Links for January 28th 2010

 

Perhaps only for song writing geeks, there is something amazing about listening to Alan Menken writing Beauty and The Beast on this work tape (Spotify Link here and YouTube link here).  He was recording the actual session during which he wrote the famous tune.  How great is that? You can hear him ‘finding’ the melody and you are willing him on – I love it!

Thanks to a tip off from the brilliant Jon Yates at The Challenge, I’m reading The Politics of Hope by Jonathan Sacks.  Ten years after he wrote it, and better late than never.  I  highly recommend it.

Lloyd Davis is fast becoming a regional, if not a national treasure.  He’s brilliant.  And he’s looking for an Apprentice Social Artist.   Have a read and see if you know anyone who might fit the bill.

Shadow Minister David Willetts is so clever that his nickname is Two Brains.  He has written a book called The Pinch.  One of my favourite columnists, Danny Finkelstein, has written an interesting piece about it in The Times here.

I enjoyed compering the annual awards for charity Vital Regeneration at the Cockpit Theatre in London last night.  They have a terrific range of projects which enable young people to express themselved using film, music and the latest digital technology.  I’m pretty sure I got away with closing by sharing one of my favourite quotations, which happens to be by the late rapper Tupac Shakur.  I like it because it reminds me of the work that Vital Regeneration are doing;

“I’m not saying I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.”

Talk to me about one of today’s links here!