Don't get me wrong - The Pretenders

Don't get me wrong,
If I'm looking kind of dazzled;
I see neon lights,
Whenever you walk by.

Don't get me wrong,
If you say hello and I take a ride,
Upon a sea where the mystic moon
Is playing havoc with the tide.
Don't get me wrong.

Don't get me wrong,
If I'm acting so distracted;
I'm thinking about the fireworks,
That go off when you smile.

Don't get me wrong,
If I split like light refracted,
I'm only off to wander
Across a moonlit mile.

Once in a while,
Two people meet
Seemingly for no reason
They just pass on the street.
Suddenly thunder showers everywhere
Who can explain the thunder and rain
But there's something in the air.

Don't get me wrong,
If I come and go like fashion.
I might be great tomorrow
But hopeless yesterday.

Don't get me wrong,
If I fall in the mode of passion
It might be unbelievable.
But let's not stay so long,
It might just be fantastic
Don't get me wrong.

Trainspotting

Trainspotting is a 1996 Academy Award-nominated, BAFTA-winning cult classic film directed by Danny Boyle based on the novel Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh. The movie is about a group of heroin addicts in late 1980s Edinburgh and their passage through life. It stars Ewan McGregor as Mark Renton, Ewen Bremner as Spud, Jonny Lee Miller as Sick Boy, Kevin McKidd as Tommy, Robert Carlyle as Begbie and Kelly Macdonald as Dianne. Author Irvine Welsh also has a brief appearance as hapless drug dealer Mikey Forrester.

The screenplay, by John Hodge, was adapted from Welsh's novel. It does not contain any references to the non-drug-related hobby of train spotting. The title is a reference to an episode in the original book (not included in the film) where Begbie and Renton meet "an auld drunkard" in the disused Leith Central railway station, which they are visiting to use as a toilet. He asks them, in a weak attempt at a joke, if they are "trainspottin'". As they walk away, Renton realizes the drunk was Begbie's father.

Plot

Set in Edinburgh, the film begins with a narration from Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) as he and friend 'Spud' career down Princes Street after shoplifting to raise cash, with security guards in pursuit. Renton states that unlike people who "choose life" (a traditional family lifestyle with children and material possessions), he and his cronies have opted out of ambitious pursuits, preferring to live in a blissful, meaningless heroin-induced stupor. We are introduced to his friends: film buff Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), hanger-on Spud (Ewen Bremner), keen footballer Tommy (Kevin McKidd) and unpredictable thug Francis Begbie (Robert Carlyle). Sick Boy, obsessed with Sean Connery, is also a heroin addict, as is the goofy, innocent Spud. In contrast, Tommy and Begbie openly criticise heroin use. Tommy lives an athletic, drug-free lifestyle. Begbie does not believe in heroin, but he is (ironically) a vicious drunk, eager to pick fights for the mere thrill of instigating physical altercations. This point is clearly illustrated when Begbie is seen casually throwing his pint glass off a bar balcony, injuring a woman and causing a large-scale pub brawl.

Source: Wikipedia

Continue reading the plot and the reaction to the film by clicking on the main title ("Trainspotting") above.

I think it is a great film partly because all the characters are frighteningly realistic.

I recommend you watch it if you haven't already. And if you have, watch it again in English (with subtitles).

But I warn you that it isn't for the over-sensitive of you!

Which film do you consider great? Write a brief description of the plot and why you like it so much.

This is one of the tracks from Trainspotting.

The original version is by Lou Reed and is the one featured in the film.

This version is sung by a variety of artists (including Lou Reed) to raise money for charity.

We were robbed of Eurovision!

Cliff was denied illegally!

According to TV documentary “1968. I lived through the Spanish May” - aired on La Sexta - the Eurovision Song Contest of 1968 was rigged by the Fascist regime of Francisco Franco to ensure the Spanish entry won.

The Spanish singer Massiel won the competition, with the creatively titled song ‘La, la, la’, by only one point, beating UK legend Cliff Richard, who was singing his (now) classic ‘Congratulations’.

Director Montse Fernandez Vila has claimed that RTE executives toured Europe offering cash and promising to buy television series and contract unknown artists from other Eurovision member states to influence the vote. At that time the winner of the competition was decided by a jury comprised of 10 members from each of the 17 countries participating with each member awarding one point to their favourite song.

”There is evidence that votes were bought to secure a win for Massiel,” said the director. ”The regime was acutely aware of the need to improve their image… Looking back at the parties that were organised and the way Massiel was turned into a national hero - it seems a bit excessive for a song festival but it all served to glorify the regime,” she said.

