'The songs you love from the artists you don't' is a theme we will definitely be returning to. It was my favourite theme of the week - in fact could be my favourite theme of the year! I loved the hilarious texts and emails especially the one that referred to the front man of a well known Scottish band as a 'pompous, dove throwing eeejit'. More themes like that needed.
I think we have a good line up of themes for next week and I hope you are able to tune in on Monday for our exclusive recording of the homecoming gig. We'll have concert highlights of some of the best Scottish bands of all time but sadly no 'pompous, dove throwing eeejits'!
Monday
I think we've got a great line up of shows to celebrate St Andrews night. Vic Galloway will be looking after Get It On on Monday night and his theme will be Great Scots. Whether your nomination is Midge Ure or Middle Of The Road, then get in touch with him. At five past eight it's a chance to hear more Scottish bands and this time they are in concert. Exclusive highlights of The Homecoming gig only on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Scotland.
Tuesday
It's the first day of December and as the queues start to build up we'll be doing a bit of early Christmas shopping ourselves. Lost In The Supermarket? Shopping For Dresses? Cornershop? Make a shopping list and send it in...
Wednesday
What do Super Trouper, Roxanne and Hey Jude all have in common? The title can be found in the first line of the song. I'm expecting a big blog input to this theme so start thinking about some about some unusual suggestions.
Thursday
To help celebrate National Tree Week, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Breathing Places has teamed up with Guinness World Records for Tree O' Clock a nationwide challenge to plant as many trees as possible within a single hour. Our challenge is to play as many songs about trees in two hours! Will it be Laurel and Hardy singing about the lonesome pine and surely we will be tying a yellow ribbon round an old oak at some point?
A short video of the themes can be found on the Get It On homepage and once you've had a look why not leave your suggestions on the blog or send them in on email.
I am hurt that no one believed I was really playing the piano during the show last night. After all nobody doubted Art Sutter, the former ´óÏó´«Ã½ÌýRadio Scotland presenterÌýwho presented many a show whilst tinckling away on his white baby grand.
My production team pulled out all the stops for last night's show. Not only did Miss B find me a piano, she got us into the music studio, sweet talked an engineer into recording it and found me some...ahem...help with my piano playing! I have to fess up and tell you that my part was actually played by Keith one of our jazz producers.
ÌýHe's spent many years hanging out in the classic jazz clubs in Soho and as a result can only converse in hep cat speak - a bit like a Scottish Austin Powers. It certainly livens up a lunchtime when you hear a voice from the other end of the office say "Oooh yeah baby, I'm digging that lentil soup maaaan".
I loved all your stories last night about the pop songs tackled on unusual instruments. Some of the good ones are on our Facebook page and elsewhere on the blog. From the Pet Shop Boys on the accordion to Joan Jett plucked on the fiddle - only on Get It On!
There are to be no boys, girls, lads or lassies on tonight's show! She who must be obeyed has spoken and it's with strict instructions that I stick to tonight's advertised theme of men and women. That means only songs with 'man' or 'woman' in the title. Mind you there are at least two hit records that mention both. Can you name both - without looking them up?
It's been a busy afternoon as we had a meeting today to talk about Christmas, New Year plans and NEXT year's Children in Need. Miss Babs is very keen on forward planning obviously. She's enthused by the fact that other women in the building have been emailing her complimenting her on her Pudsey bike ride. However she has not taken me up on my idea of releasing an exercise DVD in time for January.
I've also just been filmed for Reporting Scotland talking about Susan Boyle. Now that my wounds have healed I've decided it's not too scarey to step in front of a camera again. That means another themes video will be online on Thursday. Oh and talking of my recent tussle with a pothole I want to thank the annomyous blogger who dropped in the Smith's themed Get Well Soon card. Much appreciated.
Thanks to all for this week's suggestions and I'm sure Pudsey would join me in saying special thanks to everyone who contributed to a pound a play to Children in Need.
I hope you the themes for next week and we are looking forward to seeing the suggestions. I think Tuesday's theme is going to be a lot of fun and if you can pick out a top tune then feel free to send me an mp3 of you in action.
Monday
Tonight it's the Black Magic Woman v's The Brown Eyed Handsome Man. It's Get It On's battle of the sexes. I want to play a 'man' song followed by a 'woman' song alternately throughout the show. This Charming Man or Sweet talking Woman? You decide...
Tuesday
Can you do Robbie Williams on the recorder? Is Richie Blackmore your guitar hero? Or can you tinkle away to the intro to Coldplay? Songs you can play is tonight's theme.
Ask for any song you like - the catch is that you or maybe one of your kids must be able to play it.Would be musicians - this is your night...
Wednesday
It's been announced that Galloway Forest Park is one of the best places in the world to see stars, so on tonight's show we turn our focus skywards. Starman, Catch A Falling Star or Lucky Stars. It's stars singing about stars...
