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Kelly Clarkson – My Life Would Suck Without You

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:17:00 +0000

Forgotten about this fab track. This is from her album All I Ever Wanted.

Think it’s probably time to buy the latest album.

It looks as though it will be as good as Breakaway, probably even better.

By the way does anyone else think she looks a bit like Jennifer Aniston in this video?

Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You Kelly Clarkson | MySpace Music Videos

Here is a snippet of the songs from the latest album.

Tesco – Every Little Helps – Unless It’s Customer Service

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:58:11 +0000

For a company that goes all out to entice customers into their stores, with their ‘every little helps’ tag line and numerous voice overs from stars, I’m afraid the level of customer service is going down hill.

And funnily enough it appears to be coming from management outside of the branches. I’ve had a spell working for a small branch of Tesco’s so I do feel justified in making these comments.

My first complaint is with the ‘fantastic’ voucher swapping they have been advertising. Just pop in to your local branch and exchange your £5 vouchers to double the amount. Wow . . . on the advert she just handed the vouchers over and IMMEDIATELY got given the £10 vouchers. Not so in real life.

I only had a small amount but never the less having double the amount to spend in store was worth it. Imagine my and other customers disappointment when we turned up to find out the system was ‘off line’. My husband jokingly asked if they’d turned the system off and on again. We were told we could go to another local store who were still on line to change our vouchers and then come back in store to spend them. The problem with that was the fact that if the whole system was playing up we could have ended up going to the other store only to find out they were down too.

We don’t go to our big store often (it looks such a mess in there and the clothes department looks like a jumble sale) but I knew they had school blazers from the year before that my son liked. With the system down the staff had absolutely no back up plan. It was a case of the ‘computer says no’. We asked why they couldn’t sort something out at the tills but this was beyond the staff. I asked to see the manager and was seen by a Compliance Manager who tried in vain to call Head Office but kept getting an answering service.

It was a Sunday when we went, but, if you insist on opening on a Sunday then provide a full service, not a half hearted one. The Head Office had left their stores in chaos.

The only saving grace was that as we headed towards the tills we realised the system had come back on. They’d rebooted it (so my husband was right!). This then caused queues while people had their vouchers exchanged which took ages!! Not a straight forward swap like on television.

The second problem was they didn’t have any blazers in my son’s size. I therefore asked when they would be getting their next delivery only to be told – we don’t know. We should be getting some in within the next few days but we don’t know what will be sent through was the response. I’m sorry but not being able to tell a customer what stock is coming in is pretty poor. Again a Head Office issue not the staff within the branches.

I duly went back in a couple of days later to find that they’d had any more. I asked someone else who repeated the same line of we don’t know what will be coming in. I was about to really get cross when I had to check myself because I was angry with the wrong person. I could look on line I was told, but with a growing son I needed for him to try a blazer on.

I asked the staff member if they had a suggestion box and was told that a number of staff had made suggestions about the ordering process.

My mother phoned another store to find out they had one blazer left in the size we thought my son needed and they offered to hold it for 24 hours. She took my son to try it on only to find that they hadn’t actually put it by for her. They found one for him but it was too small. Good job Asda was close by because this is where we ended up spending our money.

The upper echelons of Tesco really need to re-think their customer service attitude and get their hands dirty on the shop floor to see the problems staff face.

In the small branch I worked we had 2 self scan check outs along with 3 people operated ones. I suggested (amongst many other things) that there should be someone posted on the tills at all times so that there is a point of contact when a customer comes into the shop. I was told that Tesco is all about productivity and they wouldn’t like that. So that sums it up really.

Get the numbers right but stuff the customers.

Trinny and Susannah – What They Did Next

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 09:57:24 +0000

Trinny and Susannah are probably best remembered for their series of shows What Not To Wear. No matter what you may have thought about their shows or even what you may have thought about their personalities, they are about to become the big stars again with a huge fan base.

Having seen an article recently about their new web show I took a sneaky peak and I have been completely hooked.

They made a series of 16, 6 minute segments about what they’ve been up to recently and it makes for compulsive viewing. Funny, laugh out loud, brilliant acting, they’ve obviously found something else they are good at.

