Talk about a huge ear worm well not such much just in my ear as being very vocal too. I have been singing this song since hearing it for the first time in ages on Steve Wright's Serious Jockin' (no 'g') feature on his Radio 2 show a few weeks ago.

It was made a hit by Del the Funky Homosapien back in 1991 and Del is not only Ice Cube's cousin he is also a big Monkees fan. The Monkees had a spoken word song called 'Zilch' where Peter Tork from the Monkees repeats 'Mister Dobalina, Mister Bob Dobalina'. Apparently they were inspired by an airport an announcement featuring this name and now look where it's ended up......yes permanently stuck in my brain.

We said a sad farewell to Peter Tork just a few days ago after a battle with cancer. I think a lot of people grew up listening and watching the Monkees, I certainly did but had no idea that the Monkees were behind this song.

If you listen to it it just gets stuck in your head so be warned, well it did for me. Once I think about it that's it I'm going the round the house singing 'Mister Dobalina Mister Bob Dobalina' and I am now slightly annoying the people who live with me as once I start I can't stop. I think though now I know a little about the background I'm just going to keep singing as a tribute to Mr Tork. 

So there you go, not a song I thought I would ever be writing a post about it as it was a one hit wonder for Del and I really thought I had left it back in the nineties but no, it's still here and that's great. If you see me out and about, please don't mention it as I will sing it!!! I will annoy you with it for the rest of the day. 

Ahhh music, isn't it great.....all sorts of music, all kinds of genres.....I love it. I'm not a huge fan of rap but I seem to be going around singing a big rap hit from yee olden days. 

Thank you so much for letting me share my ear worm for today. I will be back tomorrow with Teapot Tuesday which I don't think at this time involves any rap songs but you never know.

​Take care everyone!!!!

Well we have come to another half term at Rock Choir and just completed this great 80's classic by Toto 'Africa'. I have to say it sounds fantastic and it is so lovely to sing. 

This song was released in 1982, a great year for 80's music....oh I remember it well. I became quite familiar with Toto as my brother had the album Toto IV which is the album this song is taken from. Yes it was repeated a lot and when singing Africa in the past I always 'guessed it rained down in Africa' instead of 'blessed the rains down in Africa'. See one of the many good things about Rock Choir is that you get to settle any misheard lyrics. 

I can't actually believe that this song didn't make it to number one in the UK charts, it only peaked at number three. Maybe there was too much Duran Duran and Yazoo overpowering the class sound of Toto. It is one of those songs though that is timeless and still heard a lot in these present times, in fact I heard it on the radio only the other day so still going strong. I can't wait to perform this song with Rock Choir, I think it will be a favourite to show off.

We also perfected Katy Perry's 'Roar' which I wrote about back in January at the start of term. I wasn't sure about it but I did end up really enjoy singing it. It is really empowering and so I did grow to love it again, that's what happens again with Rock Choir, you get and song and 'oooooh no not sure' and then you end up re kindling the love with a new arrangement.

So a week off and then we start 'Dreams' by The Cranberries. I loved Dolores O' Riordan and it was so sad to hear of her tragic passing just last year. I think this will a nice tribute to her, I hope we do it some justice.

Enjoy your week, I will be back with Teapot Tuesday tomorrow so please join me then, but for now......

Take care. 

Two of the important questions you need the answers to in life are, what time you were born and what the number one record was in the hit parade too. They both come up in conversation at some time in your life, either in the school playground or in the pub.

My timing wasn't accurate as I was born in an emergency so I was always 'approximately' half past eight in the morning, not sure anyone one was really focused on the clock but this has always remained a funny family memory to this day. Who needs to know they were born at 8:41 or 9:01? Nah an approximate will do for me, I can then pick and choose which time I like.

My birthday song too was a mystery too as I was always lead to believe it was 'Wandrin' Star' by Lee Marvin but this wasn't a number one hit until 7th March in 1970. I just missed Rolf Harris's 'Two Little Boys' (we won't go there) and my tune is in fact Edison Lighthouse's 'Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes', a song which would stay at number one for five weeks. 

