Mark Pentleton

This song was released in early September 2001, just before the attacks on the World Trade Center. Soon after it became one of the songs which radio DJs in the US played, remixed with audio recorded from police and fire department broadcasts, and interviews with survivors. My own story with this song is a bit [...]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Today’s song has to be something Canadian and I didn’t think O Canada (or indeed Dans mon pays il y a beaucoup de gens – a wee historical reference for Frank and Johanna there!) quite fits the bill, so I went for a Michael Bublé song for Canada Day. The last time I played this [...]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Last week I attended the end-of-term production of Hairspray at St Matthew’s Academy in Saltcoats. It was a brilliant performance and the entire cast and backstage crew did a fantastic job. A special mention goes to my nephew Ciaran and his cousins Amy and James who were all great on stage! I decided that the [...]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I didn’t quite expect to be playing a Miley Cyrus song on here, but yesterday I was invited to the Valedictory Service at my sons’ primary school. This was an end-of-term celebration of achievement, and an opportunity to say goodbye to the primary sevens who will be leaving in a few days’ time to move [...]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Today’s song is the Michael Bublé hit Everything from the 2007 album Call me irresponsible. Apparently written for his now ex-girlfriend Emily Blunt, this song was nominated for a Grammy. It also topped the charts in the US (adult contemporary), Poland, and twice in Italy, with more than a year in between each time!
Podcast: Download (Duration: [...]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This song is dedicated to my former pupil Katie who marries Callum this weekend. I was speaking to Katie’s friend Esther recently – both Katie and Esther sang in the choir I ran at Mearns Castle – and Esther is going to be singing this Leona Lewis song at Katie and Callum’s wedding, so I [...]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Sticking with the Norwegian theme following yesterday’s National Day celebrations, I wanted to add in one other Norwegian song. This is one of my all-time favourite songs sung by Norwegian singer Sigvart Dagsland. The song is called Den Ensomme Veien, which translates roughly as “the lonely road”. I’ve done a rough translation of the lyrics [...]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This song was written by Rolf Løvland and Brendan Graham and was originally included on the 2002 Secret Garden album Once in a Red Moon. Since then it has been covered by many famous artists including Josh Groban and Westlife who recently sang it at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize concert celebrating Barack Obama’s win. [...]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.