Listography...5 Bands I'd Like to See

 As Kate rocks out at Benicassim, she is leaving us to think of five bands we would love to have seen perform live.  I have been fortunate enough to see a lot of fabulous gigs...The Smiths, Placebo, Marillion, Bauhaus, Kasabian, The Prodigy...but there are glaring gaps in my concert history.  So without further ado, here is my choice of artists who would totally rock my socks!!

1:  Prince:  During the Purple Rain era I was going out with a guy who had bought us tickets to see the man himself.  Unfortunately he kept hold of the aforementioned tickets and just prior to the concert we split up. Consequently I was no longer his concert plus one.  I still have feelings of bitterness about the break up...not so much about losing the boy, but losing my chance to see the Purple One at his peak strutting his stuff to "When Doves Cry"!

2:  Meatloaf: Bat Out of Hell is my favourite album of all time.  I would have loved to see it performed live.  The over weight, sweaty super star would be a definite top choice back in the day!

3:  Live Aid 1985:  Being of a certain age I remember watching the original Live Aid concert round my now husband's childhood home (I was wearing a PVC mini skirt...but that is not really relevant to this story!)  Anyhow, it was such a ground breaking concert that captured the imagination of a whole generation.  So many iconic artists performed, Bowie, Queen, U2 and Bob Geldoff (who I had a massive Boomtown Rats related crush on!)  Totally marvellous!  I wish I'd been there in person to see it.

4:  Madonna:  Back before the pointy boobs, the SEX book and the mutton dressed as lamb leotards, I was a huge (secret) Madonna fan.  I saw Desperately Seeking Susan at the cinema and coveted her Italians Do It Better T-Shirt.  Although I was a bit of a punk on the outside, I loved Get Into the Groove and Material Girl. I would have loved to see Madge back in her virginal hey day....but I would never had admitted to it!

                           

5:  Beethoven:  As this is my blog I reserve the right to say I would like to be transported back in time to witness the first public performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony in Vienna in 1808.  I mean, can you imagine it?  How utterly awesome would it have been to be a party to the first airing of this best known classical piece!  Over two centuries later it is still a hugely powerful and influential piece of music...they use it in Freddy's favourite episode of Little Einsteins and he sings along to the "Du-du-du-dum" while jumping around the room.  If I could go back in time I'd like to tell Ludwig that my 2 year old is a big fan!

Pop over to Kate's and link up your top 5 and check out some other Listography offerings!

Music I want my children to listen to...

Just found this lovely linky on Ghostwritermummy's blog.  The idea is to write a post about the music you would like your children to listen to.  I am in an interesting position on this.  Having older children who have already made their minds up on this subject, it's no longer a case of what I want them to listen to, it's a case of do I approve?

I've always had an eclectic musical taste, so most things go.  Thankfully my children have all made good choices...we are a Bieber-free zone!

As a teenager, I was lucky enough to be taken to Glastonbury and to gigs by my older sister.  Bauhaus was the first gig I went to and I was in the mosh pit with punks...quite a culture shock!  I loved it though, being close enough to touch Pete Murphy!  They were quite influential to 'teen me'...as I immersed myself in their  blend of obscure lyrics and black lipstick!

Marillion was my next big musical crush.  I tirelessly listened to their prog-rock albums, relishing the pseudo-intellectual wisdom of Fish!  I saw them at Hammersmith Odeon on the Fugazi Tour.  It was an amazing concert with lots of extended guitar solos.  I still adore the Script for a Jester's Tear album.  Everything down to the amazing artwork to the lyrics on the inner sleeve resonated with me.  I still sing along to it now!

Other music I'd cite as being influential to me includes David Bowie, The Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen and The Cure.  I was a real child of my time loving all the alternative music and dressing accordingly!

Two of my very favourite albums though are not in this genre.  For some reason Prince's Purple Rain became the theme tune to my late teens.  I adored his mix of funk, pop, electronic and R&B.  The fact that his backing singer Wendy was credited on this album gave me a sense of pride in my name!  I would extensively quote:
"Wendy."
"Yes Lisa."
"Is the water warm enough?"
"Yes Lisa."
"Shall we begin?"
"Yes Lisa."
Suddenly my name (that I'd always hated) had an element of cool!

Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell is my other favourite album.  I still can't get enough of the rocked out concept album and you will find me at karaoke parties thrashing out "Paradise by the Dashboard Light".  I adore the story and love belting out those songs!

These would be my recommendations to my children. Thankfully, their tastes have all proven to be good and they do not pigeon-hole themselves to one single genre.  Joe loves N-Dubz but also loves Eminem and Daughtry.  Megan thinks Brandon Flowers  "went inside my head, pulled out all my feelings and put them into song form." Our songstress Ella (named after Ella Fitzgerald) has taken her love of music to the next level, not only loving it but making it herself.  She is a guitarist, pianist, singer and songwriter with a talent that is developing before our eyes.  I am immensely proud of her :)