Here is my number one. 

1/3: Manic Street Preachers - Motorcycle Emptiness, Generation Terrorist

OK, so I lied a little, this one didn't even take me 30 seconds to think about. I joke to everyone that this is my life song but really it is not a joke. This is the song I want to get married too, have children too and even die too... and probably have it playing at my funeral also. And what is more it was released in 1992, the year I was born!

1992, and many would have deemed the thought of a young British band such as Manic Street Preachers delving into arena rock as odd, especially during the pop concept. In those days the Manics looked cheap but beautiful, and their music depicted every characteristic they owned.Generation Terrorists, the album from which we first heard Motorcycle Emptiness, walked a weird line between punk rock, romantic melodicism and glam, with the lyrics so obviously patterned around politics like that of The Clash and Public Enemy.

The Manics living in Blackwood, South Wales, a place where I imagined to never really have a huge connection with music, especially in the 90's. A place where I imagine to have lacked in life, and not just because of poverty, but because of the independent feeling of not mattering and the dead industries. Motorcycle Emptiness was the introduction to their punk rock roots, and the first and best shot they had to restore revolution to rock and roll at a time when Britain was hugely dominated by techno and acid house. 'Under neon-loneliness/ Motorcycle Emptiness', the perfect soundtrack to paint that iconic picture of the flat, ignored landscape that was Blackwood.
The whole album was a portrayal of the bands personal and political views, developing a connection between global capitalism and personal struggle. Track 4, Motorcycle Emptiness screams power and resentment. A track that was purposely written to criticise consumerism as an empty dream that makes human life overtly commercialised; describing how young people are expecting to conform. And that is why I fucking love it. 'Living life like a comatose/ Ego loaded and swallow', it doesn't get much more real than that, and this was the 90's. Let's take a look at today, the 21st century and we are more commercialised and drawn into consumerism than ever before. 

This song moves me to the brink of tears, no matter how many times I hear it. And why, because in all 5 minutes and 02 seconds of its endless guitar licks and solos I find myself realising that everything I need I already have.. and that I definitely don't need to buy another pair of shoes. 

'This happiness corrupt political shit' 

Motorcycle Emptiness - Manic Street Preachers

I wanted to include a video at Glastonbury 2014, when the Manics came on stage and blew the crowd away opening their set with this iconic track. I was there, and it is easily the best moment of my life so far. The sun set and atmosphere was beautiful and the live version was ever better.  

Glastonbury 2014 - 5:08, listen to that solo; mind blowing.  

 

 

Everyday when I hear of Bowie's death on the news, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc I get overwhelmed and emotional and I have to hold in tears. Emotional in a good way and in the most upsetting way.

 

I am extremely warm hearted over the amount of condolences people are sending, the sheer love and appreciation for one man in the world, a man who has inspired and helped many. A true hero, a legend and one who will never be forgot. And this is why I smile. I smiled today because I heard a young boy play Life on Mars on a cathedral Organ in St. Albans and it was absolutely beautiful!! I also smiled because of Brixton, a fantastic show of passion and love as humans came together, again to celebrate just one man. 

Why am I emotionally upset? because every time I hear of his death I think of my mum. I think of my mum and my granddad and the wonderful memories they collected together through the spirit of this one man. I also think of the laughing gnome, a hugely favourite childhood song that my mum would sing to me and Kyle as kids. And we would all put our "little hands on our bellies" and we would indeed chuckle away.  The minute I heard of his death I thought of my mum and I wondered how she was. When I rang her that evening we couldn't even speak about it because both of us didn't want to believe it was true. She told me she turned off the radio and couldn't listen to his music. I felt sad, sad because David had left us all and sad because my mums hero had just passed. Her 2nd hero. 

Saying that I know she has fantastic memories that will last her a life time, and we both deep down know that granddad John is up there partying with Bowie and Lemmy right now! 

 

So I say keep on rocking granddad.

 

In light of it all I have been wondering why is it that we mourn people we have never met, and personally I think that we don't cry because we have met them, we cry because of how much they have helped us. David Bowie was a true product of a real man, a maverick, a rock and roll star and he had a perspective on life like no other. To most we would never imagine a life without him. His soul will live on forever through his music and I am eternally grateful to be have been alive in the bowie era.

 

Keep shining up there resting in the sky.