The Disconcerting Shortage Of Scottish Kilts:

“Of all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind”. Probably what Sir Winston Churchill, Britain’s Prime Minister during the 2nd World War, had in mind when he made that comment was what scotland.org has hailed as the “boundless imagination,  inspired creativity and passion ” of […]

Filed under: Music & Dance, Society | Posted on September 12th, 2022 by Colin D Gordon | No Comments »

How To Make A Fresh Start: Change Your Name:

Have you made any New Year resolutions yet? If yes, how long do you think you’ll keep to them? In an article for the Guardian on 5th January, the freelance journalist Ellie Hunt expressed her determination to complete the first draft of a novel – and then admitted that this is something she’s been trying […]

Filed under: Music & Dance, Society | Posted on January 8th, 2022 by Colin D Gordon | No Comments »

Sounds Familiar: The Melodies We’ll Be Humming To This Christmas:

How many times have you heard the song “Jingle Bells” over the past week while you’ve been out shopping? If it’s only been five or ten times, perhaps you should consider yourself lucky. Nigel Rodgers, the founder of “Pipedown”, a group that campaigns for more silence in public places, calculates that department store staff will […]

Filed under: Music & Dance, Society | Posted on November 29th, 2017 by Colin D Gordon | No Comments »

Comida Fest 2017: A Project That Aspires To Embody The Spirit Of London’s Latin American Community:

Have you any idea how many Latin Americans are currently resident in the UK? As the “Latino Life” website has pointed out, no-one is really sure of the numbers, mainly because “On British Government documentation, “Latin American” is not given as an ethnic group”, so anyone from that part of the world filling in a […]

Filed under: Immigration & Visas, Music & Dance | Posted on June 29th, 2017 by Colin D Gordon | No Comments »

The Rampant Rooster: China’s Increasing Influence In the British Economy:

There’s a Chinese proverb which advises: “When you want to test the depth of a stream, don’t use both feet”. The People’s Republic, however, appears to have dispensed with such caution in its dealings with the UK. As the “China Daily” newspaper has reported, the appetite of Chinese companies for acquiring British assets has continued […]

Filed under: Music & Dance, Politics | Posted on January 31st, 2017 by Colin D Gordon | No Comments »

No Escape From The Music: The Modern Shopping Experience:

“Have you noticed: You can never get silence anywhere these days?” If Bryan Ferry, the English songwriter & vocalist, was complaining about the incessant recorded music to which customers are submitted in many shops & supermarkets across the UK, perhaps he’s partly responsible: He’s made at least 15 rock albums during his career. For the […]

Filed under: Music & Dance, Society | Posted on May 16th, 2016 by Colin D Gordon | No Comments »

Digital On the Defensive: The Revival Of Vinyl Music:

If you shop at Tesco and are a fan of the British “heavy metal band” “Iron Maiden”, you may already have noticed: Their latest release, “The Book Of Souls” went on sale on September 4th in 55 of the supermarket chain’s largest  stores – in a LP (Long-Player) vinyl format. As Tesco’s music buyer, Michael […]

Filed under: Music & Dance | Posted on November 3rd, 2015 by Colin D Gordon | No Comments »

“Traditional Rhythms Are Back”: The Resurgence Of Folk Music In The UK:

Did you know that the American actor, Richard Gere, once starred in a film called “Shall We Dance”?  It wasn’t one of his most famous roles and didn’t win him an “Oscar”. Made in 2004, it was about a “bored, overworked Estate Lawyer” in Chicago who – despite being “healthy, financially well-off, happily married with […]

Filed under: Music & Dance | Posted on November 9th, 2014 by Colin D Gordon | No Comments »

The “World City”: London’s Evolving Cultural Community:

How many languages do you think are spoken in the UK capital? Walking down Charing Cross Road or sitting by a fountain in Trafalgar Square at any time of the day or evening, you’d probably conclude that the total must be several hundred. And you’d be correct. The “london.gov.uk” website estimates the figure at “over […]

Filed under: Music & Dance, Society | Posted on July 18th, 2014 by Colin D Gordon | No Comments »

On The Streets & In The Underground: The Campaign To Unshackle London’s Itinerant Musicians:

How do you react when you see someone playing the violin, guitar or saxophone in a tube station? Pause to listen, take a photo and then leave a few coins? Or perhaps (more likely), hurry off to catch your train, with your attention focused on your i-Pad? As journalist Gary Moskowitz has pointed out on […]

Filed under: Music & Dance, Society | Posted on May 19th, 2014 by Colin D Gordon | No Comments »

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