Author: Padraig Fahy

  • [The JukeBox] #82 – Casiopea – Galactic Funk

    [The JukeBox] #82 – Casiopea – Galactic Funk

    Within specific genres of music, there are those ‘staple’ songs. A set of pieces that capture the essence of a genre. Within the City pop genre, you would find some staples, Plastic Love, Dress Down, Stay with Me, and Flyday Chinatown.
    Jazz Fusion sensation, Casiopea would be a staple band for the genre.

    Still going today as Casiopea-P4, (Their 4th iteration) has been around since 1976 and became very popular in the 80’s even having a world tour. With almost 60 albums since its inception, the band focuses on instrumental music with high-energy and high-tempo music.

    Over the years, they have had 13 different members come and go with the guitarist Issei Noro being the only member who has been in the band the entire time. The band even disbanded from 2006 until 2012 due to exhaustion.

    For more about the history of Casiopea, I would highly recommend checking out T2norway’s video on the band which was uploaded in 2021.

    Arguably, the band’s most popular song, Galatic Funk became a staple for City pop fans.

    Galactic Funk originally was on the band’s 6th album Cross Point released in 1981 but has been re-arranged and re-recorded over the years.

    Live

    Studio

    For me, this band and their live performances remind me of the Miami Sound Machine with Gloria Estefan with their high-energy, high-tempo music.

  • Changing my Digital Mindset going into 2023.

    Changing my Digital Mindset going into 2023.

    The last couple of months within the social media industry has been wild, to say the least.

    Whether it’s Elon Musk buying Twitter for $44 billion and subsequently changing the platform, or people signing up for Federated services like Mastodon/Pixelfed/PeerTube, there has been a sense of bringing the internet back to how it should be.

    Once the mainstream (non-techie) audience figured out that the likes of Mastodon are: ‘Just like email… It doesn’t matter what provider they are with, they can communicate.’, things have been looking more positive in terms of growth.

    We have become sensitised to a ‘walled garden’ approach for over 15 years. Whether that is Facebook, Twitter, or even going back as far as Bebo. These are/were walled gardens that you could not have communicated with others on other platforms.

    🕸️

    The rise and adoption of AcitvityPub have been a positive for the internet!

    While Mastodon has been going since 2016, it has slowly been gaining traction. Ever since the rumblings of Elon buying Twitter were heard earlier this year, some people decided to jump to Mastodon. While some stayed, many went back to Twitter.

    When the deal was done on October 28th 2022, that is the day that Mastodon really took off. It exploded in popularity bringing servers to their knees. Many instances were locking themselves down to contain the onslaught of sign-ups. Even Mastodon.ie within the first couple of weeks experienced some hardships but with the generous community, we were able to come together to make Masotodn.ie a new home for Irish Twitter.

    This got me thinking. I want to embrace Federated services like Mastodon/Pixelfed going forward. I want to help make the Fediverse increase in popularity. And the best way to do that is to use it as much as I can and utilise it for my blog, websites and other content.

    Therefore, in 2023,  I have decided on the following:

    • Using Mastodon as my ‘replacement’ for Twitter posts.

      • Let’s be real here, we all know for the majority of people, Mastodon is not going to be the replacement for Twitter and that is something that I never want Mastodon to be. I see Mastodon (and other microblogging services) as an ‘Alternative’ to Twitter.
      • And the simple reason for that is there are journalists, companies and celebrities that either will not come over or will never be introduced to it. I, personally, am not going to completely abandon Twitter or close my account. I will be keeping it, and using it to browse content but I will not be tweeting as much if at all.

    • Use Pixelfed as much as Instagram.

      • I have not given Pixelfed a proper chance as a solution as I would post most of my content on Instagram. I am going to be making an effort in 2023 to post more on the platform. Whether that will be random food pics, drink, or whatever.

    • Learn more, deploy or sign up for new services that use the Fediverse.

      • This one is simple, I will be signing up and trying out new things this year. Some may stick, and some may not. But hopefully this time next year, I will be able to talk about products/services that have either come onto the scene or improved their existing products/services and hopefully be able to recommend them as an alternative to existing services.

    And I want to make something clear, while my focus will be on this new adventure, I want everyone to understand that everything is an alternative. That is what they should be treated as. Not replacements.

