Doug Berger – Page 159

July 10, 2005April 18, 2020

Tara Blaise: Another singer to gush over.

Tara Blaise
Ok, I am going to gush again about a female singer who melted my heart once again with a siren’s voice. I don’t know what it is about the female voice that turns me into goo. I am also pissed that my new discovery is from Ireland which means I will have to work extra hard to see and hear her music.

My newest discovery is Tara Blaise. As I said she hails from Ireland. She sang on the record made my The Corr’s manager John Hughes titled “Wild Ocean” and he signed her to his record label.

Her debut album, “Dancing On Tables Barefoot”, came out July 4th in the UK and Ireland and her first single “Paperback Cliche'” is the 2nd most played single in Ireland (U2 is 1st).

Her style is popish with lush strings and a full band – my favorite.

Of course she is not bad on the eyes either.

Tara’s Official Site

July 9, 2005April 18, 2020

Photo sparks a memory

I was checking out the Friday edition of the Findlay Courier (my hometown) online and came across a photo on the first page. It was a young kid playing chess with an older man with large wrap around sun glasses. He looked familiar.

It was Glen Shelton. He taught me how to play chess when I was the boy’s age many moons ago. Mr. Shelton would visit my elementary school (Bigelow Hill) once or twice a month and those of us interested would learn and play chess during our recess period. He taught us the basics and introduced us to some of the opening moves and strategy.

To me it was better than playing four square or “smear-the-queer”. I liked having to think ahead and use my brain in a fun way.

The twist was that Mr. Shelton is blind. The board he used had the white squares raised and the black chess pieces had their tops shaved flat. The pieces also had pegs that fit into holes in the center of the squares so they wouldn’t shift.

Not only did he teach us chess but he also taught us about people with a disability. I remember when he first visited kids would ask him about his blindness. He would answer the questions and that would be that. Back to the chess.

http://www.thecourier.com

June 28, 2005April 18, 2020

Corrs debut new tunes in Paris

This weekend I had the chance to watch and listen to short gig my favorite band The Corrs gave as part of French RTL2 network. It was a private concert in that one had to be invited to it but they broadcast it live over the radio and had a video feed on their website. The Corrs were one of several acts to perform.

The gig marked the debut of 4 songs from their upcoming album tentatively titled “Home” that according to lead singer Andrea would be released in September or October.

The songs were (all titles are tentative at this point) Black is the Color, Lagan Love, Heart Like A Wheel, Old Hag You Killed Me. There had been speculation and from band interviews that the new album would return to the traditional sound they had on their first album “Forgiven Not Forgotten”. There would be more emphasis on traditional Irish sounds and from the preview presented over the weekend, it seems that is what the new album will feature.

My favorite of the evening was Lagan Love but they were all good. I like their rock and pop but I like the traditional sounds as well.

The band also told an RTL2 person they plan to tour in support of the album. I really hope they come to North America.

Their next gig is scheduled for July 6th, in Scotland, as part of the Live 8 series of concerts to end poverty in Africa and around the world.

Corrs Official Website

June 25, 2005April 18, 2020

Small site change

Back in February I started a forum project focusing on the 1970’s and 1980’s. It was called Our Generation.

Today I announce the end of that forum.

Simply no one visited or contributed.

That’s the Internet I guess.

June 9, 2005April 18, 2020

Passing on “War of the Worlds”

At the end of June, uber Director Steven Spielberg and ultra uber actor Tom Cruise come to the theaters with a remake of the HG Wells novel “War of the Worlds”.

In case you aren’t aware of the material, aliens invade Earth and Earth loses the war. A plot twist then has the aliens dying off and the Earth is free once more.

After seeing the trailers recently, I have decided to take a pass on the movie.

It isn’t because of the people involved. I enjoy the movies from both Spielberg and Cruise. The reason I am not going to see “War of the Worlds” is because it is too possible of a reality.

I can’t imagine anyone who watched the plane flying into the south tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001 and then watching both towers collapse live enjoying a movie that shows a lot of major death and destruction – even computer generated. I know I can’t – not anymore.

I want to watch a movie as an escape and “War of the Worlds” isn’t an escape for me. Especially with the current war in Iraq.

I’m sure there is some political motive behind the movie as there was in the Wells novel and I applaud that but the fake mayhem just pales in comparison to real life.

So, I think I will spend my movie dollars to continue my Lindsay Lohan fixation and see “Herbie: Full Loaded” which opens June 22nd.