I love it, top tune and it is now in my head while writing this post. I hope Rosemary is very happy that her love grows wherever she goes....who was Rosemary? I'm surprised I didn't get called Rosie, you see that sometimes where people name their kids after a special song or artist. I can talk I gave my son 'Lennon' as a middle name, great name though.

If you listen to Radio 2 early in the morning Vanessa Feltz features someone's birthday song every day around 6.15am. I love hearing what everyone's song is when they were born. It does get a bit scary when the said person is only ten years old and the song is probably still in the charts now or just seems like it. No I love a good classic from years ago, like mine.....oooh what's yours?

Got you looking now haven't I? Like I say though it should be the answer you know next to the actual date or time you were born, it's very important to know ya tune. 

Thank you so much for reading today and please do come back tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday but for now you all take care.

Do you ever have a song going around in your head and then find out who is singing it and feel slightly defeated? Why? Because I have never ever been a Westlife fan at all and now they have released a great single. 

'Hello My Love' is the new offering from the Irish lads and I have to say I just love it. I think I get caught up in the radio's playlists and overdose on the latest top songs. It's a very clever media approach, almost like hypnosis where they play it over and over and it gets planted in the brain. that's it then you're hooked, listening to it while on the school run then while chopping your vegetables for dinner and boom....before you know it you've downloaded it.

I'm still not a big Westlife fan, oh no.....I'm not giving in but hey what does that matter? Ok Westlife are singing a blooming good tune and fair play to them, good on you lads. Oh heck I'm turning.....the Irish charm has got me and like a fishing line it's reeling me in.

I saw them perform the song on The Graham Norton Show the other week and you will be glad to know there were no 'you raise me up' stools that they perform with just them, looking all grown up. I always like to watch them perform, secretly of course just to see who gets to sing more of the song than the others, it's only fair that it's shared out otherwise visually that would look a bit odd if one of them didn't get a part. I'm happy to say they all get to sing, I wouldn't be able to tell you was singing as I don't know any of their names you see but Shane seems to dominate the vocals....oops.

It's a nice powerful song and well timed for Valentines Day, I don't go for songs that are too slushy so I would sing this to my lover if I had one, then they would say why you singing a Westlife number to me, you don't like them? The download which I haven't downloaded has a lovely acoustic version which is even more romantic and annoying that I love that too.

So the moral of the story is if you love a song, love it.....regardless of who is singing and go out and find you inner Westlife!!!

The video is completely rubbish too but go on have a watch.....only kidding Westlife lads it's all fabulous and all the best with it.

youtu.be/753Gl2VlPF8

Thank you for reading today, please do join me again tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday but for now......

Take care.

I've got another song in my head which I just can't stop singing. It's Barcelona from Andy Burrows and Matt Haig and I'm absolutely loving it. Andy is former drummer with the band Razorlight and was also responsible for the music which accompanied the animated film 'The Snowman and the Snowdog'. Aaaah I loved that too.....especially 'Light The Night', my son and I used to sing that every morning in the car on the way to school, what great memory.

What is great is that Andy has collaborated with the great author Matt Haig on this song and his new album. Matt has written some brilliant books for adults and children If you haven't read 'How to Stop Time' you need to as it's a great book. He has also written a children's book called 'The Truth Pixie' which is aimed to help children with their worries. I hope he doesn't mind me just quoting from a page in this book which can also be found on his website too at www.matthaig.com

Yes the night has dark bits, but it has stars too,
And you'll feel when they shine,
That they shine just for you.
You will step outside, and see from the park
That the light is brighter
When it's next to the dark.

