We have had the awards ceremony for Pun Fun 2 and the latest leg of our tour of the Americas already this week, and there are a couple of chunky posts in the pipeline. So I'm keeping this brief and sweet, like a palate cleanser between courses.
While I was browsing on last Bandcamp Friday I stumbled across the work of Artem Bemba, a singer-songwriter from Ukraine. His has put out a lot of music but I was particularly taken by his 2019 album "Harvest" from which the track below (which roughly translates as "There Will Be A Garden In Us") is taken. This album and most others are available on a name your own price basis.
There are some obvious Neil Young influences (the clue is in the album title) but what it reminded me most of was my old favourites Nagisa Ni Te. According to my extensive records they have not appeared on these pages since 2021, which is far too long. I'm taking the opportunity to put that right with this track from their 2008 album "Yosuga".
Our final stop on our trip around the Americas for this year brings us to French Guiana. Strictly speaking it is not a country but a part of France (where they presumably call it Our Guiana) but leaving it out on those grounds would be to deny you the chance of hearing the local music and deny me the chance of mentioning my holiday there in 2002.
French Guiana is 99% jungle with the result that the vast majority of the population live on the coast. One of the very few towns in the interior is Saint-Georges on the banks of the Oyapock river, which forms the border with Brazil. These days they have a bridge over to Brazil and the wild west town of Oiapoque but when I was there you had to rely on water taxis like the one in the photo.
The town of Kourou on the coast is the location of the European Space Agency's primary launch site. The flight path of the rockets takes them over Devil's Island, where the old solitary confinement cells have been reclaimed by nature - undoubtedly one of the most atmospheric places I have ever visited
But enough about me, its time for some music. And who better to start us off than Henri Salvador. Born in Cayenne, he became very big on the boulevards of Paris, with a glittering career in the 1950s, 1960s and well beyond as a songwriter and performer. The song I have chosen has been credited by Antonio Carlos Jobim with inspiring him to slow down samba and invent bossa nova.
Our next artist chose to stay in French Guiana and become a star locally. The young Daniel Sinai left Les Corsairs, renamed himself Dany Play and swept all before him in the 1970s. This track dates from 1972. I found it on a compilation called "Disque La Raye - 60's French West Indies Boo-Boo-Galoo".
Sticking with the pop sounds, La Compagnie Créole released their first album in 1982 and enjoyed regular chart success in France and other French speaking countries for the rest of that decade. This is the title track from an album released in 1989. They are still going and only last year appeared on the French version of 'Masked Singer' as a giant hand.
Another active veteran now. Chris Combette released his first album in 1995 and according to his biography "he has been captivating audiences for decades with his enchanting blend of Caribbean, jazz, French and African music". I'm not going to contradict Mr Little Comb. Today's track comes from his most recent record, 2024's "Laissez faire les Anges".
From CC's "enchanting blend of Caribbean, jazz, French and African music" to a "Guyanese Afropunk some Brazilian flautist". We are talking of course of Yann Cléry and the lead single from his 2023 album "Yann Solo". True to his word, he goes all in on the flute.
We have a couple of examples of indigenous music for you all next. The Bushinengue is a term given to the various peoples in French Guiana and Surinam who are descended from groups of African slaves who escaped and fled into the interior. Their music is heavily percussion led.
Angi Fusi features on the 2019 compilation album "Les Bushinengé – Nèg Mawon De Guyane". Wan Ton Melody are on there as well although this track comes from their 2012 album "Peace And Love". I know absolutely nothing else about either artist.
Which brings us at last to the MAR slot. There was no shortage to choose from thanks to the good folks at French Guiana's very own Natural Sound 973 label. I have opted for Jahman T and this track from his 2011 album "Switi Dei".
Ladies and gentlemen, we have another winner! Topping the Fruit and Vegetable Pun Fun chart is...
C with "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Zucchini"
It became fairly clear after the early votes had been received that it was going to be a two horseradish race for first place between C and Rol with "I Yam What I Yam". In the end C took the win by a marrow margin.
She is far too modest to admit it but I think C may have had an inkling that she was in with a chance of victory. A couple of days before voting closed she sent me this original artwork (as some of you will know C is a very talented artist and illustrator).
I particularly like the use of peas to provide a sense of scale. A zucchini that is only seven peas long can truly be described as both itsy bitsy and teenie weenie.
C and Rol were not the only ones to submit quality produce. Here is the top five a day:
1. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Zucchini - Brian Hyland (C) 2. I Yam What I Yam - Gloria Gaynor (Rol) 3. Kumquat May - Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman (Mr F) 4. Sprout - Tears For Fears (Ernie) 5. The Aubergine Genie - David Bowie (The Swede)
I'm pleased with my fourth place although slightly disappointed that my tactical decision to choose a seasonal vegetable didn't bear more fruit. It was my third choice. I originally selected Rocking Sidney's "Don't Mess With My Mange Tout" but had to disqualify myself as that isn't the title. My second thought was "Baby Kumquat" by The Equals but I was worried about splitting the kumquat vote.
Many thanks to everyone who sent in an entry, and thanks also to those of you who did not but found time to vote. We jumped from 11 entries in Pun Fun 1 to 15 this time round. If numbers increase any further I may need to consider amending the scoring system so you can vote on your top five. Any thoughts on that let me know in the comments.
