music memories
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A while ago, on my blog, I took a trip down memory lane and highlighted songs that hold special meaning to me. I thought I’d revisit those memories over the next few weeks. When I heard The Mamas and The Papas California Dreamin’ on the radio recently, I was reminded of winters at home when
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I heard it on the radio When it came to radio stations, my father and I clashed. He was a big BBC Radio Two fan and would always listen to the breakfast show. As a teenager I thought it too dated, but it was Dad’s radio, so who was I to argue? Luckily, he had
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A Royal Obsession It was in 1981 that I first took an interest in Princess Diana. I was nine years old and we were on holiday in Torquay. There was quite a furore in the guest house where we were staying: Prince Charles and Lady Diana were getting married that week, and everyone staying there
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My Days as a Duranie I couldn’t believe it – more than thirty-five years after I first fell in love with the pop group Duran Duran, I was going to see them live. My partner had surprised me with tickets as a Christmas present, and I couldn’t wait. Alas, Covid had other plans, but in
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When I was three, I loved watching Andy Pandy and wistfully yearned for a doll like Looby Loo. I sang Humpty Dumpty over and over, completely out of tune much to Mum’s dismay. I had teddy bear pictures on my wall and wore frilly dresses. For today’s three-year-old, it’s a little different and it certainly
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What teenager who grew up in the 1980s doesn’t remember ‘Girls Just Want To have Fun’ by Cyndi Lauper? As an eleven-year-old, I thought Cyndi was amazing. After all, she had pink and orange hair! As a child, I had always been taught to be respectful, to have manners and to toe the line. And
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When I was fourteen, we used to visit my nan most Sundays. She lived a good hour or so away so Mum, Dad and I travelled by car to see her. I didn’t like travelling by car as I’d often feel car sick, but I coped with it by listening to music on my Walkman
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It was the spring of 1993. I was a student at college and lived at home with Mum and Dad. I’d just passed my driving test (after two attempts). I’ll always remember the date I passed – 25th April. It was Mum’s birthday. I hadn’t told her I was taking the test as I wanted
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There I was, eleven years old, glumly trudging round the shops with Mum and Dad, when I saw it – the sign. It was in the shop window of Clarks shoe shop – ‘Free with any pair of school shoes – a Top Ten Single. Exclusive to Clarks’. It was 1983 and I’d just started
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In 1986, my favourite TV programme was Top of the Pops. Every Thursday night, I could be found glued to the TV waiting to hear if my favourite song had made it to the prestigious No.1 slot. Mum and Dad used to moan and groan about the ‘hideous racket’ coming from the TV, but they
Esther Chilton 