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10 Well Known Songs…About Floors!

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Who would have thought that floors were so popular in the realm of music? From pop songs to rock anthems, it’s natural that the dance floor would inspire some of the greatest hits of the last century and indeed the 21st century as well.

But in the case of British institutions like Magazine and American singer Chris Whitley, floors are used to pay homage to literature and even take on a more poetic meaning. If you’re unfamiliar with some of the best floor-inspired lyrics out there, here’s a quick rundown of the top ten.

Killing Floor – Howlin’ Wolf

The 60s original has been covered by the illustrious likes of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Led Zeppelin, but it was blues musician Howlin’ Wolf who first made it a classic.

Chester Arthur Burnett, as he was otherwise known, recorded the song and its now-iconic riff back in 1964 with guitarist Hubert Sumlin, who claimed the lyrics described the sometimes destructive relationships between men and women.

The Damned – Under The Floor Again

The Damned began recording together at the height of the British punk movement in 1976, but it was not until the early 80s and their fifth studio album that this low-key song came about.

Never released as a single, it remains a favourite if a little obscure – track with the legions of Damned fans for its lyrical meanderings and the slightly Eastern vibe of the music.

A Song From under the Floorboards – Magazine

Magazine are another UK band to have proved their longevity, albeit at the expense of a near-twenty-year split from 1981 to 2009.

The 1980 single ‘A Song from under the Floorboards’ didn’t make much of an impression in sales but has come to be one of the group’s most memorable, not least because of its re-telling of Notes from Underground by Russian writer Dostoyevsky.

Floorshow – The Sisters of Mercy

The Sisters of Mercy may have a forgiving name but the 80s rock trio have been through their fair share of band members and break-ups. Formed in Leeds, they’d been going a full decade before releasing this Goth rock anthem in 1990.

Going beyond the dance floor into the murky world of the strip club, the album of the same name was the band’s last official release, though they’re still touring today.

Blood on the Dance Floor – Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s 1997 track was originally written six years earlier for the album ‘Dangerous’ but only released as part of the remix collection ‘Blood on the Dance Floor: History in the Mix’.

The dark story of a murderess called Susie who stalks the night clubs with a knife at the ready was put to a snappy beat and aggressive rhythm by producer Teddy Riley.

Though its release was delayed, the song ended up a no.1 hit in the UK and charted in the top ten in 15 countries worldwide.

I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor – The Arctic Monkeys

The Arctic Monkeys stormed the charts back in 2005 with the stomping dance floor hit that both made their debut and quickly stamped their name all over the UK indie scene.

The album from which the song was taken ‘Whatever they say I am, that’s what I’m not’ made record history by outselling Oasis and taking the title of fastest selling musical debut in Britain.

The Golden Floor – Snow Patrol

SnoW Patrol have enjoyed enduring success throughout the past decade and the Irish/Scottish five-piece continued their popular brand of melodic indie-rock with this gentle offering from the album ‘A Hundred Million Suns’ in 2008.

More than a little different to the usual up-tempo dance floor tunes, the song instead enacts a private dance by the fireside.

Dirt Floor – Chris Whitley

For something still more alternative, ‘Dirt Floor’ was a late-90s song and album by Texas singer-songwriter Chris Whitley.

The album received critical acclaim and the track is a typical example of Whitley’s sincere, blues-influenced style. Here, the floor is simply a reference to how all lives end, without being overly maudlin in its lyrics or attitude.

Take Me on the Floor – The Veronicas

The Australian duo The Veronicas took on the dance floor anthem with this 2009 release and saw the song used for reality TV show ‘Dancing with the Stars’. Some controversy over its potentially bisexual lyrics was brushed aside by the twins Lisa and Jessica Origliasso, who wrote the tune along with Toby Gad.

Whether it’s just about the fun of a night out or something more, it was a commercial hit.

On the Floor – Jennifer Lopez

We come bang up-to-date with Jennifer Lopez’s 2011 dance hit ‘On the Floor’, recorded with rapper Pitbull and drawing from both the singer’s Latina roots and modern electro-pop music.

Sampling the ever-popular ‘Lambada’ by Kaoma, it was a commercial success worldwide and proved yet again, the ingenuity of the dance floor concept in song.

