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Tag Archives: George Harrison
MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SMASH HITS – 4.11.1987
As 1987 comes to an end, U2 are now the biggest band in the world. So big, they get to be on the cover of Smash Hits.
In news, Curiousity Killed The Cat are definitely not splitting up.
Back in the charts with Got My Mind Set On You, George Harrison’s career so far gets featured, just in case you didn’t know who he was.
There is also speculation this week about the futures of Level 42 and The Smiths.
In competitions, you could win a signed Erasure single.
From splits to reunions, there are rumours that Culture Club might be getting back together.
Smash Hits goes on tour with Colin Vearncombe, better known as Black, as he tours Europe.
Carol Decker of T’Pau gets a double page interview where she disagrees that she looks like the Duchess Of York and prefers Barbie over Sindy.
There were lyric posters for Jesus and Mary Chain, The Smiths, T’Pau and Marillion.
U2 get a four page feature which is accompanied by a review of a biography of them written by Eamon Dunphy, as well as a competition to win U2’s entire back catalogue.
Talking of U2, Jimmy Somerville reveals he has a poster of Larry Mullan in his kitchen despite not being a fan of U2.
Pet Shop Boys answer questions from readers where Neil Tennant confirms that he actually has to wear glasses and it’s not part of an image.
In ads, you could buy a pink cassette player from Rumbelows for £34.99.
Featured earlier in the magazine, The Communards are Single Of The Fortnight.
Wet Wet Wet get a concert review, with fans being interviewed outside the venue, with 15 year old Sharon saying that Marti Pellow has a nice bottom.
Talking of concerts, you could win a VHS of Spandau Ballet in concert
THE FRIDAY FIVE – 22.4.2016
1. Blossoms – Getaway
2. Aurora – Conquerer
3. The Lumineers – Ophelia
4. Tegan and Sara – U-Turn
5. Space – Avenging Angels
As I type (Thursday night), news has just emerged that Prince has died. It doesn’t feel real.
I remember being in London in February 2014 when he was announcing random gigs at small venues, and hoping that he would announce one the weekend I was there and that I would get a ticket. It was not to be.
Soon after, he announced a series of UK gigs. I kept hoping he would announce a Belfast one. It was not to be.
Here’s fove Prince songs for you
FIVE SONGS BY PRINCE
1. Gold
2. Cream
3. Batdance
4. Raspberry Beret
5. Kiss
Tomorrow, is St George’s Day, so here’s a couple of charts for our English readers
FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM ENGLAND
1. Then Jerico – Big Area
2. Lightning Seeds – All I Want
3. Charli XCX – Boom Clap
4. The Cure – Friday I’m In Love
5. Stephanie Kirkham – Inappropriate
FIVE SONGS BY MUSICIANS CALLED GEORGE
1. Wham – Freedom
2. One Night Only – Say You Don’t Want It
3. George Harrison – Got My Mind Set On You
4. Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
5. George Ezra – Budapest
MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : Q – FEBRUARY 1992
It’s early 1992, and Q has two big interviews as their cover stars – George Michael and Lou Reed.
As you open the magazine, Tony Wilson (Or, as Q addressed him, Anthony H Wilson) felt Q’s wrath, being the subject of their “Who the hell does …….” column.
In news, Kurt Cobain introduced himself on stage in Newcastle as “I am a homosexual. I am a drug taker, and I fuck pot-bellied pigs” while relations between George Harrison and Eric Clapton were said to be strained, as they toured Japan together.
Recent research has show that the average Radio 1 listener is 29, while the average Radio 2 listener is 61.
Freddie Mercuty of Queen had recently died, and Q does a double page picture of him on stage at Wembley, with accompanying text.
Tori Amos gets a double page spread, before you turn over the page to see a three page spread on the recently reformed Procal Harum
Also getting a three page spread is Marc Cohn, on the back of his success with Walking In Memphis.
Q does a chart of celebs who have treaded the boards in Panto over Christmas/New Year including Rod Hull in Crawley, David Essex in Bradford and Lionel Blair in Stockport.
Cover star George Michael gets featured, as Q joins him in New York, where he is about to perform two concerts at Madison Square Gardens.
Talking of concerts, Q follows up their feature on George Michael with a five page spread on ticket touting.
Lou Reed gets six pages as he prepares to bring out his 25th album, this one focusing on death.
With 1991 having just ended, Q looks back at the year, genre by genre, in a twelve page series, and then follows it with a two page look at the tours and albums coming in 1992.
In gigs, Q reviews Ned’s Atomic Dustbin at McGonagles in Dublin.
