When I bought my first HI FI in the mid 90’s I had to think long and hard about what would be the ‘launch’ tune.  It was of course Stevie.  I love him so much.  I have so many great memories of his songs.  Isn’t She Lovely probably goes back to when I was at school and used to stay with my best friend in the wilds of western Ireland.  We would listen to Stevie, Leonard Cohen and James Taylor – all on cassette but on the most amazing sound system ever.  

At university ‘I Wish’ stands out as a quintessential party tune.  Still reminds me of funky discos under the vaults with my old chum O manning the decks. 

So today, as I passed the luggage shop that I pass every day, I couldn’t resist walking in as I heard the lyric ‘Lord I’m so happy, we have been heaven blessed’. They play fantastic music every day actually, and in my exuberant Friday mood this was just the icing on the cake.  ‘You play such great music in here’ I said, ‘Yeah, everyone says that’ he replied, ‘I never want anything in here but I have to come in because of the music, and if you did sell the Longchamp rucksack, I’d have one in a flash’, ‘Yeah but, it only sells if it’s cheap – well most things do, but we don’t get them anymore’.  

Music certainly influences and people use it in all kinds of crafty ways to encourage you to do things you wouldn’t normally do, but if you don’t succumb, and let it stand alone – it reminds you of moments that money can never buy.

Roll on 26 June when I hope to see the main man in the flesh.  Until then my music menu will consist of everything from Eurovision to The Cuban Brothers.