    Since Ghost (the platform that I am using for this blog) currently doesn’t have ActivityPub support, I will be spinning up a WordPress blog with an ActivityPub plugin and will be cross-posting my posts there. You can follow @padraig@w.pf.ie or searching for https://w.pf.ie/author/padraig/ [Update: September 2024, this has changed. This blog is a WordPress site now!]

  • [The JukeBox] #81 – The Beautiful South – Rotterdam (Or Anywhere)

    [The JukeBox] #81 – The Beautiful South – Rotterdam (Or Anywhere)

    Recently on Spotify, I was playing a 90’s / 00’s pop mix and rediscovered this fantastic song by The Beautiful South.

    It was released in September of 1996 and ready Number 5 in the UK Singles Charts and Number 11 in Ireland and was part of their 5th Album, “Blue is the colour”

    With its catchy lyrics and beat, it’s something to go back to and enjoy once more.

    Lyrics:

    And the women tug their hair
    Like they’re trying to prove it won’t fall out
    And all the men are gargoyles
    Dipped long in Irish stout

    The whole place is pickled
    The people are pickles for sure
    And no one knows if they’ve done more here
    Than they ever would do in a jar

    This could be Rotterdam or anywhere
    Liverpool or Rome
    ‘Cause Rotterdam is anywhere
    Anywhere alone
    Anywhere alone

    And everyone is blonde
    And everyone is beautiful
    And when blondes and beautiful are multiple
    They become so dull and dutiful

    And when faced with dull and dutiful
    They fire red warning flares
    Battle khaki personality
    With red underwear

    This could be Rotterdam or anywhere
    Liverpool or Rome
    ‘Cause Rotterdam is anywhere
    Anywhere alone
    Anywhere alone

    The whole place is pickled
    The people are pickles for sure
    And no one knows if they’ve done more here
    Than they ever would do in a jar

    This could be Rotterdam or anywhere
    Liverpool or Rome
    ‘Cause Rotterdam is anywhere
    Anywhere alone

    This could be Rotterdam or anywhere
    Liverpool or Rome
    ‘Cause Rotterdam is anywhere
    Anywhere alone
    Anywhere alone
    Anywhere alone
    Anywhere alone
    Anywhere alone, alone, alone

    Ooh this could be Rotterdam or anywhere
    Liverpool or Rome
    ‘Cause Rotterdam is anywhere alone
    Alone, alone

  • WWE Survivor Series: WarGames Predictions

    WWE Survivor Series: WarGames Predictions

    Not too long after Crown Jewel, we are already at Survivor Series and for the first time this year, the ‘WarGames’ is coming to the main roster.

    There are 2 WarGames matches and at the time of writing, 2 championship matches.

    • Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Mia Yim, and TBA vs Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky), Nikki Cross, and Rhea Ripley in a WarGames Match

      • I feel that the 5th woman is going to be a returning Doudrop (Or Becky Lynch if she is ready) and will be the powerhouse to win the WarGames match. Team Bianca to win

    • The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland, and Butch), Drew McIntyre, and Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso)

      • This will be a banger after banger after banger. The Brutes have nothing to lose here and it would solidify the Bloodline. I can’t see them being knocked off before Wrestlemania. The Bloodline to win

    • AJ Styles (w/ The OC) vs Finn Bálor (w/ The Judgement Day)

      • Former Bullet Club leaders going head-to-head and it will be fantastic. I expect references to BC aplenty in this match. One to watch. Finn Bálor to win.

    • Ronda Rousey (C) vs Shotzi for the SmackDown Women’s Championship

      • Ronda needs a few wins against her name and will feed on Shotzi. I don’t expect this to go long. Ronda to retain

    • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (C) vs Bobby Lashley vs Austin Theory in a Triple Threat for the United States Championship

      • Bobby will probably ‘kill’ Austin Theory from the outset but Seth will nab the win and retain his title by the skin of his teeth. Seth to retain

  • [The JukeBox] #80 – Perfume – Love the World

    [The JukeBox] #80 – Perfume – Love the World

    Nocchi, KASHIYIKA and a-chan make up the Japanese pop girl group sensation, Perfume.

