Last week in the YouTube comments column someone had remarked the Obi track reminded them of Nick Drake's 'From the Morning'. This in turn triggered my memory of when Margaret, unfamiliar with his music, asked Alexa to play songs by Nick Drake.
The resulting playlist that followed included a veritable who's who of classic singer/songwriters:- Tom Waits, John Martyn, Gordon Lightfoot, CSNY, America, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Donavan, Cat Stevens, Tracy Chapman & Sandy Denny - all came up...
Explore your own playlist, starting with 'From the Morning' by Nick Drake > 

"Now we rise / And we are everywhere"

I noticed another comment on YouTube that said:- 

"I like the fact that the final song on the last album recorded in Nick Drake's lifetime was actually a song of hope and inspiration! "

 

This week I have mostly been cycling !
But what music was in my head ? ...on our route along the Kennet & Avon canal from Bristol to Reading (and onto Hurley).
I did some research on Beats Per Minute & Heart Rate and toyed with the idea of finding a nice steady beat (a cadence) to pedal along to. Nothing to energetic. This resulted in various speeds [108-115 bpms] and many tracks on playlists and 'Happy Cycling Mixes', with some great pieces to consider. Then I came upon this video about actually cycling along the Kennet and Avon that ends with this track which seemed ideal. 'Somewhere Nicer' too.

So this is British indie-pop group Obi singing 'Somewhere Nicer' > 

The video of the actual cycle I found is here for those interested. Pedal here 👉

Not exactly our route, but mostly the same.

 

Big band. Big concert.

And when The Edge's guitar comes chiming in - the reaction, is just amazing !

Clearly that tells you this is U2. In concert from 2001 on their Elevation Tour Live in Boston [video: strobe warning] - go Full Screen. 

Performing 'Stay + Bad + Where the Streets Have No Name' - 'No barriers, no limitations'

U2: Elevation Tour - Live In Boston [DVD] - check out the whole concert, it's brilliant. 

 

I seem to remember I promised awhile ago another performer from Rick Beato's Top Female artists list.
Brazilian Lari Basilio plays guitar with a smooth latin vibe, jazzy and rocky, while clearly enjoying herself enormously. 

Here she is playing a track titled 'Not Alone' in the 'Guitarguitar' music store in Birmingham. Dare I say she needs the money for some new jeans ? No, that would make me sounds old fashioned right 😏

There's plenty of different tracks (and different guitars) on YouTube: 

Check out:-  'Far More' [with a band in the studio]; Her Signature Ibanez guitar track 'Novo'; & 'New Time' - [beach video]. Simply search Lari Basilio 

 

I somehow can't ignore all these rousing Football singalongs any longer. Side-stepping the obvious 'Three Lions' and 'Seven Nation Army', likewise 'Yes Sir, I Can Boogie' and going for a screamer. 
'Chelsea Dagger' by The Fratellis comes to mind, especially after seeing the fun McDonalds ad currently showing during most half-time breaks [link]. But that is possibly a bit much, so I've gone for the full on goal celebration that is 'Song 2' by Blur. Woo-hoo...

> This track is also being used in another ad right now for airbnb. 

Action Replay - just hit the play button again 😁