The Toys - "Lovers Concerto"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGDZc9bdUZM

How gentle is the rain
That falls softly on the meadow,
Birds high up the trees
Serenade the clouds with their melodies

Oh, see there beyond the hill,
The bright colors of the rainbow.
Some magic from above
Made this day for us just to fall in love

Now, I belong to you
From this day until forever,
Just love me tenderly
And I'll give to you every part of me.

Oh, don't ever make me cry
Through long lonely nights without us.
Be always true to me,
Keep this day in your heart eternally.

One day we shall return
To this place upon the meadow.
We'll walk out in the rain,
See the birds above singing once again

Oh, you hold me in your arms,
And say once again you love me,
And if your love is true,
Everything will be just as wonderful.

You'll hold me in your arms,
And say once again you'll love me,
And if your love is true,
Everything will be just as wonderful.

Written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell, based on a melody by it was thought by Bach, but in reality* is now thought to be by Christian Petzold - "Minuet in G major" (BWV Anh. 114). It was found in J.S. Bach's Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach. However original was in 3/4 - this is in 4/4 time.

* See Schulze, Hans-Joachim. "Ein 'Dresdner Menuett' I'm zweiten Klavierbüchlien der Anna Magdalena Bach. Nebst Hinweisen zur Überlieferung vinegar Kammermusikwerke Bachs." Bach-Jahrbuch (1979 pp. 45-64), pp. 54-58, 64.

Nominees - 2013 Barclaycard Mercury Prize.

Nominees - 2013 Barclaycard Mercury Prize. All Albums ...

• Arctic Monkeys - AM
In this case I have put Arabella

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3Hr29TbtPM

Arabella's got some interstellar gatorskin boots
And a Helter Skelter 'round her little finger and I ride it endlessly
She's got a Barbarella silver swimsuit
And when she needs to shelter from reality
She takes a dip in my daydreams

My days end best when the sunset gets itself behind
That little lady sitting on the passenger side
It's much less picturesque without her catching the light
The horizon tries but it's just not as kind on the eyes
As Arabella, oh
As Arabella

Just might've tapped into your mind and soul
You can't be sure

Arabella's got a '70s head
But she's a modern lover
It's an exploration she's made of outer space
And her lips are like the galaxy's edge
And her kiss the color of a constellation falling into place

My days end best when the sunset gets itself behind
That little lady sitting on the passenger side
It's much less picturesque without her catching the light
The horizon tries but it's just not as kind on the eyes
As Arabella, oh
As Arabella

Just might've tapped into your mind and soul
You can't be sure

(That's magic) in a cheetah print coat
(Just a slip) underneath it I hope
(Asking if) I can have one of those
(Organic) cigarettes that she smokes
(Rubs her lips) 'round a Mexican Coke
(Makes you wish) that you were the bottle
(Takes a sip) of your soul, and it sounds like

Just might've tapped into your mind and soul
You can't be sure

(Should win?!)

• David Bowie - The Next Day - http://vimeo.com/65723010 (not his best by any means ...)

• Disclosure - Settle - this track is "Latch" featuring Sam Smith - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93ASUImTedo (not bad)

• Foals - Holy Fire - this track is Inhaler - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_PMvjmC6M (OK but not as good as Miles Kane's)

• Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg - this is "Two Fingers" - my favourite album by a chalk (next is AMs)

• James Blake - Overgrown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlaRjP8pg0Q - (I suppose it's unique but not for me yet ...)

• Jon Hopkins - Immunity - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8eQR5DMous (nope)

• Laura Marling - Once I Was An Eagle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0elhVJorYM&list=PLvvVCeJuFWNcla8bCR3lxyTpanXC7Hkbk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NsFge7q_gg

So your grandmother stands to me,
A woman I would be proud to be,
And you say she reminds you of me,
Every little boy is so naive.

I will not be a victim of romance.
I will not be a victim of circumstance.
Chance or circumstance or romance, or any man,
Who could get his dirty little hands on me.

No how no how....