How lovely is that? No wonder I love the song Barcelona, two great inspirational people working together. Thank goodness for a bit of drunk texting as apparently that's how Andy Burrows approached Matt to see if he would like to work with him. You see fantastic things can happen from the old drunk text, relationships can be made not just broken. In my experience it's not been great but we won't go there. For most people it's a "I Love you I do' but maybe the text between these too was backed by a bit of dutch courage rather than some stalker approach, who knows but it worked.

Barcelona is available to download on all the usual downloady kind of platforms and the video can be viewed here on You Tube.....

youtu.be/3vLQ7qwKCXM

Ha ha now it's in your head!! Enjoy......

Thanks for reading today, please do come back tomorrow for a bit of a chat about tea on Teapot Tuesday but for now I am off to listen to Barcelona just one more time or maybe more.

Take care everyone!!

Well what do we think to the new line up at Radio 2? Zoe ball is now in charge of breakfast....another 2 slices of toast for me love. Didn't she do well though? I bet she was so nervous, flippin eck I would be if I had to take over the most popular breakfast show, yikes, I wouldn't sleep for weeks. I think she is settling in quite nicely and I am enjoying listening to her. 

I am just going to have a sneaky listen to Chris Evans on Virgin Radio, not so much to compare but just to see if he's ok and to give him some support on his first show, it seems only fair as I've listened to him since day one on Radio 2. 

Zoe is a national treasure though and so much fun, very bubbly and gets you ready for the day. She's very refreshing to listen to and I think the BBC made a fine choice. I do love Sara Cox though later on in the day. She accompanies me while making the dinner and she makes me laugh my socks off. I can't help thinking whether I would have liked Sara at breakfast, it has happened a few times, just on the radio folks, she's never popped around in person although I have a brew ready and waiting.

No Sara is good where she is and although I did love Simon Mayo I do like a laugh with Sara. She's so down to earth and it's like having your mate round to chat while cooking. Overall I like what they have done with the station. I enjoyed listening to Rylan Clark-Neal on Saturday, he is also like a breathe of fresh air and also makes me giggle. I have followed Rylan, not in a stalking way but following him from Big Brother to now and he is also like the nice bloke next door with added cheekiness. Love him.

So it's all good, yes it's different and it won't please everyone but in life you can never please everyone all of the time. Some will tune in because Chris has gone and some will tune out and follow Chris to Virgin but that's the way the world works. I do wish everyone all the best in their new shows and here's to many more years of entertaining on the radio......I love my radio.

Tell me what you think? Are you listening to Zoe? Have you jumped ship to Virgin? As long as you are happy and enjoying your music it doesn't matter where you go. Thank you so much for reading today, come back tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday but for now you all take care now.

I woke up this morning singing Roar by Katy Perry. I know a bit random for an ear worm but no my fellow brewsters, not random at all, there's a new term about to start at Rock Choir and this is our first song.

Roar is now six years old, hard to believe eh? Only seems like yesterday when it topped the charts and I have to admit I really loved it when it was released. I'm not so sure now though, think I may have burnt my wild roar'ness out and not sure about singing it with choir either. 

Oh but I've experienced this before when I've thought 'oh not sure it's a good Rock Choir song' and then it turns out to be my favourite song to sing ever. So let's all wait and see and not judge too much yet. It is a fun song, strong, powerful and when I do listen to it I feel I can go out and 'smash it', well not do any damage of course but that's what everyone seems to be saying these days. 

Now this photo is taken from the video for the song and I do a bit of floristry so this is floral heaven for me. I know there is a solo part in the arrangement for Rock Choir so when it comes to a performance just give me a call and I will flower you up big time. 

I've missed Rock Choir so much over Christmas, we have exhausted all the festive songs now and I enjoyed the performances we did but it's now time for a new year, my third year in fact. It's going to be busy and I'm sure we'll have a lot of laughs as usual. So here's to a new term and come on everyone let me here you ROAR!!!

If you fancy singing this song and would like to try Rock Choir you can take a free taster at your local session. You don't have to audition, just come along, it certainly makes me feel good, I have made lots of new lovely friends and if I'm still going after three years then it must be good. Go on give it a go!! Just go to www.rockchoir.com and search for your local session.

