Without Ian Dury I wouldn't have the "Reasons to be Cheerful" theme for my entry in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge and, more importantly, without Ian Dury my life would be an emptier place.
His songs continue to give me great joy and it's possible I enjoy them more now than when I first started listening to them when I was a teenager.
While many of Ian Dury's songs have a humorous side, others are darker, but all take a delight in using language. What sets the songs off so well is the musical setting, that glorious mix of jazz, rock and roll, funk, reggae and even a bit of music hall.
Sadly, Ian Dury died from cancer at the age of 57, but I hope from the music I put with this posting that you can get a real sense of the vitality of the man.
I'm not going to go on and on with this posting. Instead I want to offer two pieces of music for your, I hope, enjoyment. The first is Ian Dury and the Blockheads performing What a Waste, which was a hit for the band in the late 1970s.
The second Ian Dury song is My Old Man, a gentle, reflective song, but still with a driving bass line. Some of the pictures on the video go better with the song than others, but I think you'll still enjoy the song.
- Question: Have you got a favourite Ian Dury song? If not, why not? Go out and find one. Be warned some of them have quite a bit of swearing in them, but swearing in a "nice" way.
I have a big smile on my face thinking back to Hit me with your Rhythm Stick being sung by my Mum in the kitchen with my brother and I joining in with the words "It's nice to be a lunatic" at the top of our voices. She even went on to rewrite some of the lyrics so that they were about our family cat (this may give a clue about what type of household we lived in and why I have always seen life as being totally wonderful and awesome!!) I've already joined up to be a follower because I can just tell I'm going to love this blog :) Special Teaching at Pempi’s Palace
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting exercise to adapt song lyrics to your own circumstances. I hope you enjoy my blog. I will shortly be visiting yours.
DeleteAgreed, another great post about an artist who is underrated. He's never been played on a radio station in the States to my knowledge. When I worked in Norfolk a fellow journalist Richard had written a bio of him - Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll and I was lucky enough to be dragged to a gig in Cambridge - probably not too long before he died
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it and like Ian Dury. One of the best gigs I ever went to was Ian Dury and the Blockheads at Canterbury Odeon, probably in 1977 or '78. At the end the band threw bananas in to the audience.
DeleteMinion Carrie dropping by to cheer you on! Keep up the excellent work! :D Enjoy your day off tomorrow and have a blessed Easter!
ReplyDeleteThank you. The rest will be welcome.
DeleteHi Mark - Ian Drury is so well known .. but me being almost non-musical .. however I see he was responsible for Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll .. so I'll go with that - and that one I do know .. cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIan Dury has a great many songs to choose from although Sex and drugs and rock'n'roll is always a good one.
DeleteI've never heard of him until now--so you've introduced him to one more person!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoyed the introduction.
DeleteNo I had not heard of him. I was a music fan in the early and mid- 60s and then the music changed too much for my taste, I didn't keep up with it. I think it's wonderful that one musician's work has inspired you so much.
ReplyDeleteI used to think I'd never not want to listen to "new" music, but then I did. Some of the stuff that comes out now just doesn't do it for me. I'm taking this as a sign of becoming more discerning.
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