As the festive season is upon us, I have put together a YouTube eclectic song list which reflect my travels.

I Look To You (Whitney Houston)

With this first song I wanted to pay tribute & dedicate it to a couple of special ladies. Dianne, a former work colleague was the one that inspired me to travel. Sam, whom I saw in Whitney, was a lady with a huge golden heart. Sadly, both left this planet too soon.

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Fairytale of New York (The Pogues)

As it's Christmas, let's begin with arguably one of its most iconic Christmas songs. A time when family & friends come together which is all the more important to me having been away for 14 months. The somewhat optimistic nature of this song, together with the hope of discovering new things, sums up why I am travelling.

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Off The Wall (Michael Jackson)

As the lyrics say, "you have to leave the nine-to-five upon the shelf"....this I embraced a long time ago, continue to this day and beyond. The breaking away from many of life's norms only requires you to change your thinking and your reality will change. This song, as well as other tracks are from my favourite of Micheal's albums.

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Club Tropicana (Wham)

This was a huge hit during my time at college and also has the theme of being a flight attendant, just as I was during my 20s.....George is certainly making a good case for wearing white speedos again and it's such a fun song that symbolizes to some extent my current experiences.

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Come Fly With Me (Frank Sinatra)

Another track that connects to my flying days. I just love the way this track is so playful and fun with all the destinations reflecting my current journey, jumping from place to place.

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What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)

I grew up with my father buying vinyl records all the time. Every Friday like clockwork, he would arrive home with a large square plastic carrier bag either from Tower Records or Our Price Records from Piccadilly Circus in London. As he used to be in an orchestra in his younger days, my father liked the classics which included Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra among others. I'm also connected to this song because my old boss created a presentation around it, which was extremely complicated and time-consuming, but I got to understand the nuances of every single word sung. The constant smile on his face while singing is mirrored on my face, as I continue my journey. This song also highights it really is a wonderful world as I am getting to experience.

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Sailing (Christopher Cross)

This song takes me back to when I was 17 on a college trip to Strasbourg visiting The European Commission and was having a slow dance with a girl in a club. This song feels relevant again, with a few words that I totally subscribe to...."the canvas can do miracles". The sense of freedom I now have is like nothing I have ever experienced in the past...apart from when I was a child.

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High Hopes (Frank Sinatra)

This song epitomises that whatever we do in life is hard, but we should keep going when we truly believe in something.

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Nessun Dorma (Paul Potts)

This masterpiece by Paul who was undiscovered prior to being a contestant on Britain's Got Talent gave rise to his future worldwide success. A lesson in going for your dreams.

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Wild Horses (Susan Boyle)

This equally tremendous performance by Susan as a contestant on America's Got Talent, gave rise to her own journey of worldwide success. She clearly overcomes many personal hurdles on her journey to wow audiences around the world.

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The Climb (Miley Cyrus)

It may surprise many, but I like pop music too. This song encompasses my philosophy in that it's not about the destination or speed, which many travellers focus on, but the journey. Every bus and train journey is an opportunity to take in, the in-between places and surmounting any obstacles along the way.

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My Way (Frank Sinatra)

Another classic from Frank, which emphasizes that we have the power to control our lives and live the way we want to and not let other people, governments or systems control us. Highlighting some of the lyrics:

“I've lived a life that's full”

“When I bit off more than I could chew, but through it all, when there was doubt I ate it up and spit it out”

“I faced it all and I stood tall”

“The record shows I took the blows and did it my way”

With my favourite..... “To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels”

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Another Brick In The Wall (Pink Floyd)

A barber I went to in Thailand for a haircut, was playing Pink Floyd in the background. When I told him that the children singing in this song, were from the school that I attended in London, he freaked out. Firstly he asked for a selfie, then immediately stopped cutting my hair, plugged in his electric guitar into his amp and started playing the song.....he was really good too. The lyrics “We don't need no thought control” resonate with me on many levels as we slowly and blindly enter the world of George Orwell’s, 1984.

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Bring Me Back To Life (Evanescence)

The purity of Amy Lee's voice as the lead vocalist is outstanding. The stand out lyric for me being “Wake me up inside”. I, like most, had been asleep, I am now very much awake and see the real world we live in.

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Wonderwall (Oasis)

This song still manages to bring down the house wherever it is played, it's quite obvious why. Apart from being a great song, it has lots of words, which means everyone joins in. It didn't matter where it was played, a pub or club - everyone begins singing....cheers to celebrating songs with words.

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Twist and Shout (The Beatles)

This is an interesting song because my first exposure to it was in the film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, I'm not proud of that, it just is. The film was about a teenager bucking the school system with his cunning ability and was the main song from the movie. He realizes that the schooling system had failed him and he could flourish without it. I have come to understand this too, in that the education system is designed to create employees not entrepreneurs.

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Mercy Mercy Me (Robert Palmer)

This song has meaning to me on multiple levels. My mother was beginning her final years on planet earth, and she had an angel take care of her. A lady from Africa called Mercy, she hadn’t seen her children for two years in order to earn money to send home. She had a heart of gold and a beautiful personality. The song also references how we are destroying the planet on multiple levels, but not by the fake CO2 human made narrative that is promoted in order to tax us......wake up everyone, you are being conned.

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You Raise Me Up (Celtic Woman)

What is there to say about this beautiful uplifting song performed live at the stunning Slane Castle.

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In this last section, I am featuring music from my formative college years. It was all about listening to illegal pirate offshore radio on a Friday night, then going to purchase a 12 inch vinyl record white label version, from Bluebird Records on the Marylebone Road in London the next Saturday morning. These tunes are from the Jazz Funk & Soul era.....best to stop reading now if not your style of music, although the last song carries a powerful message.

Smile (Sister Sledge)

I have been reading about spirituality for about 2 years now. Giving out positivity as best I can, often receiving back more in return. This song is about smiling, I try to do this as much as possible, wherever I am, guess what, when you smile, the world smiles back. A few lyrics from the song:

Smile....When you're feeling under the weather

Smile....It will make you feel better

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Rock Me Down To Rio (The Rah Band)

As I am now in London for Christmas 2019 and have finished the South East Asia side of my trip. I will soon be embarking on the South and Central America part of my journey and will be in Brazil for the Rio Carnival in February. This song has the carnival theme and so seemed appropriate to include.

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Act Like You (Fat Larry's Band)

This song as I see it, is about being genuine, authentic and true to yourself which ultimately will lead to inner peace and happiness.

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Ai No Corrida (Quincy Jones)

This song just makes me happy.

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Good Times (Chic)

As well as just being a happy song it has a few pertinent lyrics:

"The time is right for making friends"

"Our new state of mind"

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Stomp (The Brothers Johnson)

As well as just being a great song, the lyric "grab the world with a smile on your face"....is another reference to how I see things.

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If you have got this far, this may be the most important song of all. Forget the style and listen to what I believe to be powerful lyrics.

I Am Somebody (Glenn Jones)

This song has a deep understanding of the reality of what we are truly capable of as humans. You first, have to truly believe in yourself, once you do, you will realize that the universe is yours and lives inside of you and you have no limits.

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HOMEPAGE