I’ve really enjoyed having my blog guests on this year. They’ve all been fabulous and have produced some wonderful stuff to share, with lots of luvverly pictures. Occasionally, it means I seem to spend all my time on social media but it’s good to support other writers.
While preparing a Take Three Books feature, a song played on the radio. It was a new version of Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car. I stopped everything and listened. I hadn’t heard the original for some time and this new version was good too. In an instant, I was transported back to the Khao San Road in Bangkok. This is the notorious backpackers haunt which featured so famously in the opening scenes of the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach. I backpacked around Thailand in the late eighties and the Tracy Chapman version played in every bar I drank in! Looking at pictures of the Khao San Road now, I don’t remember it as being quite so lairy back then, but I was a lot younger!
It got me thinking about the power of music and maybe starting up a blog piece along the same lines as Take Three Books but featuring favourite pieces of music.
Cheesy Christmas music plays an important role in New Beginnings at Christmas Tree Cottage and while I wrote it, hunkered up by the Christmas tree, I had a fabulous Christmassy playlist on in the background to help me get into the mood. I’ve included most of them in the book and it was great fun choosing ones as chapter headings to match the tone. You really have to listen to the Cocteau Twins’ version of Frosty the Snowman!
So, to kick off a possible new feature, I thought I’d lead by example. The only problem is choosing just three!
As most of my guests do, I’m cheating a little because as well as Fast Car, I’ve three more:
The song that will stay with me –
Four Seasons in One Day, Crowded House.
I’ve long loved Neil Finn and Crowded House and will never tire of listening to this. It’s a real singalong in the car on a sunny day classic.
The song I know all the words to –
Different Corner, George Michael.
Not a lot to add to this choice. I once had it on repeat loop in the car and played it commuting back from a stressful job. I know every word. George had the most marvellous voice and it’s an intimate and tender song full of the heartbreak of love. Yawningly sad. RIP lovely George, you’re much missed.
The song that gets me going –
I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love, Petula Clark.
The song that gets me jigging and dancing round the room is a real golden oldie. Petula Clark has a fabulously pure voice. A classic from the sixties, it’s another song about love but this time it’s sheer exuberant joy. Guaranteed to get you tapping your toes – and excellent inspiration for those of us who write romance books!
As I’ve written this, I realised I haven’t included anything by Joan Armatrading, Kate Bush, or any of my musical theatre favourites. I need to cheat more! But these are the ones that immediately sprang to mind so they must be at the forefront of my memory.
Tell me yours, but only if you can limit yourself to just three!
Love,
Georgia x
