Cashing in at Christmas: Christmas songs earn £800,000 Per Year

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Frostie

Take a bow! Noddy Holder, the man who admitted his song ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’ is like winning the lottery each year. He’s never admitted the actual income he receives form the PRS (Performing Rights Society).

The budding team of researchers at Prezzybox have spent the last year adding up all the factors that contribute to a wealthy annual Xmas cheque to find. For the first time here’s a definitive Christmas Royalty Calculator! As you can see here: http://www.prezzybox.com/apps/christmas-song-royalties.aspx the money keeps rolling in, second by second, minute by minute.

This shows the Christmas Songs Royalty Earnings so far in 2013 *Keep checking as it updates every second. In 2013 Noddy Holder has earnt an amazing half a million pounds so far.

Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody £512,000
Pogues – Fairy-tale OF New York £386,270
Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas £347,615
Wham – Last Christmas £301,622
Cliff Richard – Mistletoe & Wine £98,408
Band Aid – Do they Know It’s Christmas £78,030
Shakin’ Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone £53,834
Pretenders – 2000 Miles £45,344
East 17 – Stay Another Day £30,219
John Lewie – Stop The Calvary £13,258

By the 31^st of December Noddy Holder will have made well over £800,000, Whilst Mariah will have raked in £455,000 and the Pogues £520,000, not bad for a year’s work! Our researchers take into account PRS royalties, plays on radio, TV, duke box plays, shop plays and compilation album sales.

Lost Peter Sellers Films Found In Skip & To Be Screened For First Time In 53 Years

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Frostie

Movie equivalent of Dead Sea Scrolls found dumped in skip

Two lost films from Peter Sellers’ early career have been found in a London skip and will be shown to the public for the very first time in 50 years at the Gala Opening of the 2014 Southend Film Festival.

Dearth of a Salesman and Insomnia is Good For You were both made in 1957 by the now defunct Park Lane Films and had been thought to be lost. They were discovered by Robert Farrow when the former film studio’s office building was being cleared

Mr Farrow, who lives in Thorpe Bay, Southend on Sea said: “As the building manager it was my job to oversee that each floor of the property was properly cleared prior to refurbishment back in 1996. I spotted 21 film cans in a skip outside the office block and thought they would be good for storing my Super 8 collection in. I took them home, put them in a cupboard and pretty much forgot about them. During a recent clear out I found them again and decided to see what the tins contained – it was then I realised they were two Sellers films including the negatives, titles, show prints, outtakes and the master print. It was amazing. I knew I had something, but it wasn’t until I called Paul Cotgrove from The White Bus, who organises the Southend Film Festival, that it dawned on me that I’d found something very special indeed.”

“I received Robert’s phone call out of the blue” said Paul, adding: “He said he thought he had some Peter Sellers films and asked if I’d like to show them as part of next year’s Film Festival. Of course, I was interested straight away – but when I did some research I was gobsmacked to see that the two films are widely regarded by film historians as being ’lost’ Peter Sellers movies. Robert’s find is the Dead Sea Scrolls of the Film World.”

Neither Dearth of a Salesman nor Insomnia Is Good For You have been seen in public for over 50 years. Both are short, running for approximately thirty minutes each. Sellers filmed them not long before his first, major starring film role in The Naked Truth – he had already achieved household fame as one of The Goon Show cast on BBC Radio, but was still attempting to make his mark on the big screen. In both movies, Sellers assumes a number of roles, including doing the voiceover in Insomnia is Good

For You – as Paul adds “He almost appears to treat them as show reels to demonstrate to film producers his considerable talents. “

Mr Cotgrove now intends to have the films digitally restored and present them on the opening night of the Southend Film Festival, on 1 May 2014.

The films were co-written by celebrated Canadian screenwriter, author and essayist Mordecai Richler and Dearth of a Salesman is believed to feature Judith Wyler, daughter of the Academy Award-winning film director, William Wyler. However very little is known about either film or how they were made. Paul says “We are busy researching and trying to speak to people who might have been involved in their creation – we’d love anyone who has any information to get in touch with us.”

Dimitris Verionis from The Peter Sellers Appreciation Society says “We are very happy that these films – long considered lost – will be shown again in public. Their screening celebrates the wonderful comic talents of Peter Sellers who was – during the time they were shot- a very popular British radio star (The Goon Show), and right before he reached international stardom. I cannot wait to see them in all their digitally restored glory.”

Drop the Dead Donkey actor Neil Pearson is also a rare books collector and owns the only known remaining Insomnia script. In a recent interview he said: “No biographer of Sellers that I’ve spoken to has managed to find the film. The British Film Institute doesn’t have it. It looks as if it is comprehensively lost. The script is not very good but there were clearly other people in it. He wakes up with his wife – who played her? How come we don’t know this? I’m putting out an APB about it right now.”