THE FRIDAY FIVE – 24.4.2015
1. Natalie Imbruglia – Instant Crush
2. FFS – Johnny Delusonal
3. Grant Nicholas – Everyday Society
4. The Charlatans – Let The Good Times Be Never Ending
5. Slaves – Cheer Up London
Yesterday, was St George’s Day. So, in honour of it, here’s a chart of songs by English acts. Sadly, there won’t be a chart of songs with cities in the title, because there aren’t many of them, unless they’re London, or boroughs in London. Well, apart from Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, obviously.
FIVE SONGS BY ENGLISH ACTS
1. James – She’s A Star
2. Lightning Seeds – Pure
3. The Kooks – She Moves In Her Own Way
4. The Beautiful South – Old Red Eyes Is Back
5. Roxy Music – More Than This
And finally, a chart featuring singers called George, or bands with someone called George in it.
FIVE SONGS BY SINGERS CALLED GEORGE
1. Wham – Freedom
2. One Night Only – Say You Don’t Want It
3. Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
4. George Ezra – Blame It On Me
5. George Harrison – Got My Mind Set On You
TOP 25 SIMPSONS GUEST STARS
Believe it or not, America’s favourite family celebrates 25 years since it’s first ever episode (full episodes, not it’s appearances on The Tracey Ullman Show)
That’s The Simpsons, not The Waltons, although George Bush might disagree. George Bush was, of course, a memorable Simpsons character, although it wasn’t voiced by him. If it was, it would have been one of the greatest Simpsons guest stars ever.
In celebration of The Simpsons 25th anniversary, here’s 25 of the best guest stars of The Simpsons.
1. MICHAEL JACKSON
Jackson played a man pretending to be Michael Jackson, who befriended Homer when Homer was admitted to an asylum, referred to by guards as “The big white guy who thinks he’s the little black guy”
Homer has never heard of Michael Jackson, prompting the classic line :
“I’ve never heard of you, name one of your songs” “Beat It” “No you beat it”
Homer invites “Michael” to visit his family, who speaks to Bart, who is fooled by the voice believing him to be Michael Jackson, so he tells everyone.
A large crowd appears, only to be disappointed when it wasn’t Michael Jackson. Meanwhile, Bart forgets to get Lisa a birthday present, so “Michael” helps Bart write a song for her.
2. DUSTIN HOFFMAN
Hoffman played an inspirational teacher, Mr Bergstrom, who covers for Miss Hoover when she goes off sick. Mr Bergstrom isn’t afraid to make fun of himself, encouraging his kids to make fun of his name, suggesting Mr Nerdstrom or Mr Boogerstrom.
Eventually, he leaves town for another school, leaving Lisa heartbroken.
Classic line, came after bumping into Lisa and Homer at a museum, to Lisa :
“I thought that your dad was helping you with your homework. After talking to him, I believe that not to be the case”
3. RINGO STARR
A brief one, where Marge rediscovers her love of painting, and it emerges she sent some paintings of Ringo Starr to Ringo Starr. He’d spent 25 years replying to fanmail and finally got around to Marge. In this episode, he revealed that his real name is Richard, and that they have french fries in England, only they call them chips.
4. SPINAL TAP
Bart goes to a Spinal Tap concert and decides he wants to be a rock star. Taking his guitar to school, Otto gives an inpromptu concert on the buss, causing him to run late, then speed to get the kids to school on time, causing him to lose his lices, job and house. He eventually gets them all back.
It’s Spinal Tap, who steal the show, with so many classic lines ”
“Hello Springton!!!!”
“We’re very big in Eastern Europe. We bought a soccer team in Hungaria, or is it Bulgaria. I dunno, it’s one of the Garias”
“Could you record a trailer, nobody rocks as good as Bill and Marty?” “But what if somebody does rock as good as Bill and Marty? Or better?”
5. ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Two time guest star, playing Maggie Simpson, only saying one word at the end of the episode where the reminisce about Lisa’s first word. Although, none of the other family members heard it.
Then there was a later appearance as herself, turning down the chance to appear in a Krusty The Clown Special
6. KELSEY GRAMMAR
Sideshow Bob. Say no more. So many appearances, i’m not even sure if he’s a guest star or a regular cast member.
Classic Moment : The rakes. Burrrggggghhhh!!!!! Burrrggggghhhh!!!!!
7. DANNY DEVITO
A guest role as Herb Powell, as Homer’s half brother, who Homer only discovered when Granpa made a deathbed confession when he thought he was dying. It turns out, that Herb is a very rich man, making his money from running a car company.
