The Good Pub Guide - Part 3

So, now to continue the great booze fuelled nostalgia trip where I recount my memories of each pub and bar that I have visited in Brighton and Hove in my adult life to date. So far I have taken in the Queens Park and Hanover areas which are rich in said establishments, I have paid a visit to North Laine, Seven Dials and the area surrounding Brighton Station, each being areas providing bountiful refuelling options. And I have also returned to old haunts along Lewes Road. Now in this third part of the story, I am going to head to one of Brighton's most popular drinking areas, The Lanes. This is an area which is choc full of some of Brighton's most renowned and iconic pubs, and indeed some of its oldest.

When I say The Lanes, I should qualify exactly what area I am covering. The major thoroughfare of North Street effectively marks the boundary between the areas the local press would call North Laine and The South Lanes (no-one in Brighton actually uses the word 'South' to describe this area). So, I am including in this instalment any pubs I have visited that are found on North Street or into the Lanes and am also including any pubs found on East Street, going through The Lanes and then up to and including Ship Street. I am not at this stage including pubs found in Middle Street and the Metropolis they call West Street. These will feature in the instalment of this journey that covers the Clock Tower and Western Road pubs, as West Street is, after all, immediately south of the aforementioned Brighton landmark. For the purposes of housekeeping, I will also include pubs and bars located on the South Lanes side of the Royal Pavilion.

There are quite a number of pubs in this area and I have visited the vast majority of them, so it may transpire that an entire blog is required to cover all of them. However, if I have time, I will move on to talk about the pubs situated in and around London Road and the St Peter's Church area. These will include any pubs I have visited that are situated on London Road and its satellite streets, extending as far as London Road station as the northern boundary, while also including pubs found around St Peter's Church. The natural boundaries here will be The Level as the most northerly and Grand Parade/The Royal Pavilion as the furthest south.

Now that we are hopefully clear on the housekeeping, let's get down to business. Is anyone going to the bar?

EAST STREET, NORTH STREET & THE LANES

74. The Sussex
It is always useful to have a pub in immediate proximity to a taxi rank at the end of a productive evening in the refuelling stakes, and The Sussex's location certainly provides that option. A word of warning though, the English disease of queuing is always in evidence at this rank on a Saturday night. Back to the subject in hand though, and The Sussex is one of a cluster of largely unspoilt, classic Brightonian pubs found in that area. A small selection of ales are on offer, along with the usual branded lager monsters. Furniture wise, The Sussex offers a mixture of standard bar-stool fare, as well as the odd comfortable, if slightly tatty, sofa. There is also outdoor seating at the front of the pub which gives The Sussex more of a continental European ambience, especially as there is a chance to mingle with passers-by and customers at nearby restaurants. The Sussex has changed very little in the whole time I have visited it and although it does have a slightly disshevelled feel to the place, it does retain a certain charm which overrides this. It's not really a pub where you would plan to spend an entire evening, but given the selection of establishments in such a small area, many people would not be looking to settle in one place for the duration anyway. Perfectly adequate, if unspectacular. Rating 7/10

75. Pump House
Just a couple of kicks of a plastic glass up the alleyway from The Sussex is one of Brighton's oldest and most beautiful pubs, The Pump House. Like The Sussex and also its near neighbour The Druids Head (more of which shortly), the Pump is a place has changed very little in its appearance in the entire decade and a half in which I have attended it. This is despite some significant renovation work needing to take place to the front of the pub around four years ago after fights between rival football supporters resulted in several thousand pounds worth of damage, resulting in the pub's closure for a few months. Fortunately, the pub eventually re-opened and was restored to its former glory. The pub is compartmentalised into four main seated areas, all of which tend to be at full capacity on most Saturday nights of the year. Its clientele is mixed, ranging from 20-somethings heading in for a quick pint or two before going to a club, up to older couples and family gatherings. There are some comfortable sofas and snugs in the back room of the pub, while the seated area around the fireplace located at the front of the bar is a popular vantage point on a cold winter's night. The Pump House is a classic pub in Brighton because it does the simple things well and you will find very few born and bred Brightonians who have not visited it at some point. My only criticisms of the pub are that it could possibly have a more diverse range of drinks on tap and, even on a Saturday night, it closes relatively early (midnight at weekends) compared to some inferior establishments. These minor quibbles aside, a couple of drinks at the Pump House are essential if you find yourself in the area. Rating 9/10

76. The Druids Head
Two doors up from the Pump is another one of Brighton's oldest and most renowned pubs. The Druids was reputedly haunted according to someone I know who went on a ghost walk. I'm not sure about that, but it was famed for having a potman that worked there for over 30 years and who continued helping out well into his 80s. Although it is located so close to the Pump House, the Druids Head has a very different vibe to it. If you look upon the Pump as The Beatles, the Druids acts as the Rolling Stones of the piece. It is very much the Pump's rebellious brother and it attracts a curious mixture of eccentrics among its clientele. It possibly isn't the best location for a basketball team to spend a night out though, owing to its low ceilings, meaning that even a shorty like myself has to duck when walking through from the bar. If you like contrasts, the Druids is worth a visit after you have been to the Pump. Its drinks are on the pricey side, although that is becoming increasingly commonplace in Brighton and beyond. The Druids lacks the comfort that the Pump House provides, but it compensates for this in character. Rating 7/10

77. The Fishbowl
Those that have been absent from Brighton for a number of years will claim not to have heard of The Fishbowl. That is probably true, but they will remember the place by another name. On the corner of East Street and Pool Valley, the pub was called The Greyhound from its birth at the beginning of the seventeenth century right up until the 1990s when the pub refurbished and rebranded in order to attract a younger clientele. It is difficult to determine whether the present name was chosen because of the compact nature of the pub, which can be a tight squeeze on a busy night, or whether it is a reference to the pub's origins when it was frequented by fishermen. The Fishbowl is something of a Marmite phenomenon among Brightonian drinkers as it polarises opinion between those that like it as a vibrant venue that is open late, and those that feel it lacks the soul of its predecessor. Not being old enough to have drunk in the place when it was The Greyhound, it can only assess it as I find it now and on that basis, I think The Fishbowl is a decent boozer. Sure, it is a bit of a pig in lipstick, but it is far from the only establishment like that in Brighton. East Street has become a more mainstream area as a whole in recent years, but The Fishbowl is still accessible for people of all ages and backgrounds. Don't get there often these days, but it is a perfectly acceptable place to stop off for one on a night out. Rating 7/10

78. The Varsity (previously The Prodigal)
As East Street has become more mainstream, so its venues have tended to get swallowed up by chain pubs. In its guise as The Prodigal, the pub was owned by the same chain that runs the eyesore airport departure lounge that they call The Providence in Hove. The same soulless features that plague The Providence were equally evident at its Brighton sister bar. It was a popular venue though, owing to its proximity to the nightclub scene and also its drinks discounts during the week. New owners took over the place around 2-3 years ago and it is now under the Varsity umbrella of bars. The last time I visited, from memory, was on a weeknight a couple of years ago and it was noticeably deserted. That said, it is unlikely to be short of punters on a Saturday night when East Street is full of people traffic. Drinkers who flock to where the crowds are and where the 'action' is might like this venue at weekends, but it is of considerably limited appeal for everyone else. Rating 4/10

79. The Toad In The Picturehouse
So named due to it being situated on the site of the former ABC Cinema in East Street (although that doesn't explain 'The Toad' reference!), this venue first opened as a bar just over a decade ago under the aforementioned name. I only recall visiting on a couple of occasions and the second time was towards the end of a very heavy night. That pretty much summed up The Toad really, you would need to be in a fairly intoxicated state to consider going there! Not too long after my second visit, the bar made headlines locally for the wrong reasons due to a serious criminal incident that occurred on the premises. This effectively marked the end of the road for The Toad (I'm a poet and I didn't know it) and the venue was closed and boarded up for a couple of years at least, before last year a local leisure entrepreneur added the bar to their portfolio of going concerns, also adding a restaurant. Although no longer The Toad, it still appears to tap into the mainstream audience of its predecessor, even if it looks grandiose from the outside. Although it wasn't a frog, it certainly wasn't a prince either. Rating 3/10

80. Lola Lo (formerly Po Na Nas)
I think I have the name right, although the bar I am thinking of has had quite a number of name changes over the years. Located towards the bottom of East Street, the bar is something of a pre-club venue for revellers and a club alternative for those once hardened drinkers now beginning to reach for the Werthers Original. Not an easy place to hold a conversation, but I don't think this is a venue you would attend to put the world to rights. Those that like to go somewhere that plays some pumping dance tunes, interspersed with some mainstream pop might find some appeal here, but that said, when I last visited a few months ago, I thought the acoustics were terrible. This is a venue for 20-somethings rather than old flatulents though. Rating 4/10

81. The Pitcher & Piano
The name itself should be a giveaway. Everything in the name suggests pretention and visions of grandeur and guess what, that is exactly what the Pitcher & Piano is. A soulless, up-its-seated position trendy wine bar which sells all the usual periodic table on tap but at luxury prices. The venue does have DJs and a suitable area in which to have a dance, but there shouldn't be any danger of dancefloor collisions as it is rare to see the place packed out. Somewhere for the more discerning chav, if that is not an oxymoron. Rating 3/10

