Locked down with my Ukulele 43

These are strange times and I’m playing video jukebox.

Let me explain. I start by selecting a tune that I either know or an artist that has come up recently and type them into a music media platform. Then let it play and see where it goes.

It’s a day that could do with a bit of “lifting”! I’ve not even felt like I want to pick up the Uke’.Then! Onto the screen, Ian Dury and the Blockheads! No explanation found for the part three part.

Apparently the song was written after a near death incident in Rome to a lighting engineer. He was leaning over a mixer desk and got an electrical shock off a microphone stand. He survived. A reason to be cheerful in itself one would speculate. Hence, the line “no electric shocks”.

I’ve had a serious electric shock myself. Electric shock is a hazard in my job. I should have known better but a moment of thoughtlessness resulted in quite a painful shock. Take it from me, it really hurts. Microphones are supposed to work on extra low voltage so such a serious shock should not have occurred. There must have been something very wrong for the event to have occurred. The gig was called off due to safety concerns. The song was written in the bands hotel after the event.

The song makes no sense. Because! It is just a list of reasons to be cheerful.

Reasons to be cheerful Part 3 (Ian Dury and The Blockheads)

The song was released in July 1979. It has a really infectious drumbeat right through it. It’s really difficult to sing. The pace of the lyrics, mean that your tongue is twisting and turning like an eel in baby oil all the way through.

I have a newfound respect for Ian’s vocal capabilities. He does seem to easily cope with the vocal gymnastics required to deliver the cheerfulness of the song. He did have a part in writing it so he as at a standing advantage.

If you’re not feeling at your best today find the song and loose yourself to it. Stand in the middle of your kitchen and shimmy. Fiddle your hips and shake your arms to the beat. It’s a good work out as the song is about six minutes long. Don’t try it on the stairs or using electrical equipment. There’s been too many incidents already!

Stay safe