Sorry, dear friends, for not posting any uplifting messages for a while in these depressing days; I had a very urgent index to do – for a book on a very good and very successful young K-pop band named BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan), meaning ‘Bulletproof Boy Scouts’. And a song by those talented lads is now the first entry in my next list of feelgood songs for the lockdown! I’ve tried to put in various styles and vintages, so that each one of you will hopefully find something to their taste… Enjoy, dear friends, and cheer up!
BTS: IDOL
Here are the ‘Bulletproof Boy Scouts’ at their best – celebrating life and self-esteem, displaying their most colourful clothes and hairstyles, and dancing like mad. Who says there isn’t any good pop music around anymore?
Bon Jovi: Living on a Prayer
In one of the loveliest rock ballads from my teenage days, Bon Jovi show us that we can always get by just as long as we don’t lose our optimism. Life simply is worth living!
The Kinks: Waterloo Sunset
This is a perfect lockdown song, especially for us who are trapped in a big city. Just look at the world from your window, chill out, and listen to The Kinks!
Sailor: Girls, Girls, Girls
A long-forgotten little gem, this simple but extremely catchy little ditty was very popular when I was a kid back in Germany. A bit of 1970s nostalgia!
UB40: Red Red Wine
Which rhythm could be more soothing than reggae in these anxious days? This classic was originally done by the one and only Bob Marley, of course, but it seems to be impossible to find on YouTube. The later UB40 version is pretty good as well, though!
Chuck Berry: You Never Can Tell
And even further back in time – to the good old rock n roll days! Accompanied by his inimitable guitar sounds, Chuck Berry tells us the most beautiful real-life fairy tale about a young couple; because you never can tell what’s round the corner in life…
Harry Belafonte: Jump in the Line
Another irresistibly cheerful and rhythmical old hit by the great Calypso King Harry Belafonte. Don’t you just feel your feet itching to dance?
Shaggy: Oh Carolina
More great dance music here, in the form of ska this time – this will both cheer you up and make you want to dance, so you can get your bit of exercise as well!
Sonny & Cher: I Got You Babe
And finally, two of the most beautiful and romantic love songs of the 1960s: Here’s Sonny and Cher’s touchingly innocent declaration of love…
Ike & Tina Turner: River Deep Mountain High
…And here’s Ike and Tina’s more passionate version of love! Even if you haven’t got anyone with you right now to take you through these strange days, you can still dream…
Take care, dear friends, and stay in – see you soon with more easy and tasty recipes and more free movies to watch online!
Roberta Franklin 