82. Doctor Brightons
Every now again it is good to be able to say that you have been proved wrong about somewhere, after having formed unfair perceptions based on what other people have said. One such occasion would be when I visited Doctor Brightons on a night out the year before last. Not exactly located ideally for where I normally venture on a night out, the group of friends I was with ended up stopping off for a couple of drinks here that evening. Famed as having one of the most prominent gay clienteles in Brighton, it was noticeable how people of disparate ages, gender and sexual orientation were all able to mix in sweet harmony on my one and only visit to date. I can think of other venues where the customers are drawn from a particular group or demographic where an 'us and them' culture can poison the atmosphere, but to Dr Brighton's testament, this did not seem to be the case there. There is some comfortable seating at the front of the bar and a pool table at the back, which proved popular. On the basis that others may also have formed an ill informed perception of Dr Brightons without having visited it, I think it is fair to regard it as one of Brighton's underrated establishments. Rating 7/10

83. The Pavilion Tavern
There was a phase during my twenties when the Pavilion Tavern, or 'Pav Tav' which it is inevitably abbreviated to, became the regular meeting place of choice for a Friday or Saturday night out on the town. Looking back, I am at a loss to think of why such loyalty was shown to such a dingy, uninspiring establishment. Located almost opposite the grounds to the Royal Pavilion and a few doors down from the junction with East Street, the Pav Tav has always been a favourite pre-club venue for the mainstream socialiser. During the day, when the pub is much quieter, it has tended to be a popular location for older people, especially visitors to Brighton where the pub's location is conducive to attracting this type of trade. Once the sun sets though, the Pav Tav becomes a no-go zone for the over-30s. Towards the back of the pub, there were two pool tables to be found. Unfortunately, these only seemed to be in service every so often, probably due to some of the less tolerant players taking their ineptitude at the table out on the equipment. The Pav Tav serves as a gateway en route to the clubs, but I always found it a rundown and somewhat unloved venue that attracted a few bad eggs. There was (and presume still is) a club upstairs that played a mix of old and new indie tunes and which became a popular haunt with clientele that previously attended 'The Gloucester' nightclub. Club nights there were generally decent fare at more affordable prices than the West Street joints. This is not a review of nightclubs, however, and as such I would advise giving the Pav Tav the swerve. Rating 4/10

84. Haha Bar
In the pedestrianised approach to the grounds of the Pavilion is a trendy brasserie, with a large analogue clock on the front of the building. Until recently this establishment went by the name of the Haha Bar, part of a national chain, but the last time I was in the area, I noted there had been a change of name. In a part of town where dining options are in plentiful supply, Haha Bar was essentially a restaurant within a bar. Its cuisine had slight leanings towards Americana, with the usual burger options, but also had included other world cuisines within its menu options. From recollection, the food on my few visits there was perfectly decent without quite reaching cordon bleu level. By now, you may have detected that Haha's gastronomic qualities were pretty much its unique selling point. And that is a pretty neat synopsis. Haha was a place where you could eat and drink in simultaneous motions before heading on to somewhere nearer the hub of the action. I expect that tradition remains true under its new identity. Rating 6/10

85. Casa (otherwise known as Saggara)
After spending some time as a derelict building, the site of a former bank on the corner of Bond Street and North Street was converted into a trendy bar aimed at the affluent, professional working drinker around about the turn of the millennium. Ever since, this site has continued to cater for the refuelling needs of this demographic without quite hitting the spot, despite several attempts and several name changes. I recall two visits to this site, quite a few years apart, and found the venue to have some comfortable upholstery, but a less comforting atmosphere. On my latter visit, the venue had more of a focus on being a sports bar, with a few televisions adorning the walls. Subsequently, the venue closed before re-opening towards the end of last year as a JD Wetherspoons pub, which will probably mean a departure from the sports bar phase but more of a focus on discounted drinks, which is likely to mean more of a student clientele. The building itself is impressive, but it is just a shame it has not been utilised correctly since it started being used by the leisure industry. Rating 4/10

86. Hot Shots
There will be Brightonian people of a certain age (by that I mean people in their early 30s) who will recall this long forgotten bar on North Street, just down from the Clock Tower. Back in the bleak midwinter of 1996, or possibly the beginning of 1997, a brand new bar opened in the centre of town which would cater for the late teens and early 20s group looking for a place where they could watch the big match on a large screen, while also having opportunity to participate in other activities. My memory might be playing tricks, but I think there was a ten pin bowling area at the venue. Then upstairs, was Jumpin' Jaks, a revolutionary venue back in the mid-1990s in as much as it was Brighton's premier line dancing hotspot. In hindsight, quite how this mish-mash of a business model could ever have been expected to be a success is a mystery and sure enough, Hot Shots' tenure was as brief as it was interesting, gone as it was within a year. The building which once housed this innovative project is now home to Sports Soccer. Memories of the night I went to Hot Shots are more about the company I kept, including someone who is no longer with us, than it is of the place itself. Rating 6/10

87. The Font
It is not often that you can honestly say that you have spent the evening having drinks in a Grade 2 listed building, but such a boast is possible every time you visit The Font, which originally carried the obligatory and in this case alliterative suffix that came with being a Firkin chain pub. As the name suggests, The Font is located on the site of a former church. Not just any church though, it is on the site of the former Union Chapel and has been used for drinking purposes for the past two decades, although it was awarded listed status 40 years ago. While the exterior makes it quite obvious what the building's former raison d'etre was, the layout and presentation inside more resembles that of a theatre, with curtains adorning the tops of the staircases on entry to the first floor and a long balcony which bears some similarity to an auditorium. Since its beginning, The Font has primarily targeted the mass market and is always one of the first bars in Brighton that people will associate with live football. There was a time when its television sets outnumbered its bar staff, although the balance has been redressed in recent years. Some of the best matches I have watched in terms of atmosphere have been at The Font, the best of which was the Euro 2000 final between France and Italy which was electric and was devoid of the unnecessary aggro and poison that often seems to punctuate watching an England match in the pub. My last visit was to watch the World Cup final last year, which again was a lively occasion with plenty of Spanish supporters in the house. Strangely, the tapas bar across the way stayed open quite late that night! Other than live sports, The Font is also renowned as a live music venue and there is usually some act or another performing live in what would have been the pulpit in the building's previous life, although the acts are invariably singers or bands covering songs used on Guitar Hero rather than performing their own material. Overall, The Font tries a bit too hard to be a bar for all seasons and tastes and given its populist appeal, it can a nightmare getting served on weekend nights. There are fewer watering holes in Brighton, however, that are more aesthetically pleasing. Rating 6/10

88. The Bath Arms
Opposite The Font and next door to Casa Don Carlos' tapas restaurant is The Bath Arms and here is an establishment that is the polar opposite to The Font in far more than just their respective locations. If The Font is largely catering for a younger audience and is serving as a pre-club venue for many of its typical weekend visitors, then The Bath Arms is a far more traditional, old-fashioned English boozer which is patronised by, well, traditional, old-fashioned English boozers. Most of this pub's seating arrangements cater for large groups and that makes it an ideal venue for after work drinks, especially as it does have an extensive food menu. It also has a piano in one corner of the pub, although I have never seen anyone tinkle its ivories, nor do I believe this to be encouraged. It makes for an odd choice of prop though. An unspoilt pub, I can recall seeing a customer once retrieving something he had put on the shelf on his previous visit a year earlier without anyone having noticed it or removed it in the intervening period. The Bath Arms has a good, friendly vibe and for those that like their pubs to be clean, unpretentious and welcoming, at the expense of being at the heart of the action, then The Bath Arms is likely to be to your poison of choice. It is about time I made a return visit after having avoided the place for a while after finding myself having a pointless argument with a doorman over a completely trivial misunderstanding. This is no reflection on the pub itself. Rating 8/10

89. The Lanes End (subsequently Leo's Lounge)
Having made one reference to a flashpoint I had with a member of door staff, this brings me neatly to our next destination, where I had another one. I should emphasise at this point that I am a peace loving guy at the heart of all this! I first visited this bar when it was called The Lanes End back in the winter of 2000 for a private party for someone's birthday on my university course. The party itself was enjoyable, although the venue was less so, and I seem to recall there was something of an alcohol shortage that evening. That was the only night that I actually provided any custom at these premises, but fast forward to a couple of years later and I recall having a disagreement with a doorman who wouldn't let me follow my friend in due to my 'bad attitude'. Quite how such an assessment was made when I had not said a word rankled with me and so I stood my ground, but it was all futile and pointless, especially as my friend had only gone in to have a look round and we had no intention of staying for a drink. Although I have passed this place hundreds of times since, I have not returned for a drink and am not in any hurry to buck that trend. Rating 2/10

90. Beiderbecks
Compiling this list was generally a straightforward exercise, but I had to consult my grey matter about certain establishments that I might have visited once on particularly long and arduous evenings for one drink and about which I remember little. Upon tapping into my recall more intensely, I built up a picture of a small bar in the middle of The Lanes that I could vaguely recollect was the last calling point before everyone dispersed in a drunken haze on a Christmas Eve night out late in the 1990s, back when people still bothered to go out on the night before Christmas. The only thing was trying to remember its name. After consulting the memory bank still further, I remembered it was called Beiderbecks. Alas, Beiderbecks is no more these days, although it appears to be home to a restaurant in its place. Other than these bald details, I cannot remember anything about my one and only visit there. Rating 5/10

