Tag Archives: dublin

U2 360 countdown: post #3

Today’s song is a cover version that I hadn’t heard in possibly years before I heard it last night in a pub in town. The city seems to have started it’s own countdown with every second shop, cafe or pub I passed through over the weekend playing U2 in the background.

It’s a cover of the 60′s classic ‘Everlasting Love‘ which has been covered by many over the years from Carl Carlton to Gloria Estefan to Jamie Cullum. It appeared as a b-side to the single ‘All I Want Is You’ in 1989 alongside what I think is a dodgy interpretation of ‘Unchained Melody’. As modern covers of this song go, I think this is my favourite.

U2 – Everlasting Love

U2 360 countdown: post #1

Only a week until I go to my local stadium in Drumcondra to see U2 on their 360 Tour. I’m starting to feel the goosebumps. I’m not a diehard U2 fan but I really love some of their albums & the last time (and first time) I saw them in Croke Park in 2005 I was blown away by their live show.

So for the next week I’m going to post some of my favourite U2 songs and give a little insight into why I chose each one. Apologies to non-fans or Bono-bashers, might want to tune out for a little while :)

The Fly: Live in Boston

This recording was part of the Elevation tour DVD shot in Boston in 2001. I remember seeing it on TV. I don’t know what I was doing at the time that I didn’t have time to sit down and watch it but I distinctly remember stopping in my tracks at hearing the beautiful opening bars of this song, set in a lower pitch than the original recording. Magic.

Moving

So I’m moving in just over 2 weeks time. Not very far but still, it means packing up my material world & then unpacking it into my new place. To say I hate moving would be a massive understatement. I loathe it.

Moving on up?
Moving on up?

The loathing is mainly caused by the amount of stuff I have. 7 years of renting in Dublin means I have accumulated quite a lot of gear. When I moved last summer it took my poor dad 4 trips with his big-ass Ford Scorpio & a lot of lifting. Since then I’ve been to Ikea twice & that’s enough said right there.  I want to do a serious clear-out this time around & need some advice on the hows and wheres of recycling my unwanted gear.

  • Clothes - I have lots I want rid of. Not torn or destroyed, just well-worn. Who should I give to/where/how?
  • Books - talking nerdy stuff here that’s probably out of date such as the Director MX 2004. Straight into the recycling bin or stow away in the attic to laugh at it in years to come?
  • Packing - considering using those vacuum bag things but haven’t used them before – are they any good? Any caveats/recommendations ?
  • Moving - (all going well) I’m moving to a house within the same little development I currently live in. It’s a 5 minute walk from my 3rd floor apartment down to the house around the corner. A shopping trolley would be ideal for moving but sadly, I don’t own one. Ideas for an alternative or have you got a trolley I can borrow?

Advice on any of the above would be superb, particularly the clothes side of things. Oh and of course, like I said last time, I’m never moving again :)

Street Performance World Championships – experience of a newbie

Alakazham, a toilet seat & tennis racket
Alakazham, a toilet seat & tennis racket

Confession: up until a few weeks ago, I had never even heard of the SPWC. Next thing I know I’m an SPWC volunteer & heading for the new Cork leg of the event with little idea of what to expect. I returned home hooked & I can’t wait to do it all again this coming weekend in Merrion Square!

So what’s it all about? Essentially, it’s the cream of the world’s street performers gathered in Ireland doing their thing for those who come see them in Cork & Dublin hoping to get their vote to be crowned SPWC champ. There’s a bunch of stages and the acts rotate around those stages throughout the day.

What are you going to see? Words certainly don’t do it justice so I suggest you take a look at the photos over in Pix.ie (where there’s a competition for SPWC photo-uploaders to win some tasty Canon gear).

When is it on, where do I go & how much does it cost? Thursday to Sunday at Merrion Square (Dublin 2) and it’s all completely free! Everything you could ever need to know about it is on the fabulous festival blog right here which also includes interviews with the stars of the festival!

It’s going to be a busy, brilliant weekend full of smiles & fun and who knows, maybe even some sunshine. There’s something for kids of all ages, from ages 3 right through to 93. I’ll be there all Saturday & Sunday, hopefully see you there!