Musical Chairs

This is my 250th blog-post.

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[Image description: Matt Alber singing whilst playing his keyboard]

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Regular readers will recall that I have been moving out of Facebook almost since my blog began. A few months back I deleted the vast majority of my music tastes therefrom: with the exception of Snatnam Kaur and Matt Alber (pictured above), so that I may continue to receive news on their tours, releases, etc. It has taken since then to complete this post - partly due to my on-going ill-health and disabilities.

I have listed my eclectic tastes alphabetically. All bar two acts have a Wikipedia listing, so I have included such after their name. This is followed by any official, or in some cases quasi-official, website. Finally I have listed styles. In this regard I have attempted to be consistent and used as few labels as seemed necessary. I realise music can be labelled in multiple ways and my categorisation in no way should be deemed some kind of attempt at taxonomy. The labels are there simply to give a broad overview.

For some artists, they were what is quaintly known as one-hit-wonders. In these instances, I have posted a Youtube link to their unique success. The four stimulate potent and happy memories in me, each connected to someone I love/have loved very dearly.

I have not listed "classical" composers here, as I intend to draw up a further list at some point.

My selections are not particularly avant-garde or even trendy; they are, however, my choices. I am more than happy to engage in discussion over favourite tracks and so on with regards the artists listed, if anyone wishes to do so.

As a young child, my vision was deteriorating extremely rapidly and I had to obtain new, stronger prescription spectacles every six months. I was advised that I should probably be blind by age twenty-one. Thankfully, that did not come to pass. However, apart from trying to teach myself Braille, I decided that listening to music (or oral books) was far more important to me than seeing with my eyes.

Music speaks to one's inner-being, to one's soul or spirit, to one's psyche. Music brings to mind past loves, happy memories and places where one initially heard a piece. Music resonates with one's whole being. I give you, My Music…

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A

A-ha     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, new wave, pop, rock, synthpop
Abba     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, pop, rock
Acker Bilk     Wikipedia, Official, styles: trad jazz
Alejandro Sanz     Wikipedia, Official, styles: Latino, pop
Alison Moyet     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, new wave, pop, rock, synthpop
Amy Grant     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, gospel, pop, rock
Anastacia     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, funk, pop, rock, R&B, soul
Annie Lennox     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, pop, rock, R&B, soul, synthpop
Antony and the Johnsons     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop
Armand Van Helden     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, electronica, garage, house 
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli     Wikipedia, Official, styles: classical

B

Babylon Zoo     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop, rock
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Baccara     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, pop
Barry Manilow     Wikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, pop, rock
Barry White     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, funk, R&B, soul
Basement Jaxx     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, garage, house
Bette Midler     Wikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, pop, rock
Beverley Knight     Wikipedia, Official, styles: R&B, soul
Billie Holiday     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, jazz, R&B, swing, torch song
Black     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock
Black Eyed Peas     Wikipedia, Official, styles: hip hop, R&B
Blondie     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, punk
Blur     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, Britpop, Indie
Brandy (Norwood)     Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, R&B
Bruce Springsteen     Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, rock
Bryan Ferry     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock

C

Chic     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, funk, soul
Chicane     Wikipedia, Official, styles: chill-out, electronica, house, trance
China Crisis     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, synthpop
Chris de Burgh     Wikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, pop, rock
Chris Rea     Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, rock
Clannad     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, Irish, new age, rock
Cocteau Twins     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop, rock
Coldplay     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop, rock

D

D:Ream     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, pop, rock, R&B, soul
Dan Hartman     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, new wave, R&B, rock, soul
Daniel Barenboim     Wikipedia, Official, styles: classical
Daniel Bedingfield     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, electronica, garage, gospel, pop, rock
Deep Forest     Wikipedia, Official, styles:ambient, electronica, new age, world
Don Francisco     Wikipedia, Official, styles: gospel
Donna Summer     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, funk, gospel, pop, R&B, rock, soul

E

Édith Piaf     Wikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, chanson, torch song
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf     Wikipedia, Official, styles: Lieder, opera, operetta
Ely Guerra     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, chill-out, jazz, pop, rock
Enigma     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new age, world
Eurythmics     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock, synthpop
Eva Cassidy     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, folk, gospel, jazz, pop, soul

F

Faithless     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, house, trance
Fatboy Slim     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, house, rave
Frankie Goes to Hollywood     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, new wave, pop, rock, synthpop

G

Gary Numan     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, rock, synthpop 
George Michael     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, pop, soul
Glenn Miller     Wikipedia, Official, styles: big band, swing
Gloria Estefan     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, Latino, pop
Goldfrapp     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, synthpop
Gorillaz     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, electronica, hip hop
Grace Jones     Wikipedia, Official, styles: chanson, dance, disco, electronica, funk, new wave, R&B, reggae, rock
Groove Armada     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, chill-out, electronica, house
Guillemots     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, indie, rock

H

Heather Nova     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, rock

I

Isha D     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, house
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J

Jace Everett     Wikipedia, Official, styles: country, rock
James Blunt     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop, rock
Jamiroquai     Wikipedia, Official, styles: acid jazz, dance, disco, electronica, funk, pop, R&B, rock, soul
Jean Michel Jarre     Wikipedia, Official, styles: ambient, electronica, new age, trance
Joan Armatrading     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, folk, pop, rock
John Denver     Wikipedia, Official, styles: country, folk, pop, western
John Michael Talbot     Wikipedia, Official, styles: country, folk, gospel, liturgical
Joy Division     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, new wave

