Comments

1. Gaynor - March 13, 2015 @ 12:50 pm

   Have you seen my keys ?

2. alunparry - March 13, 2015 @ 1:28 pm

   Thanks for your question Gaynor.

   My answer is here: https://youtu.be/vhSf_t9OJL4

   Al 8-)

3. Dave - March 13, 2015 @ 1:42 pm

   I have two questions.

   1) Who did what, to whom, and in what year?

   2) With only a piece of cheese, an old tape cassette and a small square of tin foil in my possession, what can I do to make my life more meaningful?

   Many thanks in advance.

4. alunparry - March 13, 2015 @ 2:03 pm

   Hi Dave

   Thank you for your questions. Both very interesting and the first very controversial in some quarters. I am currently wrestling with a character named Henry the Hoover but will have a video reply to each question very soon.

   Al 8-)

5. phil - March 13, 2015 @ 2:07 pm

   Hi Alun,
   How about having a Laurel and Hardy night, maybe you could write a few songs for the occasion.
   Or maybe just have a festival of protest and union songs, the festival could be an annual event.
   Or, a new song about the chain gangs that built our raillways……leave it with you…
   Phil

6. alunparry - March 13, 2015 @ 2:55 pm

   Dave

   I have answered your first question

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcFgjbcVOaU

   Hmmm

   Al 8-)

7. alunparry - March 13, 2015 @ 3:12 pm

   Hi Phil

   Great to hear from you.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3tDONtMgcU

   Al 8-)

8. alunparry - March 13, 2015 @ 3:29 pm

   Hi again Dave

   I missed your second question.

   So here you are

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KdTEaACuIU

   Al 8-)

9. alunparry - March 13, 2015 @ 3:40 pm

   Feel free to pick my brains too everyone!

   Al 8-)

10. Steve Cox - March 13, 2015 @ 5:39 pm

    Hi Alun

    You used to make me cheese and bean toasties with cold beans from the fridge and scolding hot cheese, is this diet the reason for your success ?

11. David M - March 13, 2015 @ 6:57 pm

    You are carrying the spirit of Woody Guthrie into the 21st century, did someone else appropriate Ewan MacColl’s spirit, before you could get to it?

12. soundcloud.com/crispinsongs">Crispin - March 13, 2015 @ 8:36 pm

    Alun- How would you suggest a writer gets material noticed? I write and record songs but am just not good enough to to gig. I still want people to hear my songs though, so would love to have other performers sing my song. My question for you is how would you su sugI do this? Thanks – Crispin

13. alunparry - March 13, 2015 @ 11:09 pm

    Steve, David and Crispin

    I’m just back home from seeing the very funny Count Arthur Strong so I’ll reply properly to these tomorrow.

    Thanks for asking! :-)

    Al 8-)

14. alunparry - March 14, 2015 @ 10:21 am

    Hi Steve

    Back to the written word today! :-)

    Your post made me laugh my head off. I remember making you toasties. I had a toasted sandwich maker at the time. I don’t think it was an actual Breville. I think it was a generic model. And I used to enjoy beans toasties. In fact, that was my sole use for it.

    And yes I used to keep leftover beans in the fridge. So if I’d have had half a tin of beans, the other half would be in the fridge.

    The cheese was yours though. I never touched that stuff.

    I’m assuming the beans were piping hot by the time the faux Breville had been at them?

    As to your question whether a diet of cheese and beans toasties are the reason for my success, the answer has to be no.

    Firstly, you have a limited view of success if you see me as an example of it. Secondly, I don’t eat cheese. And third I sadly no longer have a toastie maker.

    Al 8-)

15. alunparry - March 14, 2015 @ 10:28 am

    Hi David

    That’s a good question. Of course the Carrying the spirit stuff is marketing guff because people need very quick shortcuts to understand what I do nice and fast. When people read that I stand in Woody’s footsteps, they get what kind of act I am straight away.

    This kind of marketing guff always makes me feel a little uncomfortable. It seems a bit presumptuous to say that I’m carrying the mantle of the great Woody Guthrie. Likewise, my previous marketing guff was given to me by supporters which said: If John Lennon was a folk singer and Tony Benn wrote his lyrics.

    Again, this was both helpful in describing what I do, while also being somewhat blush inducing for placing myself amongst two genuine greats. But alas, it does its job.

    It’s a good question though regarding Ewan Mc. I’m a huge fan of his. I was introduced to both Ewan and Woody by Billy Bragg who referenced them many years ago in an interview. I love Ewan’s writing. Some of his lyrics are unbeatable.

    I always say that when it comes to musical heroes then it’s Woody over there and Ewan over here.

    So why isn’t my marketing guff claiming to carry the spirit of Ewan rather than Woody? Well, it comes down to this really – musically I’m far closer to Woody. My style isn’t quite so Ewan like. I think if I used Ewan’s name then people would come with different expectations of how the music would sound. I don’t think I fit the musical style as closely as I do with Woody.

    For those who don’t know Ewan’s work, I’d particularly recommend The Ballad of Accounting, a song I’ve performed live on a few occasions.

    Al 8-)

16. alunparry - March 14, 2015 @ 10:29 am

    Crispin,

    I’m going to write you a full blog post. It’s a great question, bear with me.

    Al 8-)

17. alunparry - March 14, 2015 @ 11:33 am

    Crispin and other songwriters

    https://parrysongs.co.uk/go/2015/03/songwriters-how-to-get-your-music-performed/

    There’s your answer. Hope it helps.

    Al 8-)

18. Pablo - March 17, 2015 @ 1:06 pm

    Hi Alun,
    I have a question for you regarding Liverpool FC. To what extent do you see the current 3-4-3 formation as a long term playing scheme for LFC?
    It has obviously worked very well as a waking up call this season. My question is if you can see LFC performing 3-4-3 for seasons to come, or if you see it just as a good short-term solution, and foresee the team needing to go more conventional after these period.
    Thanks, Alun.

19. Dave - March 17, 2015 @ 2:37 pm

    Your answers to me were quite brilliant and illuminating, by the way. I responded directly in the videos on YouTube. Do you tell fortunes, too? I envisage you coming in very handy.

20. Not Sue Parry - March 23, 2015 @ 6:51 pm

    Why do you tell everyone you don’t have a daughter? Are you ashamed? When will you it her the that bike you promised her?

21. alunparry - April 12, 2015 @ 2:44 pm

    Oo late questions I’d missed.

    Pablo, was going to say I expect he will change it, but he now already has so that’s cheating on my part. I don’t think the back 3 thing can be a long term fix. Having two in centre midfield will ultimately get worked out. Also we have conceded 7 times in our last 2 league games.

    Dave, thanks for the comments. I can’t tell fortunes, although I do like that quote that says: “the best way to predict the future is to create it.”

    “Not Sue” who obviously *is* Sue, You are not my daughter. You are 6 years older than me so this is not biologically possible. And you’re not getting a bike off me! But if you’re very very good, I might get you a pony.