Herb decides to bond with his new found brother, allowing him to design a car, with predictable results, ending with him being bankrupt.
Devito makes a second appearance, where he gets back on his feet and becomes successful again through a range of baby monitors, with the help of Homer.
8. GEORGE HARRISON
A second Beatle in this chart, Harrison says hello to Homer backstage at the Grammys, during his pop star days with The B Sharps, though is more excited about the food on offer. Later in the episode, The Be Sharps do a rooftop gig for fans, and Harrison’s chauffer driven car pulls over, for him to dismissively comment “That’s been done”
9. JON LOVITZ
Originally appeared as Jay Sherman, in cross promotion for his show The Critic, where he plays a film critic. Springfield hosts a film festival where he is invited to be a judge. Sherman finds himself being wedgied from a basketball hoop after accidentally suggesting (prompted by Bart) that MacGyver was gay, facing the wrath of Patti and Selma.
Lovitz also appears as the recurring character Artie Ziff, forever determined to win Marge’s affections.
10. JACKIE MASON
Legendary comedian plays the disapproving Rabbi dad of another comedian, Hershal Krustovsky (or, if you prefer, Krusty The Clown). In real life, Jackie Mason used to be a Rabbi.
11. PATRICK STEWART
Known simply as Number One, Stewart plays the leader of a secret organisation called The Stonecutters, who in son, claim to control the British crown, keep the metric system down, keeps the martians under wraps, and keeps Atlantic off the maps.
Although, he is deposed by Homer, after it emerges he has the sacred Stonecutters birthmark. Disagreements about Homer’s direction of the organisation results in a breakaway group, which excludes Homer.
12. GLENN CLOSE
Close stars as Homer’s long lost mum, Mona, in a few brief appearances. Upon meeting his new grandmother, Bart immediately brings up the backdated birthday and christmas presents he is owed.
Mona bonds with Lisa, they start singing Blowin In The Wind by Bob Dylan …
“How many roads must a man walk, before you can call him a man?” – Homer shouts a number before being told it was a rhetorical question, only to shout another number.
13. DOLLY PARTON
A brief appearance, she helps Homer and friends escape from “Superbowl Jail” with her make-up remover, after she shares a mutual friend with Homer, Travel Agent Wally Kogen, who organised the ill fated Superbowl trip.
14. MARK HAMILL
By being swamped by fans at a convention, Mark Hamill accidentally sends Homer’s career spinning in the direction of the security industry, when Mayor Quimbey is impressed by Homer’s rescue of Hamill.
Classic moment : Homer and Hamill flee to safety in a prop spaceship, only for them to exit ti seconds later, with Homer saying “How was I supposed to know it wasn’t a real spaceship?”
15. DONALD SUTHERLAND
Sutherland plays a historian fiercely loyal to the legacy of Jebediah Springfield, to the point that he attempts to sabotage Lisa’s investigation when she gets a sniff that Jebediah Springfield might not be the great cultural icon he’s made out to be, to the point she, her children, and her children’s children are banned from the Springfield Historical Society. For three months.
16. ADAM WEST
Masked crimefighter and political icon West is the guest of honour at a car show, where Bart and Lisa don’t know who he is, having only seen Tim Burton’s Batman movies, asking “Why doesn’t Batman dance? Remember the Batusi?”
17. JAY LENO/STEVEN WRIGHT
Jay Leno organises a Comedy Festival in Springfield, and Bart persuades him to put Krusty on the bill. Krusty bombs and announces his retirement, on a low. At his press conference, Krusty goes on a rant, having the press in howls of laughter, so he announces his comeback, and an edgy, underground comedian, before failing to resist the lure of money and commercialism, by appearing in a car commercial.
Steven Wright appears on the bill, declaring that he read the dictionary, and it turns out the zebra did it. Everybody laughs, except Homer, who didn’t get the joke.
18. STING
Bart plays a prank on Springfield, putting a two way radio down a well, pretending to be a trapped child under the name of Timmy O’Toole. Realising he put his nametag on the radio, Bart tries to retrieve it, only to fall down himself.
Timmy’s case got widespread sympathy, including a charity single, where Krusty contacts Sting, who he had sacked his opening at some years earlier.
Sting gets his hands dirty in the rescue mission, prompting this classic line :
“Mrs Simpson, I can’t sit by while one of my fans is in trouble”
“Actually, i’ve never heard Bart play any of your records”
Only for Homer to whisper “Shut up Marge, he’s a good digger”
19. THE WHO
Springfield gets split into two, with their own version of the Berlin Wall, only for a concert by The Who to reunited the divided city.
