Undone

This is my anthem for the summer.

I flipping love Daniel Bashta and his sister Harvest Parker. They are the creative genius behind amazing songs such as 'Like A Lion', 'Pursuit' and 'The Song of the Lamb' and have been covered by everyone from Newsboys and the David Crowder band to Kim Walker-Smith.

Undone is Daniel's latest single and it's been pretty much on repeat in my house for over a week now.

Enjoy.

Sunburn

Today's song is taken from Catatonia's 1998 album International Velvet which was on my CD player for weeks at a time as a teenager. It has some great songs, but my absolute favourite is Don't Need the Sunshine.

I was reminded of it this week as our weather turns colder, but my sunburn shines brightly on. It opens with the lyrics 'It's a most peculiar feeling, like sunburn in the evening...' which was so true this week. Outside, watering the garden in the shiveringly cold air, with my skin still radiating heat did feel very odd.

Catatonia, for those who don't remember them, are a welsh band, fronted by Cerys Matthews. They originally chose the name 'Sweet Catatonia' believing Catatonia to mean extreme pleasure and sleep, but upon discovering it was actually a psychiatric condition they dropped the 'Sweet' part.

The band were fairly successful until Matthews started suffering with anxiety attacks and nervous exhaustions, which resulted in tour dates being cancelled regularly and the deterioration of relationships within the band. It seems some people just are cut out for the pressures associated with fame, even if they do have the talent to get there. The band dissolved in 2001 and although Matthews continues a solo career, it's a quieter one than Catatonia enjoyed with less promotional activities.

Just a little Kiss

It's summer-y weather again and I couldn't resist bringing one of Will's favourite songs out this week. It's from the 'A Monster in Paris' Soundtrack and is sung by Vanessa Paradis.

We saw this movie at the cinema with the kids and loved it so much I've bought the DVD for Mamie's birthday (shhhh! it's a secret)!

Vanessa Paradis is a beautiful woman with a beautiful voice, and as if that wasn't enough to make you jealous she's been dating Johnny Depp for 14 years and has two children with him.

But enough about her, this is such a feel good song, which never fails to lift my spirits. Un P'tit Baiser - or Just a Little Kiss.

Coconut Woman

It's so sunny this morning!

It's getting me excited that summer is just around the corner. I know we're predicted frost soon, but in good faith I have been getting out some of my favourite summertime artists to listen to.

One of the best is Harry Belafonte. Nothing screams summer like one of his albums (except the Christmas ones -  although even they have a somewhat tropical feel....).

The first time I heard Harry Belafonte was in his song 'Jump In The Line' for the movie 'Beetlejuice' and it's still one of my favourite songs. Me and the kids dance around the kitchen to it A LOT. Apparently he is best known for the Banana Boat song though.

Although Harry was a brilliant singer, song writer and actor, perhaps one of the most significant parts of his career is that he has been a social activist fighting for civil rights and humanitarian causes since his rise to popularity in the 1950s. In fact, Belafonte was one of Martin Luther King Jrs friends and confidants - raising thousands of dollars in concerts to bail him and others out of prison on numerous occasions.

Despite being a massively interesting guy, politically and socially, he is also responsible for bringing Caribbean style music to US popularity.

This is one of our family favourites - The Coconut Women. It's a fun song, especially the tonuge in cheek parts about drinking rum making you 'dance like a gypsy'. My kids love it and we always end up dancing and giggling when we listen.

Hope you enjoy it in preparations for summer.