So your grandfather sounds like me.
Head up shoulders back and proud to be.
Every little girl is so naive,
Falling in love with the first man that she sees.

I will not be a victim of romance
I will not be a victim of circumstance
Chance or circumstance or romance, or any man,
Who could get his dirty little hands on me.

No how no how

When we were in love,
We were,
When we were in love,
I was an eagle,
And you were a dove.

Today I will feel something other than regret.
Pass me a glass and half-smoked cigarette.
I've damn near got no dignity left,
I've damn near got no dignity left.

Ahhh, I will not be a victim of romance,
I will not be a victim of circumstance.
Chance or romance or circumstance, or any man,
Who could get his dirty little hands on me.

No how no how

When we were in love, if we were,
When we were in love,
I was an eagle,
And you were a dove.

When we were in love, if we were,
When we were in love,
You were a dove,
And I rose above you and preyed.

- then goes into "You Know" ... (Brilliant!)

• Laura Mvula - Sing to the Moon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZtO544g1J8 (Not my cup of tea!)

• Rudimental - Home - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTPF_g63Y2Y (OK but ...)

• Savages - Silence Yourself - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G27S0f2FOI8&list=PL0kaguUgAkTpBFjYAMiQHmSgNnE1RYrZ7 (No - not for me!)

• Villagers - Awayland - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDEzRraYgA8 (preferred this ... but)

And some that were not nominated ... but should have been?

• Bastille - Bad Blood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y1aDFV6caQ

• Charli Xcx - True Romance -
• Daughter - If You Leave
• Nancy Elizabeth - Dancing
• Keaton Henson - Birthdays
• King Krule - Six Feet Beneath The Moon
• London Grammar - If You Wait
• Steve Mason - Monkey Minds In The Devil's Time
• Melt Yourself Down - Melt Yourself Down
• My Bloody Valentine - MBV
• Rizzle Kicks - Roaring 20s
• These New Puritans - Field Of Reeds

Sarah Vaughan - "Send in the Clowns"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PI_xb6jSD4

Isn't it rich?
Are we a pair?
Me here at last on the ground,
You in mid-air.
Send in the clowns.

Isn't it bliss?
Don't you approve?
One who keeps tearing around,
One who can't move.
Where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns.

Just when I'd stopped opening doors,
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours,
Making my entrance again with my usual flair,
Sure of my lines,
No one is there.

Don't you love farce?
My fault I fear.
I thought that you'd want what I want.
Sorry, my dear.
But where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here.

Isn't it rich?
Isn't it queer,
Losing my timing this late
In my career?
And where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns.
Well, maybe next year.

Bobby Darin - "Mack the Knife"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qrjtr_uFac

Take a guess (spoken)

Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear
And it shows them pearly white
Just a jack knife has old MacHeath, babe
And he keeps it, out of sight
You know when that shark bites with his teeth, babe
Scarlet billows start to spread
Fancy gloves though, wears MacHeath,
So there's never, never a trace of red

Not let that thing get good.

Now on the sidewalk, ooh Sunday morning huh,
Lies a body just oozin' life, eek
And someone's sneakin' clear around the corner
Could that someone be Mack the Knife?

There's a tugboat, yeah go ahead if you feel like it,
Down by the river don'tcha know
With a cement bag just droopin' on down
You know that cement is just, it's there for the weight, little girl
Five'll gonna get you a dime that old Macky's back in town
Now d'ja hear 'bout Louie Miller? He disappeared, honey
After drawin' out all his hard-earned cash
And now MacHeath spends like a sailor
Could it be our boy's done somethin' rash?

Ahh ah Jenny Diver, look out Sukey Tawdry
Ooh, Miss Lotte Lenya not to mention old Lucy Brown
You know that line forms on the right, babe
Now that Macky's back in this here town

I said Jenny Diver, look out, Sukey Tawdry
Stay back Miss Lotte Lenya and old Miss Lucy Brown
Yes, that line forms on the right, babe
Now that Macky's back in town....................
Look out old Macky is back ohhhhh