K

Kalimba     Wikipedia, Official, styles: Latino, pop, rock
Keith Green     Wikipedia, Official, styles: gospel, rock
Kiri Te Kanawa     Wikipedia, Official, styles: musical, opera, popera
Kraftwerk     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, electronica, synthpop
Kylie (Minogue)     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, electronica, pop, synthpop

L

Lady Gaga     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, electronica, pop
Liza Minnelli     Wikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, jazz, musical, pop
Lotte Lenya     Wikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, chanson, musical
Louis Armstrong     Wikipedia, Official, styles: jazz, pop, swing

M

M People     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, soul
Madonna     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, electronica, folk, jazz, pop, swing
Malena Ernman     Wikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, chanson, jazz, opera, popera
Mama Cass Elliot     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop
Maria Callas     Wikipedia, Official, styles: opera
Marlene Dietrich     Wikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, chanson
Maroon 5     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, pop, rock
Matt Alber     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, disco, easy listening, folk, torch song
Meat Loaf     Wikipedia, Official, styles: rock
Michael Card     Wikipedia, Official, styles: gospel, liturgical
Mieczyslaw Horszowski     Wikipedia, Official, styles: classical
Mika     Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, rock
Moby     Wikipedia, Official, styles: ambient, dance, electronica, house, techno
Mono     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, trip hop
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N

New Order     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, dance, new wave, synthpop
Nightcrawlers     Wikipedia, Official, styles: acid jazz, house, soul
Nina Simone     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, folk, gospel, jazz, R&B
Noël Coward     Wikipedia, Official, styles: musical, operetta, pop

O

Oasis     Wikipedia, Official, styles: Britpop, rock
Odyssey     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, soul
Olive     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, trip hop
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Orchestral Manœuvres (in the Dark)     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, synthpop
Orquesta sinfónica de RTVE     Wikipedia, Official, styles: classical

P

P!nk     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop, rock, R&B
Pat Benetar     Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, rock
Pet Shop Boys     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, dance, pop, synthpop
Peter Skellern     Wikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, musical, pop
Phil and John     Wikipedia, Official, styles: gospel
Phillip Glass     Wikipedia, Official, styles: classical, opera
Portishead     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, trip hop, rock
Pulp     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternatice, Britpop, indie, rock

R

R.E.M.     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop, rock
Rodrigo y Gabriela     Wikipedia, Official, styles: flamenca, pop, Latino, rock
Roxy Music     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock
Roy Orbison     Wikipedia, Official, styles: country, pop, rock
Röyksopp     Wikipedia, Official, styles: ambient, chill-out, electronica, house, synthpop

S

Sade     Wikipedia, Official, styles: R&B, soul
Scissors Sisters     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, pop, rock
Sebastien Tellier     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, pop, synthpop
Sigur Rós     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, ambient, electronica, pop
Simon and Garfunkel     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop
Simply Red     Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, soul
Sister Sledge     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, pop, R&B, soul
Snatam Kaur     Wikipedia, Official, styles: liturgical, new age, world
Snow Patrol     Wikipedia, Official, styles: indie, pop, rock

T

Texas     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, Britpop, pop, rock
The Blues Brothers     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, R&B, soul, rock
The Cure     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, new wave, rock
The Divine Comedy     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop
The Gipsy Kings     Wikipedia, Official, styles: flamenca, Latino, pop
The Human League     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new romantic, synthpop
The Ink Spots     Wikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, pop, R&B
The Mamas and the Papas     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop
The Monks and Choirboys of Downside Abbey     Wikipedia, Official, styles: Gregorian, liturgical
The Tourists     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock
Todd Terry     Wikipedia, Official, styles: house
Tracey Chapman     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, folk, pop, rock, soul
Transglobal Underground     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, fusion, world
Tricky     Wikipedia, Official, styles: trip hop

U

U2     Wikipedia, Official, styles: rock
Ultravox     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, synthpop
Underworld     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, house, trance
Urban Species     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dub, funk, hip hop, jazz
Ute Lemper     Wikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, musical, opera

V

Vangelis     Wikipedia, Official, styles: classical, electronica, new age, rock
Vienna Blood     Wikipedia, Official, styles: country, rock

W

Wilfried     Wikipedia, Official, styles: punk, new wave, rock

Y

Yazoo     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, new wave, synthpop

Medical Support for the House-bound

Last week I was reminded that Trafford Healthwatch are running a survey:

Healthwatch Trafford have today launched a survey to look at how people with ME /CFS experience health services in the area.

[undated, from April 2015]

According to MeManchester:

WHO IS IT FOR?

 For anyone in England with ME or CFS, even though it says Trafford.

Please complete this questionnaire, if you are able; for, the more responses, the more the likelihood that Healthwatch can and will take action.

I fought for two years, backed by my G.P. and my hospital consultant, to get a support package off ‪Trafford‬ PCT - who did everything they could to impede my success. As I understand it I was only the second person ever to succeed with them.

The now defunct Manchester community nursing ‪ME/CFS‬ support team (sorry - cannot recall their actual name) visited my home, as I was and am classed as "severe" under the ‪‎NICE‬ guidelines and by my hospital consultant. They helped me audit my energy usage and suggested actions I could do to help myself. For example, I still have a chair on the stairs landing so as to take a rest part way down, rather than trying to do in one go. I still have slogans mounted in my bedroom to remind me of various actions that due to dyscognition and memory issues I frequently forget.

My consultant runs specialist ‪ME‬ support clinics at the hospital I attend annually. Alas, due to the severity of my condition - I am for the most part housebound with occasional supported outings - I am unable to access those clinics. I am not in the "most severe" category of those on drips and so forth.

I do think more needs to be done for housebound sufferers, not just of‪ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis‬ but also ‪Lupus‬, ‪Fibromyalgia‬, ‪Arthritis‬, etc.