tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post3567653543262263419..comments2023-10-24T11:11:49.568+01:00Comments on There Are Places I Remember: Songs About Places: Life In A Northern TownGeoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966328708258079467noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-21072467604202786052021-06-15T10:30:21.887+01:002021-06-15T10:30:21.887+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Jamesyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17753362323285152901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-9467947660810467852017-05-02T11:28:13.428+01:002017-05-02T11:28:13.428+01:00Look up Windsor Rd and Windsor View on Google Stre...Look up Windsor Rd and Windsor View on Google Street View. I'm pretty sure that's the house on the corner in the video.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04481982545420487974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-42472016890559036392016-11-05T06:45:08.058+00:002016-11-05T06:45:08.058+00:00@roberta: i'm American & i've never ev...@roberta: i'm American & i've never even heard of Sugarland's version. the ONE & ONLY version of that song that was a huge hit in the USA is the original by Dream Academy. i was in high school when the song came out on MTV ... & my friends & family & i all loved it. it's very nostalgic, even to us Americans ;)TB12https://www.blogger.com/profile/11794792375965622369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-53673645498651399572012-02-25T21:48:43.325+00:002012-02-25T21:48:43.325+00:00NEVER! Those of us Americans who were teenagers co...NEVER! Those of us Americans who were teenagers coming of age in the 80's will NEVER forget The Dream Academy. They were our favorite then and they remain the favorite to this day.Jason Placehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16096327338769076714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-42833021139562199072011-05-16T21:45:44.911+01:002011-05-16T21:45:44.911+01:00I thought I would put this link up as a reminder o...I thought I would put this link up as a reminder of the great body of work by Madeline Bell and Blue Mink<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9yirCFgblkGeoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10966328708258079467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-40260066861323627862011-05-14T20:00:49.298+01:002011-05-14T20:00:49.298+01:00Thank you Geoff! I'll get the Reminiscences bo...Thank you Geoff! I'll get the Reminiscences book - or actually, it looks like at least in the U.S. you can read his autobiographies online for free:<br />http://books.google.com/books?id=8XNDAAAAIAAJ&<br />http://books.google.com/books?id=6E5JAAAAIAAJ<br /><br />Google Books is a little pieces of the new adult education world I think (all the digitized, free books).Josiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04475708672247853519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-16618257704231833962011-05-14T19:55:31.681+01:002011-05-14T19:55:31.681+01:00Thanks Geoff! I will get hold of those books.Thanks Geoff! I will get hold of those books.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10190486337916706104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-46859727181432615722011-05-14T10:41:28.518+01:002011-05-14T10:41:28.518+01:00What a sudden flood of comments! To answer some!:
...What a sudden flood of comments! To answer some!:<br /><br /> re Josie,Henry Hyndman wrote a couple of books -the other one was just called Reminiscences. It had a great quote - "The Labour Party has been a great disappointment to me but then I never thought it would not be " (This from 1911!).<br /><br />Re Martha, yes, I am not surpised you are a bit flummoxed. A jasper is a regional word for a wasp, which made him drop his bottle of Dandelion and Burdock, so he couldnt get his deposit back!<br /><br />Re Laura, a couple of books might be A Ragged Schooling by Robert Roberts -growing up in Salford before WW1 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ragged-Schooling-Growing-Classic-Slum/dp/1901341011<br /><br />or Landscape for a Good Woman by Carolyn Steedman-about her ancestors in Burnley and around.<br />http://www.amazon.co.uk/Landscape-Good-Woman-classic-non-fiction/dp/0860685594/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305365985&sr=1-1Geoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10966328708258079467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-51450613184262890922011-05-14T08:50:42.735+01:002011-05-14T08:50:42.735+01:00Nashville. Funkiest city, hands-down.Nashville. Funkiest city, hands-down.Hughnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-71763768797725160262011-05-14T08:49:51.270+01:002011-05-14T08:49:51.270+01:00New Orleans is about as funky as it gets.:)New Orleans is about as funky as it gets.:)Desireenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-52301130630085001882011-05-14T08:48:01.962+01:002011-05-14T08:48:01.962+01:00I never visited any of them, but the "funky&q...I never visited any of them, but the "funky" cities on my dream list are: Antwerp, Chicago, Lisbon, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Warsaw and Zurich.