PAY DAY
This being the last week of the month everyone is waiting for the pay packet, that strange set of numbers which your bosses say equate to the work you do and the work they don’t notice you do and so don’t need to be paid for.
On the plus side it does mean that there is money to burn in the pocket which is never a bad thing. For some of us this means a three night bender conveniently as the 29thcomes on a Friday hitting the clubs has always been a great way to unwind…if you’re prepared to live with the pounding sense of regret during the days in between. Some of us can handle it and for you there’s an immense amount of respect. However the rest of us might manage a single night out and spend the rest of the weekend trying to shake it off.
Either way pay day and the weekend merging in such a perfect serendipity like all magical things doesn’t happen very often and such is this collaboration by Underworld and Iggy Pop. ‘Bells and Circles’ has something for everyone. The “Godfather of punk” telling us to relive or perhaps ‘relove’ past memories, he doesn’t reminisce so much as tell you his thoughts either way it works especially when Karl Hyde’s transcendent vocals contrast so well with the gravel of Iggy Pop. The incessant bass beat is signature Underworld but it’s the club night distilled into seven minutes of heaven, tie that in to lyrics, as relevant as they are repetitive make this the ‘thinking persons’ dance track something to lose yourself in while you leave it on repeat at 3am when you’re possibly heading home or the next party!!!
If you’re not partying the nights away, then as it is the official start of summer you couldn’t go wrong with having Vivaldi’s ‘Summer’ playing along while you toil away in, or enjoy, the garden. Having suffered from severe asthma throughout his life it is possible too construe this particular concerti as a sad reflection of what he may have missed out of enjoying especially when you read the accompanying sonnets line “Under a hard season…languishes man” but the joy of the music cannot be mistaken in it you get the flowers showing off, the busy bee so wonderfully represented by the energetic violin and the languidness of a tidy garden in the middle of the concerti. There are many great versions of this particular work and there will always be someone who thinks there’s a better version of anything but this particular performance coupled with a lovely video is a delight to watch.
Of course if you’re home bound or working over the weekend and payday goes towards something important then there is the indomitable Queen and ‘I want to break free’. You’ve heard it many times but to pull of such a tongue in cheek video with such heart warming lyrics there was only one band that could do it so well and nothing captures that sense of frustration that comes with being stuck at work or stuck in an impossible situation a beautiful song and beautiful video something that anyone can sing along too at the top of their lungs or if you’re feeling energetic strut around the workplace…why not it is the weekend.
Ultimately the best thing about the weekend though is that finally after the daily grind of Monday to Friday the weekend is yours to do anything you want to and so we are all kings of our own weekend and nothing typifies that sense of watching the clock tick down on Friday than Blink 182’s ‘Kings of the Weekend’. Taken from ‘California’ their latest studio album the song combines the rasping tones of Matt Skiba with the dulcet and comforting voice of Mark Hoppus in a contrasting almost anthemic nod to the last 5 minutes before work finishes and that clock that just does not want to move forward that extra last 5 minutes. True to say it is over produced and slightly too long but there’s no mistaking that they have captured the overwhelming desire to run out on Friday afternoon.
So whatever you do this weekend just remember you are the KINGS OF THE WEEKEND after PAY DAY… until Monday at least ENJOY!!!!
BARRISTER BEATS 