Category Archives: Musicology

Is the Eurovision Song Contest Getting Better?

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Paul Carr

Yesterday, like I do most years, I dutifully switched on the TV to have my yearly moan at the Eurovision Song Contest. There is something deep inside me and many others that loves to pass comment on the ‘rubbish’ songs, … Continue reading →

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Grand Rights and the Zappa Family Trust Revisited

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Paul Carr

As the case between Dweezil Zappa and his brother Ahmet reaches a new level of public debate, I thought I would document a few thoughts on Grand Rights.When I wrote my original paper 5-6 years ago, the American Society of … Continue reading →

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Apple Stole My Music. No, Seriously.

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Paul Carr
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Live Popular Music Making in the Key Buildings of Merthyr Tydfil between 1955 to 1970: The Formation of a Digital Archive

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Paul Carr

I am currently working on a new research project that looks at the memories of popular music making in Merthyr Tydfil between the years 1955 to around 1970. I am really fortunate to have a number of partners helping me … Continue reading →

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Frank Zappa and Grand Rights – AGAIN!

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Paul Carr

In 2009, I wrote about how the Zappa Family Trust were using Grand Rights as a way of stopping tribute bands playing the music of Frank Zappa. I eventually ended up doing a major research project on this, interviewing loads … Continue reading →

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Why Was Such A Big Thing Made Out of Sting Disguising His Newcastle Past In The Late 197os?

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Paul Carr

I had a really interesting time presenting at Newcastle University last week. We had an interesting debate at the end of my lecture,  which give me some ideas to consider the final  chapter of my book. I am also considering some … Continue reading →

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Sting and the Gravitational Pull of Newcastle

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Paul Carr

Really looking forward to doing a talk at Newcastle University this Wednesday on my forthcoming book on Sting. The lecture is actually taking place in the very place where Sting started his career playing with Last Exit all those years … Continue reading →

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Albums Based on Previous Images

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Paul Carr

I have just sent off an essay to a potential publisher on Matching Mole – the relationship of the band to politics and genre boundaries. As can be seen below, their 2nd album is a direct take on a Chinese propaganda … Continue reading →

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The Heritage of Live Popular Music Making in Merthyr Tydfil 1955 to the Present Day: How Do Musical Memories, Mediated Through Technology, Impact Identity and Nostalgia?

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Paul Carr

The relationship of popular music to memory, identity and nostalgia is now well established in popular music studies, with academics such as Schulkind, Hennis and Rubin (1999) outlining how music, in particular from ones youth, can have strong nostalgic impact … Continue reading →

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Matching Mole, Virtuality, Merthyr Tydfil Music and More

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Paul Carr

I have not blogged for over a month, so I thought I would write a quick post as a catch up of what I have been up to. The year kicked off with the publication of The Handbook of Music … Continue reading →

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