Paul hopes that the two films will provide answers to Pearson’s questions – and those of countless film buffs across the globe.

The Life And Times of Nelson Mandela

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Frostie

“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

The people at Ad-Rank were greatly saddened by the passing of Nelson Mandela. His struggle is a true inspiration to us all, having spent 27 years in prison, Mandela emerged from prison as a leader of men who would inevitably take down the apartheid regime and become the first black president of South Africa.

Mandela’s story is a fascinating one that everyone can learn from. Despite terrible treatment, Mandela never treated racism with racism. His dedication to equality, democracy and education will no doubt cement him as one of, if not the most important figures in modern history.

His struggle has undoubtedly made the world a better place, and for this we are forever indebted. Being such an important historic character, we thought it would be a great opportunity to create an infographic to highlight his amazing life story.

The Terrace by Absolute Taste launches in Fenwick, Royal Tunbridge Wells

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

Leading bespoke catering and events company Absolute Taste have launched The Terrace, a new restaurant located within the prestigious department store Fenwick, Royal Tunbridge Wells. Absolute Taste managing director Lyndy Redding and her team have worked closely with Fenwick to create a selection of menus showcasing beautiful and locally sourced produce offering breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea daily. Situated on the popular top floor, the stylish restaurant designed by Brinkworth has increased capacity to 220 covers and now offers outdoor seating on the terrace, hence the name. Whether taking in an early breakfast, in preparation for a busy days shopping or a long and lazy afternoon tea with friends, the venue offers fabulous food in a relaxed environment throughout the whole day.

Absolute Taste has created a contemporary British menu with a selection of hot and cold favourites. Breakfast is either a quick bite (homemade granola or an Absolute Taste homemade muffin), or, for a more substantial morning meal, indulge on delicious eggs Benedict. Guests can enjoy main courses such as the signature Fenwick burger, served with Kent cheddar, smoked bacon, portabella mushroom, tomato chutney and hand cut chips or locally caught fish and hand cut chips with homemade mushy peas. A range of salads are available such as endive, bluebell cheese and Kent apple salad served with caramelised pecan nuts and French dressing, and “pizzettes” on offer include gorgonzola, fig and pear topped with rocket. A traditional roast is available every Sunday.

The perfect destination for families, The Terrace offers a “Little People’s Menu” with a selection of small versions of classic British favourites such as: miniature pork sausages and mash; and grilled chicken with new potatoes and seasonal vegetables. For pudding, children can be treated to the famous Absolute Taste brownie, served with Taywell’s honeycomb ice cream and honeycomb sauce.

Guests visiting for afternoon tea can choose from the counter display piled with delicious homemade cakes, pastries and cookies. A stylish bar serving a range of specially selected wines is the perfect spot for guests to unwind.

Absolute Taste is behind some of the most glamourous and high profile parties worldwide. Lyndy Redding and her team work tirelessly to achieve new culinary goals with their distinguished menus ensuring each event is as memorable as the last. Most notably, Absolute Taste catered for the 2012 London Games and The Winter Whites Gala 2013 for Centrepoint hosted by HRH Duke of Cambridge. They have also just been awarded the coveted Event Caterer of the Year at 2013 Catey Awards.

www.absolutetaste.com

Fenwick Tunbridge Wells, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge wells, Kent TN1 2SR

Thurston Moore joins The Solo Series

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Frostie

Blank Editions continue their Solo Series of limited edition 7″ releases with a new single from Thurston Moore, founding member of Sonic Youth, Chelsea Light Moving and, most recently (and locally!) Thurston Moore UK in February 2014.

The new single sees the ever prolific songwriter deliver two new original compositions, ‘Detonation’, which pays homage to N16

London libertarian and communitarian activists, while the flipside features ‘Germs Burn’, a celebration shout to punk rock secret society love.

Recorded and mixed on the 24th of October 2013 in London by Orlando Leopard with assistance by Charlie Nash and contains art direction and design by Ecstatic Peace Library.

The edition contains:

1. Handcut, numbered, stamped and printed numbered card covers

2. 7” vinyl record

3. Limited edition postcard made especially for this release

Limited hand numbered edition of 500 only.

Pre-order now at blankeditions.com

Thurston Moore will be supporting his Sonic Youth bandmate Lee Ranaldo at The Garage, London on the 21st of November.

MonaLisa Twins Interview | Music

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

We have interviewed MonaLisa Twins, we have featured these talented women, Lisa and Mona Wagner, before but thought it was time to get their own thoughts in their own words.

Have you always wanted to make music?

Lisa: Music has always been a big part of our lives, so it was a very natural thing for us and a smooth transition into being “professional musicians”. The radio was always on and we were constantly singing, even on car rides or in school. As kids we got easily excited for a lot of things: we had a passion for animals, all kinds of art, we loved books, movies and everything that was fun to do. But music stuck with us the most, so yes, we always wanted to “make” music, since we were always doing it anyways, but the wish, dream and passion to really make it our profession, started growing from the age of about 13.

