rock to the rhythm and bop to the beat of the radio....

Well, it looks as though we've not only made it through Thursday, but we've also managed to get all the way to Friday evening and the best possible place to view the weekend..... And so it comes to pass that I can stretch back into my metaphorical hammock (I'm still sitting at my desk at work), reach for my imaginary beer (I have an empty bottle of Volvic in front of me) and present you with this week's Earworms....

This week's Guest Editor is both a bona fide internet phenomenon and one of my oldest friends in the whole wide world. He is a real renaissance man: he's the philanthropist who is single-handedly keeping the iTunes "novelty song" category alive; he's a nifty mover and one of the pioneers of 'minority sport' dancing (his 'weightlifting (both categories)' is legendary at the Zodiac); he's a superstar wedding DJ with several high profile bookings under his belt; he's unable to walk past a statue without striking a pose.....

Ladies and Gentleworms, without further ado, it is my great pleasure to present for your earworming pleasure......

The man! The myth! The legend!



Earworms of the Week - Guest Editor #61 - Statue John from Stand By Your Statue

> The Final Countdown – Europe

Ahem, what a fine start to the list eh? Largely stuck in my head this week as a result of witnessing possibly the finest cover version that I have ever seen. Inspirational stuff. Makes me want to get straight down the Casio keyboard shop.

> Fans – Kings Of Leon

Have to confess that I am hugely obsessed by this band. They rule. Have seen them eight times now and they never fail to disappoint, much like their albums, the third of which came out a couple of weeks ago. As a result of said obsession, ‘Because Of The Times’ has been pretty much on permanent rotation since. It’s a great album. A little different from their previous two, but a real grower, and for me the first utterly fantastic album of the year. Fans is the current fave song, although that’s likely to change by the time you read this ‘cos they’re all brilliant. To be honest, I should probably have ten songs from the album down here as my earworms of the week, but that could possibly be a little dull for the readers eh?

> Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival

More southern rock music here I’m afraid. I’ve been hugely lucky in that I have spent the last two and a half months travelling around Australia, and this track was heard on the road loads. It’s a bit of a classic it has to be said. They do like their classic rock music those Aussies. I gather they (or at least the lead singer John Fogerty) may also be playing at Glasto, the prospect of which I am quietly wetting my pants about.

> Upside Down – Jack Johnson

This was also heard an awful lot over in Oz. They like their surfing music over there as well. We were fortunate enough to head on a tour from Adelaide up to Alice Springs (as chronicled here), and our tour guide obviously adored this song as he put it on as soon as we arrived at Uluru, as well as on many other occasions. It’s a lovely little summer ditty. Me likes.

> Arcade Fire – Black Mirror

Once again I am incredibly lucky to be heading back to Glastonbury this year. A quick look this week at the rumoured bands playing reveals that Arcade Fire are likely to be there. This is the band from the list that I most want to see, and their second album was the first thing I purchased on my return to these shores, and I have sneaked the occasional listen in between the Kings Of Leon. I love this opening track. They remind me of the Pixies a little with an added huge organ sound, which is no bad thing.

> Make It Reggae - Shark Wilson & The Basement Heaters

The sun has been out here in the UK over the last week. Whenever the sun is out I want to listen to horns. Anyways, this week I plonked on DJ Derek’s ‘Sweet Memory Sounds’ compilation, and this track stood out and got stuck in the head. Great band name as well. DJ Derek is one of my favourite DJs in the land – the man is a national institution. Go and see him if you get the chance…

> Brothers On The Slide – Cymande

More horns to be found on this track. My ticket for the Big Chill festival was booked last week, and I am delighted to see this 1970s heavy funk outfit on the line-up. Am hugely looking forward to catching them in the afternoon sun in the beautiful Malvern countryside, alongside the mighty Isaac Hayes.

> Beat Goes On – Buddy Rich

A quality jazz workout, which came up on random on the iPod whilst driving around this week, and was nice. A tune rather befitting of my nickname Scatman John (Scat for short, ahem). Given that I have been given an opportunity here to converse on a hugely popular blog, I would like to point out that this is a nickname I hate, not that it’ll make the blind bit of difference! Have been stuck with it for ten years, and likely to be stuck with the bugger until I pass *sniff*…

[ST's note: I think your nickname refers more to this and to this guy than to this (or anything else like it). God, I hope it does anyway....]

> Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Heard on the radio last week. Very cute take on two very well known songs, which I then found out was featured at the end of the excellent Life On Mars TV series. Please don’t tell me what happened mind as I missed it ‘cos I was away. He was a dearly loved and also very big man from Hawaii, by all accounts.

> Blue Danube Waltz – Vienna Symphony Orchestra

I am incredibly honoured to be spinning a few tunes for the upcoming social event of the year – the wedding of Mr and Mrs Swiss – in Vienna, and so have spent the last couple of weeks hunting for suitable Austrian music that could be played at the reception. This beautiful piece of music could well be in with a chance methinks. I’d quite like to play some Kruder & Dorfmeister as well, what with them being Viennese DJing legends, but that may not make it through the strict vetting process that Swiss is likely to adhere to. What I’d really really like to play is a cheesy dance remix of Midge Ure’s ‘Vienna’ but I have yet to track down such a version….can anyone out there help me with this?! The happy couple have actually asked all the people going to select a couple of songs that they’d like to hear, and so I am bound to have a list of great music to play, and a vintage night will definitely be had.

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Ah Statue John. You know that you are more than welcome to play Kruder & Dorfmeister at the reception, and I would frankly feel a bit cheated if we got through the night without at least one spin of Midge Ure's classic hit. I'd quite like a bit of Falco too, if I'm honest.... but I know I can rely on you for a few cheesy classics to get everyone dancing.

Well, I asked for a bit of diversity last week, and there's certainly plenty of that here. A good list, my friend, a good list. Should make for an interesting podcast.

Thanks for playing mate. Do I need to add that if anyone reading this happens to pass a statue in the near future, they now have a moral obligation to have their photo taken standing next to it and to send it in to the man himself?

Next Time: Simon from Sweeping The Nation (hopefully)

Don't forget that you can download the podcast version of Earworms of the Week here. This one will be up in a bit.

[Previous Guest Editors: Flash, The Urban Fox, Lord Bargain, Retro-Boy, Statue John, Ben, OLS, Ka, Jenni, Aravis, Yoko, Bee, Charlie, Tom, Di, Spin, The Ultimate Olympian, Damo, Mike, RedOne, The NumNum, Leah, Le Moine Perdu, clm, Michael, Hyde, Adem, Alecya, bytheseashore, adamant, Earworms of the Year 2005, Delrico Bandito, Graham, Lithaborn, Phil, Mark II, Stef, Kaptain Kobold, bedshaped, I have ordinary addictions, TheCatGirlSpeaks, Lord B rides again, Tina, Charlie II, Cody Bones, Poll Star, Jenni II, Martin, Del II, The Eye in the Sky, RussL, Lizzy's Hoax, Ben II, Earworms of the Year 2006, Sarah, Flash II, Erika, Hen, Pynchon, Troubled Diva, Graham II, Cat II]