91. The Cricketers
Some of Brighton's oldest and most popular city centre pubs have already been mentioned, but let's get on to one of the really big hitters. It is a point of conjecture, but it is widely believed that The Cricketers is Brighton's oldest public house of the lot, dating back to the sixteenth century. It is certainly one of its most universally popular and appears to hold an appeal with drinkers of all ages. As the name suggests, it pays homage to those white flannelled fools, although not to the degree that The Sussex Cricketer in Hove does which is decorated in cricketing pictures and memorabilia. That can be explained by its location next to Hove cricket ground though. The Cricketers is large by conventional pub standards and it has an upstairs seating area and a bar is sometimes available on that floor too. There is also a Function Room which tends to have a private party taking place in it more weekends than not. Many a wedding reception has been held here. There is also a small insulated beer garden at the rear of the pub, which is invariably at full capacity. From memory, I think The Cricketers is a Greene King pub these days and so the choice of ales tends to favour these brewing giants, which will be off-putting to those that regard them as the Devil Incarnate. Still, there is a lot right with The Cricketers that makes the place worth a visit and it is rooted in history. Reputedly Graham Greene's watering hole of favour, The Cricketers is indeed a Brighton Rock. Rating 7/10

92. The Black Lion
Not to be confused with The Black Lion in Patcham, which will feature in a later instalment of this series, The Black Lion is next door to The Cricketers on Black Lion Street, separated only by a footpath that serves as a shortcut for revellers trying to find their way to the nightclubs. Located just up the road from Jamie Oliver's Brighton restaurant, The Black Lion has generally been positioned as a more youthful oriented establishment than The Cricketers, but has never quite struck gold. That isn't to say that it is unpopular and its location means that it generally attracts plenty of passing trade. My point is that The Black Lion does not quite seem to know exactly what it wants to be as a pub and so it ends up not really satisfying anyone. The decor is warm and cosy and the place is quite clean, compared to some licenced premises in the city. Unlike The Cricketers though, it is really difficult to hold a conversation in when the pub is busy. The acoustics leave a lot to be desired, added to which there is often a DJ playing that is a prohibitive barrier to conversation. Compared to when I first attended The Black Lion, the pub is more welcoming now than it was back then and it has rooted out the trouble element. It just needs to rid itself of its identity crisis and decide whether it wants to be a traditional pub or a trendy bar in order to keep up with The Cricketers. Rating 6/10

93. The Mesmerist (previously Old Orleans)
If Derek Trotter ever found occasion to spend a night out in Brighton, the chances are he would have popped down to Old Orleans, arguably Brighton's most well known and popular cocktail bar. Unlike a lot of cocktail joints, however, regular alcoholic drinks have always been available on tap and by the bottle there too, which often leads to a curious mix of waifs, strays and eccentrics hanging out in what you suspect had originally been intended as a high class joint. While the downstairs has always been a glorious cocktail of hedonistic pleasure seekers dancing the night away and knocking back Tom Collins' like there's no tomorrow, the upstairs was home to a restaurant of predominantly Americana influences. While these were not the most nutritious meals you could sample, I found the portions generous and the service exemplary. After a hiatus of about five years, I recently returned with a friend on a night out over Easter to discover Old Orleans was no more, and now goes by the name of 'The Mesmerist'. The general vibe and layout of the joint remains the same and there are plenty of drinking options to keep the non-cocktail drinker interested. It now has more of a retro, jazz feel to the place, something like I assume a 1920s American 'Speak-easy' would have felt like. It is now a venue for regular live music, especially supporting local jazz and brass influenced musicians. It still remains an acquired taste, but it would appear to be the kind of establishment you can visit for a quick drink or two once in a blue moon, just to try something different. Rating 6/10

94. The Smugglers
For keen pool players, there is one pub in Brighton which stands out as the place to go to shoot a few games. Situated towards the bottom of Ship Street, The Smugglers is home to seven pool tables, as well as a bar billiards table and a table football surface. There are also fruit and gaming machines to be found adjacent to the bar. The Smugglers is very much a brash, noisy, flashing lights kind of bar on a Friday or Saturday night, with television screens and a resident DJ on the decks only adding to that 'playing to the mainstream' feel. Curiously, if you were to visit the place at any other time of the week, it resembles an unloved white elephant. As someone who does enjoy playing pool, I am a semi-regular visitor to the pub and for the most part, it serves this purpose well, although waiting for a game on a Saturday when the place is particularly busy can be a drawn out process, as there is no exact 'winner only stays on' rule in force here, added to which one of the tables at least will be out of service on any given week. After a spate of thefts, IDs need to be provided in order to be given a cue ball from behind the bar, which seems to be a heavy handed approach to addressing the issue. Take the pool tables out of the equation though and there is not much else to recommend about The Smugglers. Given the extortionate price of drinks, your pool session is unlikely to be a long one. It's a one trick pony and even then the one trick is only performed adequately, but due to the chance of getting a game because of the number of tables, it still gets repeat business. Rating 5/10

95. Seven Stars (formerly O'Neills)
If you hang around Brighton for long enough, theme pubs that changed their identity will eventually revert back to their original name. And so it has proved with Seven Stars, the original name for the long standing pub in a listed building at the upper end of Ship Street, opposite the entrance to The Lanes. For some years, the pub was an O'Neills chain pub and was the usual chain pub standard identikit fare that you come to expect. There was nothing inherently bad about this and some live music sets on a Friday night would get people actively taking to the dancefloor, but chain pubs rarely stir the soul or hold the level of atmosphere of more conventional pubs. What did give O'Neills a competitive advantage back in the day was that, before the licensing laws changed, it was one of the few bars in Brighton that held a late licence. This is something that is difficult to comprehend now, but back in the early part of the last decade, O'Neills did benefit in terms of custom because of this, especially at weekends. It is a few years now since the Seven Stars restoration occurred and I have only been back a handful of times since. The venue seems to remain a live music haunt and has positioned itself as a gastropub with a growing reputation. My only observation is that it still seems to be finding it difficult to pull in the punters at weekends, just as O'Neills failed to in its latter days. A perception possibly still lingers on that the venue is a soulless and sleepy, middle of the road establishment with overpriced drinks, such is the legacy left by O'Neills. Rating 5/10

96. The Sussex Arts Club Bar
I was not sure whether I should include this venue in the tally or not, seeing as how this is a definitive list of pubs and bars I have visited, and does not include nightclubs. These edges are blurred still further by my only visit to this venue being last thing at night, or more likely, first thing in the morning. The circumstances of my one visit were that I was on a works do numerous years ago. A conservative estimate says ten sounds about right. Anyway, our posse was trying to ponder where they could get in late at night and it so happened that one of our number was a member of the Sussex Arts Club Bar and as he had a pass with him, he could let the rest of us in free of charge. I remember the club bar being quite a small area, but the service was friendly and everyone seemed to have a good time. And a decade or so later, I have not set foot in the place since. Rating 6/10


97. Mitre Tavern
98. Druids Arms
99. Northern Tavern
100. Leek & Winkle
101. Bat & Ball
102. St Peters Bar
103. Hobgoblin
104. Branch Tavern
105. The World's End
106. Hare & Hounds
107. Stanford Arms
108. Cobblers Thumb
109. Open House
110. Pressure Point
111. Hectors House
112. King & Queen
113. The Harlequin

The Brit Awards 2011 - predictions and general ramblings

Friends, Romans, countrymen and fans of Chris Moyles.

Once again the Brit Awards are upon us, being televised later this week, hosted by the ubiquitous yet strangely unfunny James Corden, who is apparently donating his entire fee for hosting the event to Comic Relief. Well, he'd have only spent it on pies otherwise. Here's my predictions for this year's categories, along with who my personal selections would be.

BEST MALE (Mark Ronson, Paul Weller, Plan B, Robert Plant, Tinie Tempah)
Well, Tinie Tempah holds the distinction this year of being nominated for 4 awards, which past history tells us probably means he will end up winning none of the awards for which he has been shortlisted. Personally, I'd disqualify him on the grounds that his name alone has a negative impact on the standard of literacy in schools. Plan B has had what would be termed a major breakthrough year. So much so that you wonder just how successful he could have been had he stuck to Plan A. Mark Ronson as usual released some kind of experimental album where he probably mixed the Uzbekistani national anthem with an early 90s dance classic, while I was blissfully unaware of Paul Weller releasing anything last year. Strange but refreshing to see this category Robbie Williams free, but somewhat disappointing that Fyfe Dangerfield who contributed the cover version of 'She's Always A Woman To Me' to the John Lewis advert, taken from a pretty impressive debut solo album, was overlooked in this category. You'd have to say that Plan B and the rapper with the glasses and the misspelt short fuse are the 2 likely winners here, but I'm sticking to the formbook and giving this to Plan B.
MY PREDICTION: Plan B MY SELECTION: In the absence of Fyfe Dangerfield, probably Plan B

BEST BRITISH FEMALE (Cheryl Cole, Ellie Goulding, Laura Marling, Paloma Faith, Rumer)
Hmm, this is a tricky one to call because all of these acts have their supporters and their individual merits. In fact, it is some indictment of the strength around at the moment amongst the female of the species that Adele who has just returned with a new album was not nominated, and neither were Corinne Bailey Rae, Amy MacDonald or KT Tunstall, who each had prolific years in 2010. Cheryl Cole seems to be something of a national treasure these days, although I think that is more for her aesthetic qualities rather than her musical ones. Ellie Goulding is certainly becoming popular in the mainstream, although I personally thought her rendition of 'Your Song' butchered Elton John's original. Laura Marling is quite well known in the folk music scene which is flourishing at the moment, but I would be surprised to see her win the popular vote here. Paloma Faith being nominated will get people excited as she is bound to wear a big hat for the occasion. Musically, Rumer is the best nominee out of all of these as she has an excellent, soulful voice, but for all that, she has had limited commercial success which you tend to need in order to win one of these awards. Cheryl Cole's status as the Queen of Hearts gives her a big chance, but I have an inkling Ellie Goulding's status as the 'in thing' at the moment gives her the edge in this category.
MY PREDICTION: Ellie Goulding MY SELECTION: Rumer

