Just Have Fun. Smile. And Keep Putting On Lipstick.

Celebrating Diane Keaton (née Hall), 5th January 1946 to 11th October 2025.

I adored Diane Keaton in spite of, not because of, her association with Woody Allen and was a huge fan of her films throughout the 1970s and 1980s. I started losing track of her appearances in the latter part of the 1990s and into the 21st century, and in some cases Diane was the sole saving grace of some otherwise bland movies. 

I knew that Diane had also stepped behind the camera to direct, but not that this included a season 2 episode of Twin Peaks and several videos for Belinda Carlisle, including arguably her best known song, Heaven Is A Place On Earth.

Throughout her life, Diane always carried a deceptively simple yet striking image, be it a penchant for pants (trousers), wide brimmed hats or gloves. And always that incredible smile.

Diane has occasionally committed her voice to vinyl: I Don't Want To Play In Your Yard featured in the 1981 film Reds, and was released as a single in the USA.

However, for today's selection, I've fallen back on the tried and tested approach of a 12-song, 45-minute compilation of songs that (more or less) match the titles of films from Diane's extensive CV.

There were a few also-rans: if Lloyd Cole had only moved upstairs, he could have been a shoo-in for 5 Flights Up. Similarly, Anne Clark is kicking herself that Woody Allen never got around to making a sequel to his 1973 hit, and calling it Sleeper In Metropolis.

I've also taken a few liberties: Something's Gotta Give is replaced with a more grammatically satisfying B-side by The Comsat Angels. And Akron/Family drop the 'And' for So It Goes, but it's close enough for me.

Kicking off the second half of this mixtape, it was too good an opportunity to pass up a reference to Because I Said So, not least 'cause it's sonic equivalent was recorded by The Godfathers, a wonderfully unsubtle reference to the fact that Diane played Kay Adams in all of Francis Ford Coppola's legendary trilogy.

Aside from all that, I think it's an eclectic but entertaining selection, which is a (very) simple way of summing up Diane's film career. If you're in the mood for a Diane Keaton marathan, then click on any of the titles for more info (courtesy of IMDb) and fill your boots.

I'm going to end with a quote from Diane, which inspired today's title and is something we could all do more of.

Don't give up on yourself. 

So you make a mistake here and there; 

you do too much or you do too little. 

Just have fun. 

Smile. 

And keep putting on lipstick.

Thanks, Diane, you were - and will always be - wonderful.

1) Morning Glory (Edit): Chairmen Of The Board (1974)

2) Northern Lights (The Freelance Hellraiser Mix): Ian Brown (2002)

3) Something's Got To Give: The Comsat Angels (1986)

4) Sleeper: Espiritu (1997)

5) Manhattan: Cinerama (2000)

6) So It Goes: Akron/Family (2011)

7) 'Cause I Said So: The Godfathers (1988)

8) Mama's Boy (Album Version): Ramones (1984)

9) Hampstead (Demo): Adam & The Ants (1977)

10) Interiors (Song For Willem De Kooning) (Album Version): Manic Street Preachers (1996)

11) Love And Death (Re-Recorded Version): Ebo Taylor (2009)

12) Plan B (Single Version): Dexy's Midnight Runners (1981)

1974: Skin I'm In: 1

1981: Plan B EP: 12

1984: Too Tough To Die: 8

1986: The Cutting Edge EP: 3

1988: Birth, School, Work, Death: 7

1996: Everything Must Go: 10

1997: Another Life: 4

2000: Antbox: 9

2000: Manhattan EP: 5

2002: Remixes Of The Spheres: 2

2010: Love And Death: 11

2011: S/T II: The Cosmic Birth And Journey Of Shinju TNT: 6

Just Have Fun. Smile. And Keep Putting On Lipstick. (44:42) (GD) (M)

Fingers & Thumbs

One of those posts where the title pretty much says it all. Today's Dubhed Dozen features songs (and one artist) with either 'finger' or 'thumb' in the title. Sometimes, that's the extent of my thought process...!

