Gunpowder treason and plot

Ah, Bonfire Night is upon us - a tradition lost on our former colonial chums - all pyres and fireworks, mulled wine, sparklers, toffee apples, parkin and baked potatoes...

...or perhaps, as in this video from today's birthday boy Jonny Greenwood and his band Radiohead, something else altogether:

Radiohead - Burn the Witch

Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes website

I want a perfect body, I want a perfect soul

Our glorious six-foot Salvia "Amistad"

The weather reverted back to an unnaturally warm and mellow tone today, and I have taken full advantage of it pottering in the extensive gardens here at Dolores Delargo Towers, enjoying the glorious blooms of fuchsias, salvias, begonia, asarina and cobaea, which are the best they've been all year!

Today happens to be the 50th birthday of arch-miserabilist Thom Yorke of Radiohead - however, although I love the original, as I am in a "Sunday music" mood I think it is far better to feature the faboo Postmodern Jukebox version of Thom'n'the boys' biggest-selling single...

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox featuring Haley Reinhart - Creep (Radiohead)

When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
I wish I was special
You're so fucking special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here

I don't care if it hurts
I want to have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
You're so fucking special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here

Oh, oh

She's running out again
She's running out
She run run run run
Run

Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so fucking special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here

If it's not too much to ask, have a happy birthday, Mr Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7th October 1968)!

Float like a feather in a beautiful world

Heralds of summer, "Black-Eyed Susan" (Thunbergia) in the gardens here at Dolores Delargo Towers

On such a warm and muggy day, what better experience would there be than to be sat sipping wine in a park somewhere, listening to some jazzy reinterpretations of classic pop numbers from the bandstand?

Courtesy of the rather wonderful Postmodern Jukebox, that fantasy can come a little closer...

Here's just three of their brilliant arrangements:

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox featuring Haley Reinhart - Creep (Radiohead)

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox featuring Sara Niemietz - Hey Ya! (Outkast)

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox featuring Haley Reinhart - Lovefool (Cardigans)

I love, love, love these!

More - much more - is available at Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox site.

A bit of a bop - with Radiohead?

Cheer up, lads!

Thom Yorke has confirmed his new album will be the perfect Ibiza soundtrack.

The next Radiohead release, rumoured to be called ‘Booze, Boogie and Banter’, will take the band in a new direction of uplifting Euro house and medleys of their favourite artists such as Roxette and Busted.

Yorke said: “This new one will really get the fans on their feet for a bit of a bop.”

Radiohead have been removing their presence from the internet, except for the bits where you can buy their stuff, and management say their new website, complete with Flash animations, sound effects and cartoon versions of band members, will be launched shortly.

Web designer Nikki Hollis said: “Thom was very clear on what he wanted – lots of bright colours, and fun interactive stuff like word searches and design-your-own album cover tools.”

Jedward have already been lined up to support them on their next tour and Yorke has promised that although they will play all the hits, they will be radically reworked to make them ‘more disco-friendly’.

Yorke added: “And it’s ‘Tommy’ Yorke from now on, thanks.”

The Daily Mash

Of course.

My, my!

John-John as "Frida"

Our friend John-John's birthday was actually last week, but since he escaped the wet, foggy environs of London for sunny Seville last weekend, we are celebrating his "40-something-with-inflation-birthday" tonight instead (with a "Heaven and Hell" dressing-up party, to boot!).

So, by way of a (belated) birthday pressie, here's his fave band Abba in a couple of clever (and unexpected) mash-ups...

This one is listed as "ABBA vs Soft Cell"; I think it may well be "Abba vs Marilyn Manson", actually - but whoever or whatever, it's rather good! It's Tainted Waterloo:

[2019 UPDATE: gone from the interwebs, more's the pity]

And here's another rather odd choice; yet it works! Radiohead vs Abba - Creep (Takes It All):

Creep (Takes it All)

Happy wotsits, John-John! You're so fucking special.