Ronnie Hazelhurst is the BBC composer. For anyone who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, his music was ubiquitous.
He dominated the themes of the BBC, writing the funky Yes Minister (listen to that guitar), Last of the Summer Wine, Some Mothers Do Ave Em, Sorry, and arranging countless other tunes. He even managed to do Eurovision. Ronnie is at his height with the big band stylings of the Two Ronnies, but perhaps his most creative with "Are You Being Served?". Since he couldn't afford a percussionist, he disguised the gap with the clanging of tills and change, a full year before Pink Floyd did "Money".
Far out, Ronnie.
Monday, 16 November 2009
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Beethovens of the Small Screen - Pop Goes Bach
Television has lost stock recently. Falling advertising revenues and miniscule budgets mean that it is cheap, dominated by quizzes, reality shows and phone ins where money can be recouped.
These cuts in budget are not just evident in what comes on screen, but also in the music used. These days, television rarely has its own music, but instead buys hits from music companies.
In the glory days of course, British television had its own composers. They created music that is instantly recognisable, taut and perfectly made. This week, we celebrate those Beethovens of the small screen, the classic tunes of British television.
We start with the irrepressible "Ski Sunday" by Sam Fonteyn, otherwise known as "Pop Goes Bach" because it resembles Fugue in D Minor. Fonteyn made it a Frug in D Minor. The BBC still show "Ski Sunday" but they've buggered up the theme by making it modern. Gah. And Alberto Tomba, aka "Tomba La Bomba" aka Tomba the Bomb aka the greatest slalom skier of all time isn't in it anymore, which is a shame. Both theme and man exist in perfect harmony. Tomba flinging himself down the mountains of Austria to this theme still lingers in the memory.
These cuts in budget are not just evident in what comes on screen, but also in the music used. These days, television rarely has its own music, but instead buys hits from music companies.
In the glory days of course, British television had its own composers. They created music that is instantly recognisable, taut and perfectly made. This week, we celebrate those Beethovens of the small screen, the classic tunes of British television.
We start with the irrepressible "Ski Sunday" by Sam Fonteyn, otherwise known as "Pop Goes Bach" because it resembles Fugue in D Minor. Fonteyn made it a Frug in D Minor. The BBC still show "Ski Sunday" but they've buggered up the theme by making it modern. Gah. And Alberto Tomba, aka "Tomba La Bomba" aka Tomba the Bomb aka the greatest slalom skier of all time isn't in it anymore, which is a shame. Both theme and man exist in perfect harmony. Tomba flinging himself down the mountains of Austria to this theme still lingers in the memory.
Monday, 2 November 2009
War - Good, Good Feelin'
I went out on Saturday for some class disco. I didn't get it, so here's something to meet the need. Shake it!
Saturday, 17 October 2009
Friday, 16 October 2009
Brigdet Bardot - Saint Tropez
Oh the summer has gone and I'm cold. Bridget Bardot will cheer me up with her challenging ode to summer sun.
It was of course, the theme to Eurotrash. Oh Eurotrash, I do miss you.
It was of course, the theme to Eurotrash. Oh Eurotrash, I do miss you.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Georges Bizet - Seguedille
I attended the Royal Opera House last night to see Carmen.
My parents played opera constantly when I was a child. I hated it then. It was overblown, stupid, demanding and irritating.
Of course, as soon as even the meanest teenager has had a love affair, then opera is completely explicable. Opera is demanding in the way that love is demanding. You do have to listen to it. It is, in an age when most music has become a soundtrack, impossible to make it into disposeable chunks which may be consumed between microwave meals.
Anyway, to Carmen, that great bitch who lives and dies by her treatment of men. She could not be ignored either. You won't need a translation if you don't understand French.
My parents played opera constantly when I was a child. I hated it then. It was overblown, stupid, demanding and irritating.
Of course, as soon as even the meanest teenager has had a love affair, then opera is completely explicable. Opera is demanding in the way that love is demanding. You do have to listen to it. It is, in an age when most music has become a soundtrack, impossible to make it into disposeable chunks which may be consumed between microwave meals.
Anyway, to Carmen, that great bitch who lives and dies by her treatment of men. She could not be ignored either. You won't need a translation if you don't understand French.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Zager and Evans - In The Year 2525
The Peanut Duck does not always choose records that it likes. Case in point is this basket case of a record seems to go nowhere. You beg for it's terrible logic to stop.
How did Zager and Evans get a recording contract? The answer is in the year 9595. But we will not still be alive.
How did Zager and Evans get a recording contract? The answer is in the year 9595. But we will not still be alive.
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