Whilst I'm feeling political, I may as well show you what's destined to be the underdog in the fight for Christmas number one this year. No I'm not talking about that ghastly X Factor song or the inspired yet frankly bizarre Cage Against the Machine (although as I understand it profits from that are going to charity, so if you're buying it then good on you). I'm talking about a ska song. I know, I'm as shocked as you are. Not just any ska song though, an anti-Condem ska song. Wonders truly never cease. If you're as intrigued as I was when I first heard about it then check it out and see what you make of it:

Well, as far as Christmas songs go, this is definitely, errm, perky. No sleighbells, East 17 or Noddy Holder (thank God). A Scrooge's heaven. But there is some method behind the madness. This song, in my eyes, encapsulates the essence of what the student movement has been about. Of course, if you only know what you've seen on the front page of the Daily Mail then you may take a different perspective, but having been on the frontline so to speak, I saw an entirely different atmosphere to the protests. This wasn't a group of thugs intent on destroying Whitehall, this wasn't (initially) a riot, this was a mass celebration of solidarity. Former students, current students and even schoolchildren united, even though the impending tuition fee rise would not affect 2/3s of the groups marching there. There were also members of unions and even grandparents there, all showing the country that they actually care about what happens to the next generation.

I don't want to get too political here as this is a music blog first and foremost, but what I saw was beautiful. I of course condemn completely the subsequent violence that a small minority of people carried out, but I cannot stress enough that this was the minority.

What struck me most however, was that amongst the chanting and the witty banners there was almost a carnival vibe to it all. The lovely folks at SOAS even brought their band to play to the protesters, playing to their hearts content and being met with dancing in the streets. At times it felt more like a party than a protest, but the message of direct action never seemed to be lost. No matter how many kettles they were corralled in, they fought back by staging more protests, more university occupations, more lobbying of their MP's. And ok, so we lost, but for me this was about more than just the fight for the future of education; it was about awakening a whole new generation of people to the unifying power of politics, that's got to be worth something right?

So I think this song strikes just about the right tone of it all. It's clever and has an air of tongue in cheek at times (maybe that's just me though, I can never take brass seriously for some reason, I blame the circus), but more importantly it's something we can all sing along to. Maybe at the next protest eh?

Liar Liar is out from tomorrow on iTunes.

Down with Thatcher and, errm, the rest of them!

Regular readers (if there are any) would remember that I have been studying about Government and Politics for my A Levels. Those who remember this would probably also remember me bitching about it at every given opportunity. So, after 5 months of sitting in class struggling to pay attention to the monotonous drone of my teacher moaning about Labour and the Tories and pretty much everything else in between, I decided to give it up. I have been struggling with it for some time now and as I'm already doing well in my other subjects I thought it would reduce my stress levels (god knows they're high enough these days). It's been a week since I handed in the foolishly optimistic course drop form (It's bright yellow, may as well have bloody smiley faces all over it, it still won't make me any happier that I'm having to lose an A level), and I have to say, I feel somewhat liberated.


Never again will I have to watch the news and try and attempt to take it all in, never again will I have to think twice about my grammar before speaking in class, never will I have to miss valuable break time rushing to get to class or worrying that I'm a minute late and get locked out.



Rather aptly, this song has been in my head all week, one of their least overhyped records that I still quite like, enjoy.

'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now'

I feel like Shit.

Sorry to be so blunt about it, but today has not been a good day for Maddie.

At all.

After trying to concentrate and actually absorb any of what was going on in Politics for the dozenth or so time, I realised that it's rather futile for me to continue with this course. I mean, I'm not going to do well at it so why should I even bother?

Sometimes it's hard to be a perfectionist. :|

So now I'm faced with the thought of dropping one of my AS Levels, meaning now I will only have to do 4, which is pretty rubbish really, as I was quite happy doing 5, just not Politics. I did try though, it just wasn't enough. To top that off, now I also have to contend with some of my dearest friends behaving so immaturely it makes me want to vomit.

I get the whole wanting to be in control of things, I tend to be somewhat of a control freak at times, but when it comes to forcefully controlling situations that have nothing to do with you or basically using a friend who has been there for you when you've been too much of a drunken mess to get home, it's just a little sad really. And it's really bad for the friend of mine who has to put up with this, she obviously isn't happy with it but she never says anything, I don't know how some people can be so tolerant. Then there's the whole other topic of another of the people that used to be close to me, but I'm not going to get into this here, that itself seems fairly childish.

Aaaanyway,
*rant over*

so I'm in a sucky mood. Because of this, I'm going to put some of the songs that make me happy on this here bloggy o' mine, in an effort to cheer me up.






The Smiths- Ask
I know, I know, you're thinking; it's The Smiths, how can they be cheery?
Well, I ask you, how can it not be?
Even the first guitar riff at the start of the track is in a major key. This song's lyrics send a message that it's ok to be confident and be happy, no matter what drama you've got going on. Or at least that's what I think it says. The cymbal crashes and guitar rhythms make me almost want to bob my head to it, and the middle eight- 'laa' phrases are sung as if without a care in the world. I've been an avid fan of The Smiths for nearly two years now, and whenever I hear this song it still makes me smile.






Vampire Weekend- Oxford Comma
This song, and in fact their entire album, is perfect for listening to whilst getting ready to go out. You soon find by the end of the first song and onto this one, Oxford Comma, that you're dancing around like a lunatic nearly burning yourself with the straightening tongs.

Well, maybe not everyone, but it has the same effect. The high, almost falsetto note in the chorus, combined with what sounds like a recorder or flute of some sort makes this song rather sweetly bird-like, and conjures up memories of lazy summer afternoons, or, in my case, a nearly wet Friday afternoon at Worthy Farm.







Robots in Disguise- Girl
I know I featured this band a couple of posts ago, but seeing as this is a list of my 'happy' songs, I just had to add them. This was one of the first songs I had ever heard of theirs, and I wasn't in a particularly cheery mood at the time (GCSE's and the such) but this song had me bounding off the walls like an 8 year old who's eaten a few too many winegums. This song reeks of feminism, but in a good way, declaring that women aren't inferior, and, really, they're just that bit better. The chanting in the middle eight makes the listener feel included in the song, as if we're all part of some neon mob, waiting to unleash the fury that is Robots in Disguise.









The Libertines- Don't Look Back Into The Sun
Whenever I hear the opening riff of this song, it makes me want to drop what I'm doing and just go prance around in a field somewhere. This song draws out the youth in those who hear it; whether that be because they actually were the youth when this was first released, such as myself, or whether because it brings back memories of being free, having crazy summer parties, whatever. For me, this song makes me want to be happy as it reminds me that there's always something to look forward to. Plus, it reminds me of when The Libertines were still together, and you have to admit, it's not the same now they're two different bands. Oh, and while I'm here; Dirty Pretty Things
R.I.P You weren't too bad, but not enough to make me go 'wow.'











Blur- Song 2
This song is pretty self explanatory really.
So all that's left for me to say is..


WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!







Fight Like Apes- Lend Me Your Face
This band is a new discovery of mine. I saw them perform live last week in support of The Ting Tings, and my friend and I watched them, mouths agape. This band are truly golden. Each of their songs are fiercely catchy and hits you like a punch in the face. The Irish band mix Electro, Indie and Rock to create one huge sound, listening to them now brings back memories of watching Geoff, the crazy but cool wafro guy dancing like he's having some sort of fit along to the gleeful sounds of Fight Like Apes. Although The Ting Tings were good, I came away from that gig with a new favourite band.