Thursday
Henri Hannah has come up with a cracking theme of songs you love by the artists you don't. Can't bear Bono but love Where The Streets Have No Name? Does Life Is A Rollercoaster mean you've learned to rate Ronan Keating, and did Phil Collins ever release a good song? Get in touch and tell me about the track that stands out for you...
A top ´óÏó´«Ã½ producer...sweating...pink legwarmers...Yes, it must be Children In Need time. Here's the video evidence of what happened when we put 'Babs on the bike' for Children In Need. I'd say it was rated at least PG 13. No bad language but there are scenes of a lady in lycra which some viewers might find bewildering. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this video then I'd urge you to go to the Children in Need site and make a HUGE donation.
Well done Miss Babs. Two hours of non stop cycling and still enough puff to shout orders across the studio. If you want to join in the challenge to catch Mark Beaumont as he cycles The Americas then there's more information on the
Children in Need website.
There were some very clever suggestions for last nights 'doctors and nurses' theme. My favourite was the texter who suggested something off Gram Parsons' GP album.
There were several shouts for SAHB and Faith Healer. This prompted a bit of a debate about whether alternative healers could be counted for the theme. There was also the question of what do to about 'doctor' Gillian McKeith should she ever release a record. I loved the text from Fergie in Aberdeen who wondered if her debut single would be a cover of 'Stool Pigeon'!
After two hours on a static bike her ladyship's tips for world record breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont are "get some nice leg warmers"...
...and "get a bike that's got a wee place to put your soup in". I'll make sure we pass that on...
Ìý
Much excitement in the GIO office as we get ready for tonight's Children In Need show which celebrates Mark Beaumont's efforts to cycle across the Americas. As you might know Children In Need are trying to encourage the people of Scotland to catch up with Mark and cycle at least a mile.
We're doing our bit tonight by having Miss Babs pedal an exercise bike throughout the show. ( picsÌýcoming Ìýonline later!)ÌýShe's feeling a bit nervous at this point but am sure she will be boosted by your comments so please feel free to text them in or leave them on this blog during the show.
She's already miffed as the health and safety team have suggested that she do no more than 20 mins at a time followed by a wee lie down and a glass of juice.
"Do you think that was how Lance won the Tour de France?" she squealed back.
I can't cycle at the moment but I have done my bit byÌýforcing her to eat the world's biggest cheese scone, a training tip that I'm pretty sure Lance hadn't thought of.
This has been a great week of themes for the show. We will definitely do the 'first lines' theme again so hang on to those suggestions. Monday's show is going to be a good laugh and photos of Miss Babs in her pink legwarmers will be up on the blog after the show. Possibly some video footage as well!!!!
Monday
World record breaker Mark Beaumont is cycling from Anchorage, Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina for a ´óÏó´«Ã½ One series, The Man Who Cycled the Americas. By Children In Need night he'll have completed over 9000 miles.
Our challenge is for the people of Scotland to try and cycle as many miles as he has. Whether you ride a mile or a thousand, get pedalling and get sponsored to raise as much as you can. Together we can make a big difference and if you pedal hard, together you can catch Pudsey and Mark somewhere in Peru!
Our theme will be 'cycling across the Americas' which could include cycling songs or songs that reference any place name on the continent.
To add to the excitement one of the Get It On producers has risen to the challenge so on Monday' show we'll be putting 'Babs on the bike' as Miss B dons the pink lycra and attempts to keep pedalling throughout the show.
Tuesday
Medical man Stuart Richie posted on our Facebook and suggested a theme of doctors and nurses. Will you be calling for Doctor Beat or will the ward sisters be doing it for themselves? If you're feeling under the weather then tune in and let the music be your medicine...
Wednesday
Tonight's show salutes the songwriters. Now, that's not singer-songwriters but it's more about the songwriters who make a living penning the tunes for other artists. I'm thinking of folk like Jimmy Webb, Bacharach and David, or maybe someone like Cathy Dennis.
Thurs
Ask for whatever you like tonight, all we ask is that you might think about making a donation to Children In Need if your song gets picked. If you would like to pay a pound a play to hear your choice then that would be brilliant...
I was gutted about 'LA proved too much for the man' and it took me until after ten o' clock to get over the fact that I didn't recognise that Party Fears Two starts with the line about having a shower and calling your brother up.
Our theme of 'first lines' was the best fun I've had in ages. I laughed all the way through the show and I know from your messages that many of you were as frustrated as we were at the inability to match the lyric to the song title.
