I am not a huge tennis fan but I do like to watch the Grand Slam finals. I was very glad that I tuned in to the Australian Open Final yesterday and witnessed one of the greatest sporting encounters of all time.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal served up an amazing match that lasted nearly six hours. It was not only the fact the the match ebbed and flowed between the two players, it was the quality of tennis throughout. Over five sets and fifty-five games the pair served only six double faults. The exhausting rallies were filled with amazing recoveries, stunning winners and super human effort.
The psychology of sport was also there for all to see. Two sets to one down, trailing by four games to two and forty love down, Nadal looked doomed to defeat. He produce five stunning points in a row to win the game and Djokovic seemed to deflate. Nadal stormed back and won the set.
Then in the fifth set with Djokovic stranded, Nadal had the half the court free to make a winner but found the wrong side of the sideline and suddenly Djokovic was given a new lease of life. The energy was back in his legs and he came roaring through to take the title.
Britain's Andy Murray had taken Djokovic all the way in a five-hour epic only two days previously, which made the defending champion's achievement all the more remarkable.
What struck me most was how the belief that both players meant they never gave up even when the odds were stacked against them. They are magnificent examples of what skill, courage and self-belief can achieve. It was a privilege to watch two young men at the peak of their powers bring credit to their sport with their ability and sportsmanship.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/16782987.stm
Monday, 30 January 2012
Friday, 13 January 2012
Sweet Soul Music
Back to my top ten playlists and this week I'm concentrating on the classic soul of the sixties. I have decided to follow the example of my guests and include videos where I can. I hope you enjoy these classic tunes.
Ray Charles - Hallelujah, I Love Her So
Soul music artists came from either a gospel background or like Ray Charles, a Jazz/Blues background. Charles is regarded as the originator of the soul sound. This song is a joyous declaration of love and in it you can hear both the roots of what was to follow and the reason it's called soul.
Sam Cooke - Bring It On Home To Me
Sam Cooke's smooth vocal style is one of the greatest in soul music, it is also the inspiration for many of the male artists that followed. He was roundly condemned for deserting gospel and starting a career in secular music. This plaintive plea to a departing love shows his talent at its best.
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
I could fill at least three of these playlists with songs by Aretha. She has the voice of angel driven with controlled power. Aretha is a singular talent and there may never be a voice like hers again. She is simply a legend and the first lady of soul.
James Brown - It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World
Master showman, wild man, incredible voice are all apt descriptions of the Godfather of Soul. Brown pushed soul into new areas and is one of the genre's greatest innovators. This song is not politically correct but it shows the range and sheer raw power that Brown could control.
The Supremes - Stop! In The Name Of Love
At the other end of the spectrum was the more commercial sound of Motown. The Supremes were Berry Gordy's premium act and they were one of the most popular groups that soul has ever produced. Stop! is the perfect example of both the amazing songwriting that Gordy had his disposal and the very distinctive sound of his studio.
The Four Tops - Standing In The Shadow Of Love
Motown's male equivalent of the Supremes, the Four Tops were themselves spectacularly successful. They are another of my favourite soul artists and this song is the perfect example of the close harmony singing, fantastic arrangements and sheer joy of Motown at its best.
Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Marvin Gaye began singing the pop/soul songs that were so characteristic of the Motown recordings but he grew into a substantive artist with both critical and commercial success. This song is from early in his career and showcases his apparently effortless vocal style.
Otis Redding - These Arms Of Mine
Atlantic records was the other major record company that produced fantastic soul music. Otis was another man who made singing the most emotionally charged songs sound like it required no effort at all. This is another plaintive love song charged with pain. Otis bares his soul as he declares his sense of loneliness to his absent lover.
Stevie Wonder - Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Stevie Wonder is probably the soul artist who has endured more than any other. If you saw him at Glastonbury a few years ago you would have seen a master of his art with the audience in the palm of his hand. From the late sixties through the early seventies there were very few people pushing the boundaries of music the way Stevie was. This song is an early classic.
Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music
If ever a song expressed the sheer joy of being alive, this is it. From the first blast of horns this song grabs you by the feet and makes you want to dance. If you don't want to move then you might want to make an appointment with your doctor.
There are so many artist and songs that I have had to leave out, it's quite amazing. The sixties saw an explosion of original music and soul was at the very forefront of it. I hope that I have inspired you to investigate some of it for yourself.
Ray Charles - Hallelujah, I Love Her So
Soul music artists came from either a gospel background or like Ray Charles, a Jazz/Blues background. Charles is regarded as the originator of the soul sound. This song is a joyous declaration of love and in it you can hear both the roots of what was to follow and the reason it's called soul.
Sam Cooke - Bring It On Home To Me
Sam Cooke's smooth vocal style is one of the greatest in soul music, it is also the inspiration for many of the male artists that followed. He was roundly condemned for deserting gospel and starting a career in secular music. This plaintive plea to a departing love shows his talent at its best.
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
I could fill at least three of these playlists with songs by Aretha. She has the voice of angel driven with controlled power. Aretha is a singular talent and there may never be a voice like hers again. She is simply a legend and the first lady of soul.
James Brown - It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World
Master showman, wild man, incredible voice are all apt descriptions of the Godfather of Soul. Brown pushed soul into new areas and is one of the genre's greatest innovators. This song is not politically correct but it shows the range and sheer raw power that Brown could control.
The Supremes - Stop! In The Name Of Love
At the other end of the spectrum was the more commercial sound of Motown. The Supremes were Berry Gordy's premium act and they were one of the most popular groups that soul has ever produced. Stop! is the perfect example of both the amazing songwriting that Gordy had his disposal and the very distinctive sound of his studio.
The Four Tops - Standing In The Shadow Of Love
Motown's male equivalent of the Supremes, the Four Tops were themselves spectacularly successful. They are another of my favourite soul artists and this song is the perfect example of the close harmony singing, fantastic arrangements and sheer joy of Motown at its best.
Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Marvin Gaye began singing the pop/soul songs that were so characteristic of the Motown recordings but he grew into a substantive artist with both critical and commercial success. This song is from early in his career and showcases his apparently effortless vocal style.
Otis Redding - These Arms Of Mine
Atlantic records was the other major record company that produced fantastic soul music. Otis was another man who made singing the most emotionally charged songs sound like it required no effort at all. This is another plaintive love song charged with pain. Otis bares his soul as he declares his sense of loneliness to his absent lover.
Stevie Wonder - Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Stevie Wonder is probably the soul artist who has endured more than any other. If you saw him at Glastonbury a few years ago you would have seen a master of his art with the audience in the palm of his hand. From the late sixties through the early seventies there were very few people pushing the boundaries of music the way Stevie was. This song is an early classic.
Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music
If ever a song expressed the sheer joy of being alive, this is it. From the first blast of horns this song grabs you by the feet and makes you want to dance. If you don't want to move then you might want to make an appointment with your doctor.
There are so many artist and songs that I have had to leave out, it's quite amazing. The sixties saw an explosion of original music and soul was at the very forefront of it. I hope that I have inspired you to investigate some of it for yourself.
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