Monday, December 22, 2008

Music Mondays; The Land of Make Believe

I love Christmas. It should be full of love, laughter and happiness, irrespective of religious beliefs. For children too, it's also a wonderful, magical time of believing in a Land of Make Believe.

I think it's so important for children to develop an imagination and enjoy the world of Santa, elves, giants, witches and a host of other fairytale characters. Having the capacity to imagine is what sets us apart from other mammals, to create, to develop, to inspire is a human gift and I believe we should encourage our children to develop their sense of imagination because reality, unfortunately, comes all too soon.

I loved reading stories like The Princess and the Pea, Rapunzel and of course the more popular stories like Snow White and Cinderella as a child and in turn I loved reading them to my boys. Everyone loves a fairytale, be it Star Wars, Lord of the Rings or Shrek and there's no better story than when good triumphs over evil.

There's so much to be enjoyed about Christmas including friendship and camaraderie and even when I no longer believed in Santa one of my favourite things about Christmas and New Year's Day was gathering in front of the television with my 2 brothers and my sister to watch the now defunct Top of the Pops. The Christmas Specials would always have the most popular songs of the year and, of course, the Christmas no 1 which in those days was coveted by all the big artists. These days it's pretty much certain to be the prerequisite of the latest X factor winner which kind of takes the fun out of it. Still, it's still better than St Winifred's Girls Choir.....( I guess you'll be only one to remember that one Paul! Hmm... maybe Mike and Gary too...)

The song I'm playing today is The Land of Make Believe by Bucks Fizz. It was very popular over the Christmas season back in 1981 but it didn't hit the top spot until January 1982 being kept of the no 1 by The Human League and Don't You Want Me Baby from their album Dare.

Bucks Fizz, as their rather frothy name suggests were a slightly cheesy group manufactured to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest which they won with a catchy but rather corny song called Making Your Mind Up and an even more corny skirt ripping routine! Like most other Eurovision winners their star was expected to wane pretty quickly but after 2 top twenty hits later in 1981 and a no 1 with Making Your Mind Up they hit no 1 again in January 1982 with The Land of Make Believe which was then followed by numerous big hits. Their Greatest Hits album is well worth the purchase for some classic 80's pop tunes.

Although Bucks Fizz still continue to perform today the line up has changed a number of times. The original group suffered a major setback when their tour bus was involved in a major collision in 1984 which resulted in one member, Bobby G, sustaining serious head injuries from which he took a long time to recover. Then in 1985, Jay Aston, the curly haired blonde with the "come hither" eyes left in acrimonious circumstances and that, regrettably, spelt the real end of the heady days of Bucks Fizz's Chart topping success.

Here's The Land of Make Believe, it always reminds me of Christmas. It's such a magical time for little children and I hope that wherever you are in the world you and your families have a wonderful Christmas.



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9 comments:

  1. Still better than Cack Factor!! Yeah it's cheesier than a gorgonzola sandwich, but at least it is original!

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  2. I could not agree with you more! Childhood is the time to drift away in your imagination. To prepare for adulthood and carry it with you. Great song! Merry Christmas

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  3. couldn't agree more. It was only a few months back i was being subjected to shrek 1, 2 & 3 at least twice a day(one or t'other not all three!), and Karen or i read three stories to tara every night.
    Having just been up to winter wonderland to see the big fat one with the white beard and his helpers, the whole house is magical and we're listening out for a clattering of hoofs on the roof at any second. You can't beat imagination, Mrs T, can you?

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  4. Very Good Post! And a Good choice for Music Monday!

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  5. Merry Christmas

    Without Imagination you cant plan anything in ur life
    Cheers

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  6. For one nasty moment, I thought you were going to mention Cliff Richard. Instead you've left me desperately trying to conjure up images of St Winifred's Girls Choir... What have I missed out on here? I'm imagining St Trinians and am worried that my dementia has finally got the better of me.

    But hold on, I've just looked them up on You Tube and, ye gods, it's not dementia but must be a repressed memory if it exists as a memory at all. Perhaps I did see them singing about Grandma on TV once, for a nano-second, but had to dash out of the room to be seriously sick. Even Cliff Richard and Terry Wogan together wouldn't be quite as vomitous. Although Bucks Fizz is offering some strong competition.

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  7. Great song. Merry Christmas n Happy new year

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  8. Just a flying visit to say Merry Christmas Mrs T. All the best!

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  9. Yeah, Cheesy Master Sy but I love it!

    Laura,

    If only childhood lasted a little longer eh? These days people seem to be making children into minature adults before they're out of nappies. Humph.

    Merry Christmas you too!

    Gary,

    Oh blimey, I love Shrek! It's those big ears - I believe you can swing on them.

    (Don't ask for details.)

    I hope you all, especially Tara, have a wonderful Christmas Gary. Special times for special memories.

    Mr I,

    I see you're doing some Believing yourself you old softie!

    Aditya

    You are quite right! Imagination is my salvation! Merry Christmas and thanks for stopping by!

    PB,

    Uh huh. I'm sensing you weren't a big Bucks Fizz fan?! I'll play something more suitable for you in the new year... Vera Lynn perhaps??!

    Cliff Richard at Christmas? I would rather tie myself to some rail tracks than listen to another Cliff Christmas track. When I used to work I was subjected to "Misletoe and Wine", day in, day out, year in, year out....in fact I've come over queasy just thinking about it....

    Welcome back Bonoriau - glad you liked it! And a Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    Merry Christmas Gary! Now don't get drunk...hmmm...what am I saying... that's a forgone conclusion!

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I am always delighted to receive comments!

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