BEST BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH ACT (Ellie Goulding, Mumford & Sons, Rumer, Tinie Tempah, The XX)
This was an award that I believe Florence & The Machine bagged last year and it was significant that the year before, Florence had won the Critics' Choice award, an award that in 2010 was won by....Ellie Goulding. I would say that award is a good barometer for who wins this award the following year because the critics do play a part in making the music buying public aware of new acts. That said, Ms Goulding is up against some very stiff competition in this category. There is a school of thought that Tinie Tempah has to win at least one of the awards he is up for, especially given his consistent chart success last year which helps to pay some of the judging panel's wages. Then there is The XX, an electronic meets indie band that won last year's Mercury Music Prize. That tends not to be a good barometer for the Brits, however. As much as it is good to see Rumer recognised again in this category, I think the biggest challenge to Ellie Goulding here comes from Mumford & Sons, a folk rock band who went down a storm at all of the festivals last summer and who released their excellent debut album 'Sigh No More' at the beginning of last year. You may well claim to not know any of their tracks, but you will do at least on a subconscious level, as the instrumental sections of their tracks have regularly been used for TV trails and on programmes like 'Countryfile'. They should scoop one award on the night, but I think it might come elsewhere.
MY PREDICTION: Ellie Goulding MY SELECTION: Mumford & Sons

BEST BRITISH GROUP (Gorillaz, Biffy Clyro, Mumford & Sons, Take That, The XX)
It is a sign of the times when Take That being nominated for this category is the least controversial selection. There have been some strange choices in this category. How do Gorillaz get nominated when they are still, in the most part, a cartoon band? Biffy Clyro are a poor man's AC/DC yet they have got nominated purely because the X-Factor winner released a lame cover version of one of their already lame songs. Yet, the Manic Street Preachers release some of their best material in over a decade, and they are strangely overlooked. This looks like a straight fight between Take That and Mumford & Sons and given Take That's mainstream appeal these days where it is does not damage your credibility to admit to liking a couple of their songs even if you are a male, balding, approaching middle age office worker, then it would be surprising to see the odds-on favourite fall at the final fence here in a weak renewal of this category.
MY PREDICTION: Take That MY SELECTION: Mumford & Sons

BEST BRITISH SINGLE (Alexandra Burke & Pitbull - All Night Long, Cheryl Cole - Parachute, Florence & The Machine - You've Got The Love, Matt Cardle - When We Collide, Olly Murs - Please Don't Let Me Go, Plan B - She Said, Scouting For Girls - This Ain't A Love Song, Taio Cruz - Dynamite, Tinie Tempah - Pass Out, The Wanted - All Time Low)
The Wanted inadvertently provide an apt description of this category in their nominated song title, although this category will always reflect buyer behaviour in the charts and as such, the nominees are largely dominated by commercial pop records. The songs that have been nominated are generally what would make the A-playlist on Heart or Juice FM. Looking at this objectively, I would put a line through Alexandra Burke, Matt Cardle, Scouting For Girls and Taio Cruz's chances of winning. Also, Florence & The Machine's nominated song was released over a year ago, which places her at a disadvantage, plus it was also one of her weaker songs. Scouting For Girls will be disqualified on the grounds that the judging panel would not have been able to differentiate their song from anything else they have released. So that leaves the angry, bespectacled rapper who showed how hardcore he was by name-checking Scunthorpe in one of his songs, Her Royal Highness Dame Cheryl Cole, Olly Murs, Plan B and The Wanted. It really is needle in a haystack time here, but I'm sure there must be some law stating that Cheryl Cole must win at least one award on the night, so it will probably be this one, although Olly Murs might be her biggest threat.
MY PREDICTION: Cheryl Cole MY SELECTION: Plan B

BEST BRITISH ALBUM (Plan B, Mumford & Sons, Take That, Tinie Tempah, The XX)
Well, last year when this category's nominees were announced, I identified that I had listened to none of the nominated albums during the course of the year. This year, I have listened to one album in full (Mumford & Sons) and downloaded half of another album (The XX), so as Take That say in the title of their nomination, that's Progress. Nonetheless, there are some notable absentees from this category. The Manics, The Courteeners, Fyfe Dangerfield, Klaxons and Rumer all released albums last year that were worthy of inclusion. Of those that have been nominated, it would be surprising if Take That were to claim this award as they are not really renowned as a group that release life affirming albums, but are more of a singles group. Tinie Tempah and Plan B's albums were among the most successful commercially last year, while the XX had a critically acclaimed one. Crucially though, Mumford & Sons appear to have the album that bridged the gap between commercial sales and critical acclaim, and they have led a trend that has seen folk rock become popular on the radio again. For that reason, I mark them down as favourites in this category, although Plan B looks likely to be the other main contender.
MY PREDICTION: Mumford & Sons MY SELECTION: Mumford & Sons

INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST (Cee-Lo Green, Bruce Springsteen, David Guetta, Eminem, Kanye West)
I am going to hold my hands up and admit to my complete ignorance in not knowing who one of these nominees is, David Guetta. He sounds like he was the third choice, unused goalkeeper in Spain's World Cup winning squad. Due to his anonymity, I am anticipating that the Brits Panel aren't that familiar with him either, so I'm putting a line through him. Bruce Springsteen, music legend though he has been, is surely only nominated to remind the general public that his pulse remained intact into 2011. Although I don't profess to be an aficianado where the rap scene is concerned, I don't recall 2010 being a vintage year for Eminem and while I dare say Kanye West was kept busy on the collaboration front, I don't think it was his defining year either. In contrast, Cee-Lo Green seemed to be everywhere last year with his first major solo project and he enjoyed quite a lot of chart success too. Therefore, I think the man who may be a distant relative of Shrek's will be far from a donkey on Brits Night.
MY PREDICTION: Cee-Lo Green MY SELECTION: Cee-Lo Green

INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST (Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Robyn)
If this category was won purely on the basis of airplay and TV appearances, the presence of New York's favourite warbling ivory tinkler, Alicia Keys, would surely determine the result in her favour. She is not without a chance but she is up against some big hitters. At the risk of sounding like the Pub Landlord, everyone likes a bit of Kylie, don't they? Even so, I think Kylie's best days as a recording artist are probably behind her now and so it is hard to see her winning this award in this year. This looks like a straight fight between Mrs Russell Brand and R&B's favourite promoter of rain protection gear. Katy Perry is a bit of Marmite figure, but whereas I find her to be at least mildly irritating, she certainly has her supporters and she had plenty more chart success last year. The same applies to Rihanna though and I think I am right in saying she has now had a number 1 hit in each of the last 5 years. Expect there to be some fireworks if Ms Perry loses, but I'm calling this one for Rihanna.
MY PREDICTION: Rihanna MY SELECTION: Alicia on the music front, Kylie on the 'all-round package'

INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH ACT (Bruno Mars, The Glee Cast, The Temper Trap, Justin Bieber, The National)
What an uninspiring collection of misfits we have here! The uncontrolled laughter you could hear was me rolling around in hysterics upon reading that the Glee cast had been nominated. One presumes that the Brit judging panel is largely made up of women. The Temper Trap's nomination is curious given that their big radio friendly hit 'Sweet Disposition' was released the year before last and I don't recall them releasing anything since. The National are a good, up-and-coming indie band who might attract more of a following in the next couple of years, but they are largely unknown by most people in this country at the moment, so it is hard to see them winning. That leaves Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber, and given that he seems to be the latest teen sensation, I'd be surprised if the Bieber juggernaut did not crush everything in its path.
MY PREDICTION: Justin Bieber MY SELECTION: The National

INTERNATIONAL GROUP (Arcade Fire, Black Eyed Peas, Kings Of Leon, The Script, Vampire Weekend)
Looks like a bit of a wide open category here given that none of these acts had what you would term a spectacular 2010. Black Eyed Peas are one of those acts that I've never quite understood how they attract the level of popularity that they have, and I gather that their performance at the Superbowl left a lot to be desired. Kings Of Leon could have made 2010 the year they became the biggest band in the world following on from their previous album, but from what I have heard of their latest material, they are quite some way short of the level they found when 'Use Somebody' and 'Sex On Fire' made it big. The Script are another one in the Scouting For Girls category where most of their songs sound about the same, but they have enjoyed a lot of chart success through churning out lots of dull, radio friendly material. Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend seem to represent the Q/NME readers with their presence in this category and in what is a close contest, I expect Vampire Weekend's reputation as a good live band to give them the edge over the Canadian rock band, although I personally would give Arcade Fire the nod.
MY PREDICTION: Vampire Weekend MY SELECTION: Arcade Fire

INTERNATIONAL ALBUM (Arcade Fire, Cee Lo Green, Eminem, Katy Perry, Kings Of Leon)
I don't have a lot of personal insight to offer in this category as I have only downloaded tracks from 2 of the nominated albums (Arcade Fire and Kings Of Leon). However, I would anticipate there being a lot of excess filler on a Katy Perry album judging by some of the dirge that her record company persuaded her to release as single cuts. While I am not best placed to appraise the finer workings of Kings Of Leon's latest long play, I have not heard anything particularly inspiring that was released from it. While I'm guessing that lesser known Eminem album tracks probably consisted of a disproprortionately high percentage of cursory invective. That then leaves Arcade Fire and Cee Lo Green, and while Arcade Fire had more critical acclaim, the Reverend Green (I'm not sure he is actually a man of the cloth) has had more mainstream exposure and chart success, so I can see him winning his second award here.
MY PREDICTION: Cee Lo Green MY SELECTION: Arcade Fire

CRITICS' CHOICE (Jessie J, James Blake, The Vaccines)
This award has already been decided with the singer-songwriter Jessie J guaranteed to collect the award on the night. That immediately marks her down as someone to look out for in some of the more senior categories in 12 months time. I am not familiar with her work, or that of the 2 nominees. James Blake seems to have had a career change from the days when he was a bandana wearing, American tennis player that won the pre-Wimbledon Queens Club tournament one year, although judging by his photo, he may also have had a head change since then too. The Vaccines doesn't exactly seem like a very rock and roll name, does it?


