Yes we are approaching The Eurovision Song Contest again or do we we just call it Eurovision now? I'm not sure but we are competing yet again and everyone loves a trier don't they so fingers crossed for another year.

I think we may have a really good chance this year. Did I say that last year? Oh well I'm an optimistic and really have high hopes for our UK entry by SuRie. The song is Storm and it is really really good. Very powerful and good strong lyrics which is what it is all about and delivered fabulously by the lovely Susanna Marie Cork. 

SuRe has had experience before of Eurovision when she was a backing singer with the Belgium entry in 2015 and was musical director for Belgium act Blanche in 2017. Now I don't want to jinx it but both these acts came fourth in their Eurovision years so a sign maybe? Is she our lucky gal to get us through? Even fourth place would be good, better than fourth from the bottom eh?

The final takes place on 12th May in Lisbon and I'm sure you will join me in wishing good luck to SuRie, no pressure love but we would like to win this year. I'm excited.....I think it's the one!!! Wooo hooo. It's got winner all over it. 

If you haven't heard the song it is available for download now but here is the link to the official video on You Tube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K--kIdOpbJM

Thanks for reading today, join me again for Teapot Tuesday tomorrow. 

Take care.

Well there is a collaboration that comes around now and again that just seems strange at first but then I end up thinking......yeah that's ok. I would never have put these two together in a million years. I wonder who approached who, I'm sure they have declared that in interviews but oh I just have this vision of Sting inviting Shaggy to do a bit of Yoga and saying 'Hey Shaggy fancy making a record?'

I love it......the pairing, the single......and they even got to sing at the Queen's Birthday bash. 'Don't Make Me Wait' includes a nice soft typical Sting like vocal with a Caribbean twist and then an infusion of Shaggy's deep deep tones. I would love this mans voice, it kinda makes me giggle because it goes to places I didn't think a voice could go to. I don't mean in a frisky sexy way but in a vocal way. 

I felt the Queen might have been thinking 'Oh tuck ya shirt in Shaggy, do you know who I am?' I think though she may have been just a bit taken by Sting, he looks so good doesn't he? So fit at 66 years old, he doesn't change. I remember The Police days and although I can't call myself a huge fan I do admire his music very much. He's an icon and a legend and  is just another of those who has created a soundtrack to my life.

I bet you didn't know Shaggy's real name is Orville Richard Burrell and I didn't know he was a US Marine. Apart from a Military career he has also had a very successful music career too with familiar classics like 'Oh Carolina', 'Boombastic', 'Angel' and 'It Wasn't Me'. We all remember those don't we? They are Shaggy classics. He's been very busy since that first hit in 1993 and now in 2018 has entered into one of the biggest collaborations in a while with Sting.

Some don't like the two together but I do and I'm giving this single a ten out of ten. It's well and truly in my head and I turn it up when it's on the radio, heck I've even downloaded it so that's how much I like it. They will divide the nation I'm sure. The Marmite couple......you'll either love em' or hate em'.

Let me know what you think, are you a fan or should they go their separate ways? Give it time they may grow on you.

Thank you for reading today, join me again tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday but for now take care. 

I had a great day yesterday with my fellow Rock Choir buddies as we took part in The Big Sing. This was a chance for members from different choirs to come together and recap over four song which we haven't sang for a while. For some new members it will have been the first time for all these songs so it was a quick whistle stop teachy moment given by our choir leader Jennie. She did a fab job, four songs in three hours and two sessions in the day, this girl needs a medal.!

We had so much fun though and it didn't matter whether you knew the songs or not, I certainly didn't know one at all but hey I got to grips with it even if I need to do a bit go polishing up. You see we need to practice these songs as they will appear in our Summer Concert in July eeeek!!

I should tell what songs we sung so big shouldn't I? Well we sang:
Higher Love -  Steve Winwood
Fall At Your Feet - Crowded House
You're The Voice - John Farnham
and 
Where You Lead I Will Follow - Carole King

Love all these songs so much they all sound amazing. I must admit I didn't know the Carole King song which surprises me as I like a lot of her songs and the millions she's written for other artists too. I need to pay more attention obviously.

What a way to spend a Sunday morning and the afternoon for others. There was so many of us I'm sure at one point we may have been close to blowing the roof off the Parish Hall. I can't express how much joy I get out of Rock Choir, you can probably tell as I write lots of posts about it but it just makes me feel really good. 

If you would like to join your local Rock Choir, go and give it a go. There will be lots of friendly people there to support you and you can have a free taster to see whether you like it. What's to stop you now? Check out the website at www.rockchoir.com

If you want to see what fun we had yesterday, and what we get up to generally, go to the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Rock Choir Facebook page here www.facebook.com/rockchoirderbyshireandnottinghamshire/

I even got a brew yesterday too, brilliant!!! I go anywhere for a brew but a brew with fun thrown in well.....there's a party right there. 

Thanks for reading today......please pop back tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday but for now take care.

What a sweet treat as well wasn't she? The lovely Ruti Olajugbagbe, winner of The Voice Final on Saturday. I know some people knock this show and moan about the contestants, how good they are and whether they will last but hey give these people a break. 

I like The Voice, I think it's one of the better talents shows around. I love the fact that in the blind auditions the judges only listen to the voices and are not swayed by any other factor (ha ha excuse that pun). What a final it was, a great selection of talent and spanning a few other genres of music. Yes it was good to see the opera duo Belle Voci get through and add a bit of originality to the show. Loved the pairing between them and their coach Jennifer Hudson. It's good to listen to different music I think.......don't be afraid, find that opera diva inside you. 

All the finalists were great and I had a feeling it would result in a showdown between Donel and Ruti. I kept fleeting between the two, not quite making my mind up, I honestly would have been happy with either of them winning. Such young fresh talent, Ruti's voice was original and very soothing. Donel had that fantastic African sound which just really made me want to dance so I really hope someone signs him to as I'd quite like to hear from him again. They were so young as well, fancy having that much talent at such a young age, it was amazing. 

So a big congratulations to Ruti and I have downloaded her single already. I think she is the one person who can bring the beautiful Dolores O' Riordon from The Cranberries back to life with their song 'Dreams'. It's a great cover and I think most people will agree, go on do it.....listen and love it. 

Thanks so much for reading today. As it's Music Monday may I take this opportunity to sing (yes I really am singing) Happy Birthday to my fabulously gorgeous Mum who's birthday is today. I love you Mum (she's a regular reader) Hope you've had a great day. xx

Take care and join me again tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday. 

Oooh this is my favourite song at the moment.....I Hate Love Songs by Kelsea Ballerini. I just love it because I'm not keen on really slushy love songs so I know how she feels. It says to me that I can't be doing with all this romantic stuff but I love you and that's what you need to know. In other words cut to the chase. Brilliant.!! 

Kelsea co wrote this song with Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen. It sounds a bit country which her sound is influenced by that genre and I like that. I keep coming across Kelsea which makes me think she may becoming a regular fav. The last song I was hooked on was 'Xo' from her first album 'The First Time', a brilliant song too and very catchy.

'I Hate Love Songs' is from the album 'Unapologetically' and I'm thinking I may explore this more. I think this song has particularly got stuck in my head because it is played on the radio a lot apart from the fact that it is a lovely song. So go and download it - enjoy the delights of Kelsea Ballerini and let me know what you think.

I don't know what day it is with it being the Easter holidays. I'm out of my normal routine, I do hope you've had a great Easter weekend (apart from the weather)....Thanks for reading and I will be back tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday (woo hoo get me getting my days right)...... so please join me then. 

Take care.