What are the origins of Mona Lisa Twins?

Mona: Since we’re twins we’ve been living together for 19 years now. That’s quite a lot of time, considering that we’ve spent nearly every single day under the same roof. It’s actually a miracle we can still stand each other, but for some odd reason we do.

When we were younger, our Dad ran a recording studio at home, so we have always been messing around there and recorded cute Birthday songs for family members or friends and the like. Music always meant good times and spending time with our Dad. To this day we still work together with him, write the songs and record them in our own studio.

L: So it was all just a really natural development, we grew up and over the years became better and more certain of where we wanted to head with our music. There was no date or year where it all started, but you could mark a family concert back in 2007 as the first milestone of the musical journey.

How would you describe your sound?

M: When we started out covering lots of songs and later to write our own music, we discovered a great passion for the 60s, especially the early beat music. It was the kind of more sophisticated Rock’n’Roll that we were so in awe of. We loved the easy but somehow very powerful songwriting style of that era and tried to integrate as many of the musical elements in our own songs as possible.

L: After listening to loads of 60s bands we were looking for newer groups who wrote in a similar kind of matter, but were a bit disappointed by the lack of it. So we tried to write the kind of songs that we would enjoy listening to. We incorporated many of the elements that we thought made the whole 60s era so special – mainly focusing on interesting, catchy but diversified melodies in our vocals but also guitars, bringing back the strong harmonies and wiry, bright guitar sounds.

What is your favorite Mona Lisa Twins song?

L: This is nearly like having to pick a favorite child! But well, I could say that for our more upbeat songs, I personally am very proud of “This Boy is Mine”, since it really brings the raw 60s Beat music vibe across we were aiming for.

M: For me “The Wide, Wide” land has got a very special place in my heart. We wrote it for our grandma who passed away of Alzheimer, and we first played it at her funeral together with our cousin. It was such an emotional moment, and people seem to connect very well with this song.

What is your favorite non MonaLisa Twins song?

L: Ah, that’s even harder! It normally is some kind of Beatles song, but there are also so many wicked ones to choose from. One of my all-time favorites would be “You’re Gonna Loose That Girl”. As for more recent songs I’ve been listening to John Mayer’s “Born & Raised” album a lot lately and especially love his song “Speak For Me”.

M: Probably “Because” by the Beatles.

Who is your favorite modern, and non modern artist?

M: As for “modern” artists I would probably say John Mayer. I’ve been going through an unhealthy obsession with his music lately, but I just love the way he puts words together with sing-along melodies. Non modern is easy, the Beatles in my opinion will always be the most mind-blowing band that ever existed.

L: It’s hard for me to pick favorites, but for more “recent” bands I enjoy The Belle Brigade, The Arctic Monkey and Josh Pyke to mention a few. Overall I prefer bands from the past, which next to the Beatles would be Donovan, Simon & Garfunkel and Cat Stevens, but the list goes on and on.

Who inspires you?

M: People who do more than you would expect them to. This doesn’t have to be art related at all, but I just get really excited when I hear about stories where people go out of their comfort zones to reach their goals. Everything worthwhile on this world was done by people who are not afraid to try out something different and new and are not constantly held back by the desire to “fit in”. I think that’s what life is all about.

L: I completely agree with that. And of course that would also be my musical heroes and idols from the past and present.

Describe your style.

L: It’s probably best described as reinvented 60s sound. Bright guitar riffs, harmonies, melodic and catchy, but certainly not trivial songs.

What’s next for you?

M: We are planning to release a Live-CD in spring 2014. We played so many shows this last year that it would be a shame if no one got to hear the songs we performed, except the people who saw the shows. So we figured we put out another live record, before going back in the studio to record new original material.

L: We’ll include live versions of our original songs as well as covers. Our voices changed quite a bit, since we recorded the last album, so it should be interesting for our fans to hear how we perform our music these days. Besides that, we are planning to write many more songs and release them as singles one at a time.

Norine Braun “Coventus The Eye Of The Heart” | Music Profile

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Frostie

Artist: Norine Braun

Location: Vancouver BC

Styles: Roots Rock, Blues Rock, Adult Album Alternative, Funk influenced

Similar to: Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, KD Lang, City and Colour, Grace Slick, Sade

CD: Conventus The Eye of the Heart (Advance)

Members/Instruments: Norine Braun vocals and guitar Adam Popowitz lead guitar and bass, Elliot Polsky drums and percussion Alice Fraser keys and Huggybear Leonard blues harp and penny whistle

Production: Adam Popowitz produced and engineered at Rear Window Song and Sound Coquitlam BC

Bio:

Canadian artist Norine Braun bridges the gap between a singer-songwriter and a rock and roll performer with her new release Conventus The Eye of the Heart. Norine Braun’s music falls somewhere in between the intimate, heartfelt approach of folk and the energy of pop, roots rock, just as if Joni Mitchell, kd lang and Colin James would join Patti Smith and Prince for a jam, somewhere in the vast wilderness of the Canadian landscape.