Here are the answers to the ones I posted yesterday, and for everyone who asked - yes we will be returning to this theme in the next few months:
It's a God-awful small affair to the girl with the mousy hair
David Bowie - Life On Mars
She came from Greece she had a thirst for knowledge
Pulp - Common People
There she stood in the street, smiling from her head to her feet
Free - Alright Now
Pretty women out walkin' with gorillas down my street
Joe Jackson - Is She Really Going Out With Him
She's got a smile that it seems to me
Guns n Roses - Sweet Child Of Mine
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Eagles - Hotel California
I saw the light on the night that I passed by her window
Tom Jones - Delilah
My heart was broken
Proclaimers - Sunshine On Leith
I'm in the phone booth, it's the one across the hall
Blondie - Hanging On The Telephone
Out on the wiley, windy moors
Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights
It's a little bit funny
Elton John - Your Song
Well I woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold my head that didn't hurt
Kris Kristofferson - Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down
Take a look at my girlfriend
Supertramp - Breakfast In America
Call out the instigators
Thunderclap Newman - Something In the Air
You talk like Marlene Dietrich
Peter Sarstead - Where Do You Go To My Lovely
You stir my natural emotions
Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love With Someone
I love you from the bottom of my pencil case
Beautiful South - Song For Whoever
There's a man I meet, walks up our street
Deacon Blue - Dignity
It was the third of September
Temptations _ Papa was A Rolling Stone
I was twenty-one years when I wrote this song
Billy Bragg - A New England
There's been no work done this afternoon as producer Richard and I have been playing along with the greatest pop quiz ever - otherwise known as tonight's theme.
The best known opening lines isÌýthe themeÌýand I've ben asking folk to send them in without mentioning the artist or the title. The fun comes in trying to identify the song. I can't help singing along toÌýtry and make it easier which is great fun for me but not so enjoyable for the other people who work in this open plan building. Here's 20 of the best to get you started and hundreds more to come when we go on air. Some of the most recognisable opening lines of all time are here, so see how many you can spot.
- It's a God-awful small affair to the girl with the mousy hair
- She came from Greece she had a thirst for knowledge
- There she stood in the street, smiling from her head to her feet
- Pretty women out walkin' with gorillas down my street
- She's got a smile that it seems to me
- On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
- I saw the light on the night that I passed by her window
- My heart was broken
- I'm in the phone booth, it's the one across the hall
- Out on the wiley, windy moors
- It's a little bit funny
- Well I woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold my head that didn't hurt
- Take a look at my girlfriend
- Call out the instigators
- You talk like Marlene Dietrich
- You stir my natural emotions
- I love you from the bottom of my pencil case
- There's a man I meet, walks up our street
- It was the third of September
- I was twenty-one years when I wrote this song
Thanks to everyone who's contributed so far, especially Dykerlad whose great list can be found elsewhere on the blog. Answers to these ones will be posted tomorrow.
Tonight's show will be presented with the curtains shut! And unless we are going to be remaking Phantom of the Opera, there will be no themes video for next week. Following an accident on my bike on Friday I have truly got what is often referred to as 'a face for the radio'.
I may joke about it now, but I got a pretty big shake-up on Friday afternoon. One minute I was cycling merrily along then next my bike went head first into a huge pothole, which was hidden beneath a puddle of water. I can't remember much of what happened but I presume I flew over the handlebars and landed on my head.
Thankfully I was wearing a helmet and was fortunate enough to be looked after by a kind taxi driver and his passenger and a lady in car all of whom were extremely kind and caring. Just the kind of people you'd want around you in a situation like that. They called an ambulance which whisked me off to The Viccie' where the fantastic staff in A&E sorted me out and have promised that I'll look like George Clooney when the bandages come off!
Thanks to 'glittery' who posted on the blog and wondered how my eye was. The answer is that it's put me off getting back on the bike for a few weeks but it's going to take me than a sair face to keep me away from the studios.
Thanks again to everyone who contributed last week. 'Bonfire night' was a very busy night and it was great to hear from so many people who were out and about. I hope you enjoy this set of themes.
In response to some of the regulars on this blog, my challenge is to post on a more regular basis and to include more caption competitions. They have asked for one this week with the writer of the winning caption being 'forced' to donate money to Children In Need! A suitable photo will follow later in the week.
Don't forget the video of the themes is online and you can find it by following this link.
Monday
Monday's theme is ' the media' and it comes courtesy of the pupils at Balwearie High School in Kirkcaldy. Their suggestions include sun always shines on TV, Radio Ga Ga and from the world of newspapers Telegraph road or Guardian Angel.
Tuesday
A new survey says that 89% of people recognise the opening line of A hard day's Night, so tonight's theme features the instantly recognisable opening lines of songs. "Got a wife and kid in Baltimore Jack, I went out for a ride and I never went back" would have to be one of my favourites. Don't send me the title or the artist; just send me the opening line.
Wed:
Armistice day - what does it mean to you? Co-incidentally Ian Buckland suggested songs of gratitude and thanks as a theme so I thought that would also fit in tonight. From Peace In our Time to Hero it promises to be a special show.
Thursday:
Sit Down, Stand By Me and Shut Up. It's bossy Thursday on Get It On. ( Clearly Miss Babs will need to be producing!) I'm looking for the bossiest songs of all time in this great theme suggested by Scott Martin.