No need to rig this year’s soon upcoming contest though. After last year’s debacle, when the Spanish thought they had a winner and were cruelly denied by colluding newly arrived Eastern European nations who all voted for each other, they’ve gone ironic. For 2008 their entry is called ‘Chikichiki’ - a comedy, samba rap complete with crap-but-easy-to-learn dance.

Even if Chikichiki gets nul points in the competition it’s bound to* be a summer hit. So consider yourself warned if you’re holidaying on the playas this season.

This is a certain sign that the country has grown up after its fascist interlude and joined the top table of cynical, self-knowing western democracies. No more rigging pointless competitions, now they just take the piss. Or ‘toma el pelo’ as they say.

Source: Madrid-Uno Weblog

Vocabulary Focus:

* to be bound to : when you are certain something is going to happen

eg He is bound to be tired; he has been working all day and night.

eg I haven't studied at all; I am bound to make a mistake.

Fairytale of New York

Fairytale of New York - The Pogues

It was christmas eve babe

In the drunk tank

An old man said to me, wont see another one

And then he sang a song

The rare old mountain dew

I turned my face away

And dreamed about you

Got on a lucky one

Came in eighteen to one

Ive got a feeling

This years for me and you

So happy christmas

I love you baby

I can see a better time

When all our dreams come true

Theyve got cars big as bars

Theyve got rivers of gold

But the wind goes right through you

Its no place for the old

When you first took my hand

On a cold christmas eve

You promised me

Broadway was waiting for me

You were handsome

You were pretty

Queen of new york city

When the band finished playing

They howled out for more

Sinatra was swinging,

All the drunks they were singing

We kissed on a corner

Then danced through the night

The boys of the nypd choir

Were singing Galway bay

And the bells were ringing out

For christmas day

Youre a bum

Youre a punk

Youre an old slut on junk

Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed

You scumbag, you maggot

You cheap lousy faggot

Happy christmas your arse

I pray God its our last

I could have been someone

Well so could anyone

You took my dreams from me

When I first found you

I kept them with me babe

I put them with my own

Cant make it all alone

Ive built my dreams around you

How are you planning to spend the holidays this year?

Have you ever been away from home over Xmas or had a Xmas that was quite different from others?

Flower of Scotland

This is the National Anthem of Scotland sung by a duo called The Corries. Read the lyrics below.

What do you think of it? Do you like it?

The video is from a memorable rugby match in 1990. It was the deciding match between Scotland and England.

The arrogant English didn't think us Scots had a chance of winning. We soon showed them and they went back to their country with their tail between their legs.

When will they ever learn?!

I love the bit when the rugby players start singing the anthem to the sound of the bagpipes. I always get goosebumps.

The national flower of Scotland is the thistle. Why is an ugly person referred to as "cardo" when it actually is a beautiful flower?!

Flower of Scotland - Scotland's National Anthem

O flower of Scotland

When will we see

Your like again

That fought and died for

Your wee bit hill and glen

And stood against him

Proud Edward's army

And sent him homeward

Tae (to) think again

The hills are bare now

And autumn leaves lie thick and still

O'er (over) land that is lost now

Which those so dearly held

And stood against him

Proud Edward's army

And sent him homeward

Tae think again

Those days are passed now

And in the past they must remain

But we can still rise now

And be the nation again

And stood against him

Proud Edward's army

And sent him homeward

Tae think again

Read more about the Scots anthem here.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Source: Melonhead622 (You Tube) Key words: eric idle bright side life

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad,
Other things just make you swear and curse,
When you're chewing on life's gristle,
Don't grumble,
Give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best.

And...
Always look on the bright side of life.[whistle]
Always look on the light side of life.[whistle]

If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten,
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps,
Don't be silly chumps.
Just purse your lips and whistle.
That's the thing.

And...
Always look on the bright side of life.[whistle]
Always look on the right side of life,[whistle]

For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word.
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin.
Give the audience a grin.
Enjoy it.
It's your last chance, anyhow.

So,...
Always look on the bright side of death,[whistle]
Just before you draw your terminal breath.[whistle]

Life's a piece of shit,
When you look at it.
Life's a laugh and death's a joke it's true.
You'll see it's all a show.
Keep 'em laughing as you go.
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.

And...
Always look on the bright side of life.
Always look on the right side of life.[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life![whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life! [whistle] Repeat to fade...