It’s a fly on the wall spoof documentary but has been well put together and I defy you not to be able to resist checking out the rest of the episodes when you’ve seen the first one. There are some big names within the show including royalty, which I won’t spoil for you.

They have their own Trinny and Susannah website along with their What They Did Next website which is where you can find all the episodes.

For a taster watch here:

For the rest of the shows click here – What They Did Next.

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X Factor 2010

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:59:06 +0000

Well the audition shows have started back and we’re already 3 weeks into the programme. I really wish they’d let us see more of the good singers. We get little snippets and I always feel that we come away from the programme unsatisfied.

There are one or two good people coming through already (not that we see much of them) but tonight I thought Cher Lloyd stood out from tonights programme.

Having not heard the song before this is one of the reasons I love the programme. From listening to Cher tonight I’ve already been to look at the music of Keri Hilson and like what I hear.

I just hope she’s got more up her sleeve for the next round.

X Factor – Live Show 5 – Movie Week

admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:08:15 +0000

Movie week should have brought about some fabulous songs. For goodness sake how many movies have been made and how many hits have come from them.

I’m starting to get fed up with X Factor. The song choices, the ridiculous comments especially from Louis, who I now feel should no longer be a judge.

Stacey Solomon

Started the show well, singing Son of a Preacher Man and looked great in her slinky outfit.

Olly Murs

A fun and entertaining performance. Loved the dancing in the middle too. How Louis Walsh can comment on ’silly dancing’ when he has Thing 1 and Thing 2 as his performers, who can’t sing let alone dance. In fact I don’t understand how any of the judges can moan about the dancing. The audience loved him to bits.

Lloyd Daniels

I’m sorry to say Lloyd hasn’t got the strength of voice or personality to take him any further. He’s only young and hasn’t got the life experiences to put the emotion into the songs. Stand by Me is a great song and he didn’t do it justice. Shame really as he is a hit with the girls but you can’t have a career on just looks alone.

Lucie Jones

I like Lucie, she has a brilliant voice. Didn’t like the song choice although she sang it really well. I do feel as though she’s trying to look too much like other artists ie Avril Lavigne, which is probably not her choice. She needs her own look now and I’m still not sure what her ‘market’ is.

Danyl Johnson

Purple Rain is an iconic song and not a good choice for Danyl. I liked the more subtle singing but there are still traces of trying to make the song more than it should be. A good example of this is Whitney Houston. Great singer, great songs but in concert she messes about with songs too much. Simon shouldn’t let him spoil the songs. His look was good and there’s no doubt he is a great singer.

Jamie Archer

I love Jamie’s style. He’s a rocker and I love the song Crying. He sang it really well but, I felt last night he’d lost some of his sparkle. Maybe that’s because yet again he ended up having to change the song shortly before the show. It was a better song choice for him than Unchained Melody. And will someone please get a gag for Louis. If the song was from a movie even if it isn’t a well known movie what does it matter. The film is Gummo from 1997.

John and Edward

Just get rid of them off the show. They can’t sing and they can’t dance. In fact they can’t do anything without a stage full of props. They actually ruined Ghostbusters. Enough said.

Joe McElderry

He has to be one of the most consistent performers. He is a superb singer, looks great and can sing anything he’s given. It’s a shame he’s being labelled with the ‘musical theatre’ label, but he is far and away one of the best in the show. My only criticism is to try and sing with more pure notes than fluctuating them at the end of the sentences. He did do this more last night with Circle of Life and it was great. Love him.

I think something was wrong with Louis Walsh this week, his comments were not constructive, he picked one of the worst bands to be in his group and he sits there picking faults with the other contestants. I’m also getting fed up with the same sort of comments that the judges use ie authentic – getting boring judges!

Update. I have officially lost all respect for Simon Cowell. All the moaning and groaning that’s been reported in the paper about his dislike for John and Edward and, when he has the perfect opportunity to get rid of them off the show he bottles it. It’s clear what he’s done. Because of the publicity they generate it must be ringing up the £ signs for him and his company.