    Formed in 2000, the trio have been a staple in the Japanese pop scene since they were signed to Amuse, Inc in 2003. They would stay with them for 9 years before signing with Universal Music Group in 2012 and have been there ever since.

    Perfume has been a guilty pleasure of mine for years and every so often, I go back to listen to the album that got me hooked on them.

    Their newer music is just as good as the ‘old’ and still a great listening experience.

    Today, we look at ‘Love the World’, released in 2008 and was the first ‘technopop’ song to reach Number 1 on the Oricon charts (Basically the Japanese version of the IRMA Single Chart or the UK Top 40.)

    This would become one of the singles released ahead of the 2009 release of their 2nd studio album Triangle (⊿) album. (In Japan, the singles are released ahead of the release of the album)

    YouTube/Spotify

    Lyrics

    Kossori himitsu wo ageru wa zutto suki ni shite ii no yo
    Kitto kimi mo ki ni iru yo futari dake no tokutouseki

    Choppiri unmei mitai na
    Kyara ni mo nai you na koto mo
    Kanjitatte ii janai no
    Dareka kaita shinario?

    Mada kono saki ga mienai
    Ichibanboshi sagasu te ga furuetemo

    Akiramenai de taisetsu na
    Sukoshi no iji to kimi yo daarin
    Shigekiteki hora suteki
    Mieru sekai ga kirameku wa
    Tesaguri no atashi ni mo
    Sukoshi wakaru ki ga shiterun da
    Yawaraka na kimi no taimingu
    Zurui desho chuchuchu
    Love love the world

    Yappari chansu wo ageru wa yatto mieta kimi no sukima
    Kitto hitori de nayande oshiete kurete iin da yo

    Choppiri hanse mitai na
    Kyara ni mo nai you na koto mo
    Tama ni wa ii janai no
    Dare ka kaita shinario?

    Mada kono saki ga mienai
    Ichibanboshi sagasu te ga furuetemo

    Akiramenai de taisetsu na
    Sukoshi no iji to kimi yo daarin
    Shigekiteki hora suteki
    Mieru sekai ga kirameku wa
    Tesaguri no atashi ni mo
    Sukoshi wakaru ki ga shiterun da
    Yawaraka na kimi no taimingu
    Zurui desho chuchuchu
    Love love the world

    Have a nice day!
    Be in a good mood yeh!
    In all the world
    Love the world

    Yorokobi no naka mada kono saki ga mienai
    Ichiban boshi sagasu te ga furuetemo

    Akiramenai de taisetsu na
    Sukoshi no iji to kimi yo daarin
    Shigekiteki hora suteki
    Mieru sekai ga kirameku wa
    Tesaguri no atashi ni mo
    Sukoshi wakaru ki ga shiterun da
    Yawaraka na kimi no taimingu
    Zurui desho chuchuchu
    Love love the world

    Have a nice day!
    Be in a good mood yeh!
    In all the world
    Love the world

  • WWE Crown Jewel 2022 Predictions

    WWE Crown Jewel 2022 Predictions

    It’s time for another Saudi Blood Money Show.

    I will not go into detail about the results of this show because it’s a glorified house show.

    • Alexa Bliss & Asuka (C) vs Damage Ctrl (Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky) in a tag team match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

      • Winner: Alexa Bliss & Asuka retain!

    • The OC (AJ Styles, Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) vs The Judgement Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio) [w/ Rhea Ripley] in a 6-man tag team match.

      • Winner: The Judgement Day!

    • Drew McIntyre vs Karrion Kross [w/ Scarlett] in a Steel Cage Match

      • Winner: Karrion Kross!

    • The Uso (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso) (C) vs The Brawling Brutes in a tag team match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships.

      • Winner: The Usos retain!

    • Braun Strowman vs Omos in a singles match.

      • Winner: Braun Strowman!

    • Brock Lesnar vs Bobby Lashley in a singles match.

      • Winner: Brock Lesnar!

    • Bianca Belair (C) vs Bayley in a Last Woman Standing match for the RAW Women’s Championship

      • Winner: Bayley to become champion!

    • Roman Reigns (C) [w/ The Bloodline] vs Logan Paul in a singles match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

      • Winner: Roman Reigns retains!