Rob Fenwick
a Northumbrian abroad
Music share: Amy Macdonald
Jul 29th
I remember when I first heard Amy Macdonald’s voice- I was driving through Alnwick in Northumberland when Mr Rock & Roll came on the radio, and I was momentarily tempted to stop the car in the middle of the street and get out and dance.
So when I first heard her latest single, This Pretty Face as I was driving through rural Suffolk… well… I’ll leave the rest to your imagination. It’s not just the timbre of her voice, but the way the lyrics and instrumental interweave. Another winning catchy choon.
You may have heard it already, it’s getting a lot of plays on a lot of stations, but if you’ve missed it… enjoy
Updating showcase pages
Jul 25th
I’ve spent some time today updating the showcase pages of this site, so if you are interested in my work (ie you’re my mother), you can browse the latest video, digital comms, digital marketing and media relations work.
There’s still loads more to add to these pages, but just looking at what’s there I’m reminded that I’m fortunate enough to get to do a really broad range of work, and to work with some fantastic people. There is of course an element of vanity publishing to these pages (and to blogging as a whole!) but it’s also useful for keeping track of what I need to learn – managing light in video shoots is a priority.
Using YouTube and a Flip HD for internal communications
Jul 25th
The introduction of YouTube’s unlisted option really makes it a useful platform for those internal communications videos where security through obscurity (you don’t know where the video is unless you know the URL) is enough.
At CIMA we have a number of UK homeworkers and staff in global offices who can sometimes miss out on HQ’s successes (and vice-versa). This video was one of our first attempts to use a Flip Mino HD camera to go behind the scenes at an event, there’s clearly work to do to get better, but I think the Flip has huge potential as an internal comms tool.
I filmed the main event on our Sony HVR-A1E camera (purchased with the aid of the excellent and knowledgable sales team at Calumet), and you can see those videos on my video page.
Felixstowe Ferry
Jul 24th
I visited a favourite Suffolk haunt today. Just beyond North Felixstowe is the hamlet of Felixstowe Ferry, where the River Deben flows in to the sea, and you can see the Bawdsey peninsula. Felixstowe Ferry is well worth a visit – it’s often busy, but not overly touristy or developed. There is plenty of freshly landed fish for sale.
More must-listen music: War Horse
Jul 24th
More music sharing. The National Theatre’s War Horse is currently playing in the West End, and greatly deserves each of the five star ratings it has received. Music is an intrinsic character in the story, and the production includes stirring arrangements of hymns and traditional songs.
The soundtrack is well worth buying. I have included track four from the soundtrack CD above, found on YouTube accompanying a Disney-esque video which I have tried to squash out of view – hit play to hear the delicious Devonian sound. The song is called The Year Turns Round Again on the War Horse CD, it is written by John Tams and he originally called it Snow Falls (click for lyrics).
Last.fm: A life diary, through music
Jul 23rd
Social music service last.fm has been quietly making a note of just about every piece of music which I have played for nearly five years now. I recently realised that the week-by-week view of top tracks tell me as much as any diary, as all of the most popular tracks in my library tend to be played as a soundtrack to particular situations and emotions.
My taste in music is broad. Some would say eclectic. Some might very well say random. Most would say piss poor. It falls in to four broad groups:
- Early music, particularly renaissance polyphony
- Classical and romantic music
- Musical theatre
- Pop music (particularly 70s/80s artists)
When listening to classical music I usually veer towards large, bombastic works – music for jolly times. The same is true of musical theatre (of course).
Early music and pop music are more polarised. Both contain pieces of high elation, and also deep contemplation. Sometimes one piece is suitable for both.