The X Factor is about finding the best artist and making that decision tonight, whether he felt Lucy could win or not, shows that it’s not about the acts. He’s probably just incited people to vote even more for the unmentionable pair. I won’t be watching the X Factor for the rest of this series, I’ve completely lost interest in it now. Good luck to those who remain but watch your backs.

Heading into week six the line up will now be:

Simon Cowell

Olly Murs, Jamie Archer and Danyl Johnson

Cheryl Cole

Lloyd Daniels, Joseph McElderry

Louis Walsh

John & Edward

Dannii Minogue

Stacey Solomon

Dannii and Simon both have all their acts and Louis once again is losing out.

X Factor – Live Show 4 – Joe and Jamie the Rockers

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:38:26 +0000

Rock week this week saw some great singing. It’s probably easier to say which acts weren’t the best.

Lloyd, Danyl and John and Edward were in my bottom three this week.

Not sure what happened with Danyl. Couldn’t tell if it was a bit of an act or he really was that downcast. His singing was the worst we’ve seen with a lot of flat notes.

Joe was brilliant as usual, he seems to be the most consistent as was Jamie. Also good were Lucie and Stacey. Still not completely sure of Olly or Rachel

John and Edward must go soon. They can’t sing or coordinate their dance movements together. Take away all the other backing dancers and put them on stage on their own and the public would see how rubbish they are. Yet, Louis takes the mickey out of Jamie who can outsing and perform on his own with nothing else around him. Get real Louis.

Let’s see how the public vote tonight.

Update: Vote off between Lloyd and Rachel. It should have been Lloyd and John and Edward and I’m sorry to see Rachel go over the other two.

Heading into week five the line up is now:

Simon Cowell

Olly Murs, Jamie Archer and Danyl Johnson

Cheryl Cole

Lloyd Daniels, Joseph McElderry

Louis Walsh

John & Edward

Dannii Minogue

Lucie Jones, Stacey Solomon

Dannii and Simon both have all their acts and Louis once again is losing out.

X Factor – Live Show 3 – Miss Frank-ly Superb

admin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:49:41 +0000

Considering it was big band week, which is part of the series I always look forward to, I thought the show was extremely disappointing.

The acts did their best but yet again most of the judges didn’t choose great songs to show case the singers.

Miss Frank were brilliant this week, and I have to say Danyl was superb. They were the best two last night. Rachel finally looks the part and her new hair and make up brought out the best in her along with a good choice of song for her although I still think she needs a powerful ballad to seal her place in the show.

I did like Jamie, he will always perform well but Simon may have let him down this week. The song was changed 24 hours before the live show to Angels of Harlem. The original song should have been If I Can Dream. Listening to the Elvis version I think Simon made the right decision to change it as I don’t think that song would have worked with Jamie’s voice.

Joe was great too but not the right song for him, he needs something to belt out. Am I the only one who thinks Joe is like a young John Barrowman (that’s a good thing).

I’m also a fan of Lucie and Stacey, who always sing well, but didn’t inspire me last night. On the tv Lucie seemed too close to the microphone and just needed a little more emotion. I’m sure they could have handled some Shirley Bassey songs. My Life orGoldfinger to name just two. Songs that people can relate to.

And Olly, he was just . . . well Olly, cheeky chappy with a chirpy voice.

I’m sorry to say Lloyd is not a strong enough or diverse enough singer to make it in this show, even though he seems a lovely lad. I don’t think Cheryl made the right choice in having Lloyd and Rikki in her top three. Thing 1 and Thing 2 (aka John and Edward) have to go. They just cannot sing. The judges say they can entertain, but annoy is a more appropriate word.

Let’s see how the public vote tonight.

Update: Can’t believe what happened. The two acts I thought were the best Saturday night ended up being in the bottom two. The only explanation is that people think they are being voted for so don’t. So Danyl and Miss Frank ended up in the sing of and Danyl won based on the public vote.