In addition to these awards, there is also an award for Best Producer, but your guess on that one is as good as mine. A couple of awards are conspicuous by their absence this year though. There's no 'Best Live Act', which is surprising given the number of festivals there are now. Nor is there a 'Lifetime Achievement' category this year, presumably because they have run out of credible people to give that award to. Surely a band like Texas, back in the recording studio after 20 years in the business, would be a worthy future candidate for that award if it is brought back.

Song of the decade

Well, as we now find ourselves just two months away from the end of 2009, it is probably inevitable that the media begin to get into reflective mode and start to review the past decade and all of the events that have happened in that time. When you think of what you were doing in your life, it is often easy to place a particular point in your life through a musical timeline, the soundtrack to your life at a certain stage in life.

With this in mind, Absolute Radio, which in a former life was called Virgin Radio, is currently in the process of getting its listeners to choose the Song of the Decade, the song which in the humble opinion of its listeners was the song of all songs to be released between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2009. Absolute will be playing out its listeners top 100 choices just before the end of the year. People can vote in the poll at songofthedecade.com .

For those not familiar with Absolute, it is a radio station that tends to largely play popular rock, indie and alternative music from recent years, as well as a reasonable portion of "classic" songs from popular recording artists from the past four decades. Therefore, given the nature of the music policy of the station, you would expect the higher echelons of the poll to be dominated by bands such as Coldplay, The Killers, Kings Of Leon, Snow Patrol and Oasis, while more manufactured acts such as Girls Aloud, McFly and even Take That are not likely to feature too much.

Bearing in mind the criteria I have laid down about the type of music that Absolute plays and which is therefore likely to be eligible, I have compared my own list of my ten favourite songs of the past decade. These are not necessarily the most popular songs of the last decade, nor do I expect all of them to even make the cut in Absolute's final poll. In some cases, the songs in question didn't even chart that well, although that is rarely an indicator any more of how good a song is. No, these are simply the 10 songs that I'd say on reflection have just about given me the most pleasure over these past 10 years, taking into account the type of music that would be played on a station like Absolute. So, in reverse order...

10. White Lies - Farewell To The Fairground
This was a close call between the standout single from this London combo's 2009 debut album and The Chemical Brothers's 2004 hit Galvanize for the last place in my top 10. In the end, I opted for White Lies on account of the fact that this song is currently fresher in my mind and also due to The Chemical Brothers probably not technically meeting the criteria of the kind of music that Absolute Radio would play.

White Lies have the distinction of providing me with the album I have played most in 2009 and this song for me remains the highlight. It is an edgy jaunt about leaving behind the place you have called home but which you have now outgrown. The lyrics to this track rather typify the dark and thought provoking nature of White Lies's excellent debut album, yet although dark, this track is also very uplifting in its outlook. It may have only reached number 33 in the UK singles chart earlier this year, but it does 23 places better in the chart that really matters!

9. The Coral - Dreaming Of You
Back in the early part of the decade, this Liverpudlian band looked and indeed sounded like a band that could evolve into one of the most original and innovative of the decade. That this evolution has not happened is one of the disappointments of the past few years, as with each passing album The Coral have instead become sadly more derivative and uninspiring. In truth though, it may just be that whatever followed their output from their first two albums could never really compare. Although their second album Magic and Medicine is arguably their finest work to date, this track from their self-eponymous first album remains their most commercially successful track and their signature piece.

What struck me when I first heard this track was how original the musical arrangement on the track was, with brass music in the middle of what was an otherwise jaunty indie song. This gives the song the feel of being crossover of both standard indie music and also Ska influenced music, such as The Specials. What particularly marks this song out as a classic is that it is only 2 minutes and 21 seconds long and so much is crammed into that time.

Although The Coral do not seem likely to ever match the quality of their offerings, perhaps this tells us more about how great their early output was, rather than how mediocre their subsequent efforts have been.

8. U2 - Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
U2 remain rock and roll's equivalent of Marmite some 30 years after they first arrived on the scene, but they have remained both active and relevant over the past decade, even if they have not quite consistently managed to churn out the quality that they managed back in their late 1980s heyday. Nonetheless, like the girl with the curl, when the Dublin fourpiece are good, they are very very good and this was probably best demonstrated during this decade on their 2001 album All That You Can't Leave Behind, which was regarded by many as a fine return to form after a few years in the doldrums.

Beautiful Day tends to be the most acclaimed track from the aforementioned album and it is a song that has its merits. However, Stuck In A Moment, to my mind has all the hallmarks of a classic U2 song. Brilliantly written lyrics, heartfelt emotive vocals by Bono and a song which expresses a good sentiment. The sentiment of the song, as has been discussed on this blog previously, was a recollection by Bono of a conversation he had had with Michael Hutchence, former lead singer of INXS and close friend of the permanent wearer of sunglasses. Hutchence had taken his own life while U2 were recording the album.

In the years since this song came out, for some reason it does not appear to have maintained the popularity of some U2 tracks and yet in many ways, it is arguably one of their most hauntingly beautiful compositions.

7. Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
I have a confession to make as far as Kings Of Leon are concerned. This confession being that I am not a great fan of theirs as a band and I may be one of very few people on the planet that does not like the song that shot them to super stardom, Sex On Fire, a song which I have no doubt in believing will finish in the top 5 when Absolute plays out its poll. In some ways, Kings Of Leon remind me somewhat of REM in that they have achieved massive global success and yet for the most part, I am largely indifferent to their music and fail to see what marks them out as special. However, just as REM have had occasional flashes of genius with songs like Orange Crush and Drive, so Kings Of Leon pulled out a glorious exception with Use Somebody, the follow up single to Sex On Fire.

Because Sex On Fire was an astonishing worldwide hit, it is easy to overlook the fact this track sold by the bucketload as well. As with several of Kings Of Leon's other tracks, the theme of the song appears to be a hedonistic one, but in truth, what makes this song stand out is the sheer rockiness. The heavy guitar sound at the beginning of the track sets the tone for what follows and even I as a somewhat reluctant member of the Kings Of Leon posse has to admit that this track provides some of the finest riffs to emerge from this decade.

6. White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
No finer musical judge than Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker provided validation for this song recently when he nominated this as his song of the decade describing it as "the Smoke On The Water of the new millennium". I can see exactly what he means with this description. The opening riffs of Deep Purple's 1974 hard rock hit are iconic and were amongst the most popular to that particular generation of sideburns sporting, flares wearing rockers. Fast forward some 30 years and the guitar riffs featured throughout this track are among the most familiar to the new generation of budding Guitar Hero players. In fact, I hear that it is one of the most popular riffs of choice in the aforementioned console game.

What appeals to me about this track is how the tempo often changes subtly from a relatively gentle riff and solid drum beat into the cacophony of noise that surrounds the chorus. As with some of the other nominations, I do not feel that Jack and Meg White have managed to quite match the epic sound they produced in this song in anything they have put together since, but that may simply confirm the future "classic" status of this song.

5. Dirty Vegas - Walk Into The Sun
This is what an American audience would refer to as a curveball, a surprise choice out of leftfield. It is possibly a surprise on a few levels. Firstly, Dirty Vegas are barely known in the United Kingdom, despite the fact that they originate in London. Despite their birthplace, they have been based in and enjoyed more critical acclaim across the pond for several years. This lack of exposure in the UK was reflected in the chart placing of this track when it was released back in 2004 when it reached the dizzy heights of number 54 in the UK singles chart. Despite this low placing, it remains Dirty Vegas's highest ever chart entry. What is odd is that although on the surface, you would think this is an obscure track, it has been used as background music on several television programmes, it's just that they tend to be the run of the mill daytime TV offerings like Cash In The Attic or Flog It where no-one is really paying attention. Much like most of Dirty Vegas's work, the sound is kind of a fusion of dance, house and electronica mixed in with a more conventional indie sound. They are a band that seem to borrow much from bands like New Order and the Happy Mondays, bands that were at the forefront of the Acid House scene of the beginning of the 1990s. Although Dirty Vegas have not been commercially successful in the UK, this is not a reflection of their talents and this gentle, uplifting track with well written lyrics and a bouncy sound is in some ways a typically understated Dirty Vegas work, despite being a masterpiece.

4. Snow Patrol - Run
If Dirty Vegas are largely undiscovered and commercially unknown, the same accusation can no longer be levelled at Snow Patrol and the reason for their commercial viability can be traced back to this song which burst into the charts at the beginning of 2004. Such was Snow Patrol's obscurity before this track was released that it is largely forgotten that they had released two albums before their commercial breakthrough Final Straw hit the shelves, from which this was the first singles cut.