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08001197762338085430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-56822757163207512342011-05-14T08:46:26.735+01:002011-05-14T08:46:26.735+01:00I would put down a tie between Sydney and Tokyo.I would put down a tie between Sydney and Tokyo.Quentinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14228733046151436210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-29124768051355585782011-05-14T08:43:47.656+01:002011-05-14T08:43:47.656+01:00For me it'd have to be Berlin.For me it'd have to be Berlin.Iannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-65699657964230005112011-05-14T08:42:47.215+01:002011-05-14T08:42:47.215+01:00I agree that the "funkiest town" list is...I agree that the "funkiest town" list is a bit eccentric. Here is mine (and I am only basing this on places I have been outside of England!): <br />Portland, Oregon, USA<br />San Francisco, California, USA<br />Buenos Aires, Argentina <br />Istanbul, TurkeySam Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08523013822784596338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-47141280548941895202011-05-14T08:34:25.339+01:002011-05-14T08:34:25.339+01:00I don't think ANY of those towns deserve to be...I don't think ANY of those towns deserve to be on a "funkiest city" list! Except maybe the one in Brazil. Here is my list (and I haven't been to all these places, but they are my top list to visit and ALL ARE FUNKIER THAN ANYWHERE IN VERMONT!<br /><br />Tangier<br />Valencia<br />Ghent<br />Chiang MaiBellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01769305791969597440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-57092215119105046282011-05-14T08:26:38.106+01:002011-05-14T08:26:38.106+01:00I was curious too about the other "funky"...I was curious too about the other "funky" towns in that British Airways magazine so I looked it up: <br />Daylesford, Australia<br />Tiradentes, Brazil<br />Burlington, Vermont<br />are all officially "funkier" than Hebden Bridge. Now, I've only been to Burlington of those, but it is very very unfunky!<br /><br />I also found the whole article, which I'm pasting. As you will see, the "funky" aspect of Hebden Bridge seems heavily based on how many lesbians live there. Of course, one could argue that lesbians are inherently funky. But I imagine most lesbians might find this a stereotype (myself included), a bit like presuming gay men are all "fabulous." <br /><br />Fascinating though!<br /><br />From http://www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/news/news05/17.html - <br /><br />"Once, coal barges would glide through this lively, newly upwardly mobile town. Now, it is inhabited by home workers, media types and academics who can't afford a place in Leeds and Manchester. It is also the self-confessed lesbian capital of the North; according to one website (so it must be true), heterosexual women are outnumbered six to one by their Sapphic sisters.<br /><br />With its cool liberal, lesbian credentials, it is appropriately stacked with organic cafés and delis, tempered by servers who are exponents of that chrming, "speak as I find" northern bluff. Even the Laughing Gravy (The Birchcliffe Centre. Tel: 44 (0)1422 844425) in the basement of an old chapel serves just one mouth-watering veggie menu every Friday or Saturday. Take it or leave it.<br /><br />Independent shops thrive here - the quirkier the better - and a particular favourite is the The Old Treehouse. Inevitably, the Trades Club (Holme Street. Tel: +44 (0)1422 845265; www.tradesclub.info) hosts regular alternative and, of course, world music gigs. Moyles Hotel (New Road. Tel: +44 (0)1422 845272), as well as a good place to stay, is a hive of contemporary music and poetry gigs and, naturally enough, has a well regarded organic restaurant<br /><br />Ted Hughes lived in the area, and his first wife, Sylvia Plath, is buried in nearby Heptonstall. Anyone can book on to a creative course at Lumb Bank, Hughes' old house and now an Arvon Foundation creative writing centre (tel: +44(0)1422 843714; www.arvonfoundation.org).<br /><br />It is easy to keep fit in Hebden Bridge, thanks to fabulous mountain biking and walks in the surrounding Pennines. For less strenuous fat-burning, there are brisk strolls along the canal, as well as packhorse trails to follow. If you're a keen rambler, book into Latham Farm (tel: +44(0)1422 843800), a listed building on the edge of the moor along the Calderdale Way.