15th May, 2025: Mike Oldfield.
It’s officially official: I’ve received an award!
Well, not exactly.
I’ve received a pre-paid card from Southend Council run scheme.
That’s very well timed … especially as I get some benefits, tomorrow!
Either way … ?
I’ve put some money on the gas.
Hopefully, I’ll built up a lot of money on the metre, by winter: that’s when I’ll really need it.
Let’s move on.
Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mum*, Olga†, Irene‡ and Debbi§ putting in their answers: with everyone scoring five out of five.
Let’s see how everyone does with today’s ten question set, shall we?
Q1) 15th May saw the birth of musician, Mike Oldfield. 15th May of which year: 1952, 1953 or 1954?Q2) What was the name of his first, and best known, LP?Q3) That LP was the first release on which label: Stiff, Virgin or Island?Q4) Music from that LP was used in which horror film: Friday 13th, The Exorcist or The Wicker Man?Q5) His first LP was released in 1973. His second, Hergest Ridge, was released, when: 1973, 1974 or 1975?Q6) The title of 1975’s Ommadawn is taken from an Irish word that means what: Irish, Idiot or Iridescent?Q7) Mike Oldfield has a sister called Sally. Her best known hit, “Mirrors”, was released in which year of the 1970s?Q8) 1979 saw Mike Oldfield record a version of the theme tune for a children’s TV show. Which children’s show: Magpie, Blue Peter or Newsround?Q9) Oldfield’s “Moonlight Shadow” was released in 1983. Who was the singer on “Moonlight Shadow”: Maggie Reilly, Sally Oldfield or Sally James?Q10) Finally … ? Oldfield performed in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics. The Games were held in which European city?
Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …
Q1) The Warsaw Pact was signed on 14th May. Of which year of the 1950s?A1) 1955.Q2) The Pact was signed in which Polish city?A2) Warsaw. (People getting this wrong are having a bad day … )Q3) Including the Soviet Union, the Pact had how many founding members?A3) Eight.Q4) Mongolia had Warsaw Pact what: membership, observer status or associate status?A4) Observer status.Q5) Finally … ? The Pact ended in which year of the 1990s?A5) 1991.
Here’s a thought …
“If it was a horrible thing I was known for, like some horrible pop song, it would annoy me, but it doesn’t. I’m proud of it.”Mike Oldfield, speaking about his best known work.
And a song …
The next ten question set will be on 28th May: it’s about the Old Firm!
Your comments and answers will be published tomorrow morning.
Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.
Decisions about scores are final.
Thank you for coming: have a good day.
* Hello, Mum!
† Oh, LORD! TV’s with no remotes, Olga! I think we kept a lot fitter, when we had to walk over to the TV. And, these days, there’s no controls on the TV! I think Kosher phones could be a good example for TV makers, these days: keep the complications to a minimum.
Oh, wow! They had a band, there, too? Wow! (I like how the kid’s wandered into shot … )
‡ Morning, Irene: how IS the day … ?
§ I think the preferred Aussie term is ‘prawn’, Debbi. And some of them can be quite big: at least, going by the size of the chickens … !
5 comments:
Q1) 1953
Q2) Tubular Bells (I had it on tape, I think)
Q3) Virgin
Q4) The Exorcist
Q5) 1974
Q6) Idiot
Q7) 1978
Q8) Blue Peter
Q9) Maggie Reilly
Q10) London
Tubular Bells was quite a way to start a career in music, to be honest.
I did interview the band. The wind instrument they play it's called a "gralla" and the little drum it's a "timbal". I love the little guy who was playing with his parents. I interviewed two of the players, who were already musicians but became interested in traditional catalan musical instruments.
What happens is that they start the castell, and as it goes up, the music starts. It is normally when it has risen two or three levels when the music starts, and at that point it is (hopefully) clear that the castell is going up. The music they play is very typical, and whenever you hear it, even if you are far away, you know that a castell is going up.
The band players are members of the group of castellers ("la colla"), although they rehearse separately, but they are an integral part of la colla. And, as they say, everybody plays a part. You have the very young ones and really old people as well. One of the players told me that she wanted to join the castellers but she wasn't confident enough, and as she was a musician, she decided to join that way, but now she sometimes is part of "la pinya" that is the group of people who join at the base of the castell, to make sure that they are well supported.
In the past, anybody would join and participate in la pinya (I remember being at a square where they would be creating a castell and people around them just joined in), but because of regulations and risk (of course, if they fall, they might fall on somebody who is at the bottom), they don't do that anymore. Now, the members of the other collas join in at the base.
You will have noticed that each colla wears a shirt of a different colour. They also go by the colour of the handkerchiefs they wear, and they have different emblems and names (usually funny ones).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gralla_(instrument)
1 1953
2 Tubular Bells
3 Virgin records
4 The Exorcist
5 1874
6 iridescent
7 1978
8 Blue Peter
9 Maggie really
10 London
Mmm. Sounds delicious! :)
1. 1953
2. Tubular Bells
3. Virgin
4. The Exorcist
5. 1974
6. Idiot
7. 1978
8. Blue Peter
9. Maggie Reilly
10. London (I remember the rings on the bridge!)
1. 1953
2. Tubular Bells
3. Virgin
4. The Exorcist
5. 1974
6. Idiot
7. 1978
8. Blue Peter
9. Maggie Reilly
10. London.
Oh, I forgot to say that today it's Firentitats, that's a fair where associations and organisations of the neighbourhoods have stalls installed on the main street (that's closed to traffic) and there are stages for music, dance, etc. The radio station has a live studio and we interview people and do some programmes live, so I'll be there all day and won't come home until late in the evening, as we try to give them a hand putting everything away as well (they'll already be there getting it all ready and they usually help with the sound at the stages, etc). Els castellers also have a performance in the afternoon, but as they do that at the other end of the street and I'm busy with the radio, I normally miss that. Have a good Saturday and I shall be back tomorrow if all is well.
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