Christmas Throwback the Music for Throwback Thursday and Flashback Friday

Nostalgia with Athena and Marie 

First, here is a photo throwback to July 2013

My, what a big paw I have 😸

And now for a special Throwback the Music post. We haven't done one of these for quite a while!

Now, many of you who have been reading our blog for a long time know that Mum struggles with depression and anxiety. She is also an introvert. But burning deep within her is a creative spirit who won't settle which makes her even more depressed. She worries about getting on as she is in her early 50s now and is crazily worried that none of her dreams have come true. Her anxiety has restricted her for so many years.

Being a cat mum is her proudest achievement and she would love to do that forever. But she tells me that to live in the human materialistic world she has to do things other humans find so easy to do.

Talking is not her thing. Especially participating in small talk. That's why she became a writer. It's so much easier for her to communicate her thoughts that way. She does find it hard to talk to people and has gotten worse over the last few years. She is like a cat really as it takes her a while to trust people. 

What I'm leading up to is this:

I believe inside my mother is an extrovert trying to get out. There is nothing wrong with her being an introvert. In fact, it's a gift because it's what makes her HER.

So, to CHALLENGE herself she has made the choice to take the next step up from blogging to become a VLOGGER.

Don't worry. She is not giving up blogging, but she wants to try to build up her YouTube Channel (which she has had for years).

She will also try to build mine up too, but for now, she is concentrating on my Instagram, which is where I seem to be the most popular. I'm popular here in the blogoshere too, which is all thanks to you great guys 💚 We both love Instagram and I have so many more followers than Mum, which she is cool with and says she wouldn't have it any other way. We've started TikTok too, but she's a little confused with that one. It seems to be more for the younger generation.

Have you guys heard of REACTION videos? They are so popular on YouTube it seems.

Mum has become addicted to watching them (mainly reactions to music videos). The vocal coach ones are the best as you gain super tips if you are interested in singing.

Anyway, Mum sings (she says she will record more singing videos) though for the moment she has decided to react to music and we might do reaction to some cats too. You must watch because I'm in some of her reaction videos.

Here I am in two CHRISTMAS ones.

We are reacting to two Christmas songs from 1984. A year that was truly one of Mum's favourites from her teens. She says she went to a lot of concerts that year and most of her favourite musicians from that weird hairstyle decade are in the Band Aid video.

WHAM! LAST CHRISTMAS REACTION 

Click to view on YouTube

MY CAT AND I REACT TO BAND AID'S "DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS" 1984

Click here to view on YouTube

🎄🎅🤶

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 We are also participating in tomorrow's Feline Friday, hosted by Comedy Plus

Sunday Selfie: Last Christmas

Wow, it's almost Christmas and even Mum is starting to get into the festive spirit by playing some of her fave Christmas music. She thinks most Christmas songs are cheesy but she does like a few to get her in the festive mood. One of her all-time faves is Wham's "Last Christmas" and guess what, it's mine too now!

Ever since George Michael's passing last year on Christmas Day, Mum has been listening to all her old Wham and George Michael CDs as she was a big fan back in the day. I've said before that Mum loves most types of music and has eclectic taste, but I have to say I've never been that keen on the heavy metal and rock she tends to love. However, I have definitely fallen in love with George Michael's soothing velvety voice and I love listening to him while I nap. I love most of his songs! He was a good soul too, very kind and helped a lot of people and animals. He donated to charities anonymously (unlike most celebs who like to make a big song and dance about it).

So guess what I'm dreaming of in this frosty Christmassy selfie today (well, not quite a selfie I know because Mum took it). I am dreaming that in honour of George Michael I want this lovely song to be No.1 in the UK charts this Christmas. It would be great!

Athena is hoping her favourite Christmas song "Last Christmas" finally makes it to No.1

Mum tells me that "Last Christmas" was originally released in 1984 and never actually made it to No, 1 in the UK because Band Aid’s "Do They Know It’s Christmas" (another fav of Mum's) was released and took the top spot (all for a good cause). However, Wham's classic Christmas offering did make No.2.