Sometimes when you hear a song, it requires several listens before you fully appreciate its quality. With Run, that was not the case, upon hearing it the first time, I realised I was listening to a modern classic. There are those that proclaim Chasing Cars as Snow Patrol's jewel in the crown, but while there may be a beautiful sentiment in that song, musically Run is far superior. Again, as with White Stripes, there is an edginess to the song that results from the subtle changes of tempo during the 5 minutes and 55 seconds of this composition that makes this such a masterpiece and Gary Lightbody's brooding vocals do justice to the song. As with many of Snow Patrol's back catalogue, it would appear that the song is a love song of some kind, albeit the lyrics would suggest it is a plea to a lost love rather than a straightforward love song.

Whatever it is, I am a believer in the saying that imitation is the greatest form of flattery and this can be seen in Leona Lewis's decision to cover this song earlier this year. The only injustice was that her butchering of the original version rocketed to number 1, four places higher than Snow Patrol had managed. It has been noticeable how commercial popularity has taken some of the edge off of Snow Patrol's music and due to that, it is debatable whether they will ever hit the heights again that they showed in initially establishing themselves to the mainstream audience with the excellent Final Straw album. If they do not, it will not diminish the enduring brilliance of this track, which will remain a classic in twenty years from now.

3. Elbow - One Day Like This
Like Snow Patrol, Elbow's commercial success was something of a slow burner. The Mancunian band fronted by Guy Garvey were formed back in 1990 and had released three studio albums prior to the release of their Mercury Music Prize winning Seldom Seen Kid in 2008. Victory in this coveted prize ensured that a more commercial audience started to sit up and take notice and further success in the BRIT Awards means that this band's time in oblivion is now surely a thing of the past. Of any number of excellent mellow compositions from Seldom Seen Kid, such as The Bones Of You and Mirrorball, One Day Like This is both the most commercially popular track and also the rightful standout track from an almost faultless album. The album version of the track is six and a half minutes long, but the single version was cut to just over three and a half minutes for the benefit of radio airplay.

It is a sign of the quality of the song, both musically and lyrically, that both versions are worth listening to in their own right. For me, this song has particular resonance because the sentiments expressed in the song were ones that I was feeling at the time the song was being played on the radio. Although this song brings to mind certain bittersweet and poignant memories, there is no escaping the simplicity in the beauty of the song. The lyrics really capture the feeling in Guy Garvey's soul and Garvey's vocals do the lyrics full justice. It is possible that the amount of airplay this song has had in the past year have given this a sense of overkill, but I think time will be kind to this song.

Possibly in 10 years time, people will have difficulty recollecting other Elbow songs, but they should still remember this one. It's a beautiful song and it is the kind of song that will have a special meaning to many people because of the association they will have with being in a bright and happy place when they heard the song, even if they have not remained there since.

2. Coldplay - Violet Hill
The top two places in my list are occupied by, to my mind, the best two bands of the past decade. Firstly, we find Coldplay, who burst onto the scene with their debut album Parachutes at the beginning of the decade and who were still going strong at the fag end of the decade, by which time they had released a further three studio albums and had pretty much conquered the world. In the space of the past nine years, Coldplay have gone from being a band fresh out of university to being one of the biggest stadium rock bands in the world, with a Hollywood wife to boot. The difficulty in putting this list together was deciding which Coldplay song should make the list, given that they have had several epic singles worthy of consideration.

It was tempting to go for Yellow or Trouble, the two singles cuts from Parachutes that set Coldplay on their way some nine years ago, while the poignant Fix You from X&Y and the haunting Clocks and The Scientist from Rush Of Blood To The Head were also worthy contenders. But it is to Coldplay's most recent album, Viva La Vida, where my choice is to be found. While the title track attracted many of the plaudits, to my mind the album's first singles cut Violet Hill was its highlight and to this listener at least, is Coldplay's greatest work to date. The song would appear to have an anti-war theme, as I originally discussed on this blog at the end of last year.

What I like about the song is the sentiment being expressed and the images that the track throws up. Chris Martin is very good at really painting a picture for you with his vocal imagery and this is possibly never better demonstrated than on this track with such as descriptions as there being snow on the rooftops and people being outside freezing while others looked out of the window. What this description does is it really brings home the loneliness of being a soldier fighting for his country thousands of miles from home and I think that is the whole message of the song. Apart from this, I just think the song is so well constructed that it makes it a track you can listen to again and again. This is the cream of a very strong crop where Coldplay are concerned.

1. Killers - Smile Like You Mean It
It was going to take a special band and a special song to keep Violet Hill and Coldplay off top spot, but I think I have found both a band and a song worthy of doing the honours. The Killers have always been a band I have held a special fondness for because I like to think I discovered them before the masses did. The first time they registered on my consciousness was when I heard feminist and that well known music critic Germaine Greer slate their debut album on Newsnight Review back in the summer of 2004. At the time, the Las Vegas outfit were barely known anywhere, not even in the Nevada desert, but on the strength of Greer's criticism, I went out and bought Hot Fuss the following week. What immediately struck me was how The Killers seemed to have a sound that paid homage to new wave music from the 1980s. Now, this is something that just about everyone from Florence and the Machine to White Lies to MGMT have tapped into, but back in 2004, The Killers were the first band to be using that era as the influence on their sound.

Apart from the noticeably 1980s sound, the other thing that struck me about The Killers was how their music and lyrics were dark and edgy. There were songs with rather seedy, sordid lyrics, such as Somebody Told Me and the immensely popular Mr Brightside. There were other songs that seemed to deal with very dark subject matter, such as Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine and All These Things That I've Done. In the end, there were possibly 3 Killers songs that could have occupied this position, All These Things That I've Done being one while Read My Mind was the standout track from The Killers's second album, Sam's Town. In truth though, there was only song that I was ever going to pick.

Commercially, Smile Like You Mean It was far from being The Killers's most successful or most popular song. When it was released in 2005, it only reached number 11 in the UK singles charts, although this may have something to do with it being the fourth singles cut from the Hot Fuss album. What marks this out as my favourite Killers song and my favourite song of the past decade is just that it typifies the Killers' sound and music better than anything else they have done. The sound is very much new wave influenced, and in fact the song title is shared with a previous composition by Talking Heads, who certainly influence much of The Killers' work. There is a wirey edginess to the sound which when coupled with the dark, difficult to interpret lyrics really draws you in to the song.

Even now, over 4 years after the song first came out, I am still not entirely sure what the meaning to the lyrics are. I have a vague interpretation of what I think they mean, but I think this is quite deliberate on Brandon Flowers's part, there is possibly no definitive meaning behind them and they can be open to interpretation. For what it is worth though, I interpret the song to be a message from an older of oneself giving a message retrospectively to a younger version telling them not to get drawn into life's superficialities and falsehoods and to not worry about playing up to an image all the time in order to please life's hangers-on. As with One Day Like This, this song has a special meaning on a personal level because of a shared experience I had around the time the song came out and the sentiments expressed in the song as I have interpreted have rung quite true at times both then and since. Because of the place this song has captured within me, this makes it stand out among The Killers's back catalogue and even as Brandon Flowers and his band mates look set fair to dominate the world over the coming years, I think it will take a very special song to ever better the craft that went into the lyrics and sound of this track. So while Mr Brightside looks likely to be a strong candidate to win Absolute Radio's accolade, to my mind Smile Like You Mean It is THE song of songs over these past 10 years.

Coming up soon

Hi folks.

Just a quick post to say that I will be posting some more blog articles over the next week or so. Next week sees the annual fun and games of the Brit Awards and over the weekend I will be casting my eye over this year's nominees and trying to pick the wheat from the chafe. I will be predicting who I think will win each award, as well as saying who I would vote for if I had the choice. Leading the way will be Duffy and Coldplay, who are each up for 4 awards, while extraordinarily, Scouting For Girls are nominated for 3. Not so good for those stalwarts of Britpop, Oasis, however, as despite the release of "Dig Out Your Soul" last summer, they have accrued no nominations. Somehow I can't imagine the Brothers Gallagher losing too much sleep over this snub.

I will also be writing a couple of sports related pieces in the near future. The managerial merry go-round in football is quite a topical issue at the moment and I will be looking to cover this in more detail. For the Brighton & Hove Albion supporters among my blogging brethren, of which I know there are a few, I will talk about the Seagulls' prospects of surviving in League One come the end of the season and whether Micky Adams is the right man to take Brighton forward and to lead them out at the Falmer Stadium, as was Dick Knight's vision. In addition to this, I will talk about England's current cricketing malaise and discuss Andy Murray's chances of winning one of tennis's Slams, as well as examining Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer's respective chances of breaking Pete Sampras's Grand Slam record come the end of their careers.

And of course, there will be a few other blogs on the subjects of the day, the stuff in the news with hopefully an injection of humour along the way. Everyone needs a good laugh after all, don't they? Stay tuned for these future developments.

Unwanted chain e-mails

Hello again readers. Well, Christmas draws ever closer. As if the masses of people traffic around Brighton City Centre was not enough of a clue, then turning on the radio to hear 'Fairytale Of New York', 'Last Christmas' and 'Christmas Wrapping' gave the game away. Hope you are enjoying the Christmas build-up and are not too stressed, and for any budding secret Santas who might be reading, some socks and smellies always come in handy.

But enough of the prologue. Last weekend when I was writing about my notional list of items and people who I would send into Room 101 if I was ever given the opportunity, I knew there was bound to be something obvious that I left off the list which would come to mind afterwards. It was quite intuitive of me, as it goes, because checking my e-mails a couple of days later resulted in being confronted with one of my absolute pet hates.

