isn't Julie Covington the one who sang "Don't Cry for me Argentina" on the original musical soundtrack ?

[Teresa]

Ooooh.....I wish my husband was interested in the football, this sounds like fun!!
Teresa x

[DogsMom]

Nice to meet someone who knows who LW III is!
I will have to make time to listen to the tracks and references you posted.