Thank you so much for reading, I will be back tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday but for now you all take care. 

There was so much to say yesterday on Pass the Remote Sunday that I thought I would talk about the return of ITV's The Voice today, after all it is about music.

The first episode got off to a great start and I was pretty impressed with the first lot of auditions. I feel a bit sorry for the people who have to follow these already selected few as the standard seems to set quite high this year. Strong performances but a bit of heartache for those who didn't make it through. I think it's tough on the judges and the performers, the judges can't take everyone through which is a shame for those who have entered, who so want their dreams to come true.

There was an emotional moment when one chap gets a turn around from the great Tom Jones, Tom doesn't realise at first that he has actually turned for the son of the late Lonnie Donegan (google him kids). Basically if you are too young to know, Lonnie was a big star back in the 50's and 60's and wrote a song which Tom Jones performs. So what did they do? They only performed 'Never Going To Fall In Love' together and it was brilliant. What a moment for them both and I'm sure Lonnie had a bit to do with that, he must be looking down on his boy.

Some are saying it was a fix but I'm not sure whether I care too much as it was just a special treat for them both and for us to see. An exciting start to the new series and I particularly liked seeing the introduction of trios this year. Remember Mondays were the first trio to perform and I think they will be one to watch. 

There were fabulous performers including Nicole Dennis who sang 'Never Enough' from The Greatest Showman, what a stunning voice. I may be the only one who thinks this but she is already having successful career in a West End Show and I like to see the people who don't have any other experience but that's probably just me. It's the old "strictly zone' when the professionals sneak through to these shows and I wonder whether that's right. Oh well we'll see and I still think she was awesome but I tend to like to see to folk who come from nowhere really. 

I love the banter between the judges, they are so funny and it's nice to see Emma Willis presenting, she is perfect for this show. Generally great all round entertainment and for me it beats any other talent show, X Factor I think you're time is up. I wonder whether Tom can take the title of winning judge again this year, well we will have to wait and see. 

The next episode of The Voice is on Saturday 12th January, ITV at 8pm so tune in, who will you turn for? No don't even try that, the judges have special electronic chairs, I'm not sure it will work with that new recliner you've just purchased from DFS. If any chair manufacturers are reading though, that would be such a brilliant chair to buy. 

I will return tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday but for now take care of yourselves. 

Yes its got to be done, we may have lost Top of the Pops on a weekly basis but Christmas would not be Christmas without a special edition of the classic Top of the Pops.

I was a bit worried about watching it to be honest as I thought I wouldn't  know any of the music on it but I did. If you've been listening to the radio throughout the year then you too will recognise many tunes. There was a Christmas special on Christmas Day and a New Year special on 29th December. You can catch up on the iplayer if you missed them.

I always loved Top of the Pops as you could see what the artists looked like. If you are anything like me I listen to may popular tracks on Radio 2 and sing along but then always want to put a face to a name. Well with TOTP you can, well could do. I always remember seeing Boy George for the first time in the 80's on TOTP and thought.....oh yes!!! While the rest of the country were wondered whether he was a girl or a boy.

Well these festive editions reviewed all the great tunes of 2018. The programmes were presented by Fearne Cotton and Radio 1's Clara Amfo and included artists such as Clean Bandit, Rita Ora, George Ezra, Sigrid, Tom Odell & Rae Morris and Christine and the Queens. Jess Glynne featured a lot and Freya Ridings who I didn't realise was the daughter of the voice of Daddy Pig from Peppa Pig, the things you learn eh? 

I was excited to see Lennon Stella make an appearance with Jonas Blue and Liam Payne. If you are an avid fan of Nashville you will know Lennon Stella plays Maddie in the series, she looked fab and so different with dark hair. I think we will hear more from her in 2019, well I hope so. I'm a big Years & Years fan, they were my favs, but I did enjoy the dancing Santas and of course we all had to sing along with Ladbaby to the Christmas number one 'We Built This City On Sausage Rolls'.

