37 Comments

I don't know if the music is all that bad, so much as almost alien if you were born after 1960 - 'pop' as it became rock and a bit serious had its faults, but is got me going when I was a kid, and I still find myself returning to the likes of Caravan, Camel and Genesis (when Peter Gabriel nicked his wife's frock and put a fox-head mask on). Mind you, I only discovered that because the Sex Pistols swore at Bill Grundy on TV (having seen him, you can't blame them) and the arrival of punk rock alerted me to this thing called music. My mum seemed uninterested in music and we only had Radio 4, so early listening was confined to music in films and TV (which is possibly why a lot of prog rock made sense - soundtracks with rock guitars?). The 80's and 90's passed me by - DIY cassettes and tiny pub back rooms with bands no-one remembers for me, desperately trying to play guitar (still can't) - but I do like the way that the internet means you can find most anything to listen to now. Al Bowlly singing 'The Very Thought Of You' melts the heart. Well, it does mine.

I also remember Red Rovers - being able to go all over London on any number of buses and discovering what the outlying bits of the City were like. I never knew you could get green or red and green ones, though - Green buses were the ones that took you out of town, to Harlow or Southend if you lived my side of London.

Jane Austen's alright - very sarky if you ask me - and if was Mr Bennett I would have locked myself in the library permanently, never to emerge.

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Aug 1Liked by Terry Freedman

You're right about the dreadful music. 😬

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author

I know. Imagine having to put up with that rubbish. I've never understood why people of my parents' generation were always going on about how wonderful the music was "in my day".

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Aug 2Liked by Terry Freedman

Exactement, as our French friends would say.

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author

😁

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Late 80s, and 90s Britpop are my musical eras, although I have a deep fondness for baroque, pitching me firmly between 1600 and 1750. That makes me a very, very old lady.....

Another lovely letter, Dr Tel - I'm looking forward to writing my response to it next Wednesday! 😁

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Late 80s??? Britpop??? Bleuuuugggh! I thought you had good taste. 😲. Baroque: defo. My favourite is Vivaldi.

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Not a fan of Pulp, Oasis, Blur?

Yes indeed to Vivaldi - and Handel, Bach and Pergolesi. Spine-tingling, all of them.

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No, No, No, as Mrs Thatcher might say. Pergolesi? I don't think I've knowingly heard his musak. I will have to rectify that soon. Anything you'd recommend?

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Stabat mater. Glorious. Sad, but stunning.

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oh yes, i thibk i know it

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I just emailed myself my quick answers to your quick cryptic. As someone who has no prior knowledge of the rules of cryptic puzzles, I’m probably wrong, but I’m happy with my logic. Enjoy your day / night / whatever. 2:17am here. Definitely time to go back to sleep. All the best.

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Thanks, Beth. You could send me a direct message with your answers if you like. N ight night.

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Jul 31Liked by Terry Freedman

Definitely 60s- Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin, Cream, Spencer Davis, Rolling Stones, Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, Creedence, Eric Clapton? I mean, come on!

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Well I agree, except for Joplin. What about the 70s though? Kool and the Gang, Saturday Night Fever, etc. I mean, come on!

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Aug 1Liked by Terry Freedman

Get down tonight.

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author

Lol

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Jul 31Liked by Terry Freedman

The Ramones!, Bruce Springsteen, Chicago, Doobie Brothers, Doors, Grateful Dead, Tom Petty, Greg Allman. Okay. Different vibe, but them too.

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author

Defo! Though I never liked The Ramones or Springsteen much. Wot about Billy Ocean, Bananarama (drool), The Bangles (slobber)?

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Aug 1·edited Aug 1Liked by Terry Freedman

Yes on the girl bands! Always a Cool Summer with Bananarama

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author

Indeed. 😁

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Jul 31Liked by Terry Freedman

Don't know them...

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Hazlitt was a bad-ass critic who set the tone for much of the media criticism that came after him.

(PS: Does the name Red Rover have anything to do with the children's game of the same name?).

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I knew he was bad-ass, but hadn't made the connectoion with media criticism! Red Rover: not as far as I know.

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Insurrection - You Say You Want a Revolution ?

Interesting tidbit - Stevie Wonder went through several stages in his career, one of which he called out the Establishment, specifically Tricky Dick.

Never underestimate the power of nostalgia !

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Ha! Thanks for that, Daniel. I didn't know that about Stevie Wonder.

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When you reach 66..... I'm coming up on it now I'll still be juvenile. I have to make up for all the joy that my cousin tries to suck out of life via being a mega - conservative religious zealot with little capacity for happiness..... !

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He sounds like a barrel of laughs. Well, I have never progressed in outlook beyond 25. The only downside is that my body hasn't realised that yet.

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Count yourself fortunate that the UK is largely secular. No fanatics wanting a theocracy & " a - winnin' 'Murica back fer JAAAAAAAYYYYYYZZZZZUSSSSS ! ". Jesus must be turning over in his grave, to quote Homer Simpson.

I still say things like " DUDE ! ". Although Helen Mirren is one woman I wouldn't mind spending time with.....

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Yes, Helen Mirren in her prime was not only beautiful but alo what your Americans would call kick-ass.

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You should've seen Betty White & Lucille Ball when they were younger. & Eartha Kitt was referred to as " The Empire Sex Building ". Va - va - Voom ! Now we have the Kardashians. Oy. 🙄🤮

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