I am referring to the "chain e-mail". You know the sort of thing, "please read this story of complete bad luck and melancholy through to its end, otherwise if you don't, you must hold yourself responsible should some terrible misfortune happen to you, and by the way make sure you send this to 10 really lucky recipients from your e-mail address book otherwise you will feel terribly guilty". My normal reaction to receiving an e-mail of this type is to delete it and to ask the sender the next time I see them what exactly possessed them to forward it to me in the first place, knowing that my reaction was going to be to either ignore it or send it into the great trash can in cyberspace's sky. In this instance though, I was so angry by the sanctimonious and frankly one-eyed attitude of the piece that had been forwarded to me that I thought it would provide perfect inspiration for a future blog. Let's hope my instincts were right.

First of all, I should point out that the offending piece of writing had not been written by the person who sent it to me. Their only crime in this situation was to forward an e-mail to me that had been forwarded several times in a chain from when it had initially been produced. Nonetheless, I would like to know why exactly they chose me as the lucky recipient of such a propagandic (if that's not a word, it should be!), ill thought out and ill informed rant of unsurpassed hysteric drivel.

So what was it that got me so hot under the collar? The e-mail was a short piece of narrative by an unnamed person, presumably their anonymity had been carefully retained in order to ensure they never find themselves on the National Society of Village Idiots' Christmas card list. The narrative previewed a forthcoming transcript of a letter that had supposedly been sent into a national newspaper. The newspaper was not named, but given the overtly intolerant and jingoistic tone of the letter, it is quite plausible that it could be the same newspaper that this author was scathing of on this blog space just last weekend. If that was the case, I imagine the author of the piece probably won £50 for being the star letter on its day of publication.

I have copied and pasted the e-mail I received in its entirety below in italics, so that readers can form their own opinions. One thing I would like to point out before pasting this piece across though is that the pasting does not quite capture the mood and emphasis of the original transcript, which saw words and sentences underlined, put in capital letters, and put in large font sizes as though to really force home the point that is being made. Anyway, this is what was said:
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Will we still be the Country of choice and still be Gt Britain if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in Britain because it is the Country of Choice?????? Think about it . .

All I have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS? I celebrate Christmas, but because it isn't celebrated by everyone, we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas holiday, it's Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday? We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that. This says it all!

This is an editorial written by anBritish citizen, published in a National newspaper He did quite a job; didn't he? Read on, please!


IMMIGRANTS,NOT BRITS MUST ADAPT.I am tired of this nation worrying about whether weare offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on the 7th of the 7th we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majorityof Brits. However, the disgust about the attacks hadbarely settled when the 'politically correct! ' crowd began complaining aboutthe possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Britain, Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. (The Danes, Romans ect.)

However, there are a few things that thosewho have recently come toour country, and apparently some born here, need to understand. This idea of the Brits being amulticultural communityhas served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Britain's we have our own culture, ourown society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.

We speak ENGLISH, not Indian, Urdu, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language Therefore, if you wish to become partof our society, learn the language!'Land of Hope & Glory' is our motto.

This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented.It is certainly appropriate to display iton the walls of our schools. If Godoffends you, then I suggest youconsider another part of the world as your new home, because God is partof our culture.

If the 'Union Jack' flag offends you, oryou don't like our QUEEN, then youshould seriously consider a moveto another part of this planet. Weare happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we reallydon't care how you did things whereyou came from. This isOUR COUNTRY,our land, and our lifestyle. Our Laws give every citizen theright to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so!

But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag,our lifestyle our government, or ourway of life, I highly encourage youtake advantage of one other great BRITISH freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.

It is Time for Gt. Britain to Speak up If you agree -- pass this along;if you don't agree -- delete it! anon..AMEN
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So there concludes the party political broadcast from the British Nationalist Party. Just as with the Daily Mail, some of its targets and observations certainly have some legitimacy and there is no doubt that the ever more cosmopolitan landscape and demographics found in this country do present some challenges in the future. I am sure many readers will identify with some of the points that are made. But my problem is that the author has completely overexaggerated in some of his (or maybe her) commentary in order for making maximum effect and to lead its readers around to his way of thinking by using powerful language and underlining and capitalising words. There is a word for that sort of behaviour, it is called brainwashing.

I think possibly the best way of pulling this person's argument apart and showing up its shortcomings is to allow me the liberty to comment on each of the paragraphs. That way I can hopefully show that while the writer has a basis for some of their complaints and ramblings, much of what they have said has been blown out of proportion and only succeeds in getting people wound up over some issues that have been misrepresented. Here comes the rant back:

Will we still be the Country of choice and still be Gt Britain if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in Britain because it is the Country of Choice?????? Think about it . .
Right, I have thought about it and all I can say is, what on earth are you talking about? What changes are being forced on us? The Government in this country is responsible for setting the laws for living here, so if any changes are being enforced on us, they are responsible for setting them, not people moving to the country. This sounds to me like a rant about religious sects, which through reading on, has some basis as an assumption.

All I have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS? I celebrate Christmas, but because it isn't celebrated by everyone, we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas holiday, it's Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday? We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that. This says it all!
Talk about an overreaction. Now, let's be honest here, how many people have ever had anyone wish them "season's greetings" or "a good a winter break"? I cannot think of anybody of any race, colour or creed who has ever wished me the tidings of the season in such words, including people who don't celebrate Christmas. In fact, it is only on Christmas cards where I have seen such greetings ever expressed. I agree that there is a problem in some circles where people manufacture words and phrases so as not to offend a small minority of easily sensitive people, but I think these are the wheels of bureaucracy that are turning, more than anything else.

This is an editorial written by an British citizen, published in a National newspaper He did quite a job; didn't he? Read on, please
Good to realise that our friend who is so appalled by the country falling apart sees his grasp of English falls apart too. You don't use "an" before a word unless the following word begins with a vowel. And if by "he did quite a job" you mean "he did quite a job of making a prat of himself", you may well be right. Otherwise, maybe not.

IMMIGRANTS,NOT BRITS MUST ADAPT.I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on the 7th of the 7th we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majorityof Brits.
Quite a sweeping statement there. I would like to know how exactly our correspondent measures this surge in patriotism. More people going through the gates at Buckingham Palace? More people hanging up a Union Jack in their window? More people holding a street party? I think the terrorist attacks of 7 July 2005 (if this guy is such a devout Brit, why is he using American terminology?) did not really result in a surge of patriotism, more an immediate surge of defiance that we should not allow terrorists with fanatical beliefs to pose a threat to our daily lives that resulted in the atrocity of people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I do not see this as tupthumping patriotism though and this pattern of defiance was only really noticeable in the after shocks of those terrorist attacks because the realisation had dawned that this country was not safe, this was not just the sort of thing "that happened in America".

However, the disgust about the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically correct! ' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.
That's hardly a new complaint is it? This is the sort of thing that has been talked about for years, that the English don't celebrate St George's Day enough, that English culture is not celebrated enough. This has got nothing to do with the terrorist attacks, it is a long established psyche. The writer is right in saying that we are too politically correct for our own good sometimes, but unfortunately there are a section of people who attach themselves to the Union Jack and the Cross of St George who we have to thank for this tainting by association. That does not make it right or legitimate to make patriotism wrong, in fact we should do our best to wrestle the flag back from those clowns who have bloodied the flag. In order to do that though, we need to be less apathetic about what our culture is in this country and clear and what we should celebrate. In short, it is not until political correctness rears its ugly head, that many of the people in this country rid themselves of this apathy and say that we should be proud of our national identity more. So, we are all to blame for us not being patriotic enough!

I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Britain, Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. (The Danes, Romans ect.) However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.
This sounds a bit like the "I'm not a racist/sexist...but" kind of lines. Read on then.

This idea of the Brits being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Britain's we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.
This is an argument that has been mentioned before, but how true is it? In his last point, the writer has pointed out that our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. Also, one of the finest selling points of living in this country, namely the English language, has evolved over time due to immigrants arriving on these shores and influencing it. Britain has been invaded by the Romans, Saxons, Vikings and Normans and each of these visitors who arrived without an invite brought their vocabulary with them and added to our language and in doing so, have contributed to a little piece of British culture. I mention the English language because it appears the author might need to familiarise himself with it, as it is "Britons", not "Britain's". But I digress. The point is that the world is evolving, we might not like that, but it is a fact of life. Just as the Saxons and Vikings added to the British culture, so too have the Jamaican immigrants that moved to the country in the 1950s and 1960s, and the influx of Poles more recently. Without them, this country would not have experienced the phenomenon that is Reggae Reggae Sauce, or would not have any builders who get the job finished on time or within budget.

We speak ENGLISH, not Indian, Urdu, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!
Christ on a bike, the irony! So here we are telling people to learn our language when they come and visit our shores and yet, hand on heart, how many of us properly make an effort to learn the language when we go on holiday abroad? If an opportunity exists to shout very loudly, speak very slowly or point to the item on the menu or the shelf souvenir of choice, then that opportunity will invariably be taken at the expense of speaking dialogue in the native tongue. And while we are at it, does the author's plea to learn English apply to people in Wales who speak Welsh, people in Cornwall who speak Cornish, or people in Northern Ireland who speak Gaelic? Because the last time I checked, all of these places formed part of the United Kingdom too. In this day and age, foreign nationals who move to the country have to undertake a British Identity test before they are granted citizenship. The funny thing is, often they end up knowing more about Britain's heritage, its queens and kings and its quirky laws than what a pretty sizeable amount of the home population knew to start off with. This is basically Norman Tebbit's "which cricket team would you support" speech under another guise. That was deemed out of order when it was spoken 25 years ago and so this rant deserves the same amount of contempt.

