Tag Archives: music

America’s sweetheart and the star malfunction: Doris Day and Jennifer Aniston

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

In Jeanine Basinger’s book on the old Hollywood studios’ star-making system, The Star Machine there is a great little section on how Doris Day became a huge name, while the similarly talented and wholesome Rosemary Clooney did not. Basinger put … Continue reading →

Posted in Comedy, Film, Music, TV, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Swingeing (cuts) 80s: Lessons from The Ghost Town Generation

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

They were playing the jaunty TV theme tune to “Jeeves and Wooster” on Monday night when guests walked into the Financial Times summer party at Lancaster House near Green Park in London. It reminded me of how much I enjoyed … Continue reading →

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Privilege: Lessons from the Swinging 60s and the Swingeing (cuts) 80s

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

This has been superceded by the longer post above which is the full comment piece on how far we really are re-living aspects of the 1980s: major strikes, job cuts, recession, Two Nations. Since the Royal wedding in April I’ve … Continue reading →

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The Truth About The Jam Generation (80s remix)

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

Since David Cameron claimed class war anthem “Eton Rifles” as one his Desert Island Discs, many political journalists seem to have bought the argument that they are “The Jam Generation”; the subject of a recent Radio 4 series. It seemed … Continue reading →

Posted in Comedy, Culture, Education, Film, journalism, Media, Music, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Poly Styrene — The real thing, not a Rock n’ Roll Swindle.

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

Confession. I was 8 when Poly Styrene and X-Ray Spex hit the punk scene. I only realised, as I researched her obituary for Channel 4 News yesterday, just how I’d totally misunderstood her at the time. I’d seen the bin … Continue reading →

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Women Prefer Jane Russell

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

Ain't There Anyone Here For Love by avinot In my early 20s I started working my way through a lot of old movies I hadn’t yet seen. When I sat down to watch Gentlemen Prefer Blondes this eye popping clip of Jane … Continue reading →

Posted in Comedy, Cowboys!, Culture, Film, Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

John Barry: Sentimental Music Man in an E-type Jaguar

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

Beat Girl
The Knack
Out of Africa Continue reading →

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Why I’m a Cover Girl.

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

Listening to R2’s ‘Sounds of the 60s” this morning, I realised to my shame that I had no memory of ever before hearing the original Beach Boys’ version of “Break Away.” Why? Because in the mid 80s I discovered the … Continue reading →

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