I wasn't short on choices though and I like some of the unusual bedfellows that spring from these 'themed' selections. I mean, I don't think you're going to find another mix today that has an opening salvo of His Bobness, electronic duo Spooky, rap rascals Beastie Boys and Neil Young and Crazy Horse. I think it works, but you'll be the judge of that.

I detoured from the theme to include Stiff Little Fingers because, I mean, why not? Apologies to Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers though, who just missed out in the final shortlist. Another time, Larry, another time.

 

Julian Cope of course has a song for every occasion and theme and today is no exception. Dubhed stalwart Andrew Weatherall could also have made the cut with a remix of a song by Jonny Halifax, in his day job as Honkeyfinger. Sadly, another one that didn't make the final 12 although it did pop up in one of my Weatherall mixes back in May 2021.

After a (mostly) guitar-driven run, Jenny Hval brings some calm and class and one might think a fitting close to proceedings. But no, I have to go and take the piss by bolting on a mash-up of The Beach Boys and a 1980s TV ad theme. Thanks (or insults) to Mark Vidler aka Go Home Productions, this may have been the song's sole opportunity to make an appearance on this blog so of course I had to do it.

1) Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues: Bob Dylan (1965)

2) Fingerbobs (Album Version): Spooky (1996)

3) Finger Lickin' Good (Government Cheese Mix): Beastie Boys (1992)

4) Powderfinger (Live): Neil Young & Crazy Horse (1978)

5) Soul Finger (Alternative Version) (Cover of The Bar-Kays): Dexy's Midnight Runners (1981)

6) Sore Thumb: Fujiya & Miyagi (2008)

7) Alternative Ulster: Stiff Little Fingers (1978)

8) Disposable Thumbs: Endless Boogie (2021)

9) The Air Near My Fingers: The White Stripes (2003)

10) She's Got A Ring On Her Finger (& Another One Through Her Nose): Julian Cope (2005)

11) Thumbsucker: Jenny Hval ft. Félicia Atkinson (2019)

12) Wouldn't It Be Nice To Have A Finger Of Fudge?: Go Home Productions (2008)

Fingers & Thumbs (45:55) (Box) (Mega)

Enough Is Enough

Primal Scream and Dexys have teamed up to create a fund raiser for the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers). Enough Is Enough is named after the RMT campaign and features a guest appearance from general secretary Mick Lynch.

 

The song itself fits more obviously into the Dexys canon but features strong vocal performances from both Kevin Rowland and Bobby Gillespie. Enough Is Enough is accompanied by a video from Douglas Hart, former bandmate of Bobby in The Jesus & Mary Chain and now an acclaimed director.

 

You can buy Enough Is Enough via Bandcamp for £1.00 and all proceeds will go to the RMT dispute fund. The politically charged lyrics and potty mouth language mean it's unlikely to disrupt the flow of the Radio 2 drivetime slot, but it's a good song, a good cause and worth five minutes of your time and 100 of your pennies (or equivalent currency).

 

Inevitably, it called to mind another song called Enough Is Enough, released in 1993 as a collaboration between Chumbawamba and Credit To The Nation. An anti-fascist anthem, it reached #56 in the UK singles chart and is currently available digitally on Chumbawamba's 1994 album Anarchy.

 

In 2000, a remix of the song, Enough Is Enough (Kick It Over), a remix of the song with updated lyrics, was released as a response to the formation of a coalition government in Austria. The coalition included the Freedom Party of Austria, led at the time by Nazi apologist Jörg Haider. Later that year Haider was forced to relinquish direct control of the FPO due to international pressure. The remix of Enough Is Enough is still available as a free MP3 download on Chumbawamba's website

Sadly, a look around and both songs resonate with the situation that we currently find ourselves in, here in the UK and overseas. Enough Is Enough.

Popular Songs

Mrs. K and Lady K have jetted off to Amsterdam for a few days. I'm at home with an inconsolable cat and another Monday ahead, although I do have the prospect of a short working week and an extended weekend to compensate.