Heading into week four the line up is now:

Simon Cowell

Olly Murs, Jamie Archer and Danyl Johnson

Cheryl Cole

Lloyd Daniels, Joseph McElderry

Louis Walsh

John & Edward

Dannii Minogue

Lucie Jones, Rachel Adedeji, Stacey Solomon

Dannii and Simon both have all their acts and Louis once again is losing out.

X Factor – Live Show 2 – Jamie Rocks!

admin — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:15:21 +0000

Is there no end to Jamie Archer’s talents? What a fantastic performance tonight and great choice of song from Christina Aguilera called Hurt (if you want a good cry listen to the full Christina version on You Tube here). What a great piece this would be in the finals, Jamie Archie and Christina Aguilera singing this song. Nothing could beat that for a powerful combination!

What I really love is the fact that Simon Cowell has not tried to change him. He already has a trademark look – t-shirt, jeans, scarf and of course the hair and it’s great to see that hasn’t altered it.

Tonight, without any backing dancers or big music and just a spotlight on Jamie, he captured the audience. He showed tonight he is capable of anything and in my opinion he was the best act tonight. The melody in the song was lovely.

Again, I can’t stop watching the video of him performing this song, which in itself is beautiful. He is so captivating which is what you want from a performer. Listen to the music without watching him, it’s still brilliant.

I think Simon Cowell is really doing his best by Jamie and bringing him on so well and encouraging the best from him.

Joe was also good and Danyl, although giving a good performance, didn’t bring out the emotions like Jamie did. The song choice wasn’t good and it seems Simon is going for songs with ‘a big note’ for Danyl. Not showing him a different light.

Lucie and Stacey were great too although Stacey should have had a more well known song too. I also thought Miss Frank did really well tonight. Loved their song choice, they could be superb. Olly was fun to watch.

The weakest acts were John and Edward, Rikki, Lloyd and Rachel. I like Rachel but she hasn’t been given the right song for her voice yet.

By now you’d think the judges would realise that the wrong song can knock their act out. People like to hear songs they know.

Update:

So Rikki has gone after her was in the last two with Rachel. It really should have been John and Edward as they clearly can’t sing or perform, but they obviously have some fans out there. So heading into week 3 the following acts are now left.

Simon Cowell

Olly Murs, Jamie Archer and Danyl Johnson

Cheryl Cole

Lloyd Daniels, Joseph McElderry

Louis Walsh

John & Edward, Miss Frank

Dannii Minogue

Lucie Jones, Rachel Adedeji, Stacey Solomon

How Not To Live Your Life

admin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:49:55 +0000

Here’s an example of ‘not judging the book by it’s cover’. I’ve only just found this comedy because I really thought it was a reality tv type documentary. How very wrong!

This is a very funny programme centred on a handful of characters mainly Don Danbury whose quick-fire fantasy sequences play out a variety of options each one being really outlandish and very funny. A bit like Coupling does (also a brilliant comedy).

There’s also Mrs Treacher, the miserable old neighbour who adds some great lines and Eddie (his nan’s old carer) who looks after Mrs Treacher, normally round at Don’s house so he can look after Don too.

He’s got a new and attractive new lodger, Samantha, who he fancies but is playing it cool with, even though he has unrequitted love for Abby, the love of his life who left to travel.

Although Samantha is an ex-model, intelligent and caring she always seems to choose the wrong men and throughout the series Samantha and Don both embark on some seriously bad dates. As they begin to spend more time together, could it be that perfect match is closer to home than they thought? It could be a Ross and Rachel scenario from Friends and just adds to the mix.

The characters in this series are brilliant and the actors who play them are fantastic. The chemistry between them is obvious and Samantha seems to genuinely laugh not ‘laugh acting’ when the scenes call for it.

Dan Clark is Don Danbury and the writer of the series.
David Armand is Eddie Singh
Leila Hoffman is Mrs Treacher
Laura Haddock is Samantha

Catch it while you can, it’s a cult series.

Daughtry – What About Now

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:38:43 +0000

This track entered the charts last week and is now at number 11. Chris Daughtry was in the 5th American Idol series and came fourth.

This is an nice easy track and is from his self named band Daughtry.

Their album Leave This Town is a great rock album. Listen to snippets below.