Whether it’s a party tune to get the toes tapping, or a more personal offering about romance, regret or even death, the floor has proved itself a worthy lyrical device. So next time you’re stuck for inspiration, it’s comforting to know that some of the best and most popular musical ideas have come from the most basic and humble of human needs.

Attached Images:

This guest post was contributed by COBA Europe; One of the UK’s leading suppliers of Anti-Fatigue Matting, Entrance Matting and Rubber Flooring.





How Much Can Your Old Movie Posters Worth?

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Many collectors of movie posters are wondering what the posters are worth. Movie posters can provide some extra money for those who want to liquidate. Vintage photographs can actually be worth a lot if they are kept in good condition. Obtaining pricing for posters can be difficult, but there are a few criteria that every vintage photo must meet. Here are a few tips:

1. Keep the Poster in Good Condition

For the highest value, the poster should be in incredible condition. There should be no scratches, wrinkles, fading and scrapes. Every old movie poster should be placed in a poster frame. The poster frames should not allow UV-rays to permeate the glass. The frame should also not break if the picture falls on the ground.

2. Know the Demand

The value of your poster will depend on the demand. If the poster is in high demand, good condition and is one of a few on the market, the poster’s value will rise. If no demand exists, the poster’s value will be low. The value will also be low if there is demand and plenty of supply. You must have a poster that other people do not have and everyone wants. All of your posters should be kept in good condition. You never know when the demand will increase.

3. Volume

Unfortunately for collectors, the value of vintage movie posters rises and falls like the ebb and flow of the ocean. If there are only five to 10 copies of a movie poster, the demand for the poster will be greater than if there were 10,000 copies of a poster. When you purchase a poster, know the volume of the poster to determine the approximate value. For instance, a low volume poster may be worth $500, and a high volume poster may be worth $100. The value is highly dependent upon the total volume in circulation.

4. Era

Typically, the value of an older poster will be worth more than a newer poster. Many posters can be worth more if the posters are kept in dimly lit rooms. Some well-preserved older posters are worth more than some antiques. Posters that come from the first runs are likely to be worth more than a poster that was created at a later time period. Cult movie posters are often worth more also.

Find Out How Much Your Old Posters are Worth

Find out how much your old movie posters are worth. When you are ready to sell, you will know what the posters are worth. Talking to vintage sellers will help you determine how much your old posters are worth. It is best to be prepared before you are ready to sell. This will help you get the best price for your movie posters. If you follow these tips, you will be better prepared to sell for a more substantial sum.

Written by Kerstin K.

Kerstin has a strong passion in graphic design. She works in a printing service company in Sydney. Kerstin knows back to front of her clients’ needs, she is an expert in producing large format printing and designing personalised gift for any occasions.

Pick an Act, Any Act …

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Your company is having an event and you have been delegated to be the party organiser. You want it to be a night to remember  – but for the right reasons, so how do you book an appropriate act to ensure an eventful evening?

Firstly, take a look at your team and company.  Are they sombre types or are they outgoing? Do the grey suits come off and the disco shirts come on after they have had a few? If, they are the former, it might be advisable to avoid booking acts that require high levels of audience interaction and participation. Nothing worse than that sinking feeling which comes when a shy participant refuses to play ball – or with whatever toy or apparatus is thrown at them. If you know your team and know that they like to have fun, then go for the most outrageous act you can. There are loads out there to choose from.

It might be worthwhile having a quick word with your boss. Do they want to maintain the professional reputation of their company or do they enjoy getting down with the rest of them? Does the boss want the team to be dazzled by magic, laugh at a comedy act, reflect on the year ahead by listening to a specialist, or put on a day glo wig, flares and go back to the seventies?

Think of the brand and values of your company. In these austere times it may be unwise to be seen putting on a lavish bash and hiring expensive acts, especially if you work in the financial or social welfare sector. Acts that specifically go against how your company is perceived are a no no: do not book dancing dogs if your work for an animal welfare charity, no matter how cute and happy they look.