'Land of Hope & Glory' is our motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented.It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools.
I am sure there are more interesting things to display on the walls of schools, children's artwork, photographs of the school football team, old photographs of teachers sporting sideburns or combovers, a coat of arms, that kind of thing. In fact, I imagine the graffiti in the boy's toilets is probably more interesting than this motto. Nonetheless, one thing interests me about this passage. Up until now, the author has spoken about the British identity, and not offending Brits. Land of Hope and Glory is not the British national anthem, it is the English national anthem. As a proud Englishman, one thing that has always annoyed me has been that when England play a football match, it is "God Save The Queen" that gets played, when really it should be "Land of Hope and Glory". So is the author's problem that Britain or England is losing its identity? And if he doesn't seem to know what the national anthem is, does that help in establishing an identity in the first place?

If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.
Hmm. The author seems to conveniently forget that only about 10 per cent of the population go to church, which would suggest God is less part of our culture than he would like to have us believe. And I take umbrage with being asked to consider moving to another part of the world. People are perfectly entitled to believe that as organised religion has been the root cause of most wars that have broken out from the time of the Crusades until now and resulted in more greed and intolerance than any other phenomenon, as human beings we have the absolute right to not partake in it without fear of being criticised as being unpatriotic, especially as dwindling church attendance outside of weddings, Christenings and midnight mass would indicate that religion actually counts for very little in terms of what people's understanding of "Being British" means to them.

If the 'Union Jack' flag offends you, or you don't like our QUEEN, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.
That seems a little bit excessive really. I mean, there are a fair number of British nationals who are opposed to the monarchy and who would have an elected governor who has overall control. I am not one of these people on the grounds that we could end up with President David Cameron or President Alistair Darling, but I do believe in people having a freedom of choice, you know that very thing which this author believes is being eroded. Basically, the author is saying that if people question some parts of our culture and our heritage then they should be muzzled, seen and not heard, put in the tower. But, unless people challenge perceptions and "the ways things are", nothing in life ever evolves. We could still live in a country where women don't have the vote or where the horse and cart is the preferred mode of transport. Also, I note the author's comment about the Union Jack. Apart from wondering whether negative comments about the flag's colour scheme would be welcomed, I note that the author is referring to the flag of the United Kingdom, rather than the flag of England, having spoken early about the English national anthem. And we wonder why we have an identity problem.

We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from.
Ignorance is a bliss isn't it? So we must always rely on being our own pioneers, our own innovators, our own geniuses and be too stubborn to accept ideas from "Johnny Foreigner". And let's remind ourselves, where exactly did that get our car industry? And come to think of it, the England football team seem to be playing much better since an Italian with an iron fist and outstanding tactical brain took over its management from a rather inept wet fish who was English godamnit. Oh well, at least he had nice teeth. Must be those Polish dentists. The world doesn't stand still, progress is impossible to supress. If we have no desire to change and keep things as they are, then as a nation we get left behind. We might be an island but cannot allow insularity to remain unchallenged. Insularity breeds ignorance bleeds complacency.

This is OUR COUNTRY,our land, and our lifestyle. Our Laws give every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so!
Or if the author has his way, people will be allowed their opinion until they are asked to leave the country. A command democracy, I'm sure it was very popular in 1252, and maybe still is in Zimbabwe.

But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag,our lifestyle our government, or our way of life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great BRITISH freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.
Yes, how dare you come over whinging, that's our job! How about the people that live here, what if they don't like any of the above? Do they have to hop on the Eurostar or take a jumbo across the water? For someone who is championing free speech, our correspondent does not seem very responsive to negative feedback, does he?

It is Time for Gt. Britain to Speak up. If you agree -- pass this along;if you don't agree -- delete it! anon..AMEN
Or better still, provide a critical analysis of it with an Internet audience of millions (or maybe 8) and let them decide what their feeling is. After all, this is a democracy.


There you go, that's the piece in full. Now, my problem with this piece is that the validity of some of the themes explored within our writer's rant have been marred by the writer making mountains out of mole hills, much like I accused the Daily Mail of doing in the piece that I wrote last weekend. Sometimes when people question whether our sovereignty as a country has been eroded through the increased immigrant population and their own beliefs and values, I think there is some logic in people being concerned about how the country will evolve in 40 or 50 years time. Evolution is inescapable of course, but we must be careful of the sceptre of political correctness that looms ever more on our daily landscape. People should be tolerant of religious, political and lifestyle beliefs, regardless of what our own are.

But there is a collective responsibility to ensure that cuts both ways. There are always going to be fanatics out there, splinter groups if you like, who will like to exert more authority and preach over what we should or should not do. What is important is to ensure that as this country evolves, it does so whilst ensuring protection and respect for everyone. Unfortunately, the problem is that where you have a population from so many backgrounds, the "one size fits all" kind of model is going to have its weaknesses. Everybody is equal, only some are more equal than others. Some will always have greater status, greater wealth, greater hair, and inequality leads to jealousy which leads to intolerance, which as discussed earlier, has formed the basis for many an armed conflict. The dimensions of the country are changing, we are not an Arian race and we should not strive to be that as that ambition somewhere else in Western Europe resulted in two world wars in the twentieth century.

Political correctness is a problem which affects all of us at some time or another, and I cannot say as though I know of anyone who embraces its being. What we must be clear on, however, is that immigrants who move to this country are not responsible for it existing. As with many things over time, this particular phenomenon started off in the United States and it has gathered legs in the United Kingdom in the last decade or so as a result of faceless bureaucrats who sit in statutory departments in their air conditioned offices, sipping their green teas, worrying over how a very small minority of people might react to the wording of something on the grounds of sexism, racism, ageism etc. And their precise reason for their worry is that someone, somewhere in the real world will make a kneejerk reaction and make a legal claim. There is no minefield like insurance claims and given that we live in a society where litigation is actively encouraged thanks to our unscrupulous friends at Injury Lawyers 4 U and the like through their television commercials, it is little wonder that these faceless Nigels and Colins in their charcoal suits and with their shiny desk tidies are concerned. So if you want to find someone to blame for our current social climate, blame the guy that played Johnny Allen in EastEnders!

Instead of bemoaning our state of the nation and complaining about how our rights as citizens are being eroded, maybe we should actually put our grievances to good use and be proactive. Therein lies the problem. Everyone likes a moan about how things are going awry, but when it comes to actually doing something about it, the rebels inside us retreat into our shells. Maybe it is because the cynics in us know our limitations and do not think we can change the world. But the point is that it is only through people protesting, canvassing, petitioning, that our laws and our societies can be changed in the way that we would like them to be, the way in which most people can be encompassed, integrated and respected.

E-mails like the one I received I suppose at least succeed in getting people to think about things from a more rounded and balanced point of view, but much like the tabloid of the Antichrist which I spoke of just last week, it also paints a distorted picture of our society and our country. Since time began, this has been a country that has had a turnover of immigrants and which has evolved as new immigrants have arrived and brought their own beliefs, clothing, food and language, all of which have left an indelible prints on our society and culture. Immigrants of the future will do the same and it is naive to expect that not to be the case, especially given the rapid rate of change in modern life. Instead of beating ourselves up about how bad this might be, perhaps we should also look at some of the positives that will come from that evolution, of which I am sure there will be a number.

Around the world, we find ourselves in a society where people want to travel more to understand the world they live in more and to enjoy life changing experiences. This can only be a good thing, whatever the "Plane Stupid" activists at Stansted thought last week (has a pressure group ever had a more apt name?) because travel broadens the mind, encourages people to see the bigger picture and to rid themselves of insularity and fixations.

Given that we now live in a society where travel is promoted and where it has never been easier, thanks to the freedom of movement of labour laws in the European Union member states and other international laws, over time the world as a whole will be populated by happy wanderers who want to live in different surroundings to the ones they grew up in and consequently, there will be a greater influx of people living in the United Kingdom who were not born here than ever before, just as there will be in France, Germany and Australia. With this, there will also be more people who leave our shores and those of France, Germany and Australia to go and live in another country where perhaps employment prospects are greater, the weather is more reliable or they can sample a better quality of life. Of course, the cynics will say the departures are because people are becoming unhappy with the way the country is going and will vote with their feet. And yes, that will be true for many.

But I think it is also a fact of modern life that more people have a pleasure seeker and an adventurer in them somewhere which they want to release and the only way to do this is to go and live in another country. Travel is a great eye opener to people and as well as enabling them to escape humdrum lives and partake in a pleasurable odyssey, it also provides a wonderful education. If only they would come back one day and say what they have learnt from their journey, and then we could put it to good use in moving the country forward. But until then, let's rely on immigrants arriving with a fresh pair of eyes and telling us what works well and what does not. There's no room for complacency or contentment if we want this crazy island of ours to always prosper and be a significant player in the world. The world keeps turning and so we must welcome fresh perspectives and ideas, declining the ones that do not work practically but taking note of the ones that do. Evolution was never meant to be painless but it is necessary if our times on this planet are to be significant.

So, perhaps I should just drop a line to the man who wrote the letter in the first place. But then, that will be me off his Christmas card list. Or perhaps, he will send me one with "Happy Winter Break" on it. The ultimate insult. But still, who would have thought that an idle forwarding of a harmless e-mail could provide so much inspiration for providing a free opinion? So thank you, anonymous e-mail sender and Daily Mail reader. You have at least provided a platform for some discussion on this subject. Nonetheless, I would like to reiterate that chain e-mails are not big or clever in any shape or form, so just think before you click those forward and send buttons. Thank you.