There is now a campaign run by fans of George Michael to make Last Christmas the Christmas No 1 oF 2017. 

To download the track and help get it to No.1 in memory of George please see below.

Here we go then! The chart is open NOW! Buying a download counts 150 x more than streaming it #LastXmas2017

🎄 AMAZON MP3https://t.co/9EvtTjnuRc
🎄 7DIGITAL (HMV)https://t.co/K913sOvXp3
🎄 GOOGLE PLAY (Android)https://t.co/wwaiaCOr8E
🎄 iTUNEShttps://t.co/ek6wXBvTWd pic.twitter.com/8KayKQUShG

— WHAM! Last Christmas for Xmas No.1 (@LastXmas2017) December 15, 2017

More  Sunday Selfies at The Cat on my Head

Sunday Selfie: A Ray of Sunshine

HAPPY SUNDAY!

Here I am on Mum's bed the other day enjoying some early evening sun puddles...

Mum didn't know what to title this blog post. She wanted it to sound catchy. Then this song from her teenage years popped into her head: Wham! "Ray of Sunshine" (Rest in Peace, George Michael 💚😿)


Enjoy your Sunday, everyone!😺

Sponsored by The Cat on My Head

Throwback the Music: George Michael #tbt

I had an idea for a new regular feature on this blog.

Music always evokes memories for you humans (and for us kitties too). It becomes the soundtrack of our lives.

So seeing as it's Throwback Thursday, why not do a post about a favourite song of yours that conjures up memories from your past? Or it can be a favourite album that takes you right back.

Then you answer a few questions to make it easier to write up your post.

And if you wish, how about linking to us when you post? (Actually, it would be greatly appreciated if you would!)

Copy this badge and link-up

I've asked Mum to tell us about a special album that she's been playing a lot lately.

She's chosen the George Michael album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1*

Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1*

Mum says: "This has to be my all time fave George Michael album. In the 80s, I really loved Wham. I went to their gigs and was sad when they broke up in 1986. I was at the Final gig. It was amazing. Even though it was a really hot day, I enjoyed myself immensely. Unfortunately, on the way home, I twisted my ankle."
After Wham called it a day, Mum went on to follow George Michael's solo career and she loved the more mature sound of his second solo album Listen Without Prejudice and has been playing it a lot after George Michael tragically passed away on Christmas Day last year.

How old were you when this album was released, Mum? It was in 1990 and was 24. 

What were you doing? Working as a quality controller at a dress manufacturer and singing in a pop duo with another girl, hoping we'd be the next Pepsi and Shirlie.

Did you have a loving pet at this time? My beautiful black and white cat Suzy. She was my first soulmate cat. I loved her so much.

What was your greatest wish at this time? I dreamed of being a successful singer and escaping my dreary job. I loved singing and it always made me feel good. It was an escape from the problems at home. I really longed to be on stage singing and I needed to be famous. Looking back, it seems so egotistical now, but I wanted it so bad. Maybe it was due to the fact that I was really bullied at school. Maybe it's because I craved attention. I always felt my parents didn't love me enough. Fame isn't important to me now, of course. But I wouldn't mind a bit of success for once and not have to resign to the fact that I'll be the struggling artist forever 😞

After George Michael passed away, I began listening once again to his beautiful music. I will always love his earlier music. It's true that I wasn't much of a fan later (I was more into rock and metal during the 90s). 

Listen Without Prejudice floods my mind with so many memories. I become that young woman again - bursting with hope and dreaming of better future. But always prone to depression. That's something that doesn't seem to change.

This is one of my favourite tracks. Hearing it now, two decades later, it makes me feel so good. 


FREEDOM 90 from Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1

💜💚💖

Thanks for telling me about your younger days, Mum. Apparently, today is also National Cat Lady Day (or was it yesterday?) Anyway, here is a photo of my cat lady Mum and me...

And how about a photo of Mum back in the day with her beloved Suzy. Look at Mum's 80s hairdo!!! 😻