What? Yes, I’ll admit it. Whilst being forced to listen to Radio 1 at work a song called ‘Baby’ was played. I was only half listening to it and the small section of my brain concentrating on it was thinking: “Oh. What’s her name singing this song..?” “Justin Bieber” said the DJ afterwards. I’m just glad I didn’t try to demonstrate my musical expertise to my colleagues.

That’s modern day music to me. Machines and synthesisers. Can anyone actually sing a good two minute easy listening song anymore? You know, the sort that would have been up there at the top of the charts forty years ago. Ones where the song was slow enough for you to understand the words but not so slow as to make you feel sleepy- like quite a few of today’s “operatic pop”.

At work again, there’s a CD player. One of my workmates sometimes brings CDs in- once it was one of those compilation albums geared towards a certain market or goal. This one was apparently supposed to make you feel happy or uplifted. If only! To me it was a collection of ballads so slow and boring I wished the CD player would break. Songs where the performer just breathes slowly and boringly for five minutes with a piano behind her. The only song I enjoyed out of that forty track album was ‘What a Wonderful World’- and yeah, I don’t think many would say that Louis Armstrong’s voice was the greatest in the world but it is a fantastic song. This time I was thinking, “CD player- put yourself on repeat mode!”

I feel alienated by today’s music. As a teenager the demographics say I should be enjoying everything Radio 1 has to offer and I’m not saying I don’t like some of it. I don’t mind Michael Bublé. But the rest of it I’ll pass. Hip/hop and rap are two of my worst enemies. Men talking to a bass beat- that’s a classy tune! Not.

Take me back to the 60s, and I’m not just going on about the Beatles. They were great yes, but not the only band to exist in that decade. I love most of it- listening to a compilation album of the decade uncovers new classics I knew nothing of and they get stuck in my head. Artists such as Helen Shapiro, Billy Fury, The Hollies, Elvis (of course), The Seekers, even Rolf Harris- nice or dare I say brilliant voices against great music. And you can hear what they’re saying; lively or laid back ballads or rock songs with a story. Not like Lady Gaga’s efforts.

I listened to Radio 2’s programme with Tony Blackburn the other day, listing the top sixty best selling singles of the 1960s. It was fantastic- a whole four hours of musical paradise. I was particularly pleased to see The Seeker’s up there at number six with ‘The Carnival is Over’; ever since my mum introduced me to them I have loved their music.

So what is the point of this blog? I don’t know- I’ll be honest. I just felt like sharing my opinions on the music scene. We all have different tastes in music- unfortunately mine do not match the compilers of the ’40 songs to make you smile’ album I mentioned. But I don’t care. Because I know which songs will make me smile- they have personal history which is different for all of us: it could be the record your parents first bought you or the first song you danced to with your future spouse... anything.

If you have a list of songs personal to you which make you smile and you’d like to share it with us, please do.