Wednesday 30 June 2010

32. Andy Parsons


Andy Parsons, it seems, divides the comedy community. He's a regular panelist on Mock the Week and other light, amusing and, frankly, shoddy panel shows, but there is a body who simply can't stand him. 'Die, die, die', one internet commentator commented. He does have a quality, a certain something which is a little grating. I think that's it's something to do with always being 'in character': on the other hand, check out the bearded baldness. No glasses, but, as Meat Loaf so elegantly reminded us, two out of three ain't bad. Lately, Mr P. has gone for the King Charles beard, something I've always fancied, but never had the balls to try. Maybe at the end of this quest.

Saturday 12 June 2010

31. Moby


I've always liked the cut of Moby's jib. A Christian vegan techno ambient punk ball of smallness, he's managed to keep me interested in whatever he's done since I first saw him playing at the Greenbelt festival in the mid-1990s. I've always had a fondness for 'Feeling So Real', which sounds huge on a good club system. Of course, I've been in nightclubs about twice in my life, but on one of those occasions I was DJ, so I played this. I also played 'Once in a Lifetime', which went down really badly

Thursday 10 June 2010

30. Sophie Joannou


Okay, I'll admit it, this is simply an excuse to put the first photo of my new niece on here. However, my good friend Sarah Appleton tagged the photo with my name on Facebook, so clearly there must be some resemblance. I guess under that hat, she's probably not got so much hair. Perhaps one can picture a tiny pair of black spectacles? But the beard ... I don't think so. Not unless she one day wants a job in a travelling circus from the 1920s.

Wednesday 9 June 2010

29. Mr Lego.


Here's a piece of Lego that looks a bit like me.

28. Ken Bruce



This morning I did my first exam in a long time, hopefully righting a 21 year old wrong. However, as much as I'd like a History GCSE, what I really want to ace is Ken Bruce's 'Popmaster', as heard on Radio 2 every week day at about 10.30am. For years, Mrs E. has encouraged me to phone in and enter but, and I'm happy to admit this, I'm scared. Anyone can do history (honestly - piece of piss; dead easy) but putting my knowledge of popular music up for examination, well that's of a whole different order. What if I don't win? I'd never live it down.

Anyway, I ask you to do some internal photoshopping with the pictures. Ken is either bald and with glasses, or he's bearded and without glasses. Please put the photos together.

Friday 4 June 2010

27. Peter Gabriel


I'm going to make a bold and, indeed, radical statement here: Sledgehammer is the best song of the 1980s. Now I know that I'm talking about a golden age of pop music here and there really were many, many amazing songs around, but Sledgehammer has it all. Lets start with the bass - a groovy, sloopy line that keeps the whole thing moving along nicely. On top there's that amazing synth brass part that is unashamed at being synthesised and the flute part played using a preset sound on the Emulator II. Finally, it all came together in the incredible stop motion video. I urge you all (like there's anyone reading this. No comments so far and only 3 followers!) to check out this live version of Sledgehammer. Who knew that Peter Gabriel was sexy?

Of course, the answer to that should rest in this photo.

Thursday 3 June 2010

26. Al from Toy Story 2.


I love Toy Story, I really do; it's brilliantly observed, full of those little details that one only notices on the fifth viewing and, of course, very funny. No, I have no problem with it at all, except that since the DVD came into the house a fortnight or so ago, my son has, in common with most small boys, become obsessed with it. It's been on at least once a day since then, and sometimes twice. I know the script by heart and, to the annoyance of all, can sing all the songs. Sometimes in tune. Such is young Toby's obsession that he won't move on to the sequel, Toy Story (you guessed it) 2, where we can see the frankly criminal Al, proprietor of Al's Toy Barn and stealer of valuable cowboy toys. If I was really honest, Al looks rather more like my friend Lee Turbard than me, but seeing as Lee has already featured on this blog, it's all good.