<br /><br />Sheila Tordoff, editor, Hebden Bridge Times We're a Funky town? I'm not surprised - it's a very lively, tolerant place. We've got a wide spectrum of people; lesbians are a thriving part of the community, and we attract an intellectual element. They all seem to spark off each other. Hebden Bridge has always had a reputation for being arty-farty, and since the 1930s has been seen as a bit off-the-wall.<br /><br />Things to do? Our cinema holds themed evenings. When they showed Titanic, we all did fancy dress and drank iceberg cocktails. We take things just a little bit further here."Daniellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-90883662353105280402011-05-14T08:25:24.231+01:002011-05-14T08:25:24.231+01:00I think the problem is that very few cultural prod...I think the problem is that very few cultural producers live up North (i.e. the people who commission and fund TV shows and music videos). So that creates all the stereotypes - all the Expect urban stories about poverty, murder, working-class struggle, unemployment, wife-beating and alcoholism, and countryside stories about farming, murder and old men having humorous adventures. There may well be trouble at t'mill. Everything will be gloomy, grey and, socially and culturally, barely out of the 1930s (or, if you're lucky, the 1970s).Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-2080411619015355662011-05-14T08:24:35.489+01:002011-05-14T08:24:35.489+01:00Wow, I guess Blogger is finally restoring all the ...Wow, I guess Blogger is finally restoring all the comments! Although some are now anonymous, and I'm pretty sure, for example, that the Lowry link was originally Camille. It also hasn't restored mine. Oh well! Mine was just a book recommendation: "The North of England Home Service" (www.amazon.co.uk/North-England-Home-Service/dp/0571219373). It is about the topographical shifts and attendant social ramifications caused by the collapse of heavy industry in the North East. Like your column this week, it challenges a simplistic binary opposition between a golden past and tarnished present. It does critique heritage-era Britain, Britain as Retro Land, unable or unprepared to find a new self to be. <br /><br />Also, an additional/new comment, Geoff, I'd like to learn more about adult education history like the Mechanics Institutes. I had no idea that such things as Reading Rooms, Temperance Clubs, Esperanto classes and Clarion Cycling Clubs existed in Burnley around 1900. Is there some kind of history book about this you'd recommend by any chance?Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10190486337916706104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-64677110162547140552011-05-14T08:18:01.812+01:002011-05-14T08:18:01.812+01:00I was in the St Winifred's School Choir. We ha...I was in the St Winifred's School Choir. We had no say in the music we sang.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-89997627968101823932011-05-14T08:17:46.559+01:002011-05-14T08:17:46.559+01:00I love Lowry. Here are some representative paintin...I love Lowry. Here are some representative paintings by him, in case anyone is interested: http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2006/11/16/lowry.jpgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-90899055303767808292011-05-14T08:17:14.782+01:002011-05-14T08:17:14.782+01:00Here's the film "A Taste of Honey" t...Here's the film "A Taste of Honey" that Geoff mentions......<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_LPdk3vj8EAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-78549081359465084962011-05-14T08:16:23.159+01:002011-05-14T08:16:23.159+01:00Here is the song "Matchstalk Men and Matchsta...Here is the song "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" that Geoff mentions - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnRX6_Txpaw - I agree it reinforces stereotypes but it's also kind of cool that a pop song is about paintings; not sure you get that kind of intellectual song writing so much anymore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-21627126718244573982011-05-14T08:15:30.613+01:002011-05-14T08:15:30.613+01:00Oh God, the St. Winifred's School Choir!:) Alw...Oh God, the St. Winifred's School Choir!:) Always mangling whatever song they are part of!:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-75081108307638503722011-05-14T08:02:14.845+01:002011-05-14T08:02:14.845+01:00I liked this column a lot. As a northerner, it'...I liked this column a lot. As a northerner, it's challenging to explain to people that we can celebrate our culture while hating it when others invoke it (brass bands, flat caps, whippet racing, wrinkled stockings, beef dripping).Kathnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-42464141037821963812011-05-14T08:01:44.044+01:002011-05-14T08:01:44.044+01:00I think for some people, this is where the image o...I think for some people, this is where the image of northerners comes from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eDaSvRO9xAPhilnoreply@blogger.com