I knew it would happen. I have long held a belief that the ageing process results in a deterioration of one's musical taste. I have arrived at this conclusion by observing people who were 30 in 1955 and who nevertheless prefer listening to military bands to Elvis Presley.
Notwithstanding the longevity of the Rolling Stones, Alice Cooper et. al., there is a inexorable gravitation towards Max Bygraves as one approaches the end. And now it's happening to me. I suspected as much a number of years ago when I was driving down the M1 listening to the car radio and found myself thinking "Jim Reeves had a lovely voice didn't he .... "
Talking of which, I'm still overcome with emotion after the last two episodes. Barbara Windsor's final performance was a masterclass in how to take a final bow. The pain! The anguish! The held-back tears! You could tell this was really The End by the piano version of the closing theme, which is code for This Storyline Has Run Its Course. And Peggy was wearing sensible heels. Just check out her brave face, her determination not to cry, and the mystery of how the upstairs of the Queen Vic hasn't got a trace of fire damage.
Notwithstanding the longevity of the Rolling Stones, Alice Cooper et. al., there is a inexorable gravitation towards Max Bygraves as one approaches the end. And now it's happening to me. I suspected as much a number of years ago when I was driving down the M1 listening to the car radio and found myself thinking "Jim Reeves had a lovely voice didn't he .... "
I was watching highlights from the Edinburgh Tattoo on TV, and found with horror that my fingers were beating time to Colonel Bogey. I cooed at the Royal Jordanian Circassion Guards, I aaaahed at the Gurkhas, I WEPT when Our Boys marched out in their desert camo, fresh from the sandpit, beating their drums with a buddy marching shotgun behind them. King Abdallah of Jordan taking the salute undid me completely. I remember his dad - lovely little king. By the time the Lone Piper closed the proceedings I was a wreck, and barely got the mascara out of my eyes in time for EastEnders.
Talking of which, I'm still overcome with emotion after the last two episodes. Barbara Windsor's final performance was a masterclass in how to take a final bow. The pain! The anguish! The held-back tears! You could tell this was really The End by the piano version of the closing theme, which is code for This Storyline Has Run Its Course. And Peggy was wearing sensible heels. Just check out her brave face, her determination not to cry, and the mystery of how the upstairs of the Queen Vic hasn't got a trace of fire damage.
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