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For the first Song Lyric Sunday of the New Year, as he tells us in his post Been Done Before Jim is revisiting a variant of a previous theme ,by inviting us to play a song that has a girl’s or a boy’s name in the title, at the suggestion of Ange of the Let’s Write……. blog. This was previously the theme back in October 2024, when I played a song by the excellent Bellowhead, so I thought I'd return to English folk music this time too.

As usual, I am marking the start of a New Year with some suitable tunes. These are a collection of the usual suspects, so I apologise for anyone sensing a feeling of déjà vu! I usually start with this one, so I might as well do that again: ABBA released Happy New Year on the album Super Trouper in November 1980, just in time for me to buy it for my now ex-wife for Christmas.

For the past few years I have followed up my Advent tunes by playing some that are relevant for the remainder of the year. Some are looking back at the year just gone, others looking ahead - rather like we do when the New Year approaches. I see no reason to deviate from that, and am playing six today, with another set to follow on Thursday, aka…

For this week's Song Lyric Sunday, as he tells us in his post Hickory Dickory Dock, Jim is inviting us to play tunes about rodents, which was suggested by me in a moment of madness - he tells how it came about. I had one obvious one in mind - the one I mentioned to Jim that prompted this theme -  but I played that six months ago for an…

So we finally come to the end of Advent, as today is Christmas Day, in case you hadn't noticed. If you have been with me for the seven previous episodes of this series I am very grateful to you, and if you are actually taking time out from your busy Christmas Day schedule to view this I'm doubly happy! As is my habit, I'm playing a couple of extra tunes for the big day, making seven in all, and there is a fun animation to close with.

'Tis the week of Christmas, and it is time for the penultimate set in this year's Advent Countdown. As there are so many songs I wanted to play I'm adding in an extra one for this week's two final posts, giving you six tunes and, today, a conclusion to the Hafod Hardware series of ads. Almost all of the tunes are return visitors: a couple are ones I'd usually play on Christmas Eve, but as the calendar is against me you'll just have to use your imagination for them!

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Today's prompt for Song Lyric Sunday, as Jim tells us in his post Engaging With Music, is to play a song from an album you had never listened to before, which had been suggested by, er, me. This might be taken to mean the first listen to a new record after you had rushed home from the shop with it - a very common occurrence in my youth - but in these days of streaming music it is probably a little different for most of us, and that is the approach I am taking with it.

Like the rest of this year, December is flying by and we're already up to the sixth of the eight parts of this year's Advent Countdown. I hope you've been enjoying these, and will continue to do so. I usually dedicate one post each year to some more serious songs but am changing it a little this year: today's selection features three of the 'serious' ones, bookended by a couple more upbeat tunes.

Only nine days until it happens, and if your household contains little people I hope they are getting excited. I live on my own so I try to keep the levels down - not good for my blood pressure! But there is still plenty of music to play, so let's get on with it. I played my favourite covers band earlier this…

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Now here's a surprise. it's Song Lyric Sunday and I'm not playing any folk music - I felt like a change after a five week run! This week's theme, as Jim tells us in his post Geographical Areas, is to play a song that mentions a state, a country, or a place, which has been suggested by Di of…

I received this year's first one of these yesterday - it's in the TBR pile, until I can bring myself to look at it! I have much more important things on my mind anyway, like playing some more seasonal tunes. For this selection I am relying on four more of my regular favourites while adding in a new one, and am rounding things off with one of this year's better adverts.

Advent rumbles on, bringing the big day ever closer. We're already up to Part Three of my Advent Countdown, and as before I'm playing five tunes for you. Four of these are making a welcome return, and one is brand new. I'm also sharing a new ad today as well, this year's offering from a pub in Northern Ireland who I have featured before - it's another little beauty.

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I thought at first that Jim seemed to be in gruesome mode this week, as his Song Lyric Sunday invitation is to play a song that mentions death, kill or murder. Keeping it cheerful in the season of goodwill! But his post tells more: tomorrow is the 45th anniversary of John Lennon's murder, so the theme is in tribute to him.

We're beginning to get into the Advent swing, and here are five more songs that I like. I've played four of these before but one is making its debut - the video is newly released so I'm showing that I'm down with the kids and keeping my fingers on the pulse of that pop music thing. Or maybe not... This first one was newly released last year, and I played it then.

As 2025 flies past at an incredible rate, it doesn't feel like nearly a year since I was last sharing some seasonal tunes with you. But I'm afraid that it is! Newbies won't be familiar with this but older hands will know that I devote my December musical posts to offerings for the time of year. I used to do this on a daily basis but for the past couple of years I have done it by using…

Are you ready, we are, so link up, connect with others, and share at InLinkz 389 Senior Salon Pit Stop