What a year for music and I would struggle to follow a regular TOTP I think as I don't keep on track on some popular music of today's age. I'm not a big Radio 1 listener and tend to settle for the smoother tones of Radio 2 but hey I think I do ok. It doesn't matter really does it? Music is pretty universal and with You Tube etc we all get to tune in to all sorts of music. 

I loved seeing TOTP back and enjoyed celebrating this years music. I do hope it makes a come back every year as life would just not be the same without a Top of the Pops now and again. Well I wish you a Happy New Year from Music Monday and please join me again in the new year. I will be back tomorrow for a New Years Day Teapot Tuesday so join me then. 

For now though, stay safe, have fun and take care of yourselves.

Oh this is the most beautiful tv series I've seen in a while. This is where we get to see how music not only brings people together but how it acts as therapy and a great healer too. When I sing with a choir (well try to sing) I can feel every single worry go away even if it's just for a while. My mind is transported into a place where nothing else matters except the song I'm singing and receiving a great feeling of satisfaction when the learning of a new song comes together. 

I suffer from anxiety and I feel singing helps to relax so when I saw thirteen year old Jasmine overcoming her chronic anxiety in episode one of 'This Is My Song' I could totally relate to how she felt. Blimey I was in tears, she was so good. You could see how worried she was but all that seemed to fall away when she sang Andra Day's 'Rise Up' and what a song to sing. She felt this was the song that had helped her through some tough times and the lyrics are just so apt for her story. 

This episode also saw twenty three year old Jordan team up with his grandad Ronnie to sing and record Ben E King's 'Stand By Me'. Ronnie has trouble remembering things at present and worried about not being able to remember the lyrics but when they started to sing he just never had a problem at all. 

There are only two episodes in the series and the next one featured Charles who wanted to record a song he had learnt on his guitar after receiving a life saving double lung transplant. This would be his first real performance with his new lungs and my goodness they were in fine form. He belted out Ella Henderson's 'Yours' only twelve weeks post op which I think is a blooming brave thing to do but what a way to celebrate this new lease of life.

Bethany's story got me blubbing like a baby as she recorded 'I'm Your's' by Jason Mraz. She lost her father a few years ago and was about to get married so she wanted to include her dad in some way on her big day. Bethany had some old recordings which she had made singing with her dad and some of the recording with him playing guitar was able to be mixed in with the track she would sing in the studio. This track was then played as the first dance at her wedding. I know right....how lovely is that? 

There were other stories such including a reunion of the 60's band Earl Preston and the TT's whom came together again to record a track and another lovely lady who wanted to record a track for her father complete with steel drums, I just love the sound of steel drums.....that was awesome and a lovely proud moment for that family. 

With the help of big music producers such as Sister Bliss from Faithless, Andrew Hunt, Naughty Boy and vocal coaches such as Mark De-Lisser and CeCe Sammy all these people were able to fulfil a dream using the power of music. These big names in the music business gave these amateur musicians the confidence to go and stand up to a mic in a recording studio and record a song that would be there for them as a memory forever. 

If you get the chance to catch up with one series over the Christmas period then do take a look at this as it's just brilliant. You can find it on the BBC iplayer but do have your tissues ready as there are some very precious moments which will make you blub a bit.

Great isn't it? Music.....it is just an amazing thing. We listen to it for enjoyment, it can make us happy and also help us through tough times too. It can act as therapy to those who need it and some songs can make us laugh so what is not to like? I cannot imagine my life without music. 

As one of my all time favourite song goes 'music was my first love and it will be my last, music of the future and music of the past.....to live without my music would be impossible to do, in this world of troubles, my music pulls me through'
                                                 (Music by John Miles)

I will be back tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday (yes even on Christmas Day) but for now take care and have a lovely Christmas.