So I once won fifty quid for singing ‘Get Here’ written by the amazing Brenda Russell, sung by the superb Oletta Adams in a karaoke competition, AND I can nearly play it on the piano – even though my middle name is ‘banana fingers’. The intro of the song and the first verse are gorgeous ‘you can reach me by railway, you can reach me by trail way, you can reach me on an airplane, you can reach me with your mind…but suddenly, for me, the lyrics  start to disintegrate  ‘you can reach me by caravan, cross the desert like an Arab man ( no, no, no !). We keep it together as the piano riff is so hypnotic…well done Brenda it is beautiful…but then we get to the middle eight which for some reason, I feel it sounds like she finished it in her tea break, and I mean no offence ‘There are hills and mountains between us Always something to get over. If I had my way, surely you would be closer I need you closer’ mmmmm – the chords just take it into a land of  Gromit and cheese…I hope Brenda might read this blog and I can challenge her to a middle eight dual-whooooo who do I think I am..??

Brenda Russell,  Grammy winning songwriter royalty vs. me, a lowly unknown  impoverished vocal arranger. Well we is all entitled to our opinions and I think the middle eight of  ‘Get Here ‘ is baldy pants.

I feel the same about the Bee Gees’s middle eight of ‘Nights on Broadway’. Such an energy packing song  for dancing round the kitchen, massive screaming  backing vocal opportunities and then  splot!  we are invited to have a slow dance for eight bars, total change in feel..aargh…….and then  back to dancing on your own round the kitchen table…I usually sit down for 8 bars wailing how much ‘I  blinkin’ hate this bit’ ( bit of an opportunity to get my breath back though) then carry on dancing at the end. So, my quest is to find some more really stinking middle eights, which just slap the fine tunes that sandwich them  with the equivalent of a musical wet fish has begun..please join me in my quest…lets hang the barstools out to dry for all to see. love x x x

SONG OF THE DAY So we will start with Nights on Broadway…tell me you like the middle eight..tell me what I am missing..the rest of the song rocks- particularly the backing vocals after the middle eight.