So what better way to banish the blues (and the torrential rain, thunder and lightning that's been plaguing Casa K since Saturday night) with some popular songs, some of which also qualifies as bona fide pop music?

Today's selection is therefore sampled from my Apple Music "Most Played Top 100", which has been assiduously charting every play since I plugged in my first iPod in the early 2000s. However, as mentioned previously, said chart was hijacked for a few years by the Lady K playlist, i.e. songs that were generally poppy, musically and/or lyrically upbeat and definitely, most definitely devoid of any effing and blinding. Apart from that time a Belle & Sebastian song slipped through.

The Top 100 obviously changes on a daily basis but the influence of Lady K's preferences, particularly during the infamous primary school years, has meant a disproportionate number of Queen songs and a #1 that may well never be surpassed in my lifetime. Oh, and Cha Cha Slide by DJ Casper, because she knew I hated the song. Having just viewed the video for the first time and seen the look of abject resignation on DJ Casper's face, even then realising that this would simultaneously be his musical peak and nadir, I feel nothing but pity for the guy.

I've cherry picked eleven songs, starting with the current #100, counting down to #1 and taking in Ian McNabb, David Grant, Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Weatherall, Björn and Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid and, delightfully, Edward Tudor-Pole.

 

1) Come On Eileen (Single Version): Dexy's Midnight Runners & The Emerald Express (1982) (#100)

2) All The Daughters (Of Her Father's House) (Long Version): The Icicle Works (1985) (#90)

3) Intuition (Album Version): Linx (1981) (#64)

4) Raspberry Beret (Album Version): Prince & The Revolution (1985) (#50)

5) Try, Try, Try: Julian Cope (1995) (#38)

6) Love Me Again (Radio Edit): John Newman (2013) (#31)

7) Loaded (Andrew Weatherall Mix) (Full Length Version): Primal Scream (1990) (#28)

8) Addicted To Music (Joey Negro Mix By Dave Lee): Subsonic 2 (1991) (#24)

9) Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) (Long Version): ABBA (1979) (#10)

10) Swords Of A Thousand Men: Tenpole Tudor (1981) (#3)

11) Feel It Still (Album Version): Portugal. The Man (2017) (#1)

Popular Songs (44:59)

Liars & Hypocrites

Sometimes the news headlines suggest the playlist...

 

If it's not galling enough that these lying, entitled scumbags are in government, their value on the consultancy and after-dinner speaking circuit has no doubt increased on the back of their increasing infamy.

 

Just stop pretending that you are representing "the people" and not the selfish, grubby interests of yourselves and your cronies. I did not vote for you and you do not represent me.

1) Devil Is A Liar: Kode9 & The Spaceape (2014)

2) Liar With Wings: Andrew Weatherall (2009) 

3) Hypocrite: Matumbi (1978)

4) Two Thieves And A Liar: Gary Clail / On-U Sound System ft. Bim Sherman (1989)

5) Liar, Liar (Cover of The Castaways): Deborah Harry (1988)

6) Burn The Liars: The Earlies (2007)

7) Reeling The Liars In (Cover of Swans): Cold Specks (2012)

8) Liar: Kelsey Lu (2016)

9) Liars A To E (Single Version): Dexy's Midnight Runners (1981)

10) Hypocrite: Lush (1994)

11) Fakes & Liars: The Wolfgang Press (1992)

12) Liar: Sex Pistols (1977)

1977: Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols: 12

1978: Seven Seals: 3

1981: Liars A To E EP: 9

1988: Married To The Mob OST: 5

1989: End Of The Century Party: 4

1992: Queer: 11

1994: Hypocrite EP: 10

2007: The Enemy Chorus: 6

2009: A Pox On The Pioneers: 2 

2012: Dancing Coins EP: 7

2014: Killing Season EP: 1

2016: Church: 8

Liars & Hypocrites (43:41)