The current plan is to announce the theme for Pun Fun 3 on Monday 12 January. Until then, we will hand over to The Intruders to deliver their tribute to C, followed by the man who made it all possible.
It has been a fairly busy year on the gig front, having clocked up a round 30. Barring any last minute plans I have no more lined up until January so am now able to share my annual Gigs of the Year list, whether you want it or not. With the usual caveat about the list being different if I were to do this again next week, in date order they were:
Sarabeth Tucek @ West Hampstead Arts Club Mekons @ 100 Club Tengger @ Cafe Oto Zawose Queens @ Dalston Curve Garden Yalla Miku @ Shacklewell Arms Celebration of The Incredible String Band @ Queen Elizabeth Hall Al Stewart @ London Palladium Vieux Farka Toure @ Troxy Wreckless Eric @ The Lexington Blind Yeo @ Shacklewell Arms
Honourable mentions go to others that might easily have made the cut on a different day such as Kassi Valazza, Slow Motion Cowboys, Eleanor Dunsdon & Gregor Black etc etc.
The most visited venue was the Shacklewell Arms in Dalston where they lay on regular free gigs - inevitably a mixed bag but the highs were very high indeed (see above).
And finally, also worth noting is the above average level of enjoyable oddness throughout the year, including Tengger and Blind Yeo but also from the likes of Milkweed, ROIS and Rose Io and her alter ego Ecto the Rabbit. More oddness I say!
That's enough self-indulgent drivel for today. Let's have some live action from some of these folks. The last one lacks the high production values of the others but it was taken at the gig I was at (although not by me).
I don't normally approve of name-dropping, as I said to the Pope the last time we were hanging out. But sometimes you have to make exceptions. This is one of those times.
Last Sunday night I got to meet one of my long-time favourites, Ms Suzi Quatro. The setting was a back room at the Hippodrome Casino, a tower of tat near London's Leicester Square. The occasion was the latest in a series known as "An Audience With Hayley Palmer".
I must admit I wasn't previously familiar with Ms Palmer, who presents music chat shows on Sky and the likes, but she was very personable. The room only took 50 people which worked well for this sort of event as we all felt involved.
Some members of the audience were a little too involved. There was a slightly scary super-fan who claimed that she knew Suzi better than the friends who had accompanied Suzi to the event and an irritating pillock who seemed to think we were there to listen to him.
Others were keen to share their musical claims to fame such as being involved in an unspecified way in an album with Priscilla Presley, having attended a dinner that Nicky Chinn was at, playing the same kit as Nigel the drummer from Saxon, and the woman whose Nan had told Mickey Most off for putting his feet on the table. I thought about mentioning my pivotal role in bringing Tsonga Disco to the masses but didn't want to upstage them all.
One of the more admirable claims to fame was from someone who had recently helped record a charity Christmas single on behalf of the Care Workers Charity. This is where my enormous media influence comes in handy. Head to this link if you would like to support a good cause.
Suzi herself was great fun. As you may have suspected she's not exactly backwards in coming forwards and as well as some anecdotes about her career we were treated to her thoughts about astrology, the nature of evil, the spirit world, poetry, Elvis, in-laws and Ryanair amongst other things. She also shared a cautionary tale about why you should never take five laxatives shortly before going on stage in a white jumpsuit.
Here are a couple of my favourite Suzi moments from this century. First is a stonking Goldfrapp cover from her 2011 album "In The Spotlight" on which she subtly points out the tune's resemblance to one of her own, while the second was written especially for the 4 CD boxset of the same name that came out in 2014.
Voting is now open for Pun Fun 2. Readers were challenged to adapt a song title with a fruit or vegetable related pun. Collectively they have contributed some excellent produce. It has been like Harvest Festival here at Leggies HQ this week.
I am particularly pleased to welcome four first-time punsters: Martin, Mister F, Pete From Minnesota and The Swede. I hope your efforts bear fruit (or vegetables as applicable).
Voting is open to all readers not just those of you who entered. Let me know your top three in order of preference. I'll then award 5 points for your first choice, 3 for second and 1 for third.
You can either submit your votes in the comments section or email them to leggies27@hotmail.co.uk if you prefer to preserve the sanctity of the secret ballot.
The deadline is next Sunday (14 December) and we will announce the results a week today.
Here are the contenders, listed alphabetically by artist.
Guava Little Love - Bay City Rollers
Lettucey - The Beatles
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Zucchini - Brian Hyland
Beet Beet Beet - The Damned
The Aubergine Genie - David Bowie
Onion of the Snake - Durian Durian
Kumquat May - Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman
I Yam What I Yam - Gloria Gaynor
Changes in Lettuces, Changes in Attitudes - Jimmy Buffett
The Return Of The Los Palm Hearts 7 - Madness
I'd Like To Peach The World To Sing - The New Seekers
Hang On To Your Mango - The Peach Boys
My Cherry Amour - Stevie Wonder
Life Durian Wartime - Talking Heads
Sprout - Tears For Fears
Exercise your vote wisely and remember to join us next Monday when we will reveal who's the top banana. Whoever it is, it definitely won't be Juanita, Lorna or Nana as they forgot to enter.
Links stay up for a month or so. If you are an artist or copyright holder and want me to remove the link, or if you want to get in touch for any other reason, e-mail me on leggies27@hotmail.co.uk.
