I don't usually post on random news stories but this one today I found particularly poignant.

"A teenage folk singer has died after being set upon by two coyotes as she hiked alone in a national park in Nova Scotia.
Taylor Mitchell, 19, a rising star of the Canadian music scene, died in Halifax hospital yesterday after the normally shy animals attacked her as she hiked one of the most scenic trails in Cape Breton Park.
Walkers who heard her frantic screams alerted park rangers, who shot one of the coyotes.
The Toronto-born singer was airlifted to Halifax general hospital where she later died.

What a sad end to a talented young girl's life who had a promising future to look forward to. She was due to attend the Canadian Folk Awards on the 21st of next month as she had been nominated in the Young Performer of the year category.

Young Performer of the Year Nominees
Ariana Gillis – Ariana Gillis (Vineland, ON)
Chrissy Crowley – The Departure (Margaree, NS)
Qristina and Quinn Bachand – Relative Minors (Victoria, BC)
Sierra Noble – Possibilities (Winnipeg)
Taylor Mitchell – For Your Consideration (Toronto)

To see and hear Taylor go to her MySpace website

http://www.myspace.com/taylormitchellband

or look on Youtube at the tribute videos which are now being downloaded

WHAT WERE YOU DOING HIKING ALONE TAYLOR? .....R.I.P

Were all Napoleon XIV's tracks related to the 'loony bin'?

Not exactly 'happy' but what the heck, they will probably make some folk smile!

Artist info.

The pseudonym of US songwriter, performer and recording engineer Jerry Samuels, Napoleon XIV burst into the US/UK Top 10 in the summer of 1966 with the bizarre ‘They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!’. Although clearly a novelty song, its subject matter, mental illness (brought on by the loss of the singer’s dog), prompted a ban on many American radio stations. An attempted follow-up, ‘I’m In Love With My Little Red Tricycle’ failed to capture the public’s imagination and Napoleon’s credibility was further dented when it was revealed that the performer undertaking personal appearances to promote the record was not Samuels but a certain Richard Stern. The presence of Napoleon imitator Kim Fowley hardly helped matters. An album based round the hit with lyrics by comedy writer Jim Lehrer was rushed out but in spite of such amusing titles as ‘Photogenic, Schizophrenic You’, ‘The Nuts In My Family Tree’ and ‘Bats In My Belfry’, it failed to sell in vast quantities. Its final track was not even by Napoleon but instead featured the strains of Josephine XV warbling the acerbic ‘I’m Happy They Took You Away, Ha-Haaa!’. In 1990, Napoleon’s finest moment was given a fresh airing courtesy of former Dead Kennedys vocalist Jello Biafra, whose new group Lard recorded a startling version of the hit.

Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?

Talk about the moon floatin' in the sky
Lookin' at a lily on the lake;
Talk about a bird learnin' how to fly.
Makin' all the music he can make.

I like the simplicity of 'Happy Talk' from The original movie version of South Pacific.
The music was written by Richard Rodgers, the lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.
The song was sung by Bloody Mary to her daughter, Liat, about having a happy life.

..but for a Blog Happy Saturday I think this version is more appropriate
A classic example of Captain Sensible's off-the-wall sense of humor,
In June 1982, The Damned's guitarist Captain Sensible scored a no.1 on the UK singles chart for two weeks with his version of the song.

I ventured into town this morning in a valiant effort to venture further afield.
After about fifteen minutes traipsing around the shops I was in great need of a rest and a sit down so I found a bench in the precinct and sat down to listen to a lone musician playing pop classics on his electric guitar.
One tune he played instantly made me think of Julie Covington's great version from the 1970's..so of course when I arrived home I had to find her version on Youtube. I just love her pure and gutsy voice

Definition of 'Whippersnapper'
an unimportant but offensively presumptuous person, esp. a young one.

There are people who one meets just a few times a year when one attends the same events year in, year out
Pete Simmonds is one such person. I chatted to him earlier in the year at Wath and Shepley folk festivals but as I haven't made it to any events since he took the trouble to email me recently to see how I was.
He goes to many many festivals throughout the year and as my attendance is limited to just a few a year he knows how I love to catch up on what I have missed by watching the videos he posts on Youtube.
He has just posted a batch of videos which he recorded at this month's Cropredy Festival one of which brought back memories to me of a younger Richard and Linda Thompson singing this same song many years ago in 1980 when I saw them at Cambridge folk festival.

I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Written by Richard Thompson

I’m so tired of working every day,
Now the weekend’s come I’m gonna throw my troubles away
If you’ve got the cab fare, mister you’ll do all right
I want to see the bright lights tonight

Meet me at the station don’t be late
I need to spend some money and it just won’t wait
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight

There’s crazy people running all over town
There’s a silver band just marching up and down
And the big boys are all spoiling for a fight
I want to see the bright lights tonight

Meet me at the station don’t be late
I need to spend some money and it just won’t wait
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight

A couple of drunken nights rolling on the floor
Is just the kind of mess I’m looking for
I’m gonna dream ‘till Monday comes in sight
I want to see the bright lights tonight

Meet me at the station don’t be late
I need to spend some money and it just won’t wait
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight

Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight

I've posted this video for no other reason than that the tune keeps running through my head.

Oasis have announced refund details for their show last night (June 4) at Manchester's Heaton Park, which saw the band leave the stage twice due to technical difficulties.
The Gallaghers promised to give fans at the 70,000-capacity venue their money back, even though they ultimately returned to complete a 23-song set and played past curfew.

This chap on the right in the pic below, the one with the camera, has a Youtube name of SIMMO7TS..