I'm worse at what I do best, and for this gift, I feel blessed

Sharing the big day with another unlikely assortment of notables including the divine Kate Bush, Emily Brontë, Frances de la Tour, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Peter Bogdanovich, Daley Thompson, Lady Harriet Harman, Sir Clive Sinclair, Terry O'Neill, Henry Ford, Sir Christopher Nolan, Jimmy Cliff, David Sanborn, Rat Scabies, Stan Stennett, Christopher Warren-Green, Lisa Kudrow, Sid Krofft, Hilary Swank, Liz Kershaw, Buddy Guy and abstract modernist sculptor Henry Moore...

...it is the 85th birthday today of the man who wrote She's a Lady [a huge hit for Tom Jones], It Doesn't Matter Anymore [for Buddy Holly], Diana, and (of course) the lyrics to the enduring standard My Way - Mr Paul Albert Anka!

However, his 2005 album Rock Swings is, in my opinion, his finest hour. From it, this fave:

Paul Anka - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Faboo!

Here we are now, entertain us

Our latest houseboy is a joy on washday...

The weather refuses to warm up - despite occasional sunny moments out there, it still isn't pleasant enough to sit out in the extensive gardens here at Dolores Delargo Towers. Pah.

To make up for it, let's watch another energetic thrashing session from our favourite hunky Croatians, shall we?

2Cellos - Smells Like Teen Spirit

That woke us all up!

Our little group has always been, and always will until the end

Our gang gathered in force for the annual Birthday Picnic in the lovely setting of Regent's Park, by the lake.

This time bereft of music at the bandstand ("because of the Olympics" apparently!), we dodged the goose shit, spread out our garguntuan feast (and copious quantities of booze) and had a great laugh, basking in the sunshine for hours. Bliss!







Here's something that is appropriate on all levels for both our gathering of oddballs friends, and also for this sunny hangover Sunday - Paul Anka's big band take on that Nirvana classic Smells Like Teen Spirit:

Paul Anka - Smells Like Teen Spirit

I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us!

We entertained ourselves, actually...

You would even say it glows

As the countdown to Tinsel Doom continues, it's time for some real class!

A perennial favourite from the lovely Kiki (aka Justin Bond) and Herb - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer never sounded so good...

Kiki and Herb - People Die (Medley): Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Smells Like Teen Spirit / Suicide Is Painless / Miss World

Kiki and Herb

And more, much more than this

Paul Anka, whose 68th birthday it is today, is one of those "mixed bag" types in musical history. On the one hand, his back catalogue includes some really cheesy pap such as the massive teenybopper anthem of the 50s Diana and the godawful You're Having My Baby. On the other, he has written some enduring standards. In a similar vein to artists like Neil Sedaka, Barry Manilow, George Harrison and even Bruce Springsteen, however, his songs are often best when sung by other people.

How many people realise that Mr Anka wrote the English version of My Way, for example, or that he wrote She's A Lady (the Tom Jones hit), Buddy Holly's It Doesn't Matter Anymore, Puppy Love (Donny Osmond's biggest hit), and the much-covered Eso Beso (That Kiss)?

Today, after six decades of writing and recording, stage and TV appearances, Mr Anka has turned his canny attention to parody - his brilliant album Rock Swings gives the big band swing treatment to modern artists' songs such as those by Nirvana and Oasis. I love it! Happy birthday to a musical legend...

Paul Anka - Wonderwall

Paul Anka - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Here is a medley of some of his own hits:

Paul Anka - Medley - Big Hits 2007

And of course, his classic - My Way:

Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavarotti - My Way

Paul Albert Anka (born 30th July 1941)

Stupid and contagious

Apparently fifteen years ago this week some drug addict in Seattle blew his head off, and a cult was born.

So much so, in fact, that many artists since have chosen to do some weird and wonderful covers of the man's greatest hit...

Big Band version:

Paul Anka - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Ukulele version:

Ukulele Orchestra - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Lullaby version:

Rockabye Baby! - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Electro version:

Happy Feathers - Smells Like Electro

And, of course, my favourite version - by Kiki and Herb...

Kiki and Herb - People Die

Hello! Hello!

I'm worse at what I do best, and for this gift I feel blessed

My mission statement: To bring the tackiest music to the masses.

Today's attempt to brighten up a damp Monday is...

Abigail - Smells Like Teen Spirit

How low?