20. LISA KUDROW
The only Friend on the list, Kudrow plays a new girl at the school, who befriends Lisa’s circle of friends, and struggles to understand why a bunch of eight year olds are so immature.
21. DAVID HYDE PIERCE
Joining another guest star (shouldn’t be too hard to guess who) as Cecil Terwilliger, Bob’s brother, who still hasn’t got over missing out on being Krusty’s sidekick, attempting to frame his brother in a dodgy construction scam, which would result in a dam bursting.
When confronted by Bob, Cecil says he’ll get away with it due to a criminal mastermind with a grudge against the city being on the payroll, to which Bob reference’s Cousin Merle (one of the construction workers) and his issues with parking tickets, before “Oh. you mean me”
22. DAVID DUCHOVY/GILLIAN ANDERSON
Before investigating crime in Belfast, Gillian Anderson (along with X-Files co-star David Duchovny) investigated extra terrestrial activity in Springfield, when Homer claimed he saw an alien. It turned out to be Mr Burns, glowing, after his Friday evening medical treatment.
23. MARTIN SHEEN
Sheen stars as Seymour Skinner, who turned out to be held in a POW Camp for 25 years, and that the principal of the local school, was a fraud. The other Skinner came to inform Agnes Skinner that her son was believed to be dead, but he didn’t get a chance to deliver the news as she immediately took him in, believing him to be her son.
The new Skinner gets put in charge of the school, but his reign is unpopular, and is overthrown and deported from Springfield, with the fraud Skinner going back to his original job, and the real Skinner is never spoken of again.
24. JOHN WATERS
Waters plays a gay shop owner who Homer befriends, not knowing he is gay. Homer insists that John and his wife to dinner, only for Marge to drop hints that “John prefers being in the company of men”, which Homer replies “Who doesn’t?”, interpreting it as like he is in the company of Lenny and Karl at Moe’s
Homer eventually realises that John is gay, and sends Bart to kill a Reindeer, as a final attempt to try and stop Bart being gay in the future, only for the animals to attack them, and John arrives on the scene to save the day/
25. BASEBALL LEGENDS
I know nothing about Major League Baseball, but I know the episode where Mr Burns hires various Baseball legends to work at the power plant in order to play as ringers for the company team is a classic episode.
50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : FEB 21 – FEB 27
We begin this week’s round with a JJ and a JD born this week in history. JJ Burnel of The Stranglers, 62 this week.
While this week, JD Bradfield, or James Dean Bradfield to give him his full name, lead singer of Manic Street Preachers turned 46.
He has a brief solo career in the mid 00s. That’s No Way To Tell A Lie is a brilliant song.
And anyway, back to his day job.
James Dean Bradfield shares a birthday with another Welsh singer, Charlotee Church. The singles off her debut solo album were rather good you know.
And in a tenuous link that TOTP would be proud of, she was big in 2005 …….. like James Blunt
And from big in 2005, we go back a few decades to big in 1985 (well, 1983 actually, but don’t let that ruin a link) with Howard Jones.
And staying the 1980s, Quiet Life by Japan is just brilliant.
Meanwhile, George Harrison would have been 71 this week. Unfortunately, there is a lack of Beatles and solo appearances on Youtube, so I compensate by posting a cover when there is a Beatle Birthday.
As he’s my favourite Beatle, he can have Siouxsie and the Banshees doing Dear Prudence. I’m still to decide which Beatle gets Candy Flip.
Ally McLeod would have been 83 this week, but 78 is his, erm, lucky number, as it was 1978 he got immortalised in song by Andy Cameron.
You can tell the audience members who were told to turn up with tartan scarves thought they were going to see The Rollers.
Almost near the end of this week, two more pop stars celebrating a birthday today. First, Steve Harley ……
DISCLAIMER : Introduction features Jimmy Savile.
…… and Rozonda Thomas from TLC
And finally, it’s 38 years ago this week since the death of LS Lowry. A painter, not a singer, he has inspired sone songs, first by Brian and Michael …….
……… and a very young Status Quo, who had yet to discover Double Denim.
THE FRIDAY FIVE – 20.4.2012
1. Fun ft Janelle Monae – We Are Young
2, Keane – Silenced By The Night
3. Embrace – You’re Not Alone
4. Saint Etienne – You’re In A Bad Way
5. Hector Nicol – Hearts Song
It’s Robert Smith’s birthday tomorrow. The only reason I remember this is because it is on the same day as a mate. Happy Birthday Greg if you are reading this.