Why not do a quick survey with your team and establish if they want to laugh, to dance or to be entertained? The theatre, cabaret and live act circuit is full of unusual and exciting acts that are better experienced live rather than passively stared at on the box. Indeed, some acts only work live so the audience can see there really are no hidden wires or trickery involved in the performance.

Variety acts are currently hugely popular company bookings. Fire eaters, illusionists, sword swallowers can make your event memorable. If you are booking an after dinner event, why not go for a hypnotist, mind reader or illusionist? Cards appear from nowhere, secrets might be revealed, under hypnosis, your company might unleash talent that it didn’t even know it had! So think before booking, and then pick an act, any act…

Steve Hulmes is a professional blogger and stand-up comedian. Steve is regularly found blogging on corporate entertainment ideas.

5 As Seen on TV Products People Still Find Useful

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Am I the only one who thinks I need to purchase every product I see a commercial or infomercial for? Man, they really know what they’re doing with their marketing that’s for sure. I live my life totally fine, completely oblivious of a particular product. And then I see a commercial for it… and my whole world changes. I need that product NOW. I begin to wonder how I ever survived up until that point without the use of that product in my life.

Whether you are a sucker like me, or you think most “As Seen on TV Products” are kind of a joke, one thing is for certain. There are definitely at least a handful of As Seen on TV products that really are quite useful. Really when it comes down to it, all I can say is this: don’t knock it till you try it.

Here are 5 As Seen on TV products that people find useful:

1. ShamWow

Most of us, when we first saw the commercials for the ShamWow, probably kind of made fun of them. I mean, really, I’ll just use paper towels, thank you very much. But then we saw them hanging out in the grocery store checkout lane and we picked them up. And once we got them home, we realized that these cloths really are super absorbent, and it’s nice to have a product like this that we can wash and use over and over again.

2. Insanity Workout

Again, most of us have probably made fun of these commercials. I mean, sometimes it seems like every other commercial is advertising for some sort of workout video or in-home workout equipment. But then we started hearing the reviews. And for people who have used the Insanity workout program (and a few others that are similar to it), they can all agree on one thing: it produces great results!

3. Snuggie

Every single one of us has made fun of their commercials. When I was forced to continually see that woman throwing her blanket off in frustration when she couldn’t answer the phone, I swore I would never own one of these items just on pure principle of how much I hated the commercials.

Then I came across one in the store. And as I really started to think about it, I began to realize that this could actually be a pretty useful product! Having those sleeves in the blanket as you try to read, use the remote control, or talk on the phone, really could be pretty nice. So, I will admit it, I broke down and purchased one.

Even though we’ve all made fun of snuggies’ commercials, when you really start looking into it, at this point most people you know probably actually own one of these products. And we’ve all enjoyed not having to throw off our blanket in frustration when the phone rings.

4. Neck Pillow

We’ve all seen these on commercials, in gas stations, and in the airport magazine stores. The neck pillow. Anyone who has ever been on a long airplane ride, or a road trip, will all agree: these neck pillows are a lifesaver!

5. Slap Chop

Again, this is yet another one of those As Seen on TV products that many of us have made fun of… until we own one. These little handheld choppers really do save quite a bit of time over having to chop those items with a knife.

Nicole is a writer for StarReviews.com, where they review websites, software and services. Check out Star Reviews 2012.

photo by: randomcuriosity

Successful shopping spree

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I finally got out to do some much needed shopping. I went out to the mall yesterday. Only for a little while, but it was a good trip. You know, sometimes you go shopping and you can’t find a thing you like and other times everything you look at is perfect? Well yesterday was one of those rare “everything is perfect” days.

I bought a new purse. I really needed a new purse! Then I visited several of my favorite clothing stores and managed to pick up a few new tops, blouses, pants and one skirt. Yeah! The only thing that I really need that I didn’t get was a new pair of shoes. I guess that means another shopping trip … next weekend?

During my shopping spree I took a little break near the malls big fountain. There were two musicians there, playing music for the passersby. One was playing an acoustic guitar and the other was playing what I think was a Luna Guitars Bass. Together they sounded pretty good. It certainly made my little break all the nicer.

I needed the shopping trip. I’ve lost some weight in the last few months and I definitely needed new clothes. In fact I could probably use a lot of new clothes!

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