Bite Size Blog 7 : My 30 Greatest Singer/Songwriters

 30th May 2026

Bite Size Blog 7 : My 30 Greatest Singer/Songwriters

This one is just for fun. 

I thought it would be interesting to put together a list of the 30 greatest singer/songwriters.  

Ok, to be more accurate, a list of MY choice for the 30 greatest singer/songwriters. 

So, how did I choose who to include.

There are many reasons for my selection.

Great voice(s), great songs, sales, career longevity, impact on music culture, impact on general culture & society. 

These are my choices. 

A personal selection. 

YOUR choices and your list may be different, very different. 

And that’s ok. 

Please feel free to add comments to this post with your choices. 

30	Tim Rice / Andrew Lloyd Webber
29	Burt Bacharach / Hal David
28	Neil Young
27	Dolly Parton
26	Eva Cassidy
25	Marvin Gaye
24	Chuck Berry
23	Noel Gallagher
22	Nick Drake
21	Buddy Holly
20	Billy Joel
19	Michael Jackson
18	Elton John / Bernie Taupin
16	Benny Andersson /  Björn Ulvaeus
16	Mick Jagger / Keith Richards
15	Carole King / Gerry Goffin
14	Pete Townsend
13	George Harrison
12	BruceSpringsteen
11	Elvis Presley
10	Mark Knopfler
9	Michael Jackson
8	Prince
7	Brian Wilson / Beach Boys
6	David Bowie
5	Jim Morrison / The Doors
4	Bob Dylan
3	Barry Gibb / Bee Gees
2	Paul Simon
1	John Lennon / Paul McCartney

Thanks for reading.

Graham

Twitter : @apple_shwn

Please add any comments to my Twitter post at @apple_shwn

My 12 Favourite Christmas Films

 13th December 2024

We ALL love Christmas films, don’t we ?

Watching them is part of our preparation for the festive season.

Watching them is part of our tradition.

Watching them is part of our culture.

I love them. Very much.

So, today is the 13th of December, just 12 days from Christmas Day,

In celebration of this, here is a list of MY favourite 12 Christmas films.

I watch these in the lead up to Christmas EVERY YEAR.

That’s MY tradition.

Maybe some of these are among your favourites ?

Anyway, happy viewing and let the films begin.

12. The Snowman

11. Die Hard

10. Elf

9. Love Actually

8. The Santa Clause

7. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

6. A Christmas Carol (1951)

5. White Christmas

4. Jingle All The Way

3. Santa Claus : The Movie

2. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

1. It’s A Wonderful Life

And, as a bonus, here is a top tip for an interesting and lovely British Christmas film that I think will be a future classic.

This is Christmas (2022) also known as This Christmas.

As always, thanks for reading. 

Let me know what you think of my list, and any of your favourites.

Graham

Twitter : @apple_shwn

Please add any comments to my Twitter post at @apple_shwn

Clarkson

23rd January 2023

Never one to be too far from the headlines, journalist, TV presenter and former TOP GEAR co-host Jeremy Clarkson has again recently caused controversy with his recent column in The Sun regarding Meghan Markle. 

Personally, I believe Clarkson to be a marmite person, some people absolutely LOVE the man, and some people absolutely HATE the man. 

I also believe that there are many that love SOME of his work, and hate SOME of his work at the same time. 

I FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY !

I suspect Clarkson is happy to generate that range of passion. 

There are some that will be indifferent to the man also, and have no opinion of him.

Call Jeremy Clarkson whatever you want, but he is essentially an entertainer, and self publicist, I don’t say this as a bad thing, he wants people to watch is programmes, read his columns and talk about him. So do the people that employ him. He has to generate a certain amount of interest and publicity.

Specifically on what was said about Meghan Markle.

I will not repeat here was Jeremy Clarkson said in his article. That can be found online.

Personally, I found the article, distasteful, ill judged, in bad taste and a huge mistake.

I did get the ‘Game of Thrones’ reference, even though I have never seen an episode of this TV Show. The scene referenced is very famous and I imagine most people (adults?) will have seen it.

Was it mysogyny ? Like any judgement call, people will have to make their own decision on it.

I didn’t like the reference he made, I didn’t like the wording he used. I didn’t like the article.

You may have stronger views on it, or not.

Clarkson realised his poor judgement, issued an apology on Twitter, has apologised a number of times, and has also stated he emailed the people concerned with an apology. 

Hopefully he will learn something from this.

I do not believe, however, that Jeremy Clarkson should be, using popular terminology,  cancelled.

I do not believe, however, that Jeremy Clarkson’s TV shows and Newspaper Columns should be, using popular terminology,  cancelled.

There are lots of TV entertainment & news shows that I dislike. Even hate.

I exercise my own judgement and switch over or switch off.

There are journalists and websites that I dislike. Even hate.

I exercise my own judgement and don’t read them.

I suggest that people take the same approach, and watch Jeremy Clarkson’s shows and read his articles if you like him and want to, and don’ if you don’t.

Everyone knows what they are going to get with Jeremy Clarkson !

Thanks for reading.

Graham

Twitter : @apple_shwn

Please add any comments to my Twitter post at @apple_shwn