So, to commemorate this, here’s a Top Five The Cure chart.
FIVE SONGS BY THE CURE
1. Close To Me
2. Friday I’m In Love
3. Lullaby
4. Lovecats
5. Push
On Monday, it is St George’s Day. Having done St David, Andrew and Patrick, it’s only fair to do George. So, for all my English readers, here’s a St George’s Day chart.
FIVE SONGS BY ENGLISH ACTS
1. Pulp – A Little Soul
2. Cast – Finetime
3. The Charlatans – Blackened Blue Eyes
4. Duran Duran – Wildboys
5. The Beautiful South – Old Red Eyes Is Back
FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FEATURING SOMEONE CALLED GEORGE
1. George Baker Selection – Little Green Bag
2. Wham – Freedom
3. One Night Only – Say You Don’t Want It
4. Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
5. The Beatles – Here Comes the Sun
THE FRIDAY FIVE – 2.12.2011
1. Rihanna – We Found Love
2. The Coronas – Addicted To Progress
3. The Saturdays – My Heart Takes Over
4. Ed Sheeran – Lego House
5. Beyonce – Love On Top
As ever, last week’s X-Factor themes ripped the piss. First up, was ‘Guilty Pleasures’, which was difficult for me as I have no guilty pleasures, every song I like is brilliant.
However, feel free to enjoy that some people may consider to be guilty pleasures.
FIVE ‘GUILTY PLEASURES’
1. Cliff Richard – Wired For Sound
2. Bros – When Will I Be Famous?
3. Spagna – Call Me
4. Glenn and Chris – Diamond Lights
5. The Wanted – Heart Vacancy
Meanwhile, the second theme was ‘Heroes’, which rather disappointingly, didn’t involve any of them singing from Lynda Carter’s back catalogue.
Instead it was ‘Musical Heroes’, where tone deaf chancers spoke of their admiration of tone deaf chancers who have sold loads of records.
Poor Janet Devlin found this hard, as she only listens to “Obscure music that nobody else has heard of”, as a nation collectively screams “Oh fuck off you fucking self-righteous Emo” at their TV screens, as we see her and her boyfriend in her bedroom, listening to obscure music on her ipod.
I felt sorry for him. When she took him up to her bedroom, he was obviously expecting to get laid, not be subjected to “Obscure music” through an ipod.
Anyway, here’s five hero songs
FIVE HERO SONGS
1. Stereophonics – Superman
2. It Bites – Calling All The Heroes
3. Bonnie Tyler – Holding Out For A Hero
4. Aerosmith – Spiderman Theme
5. Five For Fighting – Superman
Meanwhile, this week saw the tenth anniversary of the death of George Harrison.
I can actually remember when it was announced, I didn’t find out until the Friday morning as it was announced late on a Thursday night, that it was the lead story on Ceefax.
I was at Bangor Tec and had planned on spending the morning doing assignment work, but ended up trawling the web for Harrison obituaries.
So here, are five classic George Harrison songs.
As a side note, the recent documentary about him that was on the BBC is rather good. I’m still waiting to hear back from the BBC about getting funding for my documentary ‘Ringo : The Tank Engine Years’
FIVE GEORGE HARRISON SONGS
1. Travelling Wilburys – Handle With Care
2. George Harrison – Any Road
3. The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun
4. The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5. George Harrison – Got My Mind Set On You
Meanwhile, this week also saw St Andrew’s Day, which gave a good excuse to do a chart of songs by Scottish acts, and popstars called Andrew. Yes, there are five.
Don’t worry Welsh readers, you shall get your own chart for St David’s Day.
FIVE SCOTTISH SONGS
1. Big Country – One Great Thing
2. Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Boston Tea Party
3. Amy McDonald – Don’t Tell Me That It’s Over
4. Deacon Blue – Twist And Shout
5. Travis – Side
FIVE SONGS BY ACTS CONTAINING SOMEONE CALLED ANDREW
1. Wax – Bridge To Your Heart
2. Wham – Freedom
3. Hurricane #1 – Only The Strongest Will Survive
4. Roachford – Cuddly Toy
5. Andrew Cole – Outstanding
And finally, today marks the 30th birthday of Britney Spears. My word, I can still remember *That* school uniform video like it was yesterday.
So, let’s celebrate this milestone with a Top Five Britney Chart. you know you want to.
FIVE BRITNEY SPEARS SONGS
1. If You Seek Amy
2. Boys
3. Born To Make You Happy
4. Overprotected
5. Toxic
Analogue Boy In A Digital World 