Her music blinks an eye to the past, while firmly looking forward, blending timeless elements such as blues, rock, funk and country and presenting them to the audience with a freshness and balance that are in tune with today’s sensibilities.

Norine’s diverse approach to songwriting and her prowess as a heartfelt performer are the fundaments of her solid reputation within her local scene, and beyond: This talented artist received recognition from events such as L.A. Music Awards, The Best Female Musicians Magazine and many more.

Ever the chameleon, hardworking DIY Norine Braun is set to release her ninth studio album, adding to her impressive and prolific catalogue. “Conventus The Eye of the Heart”, an inspired piece of music centered around the concept of “unions”, something that affected Norine’s life in several disguises. Vancouver’s finest musicians have joined her again on the musical journey for Conventus. Adam Popowitz has produced, engineered and performed guitar and bass on Conventus, Elliot Polsky performs on drums and percussion, Alice Fraser performs on keys and Huggybear Leonard performs on blues harp and penny whistle.

Emotional, heartfelt and eclectic: Norine Braun in 3 words. “Her voice has the viscosity of a jazz crooner, the elegance of a gospel singer, and the heart of a folk or blues artist.” Bryan Rogers

About her latest release, Norine says “Conventus The Eye of the Heart is my new and ninth album born out of life’s unions and struggles. The past couple of years I encountered many unions in different disguises. I was diagnosed and cured of colon cancer. As I lay in my hospital bed last January, I listened to my roughly recorded demos of these songs and I let them show me the way to health. Music was a healing activity that held my interest and focus in my recovery.

This past year I also embraced a most magnificent union. I married my partner of 25 years on Halloween 2012 the anniversary of our first meeting. I watched my partner’s mother dementia advance and witnessed a great love and strength as we moved through this life transition. I looked at the union in my own family of origin relationship and how my life’s journey as an adoptee has greatly shaped who I am. All of these unions, union of self and body, self and spirit, family union, union of love and marriage are found in the creation of these songs and my new album.

This music is not only my story, it’s also your story in fact it’s our story, it’s everybody’s story. We have all known someone who felt lonely, defeated, betrayed, rejected, scared, and yet found the strength to get back up, fight and win. We all know when we find that union with someone, something or within ourselves we can overcome and celebrate and cherish everything. This is what Conventus is about for me. Conventus is a celebration of union and of life”

Websites:

What do you think?

Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines: Eye Witness Report

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Frostie

Aid worker, Sandra Bulling, CARE International, is with CARE’s Emergency Team in the areas affected by the Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Nov. 11, 2013, 19:00 local time

“We arrived by boat at the port in Ormoc City. As soon as we stepped onto the port, we were in the middle of a disaster zone. Everything was destroyed. Tin roofing sheets were hanging off trees like wet blankets.

“All the houses along the coast are completely flattened. Everything is destroyed. Further inland, about 80 percent of the houses are roofless. About five percent of the houses are completely collapsed – these are mainly wooden houses. It seems like everyone we’ve seen has a hammer or tools in their hands, trying to repair their houses and their roofs. People are picking up poles and pieces of wood from the street. There are long queues at hardware stores, pharmacies. We waited in line for two hours to get fuel. So far the roads are okay, but it’s taking a long time to get anywhere.

“I talked to a shop owner whose shop was destroyed; he lost everything. He’s wondering how he’s going to feed his five children. I also met a little girl, who was trying to dry out her books. Her house was totally destroyed, but there she was, worried about her school books, because she wants to go to school. And it’s the only thing she has left.

“We just arrived in Jaro, a small town on the way to Tacloban. It’s dark now, so we can’t go any further. We’re staying in the police station tonight – not sure where we’ll sleep, maybe in the car, or outside. There’s an electricity pole that’s leaning dangerously over the police station, so everyone is trying to steer clear of that. Thank you to the police for letting us use their toilets! Our plan is to go to Dulag, just south of Tacloban. Our driver just came from there, and says it’s very bad, and they need help.

“People are becoming quite desperate. Some officials just came and told us that there has been looting in the area, people trying to get rice for their families. People haven’t had food for three days, and they’re trying to feed their families. That’s why it’s so important to get food and emergency supplies in to these areas as soon as possible. In Ormoc, there was food; we could buy chicken and rice. But there were big queues at the food stalls and shops. We’re in an urban area now, and I don’t even want to think what it’s like the rural areas. We’ll start moving again at first light. I don’t think anyone is going to get any sleep tonight.”

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